LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Luka Doncic # of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a pass against Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of their game at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an embarrassing loss to the Boston Celtics, the Lakers (34-22) aim to bounce back on Tuesday when they take on the Orlando Magic (30-26) at home. This game will conclude their nine-game home stand.
On Sunday, a day the Lakers celebrated the legend that is Pat Riley, they were run out of the gym courtesy of Payton Pritchard and the Celtics. It was disappointing and, frankly, unacceptable. Losing to an opponent, an arch-rival no less, without their franchise player was a reminder that this team has its limitations.
Sure, the referees may have impacted the Lakers’ performance throughout the game, but that’s still not a good enough excuse. Great teams find a way to win basketball games despite not having the friendly whistle and the Lakers showed that they weren’t that on Sunday. They lost the offensive possession and rebounding battle while their defense couldn’t contain an elite offense either. On top of that, they complained to the referees more than people do to customer service.
This begs the question: Have the Lakers already reached their ceiling? Is it a mistake to hope that they have another gear to get into that will propel them to make a deep run in the playoffs? Is it wrong to hope that they do? Because it’s losses like Sunday’s that really sting, even if they manage to win their next couple of games.
It’s frustrating that they’re now 11-14 against teams above .500 this season. They have enough time to improve, but it won’t change the fact that they are what they are at this point. Their ceiling has been reached and we’re all just here for the ride.
So, what’s next?
At least, this ride involves watching this team perform very well against mediocre teams and that’s what the Magic are. Not to undermine how good they can be but the Magic have underperformed for most of the season. Part of that is due to injuries, but also because they’re a below-average offensive team. They don’t rebound the ball so well nor do they shoot great from the 3-point arc. The Lakers’ defense should be able to capitalize.
Although Orlando has its flaws offensively, Los Angeles should still be wary Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. With Franz Wagner out due to an ankle injury, Banchero and Bane will certainly have a ton of touches, and the Lakers have to make sure that neither of them dominates. It’s vital that Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James get their offense rolling, which didn’t happen against the Celtics.
One way the Lakers could push their ceiling is to get their role players to perform at a high level consistently. Can they get that from Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton, Jake Laravia, Marcus Smart and others for the next 26 games leading up to the playoffs? They should be able to outperform the Magic’s supporting cast.
Maybe the Lakers figure out something this late into the season that could perhaps impact their ceiling. Here’s to hoping that they do. In the meantime, the fairest expectation is for them to win their upcoming game against the Magic. So let’s see if they can do that on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Jaxson Hayes is listed as doubtful with a right ankle sprain after exiting Sunday’s game.
As for the Magic, Jalen Suggs is questionable with a back strain. As mentioned, Wagner is out.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for the rebound during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons built their game plan around containing Victor Wembanyama, but the reason the San Antonio Spurs are one of the best teams in the league is that it isn’t all about Wemby. The Spurs had everything working in a 114-103 win over the Pistons in front of a raucous and then quite dejected crowd at Little Caesars Arena.
The bottom line is the Spurs surrounded Wembanyama with shooters and ball handlers, and those players moved the ball and hit their shots. The Pistons have a lack of shooting and ball handling around Cade Cunningham, and it was on full display on a night when Cade struggled, and San Antonio’s elite defense was able to control the paint in the second half.
Wembanyama was just 6-of-16 from the floor, and Cunningham was limited to 5-of-26. They both found ways to be impactful through passing, rebounding, and shot blocking (three for Cunningham and six for Wembanyama). The surrounding cast delivered this win for the Spurs by getting plenty of open looks and making a ton of them. The Spurs hit 18 three-pointers on the night compared to just seven for the Pistons. That was the ballgame right there.
These two teams entered tonight as two of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA and succeeded despite it. Tonight, though, the Spurs shot 18-of-40 from deep, and Detroit was a woeful 7-for-36. If you told me before the game that San Antonio’s Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie were going to shoot a combined 12-for-19 from deep tonight, I would tell you that the Spurs were going to win that game. And that’s exactly what happened. Sometimes basketball isn’t that complicated.
Vassell was the high-scorer on the night with 28 points and seven made threes, while Champagnie had 17, and Steph Castle had 16 and 11 assists. Wembanyama was bottled up on offense for the most part, but he still had an otherworldly 21 points, 17 rebounds, and six blocks.
The Pistons were able to stay in the game through three quarters via their signature — flying all over the floor, defending their butts off, and getting into the teeth of San Antonio’s defense. Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 25 points and 14 rebounds, and Ron Holland scored 15 and added 11 boards. But it was a night when Tobias Harris was invisible (1-of-6 for four points) and Ausar Thompson was played off the floor. Thompson only played 18 minutes and was subbed at the 8:14 mark of the third quarter with the Spurs up 63-62. He never returned to the game.
Either Thompson did something JB Bickerstaff really didn’t like or he had already determined that the paint was going to be off limits the rest of the night and needed to try to source some offense and couldn’t afford to put the non-shooter back on the floor. Whatever the reason, the offense never really came. Detroit was limited to 20 points in the third quarter and went up by as many as 15 points.
Cunningham struggled with fouls, struggled with his shot, struggled with ball pressure, and Detroit didn’t really have the ability to turn to anyone else to make things happen. The magic dust has worn off Daniss Jenkins a little bit, who still plays hard and mostly plays smart, but is not a reliable scoring threat. Caris LeVert played like Caris LeVert. Hit a couple of tough shots and did heinous things with the ball in his hands. Javonte Green is a defender and spot-up shooter only, and Ron Holland is all hustle; you can’t run plays through him.
That is a recipe for tough nights against the elite teams who are locked in, and it leaves Detroit with a lot of pondering to do, because this is exactly the kind of game you’re going to need to figure out how to win come playoff time.
The Pistons have the best record in the NBA against the league’s best teams, we know they know how to win close games, and they have an elite player in Cunningham they can turn to in the clutch. That’s great in the regular season, but Detroit needs to understand how to win playoff basketball. Because tonight had the look and feel of playoff basketball, and the Pistons came up way short.
Luckily, Detroit still has 26 games to figure it out.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 29: Chas McCormick #20 of the Houston Astros breaks his bat during the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Daikin Park on July 29, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest gathering of night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. You’re always welcome here. The show will start shortly. The hostess will seat you now. There’s no cover charge, but there is a two-drink minimum. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Here’s the part where we listen to music and talk movies. But you’re free to skip ahead if you want. You won’t hurt my feelings.
Here’s some (rare?) video of saxophonist Hank Mobley on Danish television in 1968. Joining Mobley is an all-star backing group of Kenny Drew on piano, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (NHØP) on bass and Albert “Tootie” Heath.
You voted in the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic final between 2001: A Space Odyssey and Terminator 2: Judgment Day and 2001: A Space Odyssey is your champion! That’s not a real surprise. It was the number-one seed coming into the tournament and it’s certainly the most-acclaimed science fiction film of all-time, coming in as the number-six film of all-time (in any genre) in the most-recent BFI Sight & Sound critics poll. The film does have its critics—Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky (of Solaris and Stalker fame) in particular didn’t like it—but most critics and scholars see it as a film that changed the way we think about what a film can be.
As I said in my original essay on the film, 2001 is the first film to really capture the sheer awe of outer space and maybe no film since then has even approached it. It’s also a film that leaves you with a lot of questions at the end, even if director Stanley Kubrick was more than happy to explain it when asked. It came out at a time when the “New Hollywood” movement, freed from the restrictions of the Production Code, really pushed the boundaries of what film could be. And luckily, there was an audience for this kind of new expression in 1968.
So here’s the final bracket with everything filled in.
Running the Science Fiction tournament was more difficult than our previous tournaments. For one, I was willing to cover the entire 20th Century this time, whereas the Film Noir was limited to 1941 to 1959, the Western tournament was limited from 1939 to 1972 and the Hitchcock one was limited to Hitchcock’s career which went from the 1920s to 1976. Secondly, there are always some disagreements about what counts as science fiction. Genres are always difficult to nail down, but science fiction is a really broad category that has changed a lot from 1902’s A Trip to the Moon to 1999’s The Matrix. Thank goodness I didn’t include 21st Century films in the tournament or I would have gone nuts trying to figure out what counted.
I just want to thank everyone who participated and voted. I especially thank those of you who carried on the comments in the discussions. What really makes it worthwhile is the way that we share the ways we interact with the films. That’s the way I learn new things. Even those of you whom I disagreed with—heck, maybe especially those of you whom I disagreed with—taught me to look at the films in different ways.
But you’re all still wrong about Back to the Future. It’s very so-so. Just like Huey Lewis and the News. And Repo Man and Brazil should have done better. So should have Stalker, but that’s my own fault for putting it up against Blade Runner in the first round. I also saw The Incredible Shrinking Man for the first time for this tournament, and it turns out I loved it. So that was a nice moment for me.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
The Cubs signed Michael Conforto to a minor-league deal today and that is just another indicator that the Cubs consider their biggest question in Spring Training to be who is going to be the fourth outfielder. The Cubs already had non-roster invitees Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson in camp as well as prospect Kevin Alcántara and waiver claim Justin Dean. Prospect Brett Bateman is also in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he’s not considered a serious candidate to claim the 4th outfielder job, at least not out of Spring Training. Maybe in August.
So tonight, I’m going to ask you which one of the non-roster invitees is most likely to be a contributor to the Cubs this season. Not necessarily right out of Spring Training, but over the course of the season.
The model here is Mike Tauchman, whom the Cubs signed to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invitation in 2023. Tauchman didn’t make the Opening Day roster, but accepted an assignment to Triple-A Iowa and got called up to the majors in May. Of course, Tauchman was an important player on both the 2023 and 2024 Cubs.
Two pitchers in recent years were NRIs and ended up making major contributions to the team were Mark Leiter Jr. in 2021 and Brad Keller last season. It’s easier to make the roster as a reliever than as an outfielder. If anything, the other relievers are more likely to get injured than other outfielders.
So let’s quickly review the three NRIs. We’re going to bypass Dean, since he’s on the 40-man roster and is likely ticketed for Iowa. He could certainly see some time in the majors if he does well down there and there’s an injury in the majors. But he’s got options and the Cubs won’t have to make a decision on him in March. We’re not going to count Kevin Alcántara, because he’s a top prospect and in the Cubs long-term plans at the moment. They hope he’s more than a fourth outfielder. The same goes for Brett Bateman, although he’s not as well-regarded as Alcántara.
The first candidate is Dylan Carlson. Once upon a time, 2021 to be exact, Carlson was one of the top 20 prospects in baseball and was expected to be a star for the Cardinals. His rookie season of 2021 was pretty good. He hit .266 with 18 home runs and a .343 on-base percentage. Carlson finished third in Rookie-of-the-Year balloting. He didn’t set the world on fire his rookie year, but it was promising enough that you could easily predict stardom for him down the road.
That didn’t happen. Instead, Carlson suffered a series of injuries that cut into his playing time and his power. In particular, he suffered a shoulder injury after colliding with Jordan Walker in Spring Training in 2024 and he never really seemed to be himself since then. Last year with the Orioles, Carlson hit just .203/.273/.336 with six home runs over 83 games. Hamstring and oblique injures have also cost him enough speed that he’s no longer an acceptable center fielder except on an emergency basis.
On the plus side of Carlson, he’s still just 27 and if he ever got healthy, that top prospect that used to be there is probably still in there somewhere.
Al covered Conforto pretty well earlier today. Just last year, the Dodgers thought enough of Conforto to give him a $17 million, one-year deal. That was coming off a two-year, $36 million deal with the Giants. And as Al wrote, Conforto was a pretty good outfielder for the Mets from 2015 to 2021. But he missed the entire 2022 season with a shoulder injury and hasn’t really been good since, although he was solid enough for the Giants in 2024 that the Dodgers took a chance on him with that one-year deal.
The other downside on Conforto is that he turns 33 on March 1. He also hasn’t played center field since 2019.
Finally, there’s Chas McCormick, who has spent his entire career with the Astros until now. He made his major league debut with Houston in 2021 just shy of his 26th birthday. From 2021 to 2023, McCormick was an excellent fourth outfielder. He played over 100 games in all three of those seasons and hit 50 home runs in those three years combined. McCormick had a 117 OPS+ over those three seasons and was a solid defender at all three outfield positions.
Then McCormick suffered a hamstring injury early in 2024 and hasn’t been right since. He hit a poor .210/.279/.290 last season and put up almost identical numbers in 2024. McCormick also turns 31 in April, so his decline might be as much age-related as injury-related.
On the plus side to McCormick, he’s still a solid defender at all three outfield positions. Unlike Carlson and Conforto, McCormick still has minor league options, so he could be sent down to Iowa to start the season. However, most of these minor league deals with an invite to Spring Training contracts have an opt-out clause where a player can leave the organization if they aren’t on the major-league (or 40-man) roster by a certain date. So there may not be as much flexibility on McCormick as it might seem initially.
Obviously none of these outfielder are without warts. If they were, they wouldn’t have signed a minor league deal. Teams would be fighting for their signature. But all three of these players were very good once and not too long ago. Which one do you think is most likely to be good again in 2025?
Thanks for stopping by tonight. Please get home safely. If you braved the snow to get here, be extra safe. We want you healthy enough to stop by again. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.
Yankees right fielder Max Schuemann catches a fly out by Pittsburgh Pirates' Dominic Fletcher.
Observations from Yankees’ spring training on Monday:
Let’s review
With the help of ABS, Ryan Yarbrough went from having two runners on base to being out of a jam, just with one tap of the cap.
The lefty’s 3-2 pitch to Oneil Cruz was called Ball 4, but Yarbrough challenged it and was proven right, with the overturned call marking Strike 3 for the third out of the inning.
Yankees pitcher Ryan Yarbrough #33, pitching against the Pirates. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Life’s a switch
Batting from the left side, Jasson Domínguez poked an RBI double to right field against right-hander Tyrone Yulie in the second inning.
But then in his first chances to face a lefty this spring his next two at-bats, Domínguez struck out from the right side both times.
Caught my eye
Max Schuemann started Monday’s game in right field, displaying some defensive versatility that could aid his case to make the Yankees Opening Day roster if Oswaldo Cabrera isn’t ready in time.
The righty bat, acquired from the A’s at the start of camp, is known as a strong defensive infielder but also has some experience in the outfield.
Yankees right fielder Max Schuemann catches a fly out by Pittsburgh Pirates’ Dominic Fletcher. AP
Tuesday’s schedule
Will Warren will make his spring debut, starting against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.
Feb 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) shoots on Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
In one of their most impressive wins of the season, which is saying a lot, the Spurs went into the den of the top team in the NBA and slayed the Detroit Pistons. After a quick start, it took some time for Victor Wembanyama to adjust to the physical play, but his teammates were able to use his gravity to score in all manners, and a great defensive game from the entire team held the Pistons in check for the gutsy 114-103 win.
All five Spurs starters scored in double figures, with Devin Vassell leading the way with 28 points on 7-11 from three, and Wemby had 21 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks (I swear he had more; I especially feel one or two were missed in the first quarter). Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 25 points and 14 rebounds, and the Spurs held All-Star Cade Cunningham in check with just 16 points on 5-26 shooting.
Observations
Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that games can be streamed on Peacock but not televised on NBC? I’m fortunate enough to already have all the random streaming services the NBA is using this season, along with cable and League Pass, but I completely understand the frustration of those who don’t. KENS 5 if you don’t have cable in SA or LP outside of SA? No luck. NBA TV so LP is blacked out and you don’t have an advanced cable package? Out of luck. This is crazy.
One of the keys to this game was for the Spurs to hit their threes, and Vassell did just that early, hitting his first three to get the Spurs up 9-2, and Wemby one after Cunningham shoved him to the floor to get out to a 14-2 lead. Unfortunately, they were shooting airballs the rest of the first quarter until a Julian Champagnie three before the buzzer.
On the other hand the key to the game for the Pistons was the same tried-and-true method that has been successful for other teams: get physical with Wemby to make him uncomfortable, and they finally did that after the initial Spurs surge by grabbing and holding him, with the idea being that the refs can’t call everything. News flash, they didn’t. Soon, the refs stopped blowing their whistles, and just like that the Pistons were up 18-16 and 27-24 at the end of the quarter.
Luke Kornet came in for one minute in the first quarter before Wemby came right back in for him, and the Spurs started the second quarter with a center-less lineup with Kornet nowhere to be seen. Reports said he got kneed in the leg and the Spurs were hopeful the swelling would go down by the second half. He did return, albeit with a knee cover for protection.
The refs were letting a lot of contact go in the first half, especially for Detroit. That made it all the more annoying when they called three quick phantom fouls on Carter Bryant early in the second quarter. Even more annoying was how much the announcers were saying they liked no-calls when the Pistons got away with blatant fouls, but they had nothing to say about calls on the Spurs that truly should have been no-calls.
Wemby looked a little overwhelmed on offense for much of the first half, but it was how he responded to it that dictated how the Spurs offense went. When he tried to do everything himself, he struggled, with just 7 points on 2-9 shooting, poor shot selection and misses at the rim. When he used his gravity to draw the defense in without forcing shots, his teammates benefited. Champagnie and Vassell combined for 30 points on 9-12 from three in the first half, and Stephon Castle found driving lanes. Somehow, despite it feeling like they were getting owned for long stretches (maybe it just feels that way when it’s Wemby), the Spurs were up 57-55 at the half.
Cunningham had two dumb fouls in the first half, one for shoving Wemby to floor to make a statement early, and the and another late for a two-handed shove of Castle over nothing. As a result, he was playing with four fouls by early in the third quarter and five by early in the fourth, so he had to be more passive on defense. The Spurs took advantage, with the guards continuing to attack him to get to the rim, gradually building their lead to as much as 11 and leading by 8 after a very long, drawn out third quarter. (It took 52 minutes, BTW.)
Wemby finally seemed to have his role in this game figured out by the fourth quarter, which was dominate on defense while being a facilitator on offense. A flurry of blocks helped the Spurs start on a 7-0 run to get the lead to 15, and then they weathered one more Pistons storm with timely threes from Vassell, Champagnie and Keldon Johnson. It was a gutsy, impressive win that showed huge growth and an ability to adjust the game plan when Wemby is taken out of it offensively. The win gives the Spurs their first nine-game winning streak since March of 2019.
Next up: at Toronto, 6:30 PM CT on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
As Lebron James walked out of the Lakers locker room and down the tunnel at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night, he ran into a familiar face, but not one from the world of basketball.
Jayden Daniels — the Washington Commanders’ electric young quarterback and 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year — stood waiting to meetup with the King outside of the locker room. The Southern California native, Cajon High’s finest export, looked like he had met with his idol before and the two friends were saying hello again after a long layover.
LeBron didn’t hesitate when he saw him. He beelined for Daniels and wrapped him in a hug that felt genuine, not staged.
The California Post captured the moment on video. It’s everywhere now.
LeBron James greets Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels after their loss to the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/rHJXytqV3z
After the embrace, Daniels asked if LeBron would snap a photo with his friend. “Whose phone?” the friend asked nervously.
“Whoever got the best phone,” LeBron shot back with a grin.
As they posed, Daniels’ friend shouted, “Take 20!” — a line every iPhone user understands on a spiritual level.
The internet, of course, did what it does. Some fans jokingly speculated the impending free agent might take his talents to Washington to reunite with Anthony Davis now that the Wizards could be building a contender after also trading for Trae Young.
Another called LeBron the “world’s greatest flop artist.”
Why does Jayden associate himself with the world’s greatest flop artist. LeBron has ZERO integrity and his constant embellishment and faking injuries have tainted the NBA forever.
And that’s the biggest takeaway from this video. That greatness recognizes greatness. A 41-year-old icon meeting a 24-year-old rising star. No tampering. No conspiracy. Just respect between two athletes playing at the highest level.
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OSHKOSH, WI FEBRUARY 21: Alex Antetokounmpo #29 of the Wisconsin Herd drives to the basket during the game against the Greensboro Swarm on February 21, 2026 at Oshkosh Arena in Oshkosh, WI. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Wisconsin Herd weighs in as one of the worst teams in the G League. They boast a 7-16 record, good for second-worst in the Eastern Conference. They have no exciting rookie prospects, have virtually no chance of a playoff push, and sent no players to All-Star weekend. This weekly column will keep Bucks fans informed of their G League franchise’s recent results, the progress of their two-way players, and any news on the Herd that may impact the Bucks’ second-half season push.
This Week’s Games
After coming back from All-Star Weekend, the Herd dropped both of their games in a home back-to-back series against the Greensboro Swarm. The two losses dropped the Herd to 7-16 while extending their losing streak to seven games.
The Herd reached six straight losses in a back-and-forth Friday loss to the 15-6 Greensboro Swarm. Although the Herd frequently looked outmatched, both physically and tactically, they put up a good fight, stringing together several scoring runs before the Swarm pulled away at the start of the fourth quarter. The home loss to the Swarm dropped the Herd to 7-15 on the season.
Nance missed the Herd’s back-to-back games to play in the Bucks’ Saturday win over the Pelicans. His future with the Herd is cloudy. Nance has found a comfortable spot in the Bucks’ rotation, and there are rumors that the Bucks could upgrade Nance to a standard NBA contract due to his consistent play. However, the Bucks front office would have to cut a player to make room for Nance’s new deal, and breakout wing Ousmane Dieng has eaten into Nance’s bench minutes.
Friday offered a glimpse of Alex Antetokounmpo’s viability as a rotation player with the Bucks: namely, that there is none. The Bucks’ signing of The Greek Freak’s younger brother to a two-way deal is a way for the Bucks to deepen ties with their franchise player. Alex Antetokounmpo hasn’t shown any signs of making a difference. Antetokounmpo has struggled to find a foothold with the Herd. He averages 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and one assist per game coming off the bench, while posting .291/.226/.600 shooting splits. Friday was more of the same. Antetokounmpo struggled to adapt to the game’s tempo despite his lengthy build and size, and sulked to the bench in the game’s dying moments. Although the 25-year-old offers some untapped potential with the Herd, don’t expect Antetokounmpo to make any tangible impact on the Bucks’ second-half push.
The Herd was blown out against the Swarm on Saturday. They struggled against the Swarm’s bruising offensive style and couldn’t connect the dots on offense. The Swarm jumped out to an early first-quarter lead, and although the Herd defended well towards the end of the first half, the game ballooned out of reach in the second half. With Nance on duty for the Bucks’ Sunday loss to the Raptors, the Herd extended their losing streak to seven, putting them five games behind a playoff spot.
Alex Antetokounmpo got a little more burn in the Herd’s second game against the Swarm and played relatively well. He showed signs of becoming a threat from range, and his lengthy build helped him. He’s gritty, willing to make an extra pass, and like both of his brothers, exudes passion for the game. However, his instinct for the game and finesse remain lacking.
Cormac Ryan made his case to be the Bucks’ third two-way player as the deadline to sign players to two-way contracts (March 4th) looms. Ryan averaged 20 points, 6.5 rebounds, and three assists per game across the Herd’s two recent back-to-backs. Aside from Nance, who has only played six games for the Herd, Ryan leads the team in scoring and three-pointers made per game. Ryan offers consistent shooting, viable perimeter defense, and rotational flexibility that Milwaukee might want in its second-half playoff push.
Three Notes
Herd trades two-time All-Star Oladipo
The Herd traded two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo to the Cleveland Charge in exchange for the returning player rights for Drake Jeffries and Jacob Gilyard, as well as 2026 G League second-round and international draft picks. Oladipo averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on .389/.329/.778 shooting splits in the regular season. For Oladipo, the Herd gain the rights of Jeffries, who most recently played with the Sheffield Sharks in the United Kingdom, and Gilyard, who averages over 12 points per game in France. The move is unlikely to shake up the Herd’s depth chart.
Bucks could soon decide on Nance’s standard contract
The Bucks have yet to convert Nance’s two-way deal into a standard NBA contract. Nance, who averages 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in the league, has steadily clawed out a rotational role with Milwaukee. He’s served as a steadying force off the bench that can both shoot well and hammer out paint points. Of the 50 available active games allotted to a two-way player, Nance has only 16 left, with 27 left in the season.
If the Bucks were to make room for Nance, it would be by cutting Andre Jackson Jr., who has struggled for playing time. They must consider the Bucks’ abundance of wing and frontcourt depth, including the brilliant performances of newcomer Ousmane Dieng. The Pete Nance question is one to watch as early March nears.
Clock is ticking on Buck’s third two-way spot
The Bucks still need to decide what to do with their final two-way spot. Milwaukee could draw on several prospects who are leading the Herd. Mark Sears, previously waived by the Bucks, is averaging 15 points and 5.3 assists per game as the starting point guard. Ryan could bring more frontcourt depth in times of injury. Former Wisconsin Badgers phenom Johnny Davis is starting to find his shooting groove with the Herd and could very well be called upon soon. Their open two-way contract is an asset the Bucks front office should use to balance the roster.
The right-hander first talked about participating in the tournament last year after Andy Pettitte, Team USA’s pitching coach, contacted him.
“He said he wanted me to be a part of the team, and I’m honored to get an opportunity to do this,” Holmes said after making his first Grapefruit League start Monday. “I think the world of Andy. Someone like him believing in me and being in my corner and wanting me to be part of the team was special and meant something.”
It’s another step in Holmes’ career.
It was just a year ago that he entered spring training dealing with questions about whether he’d be able to be successful as a starter after breaking out as a reliever with the Yankees, where he’d met Pettitte.
Clay Holmes throws a pitch during his Feb. 23 Grapefruit League start for the Mets. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Holmes ended up throwing 165 ²/₃ innings, only three fewer than team leader David Peterson.
“I knew last year a cloud followed me,” Holmes said. “ ‘How many innings can you throw?’ I never doubted myself. It’s nice to know I’m capable of it, [but] it doesn’t make it any easier this year. I just have something to build on.”
Holmes’ 2025 wasn’t totally smooth.
After putting up a 2.99 ERA over his first 17 starts, he pitched to a 4.52 ERA over his final 14 starts — excluding two September relief appearances.
Before the right-hander made his first start of the spring against Toronto at TD Ballpark, Carlos Mendoza sounded unconcerned about Holmes pitching too much.
“He’s a guy that takes very little time off from throwing,” the Mets manager said. “We’re not doing anything different.”
Holmes’ inclusion in the WBC won’t impact anything, according to Mendoza.
“It’s basically the same progression as last year,” Mendoza said. “The WBC has nothing to do with it. It’s a credit to him. He’s so meticulous about his preparation and offseason training.”
Clay Holmes throws during the Mets’ spring training session Feb. 22. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Holmes allowed just one hit in 3 ²/₃ innings in a 4-3 win, but that hit was a two-run, 431-foot homer to dead center by Kazuma Okamoto off a curveball that Holmes left up.
Holmes joked that he might be able to use the bad pitch to his advantage next month.
“Maybe he’ll go back to his Japanese teammates and say, ‘He throws a big curveball to right-handers,’ ’’ Holmes said.
Holmes walked two and struck out three over a 57-pitch outing.
“He’s a big part of our rotation,” Mendoza said. “He was super-consistent for us last year, and it wasn’t easy making that transition. People were talking [about] innings limits and things like that, and we never put a limit on him. It’s Year 2, and he continues to be a big part of our rotation.”
WACO, Texas (AP) — Taliah Scott scored 20 points and made five 3-pointers, Bella Fontleroy added 16 points and four makes from distance, and No. 18 Baylor beat Kansas State 80-54 on Monday night in its final home game of the regular season.
The Bears pulled away by starting the third quarter on a 13-2 run, highlighted by three 3-pointers by Fontleroy, for a 48-28 lead. Fontleroy scored 12 points in the third on 4-of-5 shooting.
Baylor finished 13 of 26 (50%) from 3-point range, while Kansas State shot 34% overall from the floor with 14 turnovers.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 10 points and 11 rebounds to help Baylor (24-6, 13-4 Big 12) outrebound Kansas State 43-29. Jana Van Gytenbeek added eight assists to go with five points. Scott reached 20 points for the 19th time this season and Littlepage-Buggs recorded her 12th double-double.
Jordan Speiser and Tess Heal each scored 12 points for Kansas State (15-15, 8-9). Brandie Harrod added 10 points. Taryn Sides, averaging a team-high 12.7 points per game, did not score in 12 minutes.
NO. 23 GEORGIA 74, AUBURN 52
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Dani Carnegie had 17 points, Rylie Theuerkauf and Mia Woolfolk both scored 16 and Georgia rolled to a victory over Auburn.
Carnegie added four rebounds and four steals for the Lady Bulldogs (21-7, 7-7 Southeastern Conference). Theuerkauf shot 4 for 7 from 3-point range and Woolfolk made 5 of 8 shots and 6 of 7 free throws.
Khady Leye had 16 points for the Tigers (14-14, 3-11). Ja’Mia Harris scored 13 and Kaitlyn Duhon added 11.
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances.
The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers.
“The reason I didn’t announce it (sooner) was I wanted to keep the momentum on the WBC, but I’m just making one start and then I’ll stick around for a few games," Skubal told reporters Monday in Florida. "I haven’t determined what games I’m going to watch. If they go to the finals, I think I’m going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys. But yeah, I’m just making one start and getting back on track and getting back to here.”
Skubal made his first Grapefruit League start Monday, striking out four over two scoreless innings of two-hit ball in Detroit's 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to pitch for the Tigers again Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays and then start for the U.S. late next week during WBC pool play in Houston.
After that, the rest of his outings this spring will come in a Detroit uniform, he said.
“It’s kind of the best of both worlds. That was the communication I had with those guys,” Skubal said. “There’s some risk obviously, and I’m trying to do both things, trying to pitch for Team USA, but also I understand I need to be here with these guys and get ready for the season. I think it’s kind of the best of both worlds in that aspect, and I’m grateful they took me in that capacity.”
Skubal, who can become a free agent in the fall, is scheduled to start Detroit's season opener March 26 in San Diego. The 29-year-old left-hander won his salary arbitration hearing with the Tigers this month and will be paid $32 million this season instead of the team’s $19 million offer.
The WBC runs from March 5-17 in Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, where the final will be played for the second straight time.
“The whole point of me doing the WBC was to make sure that I could stay on a normal workload of a spring training regimen and be able to make a start for Team USA and then come back here and continue my normal routine to get ready for opening day,” Skubal said. “I think everything’s going to stay the same. I’m not ramping up earlier than I need to. I don’t want that narrative out there. I’m treating this as I’m going to Team USA, making a start, coming back to Lakeland and getting ready to go for opening day.”
Skubal, a two-time All-Star, has won the past two AL Cy Young Awards and ERA titles. He was 13-6 with a career-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last season, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 12: Hank Aaron #44 of the Atlanta Braves tapes a television commercial for Magnavox as he signed a million dollar contract to tape the commercial as he is two home runs shy of Babe Ruth's record of 714 on February 12, 1974 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
So as well all know now, the Atlanta Braves “are well on [their] way towards launching a new era in Braves broadcasting.” That quote came directly from the team itself via a publicly released statement but there have also been rumors that the Braves wouldn’t be the only team on this particular network. The Atlanta Hawks of the NBA were rumored to be a partner before and now we’re learning that they wouldn’t be the only partner, either.
According to a report from Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal, the Braves have been in talks with multiple cable distributors and Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs for short) when it comes to distribution deals and reportedly the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the Nashville Predators of the NHL may be looped in on this as well.
Here’s a quote from the article:
The sources indicated the Braves are in talks on distribution deals with Comcast, Charter and DirecTV and possibly with virtual MVPDs such as YouTube TV and Hulu. IN the near term, the team is partnering with Gray Media to broadcast 15 spring training games across 26 Southern markets, including Atlanta’s Peachtree TV, but is ideating an altogether different blueprint for the regular season.
The Braves, with or withut the other three teams, intend to launch their network in time for the regular season, the sources said, and have already begun hiring sales personnel.
So the quote here aligns with what the Braves have been saying all the way at the top of this article: That they are prepared to launch this network in time for the actual games that count. It was also interesting to note that none of these other teams are guaranteed to join up with the Braves on this venture — the article noted that the Hawks and Grizzlies are being encouraged by the NBA to wait for that league to start its own “centralized streaming RSN” in the next couple of seasons and the CMO of the Predators Bill Wickett reportedly said that they haven’t spoken to the Braves about this venture, either.
With that being said, the one thing that ties all of these teams together is that they will all need to figure out their TV situation sooner rather than later since all four of these teams either used to or currently call FanDuel Sports South their TV home. That connection alone would’ve been enough to justify these teams linking up together for a network and then also Tom Friend mentioned that the owner of the Predators does have experience working with Liberty Media.
So the big news here is that the Braves aren’t trying to have this be a Braves-only network but they also seem to be fully ready to have that be the case if it comes down to it. There are still more questions than answers at this point but it does seem like we’re starting to get an idea of how the Braves want this to work out going forward. We’ll see what happens.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Dani Carnegie had 17 points, Rylie Theuerkauf and Mia Woolfolk both scored 16 and No. 23 Georgia rolled to a 74-52 victory over Auburn on Monday night.
Carnegie added four rebounds and four steals for the Lady Bulldogs (21-7, 7-7 Southeastern Conference). Theuerkauf shot 4 for 7 from 3-point range and Woolfolk made 5 of 8 shots and 6 of 7 free throws.
Khady Leye had 16 points for the Tigers (14-14, 3-11). Ja'Mia Harris scored 13 and Kaitlyn Duhon added 11.
Harris made two free throws, then grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Duhon for a 3-pointer as Auburn jumped in front 9-3 in the first 4:33. Miyah Verse scored before coming up with a steal that led to Carnegie's 3-pointer as Georgia closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run and led 13-9.
Woofolk kept the run going with the first three baskets of the second period, Trinity Turner scored in the paint and the Lady Bulldogs upped their advantage to 21-9. Duhon hit a jumper to end the Bulldogs' 18-point run and the Tigers' scoring drought at 8:57.
Harris hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cap a 7-0 spurt in the final 1:11 and Auburn to cut it to 30-23 at halftime.
Leye made it a two-possession game when she grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to begin the third quarter for the Tigers, but they would get no closer.
Georgia led 48-38 before starting the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to pull away.
Up next
Georgia: At No. 4 Texas on Thursday before hosting Florida in a regular-season finale on Sunday.
Auburn: Hosts No. 16 Kentucky on Thursday before ending the regular season at Arkansas on Sunday.
From the moment he was first called up in September 2023 and immediately hit a ball 117 mph, the Mets have been waiting for the performance to match the potential.
Now, Mauricio is healthy and trying to make sure he has a role this year after spending much of last September on the bench.
“I use that as a source of motivation,” Mauricio said, through an interpreter, of spending much of the stretch run on the bench last season. “Last year, when I wasn’t playing, I was able to step back and see things I needed to improve in my game if I want to be on the field and be able to help the team.”
According to Mauricio, who turns 25 in April, there were plenty of areas on which to focus.
Ronny Mauricio swings during the Mets’ Feb. 21 Grapefruit League game. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
“I want to control the strike zone and work on my defense,” Mauricio said.
More than anything, though, he wants to make sure he remains in one piece.
“I have to stay healthy,” Mauricio said. “I’m hitting the gym as much as possible to stay fresh for the whole season. I feel more stable now.”
The knee injury cost Mauricio plenty.
He’s eager to put it behind him, which he’s confident he’ll be able to do this spring.
“I want to maintain my speed and be the type of player I know I’m capable of being,” Mauricio said. “I want to return to the type of player I was before the injury.”
Carlos Mendoza wants to see that from Mauricio, as well, noting that his biggest takeaway from the young player this spring is that he’s back in good form physically.
“He’s healthy,” the Mets manager said. “When you watch him take ground balls [and] the way he’s moving around, there’s no limitations there now. He’s free. He’s happy to finally be a full-time player for us without any restriction.”
Ronny Mauricio makes a throw during the Mets’ Feb. 21 Grapefruit League game. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
In Monday’s 4-3 win over Toronto, Mauricio started at third, walked, and ran the bases with abandon.
With Francisco Lindor out due to a hamate-bone fracture, there’s even more of an opportunity for Mauricio to contribute and show the Mets he belongs not just on the roster but on the field.
That might be tougher when they are at full strength and have Lindor back at shortstop, with Jorge Polanco at first base, Marcus Semien at second and Bo Bichette at third.
Mauricio nonetheless wants to give them something to think about.
“The last two years, I haven’t been able to have a real spring training because [of the injury],” Mauricio said. “I want to show I can play wherever the team needs me: second, third or short.”
WACO, Texas (AP) — Taliah Scott scored 20 points and made five 3-pointers, Bella Fontleroy added 16 points and four makes from distance, and No. 18 Baylor beat Kansas State 80-54 on Monday night in its final home game of the regular season.
The Bears pulled away by starting the third quarter on a 13-2 run, highlighted by three 3-pointers by Fontleroy, for a 48-28 lead. Fontleroy scored 12 points in the third on 4-of-5 shooting.
Baylor finished 13 of 26 (50%) from 3-point range, while Kansas State shot 34% overall from the floor with 14 turnovers.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 10 points and 11 rebounds to help Baylor (24-6, 13-4 Big 12) outrebound Kansas State 43-29. Jana Van Gytenbeek added eight assists to go with five points. Scott reached 20 points for the 19th time this season and Littlepage-Buggs recorded her 12th double-double.
Jordan Speiser and Tess Heal each scored 12 points for Kansas State (15-15, 8-9). Brandie Harrod added 10 points. Taryn Sides, averaging a team-high 12.7 points per game, did not score in 12 minutes.
Baylor led 35-26 at halftime after holding the Wildcats to 35% shooting, including 2 of 13 from distance.
Up next
Kansas State: Returns home to finish the regular season on Sunday against Iowa State.
Baylor: Plays at No. 11 TCU in a regular-season finale on Sunday.
The Athletics continued their rough start to spring training, losing 6-2 to the San Francisco Giants. The A’s stopped scoring after the first inning, while the Giants scored six unanswered runs. Good thing spring stats and records don’t matter!
Looking to avoid a third straight loss to begin preseason action, the A’s started the game strongly. The first three batters reached base against Giants starting pitcher JT Brubaker. Max Muncy, one of the A’s vying to start at third base, came up to bat with the bases loaded, no outs and a chance to do some damage. However, he grounded into a double play, foreshadowing things to come. With a run in, a runner on third and two outs, second baseman Andy Ibàñez doubled to left field, bringing in the A’s second and final run of the game.
Taking the mound with a two-run lead, A’s starting pitcher J.T. Ginn turned in an impressive first spring training performance. He struck out the side in the first inning beginning with Luis Arraez, who is one of the hardest MLB players to strike out. Ginn proceeded to complete a clean second inning, this time inducing three groundouts.
Given how well Ginn pitched in this two-inning stint, it might not be a bad idea for the A’s to deploy him in this role out of the bullpen this season. However, he has also had success as a starting pitcher, which makes him one of the most interesting A’s pitchers to watch this spring. More performances like that this spring and Ginn may very well be in the A’s rotation to open the season.
The third inning was where the game’s momentum shifted. In the top of the inning, the A’s had a chance to extend the lead. Unfortunately, Muncy was thrown out trying to go from second base to home on Darell Hernaiz’s double to right field and then Henry Bolte grounded out with the bases loaded. In the bottom of that frame, the Giants broke through against A’s top pitching prospect Gage Jump. San Francisco got three straight singles before Jump induced a double play grounder to escape a bases loaded jam and keep the A’s ahead by one.
The following inning, the Giants tied it. Then, they proceeded to score once an inning from the fifth to the eighth off a mix of returning relievers like Elvis Alvarado and non-roster relievers. Meanwhile, the A’s offense was shut down by multiple Giants minor league pitchers. Once the Giants took the lead, the A’s did not come close to scoring again until the eighth inning. They got two baserunners with one out, only for the next two batters to not come through. The A’s finished the game with ten hits, although only two were extra-base hits.
Ginn’s strong performance was the highlight of today’s game as the A’s need improvement from him and the other young pitchers if the team wants to return to playoff contention. Speaking of young pitchers, both Jump and fellow pitching prospect Braden Nett showed promise, even though they each allowed a run in their respective innings.
The A’s will try again tomorrow to get that elusive first spring training win vs the also winless Milwaukee Brewers. Mason Barnett, another of the team’s young starting pitchers, will start with relievers Justin Sterner and Hogan Harris lined up to follow him. Will the team’s offense shake off its rust tomorrow or will it be another low-scoring day for the A’s?
Notes:
Nick Kurtz showcased his on-base ability today, drawing two walks as the A’s leadoff hitter.
Andy Ibàñez had a good day as he drew a walk in addition to his double.
Darell Hernaiz looks ready to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC. He got two hits and played a clean game at shortstop
Polarizing prospect Henry Bolte struck out twice, further proof that his ability to make contact is still a concern.
Max Muncy made a throwing error on a slow ground ball hit his way at third base. His defense was erratic last year. Is third base the best fit for him defensively?
Infield prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer got two hits. His hitting ability is not in question, but will that be enough to get him to MLB at least in a utility role given his lack of power.
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