Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT
LINE: Lakers -2.5; over/under is 208.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers look to clinch the Western Conference first round over the Houston Rockets in game five. The Rockets defeated the Lakers 115-96 in the last meeting on Monday. Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 23 points, and Deandre Ayton led the Lakers with 19.
The Lakers are 33-19 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles averages 116.3 points while outscoring opponents by 1.7 points per game.
The Rockets are 29-23 in Western Conference play. Houston ranks second in the Western Conference scoring 53.0 points per game in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 17.5.
The Lakers' 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.6 fewer made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets give up. The Rockets are shooting 47.9% from the field, 0.4% lower than the 48.3% the Lakers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: LeBron James is shooting 51.5% and averaging 20.9 points for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 107.8 points, 39.6 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.4 points per game.
Rockets: 6-4, averaging 116.8 points, 46.5 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 9.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.2 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Austin Reaves: day to day (oblique), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Kevin Durant: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Connor Dewar, Kris Letang and Elmer Soderblom scored and the Pittsburgh Penguins avoided elimination for the second time in 48 hours with a 3-2 win over Philadelphia in Game 5 of their first-round series on Monday night.
Sidney Crosby shook off a shot to his left knee to add two assists for the Penguins, who cut the Flyers lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2.
Game 6 is Wednesday in Philadelphia, where the pressure will be on the Flyers to avoid putting themselves in danger of becoming just the fifth team in NHL history to blow a series after winning the first three games.
Alex Bump scored his first goal of the playoffs for Philadelphia, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie it on Travis Sanheim’s second goal of the series 15:06 into the second.
Crosby, who limped to the bench and then to the training room for treatment minutes earlier after a blast from the point by teammate Ryan Shea appeared to hit the top of his left knee, helped put the Penguins back in front just over two minutes later when he fed the puck to Letang at the top of the Philadelphia zone.
Letang sent a shot toward Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar that sailed wide of the net before bouncing back toward Vladar. The puck smacked off Vladar’s left pad, then his right and across the goal line to give Pittsburgh the lead for good.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 5, MAMMOTH 4, OT
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Shea Theodore scored on a snap shot from the high slot with 51.5 seconds left in overtime as Vegas beat Utah after squandering a three-goal lead, tying the first-round playoff series at two games apiece.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights appeared to have won the game earlier in OT when Pavel Dorofeyev tapped in a loose puck with 9:41 left, but the apparent score was waved off when it was determined Vegas was offsides.
Vegas’ Brett Howden scored his second goal of the game on a tip-in with 9:35 remaining in the third period, and the goal forced overtime after Utah had stormed back with four straight goals.
The Golden Knights raced out to a 3-0 lead with two goals in the first and one early in the second by Dorofeyev, Howden, and Cole Smith.
Utah countered with four straight scores, capped by Clayton Keller’s wrist shot off a deflection for a 4-3 lead at the 5:10 mark of the third period.
Utah’s Karel Vejmelka had 31 stops. Carter Hart had 27 saves for Vegas.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic are one win away from knocking off a No. 1 seed and winning their first playoff series in 16 years.
They’re not celebrating yet.
Desmond Bane scored 22 points, Franz Wagner had 19 in three quarters and the Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 94-88 Monday night to take a 3-1 series lead, putting the East’s No. 1 seed on the brink of elimination.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Detroit.
“We put our ourselves in position to try to get four, but right now it means nothing,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We have the advantage and now we have to try and make sure we keep that advantage.”
Orlando, which had to win an elimination game at home in the play-in tournament, is on the verge of becoming just the seventh No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 in a series in league history. It’s happened only four times since the playoffs were expanded to a best-of-seven series for all rounds in 2003.
THUNDER 131, SUNS 122
PHOENIX (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren added 24 and Oklahoma City beat Phoenix Suns, capping a four-game sweep in the first-round series.
The Thunder — who have a 12-0 record in the first round over the last three seasons — will face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers have a 3-1 lead, though the Rockets won Game 4.
Phoenix has a 10-game losing streak in the playoffs, dating to 2023.
The Thunder closed the series with an overwhelming offensive performance — making 17 of 34 (50%) 3-pointers — and their big men played particularly well. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren shot 9 of 16 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein added 18 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
NUGGETS 125, TIMBERWOLVES 113
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic snapped out of his prolonged funk with a triple-double, Spencer Jones provided a key spark and Denver staved off elimination with a chippy win over injury-riddled Minnesota in Game 5 of their playoff series.
Jokic had 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds for Denver, which trimmed its deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Jamal Murray scored 24 points and Jones added 20.
Jokic posted his 23rd playoff triple-double, third on the career list, as the Nuggets stopped a three-game skid and played the way they did most of the regular season in securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
The Vegas Golden Knights missed out when an apparent overtime goal that was waved off for offsides.
But they pushed through and eventually scored a goal that counted to tie their first-round playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at two games apiece.
Shea Theodore got the official goal at 19:08 of the first overtime to give the Golden Knights a 5-4 victory in a game in which they blew a 3-0 lead but tied the game 4-4.
The Golden Knights took advantage of Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka losing his stick on the winning goal. Though a teammate tried to get the stick back to him, the goalie wasn't able to grab it and Theodore blasted the puck past him at 19:08 into the first overtime.
OH NO Cole knocks away Vejmelka's stick and then Theodore rips it home 😱🚨
In this week’s Injury Report, Trey Yesavage returns to the mound on Tuesday for his season debut. Spencer Strider is not far behind after a successful third rehab start. And Giancarlo Stanton hits the injured list with a minor calf strain. Let's break it all down as we run through the relevant injury news around baseball.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Trey Yesavage (shoulder)
Yesavage is expected to make his debut on Tuesday against the Red Sox after missing the start of the season with shoulder inflammation. He’s not likely to go too deep into games right away after totalling 64 pitches in his final rehab start, in which he gave up four runs over 2 1/3 with Triple-A Buffalo. He’ll be a risky start his first time out against Boston, but the 22-year-old right-hander brings immense upside over the rest of the season. Yesavage's return coincides with Max Scherzer (ankle, forearm) landing on the injured list.
Giancarlo Stanton (calf)
Stanton was removed from Friday’s game against the Astros with right lower leg tightness. He sat out the following three games before the team decided he would require a stint on the injured list after an MRI revealed a low-grade calf strain. Stanton isn’t expected to miss much more than the minimum. Meanwhile, Jasson Domíguez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Domínguez should start most days in Stanton’s absence at designated hitter, at least against right-handed pitching, and has some multi-category upside with three homers and eight steals in the minors so far this season.
Francisco Lindor (calf)
Lindor was pulled from last Wednesday’s game against the Twins with left calf tightness. This comes just after the team got Juan Soto back from a calf injury. This one came out worse than Soto’s and will sideline Lindor for at least the next month. He’s set to be re-evaluated in three weeks. Ronny Mauricio was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill in at shortstop against right-handed pitching.
George Springer (toe)
Out since April 12 with a fractured left big toe, Springer will not need a rehab assignment once he’s ready to return sometime this week. The 36-year-old outfielder will run the bases and hit on Tuesday at the Rogers Centre. Springer’s absence had opened playing time for Eloy Jiménez and Lenyn Sosa, but Springer should slot back in as the full-time designated hitter, where he started all 14 games this season.
A look at the top baseball prospects who can help fantasy teams in 2026 and beyond
Christopher Crawford
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Max Scherzer (ankle, forearm)
Scherzer will get some time off after he was hit hard on Friday, giving up seven runs to the Guardians. The 41-year-old right-hander has battled through some ailments, including a forearm issue and ankle inflammation. There’s no timeline for a return, but with Trey Yesavage back and José Berríos on a rehab assignment, it might be a while before the Blue Jays need the veteran to start a game. For now, Eric Lauer remains in the rotation.
Ha-Seong Kim (finger)
Kim has been sidelined all season with a right middle finger laceration he suffered in January that resulted in a torn tendon. The original timeline had him out for 4-5 months. He may make it back in the early part of that estimate, as he’s set to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Columbus this week. Kim would likely need a couple of weeks' worth of at-bats to get ramped up, but appears to be in line to join the Atlanta lineup by mid-May. He’d slot into the lineup as the starting shortstop, with Mauricio Dubón playing all over the diamond in a super-utility role.
Spencer Strider (oblique)
Strider is on the verge of returning from an oblique injury that’s had him sidelined since the end of spring training. He made his third rehab start on Sunday, giving up two runs with seven strikeouts over five innings. He sat at 95 mph on the four-seam fastball throughout the game and reached 82 pitches. Through three rehab starts, he’s allowed two runs with an 18/5 K/BB ratio over 12 2/3 innings. The Braves have moved Reynaldo Lopez to the bullpen as they prepare for Strider’s return, which could come this weekend in Colorado.
Spencer Strider's latest rehab start was just peachy
Wearing specialty jerseys to celebrate the state's moniker, the @Braves righty sat 95.2 mph on his fastball and racked up 7 K's with 17 swings-and-misses in 5 IP. pic.twitter.com/wozDpg1pAQ
Snell, working his way back from a shoulder issue, will make his second rehab start with Low-A Ontario on Tuesday. He threw 32 pitches in his first outing, giving up two runs over one inning of work. Snell will likely need a few more starts before he’s an option for the Dodgers sometime in May.
Jared Jones (elbow)
Jones underwent the internal brace procedure on his right elbow last May. The 24-year-old right-hander is ready to embark on a rehab assignment at Low-A Brandenton on Wednesday. Jones was placed on the 60-day injured list at the start of the season, so the earliest he can be activated is in late May. Still, he’s worth a stash in all formats.
Logan O’Hoppe (wrist)
O’Hoppe was removed from Saturday’s game with a left wrist injury after he was hit by a foul tip. He landed on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist fracture. The 26-year-old catcher only anticipates missing a couple of weeks. Veteran Travis d’Arnaud will be tasked with filling in on most days behind the plate.
Kyle Tucker and the Dodgers defeated the Marlins on Monday.Kyle Tucker and the Dodgers defeated the Marlins on Monday.
Monday was shaping up to be a forgettable night at Dodger Stadium.
Then, the Dodgers delivered an unforgettable ending in the bottom of the ninth.
Trailing by two runs to the Miami Marlins, the team mounted a three-run rally on the back of quality at-bats, a big swing from Shohei Ohtani and a walk-off hit from Kyle Tucker, who lined a two-run, two-out single to center to lift the Dodgers to a 5-4 win.
“We just know as an offense we’re never out of it,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We can always look over a baseball, work walks, work at-bats, and it worked tonight.”
That Tucker was the one who produced the game-winning swing made it all the more memorable.
Kyle Tucker celebrates after his walk-off hit for the Dodgers on April 27. Imagn Images
Entering Monday, Tucker was batting just .238. He was less than a week removed from being dropped from second to fourth in the team’s star-studded lineup. And he had been 0-for-4 previously on the night.
“He needed a win,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s been grinding and trying to find some success and some good fortune.”
But by the time he came up, the Dodgers provided the opportunity, having a built a rally against Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks.
It started with leadoff walks from Andy Pages and Dalton Rushing. It was further ignited by a run-scoring ground-rule double from Ohtani, who one-hopped a line drive over the short wall in the right-field corner. After that, Freeman received an intentional free pass while Fairbanks left the game with an injury. Thus, it all came down to Tucker, who with two outs represented the Dodgers’ last chance.
“Guys had phenomenal at-bats right there at the end,” Tucker said. “Just having the opportunity is huge.”
Two pitches later, he made sure to take advantage, connecting on a game-winning hit that prompted his teammates to mob him around first base.
“I do think that a moment like this, even for a player that’s been around a long time, can kind of inspire more confidence in him, which is good thing,” Roberts said. “I think this is the floor of what he’s going to be doing this year, and I think it’s the needle is pointing up.”
Entering the ninth, any comeback bid had felt unlikely.
The Dodgers (20-9) hadn’t scored since Teoscar Hernández’s two-run single in the first. They had squandered that lead on Liam Hicks’ three-run homer against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the fifth. They had left the bases loaded in the seventh. They had gone 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, slipping back into the sluggish form that dogged them for most of last week.
Kyle Tucker delivers a walk-off hit during the Dodgers’ April 27 win. Imagn Images
Alas, they quickly rallied, capping one of thier most signature wins early on this season with a first signature moment from their superstar signing.
“Kyle having this huge moment for him and us,” Freeman said with a smile. “Hopefully he can set free and be King Tuck.”
What it means
That, once again, the Dodgers are never out of a game.
Between the second and sixth innings, the team had mustered just one hit. In that time, Yamamoto stumbled in a five-inning, four-run (three-earned) outing while lacking his typical stuff or command.
However, their superstar lineup means that, as long as they’re within striking distance, they’re always capable of mounting a comeback.
That’s what happened in the ninth, with key walks and big swings giving the team its second walk-off win of the year.
Who’s hot
Hernández is not known for drawing walks. But improved plate discipline has helped him not only earn a string of free bases lately, but also snap out of what had been a couple-week-long slump.
Hernández started his night Monday with a key hit, driving in the game’s first two runs with his opposite-field single in the first inning. After that, he walked twice, marking only the second time this season he has done so.
Following a 14-game stretch from April 7-24 in which he batted .154, Hernández is now 3-for-8 the last three days with four walks and four RBIs, raising his season average to .245.
Who’s not
At the very least, Smith was back in the lineup Monday after missing a couple games with back tightness.
However, he continued a recent slump by not only going hitless in five at-bats, but twice leaving the bases loaded in the seventh (when he broke his bat on an inning-ending grounder) and the ninth (when he struck in the at-bat before Tucker’s walk-off).
That left Smith in a 1-for-18 rut in his last five games, with a three-run homer last Friday representing his only reprieve. His batting average is down to .250 and his OPS is down to .688. Among the club’s regulars, only Tucker has a lower mark in that latter category.
Up next
Ohtani (2-0, 0.38 ERA) will take the mound Tuesday opposite Marlins right-hander Janson Junk (1-2, 3.67 ERA). However, Roberts said Ohtani would only pitch in the game, and not also serve as designated hitter. That is partially because Ohtani is pitching on just five days’ rest for the first time this year, and partially because Wednesday’s series finale the following day is an afternoon start. It marks the second time in his last three pitching starts he will not hit, as well.
The Minnesota Timberwolves raced out to a 3-1 lead, but it might have cost them everything.
Yes, Game 5 on Monday, April 27, when the Denver Nuggets outpaced Minnesota, 125-113, in the first round of the NBA playoffs, was just one game. But it also served as an indicator of just how much Minnesota is missing without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.
Denver outscored Minnesota by a margin of 37-24 in a third quarter avalanche, as the Nuggets are trying to become just the 14th team in NBA history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-1.
All of this prompts one question: can the Timberwolves make a run without Edwards and DiVincenzo? Can they even get out of this round?
The Nuggets are now playing with significantly more confidence and momentum than they did earlier in the series. Denver’s bench had scored just 16 points in the crushing Game 4 loss; on Monday night, the reserves scored 27. Cameron Johnson and Spencer Jones, the pair of key Denver forwards, combined to drop 38 points in Game 5 just two nights after they scored just 9.
The Nuggets harassed Minnesota’s ball-handlers, forcing them into 25 turnovers Monday night, which was three more than Minnesota’s combined total in Games 3 and 4.
But, more than anything, the Timberwolves played tight and pressed, seemingly hyper-aware of the players they were missing.
“I thought we started the game wanting to make all of the home run plays, instead of wanting to make the plays that help us get into the ball game and make the rhythm plays,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.
This is where Edwards’ absence hurts the Timberwolves. He’s a stabilizing presence and one of the dynamic scoring threats in the NBA. He averaged 28.8 points per game during the regular season, which ranked third in the league. He can handle the ball, his shooting range helps space the floor and he’s the preferred option in the clutch.
And while backup guard Ayo Dosunmu emerged as a breakout player in Game 4 with his historic 43-point masterpiece, it’s clear the Timberwolves won’t be able to count on that kind of production every night from here on out.
Dosunmu scored 18 points in a solid performance, and the Timberwolves did shrink a 27-point deficit to 10 midway through the fourth, but that run came when Denver eased its pressure and intensity.
So, what’s the path forward for Minnesota?
For one, the Timberwolves should hope that Edwards heals quickly. Because even if they get past the Nuggets, their likely opponent in the second round would be the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, who are a legitimate threat to win the West. But, practically speaking, the Timberwolves will essentially need to play pristine defense like it did during its three-game winning streak in the series, especially in the paint.
In Games 2, 3 and 4, the Timberwolves limited Denver to an average of just 38.7 points in the paint per game. In Game 5, that figure ballooned to 62.
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was masterful against Nikola Jokić. Forward Jaden McDaniels irritated Jamal Murray and Denver’s other ball-handlers. More of that will be required.
Because without Edwards, the short-handed Timberwolves are not only suddenly vulnerable, they might be marching toward a historic exit.
“I think we were all just trying to press and make plays a little bit too much,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said after the game. “The formula was still the same, so we don’t have to change that. We’ll be better next game.”
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars looks on against the Texas Longhorns during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Draft class of 2026 appears to be absolutely nothing like the 2024 draft class, and for that, we give thanks to the basketball gods. Tangible star power that bleeds beyond the top pick has forced nearly a third of the good citizens of the league to sabotage this year’s crop for the prospects of a more plentiful harvest in the future.
Simply put, there ain’t no scrubs at the top of this year’s NBA Draft. Players who project as perennial All-Stars are up for grabs at the top, and “eh” inspiring consolation prizes are in very short supply.
The Utah Jazz tanked for good reason. As did the Indiana Pacers. As did the Washington Wizards. As did Dallas, Memphis, and Sacramento (does it count as tanking if you’re actually that bad by default?). That reason is simple: just as the Nintendo Switch has games, the class of ‘26 has hoopers. Teams want those hoopers, and since the NBA is not very pro-sharing in that regard, many teams had to wake up early and tank for a chance to be first in line for, well, the future.
Leave it to the Jazz, the NBA’s poster child of the tanking epidemic, to spend the whole regular season dreaming of the NBA Draft. As an organization that has never moved up since the introduction of the lottery, Utah has plenty to dream about.
Not all players are created equal, and not every location will bring out the same level of production or development in any given player. Considering the fact that Utah doesn’t plan to dilly-dally at the bottom of the standings next season — playoffs, ho! — it’s important that the Jazz come away with a player who can both contribute to winning basketball on day one and potentially blossom into a franchise-defining centerpiece. Keeping this in mind, here are the players who I believe will fit best in Utah, ordered by who I believe will make me throw the fewest fits.
Utah Jazz 2026 NBA Draft Wish List
5 – Brayden Burries | G, Arizona
Yeah, maybe I’m higher on Burries than most, but if the Jazz intend on building a well-rounded competitive team, they need a defensive presence in the backcourt. And after a very impressive freshman season that saw him post 1.8 steals per night (not to mention 19.4 points, nearly 3 assists, and 6 rebounds). Utah needs a defensive cushion for Keyonte’s — *ahem* — shortcomings on that end, and Burries is a solid pickup if Utah drops from their 4th spot.
4 – Cameron Boozer
Father Carlos has probably been preaching the gospel of his National Player of the Year offspring since joining the Utah Jazz as a scout, but as a power forward on a team stuffed with bigs, Cameron would almost certainly come off the bench behind the three-headed (and very, very tall) dragon of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler.
A stabilizing presence off the bench, Boozer brings underrated shooting and playmaking ability — both of which could be very appealing for Will Hardy’s ball-movement-heavy offensive game plan — but other players would fit more seamlessly onto the current roster still on the board, so the family reunion may have to wait.
3 – Caleb Wilson | F, North Carolina
Wilson has been building buzz since the end of the college basketball season, and for good reason. There is a lot to love about his game, and he could project to be one of the best two-way players in this class. I mean, you must be joking with season averages of 1.6 blocks and 1.7 steals as a forward, right? As UNC’s primary offensive option, to boot.
He’s improving as a ball handler, and I feel sincere terror considering how great he may become if the Jazz choose to pass on him.
As a natural power forward, though, Utah is far too dense at that range to freely let Wilson stretch out and get the in-game experience a player of his talents deserves. I’ll send you away White Fang-style if I have to. Now go on, get out of here! Go!
FOMO aside, there are still two players that I like just a touch more as a fit with the Jazz.
2 – Darryn Peterson
Probably the most polarizing figure in the draft, Peterson is also the most natural addition to Utah’s lineup, slotting next to Keyonte George in the backcourt effortlessly. No, he doesn’t really pass the ball, and no, I’m not entirely confident that his selective play time was just a “we all tried things in college” type of phase for the Kansas guard. Peterson’s role on Bill Self’s team became more and more secondary as the season progressed, and that’s concerning for any team that hopes to build its future on his back.
Injury concerns and a questionable competitive motor are cause for pause, but if you get his best career timeline, you may just be drafting an MVP.
If you want buttery scoring, a silky one-motion jump shot, delicious dribble combos, and perhaps the most obviously talented guard prospect we’ve seen since Kyrie Irving (another eccentric with a tendency to miss playing time and make bad PR moves), you have that in Peterson. He’s a strong defender, a nonchalant assassin. If he lands in Utah, the Jazz are in business.
1 – AJ Dybantsa | F, BYU
It’s no secret that Utah wants Dybantsa. Owner Ryan Smith has been instrumental in keeping the collegiate superstar and consensus All-American in the Beehive State with his commitment to BYU (arriving along with a notable NIL package). Still, Dybantsa is on record saying he’s loved his time in Utah, prefers quieter settings, and probably has mutual feelings about the Utah Jazz picking him on draft night, given the chance.
Face it, Utah. I know you. You know you. And I know that you know that I know you. If the Jazz land the number-one overall pick, they’ll be buzzing Adam Silver’s cell phone with their submission nonstop from midnight until the commissioner finally announces their selection from the podium.
Still, understanding that Utah’s current lineup probably has no wiggle room for demoting Markkanen, JJJ, or Kessler to the second unit, if Dybantsa stays in Utah, it’ll probably be Ace Bailey who slips to sixth man. Is AJ equipped to defend NBA-quality 2-guards? That’s yet to be determined, but he has the physical tools and the drive to figure it out if he’s not quite there right away. Bailey’s development may decelerate a tad if Dybantsa starts taking his reps, but if that becomes a problem, you don’t pass up on a potential MVP and perennial All-Star for a player with a lower ceiling — you trade the lesser prospect and build your roster around Dybantsa.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs after hitting a two run walk-off single against the Miami Marlins in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They say what goes around comes around, and in a game in which walks played a pivotal part in the Marlins’ handling of Dodgers’ ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the same applied for the Dodgers against closer Pete Fairbanks to set up a comeback win—Kyle Tucker had his first signature moment as a Dodger, delivering a two-out walk-off single to win it 5-4 in the ninth.
For a starter who fought against the tide for what felt like his entire performance, Yamamoto still came ridiculously close to delivering excellent results, even if the execution was nowhere near its finest. Sadly, a mistake against Liam Hicks in one of his last pitches in the fifth inning left the yard for a home run, driving in three runs due to Yamamoto’s issues keeping the Marlins off the bases—over Yamamoto’s five full innings of work, the Marlins earned four walks against the usually incredibly efficient Dodger starter, two of them coming around to score on that Hicks homer.
Other than that three-run shot in the fifth, the only other run the Marlins had scored against Yamamoto came on an error in the third, as Hyeseong Kim failed to throw out Javier Sanoja on a ground ball with the bases loaded—the damage could’ve been bigger, but Yamamoto got the following batter to close the two-out threat. Increasingly defaulting to his trusty splitter as the game went on—with his vast pitching arsenal out of sync—Yamamoto left one in a 1-2 count a bit too high for Hicks, one of the few hitters he had dominated in this one until that point. There’s extra significance in that particular at-bat, as it was the first home run and extra-base hit of any kind against Yamamoto’s splitter in 2026—and only the second home run by a lefty off a Yamamoto splitter since he joined the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 campaign.
While those four runs (3 of them earned) in five innings were well below Yamamoto’s standard, it was hardly a performance that removed the Dodgers from the game. In fact, considering they were facing a struggling Chris Paddack and also the success of their bullpen as of late, the Dodgers had a considerable chance to take this one. Trailing 4-2 by the time Yamamoto threw his last pitch, it took the Dodgers until the last inning to seize it, but eventually they were able to.
Firstly came the frustrating efforts of the seventh inning, when the Dodgers loaded the bases against Andrew Nardi. The southpaw reliever had been brought in with a string of four left-handed hitters up—the primary one being Shohei Ohtani—only to face a couple of pinch-hitters as Alex Call and Miguel Rojas filled in for Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland. The Dodgers got the bags full, but Will Smith couldn’t do anything with it, shattering his bat on a harmless ground ball.
In the ninth, the Dodgers faced veteran closer Pete Fairbanks, and all they wanted was one hitter to reach base in order to give Shohei Ohtani an opportunity as the tying run. The first two hitters walked, Miguel Rojas popped out on a bunt attempt, and the game could’ve been tied if Ohtani’s double hadn’t gone into the stands for a ground-rule double. Fairbanks tried to pitch around Freddie Freeman and eventually had to walk him as well, the last batter he faced, leaving a mess for Tyler Phillips, who came in with the bases loaded and one out and had to defend a one-run lead. Smith’s second failed attempt with the bases loaded—this time striking out—left Miami one out away from Houdini-ing their way to escape this one, but Tucker had other plans and confirmed his outstanding career numbers with the bases loaded, winning the game for the Dodgers.
It’s the same start time on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. (PT) as the Dodgers return to action with Shohei Ohtani facing Janson Junk in what is the second-to-last game of this homestand.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 23: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the first half against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center on February 23, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to Michael Pina, the Utah Jazz would be one of many teams that would have a varying degree of interest in Kevin Durant if he becomes available.
Nothing is off the table in Houston. Giannis? Kawhi? Another KD trade? The only thing the Rockets should rule out is running this back.@MichaelVPina: https://t.co/czHvEWH4rx
The Rockets thought that KD was their missing piece, and instead, there’s a chance they’ll turn him into a stepping stone this summer. It turns out that your best player shouldn’t also be a mercenary. But despite that, the Heat, Timberwolves, Blazers, Mavericks, Pistons, Knicks, Raptors, Hawks, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Hornets, Bulls, Wizards, Warriors, Pacers, Jazz, Sixers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Clippers would all have varying degrees of interest—pending how the rest of these playoffs go.
So basically, the entire league would have interest then? That sounds about right. Pina mentions it and it bears mentioning that the last handful of seasons for Kevin Durant have not been great. With a mix of burner accounts, trade demands, and persistent passive-aggressiveness, Durant has not been worth it to his former teams.
That said….
At the risk of sounding like Tobias Funke, “But it might work for us!”
If the Jazz were able to get Durant without giving up one of their own picks, or perhaps figure out how to keep their core of players, it could be a fascinating gamble. Durant is still playing at a high level and on a team like the Jazz, who have depth, talent, and youth on their side, could it be the final piece for a surprise title run? It’s easy to imagine Durant being able to pick his spots with the Jazz. He could play off all the different players on the team and dominate matchups as needed. He also wouldn’t have to be playing 36+ minutes per game with the Jazz. For Utah, he could play something like 24-28 minutes and could be fresh for a playoff run. It makes a lot of sense, but it does depend on what the Rockets would ask for in a trade. It could be interesting this offseason if the Jazz go for a big-time move.
The club announced Monday that Ewing was moved to Triple-A Syracuse.
The 21-year-old outfielder produced a .349/.481/.571 slash line in 18 games for Double-A Binghamton this season.
MLB Pipeline ranks Ewing the No. 3 Mets prospect and No. 85 in all of baseball.
“There’s a lot to like,’’ manager Carlos Mendoza said in March. “I like him as a hitter at the plate. And his defense, he gets great jumps and made some good plays with reads off the bat.”
Ewing projects as a center fielder, a potential need for the Mets in the near future.
A.J. Ewing swings during a Mets spring training game Feb. 25. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
He also stole 70 bases last season.
“His ability to give you a really good at-bat from the left side and speed is pretty encouraging,’’ Mendoza said.
Senga could be asked to accept a minor league assignment — a move the Mets utilized last year when the right-hander finished the season at Triple-A Syracuse — or slide him to the bullpen.
But the Mets already have two other displaced starters (David Peterson and Sean Manaea) in the bullpen, complicating the equation.
Senga has a 6.94 ERA over his past 14 starts, dating to July 11.
Austin Slater, who was signed by the Mets on Sunday — Tommy Pham was designated for assignment — will be active for Tuesday’s game, the team announced.
Slater, who brings a right-handed bat, had a .470 OPS in 12 games this season with the Marlins before his release.
The Mets also claimed infielder Eric Wagaman from the Twins and optioned him to Syracuse.
The Mets’ 9-19 record is tied for the second-worst start over 28 games in franchise history.
Only the 1981 Mets (who started 8-19-1) were worse.
After Jack Leiter breezed his way through the first two innings, Rice was able to break through, crushing a first pitch fastball the other way to deep left-center.
The blast left the bat at a whopping 106.9 mph and traveled 404 feet to the deepest part of the park.
“Man, that ball was pummeled,” Boone said.
“I didn’t think it was going to go out so I was running hard, but it was cool to see one go out that way,” Rice added.
The 27-year-old lefty continued his spectacular start to the season, pushing him into a tie with Judge for second in the league and the team-lead for homer, though it was short-lived.
Judge regained the advantage over his slugging teammate just five pitches later, as he laced a 3-2 curveball 113 mph over the right-field fence for his 11th homer and the Yanks first back-to-back jacks of the season.
It was Judge’s eighth blasts over his last 15 games.
“I couldn’t let him catch me,” the captain joked. “I had to make sure I got one after that.”
“Just trying to keep him honest, keep him motivated,” a smiling Rice added.
Friendly competition aside, the two entered some prestigious company, joining Yogi Berra and Mikey Mantle as the only pair of teammates in franchise history with 10+ homers in the first 29 games of the season.
They are also just the third duo in MLB history to reach that mark during the month of April.
We already know what Judge is capable of, but having the scorching-hot Rice hitting around him only makes this Yankees lineup even scarier moving forward.
“Hitting right behind him now, it makes my job easier,” Judge admitted.
“I enjoy hitting in the order with him,” Rice added. “Whether I’m in front of him or behind him, I think there’s different scenarios where either way works, but anytime I could be near him in the lineup is a good one.”
PHOENIX (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 131-122 on Monday night, capping a four-game sweep in the first-round series.
The Thunder — who have a 12-0 record in the first round over the last three seasons — will face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers have a 3-1 lead, though the Rockets won Game 4.
Phoenix has a 10-game losing streak in the playoffs, dating to 2023.
The Thunder closed the series with an overwhelming offensive performance — making 17 of 34 (50%) 3-pointers — and their big men played particularly well. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren shot 9 of 16 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein added 18 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
Ajay Mitchell added 22 points and made four 3-pointers. Alex Caruso finished with 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander was reliable as usual. Two days after scoring 42 points in Game 3, he had another efficient performance, shooting 10 of 17 from the field.
The Suns showed some fight in the second half, cutting a 15-point deficit to 106-98 entering the fourth. Devin Booker scored 12 points in the third quarter on 5-of-8 shooting.
But every time the Suns got within a few possessions, the Thunder responded. Cason Wallace hit a corner 3 with 5:54 left to extend the Oklahoma City lead to 120-106. Gilgeous-Alexander followed with a spectacular layup, somehow getting the shot to fall over three defenders.
Booker led the Suns with 24 points while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23. Collin Gillespie added 20 points while making six 3-pointers.
The Thunder pushed to a 75-67 lead by halftime after shooting 61.4% from the floor and 60% from 3-point range, hitting 12 of 20 behind the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 before the break, making a wide-open 3-pointer just before halftime.
That offset a hot shooting start for the Suns, who made 11 of 20 3-pointers. Gillespie scored 17 before the break, making all six of his shots, including five 3s.
The Thunder were without starter Jalen Williams, who missed his second straight game because of a left hamstring strain. Suns center Mark Williams (foot) and guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) were also out.
While the Detroit Red Wings are watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs at home for the 10th straight season, a pair of forwards who wore the Winged Wheel earlier in their careers are helping their current team stay alive in postseason competition.
Former Red Wings forwards Anthony Mantha and Elmer Soderblom, now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, factored into the scoring in Monday evening's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Penguins squeaked out a 3-2 victory at PPG Paints Arena, cutting what was once a three games to none series lead for the Flyers down to three to two.
Soderblom, who was traded to the Penguins by the Red Wings in March, opened the scoring with his first career goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, whistling a snap shot past the blocker of Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar early in the first period.
ELMER SODERBLOM SCORES ON THE FIRST SHOT OF THE GAME!!! #StanleyCup
Picking up the assist on Soderblom's goal was none other than Anthony Mantha, who enjoyed a career season in Pittsburgh. He set new personal highs in both goals (33) and assists (31), and is in line for a raise on the $2.5 million he earned for this year.
Soderblom, who was the tallest player in Red Wings history at towering at an imposing 6'9", was never able to realize his full potential in Detroit, and after registering just two goals and an assist in 39 games played this season, was traded to Pittsburgh on March 6 for a 2026 third-round draft pick.
Mantha, who spent the first several years of his NHL career with Detroit but often had time giving a full effort on the ice, was traded to the Washington Capitals in April 2021 for Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, a 2021 first-round pick, and a 2022 second-round pick.
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The Yankees DH is headed for the 10-day IL after an MRI on Monday revealed a “low-grade” right calf strain, manager Aaron Boone said after a 4-2 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
“Doesn’t look too serious, but enough to not want to wait a couple more days,” Boone said. “So we’ll see what we have as the week unfolds.”
The 36-year-old Stanton, who has been plagued by soft-tissue leg injuries in recent years, sustained the strain Friday night in Houston while jogging from first to second base and eventually exited the game after reaching third.
Giancarlo Stanton is pictured during the Yankees’ April 24 game against the Astros. Imagn Images
The Yankees are hoping that he came out before the calf injury turned into something more severe, but it will still knock Stanton out at least until next Tuesday.
The Yankees called up Jasson Domínguez earlier on Monday and started him at DH against Rangers righty Jack Leiter.
With Anthony Volpe potentially returning from the IL as soon as Friday, it remains to be seen whether Domínguez will get a longer stretch to fill the DH role while Stanton is sidelined.
Boone said it “could be” just a minimum 10-day stint, but he did not want to put a timetable on it.
Stanton was batting .256 with a .724 OPS, three home runs and 14 RBIs through 24 games.
Giancarlo Stanton reacts after scoring during the Yankees’ April 22 game. Eric Canha-Imagn Images
“It’s [a] huge [loss],” Aaron Judge said. “He’s a big force in the middle of our lineup. Big RBI production. But I’m hoping it’s a small stint. He was able to catch it early hopefully and he’ll be back out there.”
For the second time this year, Aaron Boone had to have a tough conversation with Luis Gil.
Another rough outing against the Astros exposed areas where the former AL Rookie of the Year needs work, which he will address in the minors.
“I would say he took it well. I think he was clear-eyed,” Boone said Monday at Globe Life Field. “I feel good about what his focus is going to be going down there. As we’ve tried to get him back to that form that we’ve seen him at, he’s done a lot of the things that have moved the needle in a lot of ways, with his winter program. Physically, he’s in some of the best physical conditioning and strength of his life. He’s a young man still.
“I think the best thing for him right now is to go down there and hopefully continue to work and hopefully string together some starts in a less-pressurized situation that gets him on track to being the guy he can be.”
Left unsaid is that the clock may be running out on Gil’s chances of impacting the rotation this season.
Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole are on the way back from the injured list, both expected to return at some point in May, while the Yankees also have top pitching prospects knocking at the door in Triple-A, including Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange.
For now, the Yankees will use someone other than Gil by the time they next need a fifth starter (by May 5 at the latest).
It could be Rodríguez, or perhaps a bullpen game started by one of their long men, Ryan Yarbrough or Paul Blackburn.
But it will not be Rodón, who still needs at least two more rehab starts, the next one coming Thursday at Double-A Somerset (with Cole making his third start there Wednesday).
Gil, meanwhile, is headed back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after starting the season there.
He is still trying to rediscover the consistent life on his four-seam fastball, which is not generating close to the whiff rate it once did when he was at his best (9.5 percent this season, 28.5 percent in 2024).
“We’ve seen improvements in some of his work, but it’s about getting the fastball/slider/changeup now all a tick better,” Boone said. “Because once they all get a tick better, then they all help each other. It’s just been a little short there and a little inconsistent.”
Anthony Volpe will play rehab games Tuesday and Wednesday at Double-A Somerset, after which the Yankees will reevaluate his status — with the potential of him rejoining them by Friday’s series opener against the Orioles in The Bronx.
Paul DeJong informed the Yankees that he is planning to opt out of his minor league deal by the end of the month if he is not promoted to the big leagues, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported Monday.
The veteran infielder has hit .213 with a .900 OPS and six home runs in 22 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
But barring an injury at the big league level — especially with Volpe on the verge of returning from the injured list — the Yankees are unlikely to call DeJong up.
