The Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 9-0 on Monday night at Clover Park.
New York has now won three straight to improve to 8-5 in Grapefruit League play.
Here are some takeaways...
- Tyrone Taylor has always been known for his defense, but he's been swinging a hot bat thus far in Grapefruit League play. The outfielder beat Marlins 3B Conor Norby down the line for an RBI double in the bottom of the first, giving him four XBH's and seven runs driven in on the spring.
- Slugging 1B/OF prospect Ryan Clifford followed that a few batters later with a well-struck two-out opposite-field two-run double to extend New York's early lead. The youngster has had a bit of a rough time at the plate so far in camp, but it was good to see him show the impressive pop he has in his pocket.
- The Mets struck again an inning later, as Carson Benge continued his strong spring. The youngster struck out on a Tyler Phillips curveball with two on in his first at-bat, but he made an adjustment his second time up, and laced the same pitch for an RBI triple into the left-center gap.
Benge worked the count full and drew a six-pitch walk his third time up, then did even more damage in his final plate appearance, going the other way with the bases loaded for a two-run single. The 23-year-old reached base three times and drove in three runs in another big night at the ballpark.
- Ronny Mauricio put together three tremendous at-bats as he battles to crack the Opening Day roster. He drew an eight-pitch walk from the left side leading off the bottom of the third, saw eight more pitches batting righty before reaching on an infield single in the bottom of the fifth, then laced an RBI double in the seventh pitch he saw in the sixth.
- With Brandon Waddell missing his start due to shoulder soreness, young Zach Thornton made his first career appearance in big-league camp. The left-hander opened his night on a high note, setting the top of the Marlins' lineup down in order on just eight pitches in the top of the first; however, the second wasn't as smooth.
Miami created some traffic and caused some havoc on the bases, as a Thornton throwing error on a pickoff attempt pushed two into scoring position, but he was able to dance his way out of danger. The 24-year-old then finished his night working around a two-out single in the top of the third.
Thornton allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three over three scoreless innings.
- Craig Kimbrel gave up a leadoff single on the very pitch he threw, but quickly picked the runner off first. The veteran righty then needed just four more pitches to work through his third consecutive scoreless appearance since allowing a run his first time out this spring.
- Devin Williams had his signature Airbender in mid-season form as he struck out a pair in a perfect top of the fifth. Aside from the homer he allowed on the very first pitch he threw this spring, the new Mets closer has looked extremely sharp thus far in Grapefruit League play.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Diamondbacks are 7-5, fourth in the Cactus League, and still only the third best NL West team in the league. Preview of what’s to come?
James: While I never consider Cactus League indicative of anything remotely accurate to the regular season, I do still think AZ finishes 2026 in a battle for third or fourth.
Wesley: There’s very little correlation between a team’s performance in spring training and how they ultimately do in the regular season, although I also wouldn’t be surprised if they finish third or fourth anyway. I am actually somewhat encouraged by the performance of some of our young hitters. Seeing Jordan Lawlar, Tommy Troy, Ryan Waldschmidt, and Alek Thomas hit the cover off the ball this Spring should be a sign of encouragement, but it has to be taken with a massive grain of salt especially with Thomas and Lawlar’s previous offensive struggles.
Makakilo: The manager and coaches are looking at things that don’t show up in the box score, such as player skills, poise, and confidence. Three thoughts follow:
In the first 11 games, the offense scored an average of 6.5 runs per game. That encourages me to predict above average offense.
With four infielders who are excellent defenders (Arenado, Perdomo, Marte, and Santana) now playing WBC games, runs allowed are not predictive of the regular season.
Thru Saturday the 5-inning win-loss record would be 4-10-1, which is worse than their full-game win-loss record of 7-8. Nevertheless, my view is that 81 regular-season wins is the floor for the Diamondbacks.
Spencer: They keep a record of Cactus League results?
1AZfan1: Ha Spencer wins
How’s the unexpected fifth starter competition going? Any standouts to you so far? If the season started tomorrow, who gets the nod?
James: This is sort of a trick question for me. If Merrill Kelly is healthy enough to not miss more than the first run through the rotation, I don’t see much of a competition for fifth starter. Michael Soroka was never a serious rotation candidate, despite the narrative around his initial signing. If Soroka is in the rotation, someone is hurt long-term. That would be bad.
Wesley: I’m with James on this, it really depends on how many starts Merrill Kelly is likely to miss. Soroka has stood out to me for the wrong reasons, as he’s been awful so far this spring.
Spencer: Sadly I agree here. I think unlike with The Bum and The Full Monty, Rodriguez is guaranteed a rotation spot because he was actually a Hazen target and signing not a Kendrick splurge. I personally would rather have Soroka in there but he’s headed to the bullpen most likely. I think the only way that changes is if Pfaadt has a rough go and they choose to stash him in Reno for some reason. I put that option at 10% likelihood.
1AZfan1: Concur with the consensus. Soroka will be the odd man out if Kelly is healthy enough to start the year on the active roster.
Makakilo: The following is good news about Kelly:
“But, after throwing 26 pitches Thursday and feeling no discomfort Friday, Kelly may very well be able to open the season on the active roster and pitch at the backend of the rotation.” – Steve Gilbert, 6 March
On the flip side, who gets the ball on Opening Day 12 games in?
James: Unless Ryne Nelson turns into Brandon Webb between now and just under three weeks from now, the answer is Zac Gallen. It shouldn’t even really be a debate.
Wesley: Ryne Nelson has actually been better than his already solid performance this spring, but James is right, Gallen is the obvious answer here.
Makakilo: Last season, Ryne Nelson pitched better than Gallen (ERA 3.39 vs 4.83, FIP 3.73 vs 4.50). Therefore, Ryne Nelson is my choice.
Spencer: The concept that Opening Day Starter means something still confuses me. Whomever is ready and looks good will start. We play in LA. You can basically pencil in a loss already. So ERod or Pfaadt gets my vote.
1AZfan1: Nelson deserves it. He’s been our best starter for the past year and a half. Opening Day starter is largely ceremonial in my mind, so I could see the argument for Gallen getting the ball as he’s been the guy for the past 3 years. Torey has a valid excuse to delay Gallen’s start to the home-opening series, though. If this isn’t Nelly’s perfect opportunity (late start for Gallen and Kelly injury setback) then I don’t know what is.
Jurkison Profar will be serving his second PED suspension in 2 years. Is that a sign the program is working? Or do you feel it’s a sign that even more is happening we can’t see?
James: In this particular case, both. Overall, I think the system works as-is. While the system is far from perfect, it has the sort of teeth that clearly have had an effect.
Wesley: I think there’s a very real issue with medication/supplement labeling in Caribbean and Latin-American countries. There’s also the real issue of tainted/adulterated supplements being sold online as well. While I don’t think that either is applicable in Profar’s case, both are very real issues not being discussed, and MLB really needs to do a better job educating young players on “Maybe don’t take that sketchy supplement from a pharmacy back home” and “Don’t order cheap bulk supplements from a sketchy online retailer.”
Makakilo: There is reason to believe the program is working to reduce PEDs. Looking at this Wikipedia Website, suspensions of MLB players and former MLB players dropped from about 10 per year in 2020 to 2022, to about 6 per year in 2023-2025, with 3 so far in 2026.
An interesting point is that Profar had nothing to gain financially from using PEDs. His high-paying contract was good thru the 2027 season. That would be his age 34 season, which might have been his last season before retirement (and now it looks likely to be his last season before retirement).
Profar’s reaction after his first suspension (assuming it was unintentional per his statement at the time) should have been to consistently guard (and document) his intake of foods, vitamin supplements, and medicine to for-sure avoid a second suspension. Some people might have avoided anything that might have a risk, even if it hurt their health. And yet he is facing a second suspension. Why?
Spencer: Working. The league is actually testing people and following through on punishment. The list of PED users this decade is laughable. And Tatis showed a new generation just how good PEDs can make a player. Profar has proven how stupid players can be…
1AZfan1: I think that’s a really interesting point brought up by Wesley. Something worth looking into further for sure. General rule of thumb is that programs like these don’t catch every rule-breaker, but I still speculate that the program is working overall, though.
What’s your favorite Spring Training park?
James: Trick question. While I am torn between Scottsdale Stadium and SRF for favorite venue, my favorite place to attend an actual game is Tempe Diablo. If one arrives early to the game, there are shaded tables situated along the outfield concourse with individual seats. The view is great. Sitting in those seats allows stretching out. The shade is a massive boon. Also, the be girl is 8-10 feet away. My mattress and I regularly have purchased premium seats to enjoy the game (in case we couldn’t get one of those tables). We then don’t feel bad if we monopolize one of those tables for the duration. Without that loophole, Tempe Diablo needs a serious updating.
Wesley: The two spring training parks I’ve been to no longer host spring training games, ie Hi Corbett Field and Kino Ballpark. I can’t really answer the question honestly.
Makakilo: I, like Wesley, have been to games at Hi Corbett Field and Kino Ballpark. Also, many years ago, I went to Surprise Arizona. Because Surprise was a delightful adventure, and because spring training games happen there this season, my choice is Surprise Stadium.
Spencer: I have no idea what parks I attended as a kid living in Phoenix. So I’ll just say Peoria because it’s the only one I’m confident I went to. As I recall, most Spring Parks are nicer than Chase, but lackluster compared to most AAA/MLB parks around the country. I’m also told this has been changing since I left AZ in 2012.
Justin: Same as Wes. I think of the two, I preferred Hi Corbett. It’s an older ballpark, so maybe the old timey nostalgia feel. When the Sidewinders were still here, I would go to several games over the summer (yay living at my parents house still…) at Kino, versus maybe 1 game at Hi Corbett so that might add to it. 1AZfan1: I’ve only been to one Spring game in the past 20 or so years and that one trip to Salt River Fields was very nice. Baseball is generally a nostalgic pastime, though, so with that in mind, my absolute favorite Spring Training memory occurred at Peoria Sports Complex. I was thrilled to see my all-time favorite player, Ken Griffey Jr., launch a moonball to the top of the berm in right field in his first AB of the game. I was the happiest kid alive that day – except for maybe the kid who got that Griffey home run ball. So I’ll go with Peoria as my fave.
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo be back with the Milwaukee Bucks next season?
It will be the question of the offseason, and nobody knows the answer — not pundits, not social media influencers, not Antetokounmpo himself, and not his teammates. Here is what Milwaukee's Bobby Portis said when he was asked about his confidence in Antetokounmpo returning during a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s Run It Back (hat tip Bleacher Report).
"I'm at a five, bro. I'm right there in the middle... for real, it's up in the air...
"It's going to be a super lingering thing all summer long, especially leading up into the draft. So, I guess we'll have to see, but I think it's right there at that five."
Antetokounmpo returned to the court last week in an effort to push the Bucks into the postseason, but since then the team is 1-3 and sits four games back of the No. 10 seed with 19 to play. If they miss the play-in, it shows how far away from the contender Antetokounmpo says he wants to play for the Bucks are right now. Antetokounmpo has also said he wants to be a Buck for life and that he loves Milwaukee.
This summer, Milwaukee GM Jon Horst will have three first-round draft picks and some players with tradable salaries — Kyle Kuzma, maybe Portis — to make moves that turn the team back into a threat in the East. That is going to start around the draft.
Ultimately, Milwaukee will talk max contract extension with Antetokounmpo (which he can't officially sign until Oct. 1), and if he says he will sign it, then he stays. If he says he will not (which most people outside Milwaukee expect), the rumor mill starts up again. Milwaukee could work with him on a trade that works for everyone. Or the Bucks could decide he is too important to the franchise to trade, as Oklahoma City did with Kevin Durant, and hold on to him. Antetokounmpo can be a free agent in the summer of 2027 (he has a player option for the 2027-28 season).
Whatever happens, there will be drama, and even Antetokounmpo's teammates don't know how this will play out.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jillian Huerter hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points, Cyanne Coe had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Fairfield beat top-seeded Quinnipiac 51-44 on Monday to claim a third straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
Fairfield (28-4), the No. 2 seed, advances to its fourth NCAA Tournament in the past five years and its eighth overall. Quinnipiac (26-6) was aiming for a sixth appearance in the main event — with its five previous trips coming from 2013-19.
Anna Foley hit a 3-pointer and Jackie Grisdale added a layup as Quinnipiac took advantage of three straight Fairfield turnovers to cut it to 47-44 with 60 seconds remaining. But Sydney Ryan missed a tying 3-pointer with 23 seconds left and Kaety L'Amoreaux and Sydni Scott sealed it at the free-throw line.
Foley led the Bobcats with 17 points and nine rebounds. Ella Ryan added 14 points.
There were four lead changes in the second quarter with neither team leading by more than a point until Huerter sank back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Stags a 20-13 lead.
Ella Ryan's layup with 2:04 remaining was the final basket of the half and left Quinnipiac trailing 25-19.
Coe had six points in the third quarter and the Stags outscored the Bobcats by three to take a 38-29 lead into the fourth. Quinnipiac never had a second-half lead.
The two teams split two games during the regular season, with both winning on the road.
Quinnipiac was the last to win three straight conference tourneys (2017-19). Marist won nine straight from 2006-14.
Ryan McMahon has altered his batting stance during spring training.
TAMPA — There are players who overhaul mechanics during an offseason or spring training and then cram in every at-bat or inning they can, determined to feel comfortable before the games actually matter.
Ryan McMahon is not in this subset. The Yankees third baseman, who will debut a new batting stance on Opening Day after a winter and a spring devoted to altering his setup, feels adjusted and natural with his new posture.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
“I’m ready,” McMahon said before Monday’s 5-3, exhibition loss to the Pirates at Steinbrenner Field. “I’m ready for some games with some juice.”
McMahon is ready with a stance that is noticeably narrower than what was one of the widest stances in baseball last season. According to Statcast, he averaged 42.7 inches between his feet while in the batter’s box last year, the fourth biggest gap in the majors. That stance saw him swing and miss at a 35.2 percent clip, the worst rate among qualified hitters for a player who struck out 189 times between the Rockies and Yankees.
After the season, McMahon sat for a lengthy Zoom with Yankees hitting minds including hitting coach James Rowson and assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes. McMahon is a good pupil, according to Dykes, both because he is receptive to new ideas and because he is clearly talented — a few tweaks can make a large difference.
“You’re always trying to help guys be in a position where they can be multidimensional,” Dykes said. “He can make more contact. He can keep the ball up [for fly balls rather than ground balls]. He obviously hits the ball hard. He sees the ball really well.
“We’re trying to put him in a position to maximize all those things.”
Ryan McMahon has altered his batting stance during spring training. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
McMahon is a bit of a rarity and has not suffered from the problems that usually plague the strikeout-prone. He rarely chases pitches out of the strike zone, above-average in ignoring pitches that become balls and ranked 24th last season — in between Bryce Harper and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — in drawing walks. His 93.3 mph average exit velocity last season was the 14th best in the game, percentage points behind 13th-place Fernando Tatis Jr.
He swung at the right pitches, ignored the wrong ones and did plenty of damage. He simply whiffed too often. Were his legs too far apart?
“We’re trying to get him in a consistent position to maximize what we think he can do offensively,” Dykes said of McMahon, who himself said the extreme nature of the stance was not a lifelong issue but a bad habit that had “kind of happened over time.”
McMahon, about to embark on his 10th major league season, did not realize how far apart his legs had grown over the years. The tick reappeared recently at camp.
“The coaches brought it up to me immediately,” McMahon said. “Got in the cage the next day, worked it out. Felt great. Went into live [batting practice]. I think I had like six at-bats that day, and I think I walked in one and then hit all the other five balls over 100 [mph].
“It’s going to be something I got to keep my eye on because my feel — if I’m not feeling it right, I can get wide.”
It is rare that a 31-year-old with an impressive résumé — a 2024 All-Star and routinely one of the best third basemen in the sport — qualifies as a bit of a project, but McMahon’s first experience with a new organization and away from the Rockies, along with his sheer talent, makes him particularly intriguing. McMahon, who has begun his Grapefruit League season 3-for-23 with three doubles, said the new stance feels natural and “sturdier.”
The Yankees have appreciated that McMahon has fully bought in.
“He’s been great,” Dykes said. “A lot of conversations throughout the offseason, a lot of work in camp. … Just like anybody who was going through adjustments during the offseason period, as you go into the season you’re going to continue to try to refine — especially when you’ve been doing something one way for a long time.
Ryan McMahon swings during the Yankees-Tigers spring training game on Feb. 21, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“He’s had a lot of success at the big league level already. Sometimes it takes time for things to feel natural, to be able to repeat them without having to overthink it. But he’s been great and working his tail off.
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa will not play New South Wales’ One-Day Cup final against the Tasmania in Hobart after making the “very unselfish” decision to step aside for his heir apparent.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 07: Luis Arraez #2 of Team Venezuela celebrates after hitting an RBI double in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game presented by Capital One between Team Israel and Team Venezuela at loanDepot park on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
New San Francisco Giants second baseman has read your (our) criticism of his lack of power and he decided to take it out on the beleaguered pitchers of Team Israel. Luis Arraez went 4-for-5 with four runs, five RBIs, two doubles and two big home runs as Venezuela defeated Israel Saturday night, 11-3. at loanDepot Park (It’s a lowercase “L” because the Marlins are the worst).
Arraez got scoring started in the first inning with an RBI double, a play that didn’t make new Giants center fielder Harrison Bader look great as he utilized what looked like a pilates move in his attempt to catch the line drive.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 8, 2026
Arraez went deep for the first time in the bottom of the fifth off of New York Mets reliever Jordan Geber, he of 6.2 career major league innings pitched.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 8, 2026
In the bottom of the sixth, Venezuela had a 7-2 lead and two runners on when Israel brought in left-handed reliever Ryan Kaminsky to shut down the Reggie Jackson of the World Baseball Classic. Arraez said “Nacht gut!” and sent 3-1 pitch over the right-field wall.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 8, 2026
Arraez added another double in the eighth and came around to score. That almost capped the scoring, but Bader proved the Giants may have one of the most powerful lineups in the world by hitting a 397-foot home run in the top of the ninth.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 8, 2026
Look, maybe Arraez has only hit 16 home runs in the last three seasons, when he hasn’t slugged over .400, despite winning a batting title in 2024. But if this tournament is any indication, Arraez is poised for a power breakthrough, as long as he can solely face marginal Israeli one-inning relievers.
Israel! Venenzuela! They’re all about power now, and not just the United States imperial overreach kind!
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 7: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on January 7, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After yesterday’s stinker against the Lakers, the Knicks (41*-24) get an LA mulligan against the Clippers (31-32) at the Intuit Dome. LA has gone 25-11 after a 6-21 start, powered by Kawhi Leonard’s monster year (27.9 PPG). Fatigue could be a concern for our heroes in this one, especially for Cap, who logged 42 minutes a little over 24 hours ago.
Game time is 9 p.m. 10 p.m.** EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Clips Nation. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Pick up after yourselves and be good humans. Go Knicks.
* Should be one more, but NBA Cups are actually Dixie Cups.
** Sorry about that, folks. Blame it on daylight saving time and wishful thinking.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 24, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers Date: March 10th, 2026 Time: 10:00 PM CDT Location: Crypto.com Arena Television Coverage: NBC, Peacock Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
Every good run eventually meets reality.
For the Minnesota Timberwolves, that reality arrived Saturday afternoon at Target Center when their five-game winning streak came to a screeching halt courtesy of the Orlando Magic. The timing, of course, was almost comically predictable. If you’ve followed this team long enough, you know the Wolves have a weird kryptonite: weekend matinees. For this team, Saturday afternoon basketball is the equivalent of trying to run a marathon after waking up from a nap.
But here’s the important distinction: this loss wasn’t one of the lifeless disasters we’ve seen before. The Wolves have had games this season (the blowouts against the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers come to mind) where it felt like the team simply forgot to show up. Those games were frustrating not just because they lost, but because the effort wasn’t there.
Saturday wasn’t that. Minnesota didn’t play well. Not even close. But they fought. They competed. They tried to claw their way back into a game that kept slipping through their fingers like sand. That doesn’t make the loss any easier in the standings, but it does separate it from the kind of no-show performance that makes you question the team’s focus.
The frustrating part is that the Wolves actually started the game well. The first quarter had the feel of a team ready to extend its winning streak. The ball moved. The defense held up. For a moment it looked like Minnesota might be in line for another comfortable home win.
Then the offense collapsed. Anthony Edwards cooled off after his scoring heater, and the rest of the roster seemed to follow gravity straight back to earth. The Wolves finished the game shooting an absolutely brutal 22 percent from three-point range.
And that’s a problem for this team. Because for better or worse, the Timberwolves’ offensive identity this season has revolved around the three-point line.
When the Threes Don’t Fall, Everything Falls Apart
Minnesota has built its offense around spacing, shooting, and the gravity that Anthony Edwards creates. Edwards has been spectacular this season as a three-point shooter, and players like Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Bones Highland have all proven capable of catching fire from deep.
When those shots fall, the Wolves look unstoppable. The offense opens up, the driving lanes widen, and Minnesota can bury teams under an avalanche of perimeter scoring. But when those shots don’t fall?
It can get ugly fast.
Saturday was one of those days. The Wolves simply couldn’t buy a basket from deep. Some nights the rim looks like the ocean and everything drops. Saturday felt like the Wolves were trying to shoot into a thimble. Without the long ball falling, Minnesota’s offense stalled out completely.
Orlando certainly deserves some credit for that. The Magic played excellent defense. They built a wall in the paint, cut off driving lanes, and forced the Wolves into contested looks. As the misses piled up, frustration crept into Minnesota’s offense. Possessions started ending with rushed shots instead of flowing through the offense.
Meanwhile, Orlando took advantage of Minnesota’s defensive lapses in the exact opposite way. The Magic weren’t lighting it up from three either, but they didn’t need to. Orlando simply attacked the rim over and over again, slicing through Minnesota’s perimeter defense like a hot knife through butter.
Where the Magic put up a wall, the Wolves sometimes looked like a revolving door. The result was a 20-plus point blowout that never really felt like it was coming back.
A Wake-Up Call Before the Road Trip?
If you’re searching for a silver lining, and Wolves fans have spent decades mastering that particular skill, there’s an argument that this loss might not be the worst thing in the world.
Sometimes a good team needs a punch in the mouth.
The Wolves are about to embark on a four-game road trip that will serve as one of the biggest tests of their season. And if there’s a game in that stretch that stands above the rest in terms of importance, it’s the first one.
The Los Angeles Lakers.
Yes, the Wolves need wins against the Clippers, Warriors, and Thunder as well. Those are all tough opponents, and every win will matter in the standings. But the Lakers game is different. Because the Lakers are the team Minnesota is directly battling with in the standings.
The Wolves have already dropped two games to Los Angeles this season, which means they won’t own the tiebreaker. That makes the margin for error razor thin. Minnesota cannot afford to allow the Lakers to gain any more ground, especially at a moment when Los Angeles has started to wobble a little bit. If the Wolves want to claim the three seed, and avoid sliding back into the fourth or fifth spot, they need to establish their authority in this matchup.
There’s also a little psychological edge at play here. These two teams met in the playoffs last season, with Minnesota eliminating Los Angeles in the first round. That history adds a little extra spice to this matchup.
The media will bill this as Edwards vs. Doncic, and honestly, that’s not a bad storyline. But for Minnesota, the bigger story is the standings.
Keys to the Game
#1 – The three-point shooting has to rebound.
Minnesota’s offense lives and dies by the long ball. Anthony Edwards continues to shoot at a high clip, but the Wolves cannot rely solely on him to carry the perimeter attack. Players like DiVincenzo, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels need to convert the open looks they’re getting. If Minnesota can push its team three-point percentage back into the mid-to-high 30s, the offensive balance returns immediately.
#2 – Reassert the physical advantage in the paint.
Minnesota bullied the Lakers down low in last year’s postseason series. Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle dominated the boards and controlled the interior, and Los Angeles simply didn’t have an answer. The Lakers attempted to fix that weakness by acquiring Deandre Ayton, who provided more resistance earlier in the season, but Minnesota still holds the edge.
Gobert needs to channel his Game 5 energy from that playoff series by dominating rebounds, protecting the rim, and turning missed shots into second-chance opportunities.
#3 – Contain Luka Doncic.
Doncic has torched the Wolves before, including earlier this season in Los Angeles when he outdueled Edwards. Stopping Luka entirely is impossible, but Minnesota can’t allow him to dictate the game.
This isn’t a one-man defensive assignment. Even elite defenders like Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards can’t handle Doncic alone for forty-eight minutes. It will require coordinated team defense, disciplined rotations, and the willingness to make Luka work for every shot.
If the Wolves force other Lakers players to beat them, they dramatically improve their chances.
#4 – Attack the rim.
Yes, the threes need to fall. But the Wolves can’t sit back and hope that better shooting alone solves their problems. The Lakers’ defense is vulnerable, particularly when it comes to perimeter containment. Doncic, Austin Reaves, and even LeBron James can be attacked off the dribble.
Players like Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Highland, and McDaniels need to apply pressure by driving into the paint, collapsing the defense, and creating easier scoring opportunities.
#5 – Commit to playing the right way.
That means disciplined defense instead of gambling for highlight plays. It means moving the ball instead of falling into isolation hero ball. It means trusting teammates and playing connected basketball on both ends of the floor.
This road trip is where chemistry either strengthens or cracks. With the playoff just around the corner, the Wolves need to establish their identity and their habits. “Later” isn’t an option.
A Defining Road Trip Begins
The margin for error in the Western Conference is razor thin. One bad stretch can undo weeks of progress, and the Wolves know it. This four-game road trip will test their maturity, their discipline, and their ability to bounce back from adversity. And it starts with the biggest game of the bunch. Beat the Lakers and Minnesota keeps control of its destiny. Lose, and suddenly the standings get uncomfortable again.
The Wolves have spent the past few weeks climbing toward that coveted third seed.
Team Panama did not go down without a fight in this year’s World Baseball Classic – on the field and in the dugout.
Trailing 4-3 against Team Colombia in the bottom of the ninth inning in Monday’s contest, veteran infielder Jonathan Araúz – who entered as a pinch hitter – grounded out to second base to begin the frame.
Araúz did not hustle out of the batter’s box and got into a heated exchange with Team Panama manager José Mayorga as he returned to the home dugout at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Team Panama’s veteran infielder Jonathan Araúz has to be restrained after a confrontation with manager José Mayorga. FS2Araúz did not hustle out of the box during his ninth-inning groundball. FS2
The pair was immediately separated, with Araúz being physically restrained by a member of Team Panama.
“To put yourself in [Araúz’s] shoes, he’s not playing, he’s a former major league player, he’s frustrated,” Fox Sports 2 announcer and ex-MLB pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith said during the broadcast. “And then he got some words from his teammates for not busting it, there’s so much pent-up frustration.
Panama pinch-hitter Jonathan Arauz had to be held back during an altercation with manager José Mayorga while they were down one in the ninth inning and facing elimination
A former Red Sox, Orioles and Mets infielder, Arauz got just one start and five at bats in this WBC pic.twitter.com/jhgdbSj91X
‘He’s probably like, ‘Oh, you have me pinch-hitting now.’ He’s probably frustrated he’s not starting on this team because he’s a veteran player and this is what happens when you start pressing.”
It’s not Araúz’s first time showing emotion during a WBC contest, as he was visibly frustrated with a teammate who did not tag up and score on a flyout during a game against Cuba in 2023.
In four games during the 2023 WBC, Araúz slashed a solid .267/.421/.333 with three RBIs – but registered one walk and no hits in five at-bats this time around.
He has appeared in parts of four MLB seasons, most recently suiting up for the 2023 Mets, where he hit a meager .136 with three home runs over 26 games.
Yankees shortstop José Caballero launched a home run for Panama in the sixth inning of Monday’s loss. AP
Mayorga did not go into detail about the confrontation with Araúz after Monday’s game.
Former Mets infielder Ruben Tejada singled moments after the confrontation, but Enrique Bradfield Jr. struck out and Yankees shortstop José Caballero – who homered in the sixth inning to make it 4-1 – flew out to right field to end the game.
Colombia was eliminated from WBC title contention after Panama defeated Canada on Sunday and returned the favor on Monday, knocking Panama out of the tournament.
Both teams finished 1-3 in Pool A play, and one of them now faces relegation depending on how Canada fares in its remaining games.
Canada (1-1) is set to face Puerto Rico on Tuesday and Cuba on Wednesday. If Canada also finishes 1-3 in Pool A, a tiebreaker will determine whether Colombia or Panama is relegated to the qualifying tournament for the next World Baseball Classic.
With a record of 7-1-2 in their last ten games, Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green probably isn't thrilled about having to mess with his lineup.
But the injury bug has forced his hand.
Green announced on Monday that his best defenseman, Jake Sanderson, is listed as week-to-week with a probable shoulder injury suffered on Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken. So, that means one lineup change, but it also knocks over several dominoes.
Nikolas Matinpalo, who's only played two NHL games in 2026, will dress on Monday night for the Senators' game in Vancouver, and Sanderson's absence also means that other defensemen are forced to move higher up in the blue line batting order.
But don't talk to the Canucks and their fan base about the challenges of adjusting to lineup changes. Quite frankly, they don't want to hear it.
Since December, through various trades, the Canucks have said goodbye to team captain Quinn Hughes, along with Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Myers, Conor Garland, Lukas Reichel, and David Kampf.
As a sidebar, it's quite remarkable that the Canucks held on to veterans Teddy Blueger and Evander Kane at the deadline when both are UFAs this summer. They're not in the team's rebuilding plans and probably don't want to be.
Get something for them.
After winning 50 games and finishing first in the Pacific Division two seasons ago, Vancouver is now the worst team in the NHL, and it isn't particularly close. The Canucks are 10 points behind the second-worst team, the New York Rangers.
James Reimer is expected to start for the Senators against Kevin Lankinen for Vancouver. Stephen Halliday is sitting for a third straight game, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the 23-year-old back in Belleville soon to get some playing time.
Here's how the Sens and Canucks will line it up on Monday night (9 pm, Prime, RDS)
Senators projected lineup
Drake Batherson - Tim Stutzle - Claude Giroux Brady Tkachuk - Dylan Cozens - Ridly Greig Nick Cousins - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio Warren Foegele - Lars Eller - Fabian Zetterlund
Thomas Chabot - Artem Zub Nikolas Matinpalo - Nick Jensen Tyler Kleven - Jordan Spence
James Reimer Linus Ullmark
Canucks projected lineup
Jake DeBrusk - Elias Pettersson - Nils Hoglander Liam Ohgren - Marco Rossi - Brock Boeser Evander Kane - Aatu Raty - Drew O’Connor Max Sasson - Teddy Blueger - Linus Karlsson
Elias Nils Pettersson - Filip Hronek Marcus Pettersson - Tom Willander Zeev Buium - Victor Mancini
Kevin Lankinen Nikita Tolopilo
According to NHL.com, Kane missed game-day practice, and Brock Boeser left early, but both are expected to play. If one of them can't go, 6-foot-9 Curtis Douglas will draw into the lineup. The former Belleville Senator was picked up off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Priscilla Williams finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out late in regulation, and Comari Mitchell gave Jacksonville the lead for good in overtime to help the Dolphins edge Austin Peay 66-63 on Monday in the title game of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
No. 2 seed Jacksonville (24-8) advances to the NCAA Tournament for the second time by winning the first ASUN title game decided in OT since the tournament began in 1986. Jacksonville's other appearance came in 2016.
Mitchell gave the Dolphins the lead with 1:45 left in OT, and Mychal White stole the ball and scored with a baseline jumper on her only shot for a 64-60 advantage with 20.8 seconds left.
Mya Williams hit a 3-pointer 10 seconds later for eighth-seeded Austin Peay (19-13), but Makiya Miller made two free throws before JaNiah Newell missed a tying 3-pointer on the game's final shot.
Mitchell and Carmaya Bowman both scored 10 for Jacksonville.
Mya Williams had 20 points and seven rebounds for Austin Peay. Anovia Sheals scored 18 and Jim’Miyah Branton added 11 points and eight assists.
Miller hit a jumper with three seconds left in the first half to give the Dolphins the lead at 32-26.
Mya Williams made two free throws in the final second of the third after Priscilla Williams was charged with a technical foul following a traveling violation to cut it to 49-40 heading to the fourth.
Sheals made two free throws with 1:49 left in regulation to give the Governors their first lead, 54-53. Miller made the second of two foul shots with 33 seconds left to force OT tied at 56.
CJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 7 in Atlanta. (Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
The famed Magic City adult entertainment club won't be featured at next week's Atlanta Hawks promotional night, the NBA announced on Monday.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged concerns from others in the league on Monday, saying that his decision to cancel the collaboration is in the best interests of the "broader NBA community."
"While we appreciate the team's perspective and their desire to move forward," he said in a statement, "we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees."
The Hawks announced its "Magic City Monday" promotion in late February, featuring a halftime performance by Atlanta-based artist T.I., a collaborative hoodie and the offering of some of the club's popular wings, including the lemon-pepper variety named after former Hawks player Lou Williams.
Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz was a producer on "Magic City: An American Fantasy," a docuseries that aired on Starz. Still, the team's decision to collaborate with the Atlanta strip club ruffled some feathers in the NBA.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet asked the Hawks to cancel the promotional night in a post on Medium last week, saying that it would "reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society."
Others had argued that Magic City is a big part of Atlanta culture and should be celebrated as such.
The Hawks wrote in a statement on Monday that it was disappointed with the NBA's decision but would respect it.
Rapper T.I. will still perform at halftime, but the live recording of the Hawks AF Podcast featuring Gertz, T.I. and Magic City founder Michael Barney was canceled. Fans who pre-ordered the collaboration hoodie will still receive one, but the sweatshirts won't be available for purchase at the game, the Hawks wrote on X.
"As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together," the Hawks wrote.
Times staff writer Chuck Schilken contributed to this report
Salary cap inflation is always something to monitor. The cap is currently set at $95.5 million, but is expected to raise signifcantly over the next few seasons. Next year, the cap is projected to be $104 million while the 2027-28 ceiling is projected at $113.5 million.
Recently, NHL player agent Allan Walsh provided an update via social media on what the 2028-29 salary cap could look like. Walsh wrote via "X", "Analyzing NHL HRR projections and the current revenue slack that exists in the system, hearing the NHL is projecting a Salary Cap Upper Limit of approx $123M in 2028-29. We are currently at $95.5M. (That’s an almost $30M rise of the Cap within 3 years)."
At the time of writing, the Vancouver Canucks only have seven players signed for the 2028-29 season. Those players are Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko. The Canucks will also have a $2,126,667 penalty that season as the Oliver Ekman-Larsson buyout will not be complete.
According to PuckPedia, Vancouver currently has $52,226,667 commited for the 2028-29 season. If no players are moved, that would count for just over 40% of the projected $123 million. The Canucks are projected to still be in a rebuild in 2028-29, meaning some contracts already signed could be on the move before the season starts.
Jan 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) and defenseman Tom Willander (5) and defenseman Zeev Buium (24) celebrate their victory against the Washington Capitals at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Starting last Thursday in Denver, nine of their next 11 games were against playoff teams with six of eight against teams currently bunched up with them in the Western Conference standings.
With 18 games remaining, the NBA’s marathon 82-game season is now a sprint to the finish — that magical time when fans begin squinting at the standings like stockbrokers watching a volatile market.
Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the New York Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
Every win feels like leverage.
Every loss feels like disaster.
The next nine days could decide if the Lakers will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
But that begs the question: Do the Lakers need or want homecourt advantage in the first round of the NBA Playoffs?
The answer might surprise you.
No. Not really.
Of course, if you ask any player or coach publicly, they’ll say the right things. Homecourt advantage matters. The crowd helps bring energy. Sticking to your normal routine helps. Sleeping in your own bed helps.
All of that is true.
But the reality of the NBA playoffs — especially in the Western Conference — is that matchups and health matter far more than geography.
Right now, the Lakers sit in the middle of the Western Conference traffic jam. Seeds three through six are separated by a single game heading into action Monday night. Oklahoma City and San Antonio have already pulled away at the top like two sports cars leaving a crowded freeway.
Everyone else is stuck jockeying for position.
The Lakers are currently tied with Denver for fifth. Minnesota currently sits in third. Houston sits in fourth just a half-game ahead of the Lakers.
Western Conference standings as of 5 p.m. PT Monday.
Over the next nine days, the Lakers will face all of them.
Minnesota on Tuesday. Denver on Saturday. Then two back-to-back road games in Houston.
If the Lakers win their next five games, they will sit alone in third place with homecourt advantage in the first round in their control.
“It’s not something we’re focused on, but we’re definitely aware of,” said Lakers’ guard Marcus Smart about the upcoming stretch. “My experience, we got to focus on one game at a time…We don’t have the luxury to look ahead. We definitely got to take it one game at a time and handle business.”
Handling business is great, but let’s pause for a moment and remember something.
This is exactly what happened last season.
With 18 games to go last year, the Lakers found themselves in fourth place in a crowded Western Conference. Seeds two through eight were separated by four games, with two through five separated by just 1.5 games. Everyone wanted the Lakers to finish second or third.
When the dust settled, they finished third in the West and earned homecourt advantage in the first round.
And it didn’t matter one bit.
Minnesota walked into Crypto.com Arena in Game 1 and punched the Lakers in the mouth. The Timberwolves blew them out in front of their own crowd. The Lakers recovered to win Game 2, but the rest of the series unraveled quickly.
They lost the series in five games, including two of their three home games,
So much for homecourt advantage.
LeBron James goes up for a dunk against the Pelicans. Getty Images
Last season the Lakers were dominant in Los Angeles, finishing 31–10 at home — the second-best home record in the Western Conference behind the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
It looked impressive in the standings, but it meant nothing in April. It rarely does when the matchup is wrong.
And matchups are exactly what the Lakers should be studying during this upcoming stretch, not necessarily results.
LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves — arguably the most fascinating offensive trio in the conference — have played only a little over a dozen games together. The chemistry is improving, but playoff basketball demands instinctive trust.
The kind that comes from repetition.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves hits a behind-the-back step back against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The next nine days will act as a scouting report for April. The Lakers will see how they match up against Minnesota’s size and length, Denver’s experience, and Houston’s relentless athleticism.
These games are not just about wins and losses.
They’re about gathering information. They’re about discovering which lineups survive when the game slows down. They’re about understanding which defensive matchups can lock-up their opponent during a seven-game series.
“This could be a perfect time or not,” Doncic said about the upcoming schedule. “Just gotta approach those games with the same mentality. Obviously, every one of those teams has great players. They’re winning games. So we need to go game by game first of all, and then just try to win all those games.”
If the Lakers secure the No. 3 seed, great. They’ll happily take the home games.
But if they finish fifth, avoid the play-in tournament, and have a more favorable matchup?
That’s perfectly fine too.
Because the truth about playoff basketball is brutally simple.
It isn’t about where you play. It’s about who you play — and whether you’re healthy enough to beat them.
