BOSTON — Late in the fourth quarter of the Celtics 102-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Payton Pritchard crouched down in pain on the TD Garden parquet and clutched his left hand. Moments later, the Celtics guard headed into the locker room, his injury status seemingly up in the air.
But, much to the relief of the Celtics fans who braved the winter storm to watch Jrue Holiday and Rob Williams make their triumphant returns, Pritchard returned just a few minutes later and closed out the final 42 seconds of the ball game. The Celtics put away the Blazers, and improved to 29-17 on the season — the Eastern Conference’s second-best record.
Afterwards, Pritchard revealed that the injury was nothing too concerning; he simply re-injured a pinky finger that’s been bothering him for the past month.
Pritchard looked like he aggravated a left pinky/hand injury that he already had wrapped. Left the game with just under 3 minutes remaining. pic.twitter.com/asMuxx7cj4
“I’ve been dealing with it, jamming it back and forth, and then he just kind of hit it,” Pritchard said, explaining his finger turned sideways.
Pritchard said he thinks he first hurt his finger when the Celtics faced the Trail Blazers on December 28th. But it’s not something that’s put him on the injury report; he’s only missed one game in January, and that was due to listed ankle soreness.
“When you play basketball, you deal with finger injuries,” Pritchard said.
Payton Pritchard put together another strong showing vs the Blazers
On Monday, Pritchard beat both the end-of-first-quarter and halftime buzzers, while tallying 23 points on 8-16 FG, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The finger injury doesn’t appear to have slowed down his production. This year, Pritchard is averaging 16.8 points while shooting 45.1% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range.
In January, his counting stats have slightly decreased, but his efficiency has improved; he’s averaging 15.9 points and shooting 46.6% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range. All season long, Pritchard has had one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the NBA; he’s averaging 5.3 assists and 1.1 turnovers per game.
After the win over the Blazers, Pritchard said the discussions around the Celtics taking a step back this season were motivating.
“People have been doubting me my whole life,” he said. “For me, it’s like show up, go to work, figure out how to win games — and prove people wrong. So, nothing changed for me in my mindset.”
BOSTON — Jrue Holiday ran into Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, Celtics staffers and Jordan Walsh while doing mobility drills in the hallway on Monday afternoon. Walsh and Holiday, who mentored the rookie during his first NBA season, talked about shoes. Walsh inquired if Holiday had anything for him. Holiday quipped Walsh doesn’t wear his shoe size.
“Different on the other side now, but it feels good,” Holiday told reporters moments before Celtics-Blazers. “Glad to be back, see a lot of familiar faces and excited to play.”
Holiday again discussed the Celtics’ front office being upfront that he would likely be traded last offseason due to second apron penalties, and appreciated the heads-up Stevens gave before Boston executed a trade to send him to Portland. Holiday briefly landed with the Blazers in 2023 in the Damian Lillard trade before Portland flipped him to Boston in a trade that involved Robert Williams III. Williams III also made his first on-court return to the TD Garden since that trade on Monday after two injury-riddled seasons away from Boston.
Those relationships from that brief crossover helped Holiday land more softly with the Blazers this time around, who he’s led through their continued rebuild, Chauncey Billups’ arrest in October, Lillard’s recovery from Achilles surgery in his return to the Blazers and Tiago Splitter’s ascension to interim head coach. Holiday missed 27 games with a hamstring injury, sitting out the Blazers’ win over the Celtics in Portland late last month before returning to average 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 46.2% shooting through his first six games back. He hasn’t been surprised with the Celtics’ success since losing him and several contributors to the 2024 championship.
“I knew that they’d do well, knowing the type of determination that this coaching staff and organization has,” Holiday said. “Being with this team for a couple of years now and knowing the type of players that they are and how they prepare, I figured that they’d be good and obviously knowing Jaylen, I feel like he takes a lot of things personally, so he doesn’t accept a lot, especially when it comes to being bad.”
Holiday said Jaylen Brown took the postseason loss to the Knicks in May personally, and credited Joe Mazzulla’s communication and coaching methods for their success as well. He also mentioned Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Queta and the coaching staff’s defiance to being proven out as drivers of success this season.
Mazzulla, who usually doesn’t comment on opposing players, even family members and returning Celtics, made an exception for Holiday. He praised Holiday’s off-court contributions as much as what he brought to Boston on the court, which included an XChange business incubator program across several cities including Boston, that Holiday remains invested in alongside Brown.
“The biggest thing that stands out is who he is as a person,” Mazzulla said. “When you take a look at a guy who’s a champion and an All-Star and comes in and accepts a completely different role, and does it with a smile on his face and does it with a level of respect and professionalism and is willing to do what it takes to win every night … the love he had for his wife, taking a year off and being there for his family and his kids and the relationship that he and his wife have, all that stuff sticks out more than the basketball, so it was great having him for the time that we did and I love him to death.”
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins host the Nashville Predators after Elias Lindholm scored two goals in the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers.
Boston has gone 19-8-1 in home games and 30-20-3 overall. The Bruins have committed 257 total penalties (4.8 per game) to rank first in the league.
Nashville has gone 10-11-2 in road games and 24-23-4 overall. The Predators have a -29 scoring differential, with 145 total goals scored and 174 given up.
The teams meet Tuesday for the first time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: David Pastrnak has scored 21 goals with 45 assists for the Bruins. Charlie McAvoy has three goals and nine assists over the last 10 games.
Steven Stamkos has 25 goals and 12 assists for the Predators. Ryan O'Reilly has seven goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 8-1-1, averaging four goals, 7.2 assists, 3.7 penalties and 10 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
Predators: 5-5-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.7 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
INJURIES: Bruins: None listed.
Predators: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Colorado Avalanche (35-6-9, in the Central Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (24-21-7, in the Atlantic Division)
Ottawa, Ontario; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche visit the Ottawa Senators after Brock Nelson's hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Avalanche's 4-1 win.
Ottawa is 24-21-7 overall and 12-10-4 in home games. The Senators have a 4-10-3 record in games their opponents commit fewer penalties.
Colorado has a 15-4-5 record on the road and a 35-6-9 record overall. The Avalanche have a +80 scoring differential, with 197 total goals scored and 117 given up.
Wednesday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Avalanche won 8-2 in the last matchup. Josh Manson led the Avalanche with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Stutzle has scored 23 goals with 29 assists for the Senators. Jake Sanderson has two goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.
Nathan MacKinnon has 38 goals and 50 assists for the Avalanche. Nelson has scored nine goals and added four assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 4-4-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.7 assists, 4.5 penalties and 11.4 penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.
Avalanche: 4-4-2, averaging 3.4 goals, 6.2 assists, 2.8 penalties and 6.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Senators: None listed.
Avalanche: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — England captain Harry Brook won his first toss of the series and elected to bat in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Brook criticized the track in the second ODI as the “worst pitch” he’s ever played on despite the visitors winning the game by five wickets and levelling the series 1-1.
England retained the same spin-heavy XI that troubled Sri Lanka in the second game. Zak Crawley couldn’t recover from his knee injury, which means Rehan Ahmed will once again open the batting with Ben Duckett.
Sri Lanka, which hasn’t lost a bilateral home series over the last five years, brought in ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in place of fast bowler Pramod Madushan as the wicket is expected to help slow bowlers.
Hasaranga was rested for the first two games with the T20 World Cup starting on Feb. 7.
England: Rehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
Luka Doncic had 17 points and eight assists in the first half of Monday's game [Getty Images]
Luka Doncic put on another scoring masterclass with 46 points as the Los Angeles Lakers claimed a 129-118 victory at the Chicago Bulls.
The Slovenia guard's haul included eight three-pointers, and he also registered seven rebounds and 12 assists at the United Center to end the Bulls' four-game unbeaten run.
Doncic becomes the quickest Laker to reach 2,000 points - achieving the feat in his 65th game since he was traded by the Dallas Mavericks last February.
It was the fourth match in a row that the 26-year-old has finished with more than 30 points and he tops the NBA scoring charts with an average of 33.8 points per game.
He joins Kobe Bryant as the only players in Lakers history with at least 45 points, 10 assists and five three-pointers in a single game.
LeBron James added 24 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Lakers with Rui Hachimura hitting 23 points off the bench.
Despite Doncic's achievements, Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted after the game that the superstar still gives him some anxious moments on the sidelines.
"He's an engine that's fully on and he likes to create out there and that's part of what makes him a great player," he said.
"Because I played with him, I have a pretty good understanding of that - not to say it doesn't test your patience at times.
"You have to be willing to live with some of the stuff he tries because more often than not you will get a great result."
The Boston Bruins had the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference standings on Dec. 30, which was the product of a six-game losing streak. They were in danger of digging themselves a hole that would be tough to climb out of.
But since then, they have won 10 of their last 13 games (10-2-1 record), and as a result the B’s enter Tuesday in the second wild card playoff spot.
What’s behind the Bruins’ impressive turnaround in January?
Let’s look at some of the key factors.
Charlie McAvoy’s fantastic two-way play
McAvoy had a tough start to the season after suffering a jaw injury in mid-November that kept him sidelined for about a month. But he has kicked it into high gear in January with 14 points (three goals, 11 assists). He had just 20 points in the previous three months combined.
He’s making more of an impact than just scoring, though. McAvoy defends at a high level, he blocks shots, he dishes out huge hits, he kills penalties — everything you’d expect from a true No. 1 defenseman.
“He’s been outstanding as of late, for a while now,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said after a win over the Vegas Golden Knights last week. “He’s like a horse out there. It’s almost like you want to play him for 60 minutes because he does everything. Blocking shots is part of his game, too. I’m just very happy with the way he’s playing right now, especially in those crucial moments in the game where we need to stay calm and be in the right spot. He’s been there for us all year long.”
McAvoy logs a lot of tough minutes against the opposing team’s top forwards, and yet the B’s still have a positive goal differential and an edge in scoring chances during his even-strength minutes this month.
Whether it’s 5-on-5, the power play or the penalty kill, McAvoy is making a positive impact all over the ice, and that’s what you expect from a player who is top 10 at his position when healthy.
Morgan Geekie is back
After going 12 straight games without scoring a goal from Dec. 21 through Jan. 17, Geekie has tallied six points (four goals, two assists) in the last four matchups.
Geekie scored twice against the Canadiens on Saturday night, including the game-winning tally with 5:53 left in the third period.
Geekie RIPPED it so hard it got lodged in the back of the net, BUT NO ONE KNEW HE SCORED BESIDES HIMSELF AT FIRST!!!! 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/FtOvdx18df
Geekie was shooting 28.2 percent right before that 12-game goalless drought began. He wasn’t going to maintain that percentage forever — some kind of regression was coming. But Geekie’s success is no fluke. He’s a tremendous goal scorer with an excellent shot and a high hockey IQ without the puck.
If the Bruins are going to remain in the playoff race past the Winter Olympics, they’ll need Geekie to be a consistent goal scorer at even strength and the power play.
Power play is much improved
One of the primary reasons why the Bruins finished with the fifth-worst record in the league last season was their horrendous power play, which ranked 29th with a 15.2 percent success rate.
The power play has been much improved this season, and one man who has been influential in that turnaround is assistant coach Steve Spott. He was brought in after Marco Sturm was hired as head coach, and one of his main responsibilities was fixing the power play.
It’s hard to argue with the results.
The puck movement is more crisp. There’s more traffic in front of the net and the zone entries are cleaner.
The Bruins have the NHL’s third-best power play right now at 27.5 percent. The only teams ahead of them are the Edmonton Oilers (31.8) and Dallas Stars (29.1) — two squads with loads more elite offensive talent than Boston.
The Bruins scored three times on the power play versus the Canadiens on Saturday, and in January they’re scoring on a league-best 37.5 percent of their opportunities with the man advantage.
Korpisalo’s inability to give the Bruins quality outings as the backup goalie for much of the season was a huge burden on the team’s playoff chances. He posted a sub-.900 save percentage in October, November and December.
But to his credit, Korpisalo has been awesome in January with a 4-0-1 record, a .931 save percentage and a 1.89 GAA in six appearances (five starts).
If Korpisalo can be more consistent and allow Jeremy Swayman to get some much-needed rest in the second half of the season, that would be a huge boost for the Bruins.
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Fraser Minten making Maple Leafs look foolish
The Toronto Maple Leafs included Fraser Minten as part of the Brandon Carlo trade with the Bruins last season, and it’s a decision they probably regret.
Minten has been a key player for Boston with a career-high 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 53 games. His 13 goals would be the fifth-most on the Leafs roster and one more than 23-year-old forward Matthew Knies, who has a $7.75 million salary cap hit.
Minten has really started to hit his stride in January with 10 points — including a team-leading seven goals — in 12 games this month.
The Bruins have a plus-10 goal differential and a plus-22 edge in scoring chances during Minten’s 5-on-5 ice time this season. His two-way skill set, including an ability to kill penalties (third-most shorthanded ice time per game among B’s forwards), has given the Bruins much-needed depth.
David Pastrnak quietly having another elite season
Pastrnak has been a force all season, especially in January. He has tallied 23 points (four goals, 19 assists) in 12 games this month. For the full season, he leads the team with 67 points (21 goals, 46 assists) in 48 games. No one else on the roster has more than 48 points.
The veteran right wing currently is on pace for 101 points, which would get him past the century mark for four consecutive seasons.
Pastrnak is one of the league’s most talented goal scorers, but he’s also a superb passer. His playmaking skills have been on full display this season, evidenced by his 2.87 assists per 60 minutes, which would easily be a new career high. Pastrnak set up a Geekie goal on Saturday with a brilliant assist.
Australian white-ball superstar Adam Zampa is in no rush to decide on his Big Bash future, as the T20 league’s player movement window opens on Wednesday.
The Leicester City chair plays down talk of another relegation but knows the mood among fans is fraught
Leicester City are hurting but Aiyawatt “Top” Srivaddhanaprabha, looking towards the pitch at the King Power Stadium, insists he shares supporters’ frustrations. He acknowledges the warm glow of their extraordinary Premier League title win almost a decade ago has long faded. He watches every game, which sometimes means tuning in from Thailand in the early hours. An 8pm kick-off in England is a 3am start in Bangkok.
“I want to see the real passion of the players and the performance,” the chair says. “When it is not there, I can’t sleep, so it’s love and pain. Leicester is like my son. So I have to do it right. Of course, a son can be naughty, a son can fail the exam, a pain in your head. The son can be top of the class, graduate, have a bad girlfriend or good wife, you never know. So I feel the same, but the love is there. The responsibility is there. The first thing for me is to identify the problem and fix it.”
Friday afternoon, a massive "ICE Out" rally in downtown Minneapolis ended at the Target Center, a gathering so large that more than half the people attending the march could not get in the door of the arena. Then Saturday saw more protests and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal officer, which in turn sparked even larger protests and an outpouring of grief and anger in the city and around the nation. The NBA wisely postponed the Timberwolves game at the Target Center that night.
Sunday, that game was played, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr described it as one of the "most bizarre, sad games I've ever been a part of." The Timberwolves' hearts were clearly not in it, they scored just 85 points (their first time under 100 this season) and the Warriors picked up an easy win.
Monday, life and the NBA kept moving on. The Warriors and Timberwolves played again, and people at the Target Center Monday night said things were still "quiet," the vibe was a bit somber and "weird."
However, maybe things looked and felt slightly better by the time the game ended. The Timberwolves looked distracted again at the start, but got a spark off the bench from Bones Hyland that seemed to turn things around. Minnespota went on to pick up a win against a shorthanded Golden State squad behind 17 from Hyland and 18 from Julius Randle. It snapped the Timberwolves' five-game losing streak— right now, Minnesota will take all the wins it can get. On and off the court.
"It's a lot, a lot…" Rudy Gobert said after the win during an interview on Peacock. "We are here doing what we love, give people joy and distract them from the bad things that are happening. That's all we can do. Stay safe, send love to the people that are affected, and keep doing what we do. Try to lead by example. People need some joy in these times."
This is still a city and a state reeling from the killing of Pretti over the weekend, and Renee Good a couple of weeks before. Protests still fill the streets in Minneapolis, and that vibe certainly was still in the air at the Target Center — there were "f*** Ice" chants during the game (including at the end of a moment of silence for Pretti. Even the Timberwolves trampoline dunk team was wearing "ICE Out" shirts Sunday.
Monday, during one break in play, as the cameras panned the crowd and showed fans on the jumbotron, a couple of fans held up “ICE Out Now!” signs, and a huge cheer rose from the crowd.
It wasn't just inside the Target Center where players were making their voices heard. There was former Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns, for one.
What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness. These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people. This moment demands that we reflect honestly on…
There were other players around the league making comments or voicing their opinions.
"There's a lot of change that needs to happen, and when you're here, you feel it..." Stephen Curry said after the Warriors win Sunday. "It was amazing to watch the turnout and the peaceful protests and the unified voice that was there. You feel that would kind of turn the tide into a more positive direction … and then you wake up and see what happened."
"Knowing what my values are and what I stand for really all day yesterday I was disgusted," Brianna Stewart said after an Unrivaled game in Miami. "Everything you see on IG and in the news, we're so fueled by hate right now instead of love. I wanted to have a simple message of 'abolish ICE,' which means to uplift families and communities, having policies to uplift families and communities instead of fueling fear and violence. When human lives are at stake, it's bigger than anything else."
Breanna Stewart with an important message ahead of today’s matchup with Vinyl BC: pic.twitter.com/aetUQv1OAH
"For the second time in less than three weeks, we've lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said pregame Sunday. "As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch, and we just want to extend our thoughts, prayers, and concern for Mr. Pretti's family, all the loved ones, and everyone involved in such a unconscionable situation in a community that we really love, full of people who are by nature, peaceful, and prideful…
"I'm more than a resident. This is my home. I love living here. I love being a part of this community. I've been embraced from day one. People have been amazing. It's sad to watch what is happening. On the human level, certainly as somebody who takes great pride in being here, I know a lot of our players feel the same. They all love being here, and it's just hard to watch what we're going through."
Maybe Monday night's win was a small step toward bringing some joy and starting to help a community heal.
Chicago Bulls (23-23, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (11-36, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers host Nikola Vucevic and the Chicago Bulls.
The Pacers are 7-24 in Eastern Conference games. Indiana is 5-28 against opponents with a winning record.
The Bulls are 3-7 against the rest of the division. Chicago allows 119.9 points to opponents while being outscored by 2.0 points per game.
The Pacers score 110.2 points per game, 9.7 fewer points than the 119.9 the Bulls allow. The Bulls are shooting 47.7% from the field, 0.6% lower than the 48.3% the Pacers' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the third time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 6 the Pacers won 120-105 led by 36 points from Siakam, while Coby White scored 22 points for the Bulls.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jay Huff is scoring 8.3 points per game and averaging 3.7 rebounds for the Pacers. Siakam is averaging 21.8 points and 7.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Vucevic is averaging 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls. White is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 5-5, averaging 108.2 points, 44.7 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.0 points per game.
Bulls: 6-4, averaging 118.2 points, 43.4 rebounds, 31.8 assists, 7.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
Bulls: Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Zach Collins: out (toe), Tre Jones: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta Hawks (23-25, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (29-17, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta looks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Hawks take on Boston.
The Celtics are 21-11 in conference play. Boston is 13-11 against opponents with a winning record.
The Hawks are 11-17 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is 5-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Celtics average 15.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 13.3 per game the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than the Celtics give up.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Celtics won the last matchup 132-106 on Jan. 18. Jaylen Brown scored 41 points to help lead the Celtics to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derrick White is shooting 39.1% and averaging 17.6 points for the Celtics. Brown is averaging 26.2 points over the last 10 games.
Jalen Johnson is averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 113.2 points, 46.3 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.
Hawks: 6-4, averaging 115.0 points, 44.1 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Luka Garza: out (illness).
Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: day to day (knee), N'Faly Dante: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Ryan Rollins and the Milwaukee Bucks visit Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers in Eastern Conference action.
The 76ers are 18-17 in conference play. Philadelphia has a 12-6 record in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Bucks are 14-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. Milwaukee allows 115.5 points to opponents and has been outscored by 3.6 points per game.
The 76ers average 116.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 115.5 the Bucks allow. The Bucks average 111.9 points per game, 3.9 fewer than the 115.8 the 76ers allow.
The teams play for the third time this season. The 76ers won the last matchup 116-101 on Dec. 6. Quentin Grimes scored 22 points to help lead the 76ers to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Grimes is scoring 13.3 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the 76ers. Maxey is averaging 24.9 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Rollins is scoring 16.1 points per game and averaging 4.5 rebounds for the Bucks. AJ Green is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 4-6, averaging 110.8 points, 41.6 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 10.9 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.
Bucks: 4-6, averaging 108.0 points, 41.4 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.0 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Charles Bassey: day to day (personal), Paul George: day to day (knee), Joel Embiid: day to day (knee).
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (calf), Kevin Porter Jr.: out (oblique), Taurean Prince: out (neck).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Every few years, Major League Baseball rolls out a rule change that reshapes how the game is played.
In 2020, MLB implemented the three-batter minimum for relievers and introduced the automatic runner in extra innings.
Three years later, the league rolled out another wave of changes — adding the pitch clock, limiting pickoff attempts, and restricting defensive shifts — all in an effort to speed up play, encourage action on the bases and restore more balance between hitters and pitchers.
Now, another shift is on the way.
In just under two months, the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system will officially become part of regular-season Major League games. The system has been tested extensively in the Minors and made its Spring Training debut at the big-league level last year. In 2026, it becomes real.
For Phillies manager Rob Thomson, a baseball lifer who has seen the game evolve in cycles, the key factor is simple: whether the players buy in or not.
“I think it’s great,” Thomson said. “When we tried it in spring training last year, a lot of the guys liked it — not everybody — but most did. And I think the umpires liked it as well. As long as somebody doesn’t get embarrassed, I like it. And if the players like it, I think it’s fair for everybody.”
The system itself is straightforward. Each team is allowed two challenges per game, initiated by the hitter, pitcher, or catcher. Challenges are immediate and binary — either the call is overturned or it isn’t — which keeps the pace intact.
One concern often raised is whether ABS diminishes the value of pitch framing. Thomson, a former catcher himself, doesn’t see it that way.
“They talk about whether it’s going to make receiving less important,” he said. “That’s not really true, because you only get two challenges. Framing still comes into play.”
That balance matters for a club like Philadelphia, especially with J.T. Realmuto back behind the plate. While Realmuto hasn’t graded as an elite framer in recent seasons, his feel for the strike zone — and willingness to challenge calls — stood out during last spring’s trial run.
Left-hander Tanner Banks saw that firsthand.
“I know J.T. was excited about it,” Banks said. “There were times in spring when he’d catch a pitch and immediately know it was a strike. You see guys like Bryce [Harper] or Kyle [Schwarber] get rung up on pitches that are balls — the hitter knows the zone better than anybody.”
From the pitching side, Banks acknowledged there’s an adjustment.
“There’s a human element pitchers like with umpires,” he said. “Maybe you steal something because the catcher does a great job. But at the end of the day, you want consistency. The umpires I’ve talked to are for it if it helps make the right call. It’s not a jab at anyone — it’s a matter of game integrity.”
Accuracy, of course, remains another big question. Strike zones differ by hitter stance, height, and approach, and every ballpark presents its own quirks. Whether ABS can apply that consistently across 30 stadiums is something the league will continue monitoring.
Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez views it as another adaptation point.
“It changes the game and you have to adjust,” Sánchez said through an interpreter. “There are a few things that I don’t necessarily like or agree with, but I just try to adapt and keep going.
That perspective carries weight. Sánchez was on the mound for one of the most scrutinized ball-strike calls of the entire 2025 postseason — a missed call in Game 4 of the NLDS that altered the inning and, ultimately, the series.
Cristopher Sánchez said the umpire apologized to him for missing this call.
Alex Call went on to score the tying run after he walked on the next pitch.
Rule changes tend to be judged in hindsight. When they help, they’re praised. When they don’t, they’re criticized.
But MLB’s intent has remained consistent: get the calls right.
Instant replay paired with managers’ challenges, introduced in 2014, once felt intrusive. Now it’s expected. ABS will likely follow a similar path — an adjustment period, some early friction, and then normalization.
When the ball hits the catcher’s mitt in 2026, the margin for error will be smaller. For players and teams built on precision and strategy, that may be exactly the point.
