The NBA is investigating the Milwaukee Bucks and their handling of its player participation policy as it relates to their best player.
The league is not only looking into possible policy violations, but also the inconsistent statements regarding the health of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The league has already interviewed Antetokounmpo, members of the Bucks and the team’s doctors, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.
Antetokounmpo has not played since March 15, and the team has struggled during the absence of its star player.
The Bucks ruled Antetokounmpo out for the game against the Houston Rockets on April 2 with left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise. They were eliminated from playoff contention in late March, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Bucks co-owner and governor Wes Edens told ESPN that the team will likely pursue one of two outcomes regarding Antetokounmpo this offseason: either the team will sign the star to another extension, or he will be traded.
Antetokounmpo is eligible for a contract extension on Oct. 1.
NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum had 25 points and seven assists and the surging Atlanta Hawks routed the Brooklyn Nets 141-107 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory and 18th in 20 games.
Fifth in the Eastern Conference at 45-33, the Hawks remained 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Philadelphia and seventh-place Toronto and moved within 3 1/2 games of fourth-place Cleveland. Atlanta and Cleveland will play a home-and-set next week.
McCollum was 8 of 12 from the field, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, and Jalen Johnson had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu scored 15 points.
Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 16 points, and Malachi Smith had 15. The Nets lost their second straight to fall to 18-59.
Atlanta scored the first 10 points and led 35-17 with 1:28 left in the first quarter. It was 71-55 at the half, with McCollum scoring 16 points and Johnson 13. McCollum was 4 of 5 from the field in the half, hitting three 3-pointers without a miss.
There’s renewed hope among the United Kingdom’s Test hopefuls that County Championship success will translate to national selection following the recent Ashes disaster, which served as a wake-up call for the England team hierarchy.
MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20: Seiya Suzuki #27 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a home run during a Spring Training game against the Chicago White Sox at Sloan Park on February 20, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We were supposed to have our final two affiliates take the field tonight, but South Bend was rained out.
I no longer post anything on Twitter/X. I still go over there because the affiliates are there, but I don’t post any new content. You can find me posting some stuff at Bluesky at @joshftimmers.bsky.social. I’m not quite as active there as I used to be, but I still do some updates.
Everyone wins! Well, not South Bend, but they had a good excuse.
Iowa starter Will Sanders gave up a solo home run in both the first and second innings, but other than that he was quite sharp. Sanders got the win after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. Sanders struck out seven and walked two.
Iowa manager Marty Pevey then got two scoreless innings out of Collin Snider and one out of Ryan Rolison in non-save situations to close out the game.
Iowa put this one away with a five-run second inning. DH Chas McCormick led off the inning with a solo home run, his second on the season.
Chas McCormick DEMOLISHES one to left field to get the I-Cubs on the board! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/YSjhPx5AH5
After catcher Christian Bethancourt singled and center fielder Brett Bateman walked, right fielder Justin Dean singled home Bethancourt to make it 2-1.
After first baseman Jonathon Long grounded out, second baseman James Triantos crushed this three-run home run to make it 5-1. It was Triantos’ second home run of the year.
A three-run blast off the scorching hot bat of James Triantos gives the I-Cubs a 5-1 lead! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BhHm5sOj5i
McCormick finished the game 2 for 4 with the home run and this RBI double.
Chas McCormick lines one off the left field wall for his second extra base hit of the game, extending the Iowa lead to 6-2 in the seventh! 🐻 pic.twitter.com/0R6MhMeDtU
Minor League Rule 5 draftee Zane Mills made his Cubs organizational debut tonight. He pitched 3+ innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Mills walked three and struck out four.
Jace Beck relieved Mills in the fourth inning and promptly walked the first two batters and then coughed up a three-run home run to put Birmingham up 6-5. But he settled down after that and collected the win after the Smokies scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead. Beck’s final line was three runs on two hits and three walks over two innings. He struck out four.
Evan Taylor came on for the save in the ninth and he made it a nailbiter after a one-out walk and a two-out double. But with runners on second and third and two outs, Taylor got the strikeout to end the game. He struck out two in his one inning of work.
The third batter of the bottom of the first inning, shortstop Jefferson Rojas, clobbered this three-run home run.
Jefferson Rojas delivering the Smokies first 3️⃣ runs of the game and the first homer of the season! ⚾️💥 pic.twitter.com/YwBbYRAVtR
— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) April 4, 2026
Rojas went 2 for 4 with a walk. He also made this nice play on defense.
Cubs #5 prospect, Jefferson Rojas, with a diving stop sending us into Bottom 6.
— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) April 4, 2026
Seiya Suzuki played five innings in right field in a rehab appearance. He was 1 for 2 with a sacrifice fly. He also scored on the Rojas home run. Suzuki seemed to be moving fine to my eyes, but he wasn’t really tested out there.
DH Alexander Ramirez led off and was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks in his Cubs organizational debut. Ramirez scored twice and drove in one.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 3 for 5 and scored once.
Catcher Ariel Armas went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI double in the eighth inning. Armas also scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs home opener was postponed because of unplayable field conditions. A makeup date has not been scheduled.
Kane Kepley did double in kickball.
No. 6 @Cubs prospect Kane Kepley rips a backside double with an elite dodge at the end of the play. He’s 2-for-2 in his High-A (kickball) debut. 👀
Pelicans manager Yovanny Cuevas got three innings each from three pitchers. Starter Noah Edders allowed two unearned runs on two hits. He struck out five and walked no one.
Ben Johnson, a 17th-round pick in 2024 who missed all last season with an injury, finally got to make his professional debut in the fourth inning. Johnson gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Jordan Henriquez tossed the final three innings and got his first Pelicans win in his first game in Myrtle Beach. Henriquez held the RiverDogs to no runs and just two hits. He struck out four and walked no one, although he did hit one batter.
First baseman Cole Mathis hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that ended up being the difference in this game. It was Mathis’ second home run in as many games this year. He finished the game 1 for 4 with a walk.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 4, 2026
Carico was 1 for 3 with two walks.
In the seventh inning, right fielder Josiah Hartshorn crushed his first professional home run on a ball that I still don’t think has landed. It came with the bases empty.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 4, 2026
That is some serious power. If you’re down in South Carolina, I’d suggest getting to see Hartshorn this month because he may be in South Bend sooner rather than later.
Hartshorn was 2 for 4 with a walk and three runs scored.
Shortstop Ty Southisene went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy was 2 for 5 with an RBI infield single in the first inning.
Defensive lineman Rakeem “Nacho” Nunez-Roches has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Buccaneers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Nunez-Roches, 32, spent the past three seasons with the Giants.
In 2025, he played only nine games due to an ankle injury. Nunez-Roches still set a career-high with three sacks and made 23 tackles.
Nunez-Roches previously spent five seasons with the Bucs, playing 68 games with 22 starts from 2018-22. He won a Super Bowl ring when the Bucs won it all in the 2020 season.
The Chiefs made Nunez-Roches a sixth-round pick in 2015. He was in Kansas City for three seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on April 02, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After hitting a single in the top of the first inning and then running from first to third, Juan Soto was removed from the Mets’ game in San Francisco before the team took the field in the bottom of the inning.
SNY showed the replay of Soto running the bases, and the 27-year-old outfielder grimaced between second and third. The team proceeded to announce that Soto left the game with right calf tightness.
The Mets’ lineup has been struggling mightily since Opening Day, and if Soto were to miss any time beyond the rest of this game, it would be a major blow to the team. Soto has been hot to start the season, as he’s hit .355/.412/.516 with a 161 wRC+.
While there weren’t any major injuries in spring training, Jorge Polanco has gone from the Mets’ starting first baseman to serving as a designated hitter because of an Achillies issue to not appearing in the team’s lineup for this game. We’ll see if he returns to the lineup tomorrow, but if he and Soto miss the same games, it’ll be that much harder for the organization to get the offense going.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Sandra Abstreiter made 39 saves her first PWHL shutout, Kaitlin Willoughby scored twice and the Montreal Victoire beat the Ottawa Charge 3-0 on Friday night to take the league lead.
Abby Roque also scored for the Victoire (14-4-2-5) in front of a crowd of 17,114 fans at Canadian Tire Centre.
Gwyneth Philips stopped 23 shots for the Charge (6-7-1-11). Ottawa returned home after playing a record six straight road games.
The Victoire have already clinched a playoff spot, while the Charge are fighting to get into the final playoff position.
NEW YORK (AP) — Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Islanders 3-1 on Friday night to move within one point of the Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Travis Sanheim and Alex Bump had a goal and an assist each and Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia. Dan Vladar finished with 20 saves. The Columbus Blue Jackets are also tied with the Flyers with 88 points.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for New York and Ilya Sorokin made 17 saves in his 10th straight appearance, but the Islanders lost their third straight in a tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race.
Michkov fired a shot from behind the goal line off Sorokin’s pad early in the second period to give the Flyers a 3-0 lead.
Tippett opened the scoring, completing a forehand-backhand move off a pass from Sanheim with less than seven minutes remaining in the first period.
Bump extended the Flyers’ lead to two goals when he caught Sorokin out of position and sent a wrist shot just inside the post.
Pageau scored off a feed from Mathew Barzal with less than five minutes remaining in the second period to pull New York within 3-1.
Sanheim scored midway through the third period to restore Philadelphia’s three-goal lead and put the game out of reach.
Simon Holmstrom returned to the Islanders’ lineup after missing the previous game against the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. Anthony Duclair was a healthy scratch.
Up next
Flyers: Host the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
Islanders: Visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
Konnor Griffin entered the 2026 season with one of the most anticipated pending debuts in Major League Baseball.
And on Friday, the young Pirate did not disappoint.
The highly touted prospect, who will be 19 for another three weeks, ripped an RBI double in his first MLB at-bat as part of a 5-4 win over the Orioles, elevating the Pirates’ record to 4-3.
“It was awesome,” Griffin said, per MLB.com. “Getting a win, as well, was the cherry on top. That was hands down one of the best days of my life.”
He became the first teenage position player in the majors since Juan Soto did so with the Nationals in 2018.
Pittsburgh Pirates 19-year-old Konnor Griffin hit an RBI double in his Major League Baseball debut. The Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4. Getty Images
The RBI double was part of what became a game-deciding four-run second inning.
Griffin, who was drafted in the first round at No. 9 overall in 2024, finished the day with 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate while hitting seventh in the order.
“He just went right down and hit his stride and was able to reset in a couple of days,” manager Don Kelly told reporters after the win. “Which again, for anybody, is really impressive, especially for a 19-year-old kid whose hopes and dreams were to make the big leagues.”
Konnor Griffin (6) points to his family while being interviewed after the game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 03, 2026, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Griffin slashed an incredible .438/.571/.625 line in just five games this season with the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.
Additionally, across 122 games last year in the minors, Griffin hit .333, blasting 21 home runs with 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases.
As a result of his production, he was later honored with Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Griffin had originally committed to baseball powerhouse LSU, but ended up forgoing a career in the SEC to head straight to the pro ranks.
Griffin also earned a signing bonus of $6.53 million upon joining the Pirates organization following the 2024 Draft. He’s in the midst of finalizing a reported $140 million extension.
The Knicks started Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls on a 20-1 run and never looked back in a 136-96 win.
Takeaways
No Karl-Anthony Towns (right elbow impingement), no problem. Mitchell Robinson was fresh off missing Wednesday's 130-119 win at the Memphis Grizzlies and delivered with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double in 22 minutes. Robinson made all seven field goals and four free throws, flirting with his season-high 21 points from New York's Dec. 19 game against the Philadelphia 76ers as he took advantage of an opportunity to start at center.
Another Knick who returned from inactivity, Jalen Brunson, was aggressive and efficient early while taking a step back from the scoring and facilitating more with 10 assists in 29 minutes. Brunson's 17-point double-double included 6-of-13 shooting, looking strong in his return from right ankle soreness and doing what he should have for New York (50-28) against lowly Chicago (29-47).
OG Anunoby continues to trend up. After scoring 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting Wednesday in Memphis, Anunoby dropped a game-high 31 against the Bulls. He did so on 9-of-15 shooting, including a 7-for-10 clip from deep, and made all six of his free throws in 28 minutes. Anunoby's seven made treys are a season-high figure for the wing, who drilled four triples on eight attempts two days ago and is coming alive for the Knicks -- albeit against subpar competition -- down the stretch.
Mike Brown dug deep into New York's bench as he played nine Knicks beyond his starting five, including first-quarter minutes for Jeremy Sochan, among others. Landry Shamet and Tyler Kolek led the Knicks off the bench with eight points apiece. Meanwhile, Miles McBride scored six points on a 2-of-4 mark behind the arc with two steals in 12 minutes off the bench as he works his way back from mid-February surgery and this past week's injury scare. McBride missed Wednesday's game but seemed to bounce back nicely Friday.
Who's the MVP?
Robinson, whose opening layup and 10 first-quarter points set the tone with a physical start for the Knicks in the absence of Towns.
The Knicks, who have now won 50 games in three consecutive regular seasons, get the weekend off before they embark on their final road game of the regular season with Monday's 7 p.m. tipoff at the Atlanta Hawks.
The Los Angeles Angels have used that name since 2016, but California state legislation could result in that changing.
California Assembly member Avelino Valencia has brought the legislation forward, asking to revert the name of the MLB franchise to the Anaheim Angels as a requirement of any sale or new lease of the stadium property, according to the LA Times.
The bill is named the “Home Run for Anaheim Act.”
Anaheim was dropped from the name after the team was previously called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2005 to 2015. The team was previously known as the Anaheim Angels from 1997 to 2004, including during its championship season in 2002.
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has reportedly asked the city attorney to also explore the possibility that the MLB franchise may have violated its current lease by dropping the name from legal documents.
The team's current stadium lease extends through 2032, according to Sports Business Journal. The Angels have the option to consider extending the lease through 2038.
Arte Moreno bought the Angels from the Walt Disney Company for $183.5 million in 2003. Moreno considered selling the team in 2022 but decided the team was no longer for sale after having a change of heart in January 2023.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket as Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks defends in the first half at Barclays Center on April 03, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks have had three seasons in one. They started with Trae Young, Kristaps Porziņģis, and as a team so unanimously picked as a “dark horse” in the East, the label eventually stopped fitting. Then, they were lost, going through a 5-13 stretch and reckoned with trading the face of the franchise. A few weeks later, they did it, went 26-12, and got right to where we expected them to be, just for entirely different reasons.
The Nets? They’ve had one stagnant, numbing, gray campaign. It’s almost at an end, and that’s undoubtedly for the better.
Brooklyn started tonight with Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Terance Mann, Noah Clowney, and Nic Claxton. The latter two almost didn’t suit up, tagged with wrist and ankle soreness earlier in the week, but came off the injury report a few hours before the game. Their presence on the floor, however, didn’t offer much of a lift.
Less than a minute into the game, Jordi Fernández was already hoping for a restart. He called a timeout 58 seconds deep after Claxton and Traoré got confused on who needed to cover CJ McCollum in the corner after a simple pick-and-roll set. That only briefly stalled what became a trampling 25-8 run for Atlanta to start the game. Brooklyn also turned it over five times on their first 14 possessions.
“Poor executing on our end,” Fernández said. “Played this team four times. We just were not good enough, starting with the guys that bring the ball up the floor, tried to get us into something organized, it was very poor.”
Once more, the Nets looked to their understudies for a spark, and got it via Malachi Smith. In five minutes spanning the end of the first and start of the second period, the Long Island product went 4-4 from the field and 3-3 from deep to pull Brooklyn to within four early in the second. He could have had even more, had the first period been another half second longer…
Didn't count, but what a play. Josh Minott goes Odell. Malachi Smith puts it in. pic.twitter.com/hLlNpAdK72
“Our coaches say to find windows, because they are so aggressive, trying to steal the ball, play passing lanes,” Smith said. “Sometimes they can’t see who they’re guarding. So just, you know, kind of as a shooter, finding spots where, like they’re not. You know, little windows that are open for me.”
Of the Long Island call-ups, Smith’s been one of the most productive, and that continued tonight.
“I think just the mentality is leave to it all on the floor,” he said. “I’m someone that has been praying for this opportunity and working for this opportunity for years. So, I’m not going to take any minute for granted. I always tell myself I don’t care if I get one in or 10 minutes, I’m going to be able to go to sleep at night knowing I played as hard as I can, and then whatever happens after that, I can know I can live with the results.”
That jolt helped the Nets hang around, down 10, for much of the second. But even as Traoré got back the occasional steal and Terance Mann hit the occasional a jumper, Brooklyn couldn’t get any closer. The turnovers continued to stack and naturally progressed into fast break offense for Atlanta. The Hawks ran for 20 transition points in the first half and had 23 off turnovers. They led 71-55 at the break, posting .558/.526 splits.
Clowney and Claxton started the second half far better on both sides of the floor. Brooklyn wasn’t as over-zealous throwing two at the ball as we’ve seen before, but seemed allergic to stopping entry passes and the shots that followed in the opening two frames. But in the third, they were on time and on task getting vertical, collectively forcing three straight misses inside to begin the period. They also scored Brooklyn’s first eight points in it.
However, right as things were getting started for Clowney, they were over. With 5:37 left in the third, he got wrapped up with Mouhamed Gueye on a loose ball, who kept him pinned on the ground for a handful of seconds after a jump ball had been called. After the “play,” if you can even call it that, Clowney got up and continued jawing at Gueye and the officials. The latter gave him a second technical and ejected him.
So, now swiftly turned away from the prospect of getting production from their veterans, the Nets went back to what originally worked. Smith hit another pair of triples soon after that, making it a 10-point game yet again with just under three remaining in the third.
And again, when the Nets were ready to try and make this one a game, they were turned away. A flurry of threes McCollum, Cory Kispert, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker pumped the lead closer to 20 early in the fourth. All game, Brooklyn waited for Atlanta to cool off, but that moment never came. The Hawks shot 20-40 from three for the night, guiding the Nets to another quiet loss despite a near .50/.40 game.
In place of competitive basketball, we had another tryout from Long Island as our entertainment down the stretch.
Tre Scott, who signed a 10-day earlier this week, came in with 7:42 remaining. It was the first NBA appearance by the 29-year-old since the 2021-22 season. He finished with six points and two rebounds on 2-3 shooting in those minutes.
Tre Scott gets his first two points back up at the NBA level.
Despite sitting in the fourth quarter yet again, Claxton led the Nets with 16 points while shooting 7-10 from the field, grabbing five boards, and dishing two dimes. Smith followed him with 15 points while shooting 5-8 from the field. Traoré grinded his way to a 13/4/2 game. On the bright side, after having three straight games of four or more turnovers, he had just two this evening.
Still, Fernández indicated that the young guard left a little bit out there.
“He has taken advantage of some minutes, but not all of them,” Fernández said. “So, he has to have the mindset of taking advantage of all the minutes in place, especially right now, at this moment, these minutes, they’re very, very viable. Got to continue to coach him…If you remember, up to the All-Star break, he had a pretty impressive stretch of games, and sustaining, it’s not about the points, it was like the energy, how he communicated, everything else that he created. Right now, I haven’t seen it consistently.”
In fairness, the coach has acknowledged before that Traoré is feeling the effects of the “rookie wall.” He hinted at that again tonight. Indeed, perhaps Traoré is just tired. Perhaps we all are.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of games is. The experience, he needs to go through it to be able to come back, work, get stronger, and be able to sustain,” Fernández said. “Mentally, the NBA, it’s very, very, very hard in that regard. You see guys that have done it for many years, so they’re, in that regard, ahead of you, but sometimes with our guys, if I do get frustrated, it’s because I believe they’re very good, and I do believe he’s a high level point guard. We all think, ‘Well, he’s young, he’ll be able to do it.‘ And in my mind, I don’t are about how young he is. I know he can do it right now. So that will always be my fight.”
Five to go.
Final: Atlanta Hawks 141, Brooklyn Nets 107
Milestone Watch
Malachi Smith’s 15 points tonight against Atlanta are his second-most career points (high is 18 vs. SAC, 3/22) and most career 3-pointers made (previous high was three vs. SAC, 3/22)
With Smith’s four 3-pointers tonight, he is tied for the most by an undrafted rookie in a game in Nets history (Chris Childs, 03/18/1995 at NY, Billy Thomas, 02/09/2005 vs LAL, and Tyson Etienne, 04/10/2025 vs ATL).
Egor Speaks on VC and Development
It was Egor Dëmin’s turn to speak with the YES crew during tonight’s game. The rookie, ruled out for the rest of the season as he manages plantar fascia in his left foot, spoke with Sarah Kustok and Noah Eagle during the third quarter. He touched on how he’s worked with Vince Carter, his injury recovery, the development of Brooklyn’s team, and more.
More from Egor on Vince and how he, plus other basketball icons, have given him material to learn from this season. #NETSonYESpic.twitter.com/VNsnJAmmH0
The full interview can be found on gothamsports.com for those with a subscription.
Injury Update
Pregame, Fernández essentially said Michael Porter Jr. and Danny Wolf will not return this season. MPJ hasn’t played since March 10th having suffered a left hamstring strain. Wolf last played on March 22nd, where he rolled his ankle in a loss vs the Kings. The team diagnosed him with a left ankle sprain.
“Based on where we are right now and based on where they’re at with their rehab, and we only have one week left, they’ll be out just from where they are,” Fernández said.
Remarking on their seasons, Fernández praised Wolf’s versatility and shared that he’s looking forward to how he progresses as a sophomore.
“Danny, from shooting the ball to playmaking to rebounding to being that primary ball-handler, playing off the ball, all those things, different lineups, which I’m very happy with him,” Fernández said. “Obviously efficiency is important. We believe he’s a very good shooter. His playmaking efficiency has gotten better from college. And then defensively, I think you guys brought the point that he surprised a lot of people. He didn’t surprise us. We felt like he could do all those things and keep bodies in front, keep guys in front of the ball and guard smaller guys. So he’s been very, very good.”
Fernández also reached back for one final shot at the voters who snubbed Porter Jr. of an all-star bid this year.
“He’s played at an All-Star level. In my opinion, he should have been an All-Star,” Fernández said. “And now I want him to come back here and have a chip on his shoulder, lead the team the way he’s been doing the same way. That was a new thing for him, to lead by example and be the oldest guy. He went from being the youngest guy, or since I was with him, 19 all the way to 27, and now all of a sudden at 27 he’s a vet. So that was an adjustment. He’s done a great job, whether he used his voice or led by example.”
Next Up
The tank – ing Super Bowl takes place on Sunday afternoon at the Barclays Center. The Nets will host the Washington Wizards at 3:00 p.m. ET. Your guess as to who plays is as good as mine, but household names will surely sit out, as will the guys pictured above. If the Nets lose, they’ll tie the Wiz Kids in first place for lottery standings with four games remaining. Have fun!
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s healthy and wants to play even as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to say the two-time MVP is too injured to take the floor.
Antetokounmpo missed a 10th straight game on Friday night against the Boston Celtics due to what the team has described as a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since landing awkwardly during a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
“I’m healthy,” Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic before Friday’s game. “I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”
For the last couple of weeks, Antetokounmpo has participated in pregame warmups without showing any apparent signs of injury.
Antetokounmpo also noted that the Bucks should have known this about him since the 31-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee.
Throughout that time, Antetokounmpo has had a reputation for rapid returns from injury, most notably when he hyperextended his knee during Milwaukee’s 2021 playoff run but missed two games before returning to lead the Bucks to their first title in half a century.
“You know who you’re dealing with,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo's comments after the 133-101 loss to Boston.
“The tough part about all this is that I’m in the middle and I have nothing to do with it,” Rivers said. “Coaches don’t decide any of this. The problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front. And we have to sit here and answer this stuff. I think there are two sides to this, I will tell you that, but I don’t want to get too involved in it.”
The Bucks still had a remote chance of earning a 10th straight playoff berth at the time of that Indiana game, but they were officially eliminated from contention last week. There’s also the possibility of Antetokounmpo getting hurt again if he returns to action — he has missed a career-high 41 games this season and had two extended absences due to calf strains.
“I understand the circumstances — yes, we’re not going to be in the playoffs,” Antetokounmpo said. “For some people’s eyes, it’s not worth it for me to be out there. But for me, it’s something that goes against my nature.”
Rivers said he has a “great relationship” with Antetokounmpo and that he often talks to the superstar about what to work on and what to add to his game. Rivers added that he didn't like the “he-said, she-said” nature of this dispute and added that “this is a grown man's game, and it should be handled that way by everybody.”
“I just don’t like that this is so public," Rivers said. "This is where grown men get in a room and they talk it out. Whether they agree or disagree, that doesn’t matter. But this should not be public, and I don’t like that.”
Antetokounmpo also wanted the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, Alex, who made his NBA debut Tuesday. There was a possibility of three Antetokounmpo brothers playing alongside each other in the same game, since Giannis’ older brother, Thanasis, also is on the Bucks.
“When my dad passed away, I pretty much raised (Alex),” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s able to be on the team and suit up and chase an opportunity to be great. You really think I don’t want to suit up and play with my brother? Anybody who thinks that is an idiot.”
Thanasis and Alex both played in the closing minutes Friday night, the first time the two brothers had played together in an NBA game.
“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union said in a statement. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”
This dispute between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks comes at a time when his future in Milwaukee is uncertain. Antetokounmpo’s name dominated league-wide discussions leading up to the trade deadline, though the Bucks ultimately kept him.
Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn’t sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.
Now they find themselves at odds over how to handle the rest of this season.
“I don't think there's a bad person in this group - none of the guys that I'm talking about,” Rivers said. “They're all good people. But we've got to figure out how to put good people on the same page, and it stays inside. I've never been a fan of negotiating in the media. I don't think it's good for anybody.”
Antetokounmpo had his own take on how this could be resolved.
“I don’t know where the relationship goes from there,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’ve got to go to couples therapy.”
NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum had 25 points and seven assists and the surging Atlanta Hawks routed the Brooklyn Nets 141-107 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory and 18th in 20 games.
Fifth in the Eastern Conference at 45-33, the Hawks remained 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Philadelphia and seventh-place Toronto and moved within 3 1/2 games of fourth-place Cleveland. Atlanta and Cleveland will play a home-and-set next week.
McCollum was 8 of 12 from the field, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, and Jalen Johnson had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu scored 15 points.
Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 16 points, and Malachi Smith had 15. The Nets lost their second straight to fall to 18-59.
Atlanta scored the first 10 points and led 35-17 with 1:28 left in the first quarter. It was 71-55 at the half, with McCollum scoring 16 points and Johnson 13. McCollum was 4 of 5 from the field in the half, hitting three 3-pointers without a miss.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 3: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 and Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 3, 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 Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“We realized it was a basketball game, not a football game,” Wolves assistant coach Micah Nori said coming out of the locker room at halftime on the television broadcast on Friday night.
Nori, his usual entertaining self during halftime interviews, was referring to an abominable first quarter in which the Wolves shot just 2-14 from three and traded bricks with the home Philadelphia 76ers.
Donte DiVincenzo was struggling, Ayo Dosunmu was scoreless at halftime, and Anthony Edwards was not himself. Yet with all of those things working against them, the Wolves still found themselves up at the half heading into the locker room on the back of a strong Bones Hyland performance (21 points in the game) and a steady Julius Randle game in all facets (21 points).
Up 10 points and in full control of the game at 10:51 in the third quarter, the 76ers would assemble a 17-4 run over the next four minutes, and end the quarter up 12 points. Both Tyrese Maxey (21 points) and Joel Embiid (19 points) had quiet first halves, but were large parts in spearheading that run. Maxey particularly was relentless in attacking downhill, and exposed a weak interior for the Wolves with Rudy Gobert off the floor.
“We started to play for the foul, and they got loose in transition,” coach Chris Finch said after the game.
Maxey’s downhill mentality and Embiid’s awakening would lead to a 52-40 Philly advantage in the paint, which would ultimately decide the game.
The good news? Dosunmu woke up in the second half. Hyland was his usual energetic self, and Julius Randle looks to be rounding into form at a time of year where his team needs it most.
The bad? The franchise player is still clearly not doing well. Until playoff time, that has to be the number one priority.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 3: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76erson April 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Get Well Soon
Frankly, there’s not much more to write about this one. The Wolves got outplayed and Anthony Edwards might have had his worst game of the season. If he makes a few more shots, we’re likely talking about this game being very different.
But it wasn’t the case. Edwards went 3-15 from the field and 0-7 from three, just his third game of the season where he failed to make a three pointer. Sitting out Thursday night due to an illness in addition to his knee soreness he’s been nursing for the last month or so, Edwards gutted it out and made his return on the tail end of a back to back.
Finch said after the game that he clearly lacked juice with some of the ailments that he had heading into the game, but that it wasn’t an excuse for an underwhelming performance. I apologize for the account I’m about to drop below, but they actually put a pretty solid montage together of some of the lowlights, including the missed dunk early in the game.
Not only was Edwards not active on either side of the ball and seemed to be out of it overall, but his jumper mechanics were extremely bad. He didn’t have much elevation or balance on his shot, which historically does show that something might be a little off.
There’s no question that his knee might still be bothering him a little bit, and that he’s still clearly a little under the weather. All likely affected his game this evening. But moving forward, his health must be a priority over everything else. If this version of his jumpshot is what ends up surfacing in a couple weeks, the Wolves will find themselves in trouble.
Up Next
The Wolves will head back to Target Center for an Easter Sunday track meet against the elite offense of the Charlotte Hornets. Fifth in the NBA in offensive rating this season and the likely Rookie of the Year in the fold, Charlotte presents a good test for the Wolves, but an opportunity to get a quality win to find themselves for the home stretch of the season.
