CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 31: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers smiles during the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 31, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The city of Cleveland has fallen in love with Donovan Mitchell. It seems the feeling is mutual, as the seven-time All-Star once again opened up about his time in the land.
“I love Cleveland,” Mitchell told The Athletic. “I’ve said it before: I want to play here for as long as I can.”
Mitchell is on contract until the 2027-28 NBA season, with a player option that he’s likely to exercise in 2027. The Cavs have an incentive to extend him as soon as possible, and he’ll be eligible for another max payday when that time comes.
“The goal is to win — as long as we’re continuing to win at the highest level,” said Mitchell. “But I love it, man. It’s a place that I feel like I can call home, you know what I mean? And I feel good. My fiancée feels good about it.”
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It certainly bodes well for the Cavs that Mitchell appears to be happy in Cleveland. He’s proven he can raise their floor significantly in the regular season and potentially gives them a championship-caliber season.
Even with all of the injuries this year, Cleveland finished 4th in the Eastern Conference with 52 wins for just the ninth time in franchise history. Mitchell’s 27.9 points per game made that possible.
The Cavs start their playoff journey on Saturday with a first-round series against the Toronto Raptors. If both Mitchell and the Cavs want to justify another long-term commitment to each other, then success in the upcoming postseason will be a good place to start.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up to block a shot against the LA Clippers on November 1, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the Lakers set to begin their playoff run, now is a perfect time as any to unpack a question that’s nearly as old as basketball itself…
What matters more: offense or defense?
There are clichés such as “offense wins games and defense wins championships” that have been used for ages, but what’s the actual answer?
Modern offenses push the pace of play and shoot more threes each year, making it feel like offense is king. This decade, Nikola Jokić has won three MVP Awards because of his offense. There is no defense, no matter how elite, that has figured out a way to stop Steph Curry.
At the highest levels, it’s starting to feel like the best defenses can’t measure up to the best offenses. However, coaches still view them as equally important.
“I think you need both,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “And there’s been three outliers in the last 25 years. I know the Lakers, I think it was ‘01, were a bottom-third defense, but they were number one in the playoffs. Really, Denver in ‘23 was the only team that had an average defense, and then they were average in the playoffs.”
In the regular season, the 2001 Lakers had the seventh-worst defense in the NBA, but improved to first in the playoffs. With a dramatically improved defense and the most dominant offensive force in Shaquille O’Neal, that LA team won it all, losing just one game in the postseason.
During the 2020s, 18 of the 24 teams that have reached the conference finals ranked in the top ten offensively. And three of the champions finished in the top five. The only two exceptions were the 2020 Lakers, who were 11th in offensive rating, and the 2022 Warriors, who were 16th.
However, in the postseason, both teams morphed into elite scoring machines. With an offensive rating of 115.6, no one was better on that end of the floor than LA in the bubble. Golden State was fourth in 2022 at 114.5.
The defensive numbers for title contenders in this era have been high as well. During the 2020s, 14 of the 24 teams that have reached the conference finals were top-10 in defensive rating. But four of the five NBA champions were in the top five. As Redick mentioned, the only outlier was the 2023 Nuggets, who were 15th.
The Lakers will play the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and head coach Ime Udoka discussed the balance between offense and defense before the Christmas Day matchup against the Lakers earlier this season.
“For us, we try to be balanced and we’re somewhere up in the top five area of both,” Udoka said. “I want to do that and that’s where you have the great balance, great scoring, but you need to have the versatile of pieces to do it.
“I think we have a ton of defenders, naturally. We talked about keeping our identity the last few years of being a high-level defensive team and improving on the offense, and I think we’ve done that.”
Udoka did keep his team near the top five in both categories. During the regular season, Houston had a defensive rating of 112.1, which ranked sixth in the league, and an offensive rating of 117.5, which ranked eighth in the NBA.
The Lakers finished with offensive and defensive ratings of 117.0 (10th) and 115.5 (20th), respectively. While that defensive rating for LA is discouraging and perhaps an indicator that they are not at the level needed to win, they did improve as the season went along.
Post All-Star break, their defensive rating was 113.4, good for 14th in the league. That’s still not ideal as a top-10 defense seems to be the standard for a Conference Finals appearance, but it’s progress.
For the Lakers to have postseason success, they’ll need to figure out how to elevate their play in both categories. And there are subcategories they need to improve on that will help them find success. Redick has mentioned wanting to improve their rebounding and turnovers in their series against Houston.
Based on how the 2020s have gone so far, it seems a top-10 offense is more likely to get you deep in the playoffs, but an elite defense is necessary to win it all.
So, the answer to what matters more between defense and offense is still a combination of both.
“I grew up in San Antonio, believing in and knowing that defense wins championships,” Pelicans head coach James Borrego said. “We always hung our hat on that end of the floor and I still believe that.
“But I think it’s a balance of both, and really leaning into the strength of your roster is where you need to lean. Every roster is built differently. Some’s a little bit more offensive. Some’s a little bit more defensive. To me, the best teams maximize the roster, though. They lean into the strength of their players and how they play together.”
If there is one thing Redick has done well, it is maximizing his team’s potential. He’s had back-to-back 50-win seasons with very different rosters and with major shake-ups midseason.
In the playoffs, with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out indefinitely, he has to figure out how to balance both and get offensive production without his starting backcourt and come up with a defensive plan to stop Kevin Durant, who is one of the best scorers the league has ever seen.
It won’t be easy, but to have a long postseason run, the Lakers will have to find new solutions offensively and come up with enough defensive stops to make a run.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just two days remain until the beginning of the Knicks’ playoff journey against the Atlanta Hawks, and there are a lot of compelling storylines with this series.
While the Knicks are favored, national pundits believe this series will be among the closer ones in the first round of the NBA playoffs, so what do the Knicks need to do to silence the critics and get to Round 2 unscathed?
Controlling the Pace
There are inherent, stylistic differences between the Knicks and Hawks that will be apparent throughout the series.
The Knicks, despite their head coach being hired to increase the pace, remain a half-court-based offense that prefers to take its time to find the best shot. The head of the snake, Jalen Brunson, crosses half court with 16 on the shot clock every possession. 10.7 percent of their shot attempts are with four or fewer seconds on the shot clock, which is fifth in basketball. They’ve found a way to be a top-five offense with this strategy, so they haven’t tried to change it.
Compare that to Atlanta, which is fifth in the NBA in pace and will often try to sprint up the court regardless of how the previous possession ended to get into the frontcourt with 20 on the shot clock. The stylistic difference can be described best with this:
Percent of shot attempts with 4 and 7 or fewer seconds on the shot clock: Knicks: 10.7%, 21.6% Hawks: 7.7%, 13.3%
Percent of shots with at least 15 on the shot clock: Knicks: 32.3% Hawks: 41.6%
The Knicks take their time, the Hawks want to run. The Hawks are third in fastbreak points with 18.1, while the Knicks are 14th. Whoever is able to play their game will have a massive advantage in this series.
We saw this with the Pacers the last two seasons. The Knicks let them play to their pace and struggled mightily. The Knicks are vulnerable in transition defensively, but are able to sink their teeth in once they get in the halfcourt. The Knicks are the second-most efficient offense when it comes to shooting “grenades”, while the Hawks are middle-of-the-pack. They thrive when they have to make tough shots.
— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) April 7, 2026
If the Knicks can hold down the Hawks in transition like they did down the stretch of these teams’ most recent meeting earlier this month, they’ll have a lot of success in this series.
Containing Nickeil Alexander-Walker
The easiest way an underdog can pull off an upset is a breakout performance that puts the league on notice. There aren’t many players capable of doing this on the Hawks, and as good as Jalen Johnson is, he isn’t a threat to average 30 for a series.
Alexander-Walker could be. The cousin of reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he left the shadows of Anthony Edwards in Minnesota and has done his best Jalen Brunson impression in thriving for his new team. He should win Most Improved Player and he showed what he can do when everything is clicking earlier this month against the Knicks:
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) April 7, 2026
It wasn’t your typical “leave a role player open, and he makes you pay”; he was cooking on some high-difficulty shots. If the Hawks have any chance in this series, he needs to be going shot-for-shot with Brunson and not be sitting in the corner down the stretch, which is part of the reason the Hawks melted down late in the early April matchup.
Dominate the Paint
This one is pretty clear. One team has Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the other has Onyeka Okongwu and Tony Bradley. The Hawks just effectively ruled out Jock Landale for the series, so there’s no reinforcements coming for an overmatched Atlanta center rotation.
Towns has had two efficient and dominant games against the Hawks this season and Okongwu has had absolutely no answer for him. While they could switch a wing onto Towns and put Okongwu on Josh Hart, that won’t work out well for them if Towns is assertive with the ball in his hands. As for Robinson, the Hawks will need to put several bodies on him to keep him off the glass, but that might not even be enough.
If there is one thing that Mitchell Robinson will do, it's grab contested rebounds and make your favorite team's bigs feel small…
On that note, the Hawks are bigger than the Knicks pretty much everywhere else but center, so the Knicks will need Robinson and Towns to gobble up boards and not let one of Atlanta’s wings pick up loose balls and run out in transition.
The NBA's 65-game rule, forcing players to play in at least 65 regular season games in order to be eligible for end-of-season awards, has received mixed reviews from fans and players.
Several fans believe it incentivizes stars to play in games, creating a better product for people in attendance. Others believe such a rule being implemented while individual players may have clauses in their contracts that offer bonuses for earning end-of-season awards creates a system that hurts players for situations that often are out of their control, such as injuries or family emergencies.
Well, it appears the NBA has heard these complaints and is making an adjustment.
Although neither the Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham nor the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic played in 65 regular season games, both have been reinstated for end-of-season awards.
Just in: The NBA and NBPA have ruled in favor of Lakers' Luka Doncic and Pistons' Cade Cunningham on their Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge for the 65-game award rule, making both eligible for all 2025-26 season honors such as MVP and All-NBA teams, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/gUYdUn1q4k
The NBA announced that Cunningham (63 games played) would be exempt "due in part to missing 12 games as a result of a collapsed lung that was diagnosed on March 17." Meanwhile Doncic (64 games played) earned exemption "due in part to missing two games to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia."
Here's what to know.
Will these exemption keep up moving forward?
The decisions to re-implement both Doncic and Cunningham came as part of the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) under the "extraordinary circumstances provision."
However, the league did not reveal what exactly constitutes an extraordinary circumstance, only that both Cunningham and Doncic applied.
That said, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards didn't receive an exemption. Edwards played in 60 games — or 61 when counting the game where he played only three minutes, which the league did not count — and filed "an extraordinary circumstances challenge under the CBA, seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator."
Why was Anthony Edwards denied?
Edwards missed 11 of the Timberwolves' final 14 games this season while dealing with a right knee injury. Furthermore, several of those games missed were in an effort to ensure Edwards would be good to go for the playoffs.
Edwards also missed time due to hamstring issues and illnesses earlier in the season.
Despite this, Edwards still played 2,137 minutes on the season, more than other players who are qualified for end-of-season awards like Kawhi Leonard, Victor Wembanyama and LaMelo Ball.
Will Doncic, Cunningham win any awards?
While neither player is likely to win MVP, both players will likely be named to All-NBA teams, which qualify under the 65-game rule. Edwards will not be eligible.
Edwards' ineligibility actually hurts his future. An All-NBA selection for Edwards would have ensured the 24-year-old supermax contract eligibility when he is eligible for a new contract in the 2027 offseason. While Edwards can still earn his third all-NBA bid next season, it puts added pressure on him to succeed. Furthermore, there is also the possibility that another injury forces him out of significant time next season, which could yet again cost him another All-NBA selection.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 15: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors wears NBA on prime playmaker chain while talking to the media after the game against the LA Clippers on April 15, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr didn’t need many words to convey what Stephen Curry did on Wednesday night.
After the Warriors kept their season alive with a 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the Play-In Tournament, Kerr’s postgame message said everything about Curry’s performance, and why it mattered so much for the superstar point guard to play again this season.
"This is why Steph came back."
Steve Kerr shared a blunt message to the people who wanted Steph Curry to sit out the rest of the season pic.twitter.com/mdTBjC0BeK
For weeks, there was outside noise suggesting Golden State should shut Curry down as he worked his way back from a knee injury that sidelined him for 27 games to close the regular season. Instead, he delivered the exact kind of performance that made that idea look foolish, finishing with a game-high 35 points to lead the Warriors to a comeback win when the team needed him the most.
Draymond Green — who had an excellent night himself on the defensive end — echoed Kerr’s sentiment, pointing to Curry’s presence as the key difference in high-pressure moments like this.
"When Steph's on the floor, you always have a chance."
Kerr gave a postgame speech to the team in the locker room, stating that it was one of his favorite wins of this Warriors run that has lasted longer than a decade.
Kerr’s coaching future is uncertain. The 37 wins were the second-fewest in his 12-season tenure. The core is aging. Injuries caught up this year. But Kerr felt they’d turned back the clock for a night to remind the world what they were in their prime.
“There’s a reason we have four championships,” Kerr said. “With all the wins we’ve ever had here — a lot of them with a lot more at stake – this is right up there. Just because of where we are and our age and the decline of our performance this year and our injuries. It was just a beautiful display of competitive will.”
“I had flashbacks to Game 1 in the ’22 Finals,” Curry said, referencing when Horford, then a member of the Boston Celtics, racked up 26 points and hit six 3-pointers in a win over Curry and the Warriors. “Because it was just like that, where all of a sudden — he was 0-for-3 at one point from 3, and then he hits the first one. It was just a sign of how confident he was shooting it. There was no hesitation, there was no doubt. There was just ‘I’m open. I’ll shoot it.’”
Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points, V.J. Edgecombe added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers weathered the absence of Joel Embiid to beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 on Wednesday night and secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Desmond Bane and the Magic aren’t done yet. They will host Charlotte on Friday night in the SoFi Play-In Tournament finale, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the East and a first-round matchup with Detroit.
The NBA is fining Charlotte's LaMelo Ball $35,000 for his trip of Miami's Bam Adebayo and upgrading the action to a Flagrant, plus fining him $25,000 for cursing postgame, sources tell ESPN.
Porziņģis looked like his All-Star self in this game. He had numerous highlight defensive plays, single-handedly ending multiple Clippers possessions that looked like easy buckets. He was a walking bucket, scoring from all over the court, largely within the system but also taking matters into his own hands when it was needed. And he had some passes that made your eyes pop wide open.
It was a complete — and completely excellent — performance. And it left no doubt as to whether or not the Warriors will make re-signing Porziņģis a priority this coming offseason.
Grade: A+
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article ran here at BCB last October. This one has updated giveaway numbers and some information about Cubs gate giveaways from 2026.
I’ve written on this topic previously, but now I’ve got some new information that I wanted to pass along to you.
As you know if you attend Cubs games when there are promotional gate giveaways, the team limits those to the first 10,000 (or “up to” that number, as they generally say) who come to the gates. This has led to many disappointed fans who, for whatever reason, want the giveaway but can’t get to Wrigley Field early enough. In some cases this has produced very long lines to get into the ballpark and some trouble at some gates.
This year, there have already been some criticisms and issues with gate giveaways.
First, the magnet schedule giveaway is generally one of the most popular every year. For most years before 2026, the team gave away 30,000 of these — sometimes each day for the entire opening series. This year? Only 10,000 magnet schedules, and only on Opening Day.
This led to a lot of unhappy fans, as attendance on Opening Day was 39,712. This led to some of these being sold on eBay for as much as $25. This year’s magnet schedule did not have a sponsor — perhaps if the Cubs got a sponsor for that, they could have given away 30,000 of them. I can tell you that a lot of people I know were very disappointed.
There were also issues with two of the early season gate giveaways. One, a “puffer vest” with the Cubs 150th anniversary logo, was actually quite nice — but I heard from quite a few people that the zippers broke easily. I got lucky and got one with a working zipper, but… seems to me the Cubs could have ordered a higher-quality product. This one did have a sponsor (Southwest Airlines) so… how much more could that have cost to get good working zippers?
Last Saturday, a Ben Zobrist bobblehead was given away and the one I got was broken. Fortunately, the Cubs hold back some extras in case this happens and they replaced the one I received. I have seen Cubs staffers toss around the cartons the bobbleheads are shipped in, perhaps breaking some in the process. They really should be more careful with these things.
Overall, though, the biggest issue is having only 10,000 gate giveaway items when the team generally averages over 37,000 fans per game.
This is not the way many other teams do giveaways. I have numbers for you! On Wednesday, I went through the websites of all 29 other teams to see what their policies were for gate giveaways. Many teams, including the Cubs, now have other giveaways that you have to buy a special ticket for, and those are more limited in number. These numbers are only for gate giveaways that are open to all without a special ticket.
Dodgers: 40,000 (except two Shohei Ohtani giveaways that are listed for 54,000 fans) Padres: 40,000 Angels: 25,000 Brewers: 25,000 (some 10,000) Giants: 25,000 (some 15,000 or 20,000) Diamondbacks: 25,000 (some 15,000 or 20,000) Mariners: 20,000 (some 10,000 or 15,000) Nationals: 20,000 Orioles: 20,000 Royals: 20,000 (some 10,000 or 15,000) Pirates: 20,000 (some “all fans”) Yankees: 18,000 Mets: 18,000 (some 15,000) Guardians: 15,000 Cardinals: 15,000 Blue Jays: 15,000 Braves: 15,000 Rockies: 15,000 White Sox: 15,000 Twins: 10,000 Rangers: 10,000 Astros: 10,000 Marlins: 10,000 Rays: 10,000 Red Sox: 7,500
The number that sticks out the most to me in the list above is from the Dodgers. The Dodgers, who lead MLB in attendance every year. The Dodgers, who averaged 49,537 per date in 2025, have 40,000 of every giveaway item, which means that pretty much everyone who wants one would get one.
As noted above, Ohtani items basically go to everyone:
It should be noted that for some of the teams that have smaller numbers, those come close to matching their average attendance. For example, the Orioles have 20,000 giveaway items, their average attendance so far this year 21,362. The Royals, at 20,000 items, are above this year’s attendance average to date of 16,893. Clearly, for teams like this, promotional giveaways might actually draw larger crowds and bump up their averages. That’s not the case for the Cubs, who played to 89.5 percent of capacity in 2025 and who have most of their bobblehead giveaways — the most popular ones — on Saturdays when they’re likely close to sold out anyway. This year, for nine home dates, the Cubs have averaged 32,755, with quite a number of home dates played in very cold weather. That number will almost certainly go up.
The Marlins increased their giveaway item number from 8,000 to 10,000 this year, and so far this year they have averaged 11,713 for 10 home dates. Some other teams giving away more items this year: Giants (from 15,000 to 25,000), Mets (from 15,000 to 18,000, perhaps to match their crosstown rival Yankees) and Mariners (from 15,000 to 20,000).
The only teams that draw well and have as few or fewer giveaway items than the Cubs are the Astros (10,000 giveaways, 33,677 average in 2025) and Red Sox (7,500 giveaways, 34,278 average in 2025).
But most teams have enough for a large percentage of their fans to get popular giveaway items without having to rush to get to the ballpark early, or be disappointed if they can’t. As the Cubs surely know, many fans come to Wrigley from all over the Midwest — should they have to get up at 4 a.m. to drive to Chicago from Iowa just to get a bobblehead?
Occasionally at Wrigley Field, popular gate giveaways draw huge numbers of fans arriving early, creating potential crowd control issues. There’s another popular bobblehead this weekend (Ron Santo) and on Sat., May 24, likely the most popular gate giveaway item of the season, a Ryne Sandberg bobblehead.
Yes, I know the argument — teams want fans in the park early to consume more food and drink. At the same time, enough teams have enough giveaway items for fans that maybe this shouldn’t matter. As noted above, the Cubs (along with almost all other teams) have reduced the number of gate giveaways anyway in recent years, shifting over to the “special ticket” items that have proven to be popular.
The Cubs really should increase the number of gate giveaway items to at least 15,000, or hey, why not match the mighty Yankees at 18,000? Or perhaps to half of the 40,000 the Dodgers give, to 20,000? That would leave far fewer dissatisfied Cubs fans, and there shouldn’t be any additional cost to the team, since the items generally have a sponsor who pays for them. (The Ben Zobrist bobblehead, for example, had Jewel/Osco as its sponsor.)
' "La Guerre a L'Allemande"; Le lendamain de l'explosion,dans salle voisine et exactement semblable, les eleves sages-femmes et les infirmieres continuent leurs soins aux meres et aux nou veaux-nes', 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Diamondbacks may have got Merrill Kelly back while in Baltimore. But Arizona still currently have a full dozen players on the injured list. They are evenly split between hitters and pitchers, but two-third of them are on the extended 60-day injured list. With an off-day today, I thought it was a good opportunity to go through the list, and see what the status is of each wounded snake.
Corbin Burnes (IL-60)
It was June 1st 2025 that Burnes threw his last pitch for the D-backs, Tommy John surgery following shortly thereafter. His rehab progress has been steady, though there was never an expectation he would be back in less than a year. The last update from the team had Burnes throwing a twenty-pitch bullpen session on the last day of March. It’ll be a process, Burnes gradually mixing in pitches other than fastballs, and also seeking to build his stamina back up. He could be a valuable addition in the second half, though Jack suggests caution. As Jack does. 🙂 Expected return: All-Star break.
Jordan Lawlar (IL-60)
Probably the most unfortunate injury of the year, Lawlar was hit by a pitch from Atlanta’s Osvaldo Bido, in the same game where he hit his first major-league home-run. While initial X-rays were negative, further examination revealed a fractured wrist, meaning he will be out for 6-8 weeks. Jordan had started off 6-for-18, and had acquitted himself well as an outfielder too. Lawlar seemed to have turned the corner after his rough early time in the bigs, so hopefully he’ll be able to sustain the momentum when he returns. Expected return: late May.
Lourdes Gurriel (IL-10)
The initial expectation was that Gurriell would miss 9-10 months after surgery last September to repair his torn ACL. However, he has speed-run the healing process: indeed, he wanted to be part of the Opening Day roster. Wiser heads prevailed there, but he is now on a rehab assignment with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles. We’ll see how long it takes from there. The maximum length of an assignment like that is twenty days, but I’d not be surprised to see Gurriell back sooner. However, he will probably be DHing initially for the D-backs. Expected return: end of April.
Tyler Locklear (IL-10)
After coming over from the Mariners at the deadline, Locklear hit the IL on September 8, following an unfortunate collision at first base with base runner Connor Wong of Boston. At that time, it was just described as elbow inflammation, but things were apparently worse than originally expected. He ended up having surgery on both shoulder and elbow in early October. There hasn’t been any updates – good or bad – since the beginning of spring training, but his total absence from the preseason would indicated he’s still certainly some way off. Expected return: late May.
Justin Martinez (IL-60)
Not long after ace starting pitcher Burnes had Tommy John in June, we got the news that ace closer Martinez would need more or less the same procedure. He started playing catch in January, but does seem to be a little behind Burnes in his rehab progress. Just before Opening Day, he was still throwing on flat ground, rather than off a mound. That it’s Martinez’s second Tommy John, having previously had the procedure in 2021, may be a factor in him taking additional time to come back. Expected return: late August.
Cristian Mena (IL-60)
Mena has been plagued by issues the past couple of year. In 2024, he was shutdown with a forearm strain at the end of July. The following year, he was done after the first week in June, injuring his right teres major – or “shoulder muscle” as we laymen call it – during the rainy debacle in Cincinnati. It was hoped he would be healthy by spring. But, instead, he was shut down in late February, after suffering more discomfort in the same area. Come the end of spring, he was put back on the 60-day IL, and there has been nothing since. Expected return: no date.
Gabriel Moreno (IL-10)
Since coming to Arizona, Moreno has averaged only 97 games per season. It was just 83 last year, due to a fracture in his right index finger. While the current strained left oblique, incurred on a throw down to second base, isn’t a major injury, it continues an unfortunate trend. As we’ve seen with other players, obliques are potentially tricky things. If Moreno rushes back, it could backfire. So I’ve a feeling he is going to be out for a bit more than the minimum ten days. Expected return: end of April.
A.J. Puk (IL-60)
There’s a couple of reasons Puk will be back before his fellow elbow surgery victims. His injury happened earlier in 2025: he threw his last pitch almost exactly one year ago, on April 17. But his procedure was also different: an internal brace, which is more repair than reconstruction. That has a shorter rehab time, although like Martinez, it is also Puk’s second go around. He previously had Tommy John surgery in April 2018. A.J. has been throwing bullpens, and obviously, stamina will be less a concern than for Burnes. Expected return: mid-June.
Andrew Saalfrank (IL-60)
It appears the baseball gods have not finished punishing Saalfrank. While he had a successful return after serving a gambling suspension, his pitch velocity was well down on previous figures. He pushed through shoulder soreness, but the issue did not resolve itself over the winter. Surgery to clean out the shoulder proved necessary, and that took place in February. It turned out to be the first in a series of dominoes, which ended in the 2026 D-backs bullpen being free from lefties. Expected return: 2027, if there is even a season.
Carlos Santana (IL-10)
I’ve a feeling the oldest active position player in the majors won’t be hurried back. It is only the veteran’s second IL spell since 2014: he missed time in 2022 with ankle bursitis. But when Santana went on the injured list with a right adductor strain, he had gone just 2-for-24 through his first eight games. Ildemaro Vargas and Jose Fernandez have done considerably better than that in Santana’s absence. If that continues, there is a non-zero (though small) chance the team could decide simply to cut bait when Carlos is healthy. Expected return: early May.
Pavin Smith (IL-60)
Smith’s elbow had been a source of bother throughout spring training. He was a late scratch on Opening Day in LA, and though he played in the rest of the first series, the issue lingered. A cortisone shot and rest didn’t fix things, and it was announced on Tuesday that he would have surgery to clear out “loose bodies” in his left elbow. This typically has a recovery time of 6-8 weeks, explaining why the team was able to free up a roster spot for Aramis Garcia by moving Pavin to the 60-day IL. Expected return: mid-June.
Blake Walston (IL-60)
Remember him? He made seven appearances for the team back in 2024. But Walston then had Tommy John surgery in March the following year. On that basis, you’d expect him to be nearing the end of his rehab. However, he got dropped back on the 60-day IL at the start of the season, so is clearly going to miss at least another two months. Unlike everyone else on the list, I was unable to source any updates on Walston’s progress, or lack thereof. I’d be expecting reports of bullpens by now. Still, until proven otherwise, I’m going to assume that no news is good news. Expected return: mid-June.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 15: Jesús Luzardo #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after multiple errors during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on April 15, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For most of a season that, in the grand scheme of things is still in its infancy, most of the angst directed at the Phillies has been towards an inconsistent and maddening offense.
That, of course, makes sense. After all, it has been the lineup that has torpedoed four attempts by this talented team to win a World Series. But in the three-game series the Phils just wrapped up against the Cubs, the pitching staff gave up 28 runs, capped off by Jesus Luzardo’s astonishing implosion Wednesday night:
5.1 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Through 18 games, this vaunted pitching staff’s ERA stands at 4.92, 5th-worst in Major League Baseball. Only the Cardinals (4.94), White Sox (5.02), Nationals (5.89) and Astros (6.17), have been worse. They have allowed a league-high .272 batting average against them. Phillies’ pitchers are every bit as responsible for their -25 run differential that is 3rd-worst in the league.
White Sox (-38)
Giants (-27)
Phillies (-25)
Blue Jays (-24)
It is still very early in the season. Only 18 games have been played. And yes, it does provide some comfort that the defending AL pennant winners (Toronto) are off to the same rough start as the Phils.
If you’re a bit bewildered by the Phillies’ pitchers through the first three weeks of the season, you have every right to be. We’ve seen multiple instances where they like world beaters for long stretches and then are suddenly done in by the big inning or a single lackluster start. As a result, the overall numbers of the individual pitchers don’t look great.
Cristopher Sanchez’ ERA remains a sparkling 2.01 through his first four starts, even though he hasn’t featured his best stuff as of yet. Andrew Painter’s is 3.77, Aaron Nola’s is 4.03, Luzardo’s jumped to a ghastly 7.94 after Wednesday night’s disaster, and Taijuan Walker’s 7.36 ERA is also unsightly.
When the strength of the team is supposed to be the starting rotation, these types of numbers foment an 8-10 start.
But the underlying metrics for the staff indicate they have been, by far, the unluckiest pitching staff in baseball through the season’s first three weeks.
According to Fangraphs’ Wins Above Replacement, their 3.5 fWAR is 2nd-best in MLB, behind only the Seattle Mariners (3.7). Yes, that’s right, Fangraphs believes the Phillies have the No. 2 pitching staff in baseball thus far. Although their 4.92 ERA is 5th-worst, their Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 3.06 is 2nd-best. There is not a single pitcher of note on the entire staff who is out-pitching his underlying metrics.
Cristopher Sanchez: 2.01 ERA, 1.90 FIP (0.11 E-F)
Aaron Nola: 3.56 ERA, 4.03 FIP, (0.47 E-F)
Taijuan Walker: 7.36 ERA, 6.50 FIP (0.87 E-F)
Andrew Painter: 3.77 ERA, 1.55 FIP (2.21 E-F)
Jesus Luzardo: 7.94 ERA, 2.49 FIP (5.05 E-F!!!)
For the uninitiated, FIP uses a formula that factors in only strikeouts, walks and home runs allowed, filtering out batted ball data that is largely out of a pitcher’s control. No team in baseball has a larger gap between their ERA and FIP than the Phillies. In fact, their 1.86 difference is a full run more than the next closest team, the Astros (0.85). It is not a perfect statistic, but it is useful to help make sense of things when results don’t meet the eye test.
The bullpen has the same issues.
Zach Pop: 3.68 ERA, 3.16 FIP (0.52 E-F)
Jhoan Duran: 1.35 ERA, 0.76 FIP (0.59 E-F)
Tim Mayza: 3.00 ERA, 2.27 FIP (0.73 E-F)
Brad Keller: 4.70 ERA, 3.55 FIP (1.15 E-F)
Kyle Backhus: 7.71 ERA, 6.37 FIP (1.34 E-F)
Tanner Banks: 5.40 ERA, 3.46 FIP (1.94 E-F)
Orion Kerkering: 4.15 ERA, 2.00 FIP (2.15 E-F)
Jonathan Bowlan: 3.36 ERA, 1.30 FIP (2.56 E-F)
Jose Alvarado: 10.50 ERA, 2.49 FIP (8.01 E-F!!!)
Phillies pitchers are striking a ton of guys out, the 3rd-highest rate in baseball (26.2%), while at the same time are the 2nd-stingiest staff in terms of walks (6.7%). They also are a top-10 staff in avoiding home runs, with their 0.84 home runs allowed per nine innings (HR/9) tied with the Dodgers’ staff for 8th.
The reason Phils pitchers are giving up so few home runs is because they are inducing more ground balls than any team in baseball (49.9%). They’re also elite at not allowing hard contact. Their hard-hit rate (29.2%), as calculated by Fangraphs, is 3rd-best in the league and their average exit velocity allowed (87.4 mph) is also the best.
To sum up:
They’re striking out a ton of batters.
They are walking very few.
They don’t allow many home runs because they have the highest ground ball rate in the league.
They are allowing the weakest contact.
This is what you want. You build a staff in order to generate all of these things, which leads to one overriding conclusion.
On the whole, the Phillies have been unlucky.
As a team, the staff has allowed a batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .359. Folks, that is insanely high and far and away the worst in baseball, a full 32 points higher than the next-closest team (Houston’s .327). BABIP numbers that high never sustain themselves over the course of a full season. Last year, the Phils’ BABIP was 6th-highest, but only sat at .299.
It’s going to come down.
But one issue that may not correct itself to as large a degree is the defense. Over the first three weeks, the staff has been undone by the worst glove work in baseball.
Their -15 Defensive Runs Saved is dead last and their -6 Outs Above Average is tied for 3rd-worst. They’ve committed 14 errors, 4th-most in MLB. Turner was given a rough error that led to the Cubs’ second run on Wednesday night, but over the last two weeks, we’ve seen the Phils’ defense give away too many outs. This is not a strong defensive team by nature, but early on, they’re making life more difficult than usual for their pitchers.
Now, there’s no sugarcoating Luzardo’s performance on Wednesday night. He gave up a ton of hits and allowed a ton of runs, but his average exit velocity allowed was only 86.9 mph, and he generated a 45.5% ground ball rate against the Cubs. Many of the hits were bleeding grounders and bloopers, although to be fair, the Cubs did square some balls up on him in the 3rd and 5th innings. And there are other issues to be concerned about with him.
Luzardo has long had struggles pitching from the stretch (9.22 career ERA with runners on base), and that problem has only been exacerbated in 2026 (24.55 ERA), and there are other issues, too.
Some concerning Jesús Luzardo stats:
1. Opponents are hitting .467 with an OPS over 1.300 when they swing first pitch against Luzardo
2. His fastball is getting smoked right now. The average against his four-seamer is .348 and against his sinker it’s .375.
The good news is Luzardo struggled in a similar fashion last season when the Phillies believed he was tipping his pitches, and they fixed it. While that doesn’t appear to be the problem now, Caleb Cotham is one of the best pitching coaches in baseball, and these feel like fixable issues.
As for the rest of the staff, the “back-of-the-baseball-card” numbers should revert to the mean as long as the rest of the underlying data doesn’t change much. The staff has actually been pitching really well, but hasn’t had much to show for it through the first 18 games.
Check out the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, where Justin Klugh and I discussed this and recapped the Phils’ series against the Cubs and their rough start to the season. Powered by WHYY.
Post lineup in haste, repent at Leasure? | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The White Sox will be trying to salvage a win in a series where they’ve been pretty well thumped in the first two games, and the pitching staff may give a try at keeping the Rays to fewer than eight runs while they’re at it. This will be the first game where there’s no one in the Sox lineup making a major league debut, so maybe experience will come into play.
The Sox presumably have their best starter on the mound, since it’s Anthony Kay’s turn in the rotation, though Jordan Leasure is playing the role of opener. Before you slap your forehead and scream, “Oh, no — not HIM!!” please note that Leasure has given up no runs in his last four appearances, so somebody must have pointed out to him that the object is to keep opponents off the bases.
The Rays counter with veteran lefty Steven Matz, who is 3-0 with a 3.94 ERA and outstanding 0.938 WHIP and held the Yankees to two runs in five innings last time out. Matz will face a White Sox lineup without Colson Montgomery, who struck out four times last night, or any batter with more than 20 at-bats who’s hitting over .203, but with San Antonacci, who was 1-for-3 in his MLB debut last night ,in left and hitting ninth.
Leasure and presumably Kay will face a Rays lineup that has won five in a row, two of them pummels of the Sox and three of them close wins over the Yankees.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 Central, with a chance of thunderstorms theoretically going away about then, with a temp of 71 and winds blowing out to left. Usual broadcast suspects.
Ja Morant's frustration with the Grizzlies and coach Tuomas Iisalo is no secret — the team suspended its star one game last season for "conduct detrimental to the team" after a locker-room confrontation with Iisalo. The coach's short shift patterns in game and bluntness in calling out stars rubbed Morant the wrong way.
"In the aftermath, Morant told players around the league and some of his former coaches that he isn't playing for Memphis anymore, sources said."
He's expected to get his wish this offseason.
The Grizzlies looked for a Morant trade at the February deadline, but nothing materialized that Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman liked — the offers were "modest." He did trade Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah in the wake of trading Desmond Bane to Orlando the previous summer. The Grizzlies are in a rebuild and Morant — a fan favorite in Memphis — is almost unquestionably going to be moved.
However, Morant is not going to bring back the haul of draft picks that Jackson and Bane brought to Memphis, ESPN reports.
Several executives from other teams polled by ESPN believe the Grizzlies should have better luck finding a destination for Morant this summer, with the caveat that Memphis shouldn't expect to get much value in return.
A few things hold teams back from going all-in on Morant. One is that he is owed $87.1 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, and in an NBA where teams are trying to avoid the tax aprons, that is a lot of money to take on for anything short of an All-Star player. Second is Morant's injury history — he has not played in 65 games since his rookie season and not more than 50 in any of the last three. Finally, there is Morant's ball-dominant style — he has to have the ball in his hands and be the primary shot creator to be at his best — and that is not a natural fit on a lot of rosters.
That said, this summer there will be teams chasing the bigger names — Giannis Antetokounmpo, maybe Kawhi Leonard — that will strike out, and suddenly see Morant as an option. The ESPN story mentions the retooling Sacramento Kings, who spoke to the Grizzlies at the deadline but didn't come anywhere near a deal.
Wherever it is, expect Morant to be in a new uniform next season. He's ready to move on from the Grizzies and they are ready to move on from him.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 12: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates a three-pointer with a fan during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers’ 109-97 win over the Orlando Magic in the Play-In tournament to secure the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference cemented their turnaround from a disastrous 2024-25 campaign. Thanks to a 21-win increase they were able to clinch a playoff spot for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.
It’s not like the Sixers achieved this with major roster upheaval. They retained 11 players from the prior season heading into this one. Proving that the previous season was just an injury-riddled disaster was something they all took pride in.
Head coach Nick Nurse opened the year saying there was a lot of “pissed off-ness” about how the ’24-25 season went and how motivated the organization was to erase that. He reiterated that again after the victory over Orlando.
“I said we had a really, really big hole to dig out of and we want to get in the tournament somehow” Nurse said postgame. “It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty, but we’re here now and now we get to see what we can do with it.”
To Nurse’s point, it’s not like everything that went wrong a season ago suddenly clicked into place. Joel Embiid and Paul George still missed a combined 87 games this year with no guarantee Embiid will be able to suit up for the playoffs.
“It means a lot,” George said. “Last season, that was as about as tough as a season I’ve been a part of, but for us to turn it around, we dealt with some adversity this year but we got through it.”
No player took this more to heart than Tyrese Maxey. While he hasn’t quite snatched the title of most impactful star on the Sixers roster from Joel Embiid, he is definitely the most available. The fact that he’s able to suit up regularly makes him bear the brunt of the team’s on-court struggles on a day-to-day basis.
The All-NBA caliber season in which he averaged 28 points per game is nice, but proving he can lead a team through the regular season to the playoffs has been a larger goal. He made a vow to get back watching last year’s playoffs, and didn’t care for Knicks’ commentator Walt Frazier’s preseason assessment that he better get used to losing.
Yall deserve to be in the playoffs and we gotta work to get back there for yall!! 💯💯
Driving this type of winning is so important to Maxey that he promised multiple teammates that he would lead them back to the playoffs.
“I promised Kyle [Lowry] before the season,” Maxey said. “He called me around May, I said ‘there’s just no chance that I’m gonna let you not be in the playoffs next year.’”
He also detailed how important that was for many of the younger guys who haven’t made the playoffs yet, guys like Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker and, of course, VJ Edgecombe.
“Dalen Terry came up to me at shootaround and just said ‘please, man, just please, get me in there. I have been in the Play-In four years straight,’” Maxey explained. “I said, ‘we going to the playoffs, so don’t worry about it, D.T.’”
In his own words, coming through on this promise meant everything to Maxey.
“The way last season went, I just didn’t want to have that feeling again,” he said. “I just challenged myself last summer, and I feel like I rose to that challenge.”
Maxey’s teammates have not been shy about the vocal leader he has developed into over the past couple of seasons. If there’s one way to cement yourself as the locker room leader, it’s coming through on promises like that.
Golden State was able to rewind to 2017 for 12 minutes and live another day, setting up Friday's NBA Play-In Tournament showdown with the Phoenix Suns for the No. 8 seed in the West (and the right to get smacked by OKC).
However, my Warriors vs. Suns predictions aren’t drinking from Golden State’s fountain of youth, as I’m betting on Phoenix to sunset the final remnants of this dynasty.
The Phoenix Suns opened as short home favorites, being discounted for a close loss to a red-hot Portland squad in Tuesday’s Play-In opener. Phoenix has the homecourt and rest edge over a Golden State Warriors team ripe for a letdown and playing its fourth away game in eight days.
The last thing the Suns want is to get into a shootout with the Warriors. Phoenix plays a methodical pace on offense and is among the better defensive teams in the NBA — especially at home, where they own a 15-27 Over/Under record.
Jalen Green’s knee is doing just fine. He exploded for 35 points against a very stingy Blazers team and now faces a Golden State squad that ranks among the softer defenses in the Association.
Green's projections call for 20+ points, which is a bar he’s hit in 15 of his last 21 outings.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. 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.
A former player tied to a major NBA betting scandal seemingly wants to switch his stance in one of the federal cases against him.
Key Takeaways
Ex-NBA player Damon Jones is tied to the betting scandal and the rigged poker games.
Jones hasn’t changed his not guilty plea in the other charge.
He allegedly provided bettors with the injury information for LeBron James and Anthony Davis for profit.
Damon Jones originally pleaded not guilty in November 2025 to providing injury information on star NBA players LeBron James and Anthony Davis to bettors. However, he has requested a change-of-plea hearing, according to ABC News, citing court documents.
The hearing has reportedly been scheduled for April 28.
Jones allegedly twice attempted to sell personnel information to a group of bettors that included Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen. Jones, who played 11 seasons in the NBA for 10 teams, was charged by federal prosecutors in the same case involving Terry Rozier in October 2025.
He was also named in the indictment as a part of a rigged poker game with suspended Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups. Jones hasn’t altered his not guilty plea to that charge.
Insider information instance
The first occasion occurred before a February 9, 2023, game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, when he had a close relationship with James as an unofficial assistant coach.
Jones told the group of co-conspirators that James was going to miss the game. He told them in a text message to “get a big bet on Milwaukee” before the public information on James’ status was released, and Jones asked them to “bet enough” that he would get a piece of the winnings.
James indeed sat out. The Lakers lost the game, and the group of bettors profited from nonpublic information, according to the indictment. James, also a former teammate of Jones, was not implicated in the scheme.
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, using private locker room and medical information to enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement last year. “This was a sophisticated conspiracy involving athletes, coaches, and intermediaries who exploited confidential information for profit.”
Other alleged improprieties
In January 2024, Fairley paid Jones $2,500 on a peer-to-peer transaction app for injury information reportedly on Davis, who was listed as probable for the game.
The conspirators thought Davis would sit, but he played, and the Lakers won. Fairley asked for his money back, but Jones claimed it was “credible” insider information, the indictment notes.
Fairley has also pleaded not guilty and said he didn’t benefit from Jones’ nonpublic NBA player injury information.
In the other case, Jones is accused, with Billups, of luring poker players into a game rigged by the mob. The defendants, who have also pleaded not guilty, allegedly used sophisticated electronic equipment to cheat players out of millions of dollars, according to the indictment.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 11: Jacob Lopez #57 of the Athletics throws a pitch against the New York Mets during the third inning at Citi Field on April 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are close to game time today in Sacramento as the Athletics prepare to wrap up this four-game series against the Texas Rangers. This afternoon, the Athletics look to win their third-straight game, third-straight series and increase their divisional lead. On the other side, the Rangers seek the series split, hoping to leave town tied atop the standings again.
Last night, the Athletics won 6-5, catapulting into first place in the American League West. Catcher Shea Langeliers and shortstop Jacob Wilson hit two-run home runs in back-to-back innings, giving the hosts a four run lead. Wilson’s run proved to be the game winner. Rangers first baseman Jake Burger’s three-run home run in the eighth inning off A’s reliever Mark Leiter Jr. reduced the visitors deficit to one. That was the closest Texas would get as A’s reliever Joel Kuhnel continued to excel, recording a four-out save.
Left-handed pitcher Jacob Lopez takes the mound for the A’s today for his fourth start of the season. He has largely struggled his first three outings, recording a 1-1 record and 7.43 ERA. In Lopez’s last start against the New York Mets, he gave up five runs in five innings, leaving the game after the A’s 7-1 lead was reduced to 7-6. If the A’s want to win this series against their division rivals, the team needs its lanky lefty to put forth his best start of the season. If he struggles again, the A’s may consider moving him to the bullpen or Triple-A Las Vegas in exchange for a better-performing pitcher. After Lopez, high-upside right hander Jack Perkins may make an appearance out of the bullpen, depending on the game’s score and situation.
The Athletics lineup for Game four shakes out like this:
Second baseman Jeff McNeil will bat leadoff today for the first time with the Athletics. Maybe moving first baseman Nick Kurtz to the third spot in the order will snap him out of his early-season slump. Austin Wynns is catching today, yet Langeliers remains in the lineup as the designated hitter in the wake of his 467–foot home run last night. Lastly, Darell Hernáiz gets the start at third base in place of Max Muncy and Carlos Cortes is in right field with usual right fielder Lawrence Butler shifting to center field.
This afternoon will be a Leiter family reunion. Mark Leiter Jr.’s cousin Jack Leiter is the Rangers starting pitcher. The No. 2 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA entering his fourth start of the season. In his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Leiter allowed five runs in only 3 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old has good stuff, but has struggled to find consistent success. In a matchup that could be a high-scoring affair, the A’s offense needs to work counts, make Leiter exert a lot of effort and take advantage of any mistakes he makes.
The Rangers lineup for today’s series finale is missing some notable names, most significantly superstar shortstop Corey Seager, who hit a two-run home run yesterday. Even without Seager, the Rangers still have multiple dangerous hitters in their lineup. First baseman Jake Burger has been a one-man wrecking ball this series. He will likely be licking his chops today as the right-handed hitter gets to face the left-hander Lopez. In addition to Burger, Lopez must be careful when pitching to outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Wyatt Langford.
Let’s win another series today, fellas. Let’s go A’s!
Basketball nostalgia is a potent drug. I’ve spent hours watching highlights from the past, reminiscing on the glory days of NBA action.
Hoop heads got a strong dose of just that on Wednesday, when the Golden State Warriors erupted for 43 points in the fourth quarter to stun the L.A. Clippers.
Stephen Curry’s 3-point barrage, Draymond Green’s lockdown defense, and the Dubs digging themselves out of a 13-point hole stirred up memories of Golden State’s past postseason dominance and sets up a Play-In Tournament tilt with the Phoenix Suns.
But despite what my retro-heavy sneaker collection would tell you, I’m not buying this throwback.
Our Warriors vs. Suns predictions are being realistic about Golden State’s tough situational spot on Friday, and my NBA picks are siding with an undervalued home team.
Warriors vs Suns prediction
Warriors vs Suns best bet: Suns -3 (-110)
I’m a big fan of situational betting, and after hearing Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, following his team’s comeback in L.A., my “spot betting sense” is tingling.
"For one night, we're us. We're champions again,” Kerr told reporters. “I know that that may sound crazy to everybody out there, but it's a play-in game. I don't care.”
The Warriors’ motivations were already mixed heading into the Play-In Tournament, but after such a wild win and that statement from Kerr, it really feels like the Dubs are ripe for a massive letdown in Phoenix on Friday.
If you can separate from that nostalgic joy for a second, you’ll remember Golden State backed into the postseason with one win in its final eight games. The Warriors were the ninth-worst defense since the All-Star break and finished 4-10 SU in their final 14 road games.
That potential for a faceplant isn’t the only reason I’m fading Golden State. The Warriors will now hit the road for the fourth time in eight days, which is a lot of wear and tear on the aging legs of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis.
The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, get to stay home and enjoy an added day of rest and prep. Phoenix is being discounted after running into a red-hot Portland squad in the Play-In and has shown an ability to bounce back from poor performances, going 22-15 SU and 21-16 ATS when coming off a loss.
Warriors vs Suns same-game parlay
If the Suns are going to get right and put away the Warriors, it will be with defense. Phoenix plays a methodical pace and ranks among the stingier home teams in the league, allowing just 108.5 points against inside Mortgage Matchup Center, and they are 15-27 Over/Under at home this season.
Jalen Green looked great coming back from a knee injury against Portland, exploding for 35 points in the Play-In loss. He’s scored 20+ points in 15 of his last 21 games and is projected for 20 points versus the Warriors on Friday.
Warriors vs Suns SGP
Suns -3
Under 220
Jalen Green Over 18.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Green monsters
These Green guys can pack the box score for both teams. Draymond gets after it on the glass against the Suns’ small-ball lineup while Jalen keeps up his play-in performances with another huge game for Phoenix.
Warriors vs Suns SGP
Jalen Green Over 18.5 points
Jalen Green Over 4.5 rebounds
Draymond Green Over 8.5 points
Draymond Green Over 5.5 rebounds
Warriors vs Suns odds
Spread: Warriors +3 | Suns -3
Moneyline: Warriors +135 | Suns -150
Over/Under: Over 220 | Under 220
Warriors vs Suns betting trend to know
Favorites of -3 or shorter are 9-4 SU and ATS in the current format of the NBA Play-In Tournament (since 2021). Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Suns.
How to watch Warriors vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Friday, April 17, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Warriors vs Suns latest injuries
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