SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 12: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs greets Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets at the end of the game at Frost Bank Center on March 12, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the Spurs are on their second 11-game win streak right now.
After leaving a Kawhi Leonard-shaped crater behind them in Los Angeles, without the aid of the Monstar that is Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs should enter this one with peak confidence.
It almost feels like a lack of exaggeration to say the silver-and-black have been so in lockstep over the last several games that it’s hard to point out who (if anyone) can end this streak.
The Nuggets are on that *very* short list, though, with most of their top contributors back on the court for this match-up.
When healthy, Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon pose particular problems for the Spurs, with Gordon exploiting the Spurs’ weakness at Power Forward, and Jokic’s passing negating some of Wemby’s otherwise smothering presence in the paint.
I’d also be remiss to leave out the ever-levitating Jamal Murray, who serves as one of the best challenges to the usually stellar defense of San Antonio’s guards.
Difficult enough to guard on an average day, you never know when Murray is going to summon the golden touch and completely wreck a lead, or San Antonio’s entire game plan. Almost every player, given enough time, will go on a hot streak that surpasses even the loftiest expectations, but Murray is in his own category in that respect, to the extent that it would have turned even Kobe Bryant’s head.
If I’m being honest, it reminds me of the way that Manu Ginobili would get hot back in his prime. And that’s as high a compliment as I can give.
That being said, the Spurs are in an interesting state of mind (and health), with the team seemingly getting stronger the longer that the streak goes on.
Wemby’s been tossing out 40-point games with the ease of a longtime paper boy running his route for the 1000th time. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are burning up the rims from long-distance, each easily shooting 40%+ outside of the arc (with Harper shooting 50%) over the last 10 games. All of the important players are off the injury report.
The Spurs are #1 in Offensive and Net Rating since February. Their defensive rating over that same stretch? That would be 2nd in the NBA. And according to this nifty, newly updated chart, these Spurs have officially passed the ‘Beautiful Game’ Spurs of 2014 in Net Rating for the season.
Even with a perfectly healthy Jokic, Gordon, and Murray, that might be too much to overcome, and I’m not confident that Jokic and Gordon are that kind of healthy.
Still, between the infamous Mile High Air and the cohesiveness of the Nuggets when they are all present, there’s a chance this could go down to the wire. It should certainly be entertaining.
I wouldn’t place any bets on the Nuggets, though. Especially with Victor likely to be hungry coming off of rest. This San Antonio team is something else.
And not only do they know it — they’ve been playing like it.
The Los Angeles Lakers have already clinched a play-off spot [Getty Images]
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular NBA season with a hamstring injury.
The Slovenian, 27, had played himself into contention for the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during an outstanding March in which he became only the 10th player in history to score 600 points in a single month.
The Lakers have not provided a timetable for Doncic's return after he had a scan on Friday - just two weeks before the start of the NBA play-offs on 18 April.
Doncic is the NBA's leading scorer this season with 2143 points for an unequalled average of 33.5 points per game.
However, having been sidelined for four games with a left hamstring strain earlier in the season, and missing two games to return to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter in December, Doncic is set to fall short of the minimum games threshold required to qualify for the NBA's major end-of-season awards.
Doncic, who is one appearance short of the 65 required, will apply for an "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge", according to his agent Bill Duffy.
"This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory," Duffy told ESPN.
"To ensure Luka's incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honoured and he can be considered for the league's end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule."
Doncic was named March's player of the month following 13 consecutive 30-point performances which helped the Lakers to 13 wins in 14 games prior to the defeat by Thunder.
Rookie Flagg makes history in defeat
[Getty Images]
Cooper Flagg became the first teenager in NBA history to reach 50 points in a game - but that was not enough to earn the Dallas Mavericks victory against the Orlando Magic.
Flagg, 19, scored 51 points - including 24 in the fourth quarter - to surpass his previous career high of 49 in January.
But the 138-127 loss brought Dallas' 14th consecutive home defeat.
"It's always fun getting into that type of mode," Flagg said.
"The basket feels big. But I like to win. That was my main focus. It's hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we're down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game."
Dating back as far as the Players Era Festival in November, Michigan men's basketball has been one of the top programs in the country for a majority of the season.
On part, because of its depth, experience and physicality inside the paint, Michigan has as good a chance as any of the four teams in Indianapolis to do that. Oddsmakers agree.
To get to their first national championship celebration since 1989, though, Dusty May's squad must get through a challenging No. 1 Arizona team with just as high a ceiling as Michigan and which brings as much physicality and presence around the rim as the Wolverines do.
Here's what to know on Michigan's history in the Final Four:
When was the last time Michigan went to Final Four?
It has been eight years since the Wolverines last reached the Final Four in 2018.
Michigan basketball Final Four history
Michigan is making the ninth Final Four appearance in program history, but only seven of those are recognized by the NCAA after the Wolverines vacated appearances in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons due to improper benefits paid by a booster to players.
Here's a breakdown of how Michigan has fared in the Final Four:
1964: lost semifinal to Duke, 91-80; lost third place game to Kansas State, 100-90
1965: won semifinal vs. Princeton, 94-76; lost final to UCLA, 91-80
1976: won semifinal vs. Rutgers, 86-70; lost final to Indiana, 86-68
1989: won semifinal vs. Illinois, 83-81; won final vs. Seton Hall, 80-79
1992: won semifinal vs. Cincinnati, 76-72; lost final to Duke, 71-51 *
1993: won semifinal vs. North Carolina, 81-78; lost final to North Carolina, 77-71 *
2013: won semifinal vs. Syracuse, 61-55; lost final to Louisville, 82-76
2018: won semifinal vs. Loyola-Chicago, 69-57; lost final to Villanova, 79-62
* Denotes vacated Final Four appearances
Michigan basketball Final Four record
The Wolverines are an official 5-1 in the Final Four in their six previous trips that are recognized by the NCAA. Michigan's lone loss in the Final Four came in 1964 when Dave Strack was the head coach, and the Wolverines finished as the co-champions of the Big Ten conference.
Michigan's last trip to the Final Four came in 2018 when it stopped Cinderella sweethearts Loyola-Chicago's (with viral sensation and legend Sister Jean) run in March Madness in the national semifinals. The Wolverines would then see their run come to an end in the national title game when it ran into the buzz saw of Villanova.
Has Michigan won a Men's NCAA Tournament national championship?
Yes, Michigan men's basketball has won the national championship once in program history, coming in the 1989 NCAA Tournament. To win the national championship that season, the Wolverines — the No. 3 seed in the Southeast Region — defeated No. 3 seed Seton Hall in a one-possession, overtime game thanks to 31 points from Glen Rice and 21 points from Rumeal Robinson.
Since taking over the Huskies program in 2018, Hurley has led the Huskies to a 198-74 overall record, back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024, a Big East tournament title and six straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
In the NCAA Tournament alone, the Huskies are an impressive 17-3 overall under him, and are the first team in over a decade to make the Final Four three times in a four-year span. His overall 19-5 NCAA Tournament record, which includes a few trips with Rhode Island, has him with the best winning percentage in March Madness among active coaches and third-best all-time with a minimum of 15 games.
The Huskies now look for their 18th NCAA Tournament win under Hurley on Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET when they face No. 3 Illinois in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
For his success at UConn, Hurley is well compensated by the Huskies. Here's a look at Hurley's contract at UConn:
Hurley signed a new six-year contract with UConn in July 2024, less than a month after he turned down a job offer in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers. His deal currently has another four years left on it, according to his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
His contract extension in 2024 was his second in a span of a year, as he had signed an original six-year, $32.1 million contract extension following the Huskies' first of two back-to-back national championship titles.
He is making a total of $8.025 million this season, making him one of the highest-paid coaches among public universities and colleges.
Dan Hurley bonuses
Hurley has already earned $475,000 in postseason bonuses for leading the Huskies back to the Final Four, according to his contract. He could also an addition $300,000 if UConn beats Illinois on Saturday, and then an addition $500,000 if the Huskies win it all.
All told, Hurley could earn up to a total of $1.275 million in postseason bonuses this season.
Dan Hurley buyout
Hurley's buyout is currently set at $3 million if he were to leave UConn, which was set for April 1. Should Hurley be fired by the Huskies with cause, his buyout is currently at just under $34.8 millon as of April 1.
Goalkeeper on representing Israel, learning from Manuel Neuer at Bayern and targeting an FA Cup upset
A few days after returning from international duty, there is only one place to start with Daniel Peretz: his pride at representing Israel during the unsettling and tense backdrop of war and geopolitical conflict. His excitement at facing Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals can wait. Almost all of his family are in Tel Aviv, where wailing air raid sirens have become a staple of the mood music. “Unfortunately, it has become a bit of a routine,” says the Southampton goalkeeper, who is on loan from Bayern Munich.
When they sound, his loved ones head to the nearest bunkers and safe rooms. “It’s not always easy to do this separation in life and you are worried a lot about what’s happening,” he says. “But they are always following the instructions and I’m always in touch with them. We speak regularly to check everything is OK.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Alex Freeland (76) fields a ground ball during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals on April 03, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Overdue
44 – Roy Hodgson today won his first game as Bristol City boss in 44 years and 35 days, since a 3-1 win over Preston in February 1982. Overdue. pic.twitter.com/czTKJRPMv4
The St. Louis Blues are trying to do their part to stay in whatever margin they have remaining in the Western Conference wild card chase.
A second dominating performance in a month against the Anaheim Ducks produced a resounding 6-2 win at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Friday and pulled the Blues (32-31-12) within three points of three teams (San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators) who are all tied in points with 79 for that second wild card.
The Blues also jumped over the Seattle Kraken by a point and even with the Winnipeg Jets with 76 points in the standings; all of the aforementioned teams have played 75 games except for the Sharks and Kraken, who each have a game in hand.
But the problem the Blues are facing is the head-to-head matchups that all the teams fighting for one spot are facing. Fort instance, Nashville and San Jose square off on Saturday, so by the end of the night and when they next play, the Blues will once again be five points behind someone.
Dylan Holloway led the offense with a pair of power play goals; Robert Thomas had a goal and two assists, Pius Suter and Colton Parayko each had a goal and an assist, Jake Neighbours had his third two-assist game in the past four games, and Philip Broberg had two assists to extend his point streak to seven games (two goals, six assists).
Let's get into Friday's game observations:
* When does Holloway start being looked at as a star in this league -- I mean, guys, it's starting to feel that way.
And let's be honest, the forward was on this trajectory at the end of last season until that torn abductor muscle April 5, 2025 against the Pittsburgh Penguins sent him on a long journey, that also included a high ankle sprain, and has sent the 24-year-old on a road to full health.
His 18th of the season put the Blues ahead 2-1 at 11:15 of the opening period on a simple shot that may have caught goalie Lukas Dostal off guard, but it looked more like something that was off a smart read of scouting this particular goalie:
And his power-play goal at 1:22 of the third period wrapped up the scoring and made it 6-2 on a cross-seam pass from Thomas and one-timer from the right circle:
But since he came back healthy following the Olympic break on Feb. 26, Holloway has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 18 games, averaging 1.28 points per game. The 23 points is tied for 12th in the NHL; the 11 goals is tied for seventh, and his plus-22 is best in the league, only ahead of Thomas at plus-20.
This was the sort of trajectory he was on last season and with restricted free agency status looming this summer, what type of contract are you comfortable if you're outgoing GM Doug Armstrong-incoming GM Alexander Steen giving to Holloway. Do you go bridge deal? Do you go for more term like Broberg's six-year, $48 million extension the defenseman signed earlier in the season?
Holloway is playing himself into a bonafide top-line winger and there's no ignoring it when he's producing like he is and playing with an edge on the ice affecting the game like he's been doing.
He's just seven goals off of tying last season's career high of 26 in 25 fewer games played. It's food for thought folks, and it's a legitimate thought whether this kid can be a star winger.
* Blues scoring was balanced for a change -- Look, the top line of Holloway, Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud -- although he went without a point Friday -- produced three goals and two assists in the game, so they definitely had an impact in the game. But the Blues have been desperately searching for some balance in the lineup on the offensive side.
In 18 games (15 for Thomas), that line has produced 58 points (25 goals, 33 assists) and a combined plus-57. Just astounding numbers.
But Blues coach Jim Montgomery removed Pavel Buchnevich (maintenance), Alexey Toropchenko and Jack Finley off the forward group and Justin Holl on defense. In their spots, Jonathan Drouin, Oskar Sundqvist and Nathan Walker went in at forward, and Tyler Tucker, playing his first game since a lower-body injury on Oct. 18 against the Calgary Flames, went in on D.
You saw 10 guys get on the stat sheet in the game, and Montgomery moved Dalibor Dvorsky between Drouin and Jordan Kyrou, and Pius Suter centered an effective line with Neighbours and Jonatan Berggren, whose goal at 18:44 from the slot in the first period proved to be the winner and gave the Blues a 3-2 lead off a turnover and ensuing strong feed from Suter:
And when Suter is utilized more down the middle, he tends to be around the net more and certainly was when he took a Tucker feed on the backside to slam a shot in from the slot at 3:08 of the second period that made it 4-2:
Even Parayko got in on the scoring with Dvorsky and Kyrou setting the big defenseman up at 16:50 of the second that essentially put the game away at 5-2:
The Blues weren't as predictable as they have been in recent games with their top guys doing their best, and they certainly were, carrying the bulk of the offensive load.
* Tucker lowers the boom -- The Blues didn't actually get off to a good start in this game when the Ducks (41-30-5), fighting for the Pacific Division title, struck just 1:51 into the game on a Ryan Poehling redirect that made it 1-0.
You had to wonder if the losses in the past two games to the Sharks and Kings had a lasting affect on the Blues, who realize their playoff hopes are in dire straits.
But then Tucker, who missed the past seven games, used all that pent-up energy from not playing and laid a jarring hit on Ducks talented rookie Beckett Sennecke. It seemed inspire the group and not long after, led to Thomas tying the game at 1-1 at 5:24, a beautiful top shelf goal set up by a Broberg feathery feed into space:
Tucker, who had another heavy hit in the third period, finished the game playing 12:55 with a blocked shot doing what he does best when the team needs a lift.
That hit on Sennecke certainly provided one.
Speaking of Broberg, how about him joining some rarified company for his point streak among Blues defenseman since the 1994-95 season? Pretty impressive.
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Apr 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley (20) greets teammates after scoring during the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
12 years before I was born, while Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were bemoaning broken glass, the Seattle Mariners were breaking bats. The M’s of 1982 were the club’s crowning achievement, a 76-86 assemblage that was, at the time and until 1987, by far the franchise’s most respectable showing. On a night where the M’s pitching staff dazzled and had to wait for fashionably late aid from their hitters, this club I never witnessed was on my mind.
Having dealt OF Tom Paciorek in the offseason after his 10th-in-MVP-voting season that was the most recognition the club had received to that point, those M’s were shallow at the plate. They’d moved Paciorek for Todd Cruz, who’d become expendable to the Chicago White Sox after the North Siders determined Cruz potentially stealing a bunch of watches from an Edmonton, Alberta department store was a dealbreaker. Seattle also flipped future rotation stalwart Bud Black for 3B Manny Castillo, who gave the ‘82 M’s what he had: limited defense and awful hitting. He also was 2-for-10 stealing bases. I haven’t forgotten.
But what those M’s had for the first – and potentially only time – in the Kingdome era, was a club made competent by its pitching staff. While the hitters fumbled their rationed cromulence between one another, Floyd Bannister, Jim Beattie, Wild Bill Caudill, and Ed Vande Berg put together one of the greatest pitching staffs in Mariners history. They were buoyed by impressive work from Bryan Clark, Bob Stoddard, and several others, including 43 year old Gaylord Perry who famously secured his 300th win in this penultimate campaign. The M’s had, by FanGraphs, the best pitching staff in their franchise history that year, amassing 21.2 fWAR (5th in MLB) and 23.0 bWAR (3rd) by Baseball Reference.
It was novel, not yet enshrined in their ballpark’s fabric to be baseball’s ballast to Coors Field, the bulwark of the Steroids Era and Launch Angle Revolution. The club had little in the way of expectation, nor could it compound their astounding improvements in the years to come. But tonight, watching Seattle’s hitters labor through their eighth game of the season, bearing expectations that would’ve been laughable in every year of the 1980s for a Mariners club, we witnessed a throwback victory.
Both Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez have started the year frosty. Seattle’s 2-3-4 hitters have been glacial at the dish, putting the M’s in uphill battles to score runs with their most frequent hitters producing nothing and less. Aptly, against Anaheim southpaw Reid Detmers, both Raleigh and Rodríguez chipped their barrels. Broken bats, everywhere, cautions the Grandmaster at this recap’s introduction. If it was just Seattle’s superstars, it might as well have been each plate appearance, as neither club mustered more than cardboard threats most of the evening. In their home opener, the Angels managed one hit, one walk, every ABS challenge going their way, and not a damn thing else. Bryan Woo, Matt Brash, Andrés Muñoz, and Gabe Speier made sure of of that.
While Anaheim are roundly expected to clutter the AL West’s cellar this year, at this stage, their lineup is no pushover. For Bryan Woo, whose lone hit yielded was a bloop single Victor Robles nearly speared at full dive and sprint and was backed up savvily by Cole Young, the resemblance between him and the image of an ace grew uncannier. I’ve shared before how much I adore seeing Woo pitch. The flow of his motion is the apogee of pitching to me, fastballs that ride and tumble to their intended locations, sweepers and sliders eluding bats and ending innings. 87 pitches for 7.0 scoreless, one-hit frames, and each reliever behind him was even more dominant. By the time Jorge Soler skied a sacrifice fly to cash in Mike Trout as the Manfred Runner, the end result had already been finished in pen, tossed in a “complete” bin like a Sunday Crossword.
But for much of the night, Seattle slogged. The gusting winds of Orange County blew fly balls back in the yard, added movement to pitches, and otherwise ensured a low-scoring affair. Despite six walks – four from an otherwise impressive Detmers – Seattle’s multiple well-struck gap-shots found premature conclusions in the gloves of Josh Lowe, Trout, and Jo Adell. The game felt, heading into the bottom of the 9th still knotted 0-0, eminently losable.
The ‘82 M’s would look foreign in today’s game in many ways. The club’s 7.3% K-BB% was fourth-best in the league then and would’ve been worst in the sport every year since 2011 now. But they’d have watched with knowing familiarity this predicament, albeit also narrow pride as Muñoz shredded the 9-1-2 of the Angels’ order, spaghettifying Trout on a pair of sliders and then a 100-mph heater at the zone’s apex.
It feels wrong not to give Woo a clip this evening, but I hope if you did not see it, you can grant yourself a moment of zen. Close your eyes, and imagine this pitch from Muñoz, ad nauseum, all evening. A beautiful process, with many results just as gorgeous as the stage set in the top of the 10th for Seattle. Cole Young did his best Troy Bolton, starting the inning off with yet another highlight in this young season.
That’s Cole Young, who started against a lefty, and evaded a pinch-hitter, albeit in part due to an early exit for Brendan Donovan which was minimally explained beyond caution with leg discomfort postgame with optimism from manager Dan Wilson. Cole Young whose ferocious early results are a massive feature in Seattle’s ability to overcome the palpitations of their order’s heart. Notably, Anaheim opted to pitch to Cal Raleigh with one out after retiring Rob Refsnyder, whose day at the dish in fairness included some of Seattle’s most capable PAs including a pair of walks. Raleigh, for his part, looked infinitesimally closer to clobbering Brent Suter’s heater, but put a two out opportunity in the hands of Rodríguez. Seeking a left-on-left matchup, Anaheim walked Julio, who dashed to second on a dirt ball to give the club an additional insurance run when Josh Naylor’s single lined into right.
The gap in expectations between 1982 and 2026 are chasmic. At times, I’ve struggled to balance those expectations, finding only relief in a win like this that could’ve been facile. But not today. Woo’s and the bullpen’s brilliance, a timely hit by a hot-starting youngster, J.P. Crawford’s healthy return, and the first road victory of the year. That’s beautiful enough for me.
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans will try to end its seven-game slide when the Pelicans take on Orlando.
The Pelicans are 16-23 on their home court. New Orleans is 14-24 in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Magic are 17-20 in road games. Orlando has an 18-25 record against teams above .500.
The Pelicans score 114.9 points per game, 0.5 fewer points than the 115.4 the Magic give up. The Magic average 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 fewer made shots on average than the 14.2 per game the Pelicans allow.
The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Magic defeated the Pelicans 128-118 in their last matchup on Jan. 11. Desmond Bane led the Magic with 27 points, and Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 22 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Murphy III is averaging 21.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Bane is averaging 20.4 points and 4.2 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 3-7, averaging 111.5 points, 41.2 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.9 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.8 points per game.
Magic: 3-7, averaging 114.2 points, 38.7 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 7.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.6 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Karlo Matkovic: day to day (back), Dejounte Murray: day to day (achilles), Bryce McGowens: day to day (toe).
Magic: Anthony Black: out (abdomen), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Mets know what they got in Nolan McLean, and the young right-hander showed off that ace potential on Friday night against the Giants.
McLean may not have been as dominant as some of his past starts, but he was near-perfect for most of his outing. The right-hander pitched five perfect innings, before the Giants finally wore him down in the sixth.
"He was very good. The cutter was the pitch he had today," manager Carlos Mendoza said of McLean's outing. "A lot of three-ball counts. And the cutter was the one to get back in counts to get swings and misses. It’s impressive when he doesn’t have the feel for the secondary pitches and that cutter was the way he did it today. It goes to show you that there are so many weapons there that he can go through lineups with a pitch or two. It was good to see it."
Those three-ball counts were McLean's one kryptonite on Friday. It elevated his pitch count and once the Giants batters started drawing walks, it was only a matter of time until they broke through. With one out in the sixth, and two runners on base via the walk, Willy Adames drove a double in the gap to give San Francisco their first hit and first run.
"I was just trying to piece it together," McLean said of his outing. "Nothing felt incredibly great. It felt ok towards the end of the game. Full counts snuck up on me there at the end, got a little fatigued by the end of it. Leaning on the cutter really helped things tonight."
McLean said he leaned on the cutter because it was the only pitch he could throw strikes with any consistency. Of his 93 pitches, 19 were the cutter (20 percent) and it's the pitch he got his most whiffs on (4). However, the 24-year-old said that his other pitches showed up at times, and made hitters keep them in the back of their minds. McLean took advantage of that to get through his outing.
In fact, he didn't even realize he was throwing a perfect game because of how ineffective most of his pitches were.
"I didn’t realize [I was perfect]," he said. "It didn’t feel that way because of how many 3-2 counts and behind in the counts I felt like I was. Felt grinder than what the scoreboard showed."
"If he's got a perfect game going and he didn't feel great, I can't wait to see what he does when he feels great," Marcus Semien said of McLean's start.
"It’s pretty impressive. He had one pitch today, which was the cutter, and he still dominated that lineup," Mendoza said. "Kid’s special, man. Still going to show you the breaking ball, the secondary, the sinker, he kept using it. But when he needed to get back into counts or execute a pitch, it was the cutter tonight."
Perfect or not, McLean delivered a performance the Mets needed. Although the offense exploded for 10 runs, McLean gave them the lane to break out offensively by putting up zero after zero.
Friday was McLean's 10th start as a major leaguer. He's now 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA. And although it's a small sample size, the Mets know their chances of winning a game goes up with him on the mound.
"You feel good about your chances every time he takes the baseball," Mendoza said. "Every time he’s pitching, you feel good about winning that game and that’s what he’s done. And even when he’s not at his best, you know he’s going to keep you in games, he’s going to go at least five. That’s what makes him special."
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte is looking to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Hornets take on Minnesota.
The Timberwolves are 25-14 on their home court. Minnesota ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 16.2 fast break points per game led by Ayo Dosunmu averaging 3.8.
The Hornets are 21-17 on the road. Charlotte leads the league averaging 16.4 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.0% from downtown. LaMelo Ball leads the team averaging 3.6 makes while shooting 36.5% from 3-point range.
The Timberwolves' 13.7 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.9 more made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Hornets give up. The Hornets are shooting 46.1% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 45.9% the Timberwolves' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Timberwolves won the last matchup 122-105 on Nov. 1, with Julius Randle scoring 30 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Timberwolves. Dosunmu is averaging 15 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists over the last 10 games.
Ball is scoring 19.5 points per game with 4.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 20.3 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 49.3% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 110.4 points, 46.1 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.9 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points per game.
Hornets: 8-2, averaging 122.4 points, 47.0 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.4 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels: out (knee).
Hornets: Grant Williams: day to day (knee), Moussa Diabate: day to day (ankle), PJ Hall: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Memphis Grizzlies (25-52, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (30-47, 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Memphis looks to stop its three-game losing streak with a victory over Milwaukee.
The Bucks have gone 17-22 in home games. Milwaukee allows 116.9 points to opponents and has been outscored by 6.4 points per game.
The Grizzlies are 11-26 in road games. Memphis averages 14.7 turnovers per game and is 14-24 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.
The Bucks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 14.0 per game the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies average 13.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 14.8 per game the Bucks allow.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Grizzlies won 125-104 in the last matchup on Dec. 27.
TOP PERFORMERS: Myles Turner is averaging 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Bucks. Ryan Rollins is averaging 14.5 points and four assists over the last 10 games.
GG Jackson is averaging 12.5 points for the Grizzlies. Olivier-Maxence Prosper is averaging 12.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 2-8, averaging 106.0 points, 38.6 rebounds, 23.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.0 points per game.
Grizzlies: 2-8, averaging 109.7 points, 35.1 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 9.5 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.0 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Kevin Porter Jr.: out for season (knee), Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (ankle), Ryan Rollins: day to day (hip), Bobby Portis: day to day (wrist), Gary Trent Jr.: day to day (hip).
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: out for season (knee), Jahmai Mashack: day to day (neck), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Walter Clayton Jr.: day to day (hip), Ja Morant: out for season (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Ty Jerome: day to day (ankle), Jaylen Wells: out for season (toe), Taj Gibson: day to day (foot), Olivier-Maxence Prosper: day to day (back), Cam Spencer: day to day (back), Brandon Clarke: out for season (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah Jazz (21-57, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (61-16, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Utah is looking to stop its eight-game slide with a win against Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are 38-9 in Western Conference games. Oklahoma City ranks second in the Western Conference with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.
The Jazz are 1-14 against Northwest Division opponents. Utah ranks third in the league with 29.4 assists per game led by Isaiah Collier averaging 7.2.
The Thunder score 118.9 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 125.6 the Jazz give up. The Jazz score 9.7 more points per game (117.2) than the Thunder give up (107.5).
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Thunder won 129-125 in overtime in the last meeting on Jan. 8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 46 points, and Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Holmgren is shooting 55.0% and averaging 16.9 points for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.5 points over the last 10 games.
Kyle Filipowski is scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 7.1 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 120.9 points, 46.9 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points per game.
Jazz: 1-9, averaging 116.6 points, 42.5 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.6 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Alex Caruso: day to day (illness), Luguentz Dort: day to day (undisclosed), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: day to day (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Elijah Harkless: day to day (hamstring), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers (39-38, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (20-57, 14th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Sunday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles will try to keep its three-game road win streak alive when the Clippers take on Sacramento.
The Kings are 3-10 against opponents in the Pacific Division. Sacramento has a 3-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Clippers are 8-6 against opponents in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is 18-27 against opponents over .500.
The Kings are shooting 46.6% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.9% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers are shooting 48.5% from the field, 1.0% lower than the 49.5% the Kings' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Kings won the last matchup 118-109 on March 15. DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points to help lead the Kings to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeRozan is scoring 18.6 points per game with 3.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 54.6% over the last 10 games.
Kawhi Leonard is averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and two steals for the Clippers. Darius Garland is averaging 19.4 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 3-6, averaging 112.3 points, 43.2 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 5.9 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.6 points per game.
Clippers: 5-5, averaging 115.3 points, 38.8 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Russell Westbrook: out (foot), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), Malik Monk: day to day (shoulder), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Clippers: Isaiah Jackson: out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit faces Philadelphia in Eastern Conference action Saturday.
The 76ers are 25-24 against Eastern Conference opponents. Philadelphia ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 50.2 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 11.3.
The Pistons are 35-12 in Eastern Conference play. Detroit averages 117.5 points and has outscored opponents by 7.9 points per game.
The 116.5 points per game the 76ers score are 6.9 more points than the Pistons allow (109.6). The Pistons are shooting 48.2% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.8% the 76ers' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Pistons won 131-109 in the last matchup on March 12. Duncan Robinson led the Pistons with 19 points, and MarJon Beauchamp led the 76ers with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Maxey is averaging 28.7 points, 6.8 assists and 1.9 steals for the 76ers. VJ Edgecombe is averaging 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the past 10 games.
Ausar Thompson is averaging 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and two steals for the Pistons. Jalen Duren is averaging 22.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 7-3, averaging 122.5 points, 46.4 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 7.5 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points per game.
Pistons: 8-2, averaging 119.2 points, 44.6 rebounds, 31.0 assists, 9.9 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee).
Pistons: Marcus Sasser: day to day (hip), Tobias Harris: day to day (knee), Cade Cunningham: out (lung), Isaiah Stewart: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
