Apr 23, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob Degrom (48) reacts after leaving during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Season Record: 14-14
Week Record: 3-3
Series Record: 4-4, 1 split
GAME 23: 5-1 Win vs Pittsburgh Pirates
GAME 24: 4-8 Loss vs Pittsburgh Pirates
GAME 25: 6-1 Win vs Pittsburgh Pirates
GAME 26: 1-8 Loss vs Athletics
GAME 27: 4-3 Win vs Athletics
GAME 28: 1-2 Loss vs Athletics
The Rangers are a very average baseball team so far.
Last year they ended .500 and they haven’t shown they’re going to be any different.
There have been glimmers, there have been streaks, but much like 2025, nothing consistent enough to really see what this team is.
Other than average.
Obviously I’m writing this just a couple hours after Sunday’s terrible game. Texas had runners on in every inning, except fittingly the 9th where they went down 1-2-3 for the first time the entire game. They had the bases loaded with no outs and have nothing to show for that. They were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.
It felt more like 20.
A month into the 2026 season and if this is the team that’s sticking around for the rest of it, it’s gong to be a very frustrating season to watch.
Oh and Wyatt Langford was placed on the injured list right as he was getting hot, because of course that would happen.
To top off a very meh week for the Rangers, their new city connects are cursed.
Bo Bichette | (Photo: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.
TUESDAY
The Mets lost their twelfth game in a row, marking their longest losing streak since August 2002. With Francisco Lindor’s home run, the Mets at least held a three-run lead for the first time since their last win on April 7.
WEDNESDAY
The Mets’ win didn’t just mark the end of their twelve-game losing streak; it also marked their 700th win at Citi Field.
THURSDAY
Bo Bichette’s bases-clearing double was his sixth go-ahead hit of the season. Only two players, Kyle Schwarber (7) and Christian Walker (7), have more go-ahead hits so far than Bichette.
Brett Baty and Carson Benge became the first pair of Mets outfielders age 26 or younger to homer in the same game since Michael Conforto, J.D. Davis, and Brandon Nimmo all went deep on September 22, 2019 in Cincinnati.
The Mets won despite giving up a grand slam for the first time since June 25, 2024, when the Mets beat the Yankees in the Bronx after Reed Garrett surrendered a slam to Aaron Judge. Until Thursday, the Mets had lost nine consecutive games in which they gave up a grand slam.
Since 2019, Twins catchers have an OPS of 1.246 with five homers in eight games at Citi Field. The only opposing teams whose catching corps have more homers at Citi Field in that span are the Braves (eight homers in 64 games) and Marlins (eight homers in 55 games). Three of the Twins’ homers were from Mitch Garver, while two are now from Ryan Jeffers.
FRIDAY
Brett Baty recorded back-to-back games with multiple hits and multiple RBI for the first time in his career.
Freddy Peralta became the first Mets right-hander not named Nolan McLean or Jonah Tong to strike out eight batters in a start at Citi Field since Tylor Megill, over a year earlier on April 21, 2025.
Peralta received the loss for his third consecutive outing. It’s the first time that’s happened in Peralta’s nine-year big league career.
Michael Lorenzen became one of six pitchers with multiple starts of 7+ IP and 1 or fewer ER allowed against the Mets since 2023, joining Jake Irvin, Spencer Schwellenbach, Logan Webb, Charlie Morton, and Jameson Taillon.
The loss snapped the Mets’ two-game winning streak, as well as an eight-game winning streak against Colorado. The Mets hadn’t lost to the Rockies since August 6, 2024.
SUNDAY
THE WEEKLY MCLEAN UPDATE: Nolan McLean recorded his 100th career strikeout in just his 14th game. Only 14 pitchers have reached 100 K’s in that few appearances, including three other Mets (Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden, and Matt Harvey). The last to do so before McLean was Paul Skenes. Of that group, McLean’s 2.27 ERAthrough 14 outings ranks fifth, behind Hideo Nomo (1.90), Masahiro Tanaka (1.99), Skenes (1.99), and Harvey (2.14).
McLean has posted 25 IP and 7 ER (2.52 ERA) over his last four starts while his team has gone 0-4; he’s the first pitcher to throw that many innings and allow that few runs over a four-game span while his team goes winless since Paul Skenes (May 1-18, 2025), and the first Met to do so since Jacob deGrom (September 21, 2020-April 10, 2021).
The Mets scored one run across a nine-inning doubleheader for the first time since October 3, 2015 against the Nationals, when they had already clinched the N.L. East and were no-hit by Max Scherzer in the nightcap. The prior time it happened was September 19, 2004, in Pittsburgh, when 21-year-old rookie David Wright scored the only Met run of the day in Game 1.
The Mets have scored two or fewer runs through nine innings in 16 of their first 28 games. That’s the most such games through the first 28 contests of a season in Mets history, the most of any MLB team since the Tigers (16) in 2022, and the most of any N.L. team since the Phillies (16) in 2015.
The Mets were shut out for the fifth time in 28 games this season, something they have only managed in 1981 and 2023.
The Mets have scored 92 runs in their first 28 games, the franchise’s fewest since 1981 (88).
The Mets are 9-19, tying the franchise’s worst record through 28 games of a season previously reached in 1962, 1964, 1981, and 1983.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Kevin Alvarez #11 of the Houston Astros bats during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (15-12) won 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
Bolton made a rehab start for Sugar Land and allowed 1 run over 2 innings. He was relieved by Bielak who allowed 2 runs over 5.1 innings. The offense got on the board in the 4th scoring a run on an error. After the Express scored a run in the 8th to take a 3-1 lead, Strahm came through in the bottom of the inning with a 2 run home run to tie it. In the 9th, Biggio walked it off with an RBI single as Sugar Land won 4-3.
Sam Carlson, RHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (10-11) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board first getting a run on an Encarnacion RBI single in the third inning. Dombroski got the start and pitched well allowing 1 run over 5 innings while striking out 7. The Travelers took the lead in the 8th inning but in the 9th, Sacco tied it with a solo home run. The game went to extras and in the 10th, Baez gave the Hooks the lead on an RBI single. Unfortunately the pen wasn’t able to hold the lead as the Travelers scored 2 runs to walk it off.
Railin Perez, RHP: 0.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (5-16) lost 10-7 (BOX SCORE)
DeVos started for Asheville and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned. The offense got on the board in the 5th inning scoring 5 runs on a Schiavone 2 run HR, Cruz RBI single and Powell 2 run single. They got 2 more runs in the 7th inning on a Walker 2 run single. Martich struggled in relief allowing 4 runs as the Drive tied it. The game went to extra innings and in the 10th, the Drive scored 3 runs as they won 10-7.
This was a continuation of the suspended game on Saturday. Fayetteville got on the board in the first inning on an Alvarez solo HR, his first of the year. They found themselves down pretty quick though with the Pelicans scoring 2 runs in the first and 3 runs in the third. The game was suspended in the 3rd and picked back with Rodriguez coming in and tossing 3.1 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts. The offense rallied for 4 runs in the 7th inning on an Ochoa 2 run HR and Neyens 2 run single. The game went to extra innings and in the 10th, Alvarez walked it off with an RBI single.
Smith started game two for the Woodpeckers and was solid allowing one unearned run over 4 innings of work. The offense got on the board scoring 2 runs on an Ochoa steal of home and Vasquez RBI single. In the 3rd the offense scored 3 more runs on a Salas RBI single, Gomez sac fly and Cauro RBI single. Monistere added an RBI double in the 6th inning. Varela went the final 3 innings allowing a run while striking out 5.
Apr 23, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh (16) is greeted after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images
Listen, I’m just thankful that the week is over. A road trip in which the team went 1-6 is nothing to exactly be thrilled with, but look hard enough and you’ll see some players that had good weeks.
They’re a lot more difficult to find than those that had bad weeks, but they are there! I promise!
Three up
Brandon Marsh – We are almost done with the month of April and Brandon Marsh might be, dare I say it, good? He hit .391/.417/.652 with two home runs this week, all against right handed pitchers, but there were some solid plate appearances against left handers as well. I realize that the standard for this sort of success against lefties is low with Marsh, but in a week full of justified negativity, seeing Marsh take those good at bats against left handed pitchers, be more than productive against right handed pitchers, it’s a good step for him.
Zack Wheeler – There were bumps in the start, but for the most part, Wheeler looked like his old self against the Braves. The typical Wheeler command wasn’t there yet, expected after such a long layoff from his injury, but there were moments when the Braves were looking feeble against his stuff. The velocity being up near 96 most of the night was encouraging, but how he throws in his next start will be the thing to watch. If he’s keeping that velocity up in each subsequent start, we’d have to qualify his recovery as nothing short of amazing.
Adolis Garcia – A nice week from Garcia, who is starting to get some results from his under the hood numbers. Granted, it would be nice to see some more extra base hits instead of singles through the hole at short, but for a team that has been woeful on offense lately, beggars, choosers, blah blah blah.
Three down
Kyle Schwarber – Home runs are great. Home runs are cool. Players still need to do something other than that and lately, Schwarber simply hasn’t. His .111/.250/.407 line this past week isn’t really what you want to see coming from the person expected to create runs. He’s still hitting for power, which for this team is saying something, but they need more from him. They need the 2025 version of Schwarber, not the 2023 version.
Felix Reyes – It was fun while it lasted. I appreciate the effort to try something new in the midst of a miserable stretch of baseball, but Reyes is not ready for the major leagues. It would be best for him to be sent back to Lehigh Valley to continue working, so let’s see what is available for them to call up! <scans Lehigh Valley roster> Ah, mhm, yes, well nevermind then!
Aaron Nola – In our Slack channel, there was a comment made about Aaron Nola and how he is still going to be with the team for the next several years as he sits here at the end of April with an ERA above six. Someone responded: “Hey, it’s like we get to have Patrick Corbin after all.” and friends, I could not be more despondent after a comment. Mostly because I think it might be true.
Mike and Dan recap some news around the Islanders and their AHL affiliate, question the team’s bizarre partnering with JELL-O and reveal some important announcements.
While fans like us are still mad about the Islanders being home during the NHL playoffs, there was some news coming out of the team’s prospect pool. The Bridgeport Islanders ended their 25-year-run in the city with a short and unsuccessful stay in the playoffs that mirrored how the big club ended their season. Once again, there are things to celebrate, but also things to be sad and disappointed about. Many have fond memories of the longtime minor league outpost that will become more intense as the move to Hamilton inches closer to finality. But there is excitement about a fresh start in a lush new home, and it will be a fascinating experiment to watch the… whatever they’ll be called.
Later, we do something people have been asking about for a while and give the Islanders themselves the Master Leaf Theatre treatment. What seems like an innocuous corporate cameo appearance is, for us, a concerning look at the team’s real priorities. It’s fair to wonder what truly matters here, as this flashy new toy isn’t exactly filling us with the childish sense of fun it’s supposed to and feels more like a peek into a dystopian future.
Sprinkled throughout the show are three big announcements about a sweepstakes, a poll for our Weirdest Islander of the Year and our schedule for the rest of the offseason. So stick with us through the whole thing.
The UBS Arena JELL-OMeter was a weird thing at a weird time. The Islanders are trying very hard to shove some very un-Islanders ideas into people’s faces.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves head into Ball Arena tonight for a pivotal Game 5 with a chance to eliminate the Denver Nuggets and advance to the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. After dismantling Denver in consecutive home games to take a 3-1 series lead, Minnesota has successfully stifled the Nuggets' offense, holding them to under 100 points in three of the four games so far. Added to the tension of it being an elimination game is the fact tonight’s game comes one game after Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle were ejected after a late-game altercation.
The task of eliminating Denver, however, is a tall one. The Timberwolves will be without their starting backcourt as their superstar, Anthony Edwards (knee) and his running mate Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) have been declared out of tonight’s game. Minnesota will look to Ayo Dosunmu to replicate his heroic Game 4 performance, where he stepped in for the injured Edwards and scored a career-high 43 points in 42 minutes to keep the Nuggets at bay.
The Nuggets are dealing with their own significant health concerns. Key "connector" Aaron Gordon is officially questionable with persistent left calf tightness that clearly limited his explosiveness and minutes in the previous game. Without Gordon at full strength and already missing Peyton Watson (hamstring), the Nuggets will need to work all the harder to attack the Timberwolves with more than just Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Because of the absence of Edwards and the fact Game 5 is in Denver, though, the Nuggets take the court as favorites. To force a Game 6, Denver must find a way to crack the Timberwolves' tenacious defense while of course capitalizing on the absence of Anthony Edwards.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
Date: Monday, April 27, 2026
Time: 10:30PM EST
Site: Ball Arena
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game opened Nuggets -10.5 with the Game Total set at 224.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
PG Mike Conley
SG Ayo Dosunmu
C Rudy Gobert
SF Julius Randle
PF Jaden McDaniels
Denver Nuggets
PG Jamal Murray
SG Christian Braun
SF Cam Johnson
C Nikola Jokic
PF Aaron Gordon
Injury Report: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Denver Nuggets
Aaron Gordon (calf) is questionable for tonight’s game
Peyton Watson (hamstring) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
The Timberwolves are 24-19 on the road this season
The Nuggets are 29-14 at home this season
The Nuggets are 45-41 ATS this season
Minnesota is 40-46 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 53 of the Nuggets’ 86 games this season (53-33)
The OVER has cashed in 38 of the Timberwolves’ 84 games this season (38-48)
Ayo Dosunmu averaged 14.8 points per game during the regular season but is now leading the Timberwolves through 4 games of the postseason averaging 22.8 points per game
Rudy Gobert is averaging 11.0 rebounds per game in this series after grabbing 27 in the 2 games in Minneapolis
Julius Randle is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game in this series
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Timberwolves and Nuggets game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Timberwolves +11.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 222.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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Firing Cora was shocking enough, but also parting ways with several prominent coaches (including game-planning and run-prevention coach Jason Varitek) was an unprecedented move that indicates chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has a new vision for the organization.
“We believe in the group of players that we have in the clubhouse, down the hallway, and we believe that a new direction is warranted, new voices, and something that enables us to take a fresh start,” Breslow said during his press conference Sunday morning.
For now, at least, the new voice leading the Red Sox clubhouse is former Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy. He earned the interim tag after Cora was let go, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him turn this opportunity into a full-time role.
Who else could be in the mix to replace Cora? Here are five of the top candidates for the Red Sox manager position:
Chad Tracy
USA TODAY Sports
Chad Tracy had been the manager at Triple-A Worcester since 2021.
Tracy is the clear frontrunner to replace Cora after being named the Red Sox’ interim manager on Saturday.
The 40-year-old has served as manager for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox since 2021, so he has already built relationships with the homegrown players on the roster, including 21-year-old star Roman Anthony.
“I think when you’re familiar with somebody during a time like this (it helps), and someone like Trace steps in, he’s tremendous at what he does,” Anthony said, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. “And I think there’s a reason that everyone who goes through Triple-A and is in Worcester with him loves him, and we know he’s gonna have our back and do everything he can during this kind of tough time.
“We didn’t expect it, but now you kind of just adapt and overcome it, and Trace is gonna be great.”
If the Red Sox start to turn things around under Tracy’s leadership, he should be rewarded with the official big-league manager title.
David Ross
USATI
David Ross worked with Craig Breslow in Chicago for four seasons.
If Red Sox ownership is committed to Breslow and Tracy can’t shed the interim tag, Ross is an obvious fit. He was on the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox team with Breslow, and he worked with Breslow while managing the Chicago Cubs from 2020 to 2023.
Ross posted a 262-284 record (.480) as Cubs manager and made the postseason just once, falling in the National League Wild Card Series during the abbreviated 2020 campaign. Still, his familiarity with Breslow and the Red Sox organization places him among the leading candidates.
Rocco Baldelli
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Rocco Baldelli led the Twins to three division titles in seven years as manager.
The Minnesota Twins fired Baldelli after posting a 70-92 record in 2025. He managed Minnesota for seven seasons (2019-25) and posted a 527-505 record (.511), leading the club to three American League Central titles (2019-20, 2023).
Baldelli could be an attractive option for Breslow & Co., as he’ll be among the most sought-after managerial candidates next winter. The Rhode Island native played for the Red Sox briefly in 2009 and embraced analytics during his managerial career, checking multiple boxes for the analytics-driven Red Sox front office.
Ryan Flaherty
Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Ryan Flaherty (left) has several years of experience as a bench coach with the Padres and Cubs.
Flaherty is currently serving as Craig Counsell’s bench coach in Chicago. The 39-year-old former big-leaguer started his coaching career in 2019 as an advanced scouting and development coach for the San Diego Padres.
In 2022, he was named the Padres’ acting manager after Bob Melvin was placed in COVID-19 protocols. He was named San Diego’s bench coach after the 2022 season.
A Maine native, Flaherty is the only name on this list that hasn’t been officially hired to a managerial role. But if the Red Sox want to give a promising up-and-comer a chance to grow with the organization, he would be an excellent choice. It won’t be long before he lands an MLB manager gig, whether it’s in Boston or elsewhere.
Brandon Hyde
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Brandon Hyde led the Orioles out of their rebuild and to a division championship in 2023.
Hyde managed the Baltimore Orioles from 2019 to mid-2025, so he has plenty of experience in the AL East. The 52-year-old posted a 421-492 record (.461) in parts of seven seasons with the O’s, leading them to two postseason appearances and a division title in ’23. The sub-.500 record is a bit misleading, as he was hired during the organization’s rebuild and his tenure ended with a 290-239 record over his final four-plus seasons with the club.
Like Baldelli, Hyde’s experience makes him an intriguing option. He also worked well with the Orioles’ young talent while leading them out of their rebuild, and the Red Sox need someone with a voice that resonates with their young players.
Our prediction: Chad Tracy
Tracy wasn’t simply a “break glass in case of emergency” option for Boston after firing Cora. He was handed the interim manager tag because the organization believes he could be the next guy, and it’s easy to see why.
The players Tracy has managed at Triple-A Worcester rave about him, including former Sox pitchers David Sandlin and Hunter Dobbins.
“Trace is the man. He’s a player’s manager, just a guy that doesn’t have an ego and knows how to get the most out of his players,” Sandlin said, per Nick John of TalkSox.com. “For me, he was a really calming voice when all the alarm bells were going off during the relieving experiment last year.”
“(He) holds guys accountable and knows how to encourage the guys to put in the work,” Dobbins said, per Nick John. “Couldn’t be happier for him to get this shot.”
Tracy has a leg up on the competition because he already has experience managing several key homegrown players on the big-league roster. If the team starts playing more inspired baseball with him leading the clubhouse, he should be officially rewarded with the manager title.
Most everyone is of the impression that the puck crossed the line in overtime as the Edmonton Oilers now find themselves down 3-1 in their first-round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Logic suggests it was in. But, that's not really the point, is it?
Logic alone is not supposed to be enough to determine such a critical call in a potential series-changing decision. You need proof. The officials didn't have it.
First, with no conclusive video evidence showing the full puck in the white space behind the goal line, there is no footage proving that a part of the puck wasn't touching the goal line.
Second, no referee was in a position to call the goal good while the play was happening. Yet, somehow, after not calling a goal, the officials got together and ruled the puck had crossed. They essentially overruled their indecision. That choice meant the war room had to find enough evidence to overturn the call on the ice. They couldn't. As such, the goal stood.
It was a situation where, as the rules are supposed to work, they ended up working against the Oilers.
"Worst call I’ve ever seen. In the history of the NHL, this is it," said Spittin' Chiclets Ryan Whitney. After some time to reflect, Whitney posted another video saying, "I’ve had time to cool off. It was probably in. But calling it a goal on the ice will never make sense to me."
Why Did The Officials Call It In?
Fans can argue it was in. They're probably not wrong. Still, there has to be definitive proof, which didn't exist, and no official, if tied to a lie detector, can honestly claim they saw the puck cross. That's where the Oilers should take issue.
"The issue I have with this is I don't understand how you can say that puck is completely crossing the goal line. There's no official behind the net there," said the Hockey Central Panel after the game.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted on the broadcast that the NHL war room didn't have any additional footage that the network or fans hadn't seen. The goal was called good because there wasn't enough evidence to suggest the officials call on the ice was wrong. That's a rule everyone knows exists. Fair enough. What the Oilers should be upset about is how the officials, who had no way of actually seeing the puck over the goal line, decided that it crossed.
Friedman posted, "Apropos of nothing: no idea how they could call it a goal on the ice...no official was behind the net."
Jonny Lazerus posted what many are thinking: "It’s easy to guess that it completely crossed the goal line, but there’s definitely no way you can tell for sure based on Jarry’s skate."
There are going to be some crazyyyyy conversations about this tomorrow across hockey media.
It’s easy to guess that it completely crossed the goal line, but there’s definitely no way you can tell for sure based on Jarry’s skate. pic.twitter.com/tNPDXI6DUZ
"You never want to be on that side of it, and it's tough to lose that way. Tough to have the indecision of that, but I guess that's the way it goes. I wish it could've went the other way," said Tristan Jarry after the loss.
Jarry played extremely well, given he was called upon to start the game after weeks of sitting on the sidelines.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch said, "They call it a goal. You know, it's very close and often, and I've seen it before, where I've seen the past with thought goals have gone in and they haven't been able to prove them, so I thought that's what the call was going to be, but obviously they thought it was and just thought otherwise." He added that he was never given an explanation about how the officials were able to determine on the ice that the puck crossed.
Oilers Put Themselves in This Position
At the end of the day, the call doesn't make sense. However, there are bigger problems for the Oilers, stemming from the fact their play throughout this series has put them in a tough spot. Now on the brink of elimination, when all is said and done, if the Oilers don't advance, it won't be because of a strange call in overtime of Game 4.
Edmonton has been outplayed by Anaheim. The Oilers have had multiple leads in this series and have not been able to hold them. Up 2-0 again in Game 4, Edmonton let the Ducks tie it. The Oilers took a 3-2 lead, then the Ducks tied it again. It's been a common theme, as has the team's poor play on defense and refusal to keep the game simple.
Tristan Jarry confused by OT goal call. Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Now, the Oilers have to claw back. They've dug a hole and to get out, they'll need better play from their stars, most of whom are hurt or dealing with something.
Connor McDavid doesn't look right. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are still clearly impacted by lingering issues. Jason Dickinson was back in, but he's not whole. These aren't excuses. What they are is the reality of Edmonton's situation.
A team that was a heavy favorite coming into this series took the Ducks lightly. The Oilers forgot what style of game led them to a solid record over the last 10 games of the season and they've let a young team playing with house money run their show. As a result, they're backed into a corner and calls like the one is overtime on Sunday night could mean the end of their season.
‘Signed, sealed, delivered,’ says promoter Eddie Hearn
Joshua takes on Prenga in Riyadh warm-up in July
The most hyped and regularly postponed fight in recent British boxing history will apparently take place this year after Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury agreed terms to meet in the ring. Long in the making, and coming far too late in the faded careers of both former world heavyweight champions, the much-delayed showdown will be a guaranteed money-spinner for the fighters and their backers.
Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, could barely contain his glee in an Instagram post that said: “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on! The biggest piece of business we’ve ever done but more importantly the one we’ve always wanted. Biggest year of AJ’s career coming up, the comeback is on.”
After a cinematic gold medal victory by the United States at this year's Winter Olympics, some of the players from the historic American team have returned to their respective clubs with a newfound appreciation for what it means to win big games.
Among them is Connor Hellebuyck, whose standout performance backstopped the United States to Olympic gold. Now back with the Winnipeg Jets, the veteran goaltender has made it clear that individual accolades and regular season consistency are no longer enough.
With limited year-over-year progress from Winnipeg, Hellebuyck has made it quite clear that his sights are firmly set on capturing a Stanley Cup.
A similar mindset may be taking hold in Ottawa with Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, a fellow member of the gold medal-winning squad, who is coming off a disappointing playoff exit after the team was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes. The early elimination has only intensified questions about the Senators’ trajectory and whether their core can take the next step.
Tkachuk, 26, still has two years remaining on his contract with an $8.2 million cap hit. Given his age and leadership role, it remains plausible that he stays committed to Ottawa’s long-term plan. However, the lack of tangible improvement could eventually force a reevaluation, especially for a player who has now experienced championship success on the international stage.
Speculation around Tkachuk’s future has already begun to surface. NHL insider David Pagnotta said during an appearance on Leafs Morning Take that Ottawa is expected to at least listen to inquiries this offseason, noting there is “an understanding that they’re gonna at least explore the conversation this summer with other teams.”
If the Senators do entertain offers, one potential suitor could be the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit has been searching for a physical, high-impact forward who can complement its young core, and Tkachuk fits that mold. Known for his blend of grit and offensive production, typically ranging between 60 and 80 points per season, he could provide an immediate boost to the Red Wings’ lineup.
Tkachuk’s contract situation could also appeal to Detroit with his two season window giving the Red Wings to build a competitive roster around him and potentially persuade him to commit long term.
It's unlikely the Senators move off of their captain but if Detroit General Manager Steve Yzerman is looking to make a splash deal this off-season, they could shock everyone and make a move for a player like Tkachuk.
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The Orlando Magic won Game 3, 113-105, and are up 2-1 in the first round series over the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons have a chance to tie up the series 2-2 and go back to Detroit for Game 5, while the Magic can go up 3-1 with another home win Monday night.
What's at stake for Orlando if they win Game 4 and go up 3-1? Well, only six No. 8 seeds have won their first round matchups versus a No. 1 and two of them went on to make the NBA Finals. The Orlando Magic have a chance to become the seventh team to win their first round as a No. 8 seed.
Orlando shot 45% from three to Detroit's 34% in Game 3 and edged out the Pistons in free throws attempted, 33-24. When Cade Cunningham has been on the floor during the series, the Pistons are +7 compared to -11 when he's off the court. Cunningham has led Detroit in scoring with 31.0 PPG this series, while Paolo Banchero has led the way for Orlando at 22.0 PPG.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic vs. Pistons
Date: Monday, April 27, 2026
Time: 8:10 PM EST
Site: Kia Center
City: Orlando, FL
Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Magic vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-148), Orlando Magic (+124)
Spread: Pistons -3.5
Total: 214.5 points
This game opened Pistons -2.5 with the Total set at 212.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Magic vs. Pistons
Orlando Magic
PG Jalen Suggs
SG Desmond Bane
SF Franz Wagner
PF Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Pistons vs. Magic
Orlando Magic
Jonathan Issac (knee) is listed as DOUBTFUL for Game 4
Detroit Pistons
Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 4
Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic
Detroit is 45-40 ATS
Detroit is 13-19 ATS as a road favorite
Detroit is 17-15 to the Under as a road favorite
Detroit is 22-20 to the Under as the road team
Detroit is 45-39-1 to the Under
Orlando is 8-4 ATS as a home underdog
Orlando is 6-6 to the Under as a home underdog
Orlando is 41-46 ATS and 21-21 ATS as the home team
Orlando is 46-41 to the Over and 23-19 to the Over as the home team
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s Magic and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons +2.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 214.5
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Everything you need to know about Game 4 of the Sixers-Celtics series was encapsulated in a single Boston possession late in the first quarter.
But then the ball found its way to the C’s Nikola Vucevic, who also came up empty from the arc.
And Jordan Walsh gathered in the miss for Boston. And Tatum tried again from deep, but was unable to connect. And the ball caromed out of bounds, off the Sixers.
The possession ended with Philadelphia’s Dominick Barlow fouling Vucevic. That the veteran center missed both free throws is immaterial. The Celtics were taking the game to the Sixers. Had been since the opening tip, in fact. And they never stopped, en route to a 128-96 runaway.
Even with Joel Embiid back in the lineup, the Sixers shot miserably and defended horribly. But the long and short of this one is that they got outworked. That is reflected most in their work on the boards (or lack of same), and it is as inexplicable as it is embarrassing.
Staring at a 3-1 series deficit, this is all they could muster? Hoping to make a stand, they instead laid down? Hoping to redeem an up-and-down season, they instead cashed in their chips?
Unacceptable.
Nick Nurse said this one was, like the Game 1 blowout loss, an “about-as-bad-as-we-can-play game,” and there can be no dissent on that score. Boston swished a franchise-playoff-record 24 triples, six of those by backup guard Payton Pritchard, who finished with 32 points. Tatum added 30, and Jaylen Brown had 20.
The Sixers also shot 33.3 percent while falling behind by 18 at halftime. At that point the rebounding difference was 36-23 in the Celtics’ favor. That includes 9-0 on the offensive glass, leading to a 13-0 advantage on second-chance points for the visitors.
The Sixers did not collect their first offensive board until 6:51 remained in the third quarter. Read that again: 6:51 in the third quarter. The final rebounding gap was 51-30, the difference in second-chance points 18-9.
Again, unacceptable.
“It’s tough,” Tyrese Maxey said. “Honestly, that’s tough. … I hate to say this, but we’ve gotta wash it. We’ve gotta let it go right now, because it happened. We’re down 3-1, and we’ve got a game on Tuesday, and our season’s on the line, so we’ve gotta play desperate.”
But why not do that on Sunday?
“We shoulda been,” he said. “Shoulda been.”
Nurse said his team was “a half-step behind, energy-wise,” and that when it came to rebounds the Celtics “wanted to chase ‘em down more than we did.”
“It’s hard to watch, and hard to explain, too,” he said.
Which is why the arena had begun emptying out long before the final buzzer. The only ones who seemed to be left were Celtics fans, and most of them were chanting, “We want Boston,” a mocking reference to the chorus sounded by Sixers followers during the play-in victory over Orlando.
Well, the Sixers got the Celtics all right. Got every bit of them, and have been ill-equipped to deal with them.
“It’s certainly disappointing at this stage for sure, right?” Nurse said.
Paul George said boardwork had been the Sixers’ “Achilles Heel all season,” and that is a fact. They averaged 43.6 rebounds a game to 45.3 for their opponents. It’s also true that in this day and age cleaning up the defensive glass has become far more challenging than in the past, given the number of long rebounds that result from all the three-pointers that are hoisted.
Boston, which is as triple-happy as any club in the NBA, crashes the glass from the corners and wings with regularity, as evidenced by the fact that the Celtics reclaimed 29.2 percent of their regular-season misses, the league’s sixth-best rate.
The work of backup wings Scheierman and Walsh on the aforementioned possession typifies how they operate. (An even better example was the damage inflicted by starting guard Derrick White late in Game 3. He grabbed two offensive boards, leading to five critical points in a game the C’s won by eight.)
Vucevic and Sixers backup center Andre Drummond, who respectively have played 15 and 14 years and claimed over 10,000 rebounds each, discussed before the game how much their jobs have changed over the years.
The 35-year-old Vucevic, who began his career with the Sixers in 2011, acknowledged that all the long rebounds have led to bigs sharing board duties with their shorter accomplices. He also mentioned how much the pace of the game has increased since he broke in.
His own game has changed, too, in that he guns more from the perimeter than ever before.
“When I’m crashing,” he said, “I try to see where the ball might go. It’s not so much being physical but also trying to move a little more. There’s a little more movement involved now in rebounding than I think there was before. It’s definitely affected the rebounding, the way the game is being played now.”
Drummond, who for his career is averaging nearly 12 rebounds a game, at first disputed that his role is all that different than before.
“For me it doesn’t change,” he said. “I still try to go after all of them.”
And, he added, “The game’s still the game. People miss, so you’ve just gotta know where the ball’s going. If anything, there’s a lot more misses than normal.”
But he did admit that the ball comes off long more than ever, and that rebounding has become a group project.
The guards, he said, have “got to come in, too. They’ve got to come in from the free throw line or the top of the key. Once they shoot those shots, it comes off anywhere.”
Drummond was destined for a rough night, one that saw him go rebound-less while playing a little over five minutes. He was also repeatedly targeted by the Celtics defensively.
But none of the other Sixers really distinguished themselves, either. And now, as Maxey said, they have to wash this one and move on. It’s not a matter of them doing anything different tactically in Game 5; rather, Nurse pointed out, it’s a matter of playing with “better energy, toughness, guarding, rebounding.”
“It’s going to have to be a big mental pickup,” he added.
That would be nice. They are professionals, after all. But the time to make a stand was Sunday, at home, with a full complement of players available. Instead the Sixers rolled over. And that simply cannot happen.
PITTSBURGH — The Flyers on Monday night have their second crack at trying to close out the Penguins in this best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
They were unable to sweep Pittsburgh two nights ago as they lost, 4-2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Now the series has shifted back to PPG Paints Arena for Game 5.
“We knew we weren’t going to win them all,” Owen Tippett said Sunday. “That was our first chance to close them out. We’re still in a really good position. It’s good that we had that game, to kind of feel that pressure a little bit.”
The Penguins own a ton of experience. Five of their players have at least one Stanley Cup title. The Flyers came into the series with 13 first-timers in the playoffs on their roster.
“You can tell, experience means a lot in certain things,” Rick Tocchet said Sunday. “I think last game, we lacked a little bit of experience in certain situations. But that’s what you can learn from, that’s why you’re in the fight and you get to do it again and again. I think that playing those type of games and then learning from it is huge for our young guys.”
Tocchet’s club won Games 1 and 2 at PPG Paints Arena. It’ll try to win one more there in Game 5.
Puck drop is scheduled for around 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live.
Rick Tocchet talking with Alex Bump. I wonder if Bump will get a look in Game 5. Tocchet talked about needing some energy after Game 4 loss. pic.twitter.com/ANpUpN2snh
Jaden McDaniels lives rent-free in the Denver Nuggets’ heads, and that is a huge boon for the Minnesota Timberwolves — even now without Anthony Edwards.
This Timberwolves vs. Nuggets same-game parlay expects more McDaniels’ highlights in Game 5 on Monday, April 27.
It was not enough to rattle off the Denver Nuggets’ roster and cite each player as a bad defender. It was not enough to double down on that when given a chance to walk it back by a reporter.
It was not enough to then score 20 points on just 13 shots in Game 3, proving the Nuggets are all bad defenders. And it was not enough to hold Jamal Murray to 5-for-14 shooting in the second half.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ wing Jaden McDaniels had to do just a little bit more, dropping in a layup with 1.3 seconds left and prompting Nikola Jokic to show effort for the first time in any of the second half of Game 4.
There is no reason for McDaniels to slow down now. With Anthony Edwards out for a couple of weeks, at least, he needs to emphasize his scoring. McDaniels averaged 4.9 more points per game with Ant sidelined this season and took 3.6 more shots per game.
Even with his 3-pointer looking rather ugly lately — 2-for-19 in his last six games — McDaniels should be able to live in the mid-range and in transition.
He doesn't need to shoot from beyond the arc to score. Against Denver’s shoddy defense, he can score at the rim.
And those transition opportunities should set up for a few assists, too, particularly with the likes of Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu running along with McDaniels.
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That’s the discussion in NBA circles after Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was ejected in the third quarter of the Houston Rockets’ 115-96 victory in Game 4 at the Toyota Center on Sunday night.
An accidental forearm to the head. A hard foul, yes. A flagrant one? Definitely. But an automatic ejection? That left many to reach a completely different conclusion than referee James Williams.
In Game 2 of the Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series, Williams called a technical foul on Devin Booker for trying to save a ball from going out of bounds that accidentally hit a Thunder player in the arm.
Deandre Ayton walks off the court after getting ejected in the Lakers’ loss to the Rockets on April 26, 2026. AP
“In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name… but James [Williams] was terrible tonight, through and through,” said Booker after the game. “It’s bad for the integrity of the sport.”
The NBA rescinded the technical foul after the game, but the damage had already been done.
Williams once again found himself at the center of a controversial call in Houston on Sunday. The replay appeared to show that the play was messy, but not malicious.
Ayton first appears like he’s going to jump to block Alperen Sengun’s shot, then quickly tries to switch into a defending position. His forearm starts low on Sengun’s back and then rises up and catches him in the face. It looks more jarring in slow motion. But it didn’t look intentional in real time or upon review.
“I was just trying to brace for contact,” Ayton said postgame. “It slipped… I know it looked crazy, but I’m not a dirty player. I just hope he’s alright.”
It was Ayton’s first ever ejection in his eighth season in the league. The disbelief lingered in his voice and in his teammates’ minds as well.
“That’s some BS,” said Marcus Smart about the call.
Referee James Williams ejects Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday, center, and Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero, left, after a brief tussle during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series. AP
“I was surprised it was a flagrant 2,” admitted Udoka. “That’s the NBA nowadays. They call it a little softer than they used to.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick went further, describing Ayton as having “a kind soul” and insisting the play wasn’t dirty.
“It looked like he was trying to brace himself with his off-arm against Sengun’s body and his arm slipped and hit him in the head,” said Redick. “I don’t think a [flagrant] 2 was warranted.”
NBA referee James Williams talks to Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) in the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
By the end of the night, Williams hadn’t just made one controversial call, but he made two more, ejecting both Lakers rookie Adou Thiero and Rockets guard Aaron Holiday with a little over a minute left in the game for being physical and talking trash to each other. Ironically, their contact looked more intentional than Ayton’s did.
“I’m more pissed off about them kicking Adou out,” James said after the game. “I thought that was uncalled for and made no sense. That’s the first time he’s ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don’t think that was warranted. That was ridiculous.”
Game 5 of the series between the Rockets and Lakers is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN.
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