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Devils Notch 2nd Straight Win

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 3 : Dougie Hamilton #7 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of the NHL regular season game against the Florida Panthers at the Prudential Center on March 3, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The New Jersey Devils may indeed be pulling out of the three-month slump that sank their season. Or the Devils’ very modest two-game winning streak might just be what it appears to be on its surface – a couple of wins over two teams that are somehow even worse off than the Devils. And make no mistake, that’s exactly what the Blues and Panthers are.

How bad of a season has it been for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs? Well, Florida was pretty stoked to get Tomas Nosek back in the lineup for the first time since last summer’s Cup-clincher. The Panthers were also thrilled to have Dmitry Kulikov in the lineup for just the fourth time this season.

Neither was much help against the Devils though.

New Jersey got goals from five different players and Jacob Markstrom stopped 20 of 21 Florida shots Tuesday night as the Devils put a major dent in Florida’s plans to defend its Cup with a 5-1 win over the Panthers at Prudential Center.

New Jersey went back over NHL .500 with the win. At 30-29-2 the Devils have 62 points and are 11 points back of the final wild card spot. Florida’s 63 points have them 10 back of Boston, which beat Pittsburgh Tuesday night, and the Panthers, or at least head coach Paul Maurice, seem to know that the end is near.

Down 3-1, Maurice was desperate enough he pulled goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with more than four minutes to play leading to empty netters by Dawson Mercer at 16 minutes, 23 seconds of the third and Simon Nemec at 19:20.

For just the third time in their last 10 games, the Devils scored the game’s first goal. Arseny Gritsyuk snapped a shot over Bobrovsky’s blocker at 12:10 of the opening period after Connor Brown sprung Gritsyuk and Jack Hughes on a two-on-one.

The Panthers evened it up on an Anton Lundell goal 2:27 later, but couldn’t make the Devils pay for a double minor taken by Brendan Dillon with less than a minute to play in the period. And when Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was called for hooking early in the second, it was the Devils who took advantage of the extra ice, getting a Dougie Hamilton goal while the teams skated four aside.

Cody Glass’ 14th goal of the year on a tip-in from just off the right post at 8:13 gave the Devils some breathing room.

Not that they’d need it.

Markstrom was solid for a second straight game, picking up second star honors in the win, and Mercer and Nemec buried the Panthers with empty netters in the game’s final minutes.

Up Next

No rest for the Devils, who take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m., Wednesday, at Prudential Center in another nationally televised game, this one on Hulu. The Leafs (27-24-10) are just a couple of points ahead of the Devils, who are looking to win three in a row for the first time since the western Canada road trip in late January. Toronto lost to the Flyers on Monday and is just 3-6-1 in its last 10 games.

Your Thoughts

So the Devils are whatever. … It’s hard to read anything into these games from a Devils’ perspective, but wow was that a terrible showing from the Panthers. Soft. Gutless. It was a dead ringer for the kind of non-effort the Devils have been putting out since December when the ugly reality of how many teams they had to leapfrog became clear and they completely tuned out Sheldon Keefe. They’ll get a Leafs team in very similar straits to the Panthers Wednesday night, so they might be looking at three in a row. Then again, it’s a back-to-back, and we all know how good the Devils are on short rest. But if they somehow get a win then there’s a terrible Rangers team up next on Saturday. … Does anyone think these games count and they have a chance at making a run?

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Scheifele scores in overtime as the Jets beat the Blackhawks 3-2

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored at 2:06 of overtime to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Cole Perfetti forced the extra frame for Winnipeg, tying the game 2-2 with just 38.6 seconds remaining in regulation. Dylan Samberg, who assisted on Scheifele's winner, also scored in the first period for the Jets, who went to overtime for the fourth consecutive game.

Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Greene scored for Chicago. Connor Bedard picked up two assists.

Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves for the victory. Spencer Knight stopped 29 shots for the Blackhawks.

The Jets pulled Hellebuyck for the extra attacker and netted the equalizer when Perfetti buried the late chance. The goal validated a second-period line shuffle that had Perfetti placed on a line with Adam Lowry and Gabriel Vilardi.

By forcing the extra frame, the Jets went to overtime for the fourth consecutive game. It was a crucial late push to grab two points as they kicked off a critical eight-game homestand.

Chicago’s special teams continue to be a primary driver of the squad’s offense. With Teravainen’s first-period goal, the Blackhawks now have a power-play goal in four consecutive games.

Winnipeg picked up its seventh straight home victory over Chicago and improved to 4-10 in overtime games this season.

Up next

Blackhawks: Host Vancouver on Friday.

Jets: Host Tampa Bay on Thursday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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11 Stats to explain the Cavs 113-109 win over Pistons

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 3: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 3, 2026 at Rocket Arena 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers, without the services of Donovan Mithell, were able to avenge Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons by defeating them 113-109 on Tuesday evening.

The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass.

Effective Field Goal PercentageOffensive Rebounding PercentageOffensive Turnover PercentageFree Throw Rate
Cavs54.1%, 48th percentile26%, 37th percentile10.6%, 83rd percentile23.3, 64th percentile
Pistons56.5%, 64th percentile25%, 31st percentile14.9%, 45th percentile28.6, 83rd percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

  • Cade Cunningham went just 4-16 from the field. Head coach Kenny Atkinson called keeping him in check “the key to the game.” Cleveland didn’t have Dean Wade to guard Cunningham, but they were able to do it by committee as Jaylon Tyson and Keon Ellis stepped up in this matchup. It’s worth noting that Cunningham still had 14 assists, which speaks to how good of a player he is.
  • The Pistons lost Cunningham’s minutes by 11. Cunningham drives everything that the Pistons do. If they aren’t succesful when he’s playing, they likely aren’t winning the game.
  • Cleveland’s bench outscored Detroit’s 38-32. The Cavs received multiple big contributions off the bench. Their ability to stretch the lead in the second and third quarters was critical to getting this game over the finish line.
  • The Cavs won the minutes Thomas Bryant was on the floor by 12. Jarrett Allen went down in the third quarter with a knee injury. This thrust Bryant into more critical minutes, and he performed admirably providing nine points and five rebounds in 16 minutes. “What a signing by our front office,” Atkinson said afterward. “He gives teams trouble because he can stretch the floor. … That’s really hard to defend.”
  • Dennis Schroder provided 15 bench-points. Cleveland outscored Detroit by 16 when Schroder played. His scoring and ability to set up others has trasformed this team. This was a huge pickup at the deadline that has been unfairly overshadowed by James Harden.
  • Jaylon Tyson went 5-12 from three. Teams are yet to treat Tyson as a bona fide three-point shooter. That should probably change as he’s made nights like this look routine as he came into this one shooting 46% from deep — the third-highest percentage in the league this season.
  • Both teams had 11 second-chance points. The Pistons can really hurt opponents on the glass as they’re second in offensive-rebonding this season. Cleveland neutralized that advantage as they did a great job cleaning the glass. This went a long way in securing the victory.
  • Cleveland turned it over just three times in the first three quarters. One of the best ways to ensure you have a good offense is to get a shot attempt every time down the court. The Cavs nearly did that. Doing this against a Detroit team that came into this one turning over their opponent more than anyone else in the league is quite impressive.
  • The Cavs coughed it up seven times in the fourth quarter leading to 11 points of turnovers for the Pistons. If you want to know why this game became a little too closer for comfort down the stretch, look no further than the late giveaways.
  • Cleveland is now 8-1 when Harden plays. This includes big wins over the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and now the Pistons. He wasn’t great in this game going, 5-17 from the field with five giveaways, but they likely don’t win this late without his ability to orchestrate the late-game offense.
  • The Cavs went 7-12 on corner threes. They were deadly from this spot on the floor. The drive-and-kick game from Harden helped. Three of his seven assists led to corner triples.

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Cavaliers beat the East-leading Pistons 113-109 as Donovan Mitchell misses a fourth game

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jaylon Tyson scored 22 points, James Harden added 18 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avenged a recent loss in Detroit by beating the East-leading Pistons 113-109 on Tuesday night despite playing without injured star Donovan Mitchell.

Evan Mobley also had 18 points and Dennis Schroder 15 for the Cavs, who split their four regular-season games with Detroit.

Mitchell sat out his fourth straight game with a nagging groin strain. Coach Kenny Atkinson said the seven-time All-Star is “trending better” but doesn’t know when he’ll be back to build chemistry for the postseason with Harden, who was acquired at the trade deadline.

Jalen Duren added 24 points and 14 rebounds and Tobias Harris scored 19 points — all after halftime — for the Pistons, who had their road winning streak stopped at six games. Cade Cunningham dished out 14 assists but scored only 10 on 4-of-16 shooting for Detroit.

The Pistons cut an 11-point deficit to one in the fourth, but Sam Merrill hit a big 3-pointer to help the Cavs hang on.

HORNETS 117, MAVERICKS 90

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 17 points, and Charlotte routed Dallas for its fifth straight victory.

LaMelo Ball added 15 points and nine assists to help the Hornets (31-31) reach .500 for the first time since Oct. 28 when they were 2-2.

Brandon Williams had 18 points for the sputtering Mavericks. They’ve lost 14 of 16.

Charlotte, playing on the first night of a back-to-back, got tremendous production from its bench, with the backups shooting 12 of 21 from 3-point range.

Grant Williams made four 3s, Josh Green and Sion James had three each and Pat Connaughton had two.

Charlotte was whistled for a season-high 31 fouls and Dallas went to the free throw line 42 times, making 31. However, the Mavericks made only 3 of 22 shots from beyond the 3-point arc and could never get on track offensively in the second half making just 11 field goals.

MAGIC 126, WIZARDS 109

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero equaled a season high with 37 points, Desmond Bane scored 25 and Orlando eased to a victory over Washington.

Banchero went 15 of 21 from the field as Orlando shot 55.3% and dominated with its starters on the floor to end a two-game skid. The Magic are seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Jett Howard scored 12 points and Jalen Suggs, Jevon Carter and Moritz Wagner had 10 apiece for an Orlando team that was missing injured regulars Anthony Black (quad), Wendell Carter Jr. (ankle) and Franz Wagner (ankle).

Rookie Will Riley scored 19 points and Jaden Hardy added 18 for the Wizards, who had nine healthy players available and lost their sixth straight.

KNICKS 111, RAPTORS 95

TORONTO (AP) — Jalen Brunson had 26 points and 10 assists, Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and New York beat Toronto for its fifth win in six games.

After snapping San Antonio’s 11-game winning streak on Sunday, the Knicks ran their win streak against Toronto to 12. The Raptors last beat New York on Jan. 22, 2023, a 125-116 win at Toronto.

The Knicks (40-22) became the third Eastern Conference team to reach 40 wins, joining Detroit and Boston. OG Anunoby scored 15 points against his former team, Landry Shamet and Josh Hart each had 12 and Mikal Bridges added 11 for New York.

Brandon Ingram scored 31 points and RJ Barrett had 20 for Toronto, which lost its fourth straight at home and dropped to 4-10 against Atlantic Division opponents.

Toronto’s Scottie Barnes scored 14 points, and Immanuel Quickley had 13 points and 12 assists.

New York had 17 turnovers, leading to 22 points for Toronto. The Raptors were sloppy, too, making 15 miscues that led to 17 points for the Knicks.

New York’s reserves outscored Toronto’s 26-8.

HEAT 124, NETS 98

MIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo had 23 points, nine rebounds and six steals, and Miami beat Brooklyn in the opener of a two-game series.

Tyler Herro added 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 20 for the Heat, who won for the fifth time in seven games.

Adebayo and Herro each had 15 points at halftime, while Jaquez and Andrew Wiggins both had 13 as Miami built a 69-54 lead. The Heat shot 53% in the first two quarters before pulling away in the fourth quarter and leading by 27.

Noah Clowney scored 17 points for the Nets, who lost their ninth straight. Ziaire Williams had 16 points and Nolan Traore added 14.

Nets leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. had a miserable night, going 3 for 17 and missing all nine 3-point attempts. He finished with nine points.

Brooklyn hasn’t won since consecutive victories nearly a month ago.

SPURS 131, 76ERS 91

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dylan Harper scored 22 points and Victor Wembanyama needed only 10 to help San Antonio bounce back from its first loss in 12 games and rout Philadelphia.

The Spurs hit 18 3-pointers and wrapped their annual rodeo road trip with a 5-1 record. They had won 11 straight games overall before they lost Sunday to the New York Knicks.

No worries in Philly about a losing streak. San Antonio never trailed and led by 49 points at the end of the third quarter.

Devin Vassell hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points for the Spurs.

Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points for the Sixers. They scored only 11 points total in the third quarter.

THUNDER 116, BULLS 108

CHICAGO (AP) — Jared McCain scored 20 points, Isaiah Joe added 19 and Oklahoma City — playing without star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — beat Chicago.

The defending NBA champion Thunder held out Gilgeous-Alexander to manage an abdominal strain that sidelined him for most of last month. But even without the reigning MVP, they had more than enough to win for the sixth time in seven games. They lead the Western Conference at 48-15.

McCain made four 3-pointers. Aaron Wiggins scored 18 points. Jaylin Williams had 17 points and 16 rebounds. Cason Wallace had 17 points, and Chet Holmgren added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Collin Sexton scored 20 points for Chicago, including a 3 in the closing minute that cut it to 112-106. But the Bulls got back to losing after stopping an 11-game skid with a lopsided win over Milwaukee on Sunday.

Guerschon Yabusele had a season-high 18 points and 12 rebounds for his third double-double in 11 games since a trade-deadline deal with New York. The 6-foot-8, 283-pound Frenchman made four 3-pointers.

TIMBERWOLVES 117, GRIZZLIES 110

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 41 points as Minnesota overcame a sluggish first half to beat Memphis.

The Timberwolves, who moved into fourth in the Western Conference over the weekend, have won four in a row and seven of eight. Memphis saw its two-game winning streak end.

Julius Randle added 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Wolves and Ayo Dosunmu contributed 14 points off the bench.

Jaylen Wells led Memphis with 19 points and Cedric Coward added 15. Memphis went on a 12-2 run to cut it to four points in the final minute but couldn’t complete the rally.

Edwards, fresh off being named Western Conference Player of the Week, took over in the fourth quarter. He scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Wolves pulled away. It was his ninth 40-point game of the season, and fans serenaded him with “MVP!” chants in the final minute.

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Lawal scores 20 in Virginia Tech's 72-63 win over Boston College

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Tobi Lawal scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Neoklis Avdalas added 15 points and six rebounds, and Virginia Tech got by Boston College, 72-63 on Tuesday night.

Amani Hansberry and Ben Hammond each scored 11 for the Hokies (19-11, 8-9 Atlantic Coast Conference), who improved to 14-3 at home this season.

Virginia Tech led for all but 47 seconds of game time, taking the lead for good on an Avdalas 3-pointer to open the scoring. They led 35-24 at half after a 6-0 BC run brought the lead from 17 to 9.

The Hokies shot 43% from the floor and 46% from deep, while Boston College was 42% and 23% respectively.

The Eagles (10-20, 3-14) cut the lead to as few as six points late with a 9-0 run, but Tech held on to preserve the victory. BC won the glass battle, 36-32, and scored 42 of their points in the paint.

BC was led by Boden Kapke's career-high 25 points along with eight rebounds and Fred Payne's 16 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals. The Eagles lost their second straight game and have dropped nine of their last 10 contests.

Up next

Boston College: hosts Notre Dame on Saturday.

Virginia Tech: visits No. 13 Virginia on Saturday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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From the Pocket: AFL’s Final Siren documentary is slick but forgettable

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You can’t turn on a television right now without stumbling across a football documentary. The highlight of the current crop is surely Adam Kingsley’s paint peeling spray at half-time of last year’s Sydney derby in the GWS Giants documentary No Holds Barred. It was reminiscent of Leyton Orient’s John Sitton berating his team of hapless, bewildered scrubbers in the 1990s. Unlike the Orient, Kingsley’s Giants responded well to the blast.

Of all of them, Amazon Prime’s Final Siren: Inside the AFL had the biggest budget and the most hype. It promised “war without weapons”, which was a bad start, and which itself was the title of a footy documentary from the late 1970s. Netflix’s Drive to Survive was very much pitched at people who normally couldn’t give a stuff about car racing. Likewise, The Test was a way of reconnecting the Australian sporting public with a national cricket team that had very much been on the nose. I’m not sure what the purpose of this one is – whether it’s to make the sport accessible for overseas people who have never seen a game of Australian rules, or to whet the appetite of rusted-on fans on the eve of the season.

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Juan Soto electrifies home Dominican Republic crowd with 431-foot home run in WBC tune-up

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Juan Soto rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Detroit Tigers, Image 2 shows Baseball player Juan Soto #22 of the Dominican Republic hits a home run

The party was on after Juan Soto drilled a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth during an exhibition game between the Dominican Republic and the Detroit Tigers. 

The two-run blast to right field by the Mets’star broke a 4-4 tie as the Dominican Republic defeated the Tigers 12-4 in the World Baseball Classic tune-up game on Tuesday night in Santo Domingo. 

The go-ahead home run sent Estadio Quisqueya into pure jubilation as the fans celebrated the on-field moment. 

Soto himself seemed to take in the moment a little bit more, pointing up toward the crowd as he rounded first base and clapping his hands above his head as he made his way around third. 

After he crossed home plate, he did a special handshake with Fernando Tatis Jr. and the two began dancing with one another. 

Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a two-run homer during the fourth inning of the Dominican Republic’s 12-4 blowout win over the Tigers at Estadio Quisqueya on March 3, 2026. Getty Images

The home run went 431 feet and came off his bat with a velocity of 107.3. 

The party did not stop with Soto’s home run. 

The Dominican Republic team saw Manny Machado and Junior Caminero hit back-to-back home runs later in the inning to break open the game. 

Soto went 2-for-4 in the contest and ended the night with an RBI single. 

More than 10,000 fans packed into Estadio Quisqueya on Tuesday night to see the game, marking the first time that the Dominican Republic’s national team had faced a Major League Baseball organization. 

Juan Soto hits a two-run homer during the fourth inning of the Dominican Republic’s blowout win over the Tigers at Estadio Quisqueya on March 33, 2026 in Santo Domingo. Getty Images

Soto was not the only Met in the lineup for the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night. 

Mets pitcher Huascar Brazoban took the mound for the DR and struck out two batters in the ninth inning. 

The Dominican Republic will face the Tigers again on Wednesday at 2:05 p.m.

The DR begins pool play in the World Baseball Classic on Friday against Nicaragua at loanDepot Park in Miami. 

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Nashville Predators Trade Cole Smith To Golden Knights For Christopher Sedoff, Draft Pick

The Nashville Predators front office is staying busy, making their second trade of the night to send Cole Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights for defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 3rd round draft pick. 

This is the second transaction the Predators have made on Tuesday night as they sent Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild for a 2028 2nd-round draft pick. 

The Predators now have nine picks in the 2028 NHL Draft: two in the second and third rounds, one in the first round, and rounds four through seven. 

"We're going to miss two great people," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said on McCarron and Smith getting traded. "Two big parts of our culture and what they bring every day. They're wonderful people and kind of like family. It's sad to see them go, but I'm hoping for the best. They both have a good opportunity to go on a long run.

"We're going to miss them. It's a sad day here today." 

Smith's trade was written on the walls as he played just three seconds in the Predators' 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, likely due to the trading rule. Smith was originally scratched alongside McCarron. 

The 30-year-old, 6-foot, 3-inch center signed with the Predators out of college in 2020 and has 271 games with the team. This season, Smith had 10 points (6G, 4A) in 41 games and 31 penalty minutes, skating on Nashville's fourth line. 

Nashville Predators Trade Michael McCarron To Wild For 2028 2nd Round PickNashville Predators Trade Michael McCarron To Wild For 2028 2nd Round PickPredators ship physicality to the Wild for future draft capital. McCarron's departure reshapes Nashville's roster and future plans.

He is in the final year of a 2-year, $2 millon contract and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. 

Sedoff, a 24-year-old, 6-foot, 2-inch defenseman, was signed by the Golden Knights to a  3-year, entry-level contract in 2023, worth $2.61 million, which will expire at the end of this season. 

Sedoff has yet to play an NHL game, spending three seasons with the Henderson Silver Knights. This season, in 38 games, Sedoff has no goals, four assists and 15 penalty minutes. 

This is the third transaction the Predators have made with the Golden Knights since July 2024, after signing Jonathan Marchessault and trading for Nic Hauge. 

The Predators have about $30 million in cap space at the deadline, with seven contracts expiring this offseason.

Michael Bunting, Erin Haula, Tyson Jost and Nick Blankenburg will all be unrestricted free agents.

Justin Barron and Zach L’Heureux will be restricted free agents.

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Max Fried admits he was ‘definitely rusty’ in spring debut as he looks to get sharp for Yankees

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) throws a pitch against Panama in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) throws a pitch against Panama in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

TAMPA — By the end of his spring debut Tuesday, Max Fried was pleased that he had hit his pitch count of 56, with the side bonus of keeping Panama off the scoreboard.

It just might not have always looked pretty along the way, as the Yankees left-hander scattered three walks and one soft single across three-plus shutout innings in an 11-1 win at Steinbrenner Field.

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“Definitely rusty, definitely out of sync,” Fried said. “But hit the capacity, the limit, the volume that we needed. Been doing a lot of live [batting practice sessions] in the backfields and nothing can recreate getting into a game with an umpire and different jerseys and all that. 

“Definitely was able to check the boxes off on that, but definitely rusty.”

For a veteran like Fried, the results matter little at this time of the year.

But as he works to get his seven different pitches feeling sharp by the time the regular season rolls around, he is focused more on his execution.

Through his first two innings, 14 of his 25 pitches were balls, but he was able to get out of both frames by generating a double play to end each one.

Max Fried throws a pitch during the Yankees’ 12-1 blowout win over Panam at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 3, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“Control was a little off, but stuff was good,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He was throttled back probably a hair, he was still popping some 95s in there, but for the most part trying to execute different things. He’s always working on specific things.”

That includes controlling the running game — a forte of Fried’s — so he was happy to have the challenge of teammate (and on Tuesday, Panama’s) José Caballero dancing off of first base with two outs in the third inning. 

“That was perfect,” said Fried, who threw over to first base twice before delivering a 96 mph fastball that struck out Allen Córdoba to end the inning. “That was exactly what I wanted. First time in a game, having one of the best base runners in the baseball trying to play a little cat and mouse game, I’m paying attention to him and trying to hold him on but also pitch and stay aggressive at the plate. Couldn’t have asked for a better little matchup there.”

Yankees pitcher Max Fried poses for a photo at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Cody Bellinger (back) took batting practice on the field Tuesday morning and is scheduled to take live batting practice Wednesday before returning to game action on Thursday.

“I think he’s fine,” Boone said. 

Carlos Rodón threw a bullpen session Tuesday morning that simulated two innings and included breaking balls, a positive sign that he could be getting close to facing hitters for the first time in his rehab from elbow surgery.

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Bill Self ejected from Kansas basketball game at Arizona State

In his team’s first game of March, Bill Self watched Kansas men’s basketball fall behind a middling Arizona State team by seven points in the first half. 

Apparently, he’d seen enough.

The legendary Jayhawks coach was ejected from the matchup against the Sun Devils on Tuesday, March 6 with 6:07 remaining in the first half and No. 15 Kansas trailing, 23-16. ASU went on to upset No. 15 Kansas, 70-60.

Self appeared to be arguing a foul call against freshman phenom Darryn Peterson, which sent Arizona State to the free-throw line with a chance to extend its lead. He was assessed a double technical for his efforts, and Self was ejected.

BRACKETOLOGY: NCAA tournament projection has changes on bubble

With Self back in the locker room, the Jayhawks are being led the rest of the game by assistant coach and former Kansas star Jacque Vaughn. Vaughn picked up a technical foul with 43 seconds remaining in the first half.

It is just the third ejection of Self’s head-coaching career, which began in 1993 at Oral Roberts.

After an eight-game win streak appeared to right a frustrating season, Kansas has lost four of its past six games, with each of those losses coming by double-digit points.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Self ejected from Kansas basketball's game at Arizona State

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Mets’ Francisco Lindor takes rehab step in right direction with another coming quickly

Bench coach Kai Correa (r.) works on fielding drills with Francisco Lindor (l.) and Marcus Semien during a Mets' spring training practice on March 3, 2026.
Bench coach Kai Correa (r.) works on fielding drills with Francisco Lindor (l.) and Marcus Semien during a Mets' spring training practice on March 3, 2026.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Lindor, sidelined following surgery for a broken hamate bone in his left hand, played catch for the first time since the injury Monday and is expected to begin taking full swings by Wednesday, Carlos Mendoza said.

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“He’s doing light defensive drills [and] incorporating more baseball activities,’’ the manager said.

Lindor hopes to be able to be ready by Opening Day on March 26, saying Saturday he was “still optimistic” about the goal.

Tuesday was a step in that direction and there is confidence in camp that as long as Lindor continues to trend that way, that he’ll be able to get enough at-bats this spring to not miss any time during the regular season.

Ronny Mauricio displayed his athleticism at short in the Mets 6-3 win over Team Nicaragua at Clover Park, as he and Vidal Bruján fill in during the spring.

Bo Bichette (left), Francisco Lindor (center), and Marcus Semien (right) walk together during spring training. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Jonah Tong is going heavy with his new pitch, the cutter, this spring.

He used it early and often throughout his outing against Team Nicaragua at Clover Park.

When he came up late in the season a year ago, Tong mostly featured a four-seam fastball, and Tuesday he used the cutter on 39 percent of his pitches, throwing it to both righties and lefties.

“I thought the cutter was really good,” said Tong, who allowed one run on five hits in 2 ²/₃ innings, striking out three and walking none in his 54-pitch outing.

“I got some swing-and-miss and filled up the zone with it,’’ the right-hander said.

Mendoza liked the fact Tong was persistent with the pitch in different situations as he grows accustomed to using it in game situations.

Jonah Tong delivers a pitch during the Mets’ 6-3 win over Nicaragua during the first inning at Clover Park on March 3, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“He used that cutter a lot,’’ the manager said. “It came and went, but he kept going to it.”

The goal, Tong said, is to take the pitch that’s similar to the slider he’s had in his arsenal and be able to throw it in the strike zone.

“Seeing it take off is nice,’’ Tong said.

Luis Robert Jr. is slated to appear in a game for the first time this spring Wednesday, as Mendoza said he’ll be in center field in the same minor league game Nolan McLean is starting. 

The Mets have been cautious with their new outfielder due to his injury history.

“From the beginning [of camp] we’ve put together a progression,’’ Mendoza said. “It’s about strength with his lower half. He’s doing full activity. We just wanted to be careful.”

Jorge Polanco has so far only played first base in simulated games this spring, but he’s scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut at his new position Thursday, according to Mendoza.

The manager said they want to get Polanco at first “as much as possible,’’ although he’ll likely continue to DH on a somewhat regular basis in games.

“If he needs more reps he can go on an off day and play a minor league game,’’ Mendoza said. “He feels good.”

Prospect Chris Suero saw time in left field and hit his second homer of the spring.

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Minus lead scorer Haggerty, McGriff and Johnson help Kansas State hold off West Virginia 65-63

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Khamari McGriff scored 18 points and Nate Johnson scored 16 points and Kansas State delivered another blow to West Virginia's NCAA Tournament hopes holding off the Mountaineers 65-63 on Tuesday night.

Reserve Chance Moore scored 18 points, Brenen Lorient scored 14 points, reserve DJ Thomas 12 and Honor Huff 11 for West Virginia.

It was the first win of the season for the Wildcats in which they didn't score 81-or-more points.

PJ Haggerty, the nation’s third-leading scorer, was unexpectedly scratched from the Wildcats' lineup posted an hour-and-a-half before the 7 p.m. CT tip-off. Haggerty wasn't listed on the team’s initial availability report released Monday.

Kansas State said in a release that Haggerty sustained an injury in practice in recent days. He’s listed day-to-day ahead of Saturday’s matchup at Kansas. Haggerty, the Wildcats’ starting point guard, entered Tuesday night second in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 23.3 points per game.

Despite his absence Kansas State (12-18, 3-14) used a 21-0 run to take a 48-31 lead with 10:53 remaining, its longest scoring run of the season.

But the Wildcats proceeded to leave the door open failing to score a field goal in the final 3:48. McGriff made two free throws for a 57-39 lead with a 7:29 left.

West Virginia (17-13, 8-9) then outscored the Wildcats 19-1 down the stretch and got to with 61-58 with 48 seconds left before McGriff and Johnson each made foul shots to secure the win.

Up next

West Virginia: Wraps up the regular season on Friday against UCF.

Kansas State: Ends the regular season on the road against 14th-ranked state rival Kansas on Saturday.

___

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Cubs BCB After Dark: Who will lead the Cubs in home runs?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 09: Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs hits a home run during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 09, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s another night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest nightspot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. You know you’re always welcome here. Come on in and spend some time with us. There’s no cover charge. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night I asked for your opinion about the World Baseball Classic. Most of you were reasonably positive about it as 38 percent of you said you “Like it” and 26 percent of you said that you “Love it.” Only six percent of you want to see it discontinued.

On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I always have time for jazz, so you’re free to skip that now.

Tonight we have pianist Jacky Terrasson playing the Michel Legrand music from maybe my favorite movie musical of all time, “Les parapluies de Cherbourg” (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). This is a much more upbeat version of the music than the more melancholic take that’s in the film.

Joining Terrasson is Kenny Davis on bass and Alvester Garnett on drums. This performance is from 2024.

Welcome back to everyone who skips all that jazz.

Tonight’s question is simple. Where are the Cubs going to get their power? Who is the biggest home run threat on the team?

So who is going to lead the team in home runs? Every year I ask this question and I don’t think we’ve ever predicted right. Since 2020, the Cubs’ team home run leader has been a surprise more often than not:

2020: Ian Happ—12

2021: Patrick Wisdom—28

2022: Patrick Wisdom—25

2023: Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel—26

2024: Ian Happ—25

2025: Michael Busch—34

I don’t think any of those winners were expected at the start of the season. Wisdom came out of nowhere twice. I suppose Busch was a reasonable pick this time last year, but was he really favored over Kyle Tucker or Seiya Suzuki? Bellinger doesn’t look unreasonable in retrospect, but he was coming off getting non-tendered by the Dodgers. On top of that, he only tied with Christopher Morel, who was also a shock winner of the Cubs HR title.

So with the understanding that we’re all likely to be wrong, who will hit the most home runs for the Cubs in 2026?

I hope I don’t have to explain who any of these people are.

Thank you for stopping by tonight. We were glad to host you. Please get home safely. Tell us if you need us to get a ride for you. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.

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Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Pistons – Jaylon Tyson plays his role to perfection

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 03: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons brings the ball up court around Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Rocket Arena on March 03, 2026 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 113-109. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

WINNER – Jaylon Tyson

Earlier this week, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson was asked what the ideal role for Jaylon Tyson is. His response? Defend, rebound, and make open shots.

I’d say Tyson checked all of the above tonight.

Tyson led the Cavs with 22 points on 5-12 three-point shooting. Each of his makes came off the creation of other players, knocking down catch-and-shoot opportunities to punish the defense and reward his teammates. Tyson also played superb defense throughout the night, at times checking Cade Cunningham and helping to “drain his battery,” as Atkinson put it.

As for the rebounding, Tyson only finished with 3 rebounds. But make no mistake, he was fighting for every loose ball and boxing his man to secure defensive stops. All in all, it was everything the Cavs envisioned him doing in a big win over an Eastern Conference rival.

It can be tough for a young player to have their place in the rotation juggled as much as Tyson has recently. But when the details of the job are as clearly defined as they are, it makes it easier for Tyson to slot back into his role on any given night.

LOSER – Injuries

It feels like the Cavs have been bitten by the injury bug all season. They’ve been without key plays throughout the year, including tonight. And as the game went on, they lost another one.

Jarrett Allen left this game in the third quarter with a knee injury. It appeared to be a non-contact injury that happened as Allen was going after a rebound. That’s something no one likes to see. Until we find out more, we won’t know how bad this is. We’re hoping the four days off are enough to get Allen healthy and back on the court.

WINNER – The James Harden Step Back

Everyone is aware of James Harden’s patented step-back jumper. For many of us, that jumper brought nothing but pain for the past decade and a half.

But now that he’s doing it in a Cavs jersey? I have to say, it’s a piece of art.

Harden began this game by slamming on the brakes and nailing a step back jumper. A few minutes later, he turned Ausar Thompson fully around before smacking another three. Finally, he sent Cade Cunningham to Parma with a step-back that brought the crowd to its feet. Harden let that one linger, doing a mini-shimmy before (tragically) missing the attempt.

This wasn’t an efficient game from Harden. In fact, those two step-back jumpers were the only three-point shots he made tonight. But you know what, he made each one count.

WINNER – Hustle

We’ve all heard it. The Cavs are soft and can’t handle intensity. Certainly not against a bruising, physical team like the Pistons.

So, what happened tonight?

Cleveland established an early lead by beating the Pistons to loose balls. They gobbled up second-chance opportunities throughout the first half, setting the tone that they wouldn’t be folding over and taking a big loss on the glass tonight.

The Pistons eventually won the rebounding battle 44-38, but the Cavaliers finished with more offensive rebounds. And they forced Detroit into 13 turnovers behind 7 steals. The tenacity that Cleveland played with made it seem like maybe the difference in perceived toughness won’t matter so much once the ball is actually tossed into the air.

I don’t want to jinx anything, obviously. But this is consecutive games against the Pistons, where physicality was simply not a concern. The Cavs met and passed the test.