DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 23: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres scores on a Miguel Andujar RBI single against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Coors Field on April 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (17-8) at Arizona Diamondbacks (14-11), April 25, 2026, 03:05 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu – Mexico City, Mexico
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic tend not to do things the easy way.
They lost seven consecutive games in March to put their playoff chances in peril. They needed to survive a play-in tournament elimination game — one that many thought they would lose — just to get into the playoffs. And on Saturday, they wasted a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and found themselves trailing the Detroit Pistons.
In response, they simply did what they do best.
“Fight,” center Wendell Carter Jr. said.
Fight, they did, and the Magic found a way. They outscored Detroit 9-0 in the final 2:51, getting the last punch and the last word in what became a 113-105 win that gave eighth-seeded Orlando a 2-1 lead over the top-seeded Pistons in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
“We did a good job of staying poised ... not getting rattled,” said Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who finished on the cusp of a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. “Very composed from the team, and we got the job done.”
Banchero had the game-sealing shot, too — a 3-pointer that hit the rim, bounced a couple stories into the air, then dropped through the net with the softest of swishes with about 40 seconds left.
“The basketball gods don't reward hesitation,” Banchero said. “That one, I didn't hesitate and they blessed me with that make. A funny shot, but a big shot.”
Detroit probably had one of those coming.
The Pistons, who trailed for most of the game, went on a 26-8 run in about six minutes to turn a 96-79 deficit into a 105-104 lead on a free throw by Cade Cunningham — who led all scorers with 27 points. Cunningham and Tobias Harris combined for 22 points in that spurt, one where Detroit shot 9-for-11 from the floor.
“For parts of the game, we did some good things,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “But down the stretch, they made some tough shots that made it hard for us to finish it out.”
He's half-right. The other half was this — Detroit made no more shots.
When the 26-8 run ended, all nine of the game's remaining points were scored by the Magic. A team that seems to love being in the basketball pressure-cooker found a way, once again.
A 2-1 series lead going into another home game on Monday is Orlando's reward, with the No. 8 seed now two wins away from an upset.
“There's a lot to clean up as well,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said.
CUBS IN L.A.: This is the Cubs’ 123rd series at Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Last night’s win was the Cubs’ 56th in the opening game. They have won the second game as well only 13 times, including in 2024. The time before that was 2005, when they swept three games. This is the 20th series since then. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STREAK NOTES: Last night’s game was the Cubs’ 1,430th since the previous one in which they extended a winning streak to 10 games, on Aug. 11, 2016. They have won 755 and lost 675, for a winning percentage of .528. There had been 40 double-digit streaks by 19 other teams since the last by the Cubs. Only 14 were by National League teams. The Astros had six; the Dodgers, four; the Brewers, Guardians, Red Sox and Yankees; three; and the Athletics, Braves, Mariners, Rays and Twins, two. Eight teams had one: Blue Jays, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Giants, Orioles, Pirates, Rangers and Reds. The teams with none: Angels, Marlins, Mets, Nationals, Padres, Phillies, Rockies, Royals, Tigers and White Sox. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DANSBY!: Dansby Swanson, last 13 games since April 11: .279/.421/.674 (12-for-43) with a triple, five home runs, 11 walks, 15 runs scored, 16 RBI and seven multi-hit games.
THE BUSCH LEAGUE: Michael Busch, last 11 games since April 12: .311/.367/.467 (14-for-45) with a double, two home runs, seven runs scored, eight RBI and six multi-hit games.
Colin Rea has been just what the Cubs needed — a solid starter to replace Cade Horton in the rotation. Rea obviously is no Horton, but he gets the job done. In his last three games (two starts plus one as the “bulk guy”): 2.55 ERA, 0.906 WHIP, only one home run allowed in 17.2 innings. Can’t ask for much more than that.
Rea threw 3.2 innings and 68 pitches against the Dodgers in L.A. last year, April 15, 2025, allowing one run and striking out five. Current Dodgers are batting .291 (16-for-55) against Rea. Shohei Ohtani has homered twice off him, but really, who has Ohtani NOT homered twice against?
Keeping the ball in the yard would be helpful tonight.
Roki Sasaki, as you know, signed with the Dodgers out of Japan before the 2025 season with much fanfare. He threw well against the Cubs in Tokyo and Dodger Stadium (seven total innings, two runs, though seven walks), then got hurt and missed several months. He threw well again in the postseason for the Dodgers, in relief.
Today’s game is on Fox-TV (regional — coverage map). Fox announcers: Joe Davis and John Smoltz. A reminder that if you subscribe to MLB.TV or MLB Extra Innings, you can watch this game via those services even if it’s not on the Fox affiliate in your market.
Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 23: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks is defended by Onyeka Okongwu #17 and h0during the second quarter of game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Your Atlanta Hawks (2-1) try to build upon their last two clutch wins in a row and take a stranglehold of the series against the New York Knicks.
Jock Landale (right high ankle sprain) has been ruled out.
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
BALTIMORE – Two poor starts shouldn’t be enough to send Garrett Crochet into a panic.
Crochet, the Boston Red Sox ace, didn’t finish second to Tarik Skubal in the 2025 American League Cy Young Award race without self-confidence, without a brazen belief that he can always challenge elite hitters with his finest stuff.
Yet after the worst two-start sequence of his young career, including an 11-run, nine-hit, three-walk, zero-strikeout debacle against the Minnesota Twins, even a 6-6 lefty with an array of pitches that seemingly disappear can drift into a state of self-doubt.
That valley was a little easier to analyze after his effort Saturday, April 25 at Camden Yards, facing an Orioles lineup that clubbed six homers the night before. On this day, they were rendered impotent by Crochet, who tossed six shutout innings of one-hit ball.
The Red Sox eventually scored 10 ninth-inning runs, four off a position player, to turn a tight game into a 17-1 rout of Baltimore. The offensive uprising was a boon for a club that entered last in the majors in OPS and home runs.
Yet the bigger sigh of relief regarded their ace left-hander, who readily admitted he was breathing easier.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” he said after improving to 3-3 and lowering his ERA from 7.88 to 6.30. “I know I don’t suck. But when you’re not seeing results it’s, man, it’s not fun.
“After Minnesota, I couldn’t even be upset. It just really was not a good time being on the mound. But against a division opponent, a potent lineup through and through, to be able to go shutdown inning multiple times, that felt really good.”
Hard to imagine looking at the final score, but Crochet faced several moments that tested his mettle. Staked to a 3-0 lead in the second, he yielded a double and walk in the bottom of the third to bring the tying run – Gunnar Henderson, with eight home runs on the season – to the plate, prompting a visit from pitching coach Andrew Bailey.
Crochet entered the start determined to throw his four-seam fastball until the Orioles proved they could hit it. But he caught Henderson looking at a sweeper, a pitch catcher Connor Wong encouraged him to dust off.
“That was pretty satisfying. I was like man, my sweeper has been sucking lately,” says Crochet.
Indeed, he increased the sweeper usage from 13% entering the game to 20%, recording three of his six strikeouts on the offering.
The other three punchouts came on the four-seamer – and that was very much by design.
“We’ve been low-key searching for the past three starts now: What is it that I need to do to game plan for teams?” says Crochet. “Connor went into today with, no one’s hit your four all season so we were just going to throw it until they did.
“That worked out pretty well for us.”
To the point that even as Coby Mayo dinged him for a double and a 104.2 mph lineout to center, Crochet decided to bring it with conviction until the opponent proved otherwise.
They never did.
“They’ve got guys who can hit the four, too, but make ‘em prove it,” he says. “In the past, I’d go away from it without anyone proving it.
“Tonight it was just, show me. And if you show me, I might not believe you.”
The outing doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all good for Crochet, who entered the game with several concerning peripherals. The whiff rate on his four-seamer and cutter were both significantly down from 2025 (30.5% and 24.3% respectively) to 2026 (24.2%, 17.6%). His walk rate was also inflated, from 5.7% to 7.8% and he issued two more free passes Saturday.
This time, the whiff rate on his fastball was back up to 29%. Manager Alex Cora said both before and after the game that while Crochet gave up five earned runs – four on two late homers – to the Detroit Tigers, he did not consider that a clunker.
Perhaps he’s correct, and Crochet is rounding into his stuff as April turns to May.
“He’s trending in the right direction,” Cora said afterward. “Minnesota feels like a long time ago.”
The Red Sox, now 10-17, certainly hope so. They won’t go anywhere this year without Crochet, and now their ace looks like he’s back in the driver’s seat after a brush with mediocrity.
“I won’t say it’s not being afraid to fail,” he says of what he took from his two-start dip. “Because I’m terrified to fail. I think most guys in the big leagues are. And that’s what drives you to continue to work and push for success.
“It’s just being OK with it and knowing how to fail and how to bounce back.”
It wasn't just lucky bounces for the Magic. It was a focused defensive effort on Cade Cunningham, holding the All-Star and heart of the Pistons to 8-of-23 shooting with nine turnovers. It was Desmond Bane setting a Magic record with seven 3-pointers in a playoff game. It was Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero stepping up with clutch buckets.
After Detroit had all the momentum, coming from 13 down in the fourth quarter to take a one-point lead at 105-104, Orlando closed the game on a 9-0 run in front of their home crowd.
The result was a 113-104 Magic win, putting them up 2-1 in their first-round series against the No. 1-seeded Pistons. Game 4 is Monday night, in Orlando, a contest you can watch on Peacock.
Coming into the playoffs, the question in Detroit was "who is going to be the second scorer after Cade Cunningham? Three games into the postseason we still don't have that answer..
Orlando did their best defensive work in the series on Saturday, doubling up on Cunningham, throwing different (and fresh) defenders at him all game. It slowed him, forcing him to turn the ball over nine times, tying a Detroit playoff record. Nobody else really stepped up as a secondary playmaker (Daniss Jenkins got just seven minutes off the bench).
Tobias Harris stepped up with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting and some key plays. Jalen Duran had five blocks and was a defensive force, but he had eight points on 3-of-10 shooting before fouling out.
While the Orlando highlights will focus on Desmond Bane and his 25 points and seven 3-pointers, or on Banchero and his 25, don't sleep on Wendell Carter Jr. — he was key to this win. It wasn't Carter's 14 points or eight rebounds — although he scored nine points on second-chance buckets that were huge — it was his defense. His ability to switch, to guard multiple positions and protect the rim, was critical in how the Magic defended Cunningham.
On the other end, Detroit did a poor job of containing Orlando's drivers much of the night.
This was a close game much of the way. It was tied 26-26 after one quarter, although it was foreshadowing that Orlando forced seven Detroit turnovers in the quarter (resulting in seven points).
Jalen Suggs came out firing and had 12 of his 15 points on the night in the first half, while Desmond Bane had 14. The result was a 61-54 lead for the Magic at the break.
Down eight after three quarters, the Pistons' J.B. Bickerstaff chose to start the fourth quarter with both Cunningham and Duren on the bench. The result was a fast 7-0 Magic run and a 15-point Orlando lead.
It felt like the Magic were in control, but then Cunningham got loose a little, a couple of 3-pointers fell, and the Pistons came storming back to take a one-point lead with 2:52 remaining. The No. 1 seed looked like it had righted the ship.
Then the bounces started going Orlando's way again. And it was the ballgame.
The Carolina Hurricanes will more than likely be without defenseman Alexander Nikishin for the foreseeable future after the Russian blueliner absorbed a huge hit from Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven.
In the second period of Game 4, Nikishin was leaned over attempting to play a puck in his own defensive end when Kleven came charging in with a gigantic hit.
Kleven caught Nikishin square in the body, but the force of it alone was enough to make you think a concussion is likely.
Alexander Nikishin had to be helped off the ice after being hit by Tyler Kleven.
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“The easiest way to put it is he and Kershaw were arguably the best two lefties in the state of Texas and, therefore, at the time, the country, too, really,” the Giants manager recalled from when he recruited the Giants’ beloved first baseman to the University of Missouri.
The Giants honored former first baseman Brandon Belt on Saturday. AP
That’s right: First baseman. And in the conversation with Kershaw.
Belt, 38, put a ribbon on a 13-year big-league career — all but one in San Francisco — with a celebration in his honor before the Giants hosted the Marlins on Saturday. He never officially announced his retirement, but he hasn’t been on a big-league roster since 2023.
“I just want to start out saying this is a very surreal moment for me. I never thought this would happen,” Belt said to the crowd, before showcasing his signature wit. “But when I think about this day and the Giants organization doing this for me, the only thing that pops to mind is: It’s about time.”
Once such a hotly debated player among fans that the “Belt Wars” were coined, Belt became a core piece of two World Series clubs and a 107-win NL West champion squad, eventually logging more games at first base than anybody in the franchise’s long history besides Willie McCovey.
Despite his status in the franchise’s inner circle, Belt ended his career with the Blue Jays. He was not approached about a ceremonial one-day contract to retire with the club he spent most of his career, he said, but hopes to stay involved moving forward as a guest instructor at spring training.
“After Toronto, I kind of knew I was going to be done,” Belt said. “I think I would have played in certain situations, with the Giants or a team in Texas or something like that, but that was about all I was going to do. I was ready to be around my family. … Honestly, I was just looking to fade away.”
Before Belt became a standard-bearer at first base for the Giants in the modern era, Vitello was more interested in his talents on the mound. Vitello was still rising through the collegiate coaching ranks, as an assistant at Missouri, when Belt was coming out of Hudson High in deep east Texas.
Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw (above) and Brandon Belt were high school baseball stars in Texas. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
At the same time, Kershaw was dominating high school hitters in the Dallas area. The Dodgers selected the future Hall of Famer sixth overall that spring, and the rest is history.
Belt was equally “incredible” on the mound, according to Vitello. However, shoulder issues eventually put him on his path as one of the most beloved players in modern Giants history.
It was only fitting that Kershaw’s name worked its way into the festivities.
Belt stepped into the box against the Dodgers’ legendary left-hander 20 more times than he did against any other pitcher. The first of Belt’s 1,232 career hits came in their first matchup. He would record only three more over 61 regular-season battles that followed, finishing his career batting .065 against him.
“Looking up on the scoreboard and seeing that first off of Kershaw,” Buster Posey turned and teased Belt from behind the podium. “Was that the only one of your career?”
On a more serious note, Posey said, “The World Series championships in 2012 and 2014 don’t happen without Brandon Belt.”
It took some time for Belt to get his due among the Giants’ fan base, but there was no mistaking their feelings during a ceremony that featured speeches from Posey, Belt and Bruce Bochy and was emceed by broadcasters Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow.
Belt’s wife, their two sons, his mom and his two high school coaches were seated on the infield grass. But there was one person missing: Belt’s dad, Darrell, who died last July.
“Growing up, all I cared about was making my dad proud. And I know if he could be here today, he would be extremely proud,” Belt said. “That’s all I can think about right now. He taught me about toughness, doing things right, and he made it his life’s purpose to make sure he got the best out of me and my brother.”
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Back on the recruiting trail, Vitello remembered Belt being “incredibly cordial” even though his Tigers “probably had no chance of actually landing him.” He eventually picked the University of Texas.
In one conversation, Vitello remembered Belt telling him of a home run he hit.
“I joked with him … I said maybe if you come to Missouri, we’ll let you hit, too,” Vitello chuckled. “Because we were recruiting him as a pitcher. That didn’t age very, very well. He can definitely hit.”
Giants manager Tony Vitello tried to recruit Brandon Belt to play for the University of Missouri when Vitello was an assistant coach there. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Belt appeared in 16 games on the mound for the Longhorns with a 4.19 ERA but earned his stripes at the plate, where he batted .321 with 37 doubles and 14 home runs in 124 games across two seasons.
“He just was a doubles machine, nonstop,” Vitello said. “His at-bats were always aggravating. … He was a guy you were always annoyed with. He was a threat but also you were annoyed with him.”
Maybe Belt didn’t pan out as a pitcher, but that scouting report held up fine. Belt’s 267 career doubles rank sixth in Giants history, and few at-bats in major league history will be remembered as more aggravating than his 21-pitch battle with Angels right-hander Jaime Barria in 2018.
“He was one of the ones who thought I could hit a little bit,” Belt said of Vitello, “even when I didn’t.”
San Diego Padres 3B Ken Caminiti (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
This weekend, the San Diego Padres will partake in their fifth regular-season series in Mexico. It will be a two-game set against their National League West division rival, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Padres have fond memories from their past trips.
After Sunday’s contest, the Friars will have played the most regular-season games in Mexico (11). Monterrey hosted seven games, while Mexico City hosted four games. There is no denying that the ballpark crowds provide an electric environment for both clubs. Who can forget the chanting that takes place throughout the contest?
Caminiti homers twice in Snickers game
It is hard to believe this memorable feat took place 30 years ago.
For those unfamiliar, let’s set the scene. The Padres were meeting the New York Mets in the final game of the 1996 Monterrey Series. Friars third baseman Ken Caminiti walked into the clubhouse with a bad case of food poisoning and dehydration.
The training staff administered IV fluids to treat him. Padres manager Bruce Bochy was resigned to the fact that his star cleanup hitter would be unavailable for the contest. Somehow, some way, Caminiti played in the rubber game of the series.
His afternoon began with a solo home run to put the Friars on the scoreboard. Caminiti proceeded to hit a massive three-run shot that extended the lead to 8-0 and secure a series victory over the Mets.
What is remarkable about his legendary performance is that Snickers candy bars were the lone food source Caminiti could keep down. This memorable Sunday afternoon propelled him to win the NL Most Valuable Player Award.
Valenzuela’s historic first MLB start on home soil
You need no explanation on what an honor it was for Fernando Valenzuela to start the first major league regular-season game in Mexico. Despite playing away from his hometown, Valenzuela remained a celebrated national hero. Viewers could see how the honor was a personal accomplishment for him.
A raucous crowd of over 23,000 fans chanted “El Toro” at Valenzuela every time he touched the baseball. The left-hander threw six innings and allowed three runs on six hits to secure the win in a 15-10 victory.
The offensive attack featured a grand slam by Greg Vaughn and a solo shot by Steve Finley. It was another memorable moment in Valenzuela’s distinguished 17-year major league career.
Mexico City’s debut game turns into home run derby
The San Francisco Giants faced the Padres in the 2023 Inaugural Mexico City Series, where extreme altitude (7,350 feet) triggered a home run outburst in the opening game.
In a contest that felt like a home run derby, the Friars outslugged the Giants 16–11 as the two teams combined for a staggering 11 home runs in the thin air. The Padres and Giants tied a major league record of having 10 different players homer on the day. The Friars had four players who hit home runs that traveled more than 400 feet, including Xander Bogaerts’ drive that went 455 feet.
Manny Machado led the charge with two home runs, the second of which clinched the victory. Meanwhile, Nelson Cruz, who had been struggling at the plate, delivered one last memorable performance in the majors. The veteran designated hitter racked up five hits and became the oldest player in Padres history (42) to hit a home run.
Hopefully, the Friars and D-Backs can add more fond memories this weekend in Mexico. Regardless, the sold-out crowds will show their love for the greatest sport ever created.
With a commanding 3-0 series lead, the Philadelphia Flyers are about to face a desperate Pittsburgh Penguins team doing anything it can to stay alive in the stanley Cup playoffs.
The Flyers just got some important news for their own hopes, as it was announced Saturday afternoon that goalie Dan Vladar would start after an injury scare kept him off the ice for the last two days.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust landed on Vladar's hand during Game 3, but after a brief conversation with trainer Tommy Alva, the Flyers goalie carried on and finished out the contest.
Vladar, 28, is 3-0-0 this postseason with a 1.33 GAA, .946 save percentage, and one shutout.
As for the Penguins, they're making further lineup changes in an effort to keep this series going.
Pittsburgh head coach Dan Muse announced Saturday that goalie Arturs Silovs would start for the Penguins, replacing the incumbent Stuart Skinner, who backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup finals.
The problem for them, though, is that Silovs was one of the worst goalies in the NHL this season, going 19-12-8 in spite of a porous 3.07 GAA and .888 save percentage.
Comparatively, Vladar saved 13.8 goals above expected for the Flyers, which was 10th-best in the NHL.
Further complicating matters is the fact that Silovs played under Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet for parts of three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, so if anyone knows what Silovs' weaknesses are, it's him.
The Latvian played 10 games for Tocchet and the Canucks last year, going 2-6-1 to the tune of a 3.65 GAA and .861 save percentage--the former was fourth-worst in the league among goalies with at least 10 games played, and the latter was second-worst under the same parameters.
This is all to say that Tocchet has seen Silovs at his worst and should know better than most how to get the 6-foot-4 netminder off his game and what strategies are most effective against him.
Muse and the Penguins might be looking for a spark, they might think Skinner deflated the team after a bad goal allowed to Rasmus Ristolainen in Game 3, or they might be waving the white flag and want their younger goalie to get playoff reps.
In any case, Silovs is just 5-5-0 in his career in the Stanley Cup playoffs and owns a .898 save percentage.
The numbers don't lie, and the Flyers must take advantage of a vulnerable young player on a desperate team.
Lakers guard Bronny James had five points in a 26-second flurry during Game 3 on Friday night in Houston. They were the first playoff points in his career. (Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images)
While leading the Lakers to a commanding 3-0 lead over the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, LeBron James has stepped out of his airtight postseason mindset for only a few fleeting moments.
He has a good reason.
“All those moments has been with Bronny,” James said Friday after leading the Lakers to a 112-108 win over Houston. “It keeps getting better and better. It’s like ‘wow.’”
Steadily growing under the postseason spotlight, Bronny James scored his first playoff points Friday in a five-point, 26-second flurry in which he drained a three behind a screen from his dad and then hit a reverse layup to complete the NBA’s first father-son postseason alley-oop. The Lakers can clinch the first-round, best-of-seven series Sunday at the Toyota Center.
Without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) to run the Lakers’ halfcourt sets, the team has placed an emphasis on running in transition. When Deandre Ayton blocked a shot at the rim with 7:18 remaining in the second quarter Friday, LeBron James corralled the rebound and pushed the ball up the court. Bronny James, the youngest player on the Lakers’ roster, knows he can beat anyone up the court. He locked eyes with his dad as they sprinted toward the basket.
It’s been a while since Bronny James caught a lob from his 41-year-old teammate. Maybe not since last year’s training camp, he estimated. Getting to connect again while contributing to the Lakers’ thrilling overtime win is “what I always wanted,” Bronny James said.
“Especially a playoff game, the first playoff bucket is great for me, great for my confidence and how I approach the rest of the playoffs,” he added of his role in the win.
The 21-year-old from USC got his first postseason rotation minutes in Game 1, starting the second quarter. The Crypto.com Arena crowd cheered when he got his first touch on the ball.
He had one turnover and two fouls in his three-minute, 50-second shift. Even several of his completed passes were slightly off the mark, forcing teammates to reach for the ball. Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean pulled him aside in front of the Lakers bench for words of encouragement before the second-year pro returned to the bench. He didn’t re-enter the game.
LeBron James remembered the nerves he had during his first postseason game in 2006 against Washington, he said after Game 1, and there was little advice he could give his son that would make the experience easier until he actually did it.
“I was nervous for my first playoff game, too,” Bronny James said. “I definitely think I've gained a little more confidence and relaxed myself over these three games.”
The Lakers are going to need the younger James’ minutes. Still waiting for Doncic and Reaves to return, the Lakers can’t turn down any advantageous shots, coach JJ Redick said.
Seeing the former second-round pick confidently step into a three-pointer Friday was even more important than the fact that Bronny James made the shot for his first playoff points.
Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) chase after a loose ball during Game 3 on Friday night in Houston. (Michael Wyke / Associated Press)
“The amount of confidence that a young kid in our league can get from a postseason game is like — a regular-season game would never,” LeBron James said, “you will never get nervous from a regular-season moment ever again when you play meaningful postseason games and postseason minutes. And he's done that and I think that's pretty cool for his career, for his confidence.”
Not only has Bronny James gained confidence in his shot, but Redick praised his improvement on defense throughout the season. Against the famously physical Rockets, the 6-foot-2 guard doesn’t look out of place on defense. In the moments LeBron James zooms out to realize his son is playing, he marvels at his oldest child’s attention to detail, improvements on the ball and defensive mindset.
Bronny James is appreciative of the coaches’ trust in him. The former five-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High is still growing into his career, especially after surgery for a congenital heart defect derailed his brief college experience. That he didn’t get to play a March Madness game will irk him for the rest of his life, Bronny James said. But the Lakers postseason run isn’t a bad consolation prize.
“[I] got to do it in the playoffs,” Bronny James said, “and that's just the best feeling.”
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 25: Goga Bitadze #35 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All the Magic was on Orlando’s side as the Detroit Pistons dropped Game 3 113-105 to the Orlando Magic and face a 2-1 series deficit and plenty of questions. I’m not sure how many of them have answers Pistons fans are comfortable with.
The Pistons played awful basketball nearly the entire game, but somehow found themselves taking a 105-104 lead with 2:52 remaining. It was the last points Detroit would score on the night as Orlando went on a 9-0 run to close out the game and take command of the series.
Franz Wagner hit a tough step-back jumper and a deep above-the-break 3 to score the first five for Orlando. The true backbreaker, though, was a 25-foot heave from Paolo Banchero that hit the back of the rim, bounced straight up in the air, and casually dropped into the net.
Whether it was some Orlando magic or the Basketball Gods taking stock, we’ll never know, but the Pistons did not truly deserve to be in the game late.
Cade Cunningham had a great fourth quarter, but before that was absolutely pitiful. He had nine turnovers on the night, including a critical one with 58 seconds left in a five-point game when he slipped on the floor near the rim amid not incredibly intense defense.
Even worse was yet another absolute dreadful performance from Jalen Duren. The Pistons big man dicated so much of how Detroit has found offensive success this season, but his game and his confidence have disappeared in this postseason. He had eight points and nine rebounds on 3-of-10 from the field. That’s not going to get it done.
Conversely, Orlando’s most important players stepped up. Desmond Bane finally had a Desmond Bane game, hitting seven threes en route to 25 points. Banchero had 25 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. Players like Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. did all the little things you need to do to win in the playoffs.
Detroit didn’t do those little things, they only surfaced big questions.
Questions like where they can turn when Cunningham faces so much full-court pressure and double teams. At times this season, the answer has been Duren and Daniss Jenkins. In the playoffs, those options have been not just unreliable but actively hurting Detroit on the floor. There are questions about who can create shots outside of Cade. The answer there might be, well, nobody.
Tobias Harris stepped up with 23 points, including some critical buckets late to bring Detroit back. Ausar Thompson was an offensive saftey valve when Detroit’s offense had completely dried up. But you’re not winning a playoff series on the backs of offense from Harris and Thompson. And the Pistons might not win this playoff series at all.
Orlando is certainly in full control, and Detroit will need answers. Those answers likely need to start with Cunningham and Duren. It’s simply how the team is built and how the offense needs to function. If they can’t figure out how to be successful on the floor, both together and when the other sits, then this series is over and Detroit has a lot of tough questions heading into an unexpectedly early offseason.
After narrowly dropping Game 2 at home, the San Antonio Spurs roared back to life with a comfortable victory in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.
With Victor Wembanyama expected back for Game 4, my Spurs vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks expect San Antonio to deliver another win on the road and cover a modest spread.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers prediction
Who will win Spurs vs Trail Blazers Game 4?
Spurs: The Spurs finished the regular season with the second-best record on the road, winning 29 of 41 games away from Frost Bank Center. San Antonio got the job done with big games from its budding backcourt, and the return of Victor Wembanyama will push the Spurs to victory on the road.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers best bet: Spurs -5.5 (-110)
San Antonio is 24-17-1 ATS on the road and 14-12-1 ATS as the road favorite. The visiting team covered the spread in 25 of 45 games when favored by at least 5.5 points, including a 10-7 mark when favored by that many on the road.
The Spurs were one of the best two-way teams in the Association this season. San Antonio boasted the second-best net rating (8.4), the third-best offensive rating (118.7), and the third-best defensive rating (110.4).
On the road, the Spurs were even better defensively, with a 109.4 defensive rating, the second-best mark in the league. San Antonio’s 8.4 net rating on the road ranked second in the Association.
Conversely, the Blazers have struggled on both ends of the floor this season. Portland ranks 21st in offensive rating (113.1), 11th in defensive rating (113.5), and 19th in net rating (-0.4).
At Moda Center, Portland has been even worse, ranking 23rd in offensive rating (110.6) and 17th in net rating (-3.2).
Portland was comfortably defeated in Games 1 and 3, and it took a mid-game injury to Victor Wembanyama and a career scoring night from Scoot Henderson to come away with a three-point win in Game 2.
Wemby’s return should fuel the Spurs to victory, as they look ahead to Game 5 and a gentleman’s sweep at home.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Five of six head-to-head matchups between the Spurs and Blazers have gone Under, and at 219 points, I expect that trend to continue in Game 4. With Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama back in action, the Spurs can lock down Portland’s offense and keep this matchup low-scoring.
Wembanyama delivered 35 points in Game 1 before getting concussed in Game 2 and missing most of the contest. Including that shortened stint on the court, Wemby has averaged 29.7 points over his last 18 games, scoring 28+ 10 times. He’s cashed the Over on this scoring line in five of his last six healthy games.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers SGP
Spurs -5.5
Under 219
Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Spurs Roll!
Reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and 2026 first-round pick Dylan Harper led the Wembanyama-less Spurs to victory in Game 3, and I expect them to stay productive in Game 4.
Stephon Castle finished with a 33/2/5 line in Game 3 after posting 30 and 31 in Games 1 and 2. Castle has averaged 34.2 PRA across his last 12 games while cashing the Over on this line eight times.
Dylan Harper finished his rookie season with averages of 19.1 PRA, going for at least 17 in 44 of 69 total appearances. He reached that mark in 24 of 38 road games, and he posted a monster 27/10/3 line in Game 3.
Spurs vs Trail Blazers SGP
Spurs -5.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points
Stephon Castle Over 30.5 points+rebounds+assists
Dylan Harper Over 16.5 points+rebounds+assists
Spurs vs Trail Blazers odds for Game 4
Spread: Spurs -5.5 | Trail Blazers +5.5
Moneyline: Spurs -220 | Trail Blazers +180
Over/Under: Over 219 | Under 219
Spurs vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know
The Spurs have covered the first-half spread in 28 of their last 35 road games for +20.05 units and a 49% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Trail Blazers.
How to watch Spurs vs Trail Blazers Game 4
Location
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Spurs vs Trail Blazers latest injuries
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When the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs opened, the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche were widely viewed as the team to beat. One week into the postseason, that opinion has only strengthened.
Avalanche Still Set the Standard
Despite leading the NHL with 298 goals during the regular season, Colorado has already shown it can win in a far different style when the stakes rise. The Avalanche now hold a commanding 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Kings after Thursday’s 4-2 win, moving within one victory of the second round. Artturi Lehkonen led the charge with a goal and an assist, while Scott Wedgewood earned his third straight win to begin the playoffs.
Just as impressive is how Colorado has done it without needing nightly fireworks from every star in the lineup. Maurice Richard Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon, who scored a career-best 53 goals this season, has not been forced to carry the offense because the Avalanche have leaned on their depth, defensive structure, and steady goaltending.
Colorado is now 13 wins away from becoming the first Presidents’ Trophy winner to lift the Stanley Cup since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. History has not always been kind to regular-season juggernauts, but this Avalanche team appears equipped to buck that trend.
Updated Stanley Cup Odds
According to the latest FanDuel Stanley Cup futures odds, Colorado remains the clear favorite at +240, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes at +320. The Tampa Bay Lightning sit next at +850, while the Dallas Stars are listed at +1200. The Buffalo Sabres have climbed into the conversation at +1400, with both the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens close behind at +1500.
Further down the board, the Vegas Golden Knights are +1900, followed by the Philadelphia Flyers at +2000 and the Utah Mammoth at +2200. The Minnesota Wild check in at +2500, while the Anaheim Ducks are +3000. Longer shots include the Boston Bruins at +6000, Ottawa Senators at +10000, Pittsburgh Penguins at +17500, and the Kings at +25000.
While Colorado has tightened its grip on the Western Conference picture, Edmonton still looms as a potential obstacle as it chases a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. Dallas remains dangerous, Vegas carries championship pedigree, and Utah has quickly become one of the postseason’s most intriguing stories.
In the East, Carolina has only strengthened its standing as Colorado’s top challenger. The Hurricanes were elite defensively all season and now appear to be finding enough offense to match. Tampa Bay’s experience keeps it firmly in the mix, while Buffalo and Montreal have emerged as compelling dark-horse threats.
For now, though, the road to the Stanley Cup still runs through Denver. Colorado has taken complete control of its opening-round series, received outstanding play from Wedgewood, and shown it can win even when the offense is not operating at full speed.
That balance is exactly why the Avalanche remain the favorite.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 24: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates defeating the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on April 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves go for another series win against the Phillies, as Bryce Elder takes the bump facing off against Zack Wheeler in his first start back from injury. Wheeler has been somewhat diminished in his rehab starts, so we probably shouldn’t expect the prime Zack Wheeler. You can read more about the pitching matchup in the game preview here.
The headliner is that Michael Harris returns to the lineup batting fifth, as the young Braves star is scorching hot at the plate. It appears that he isn’t ready to play the field, or at least the Braves are being cautious with him, as he deals with quad tightness, but as we saw last night, he is healthy enough to hit and run and his bat simply demands to be in the lineup right now. Eli White continues to play center in Harris’ stead, while Austin Riley bats sixth.
