The Ducks have signed Herman Träff, the prospect to a three-year entry level contract beginning in 2026-27. Träff will join the San Diego Gulls in the AHL for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Träff was acquired by the Ducks last season when they sent Brian Dumoulin to the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline. Playing for HV71 in the SHL at the time, Träff finished out the 2024-25 season with HV71 before signing a one-year deal with Oskarshamn in the HockeyAllsvenskan this past summer.
“I just feel like I’m gonna be at the place now (where I need to) play much, get more ice time and do my thing,” Träff said at Ducks development camp this past July. “I think it’s going to be good, in Oskarshamn, to do that. We will see. It feels good, and I’m ready for it.”
“He’s a big kid who has some nice skill,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said of Träff in his 2025 post-trade deadline conference call. “He has hockey sense. He plays with an edge and he’s a big kid. And I like that. He’s got an aggressive attitude when it comes to his physical game. Another piece that we can kind of look at to add to this team in the future.”
With Oskarshamn, Träff was able to utilize his shot more than he had before, becoming a power play weapon on the left flank and reaching the 20-goal mark for the first time in his juniors career.
Träff describes himself as a power forward who likes to shoot the puck and throw the body around. At 6-foot-3, he can certainly use his size to his advantage. The next step in his development, Träff says, is to be more direct when attacking.
“Sometimes, I can circle around (the offensive zone) a bit (too) much. I know the hockey they play here (in North America), it’s more against the net.”
The AHL is just the right place to hone in on that, with the style of play often being chaotic and resulting in several goalmouth scrambles every game. It will likely be a couple of seasons in the minors for Träff before he's ready to make the transition to the NHL, but his development path looks promising.
The Kings are on the second game of their back-to-back; they dropped their first game to the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. The Kings scored the first goal halfway through the first period, but after that, it was all Buffalo, as they scored 4 unanswered goals. The Kings have fallen out of a playoff spot, and with the Predators winning today, they are once again 3 points out. The Mammoth are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, so they will be looking to bounce back.
Projected Kings Lines
Here are the projected lines for the Kings tonight:
Artemi Panarin - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere
Alex Turcotte - Scott Laughton - Joel Armia
Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Mathieu Joseph
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci
Darcy Kuemper
Anton Forsberg
Projected Mammoth Lines
Here are the projected lines for the Mammoth tonight:
Clayton Keller - Nick Schmaltz - Lawson Crouse
JJ Peterka - Logan Cooley - Dylan Guenther
Jack McBain - Barrett Hayton - Michael Carcone
Alexander Kerfoot - Kevin Stenlund - Kailer Yamamoto
Mikhail Sergachev - MacKenzie Weegar
Nate Schmidt - John Marino
Ian Cole - Sean Durzi
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanecek
Injuries and Line Changes
The Kings did not have a morning skate since they played yesterday. The Kings have scratched Jacob Moverare, Taylor Ward, Jared Wright and are still without Andrei Kuzmenko due to injury. The Mammoth are dressing the same 18 skaters they used in the loss against the Anaheim Ducks.
Key Factors
The Kings are in must-win mode, with only 13 games left this season. With them currently 3 points back, they need to make up ground, and this game is a great time to start. The Kings need to protect the lead when they have it and stay in the driver's seat.
The Kings have also allowed 9 goals in their last 3 games, and that needs to change. This team has been solid defensively throughout the season, and they need to get back to that. As with Panarin, the offence has been better, but the Kings need to play better defensively.
The Kings are likely to start Darcy Kuemper, and the Mammoth are likely to start Karel Vejmelka, so the goaltending matchup is a big one in tonight's matchup. The Kings have been relying on the Panarin-Kempe duo, and while that has been working well, the depth forwards have to start producing for the Kings.
If the Kings can play stronger defence and get that depth scoring, they can capitalize on more mistakes, and with the Mammoth being a younger team, the Kings can use that to their advantage.
Overall, the Kings need to win this game to stay within a point of the last wildcard spot. My prediction for tonight's matchup is a 3-1 Kings win.
Cubs right-hander Cade Horton, who shapes up to be the No. 2 starter after Matthew Boyd begins the season, had an excellent six-inning outing against the Brewers Sunday at Sloan Park.
Okay, so it was against a team of Brewers minor leaguers, as all the MLB Brewers had departed for Milwaukee Sunday, as they have exhibition games there against the Reds Monday and Tuesday.
Nico Hoerner had a pair of hits, including a two-run double. Dansby Swanson also drove in a pair.
So, yes, against minor leaguers. Still, it has to be good for these hitters to get into a rhythm before Opening Day on Thursday. After today the Cubs don’t face the Brewers until May 18.
Ben Brown threw two scoreless innings of relief, and was touching 97-98 consistently. I think this will be an excellent role for him this year, and it appears he’s going to make the Opening Day roster and serve in that precise role.
Attendance watch: 14,375 paid on another hot (96 degrees) day at Sloan Park. That pushes the season total over 200,000, at 202,927 for 16 dates. That’s an average of 12,683 per date. (This does not include the Spring Breakout game.)
No surprises here. Jonathon Long might have had a shot at the Opening Day roster, but the injury he suffered early in camp set him back too far. I’m thinking he’ll get some chances in the big leagues later this year.
The Cubs will wrap Spring Training 2026 with two exhibition games against the Yankees at Sloan Park. Monday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. CT, Shōta Imanaga will face Carlos Lagrange. No TV Monday, there will be radio broadcasts on both WSCR The Score and the Yankees flagship WFAN 660.
Filip Forsberg netted his third game-winning goal of the season in the Nashville Predators' 3-2 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday at the United Center.
The Predators are riding their longest winning streak of the season at four games, rattling off wins over Winnipeg, Seattle, Vegas and Chicago.
Nashville now has a two-game lead on the Los Angeles Kings for the Wild Card 2 spot. with 75 points. Even if the Kings defeat the Mammoth on Sunday, they will still be a point behind the Predators.
On the goal, Forsberg shoved Andre Burakovsky off the puck behind the Chicago net and pulled around front. From the right side of Spencer Knight, Forsberg beat him on the left corner for the win.
It's Forsberg's 32nd goal of the season, nine points in four games. He finished with three points (two goals and an assist) against the Blackhawks.
Juuse Saros returned to the lineup after missing the past two games with an upper-body injury. He made 26 saves on 28 shots for his 25th win of the season.
The first period was scoreless before Nick Lardis put the Blackhawks ahead early in the second.
Nashville responded off Forsberg's first goal of the game. He got a feed from Jonathan Marchessault into the slot and Forsberg on a snap shot. Marchessault's assist was his third point in three games.
Connor Bedard gave the Blackhawks the lead back in the second period off his 29th goal of the season.
Steven Stamkos tied the game in the third period, redirecting a feed from Forsberg into the net. Stamkos now has five points in the last three games.
The Predators head back home on Tuesday to take on the San Jose Sharks, who trail Nashville by five points in the standings.
Los Angeles, CA - October 27: Relief pitcher Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning of game 3 of a World Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday, October 27, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
After one game in Anaheim, the Freeway Series shifts to Dodger Stadium with the Dodgers hosting the Angels for the first of two games in Los Angeles.
Roki Sasaki makes his final exhibition start, trying to land the plane after a very turbulent spring training. Sasaki starting this middle game of the Freeway Series lines him up to start the second series of the regular season, against the Guardians.
Left-hander Reid Detmers starts Monday for the Angels.
Monday game info
Teams: Dodgers at Angels
Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
Time: 6:10 p.m.
TV: SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network West (Angels)
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 21: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after basket against Indiana Pacers in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 21, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, head coach Mitch Johnson had high praise for Keldon Johnson, who led the team with 24 points.
“We are a team with an MVP candidate, multiple All-Stars, multiple All-Defensive NBA candidates, and every single one of our players has said he’s the heart and soul of our team,” Johnson said. “For the team that he is on and the circumstances that I just laid out, with the record that we have, I would find it very hard-pressed to find a better candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.”
KJ is just one of the many members of the team who should be considered for end-of-season accolades. Victor Wembanyama could be the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Castle could join him on the All-Defensive team, Dylan Harper should be in the running for an All-Rookie team, and Johnson himself is in the running for Coach of the Year.
SB Nation polled readers this week on who should win some of the NBA’s most important awards.
The most interesting finding was that Wembanyama was the favorite to win MVP based on the poll. Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3 blocks while shooting 50.4% from the field, 35.6% from three, and 81.8% from the free throw line. Wembanyama’s offensive numbers don’t quite stack up with other MVP contenders like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, but his defensive impact is immeasurable. There is no perfect defensive stat, but Wembanyama leads the league in individual defensive rating per 100 possessions at 102. The Spurs have a 106.9 defensive rating when he’s on the court and a 117 rating when he’s off. Teams have to change their entire offensive strategy to account for Wembanyama’s presence.
Wembanyama would be the first MVP to average under 25 points per game since Steve Nash in 2005-06. If he gets the votes, his all-around defensive dominance and team success will be leading factors for voters.
The poll also displayed what could be the tightest race for end-of-season awards. Johnson and Detroit Pistons’ head coach JB Bickerstaff are neck-and-neck for Coach of the Year. Both coaches have similar candidacies. They took good young teams to another level, overcoming preseason expectations to establish them as championship contenders. Both teams have two All-Stars in Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Cade Cunningham, and Jalen Duren, and similar talent to build out their rosters.
Currently, the Spurs hold a better record than Detroit at 53-18, while the Pistons are 51-19. San Antonio also swept the season series, going 2-0 against the Pistons. You could argue that those factors give Johnson the edge. Bickerstaff is more likely to win his conference, with the Boston Celtics 4 games back in second place, and the Spurs still 3 games back, chasing the Oklahoma City Thunder for best in the West. As the poll indicates, it’s tough to decide who will win the honors when the season ends.
San Antonio has one of the best records in the NBA, so it makes sense that they will be top of mind for end-of-season award voters. There is a real chance the Spurs could take home serious individual hardware before they make their push for the biggest award of them all: the Larry O’Brien trophy.
The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up their Cactus League slate in Mesa, Arizona on Sunday afternoon, as they took a rough 12-0 loss at the hands of the Chicago Cubs.
Is this a worrying loss? Perhaps even less than other spring training games, which are already of very little concern. In this one, the Brewers had just about none of their regulars, as the major league squad is traveling back to Milwaukee for a pair of exhibitions against the Reds on Monday and Tuesday.
In fact, outside of starting pitcher Chad Patrick (27 career appearances), the only other players on the travel roster for Sunday with MLB experience were reliever Peter Strzelecki (77 appearances) and outfielder Jacob Hurtubise (83 career plate appearances over 41 games). Oh, and most of Milwaukee’s star prospects are over at Hohokam Stadium playing in the Spring Breakout game against the A’s, so we’re really talking about digging deep in the minors for today’s roster.
On the other side, the Cubs rolled with most of their everyday players, including Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner, Carson Kelly, Moisés Ballestreros, Dansby Swanson, and Matt Shaw. Cade Horton also started on the mound.
So, rather than put you through the misery of going through a sad 12-0 loss to Milwaukee’s biggest rival, I’ll just give you a peek at a few key stat lines.
Patrick did not have a great game, as he went four innings, allowing seven runs on six hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts to finish his spring with an 11.68 ERA. Concerned? Again, no. Strzelecki allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings, and Garrett Hodges, Tanner Gillis, and Stiven Cruz also pitched in this one.
Offensively, six players finished with a hit today, including Dylan O’Rae, Jeferson Quero, David García, Mike Boeve, Eric Brown Jr., and Hurtubise. The only one of those of the extra-base variety was a double by Brown. Hurtubise and O’Rae both swiped a bag, while the offense as a whole went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Perhaps the coolest thing about this game was Prince Fielder’s son, Jadyn, entered the game late as a pinch-hitter for Marco Dinges. The 21-year-old second baseman struck out in his only at-bat.
The Brewers have the aforementioned exhibitions against the Reds on deck, as they’ll welcome them to American Family Field in Milwaukee for games on Monday and Tuesday. Then, it’s time for Opening Day, as the White Sox come to town beginning Thursday. Aaron Ashby will start in Monday’s game against Cincinnati, with Brady Singer starting for the Reds. First pitch in that one is at 6:40 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on 94.5 ESPN Radio and the Brewer Radio Network.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 21: Kazuma Okamoto (7) of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 21, 2026 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
That was a fun way to wrap spring training. The Blue Jays smoked Tampa Bay, 14-1, with most of the regulars getting in on the action. The highlights:
Dylan Cease went 5.0 innings, striking out six while allowing no runs on three hits and two walks. He had a little wobble in the fourth, accounting for both walks and a single, but he was still getting it up to 97 and looking easy in the fifth.
Louis Varland gave up the lone Rays run, on a deep Carson Williams solo homer in the seventh. It’s been kind of a rough spring for Louis, they’ll need him to sharpen up for the regular season.
The rest of the bullpen was good. Spencer Miles, Mason Fluharty and Braydon Fisher combined for three innings of perfect relief.
The offence was rolling, dropping six in the first and then seven more in the fourth.
George Springer was 2-3 with a homer and a walk
Vladimir Guerrero jr. was 2-2 with a homer and a walk
Addison Barger was 3-4
Alejandro Kirk was 3-3 with a homer, a double, and a walk
Jesus Sanchez was 2-4 with a homer and a double
Andres Gimenez was 1-3 with a double and a walk.
Eloy Jimenez had a pinch hit double
We also got some news. Angel Bastardo and Yariel Rodriguez have been told that they didn’t make the opening day roster. Rodriguez had a good World Baseball Classic, but he hasn’t looked great in MLB camp and was always facing an uphill battle after being waived back in December and so coming off the 40-man roster. For Bastardo, failing to make the team probably means the end of his time as a Blue Jay. As a Rule 5 draftee, he’ll have to be traded to a team that will roster him or offered back to the Red Sox. Selecting him in the 2024 draft, knowing he needed to rehab from Tommy John surgery through the whole 2025 season, was an interesting gamble. The Jays got to take a long look at him over the winter, and if he’d been ready he could have been a talented addition. He struggled a lot, though, walking seven and throwing four wild pitches in 7.2 spring innings, and he doesn’t look ready to step directly into an MLB bullpen. There will be one more pitching cut to come, as the Jays currently list 14 uninjured pitchers as active with 13 being the in-season limit. Most likely that will be optioning Chase Lee so that they can keep 2025 Rule 5 draftee Spencer Miles. Miles has looked effective this spring, striking out 11 of 46 batters faced and regularly running his fastball up to 98.
Now we enter the four day dead period before Sacramento comes to the Dome on Friday evening to open the season. I’m more than ready to watch some real baseball.
The team with the best record in the NBA and on an 11-game win streak is about to get its second-best player back.
Jalen Williams is not on the Oklahoma City injury report and is set to return to the court on Monday when the Thunder face the 76ers. Williams has been out since Feb. 11 with a strained hamstring.
The Thunder's preferred starting lineup — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Lu Dort (also coming off the injured list), Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein — have played in just five games together this season, but are now getting healthy just in time for the playoffs.
Williams was an All-NBA player a season ago but has played in just 36 games this season due to injuries (he had wrist surgery last offseason). He has never found his rhythm this season and is averaging 17.5 points per game (the lowest since his rookie season), while shooting a 31.3% from 3-point range (a career low).
The last entrant into this year's Sweet 16 will either be Texas Tech or Alabama.
Both are dealing with major absences in their lineups -- for two very different reasons.
Texas Tech star JT Toppin, the 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year, tore his ACL on Feb. 18 and will miss the rest of the season. The Red Raiders went 3-3 entering the NCAA Tournament without him.
Alabama will be playing without its second-leading scorer Aden Holloway after he was arrested on two felonies on March 16, for possession 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence. The University of Alabama released a statement and said Holloway was removed from campus and won't return to the team until the university's office of student conduct finishes its investigation.
But even with those two missing, there's still a matchup of stars worth your attention: Texas Tech's Christian Anderson vs. Alabama's Labaron Philon.
The winner of tonight's game will advance to next week's Sweet 16 where it will face No. 1 Michigan in Chicago.
One thing Texas Tech has going for it is the plethora of offensive weapons beyond Anderson. Alabama, meanwhile, has to rely on Philon to carry much of the offensive burden without Aden Holloway. The Red Raiders do well when they can let one player do the damage and take everybody else out of the equation.
Why isn't Aden Holloway playing for Alabama? Latest arrest details on drug charges
Holloway was arrested on Monday, March 16 and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp after the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence.
He was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and was set with a $5,000 bond, according to The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The University of Alabama later released a statement and said he was removed from campus and won't return to the team until the university's office of student conduct finishes its investigation.
Duel between Labaron Philon vs Christian Anderson will be must-see
Texas Tech's Anderson averages 7.5 assists to rank No. 3 in the country, trailing just Braden Smith of Purdue and Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State. Meanwhile, Philon's 4.8 assists struggle to crack the top 75. That being said, Alabama had one more elite option to dish out the ball in its nationally-acclaimed backcourt prior to the arrest of Aden Holloway on Monday, March 16.
Both sophomores can shoot, too. Philon touts a field-goal percentage of better than 51% to average 22 points per game, but Anderson isn't far behind, shooting 48% from the floor to average 19 points per contest.
Where is JT Toppin? What happened to Texas Tech star?
Toppin, a first team All-Big 12 pick, started 25 games before his season-ending ACL tear against Arizona State on Feb. 18. At the time, Toppin was averaging career-highs in points (21.8) and rebounds (10.8) per game, shooting 54.8% from the field.
This isn't the JT Toppin show anymore, and it hasn't been for a while. Texas Tech has had to move on. While Toppin is still very much part of the team — he was on FaceTime with several Red Raider teammates in the locker room after the Akron game — it's unfair to the players still on the floor to make it about the guy who isn't there.
"It's tough because we all care for JT," Petty said. "I love him. He's my brother. It's tough."Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reporter Nathan Giese contributed to this story.
Phillies relief pitcher Daniel Robert is hospitalized and in stable condition after collapsing during his first bullpen session of spring training on Sunday.
Phillies relief pitcher Daniel Robert is hospitalized and in stable condition after collapsing during his first bullpen session of spring training on Sunday.
Medical staff rushed to the aid of Robert, 31, who stumbled off the mound amid a cardiac incident at the club’s camp in Clearwater, Florida.
Phillies pitcher Daniel Robert made his Major League debut in 2024. Getty Images
The training personnel used a defibrillator and transported him to the hospital, where he is “stable and alert,” the team said.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Robert maintained consciousness throughout the event and managed to leave the field under his own power.
Robert suffered a similar cardiac incident in October, after which the Phillies medical team resuscitated him with CPR and an external defibrillator.
He then received an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which was “triggered” during Sunday’s event.
The device data was reviewed at the hospital, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
RHP Daniel Robert collapsed throwing a bullpen session this morning in Clearwater. He had an event last year.
Team said, “The ICD was triggered as he was coming off the mound but he is stable and alert. He was taken to the local hospital to have the device data reviewed.”
Robert made 15 appearances for the Phillies in 2025. MLB Photos via Getty Images
Robert — who held a 4.15 ERA across 15 appearances with the Phillies in 2025 — returned to the franchise last month on a minor-league deal and joined the team as a non-roster invitee for training camp.
The right-hander told NBC’s Jim Salisbury that the driving factor in his return was the bond he’d forged with the organization and its medical staff, saying “I owe everything to them.”
“They stayed in touch all winter,” Robert added. “They were super accommodating. They knew exactly what was going on and had a plan for me. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to play this season, but if I was able to, I wanted it to be here because of the way the Phillies supported me. All the tests show I’m healthy. The Phillies helped me get to see some of the best doctors in the country.”
Further medical tests delayed Robert’s first bullpen of the season until Sunday.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim during a spring training game on March 24, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers are back in Southern California on Sunday night to start the exhibition Freeway Series against the Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Much like Friday night against the Padres at Camelback Ranch, Sunday showcases another potential opening day lineup for the Dodgers, this time with Alex Freeland at second base after getting good news Sunday morning.
Lineup
Shohei Ohtani DH Michael Tucker RF Mookie Betts SS Freddie Freeman 1B Will Smith C Max Muncy 3B Teoscar Hernández LF Andy Pages CF Alex Freeland 2B
Tyler Glasnow starts on the mound.
Other pitchers
Non-roster pitchers Chris Campos and Antoine Kelly are active for the Freeway Series, as is the full major league bullpen. Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, and Ben Casparius are expected to pitch Sunday night.
Up from the minors are Ronan Kopp (wearing number 83), Cam Day (89), Antonio Knowles (92), and Cody Morse (90).
Other position players
Miguel Rojas, Santiago Espinal, Alex Call, and Dalton Rushing are active, as is catcher Eliézer Alfonzo, the last remaining non-roster position player in camp.
Up from the minors are Zach Ehrhard (99), James Tibbs III (98), Eduardo Quintero (87), Emil Morales (93), Chase Harlan (94), and Joendry Vargas (88).
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Madison Square Garden. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, controls the ball in front of Orlando's Jamal Cain during the Lakers' win on Saturday. (Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
He’s the hottest player in the NBA. Not even the NBA’s technical foul rule can slow Luka Doncic down.
The NBA rescinded Doncic’s 16th technical foul, the league announced Sunday, allowing Doncic to avoid a mandatory one-game suspension that would have kept him out of Monday’s game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
Doncic and the Lakers appealed the call after he was given a technical for taunting against Orlando Magic forward Goga Bitadze in Saturday’s Lakers win. Bitadze's technical foul was also rescinded after the European players were arguing while Doncic was shooting free throws. Doncic claimed Bitadze made a vulgar comment toward Doncic’s family in Serbian while Bitadze said he first heard inappropriate comments from Doncic and only repeated what he heard the Lakers guard say.
Often criticized for arguing with officials, Doncic remains at 15 technical fouls this season, second in the NBA behind Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks. In 2023, Doncic also had his 16th technical foul rescinded, avoiding a one-game suspension.
Doncic’s historic scoring run has fueled the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak, their best since the 2019-20 season that ended with an NBA championship. Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, is averaging 40 points per game during the winning streak while shooting 40.3% from three-point range. His 60-point outburst against the Miami Heat last Thursday was the first 60-point game in Lakers history since Kobe Bryant’s last game in 2016. He was just the seventh Lakers player to record a 60-point game, joining legends Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Jerry West and Shaquille O’Neal.
The winning streak has vaulted the Lakers from sixth in the West to third. They have navigated the most difficult stretch of their schedule with seven wins over playoff-bound teams.
The Pistons, poised to earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2007, are without their own star player as guard Cade Cunningham is sidelined for at least two weeks with a collapsed lung. Detroit is 2-0 without him with wins over Washington and Golden State.
Note: Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) and Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) are questionable for Monday's game.
