The top two teams in Pool A square off today as Cuba and Puerto Rico each look to move to 3-0.
Puerto Rico has been remarkably stingy thus far, and my Cuba vs. Puerto Rico predictions expect its run-prevention skills to play a big part in another winning effort.
Cuba vs Puerto Rico best bet: Puerto Rico -2.5 (-115 at DraftKings)
It’s been feast or famine for Cuba in this tournament. The Cubans have struck out as many times as they’ve reached base through two games (18), with four homers helping mask a sub-.300 on-base percentage.
Puerto Rico has done a great job of keeping the ball in the park, giving up zero homers through two games. It's also allowed the lowest batting average and ranks first in team ERA.
The Puerto Ricans should neutralize Cuba’s lineup while generating enough offense to separate, capitalizing on Cuba’s high team WHIP.
Puerto Rico has conceded three runs in this tournament. It's keeping the ball in the park and limiting walks, making it tough for opponents to score.
Cuba’s profile isn’t as spotless as Puerto Rico’s, but it's only allowed five runs over two games. We’re unlikely to see fireworks.
Heliot Ramos has yet to pick up a hit at the World Baseball Classic, but he is in a good spot. He has historically performed much better against left-handed pitching, and he’ll face a lefty starter in Julio Robaina.
Heliot Ramos star player prop
Heliot Ramos best bet: Hit a home run (+500 at DraftKings)
Robaina relies on location rather than overpowering batters with elite stuff. If he misses his spot, Ramos is certainly capable of taking him yard. He owns a career OPS of .849 against lefties and excels against the fastball, which he should see plenty of.
Cuba vs Puerto Rico opening odds
Moneyline: Cuba +285 | Puerto Rico -370
Run line: Cuba +2.5 (-105) | Puerto Rico -2.5 (-115)
Over/Under: Over 10 (-110) | Under 10 (-110)
How to watch Cuba vs Puerto Rico and game info
Location
Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Date
Monday, March 9, 2026
First pitch
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FS1
Cuba starting pitcher
Julio Robaina
Puerto Rico starting pitcher
Elmer Rodriguez
Cuba vs Puerto Rico weather
81 degrees F, 14 mph winds, mostly cloudy.
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.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 8: Jericho Sims #00 and Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks box out Moritz Wagner #21 of the Orlando Magic during the game on March 8, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
Down Giannis, Kyle Kuzma, and Kevin Porter Jr., the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Orlando Magic 130-91 in yet another blowout. Without the aforementioned creators, the Bucks just didn’t have enough juice to go with the Magic, who have now taken the season series 2-1. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Another invisible Turner game. For what it’s worth, big, athletic teams like the Magic would appear to play against Myles’ strengths, and that played out last night. He was only able to get three triples up and six shots overall. Posting up is usually not a go-to for him, but especially not against that team. There was also next to no resistance on defence as he played sparingly yet again.
Ryan really felt the burden of being one of the only playmakers available last night, reflected in his five giveaways. The Magic were physical with him, succeeding in getting him off his game. I did feel like he got a raw deal on a few no-calls, though. Doc actually admitted postgame that too much was placed on Rollins’ shoulders:
“It was too much on [Ryan], honestly. Ous was the other ball-handler tonight. We just didn’t have a lot to start. We did run our stuff; didn’t run it well. They were up pressuring us… taking us out of stuff… It’s one thing to have injuries. It’s another when you have injuries to everybody who facilitates your offence. Puts you in a tough spot.”
Dieng did have a nice stretch in the second quarter, racking up four of his five dimes in the period (including a nice lob to Sims), but his shot escaped him for the game. I’ve referenced other guys who struggle with physicality; well, Ousmane might be the worst offender. The Magic neutralised him pretty well because of his lack of strength, heavily restricting his freedom with the ball (specifically his ability to come tight off screens).
BP was the one of the only shining lights last night. He was aggressive in seeking shots and, due to his recent form, was able to pump-and-go to the rack once or twice.
A better night for CT, who finally got some shots to fall amid a rough stretch. That said, I was more impressed with his six assists than anything else. On two chances where he could reasonably have shot it in the second quarter, he made the right play, hitting BP and AJ for triples.
I liked Jericho’s game. He scored eight of his 10 points in the first half, but all were dunks in which he made himself available and assertively flew to the rim with no messabout. Sims also continues to make a real difference by pursuing offensive boards. Finally, he stuck with the Magic’s guards and bigs on switches, forcing a good amount of tough shots from the likes of Bane and Banchero.
A solid game from Nance, who did most of his damage in the final frame with hustle and smart play. That said, he made an intelligent play in the first quarter, cutting from the short corner after Bobby caught it on the short roll, receiving the ball for the dunk. Gets in the right spots.
Grade: B
Doc Rivers
I thought Doc did a decent job coaching with the players available. Tough to battle that team without a creator like KPJ, who was huge in helping them get a win the last time these teams played. Maybe he should have given some of AJ’s minutes to Cam—given AJ’s struggles and Cam’s ability to get hot and score off the bounce—but I get not doing that, given CT has been off himself.
Grade: C
DNP-CD: Gary Harris
Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.,
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
I suspect the coaches are deliberately putting Ousmane Dieng one pass away from the guy running pick-and-roll, so that if/when the defence blitzes the ballhandler, Dieng is the release valve and can use his size and passing instincts to hit the open man as the defence recovers. He took advantage of this more against the Jazz than the Magic, but look for it in the coming games.
This was the second game in a row in which Gary Trent Jr. has been a part of the rotation.
Thanasis got on the court with over nine minutes left in the fourth, which is to say garbage time started early.
AJax made a nice lookaway pass to Nance in the final minutes.
The Magic were also on the second game of a back-to-back, but they played at midday the day before and thus would’ve arrived in Milwaukee at a decent time.
Orlando shot 14/33 from three (42.4%).
Paolo Banchero, who’s had a poor season relative to expectations, went 12/16 and 3/6 from three. He is shooting 46.5% from the floor and 31.0% from deep this season.
Former Buck Jevon Carter has been a part of the Magic’s rotation after getting picked up by Orlando at the deadline following his being waived by the Bulls.
Up Next
The Bucks are back at Fiserv tomorrow night against the Phoenix Suns. Catch the action at 7:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 3: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the second half of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 3, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During a January game in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks did something that should have never happened: they didn’t defend their teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns, 30, the Knicks’s second best player, was being subjected to aggressive intimidation by Warriors defensive stalwart Draymond Green, as Green is accustomed to doing to an opposing forward. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Towns drove on Green who tried to take a charge, then proceeded to trip him when he was on the ground as Towns rose up for a layup. Earlier in the game, Green had walked over to Mike Brown, the head coach of the Knicks, and exchanged pleasantries. After the game, they laughed heartily even though the Knicks lost a game that they were a better fourth quarter away from winning. Green said on his podcast that Knicks coaches chirped him throughout the game but it all felt too friendly; the spirit of friendly competition remains a good rule of law, but Green’s an antagonizer who needs to be pushed back. Furthermore, it was not the first time that Green had provoked Towns. A season ago, he called him soft, then claimed that Towns was ducking him when he missed the game against the Warriors in March. The hell with fraternizing when the opposition is attempting to punk one of our star players: if the game was competitive, then the soul of the cordial association with Green during and after the game was a corrupt comedy.
There wasn’t nearly enough of a defense of Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns, or “KAT”, as he known as, is in the midst of his second season with the Knicks. The deft shot-making that he possessed in his first season hasn’t always been there during his second season. It is easy to forget — with his struggles this season and the general criticisms about his body language and toughness that are often thrown Towns’s way — that his shot making in the fourth game of the first round against the Pistons gave the Knicks some breathing room in the form of a 3-1 series lead. Even if Brunson doesn’t do his sixth game heroics, they would have still had a seventh game at Madison Square Garden because of Towns’s clutch shots. Where Brunson is the team leader, the politician with everyone in his back pocket, the backcourt stalwart that is reminiscent of the great scoring guards of this generation, Towns is a luxurious weapon.
Towns is an earnest star. His instincts lead him to show emotion on the court, emotion that allows for the most traditional kinds of men to question his mental toughness. For instance, when Towns was told by Shaquille O’Neal that it would take a formidable one-two punch with Brunson for the Knicks to finally hoist the trophy the fans have been longing to see, Towns pushed back with some of his trademark humility and kindness. “I said you were playing soft… It’s high aspirations, of course there are going to talk about Brunson, but it’s you and your play, you have to be dominant… You played in the paint tonight, that’s the way you have to play”, explained Shaq. Shaq is from a different time, where the center was supposed to play behind the basket and although he played against Dirk Nowitzki in his prime, nor was it like athletic specimens such as Kevin Garnett or Patrick Ewing played as restrictedly as Shaq played, he believes that a big man belongs in the paint. Towns pushed back with slight vigor. “We win a championship, we can talk about anybody, as long as all we get a ring. The main goal is to win, it don’t matter who gets the credit.” Whatever one takes from this conversation, it showed who Towns is compared to the some of the legends that he grew up with. There’s such a toxic masculinity, a sense of selfish responsibility in Shaq that is catered to the ideas of 1990’s America, a guy’s guy persona that sits right next to his inability to stay out of commercials on our television screen. If receiving credit was a woman, Shaq would marry it after the first date.
Towns is much different than that. He grew up in the Obama era, where players team up in free agency together, played for John Calipari at Kentucky, where freshmen used to hone their skills in Lexington without haggle. He is the son of Jackie Towns, who passed away during COVID, and Karl Towns Sr. When Mrs. Towns was alive, you could find her cheering on Karl at the games. Everyone in the NBA has supportive parents, the trope of the no-father Black men is ridiculous, but the outward love that Towns has for his parents is apparent. The best version of Towns’s personality exists when he recollects his close relationship with his mom, and the toll that her death has taken on him and how he has fought to keep his emotions at bay whenever he thinks about her. He is an emotionally intelligent, genuine person in the sea of what is sometimes braggarts and wooden personalities. Whatever one makes of Towns’s gentleness at times, his babyish complaints to the referees and his three point launches, there is nothing cynical in him. Towns is much maligned because he does not perform the unadulterated masculinity, the traditional sense of duty and honor that some of the greatest NBA legends have performed. Not since Chris Bosh has there been a big man that is teased for not being as performatively macho as someone like Shaq is.
Sometimes Towns’s emotions on the court get the best of him, though. In the midst of being human, he can be annoying. He can be overly sensitive to contact, he can complain about the previous call when he should block it away and move on to the next possession. His lift is not the same as it was the year before and my mind immediately wonders whether Towns has an injury he doesn’t want anyone to know about it. In the year of 2025-2026, I am reminded of Sensei Sergio from One Battle After Another, who tells Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob Ferguson, “Ocean Waves, Bob, Ocean Waves.” Whenever Towns is sulking, or conversing with Mike Brown over a play or two on offense and defense, Sensei saying “ocean waves” is what I keep thinking about. Macho men like Jimmy Butler were trying to teach him that, but they forget to uplift the sensitive Towns first, before being tough on him. Towns’s methods of receiving communication is the method of a younger millennial: with kindness and collaboration. Furthermore, it is not as if being on the block would miraculously change the Knicks’s team. Towns is best used as a pick and pop player, a forward in space, a matchup nightmare for teams that put undersized players on him, and a shot maker that can hit three that no man his size should be able to hit. Other than the great Dirk Nowitzki, he is the best shooting big man of all-time, although, at 36.8%, his percentage this season has creeped down from what they were last season.
In 2024-2025, Towns’s task was score when Brunson was not on the court, take over games when Brunson was not quite there. He did that against the Pacers in the comeback third game of the Eastern Conference Finals, when Towns had a monster second half. He looked unstoppable. Knicks fans can’t expect that every time but we have seen a dominant player before and are waiting for it to come out this season. Shaq, in his twisted, selfish, slightly toxic way is absolutely correct: this team will go nowhere without Towns and he needs to take the responsibility like he knows that he can. He knows that more than he lets on even though he wants to play the role of good teammate. One can understand that it is a team sport while taking the responsibility for the hopes of a championship contending team. This is the world that the big man before him made, and although his talents are different than them, it is fine to follow in their footsteps. He knows that. As he says to Shaq after the pushback, “Legend, I agree with you”, even though to call Towns soft is to mischaracterize his style of play. Watching him defend himself alone against Green was torturous. One got the sense that he was tired of this bully attempting to literally bully him and wanted a teammate to get in Green’s face so Green would dumb his fake tough guy persona down. It must be tiring to go to war with no one next to you but the pleasant OG Anunoby. It’s just basketball, of course, but it did not inspire the tough New York kid that is inside of me. I felt for Towns after that game. He needed his brothers to tell the neighborhood bully to go away.
The Knicks know that an opposing player dissing Towns publicly and on the court can’t happen anymore. Leon Rose traded for the pest Jose Alvarado, a tough kid from Brooklyn who if he ever backed down a day in his life would not be in the NBA. Jeremy Schoen will be good for a few technical fouls come April and May. Towns’s affinity for avoiding corny macho behaviors is what makes him an unique talent but the events of Green and the Shaq interview shows that the league wants him to perform those things as if they are going to help him make shots. They won’t but the complaining to the referees adds fuel to the fire, adds to the lore that he is someone who you can disorientate. All Knick fans want is a title, or at least a trip there, a chance at surprising someone in Oklahoma City, San Antonio, or Denver, and if Towns can play like he did last postseason, the Knicks can make it there. He will be a legend in this city and beyond if he does that, no matter how Shaq and the one-step-away-from-being-part-of-the-manosphere dudes think he should play like. However, hope is not something that is myth. It is earned. The Towns that I saw last season is needed.
FORT MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This offseason, the Orioles acted like a team focused on the present. They gave out a big contract to a slugger on the “wrong side” of thirty. They traded a pitcher with four years of control for an outfielder that will be gone in a year. And they swapped a package of four prospects and one pick for a pitcher they hope will work out. It was a lot of movement, and much of it was done with 2026 in mind.
But as the team’s president of baseball operations Mike Elias has explained throughout his tenure, he doesn’t make moves without considering the ripple effects. Trading away too many young players at once in pursuit of a short-term advantage will weaken the future. And Elias has told the fanbase that the full teardown and rebuild of the organization we experienced from 2019-21 was a one-time thing. Moving forward, he wants to win at the big league level while maintaining a “pipeline” of talent that constantly replenishes the roster in Baltimore.
The degree to which all of that has panned out to this point can be argued. The Orioles organization certainly feels stronger now than it was when Elias entered the fold. But the team’s lack of a playoff win and their steep dropoff in 2025 may have left a sour taste in the mouth of those that are tired of Elias’ theory of team building. A bounce back in the season ahead, including a deep-ish playoff run, could win him back some supporters.
On paper (which is all we have until games start), the Orioles are a solid major league squad entering the 2026 campaign. Most outlets project them for 85-87 wins, which would represent at least a 10-win improvement from 2025. If they are competitive, you would imagine Elias will supplement them with a few in-season additions that could add to that total. So in Elias’ mind, he has checked the box of building a competitive big league roster.
As the O’s have improved in the majors, the focus locally has understandably shifted away from the minors. But the talent level down on the farm is just as crucial to Elias’ philosophy. They don’t need to have the absolute top-ranked prospects, as they did when the likes of Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman were coming up, but the organization does need to churn out worthwhile youngsters in order to avoid any of those lengthy dips in form up in Baltimore.
So, how does the future look? Not bad!
Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers are widely considered Top 100 prospects. Basallo has already signed a long-term deal to be a slugger in the middle of the Orioles lineup for years to come. He’s got a solid .333/.455/444 line this spring. Beavers had a huge season in Triple-A last year, forcing those in the industry to take notice. Both of them are among the favorites to win Rookie of the Year, which would net the Orioles a draft pick in the process.
Don’t forget about Coby Mayo, a former top prospect in his own right, has plenty of years of team control remaining. Suddenly, the 24-year-old looks like one of the most important players on the team. He is going to get lots of playing time with Jordan Westburg on the shelf. So far this spring he is 8-for-19 with only one strikeout.
Outfielder Nate George and pitcher Trey Gibson won’t make as immediate of an impact, but they have both made it onto radars around the league in the last year. Some outlets have them listed among their “Top 100” prospects, or thereabouts. The Orioles have given each a taste of big league camp this year and they are viewed as future impact players for the club
Some newer faces are also flashing. Ike Irish, the O’s top pick in last year’s draft, is 4-for-4 in big league camp. Wehiwa Aloy, another high pick from 2025, is 2-for-3 with a walk and has gotten rave reviews out of camp. And there is, of course, the crazy line from Vance Honeycutt; 5-for-6 with four home runs.
On top of that, we are still waiting for the wave of talent to come from the Orioles, led by Elias, finally getting involved in Latin America. Basallo is the first major arrival, but more are coming. Lefty Luis De León could make it to Baltimore this summer. Infielder Aron Estrada could be here the year after. And big righty Esteban Mejia is one to watch with his big fastball. Oh, and the Orioles just signed one of the best classes of international free agents back in January.
Although it is an imperfect measure (and a few months out of date at this point), FanGraphs attempts to quantify the value of each minor league system. It is based on their perceived quality of each prospect. The Orioles have the most players that FG actually considers to be prospects, and they have the seventh-most valuable farm system in all of baseball. The average value of those prospects is below average, indicating that the Orioles are loaded up on fringier talents, but those sorts of players can be useful depth or packaged together for an impact player.
The main goal of Elias and the Orioles has to be to win games at the major league level. They didn’t do that enough in 2025, which forced them to adjust their approach to this past offseason. We saw a more aggressive version of the team’s front office. But they did it without abandoning the future. In fact, the players coming down the pike are pretty exciting. Hopefully they will be supplementing a contending team in the years to come.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 6: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers stands on deck during a Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners at Surprise Stadium on March 6, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland has observations from camp for the Texas Rangers as manager Skip Schumaker has tough decisions to make.
Evan Grant checks out how the Rangers fared in a messy game against the Angels yesterday in Cactus League action.
Grant writes that Schumaker injected a dose of perspective into camp by bringing brain tumor survivor Cade Spinello in as a guest over the weekend.
Grant writes about roster hopeful Peyton Gray having a standout spring for Texas as the 31-year-old longshot hopes to grab a spot in the bullpen
Grant notes that the Rangers moved Jordan Montgomery to the 60-day IL and claimed the speedy Dairon Blanco from KC.
Kennedi Landry writes that the No. 5 spot in the rotation is still up for grabs in a battle that has been between Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker this spring.
Grant writes that, after throwing live batting practice on Saturday, Marc Church is nearing the end of a long string of injuries.
And, McFarland names infield prospect Jack Wheeler as a powerful No. 16 on the DMN top 30 Rangers prospects list.
Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ll be honest, even feigning the tiniest bit of optimism about some of these games is now becoming extremely difficult.
The Philadelphia 76ers begin their second of three back-to-backs in March on Monday with a visit to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Sixers will be wildly shorthanded, to say the least — the end of 2024-25 season-level shorthanded.
Tyrese Maxey, truly the very last bit of paper clips and string holding this mess of a team together, will miss at least both games of the back-to-back after being diagnosed with a right fifth finger (pinky) sprain suffered in the final moments of Philly’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Got curious when this said specifically "his right finger".
Here's some footage: it looks like Maxey is mainly grabbing the pinky of his right hand. He is able to make a fist with the hand but grabs it again. (I am not a doctor by any means, not speculating anything further) https://t.co/hTW5SSdm03pic.twitter.com/4u6nVClACL
The team announced the diagnosis on Sunday, adding that Maxey would be undergoing further testing and would reevaluated after the back-to-back.
The news comes as the team was already struggling along without the help of Joel Embiid (right oblique strain) as well as Paul George (suspension), who both remain sidelined for Monday. As of Sunday evening, VJ Edgecombe is questionable after missing the Sixers’ last two contests due to a back contusion suffered from a hard fall in a game against the San Antonio Spurs last week.
So, the Sixers will be without their top three scorers and may even be missing their fourth.
Not that there’s any optimal time for that, but this really isn’t the time if the team still has some sort of playoff contention ideas in their minds. Philadelphia have fallen to eighth in the Eastern Conference at 34-29, and the tumble may only accelerate. The Sixers are just a game and a half ahead of the Atlanta Hawks in ninth and three ahead of the Charlotte Hornets in 10th — both teams with some real positive momentum behind them that could see them jump Philadelphia sooner rather than later if the Sixers aren’t careful.
It gets to a point where you run out of things to say about this Sixers team, I’ll be honest. I’m running out of contingencies like “if they can just do this in this game” or “if they can just survive these few games” or “if they can just wait until this player gets healthy.” There comes a point when even I, someone employed to write words about these games, am simply at a loss for them.
So let’s talk about Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are coming into Monday night’s contest on the second leg of a back-to-back, having fallen to Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon. Even considering that loss, though, Cleveland is playing great basketball. They’ve won 16 of their last 22 contests, with two of those victories being consecutive wins against the Sixers on Jan. 14 and 16. And both of those came against a full-strength Philadelphia squad — Embiid, George, Edgecombe and Maxey all played.
And you can bet they’ll be looking to use this golden opportunity to get themselves back in the win column on Monday against the hospital Sixers. The Cavs currently sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference, just a game and a half back from the New York Knicks for third and four games behind the Celtics in second. They are another squad looking to actually ascend in the East, in comparison to the Sixers who seem to be trying to plummet as quickly as possible.
Coming in on the end of a back-to-back, the Cavaliers’ injury report is not due to be available until Monday afternoon. That being said, Cleveland’s only major absence on Sunday was Jarrett Allen, who missed the matchup with Boston after having to exit early from the Cavaliers’ win over the Detroit Pistons last Tuesday with a knee injury. The veteran center had been playing his best basketball of the season recently too, averaging 22.1 points and 11.1 rebounds across 12 games prior to the one he exited early. Allen is also shooting 63.6% from the floor across 51 contests.
He’s far from the only one playing good ball in Cleveland right now, though. Donovan Mitchell continues to lead the Cavaliers averaging a career-best 28.6 points in 56 games this season. Former Sixer James Harden, traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cavaliers at the beginning of February, has played 10 games for Cleveland so far, averaging 19.1 points shooting 54.8% from long range (on 6.5 attempts per outing) and 8.1 assists in that stint. Evan Mobley is also chipping in 17.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
So, coming into this Monday matchup a bit stronger than the Sixers, I’d say.
Could we see a miracle? Of course, I suppose… but it would have to be one of borderline-biblical proportions for the available Sixers lineup take down the Cavs right now.
Philadelphia — what’s left of them — tip off against Cleveland at 7 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Monday, March 9, 7:00 p.m. ET Where: RocketArena, Cleveland, OH Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament once again proved why the Land of 10,000 Lakes proudly calls itself the State of Hockey.
Saturday night’s Class AA State Championship between Minnetonka and Moorhead drew 19,648 fans to Grand Casino Arena.
This crowd was larger than 11 NHL games played that same day. Among the NHL matchups outdrawn by the Minnesota high school championship:
Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres: 19,070
Utah Mammoth at Columbus Blue Jackets: 18,668
Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs: 18,514
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins: 18,342
Carolina Hurricanes at Calgary Flames: 18,302
Montreal Canadiens at Los Angeles Kings: 18,145
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins: 17,850
New York Islanders at San Jose Sharks: 17,435
Ottawa Senators at Seattle Kraken: 17,151
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils: 16,514
Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets: 14,294
The Moorhead Spuds were down 4-1 in the 3rd Period and won the Minnesota State Championship in Double OT
For context, Grand Casino Arena's listed capacity for NHL games is 18,000, meaning the state tournament crowd packed the building beyond a typical Wild sellout.
The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament has long been one of the sport’s most unique spectacles, where student sections arrive hours early, entire towns travel across the state and players skate in front of crowds most junior or college programs never experience.
Not to mention it was one of the best games. Minnetonka was up 4-1 in the third period and Moorhead was able to come all the way back and win it 5-4 in double overtime.
People always ask why Minnesota is called the State of Hockey when the Minnesota Wild haven’t won a Stanley Cup.
This is why.
Minnetonka vs Moorhead in the Class AA State Championship drew 19,648 fans — more than 11 NHL games played the same day.
Minnesota also produces more NHL players and Division I college hockey players than any other state. Over 300 Minnesota-born players have played in the NHL, consistently leading all states in active players and draft picks.
50 players from Minnesota have appeared in an NHL game this year. 16 Minnesota natives were drafted last season.
Hockey isn’t just a pro sport here. It’s a way of life.
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Mike Jordan became Michael Jordan thanks to the Olympics.
Jordan looked back on his Olympic experiences in 1984 and 1992 in the latest installment of "MJ: Insights to Excellence" on the NBA on NBC and Peacock.
"That is very genuine," he said of playing for the national team. "That is no money involved. It's pure, pure passion and dedication to the country as well as to the game."
The 1984 Los Angeles Games took place in the summer between Jordan's final year at North Carolina and his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls. He was not yet known internationally.
Under coach Bobby Knight, Jordan led the team with 17.1 points per game as the U.S. outscored its eight opponents by an average of 32 points per game.
In 1992, though Jordan was coming off back-to-back NBA titles, some still thought that Magic Johnson was more famous globally — even though Jordan shared a building-covering billboard in Barcelona with Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka.
Jordan scored 14.9 points per game (second to Charles Barkley's 18) as the Dream Team outscored its eight opponents by an average of 43.8 points per game.
Jordan noted one contrast between those two Olympics: accommodations.
"Representing your country, feeling that energy with the United States in '84, staying in the (athletes') village and understanding and spending time with all the other athletes and seeing their passion and their efforts," he said. "In '92, we rented a whole hotel. We were away from everybody. We had a police escort back and forth to the events. It was a total different experience. I mean, if you had to ask me which one I enjoyed the most, it was '84 by far."
In 2028, the Games return to Los Angeles. Since the Dream Team, the Olympic men's basketball tournament has become more competitive — the U.S. took bronze in 2004, lost another group-play game in 2021 and led the 2024 gold-medal game by three points with three minutes left before Stephen Curry's series of three-pointers.
Jordan's thoughts on LA28?
"Basketball is so strong in the United States," he said, "I think there's no way we should lose."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Romy Gonzalez #23 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees during game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2025 in New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello and happy Monday, folks. It’s amazing that we can finally see grass again. I was going to make “How happy are you that the snow is melting?” my question of the day, but there are more pressing matters for the Boston Red Sox to attend to.
What in the world is up with Romy Gonzalez, man? As our fearless leader Dan Secatore wrote in his news and links story this weekend, the infielder is exploring the possibility of surgery to remedy the issue with his shoulder that’s been present since September. That sucks, man. Obviously we wish him nothing but good health, but is anybody here a doctor? Can someone clue me into what the hell is going on here? Fingers crossed, I suppose.
Talk about what you want, be good to each other, and go Sox.
Mar 7, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets left fielder Jose Rojas (81) does stretching exercises with a team Trainor at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland (77) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning during game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Louis Varland is a 28-year-old, right-handed reliever. He was a 15th round draft pick by the Twins, in 2019.
Louis has one option year left. He will likely be arbitration eligible after this season (Super 2) and he would be free agent eligible after the 2030 season. He could be a Blue Jay for a long time
He made it to the majors with the Twins in 2022, making 5 starts, with a 3.81 ERA. In 2023, he pitched in 17 games, 10 starts with a 4.63 ERA. Then, in 2024, 16 more games, 7 starts, with a 7.61 ERA.
We traded Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas to the Twins to get Varland and Ty France. Roden played in 12 games for the Twins with a .158/.200/.263 average. Rojas finished last year in Triple-A St. Paul, with a 6.59 ERA in 8 games, 23 walks and 28 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.
Last year, he became a full-time reliever, pitching in 74 games, 1 start (as the opener). with a 2.97 ERA and 22 holds. Batters hit .244/.304/.383 against him. He doesn’t have much for left/right splits, against right-handed batters he had a .662 OPS, .716 vs left-handed batters.
And, of course, he pitched a lot in the playoffs. He threw in 15 of our 18 playoff games. I’m sure he warmed up at least once in the other three. Louis had a 3.94 ERA with 17 strikeouts, 3 walks and 4 home runs, in the 16 innings. Once you get your manager’s confidence, he’s going to use you until your arms falls off in the playoffs.
He throws a lot of pitches, for a reliever. A Four Seamer (45.3% of the time, averaging 98.1 mph), a Knuckle curve (37.4%), a Slider (7.1%) Sinker (5.5%) and Changeup (4.6%). If I could throw a ball 98 mph, I don’t think I’d do anything else. The slider got hit hard, .677 slugging average against.
Baseball Savant tells us that Varland was very good in:
Fastball Velocity: 95th percentile.
Chase %: 86th percentile.
Strikeout %: 65th percentile.
Groundball %: 90th percentile.
Extension: 92nd percentile.
But he wasn’t good at:
Hard Hit %: 23rd percentile.
Barrell %: 36th percentile.
Average Exit velocity: 26th percentile.
Steamer thinks he’ll pitch in 67 games, 67 innings, with a 3.38 ERA.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan pitches in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game presented by dip between Team Japan and Team Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Japan winning Pool C puts them in the final eight of the World Baseball Classic, and locks them into a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday night in Miami against the Pool D runner-up, likely either the Venezuela or the Dominican Republic.
In other potential Dodgers rotation forecasting, Roki Sasaki threw a bullpen session on Sunday at Camelback Ranch and will make his next start on the backfields rather than in a Cactus League game, per Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic.
Sasaki’s spring thus far has been a mixed bag, incorporating new pitches into his repertoire. He has as many walks (five) as strikeouts in his two games, during which he allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings. Sasaki last pitched last Tuesday, which would likely line him up for his next outing, wherever it is, to come on Monday or Tuesday.
Andrew Toles last played professional in 2018, his third season with the Dodgers. In the next seven seasons since then, the Dodgers renewed Toles’ contract and placed him on the restricted list. Toles did not earn a salary in those years nor did he count against the 40-man roster, but was able to receive health insurance, as he dealt with various mental health issues.
This year the Dodgers cannot similarly renew Toles’ contract and place him on the restricted list according to major league rules, per Ed Guzman at the Los Angeles Times, to whom the Dodgers released his statement:
“We’ve been in contact with the Toles family and have worked together on how to best move forward,” the Dodgers said in a statement to The Times. “Continuing with the previous setup was no longer possible due to eligibility. The Toles family has asked that Andrew’s privacy be respected. Out of respect to the Toles family, we will not comment any further.”
Walker Buehler, who pitched last season for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, is in San Diego Padres camp this year as a non-roster invitee. I found this note from last week illuminating regarding the length of recovery time after Tommy John surgery, and the general taxing nature of pitching. From Dennis Lin at The Athletic:
Walker Buehler, who had his second Tommy John surgery in August 2022, said that after trying a variety of treatments, vitamins and supplements, his elbow “just stopped hurting” about four weeks ago. https://t.co/espJ3Jm8Ns
SYDNEY (AP) — Defending champion China edged North Korea 2-1 in a physical, high-energy game Monday to take top spot in Group B in the Women’s Asian Cup.
China and North Korea were already assured of quarterfinal spots with two wins apiece ahead of their showdown at Western Sydney Stadium. Uzbekistan finished third in the group with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in Perth, also securing a spot in the knockout stage.
Playing in its first Women's Asian Cup tournament since losing the 2010 final to Australia, North Korea only needed a draw against China to top the group. And they took the lead when Kim Kyong Yong finished off a counter-attacking goal in the 32nd minute, the first shot on goal in the game.
The lead was short-lived, though, with China equalizing two minutes later with Chen Qiaozhu's stunning strike through traffic from the edge of the area.
China went ahead in a tense finish to the first half, when Wang Shuang’s goal was awarded after a VAR review deep in stoppage time.
The VAR decision to overturn the assistant referee’s offside call upset the North Korean players and led to coach Ri Song Ho being yellow carded by referee Thi Ly Le as his team protested on the sideline. The North Korean players didn't return to the pitch before halftime was called.
Both teams had chances in the second half, with North Korea goalkeeper Yu Son Gum making a full-length diving save to Wang's powerful left-foot shot in the 78th, and then 19-year-old Choe Il Son appearing to equalize two minutes later before being ruled offside after a VAR review.
In Perth, Dildora Nozimova scored twice in six minutes for Uzbekistan, her first just two minutes after entering the game as a substitute on the hour.
State of play
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.
In Group A, South Korea edged Australia for top spot on goal difference after the 3-3 draw in Sydney on Sunday night. The South Koreans will play the third-place team from either Group B or Group C in the quarterfinals. Philippines still has a narrow chance of advancing after placing third, finishing with a win over Iran. That put Iran women’s team out of contention, and facing the prospect of a return to country at war.
In Group C, two-time champion Japan leads with six points ahead of its last group match against Vietnam, which is tied with Taiwan for second spot on three points. Taiwan finishes the group stage against India.
The Vancouver Canucks (19-36-8) kick off their eight-game homestand on Monday when they battle the Ottawa Senators (31-22-9). While Vancouver did fall in their last outing, the Canucks do have points in back-to-back games and will be looking to extend that streak to three. As for Ottawa, Monday is a must-win as the Senators head into the game just outside the playoffs.
Based on Adam Foote's comments over the weekend, there is a good chance Monday will feature the Canucks debut for Curtis Douglas. The 26-year-old forward was claimed off waivers on Friday, but did not play in either game over the weekend. Douglas is a known as a physical force, as he has already racked up 92 penalty minutes in 29 games this season.
As for the game itself, Vancouver will need to play a full-60 if they want to keep Monday's score close. Ottawa is currently five points back of the final playoff spot in the East and are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. If the Canucks can win the even-strength battle and get strong performances from their special teams, they could be skating away with their first home since January 29.
Jan 13, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson (19) checks Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Players To Watch:
Linus Karlsson:
Linus Karlsson has been a bright spot for Vancouver all season. He enters Monday on a three-game point streak and sits just three goals off the team lead. It took some time but Karlsson has finally developed into a strong bottom-six forward who has shown he can produce in limited minutes.
Dylan Cozens:
Dylan Cozens has stepped up in a big way for the Senators this year. In 62 games, he has scored 23 goals and ranks third on the team with 49 points. Cozens is also heating up at the right time as he enters Monday having scored in four-straight games.
Vancouver Canucks (19–36–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 13–25–38
Filip Hronek: 6–30–36
Jake DeBrusk: 14–18–32
Brock Boeser: 15–14–29
Linus Karlsson: 12-16-28
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 7–20–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 4–5–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Ottawa Senators (31-22-9)
Points:
Tim Stützle: 30-37-67
Drake Batherson: 23-32-55
Dylan Cozens: 23-26-49
Jake Sanderson: 11-37-48
Brady Tkachuk: 16-26-42
Goaltenders:
Linus Ullmark: 19-8-7
Leevi Meriläinen: 8-10-1
James Reimer: 3-3-1
Mads Søgaard: 1-0-0
Hunter Shepard: 0-1-0
Game Information:
Start time: 6:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 8: Haywood Highsmith#19 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets entered Sunday night with a 32–32 record, although anyone who has been following the league understands that number does not fully capture how well they have been playing recently. They have been clicking on offense, defending with intensity, and stacking wins against teams across the NBA.
That is what makes the victory for Phoenix stand out.
It was a quality win because of the opponent, although it also served as another example of the Suns’ system functioning the way it is designed to function. Look at the personnel on the floor. There was no Dillon Brooks. No Jordan Goodwin. No Grayson Allen or Mark Williams. Each of those players has played an important role in getting Phoenix to its current position in the standings. Instead, the Suns leaned on other pieces of the rotation. Haywood Highsmith logged 21 minutes. Rasheer Fleming played 23. Khaman Maluach saw 20 minutes of action.
Different spokes, same wheel.
Phoenix also showed better offensive balance than it did in the win against the Pelicans. Only 52% of their attempts came from beyond the arc, and they converted 39% of those looks. The perimeter remained a major part of the offense, although the overall shot distribution felt more controlled.
The win came from players executing the system rather than relying on one singular performance. Devin Booker delivered 30 points. Jalen Green continues to grow within the offense. Collin Gillespie added 24 points. Those numbers certainly help.
Although the deeper part of the story comes from the supporting cast. Rasheer Fleming scored 16 points, Maluach pulled down 9 rebounds and protected the paint, and Highsmith and Amir Coffey provided steady minutes.
That is the system working. The structure remains the same, the roles shift slightly, and the wheel keeps turning.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
His 32-point performance against the Pelicans earned Booker his 14th Bright Side Baller of the season.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 64 against the Hornets. Here are your nominees:
