One day after the Mets began their season, Jonah Tong was on the hill for Triple-A Syracuse's Opening Day as they took on the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park.
After a bit of a bumpy first inning in which he walked two, the right-hander settled down and looked good in his four innings of work, where he allowed no runs on one hit and those two free passes. The youngster also struck out four, including three of the last four batters he faced, but his outing was done following 73 pitches (42 strikes).
Tong featured his usual fastball/changeup combo while also throwing in some cutters and curveballs as he continues to work on adding to and refining his repertoire. His fastball reached as high as 97 mph, but was typically around 93-95 mph.
The 22-year-old got better as the game went on, retiring the final eight batters he faced. Had it not been for a first inning that saw him throw 33 pitches, Tong would've been able to pitch deeper into the game and possibly get the win.
Nevertheless, Tong left the game with a 2-0 lead after Jose Rojas hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors look to keep their two-game winning streak going as they take on the Washington Wizards on Friday night. The game will be played at 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.
While the Warriors picked up another win with a 109–106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, it didn’t come easy. Despite having the rare talent advantage over an injured and tanking Brooklyn team, Golden State found itself trailing by nine points heading into the fourth quarter. To Brooklyn’s credit, they took advantage of a travel-worn Warriors group that, as head coach Steve Kerr pointed out, had played in seven different cities over the past 11 days.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Golden State “looked like a team that was playing our seventh game in 11 days in seven cities.” Noted the issues the turnovers are causing.
Fortunately, the Warriors had Gui Santos to keep them afloat, as he led the team with a career-high 31 points after returning to a starting role. Behind Santos, Golden State outscored the Nets 32–20 in the fourth quarter to secure the win in regulation.
Brazilian excellence 🇧🇷
Gui Santos becomes just the third Brazilian in NBA history to drop 31+ in a game. pic.twitter.com/iOCk1J8Ft9
Gary Payton II has quietly been one of the most efficient players on the team over the past several games. He shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field on Wednesday night, 8-of-8 on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks, and made his last three shots the game prior to that against the Detroit Pistons. He has now made 16 consecutive field goals and is just three shy of tying the Warriors’ franchise record of 19 straight, set by Wilt Chamberlain.
Payton should have a strong opportunity to reach that milestone against a Wizards team he had success against just over a week ago. He went 7-of-10 from the field for 15 points in that matchup and now faces the Wizards again after they have lost nine of their last 10 games.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Jrue Holiday #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Blazers defeated the Suns 92-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eight games remain for the Phoenix Suns, and the picture is starting to settle. They sit three games clear of the eighth seed, planted firmly in that seventh spot in the Western Conference. It is not official, nothing ever is until the math says so, but it feels like this is where they are headed. So the climb out of the Play-In starts to fade, and the conversation shifts. Not where you are going, but who is coming to meet you there.
Right now, the Suns are three games up on the Los Angeles Clippers, who sit only a half game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. Lurking behind them are the Golden State Warriors, still trying to find enough traction to stay in the mix. That trio becomes the focus. That trio becomes the question.
And yeah, you play who you play. That is how this works. There is no dodging, no maneuvering, no trying to outsmart the bracket. The Suns are locked into their lane, and whoever shows up will be waiting on the other side of that first Play-In game.
But as a fan, it is a fun exercise. You look at matchups, you think about styles, you picture how it could unfold. It is part of the experience, part of the anticipation. We asked the question earlier this week in Suns Reacts, and the answer came through loud and clear. The overwhelming preference was Portland.
I find myself in that same lane. The Los Angeles Clippers have been playing real basketball for the past three months. They are connected, disciplined, and comfortable in who they are. That is not a team you want to see in a one-game setting. They make you work for everything, they stay within themselves, and they carry experience that shows up when the game tightens.
The Portland Trail Blazers are not a walk either, but the matchup feels different. It feels cleaner for Phoenix. As long as you do not let Donovan Clingan turn into prime Steph Curry and flip the math on you, the Suns walk into that game with the best player on the floor in Devin Booker. That matters. It always matters.
Against the Clippers, that edge is not as clear. Kawhi Leonard changes that equation. He is a proven winner, a Finals MVP twice over, and when he is right, he can control a game in a way few players can. That shifts the balance and creates doubt. And when you are talking about a single elimination environment, those margins carry weight.
So it makes sense that 63% of the community landed on Portland. It is not about avoiding competition. It is about understanding matchups and where you hold your advantages.
With only a handful of games left, the answer is coming soon, and it might not reveal itself until the final day. That is how tight this race is. And if you are looking at it from a betting perspective on FanDuel, it is hard to feel confident in any direction. The NBA has a way of flipping expectations, especially this time of year. At the end of it, none of it really matters until the ball goes up. You get your opponent, you take the floor, and you execute. That is the only part you control.
“The three-ball problem the Knicks are having is not an aberration. It’s chronic. They play a good team, they give up a lot of threes, they play a poor team…and tonight they’re not denying threes again”.
That was Walt Clyde Frazier, the color commentator for the Knicks, during Thursday night’s loss to the Hornets. And Frazier, who has long been known for his honesty, was pretty accurate in summing up one of the few weaknesses this otherwise very good team has. It’s been a sentiment lamented by many of the fans for some time now. And as his colleague, Mike Breen, mentioned, the Knicks have cleaned up some of this, but the team still struggles with limiting three-point opportunities overall.
As of Friday afternoon, the Knicks rank 19th in the opponent three-point percentage, and worse off, 22nd in the three-point attempts given up per game. Why is this? Some of it by choice. Similar to his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, current head coach Mike Brown has opted to protect the paint and limit easy opportunities within the arc. That can lead to overhelping, which then creates a situation in which the defense is left in a constant state of recovery. For much of the last couple of months, the Knicks have found a good balance of defending the paint, while still getting back out to shooters, thanks in large part to good communication and solid effort. But, so long as that remains a core philosophy of this coaching staff, the Knicks will continue to have problems in that department.
But why is this a choice this team has made? Some of it boils down to simple philosophical preference. Some of it, though, is also linked to personnel issues. Not only are the Knicks not a very athletic team, but New York has the unenviable task of finding who to hide Jalen Brunson on defensively. Brunson, to his credit, has upped his defensive effort over the last few weeks, and there’s an argument to be made that he has played some of his best defense as a Knick during that stretch. Yet effort, anticipation, and smarts can only do so much. Brunson’s lack of size and athleticism puts a cap on just how effective he can be as a defender.
Jalen Brunson HAS TO GUARD one of
Lamelo Ball Kon Brandon Miller Miles Bridges Moussa
That might be the most difficult 5 in the EAST to try and hide him on.
With that being the case, it has become clear that he’s now a focal point of teams’ game plans on both ends. While teams have been keying in on how to slow down his scoring, they’ve also started to single him out and attack him more and more on the other end. Take last night’s game against the Hornets as an example. Against big, athletic teams like Charlotte, the Knicks must pick between having Brunson exert energy running through screens or guarding someone bigger. Thursday night, they chose the latter.
Now, having the undersized Brunson defend a much bigger Miles Bridges is far from ideal (see above). But if that’s the decision Brown goes with, he must stick to that plan, and trust Brunson to hold his own and make it tough on Bridges. Earlier this season, Brown spoke glowingly about Brunson’s defense, explaining how he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. If Brown really does trust Brunson’s one-on-one defense that much, he has to let him defend and live with the results.
Instead, though, the Knicks, after purposefully opting into that matchup repeatedly, compounded their transgression by doubling him in the post. The Hornets were already getting a lot of good looks from deep with their dribble penetration, as well as their offensive rebounding. But by ultimately choosing to start defensive possessions playing four-on-five, the Knicks allowed a team that likes to shoot threes an easy avenue to finding more of them.
There are two sides to this problem right now. The bad news is that this problem is unlikely to go away. They can continue to clean some things up. But it’s unlikely that they will completely change their philosophy or find a better way to hide Brunson defensively, given the makeup of the roster. The good news, though, is that not every team the Knicks are going to play is as good as the Hornets at finding, taking, and making threes. How many teams have guys that can hit shots like the one below? You could argue Charlotte has three in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knuepell. Most teams have maybe one?
LOGO KNUEPPELL!
O Charlotte Hornets vai DOMINANDO o Knicks até aqui.
— Pisou Na Linha | NBA 🏀🇧🇷 (@pisounalinha) March 27, 2026
The Heat, 76ers, Raptors, Pistons, and Magic, all of whom the Knicks may end up playing in the playoffs, all rank in the bottom half of the league in three-point percentage, with the last four ranking 21st or lower. Meanwhile, the Hawks, Celtics, and Cavaliers, who could also eventually match up with the Knicks in the playoffs, rank in the top half, but only the Hawks rank in the top 10. And in terms of attempts per game, the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Hawks are the only teams that rank higher than 15th in the league, with the 76ers, Magic, Raptors, and Pistons all being in the bottom 10.
That may point to this issue not being quite as detrimental as it may seem. Another interesting note is that of the four teams in the league that currently hold a better defensive rating than the Knicks (Thunder, Pistons, Spurs, Celtics), three of those teams rank in the bottom half of the league in three-pointers given up per game. The Pistons, the only one of those four teams not in the bottom half, barely rank in the top half, coming in at 14th. That may seem like a good thing. But quality always matters.
And in this case, the numbers suggest that it’s not that the Knicks give up too many threes, it’s that they give up too many open threes. New York currently ranks 10th in the league in wide-open threes (no defender within six feet) given up per game. Of the top five defensive teams, only the Celtics give up more per game. This is also reflected in the fact that the Thunder is the only one of those top five defensive teams that give up a higher percentage from three than the Knicks.
So what does this all mean ultimately? The Knicks do struggle with giving up a lot of threes. They also happen to give up a lot of wide-open ones. But it’s not a backbreaker. And it doesn’t automatically make them a bad defensive team. Evident by the team’s recent success and the success of some of the best defenses in the league, giving up a lot of threes does not inherently mean you can’t defend. As stated earlier, how you give up said threes and what kind of threes you give up tend to matter more.
The Hornets just hit three straight triples the Knicks have no answer for this offense pic.twitter.com/EDCwXoZ4hZ
The Knicks can, and if they want to reach their goals, should continue to try and improve there, even if it’s on the margins. There are still plays like the ones above that have nothing to do with personnel or philosophy, and can be fixed with better communication and focus. But shooting is one of the more volatile things. On any given night, a good shooting team can shoot badly, and a good shooting team can shoot well. We’ve seen both happen to and against the Knicks. Will they lose games in the playoffs because of it? Likely. But not every potential playoff opponent is a great shooting team. If New York can continue to take care of business and execute in other areas of the game, their three-point defense may not end up being as detrimental as it sometimes seems.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 19, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The long winter has finally ended. Baseball is back. And while we got to laugh at the misfortunes of nearly half the teams in the league yesterday – seriously, Oneil Cruz seems very badly miscast as a centerfielder – it’s finally our turn to fret about our own team’s foibles. Let’s play ball!
Today’s starter for Kansas City is Cole Ragans, getting his third straight Opening Day start. He’ll be looking for his first win in such games, though. He took the loss against Minnesota in 2024 and could only watch from the bench as Sam Long got rocked for three runs in the tenth inning against the Guardians last year. Even after a ninth-inning rally forced the extra frame to begin with.
We all know that Ragans was hurt and had a much worse ERA last year. But pretty much every backing stat we have says he actually pitched significantly better than fourth-in-Cy-Young-voting campaign in 2024 – at least, when he was able to be on the mound. Keen-eyed Royals fans should watch not just to hope he stays healthy, but to see if he can pitch similarly to how he did last season while he’s at it. If he pitches a full season the way he did last year, he could end up the runaway favorite for the 2026 Cy Young Award.
Ragans has never faced Atlanta as a member of the Royals; he pitched three innings of relief against them in 2023 as a member of the Rangers and gave up four runs. But that was a long time ago and a very different Ragans. Atlanta’s offense somewhat resembles the 2025 Royals in that it has some absolute studs – Ronald Acuña Jr, Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley – and then a bunch of guys you mostly would rather weren’t in your lineup. Former Royals Mike Yastrzemski either isn’t in the lineup or shouldn’t be thanks to his splits.
The Royals, as an organization, are very familiar with Atlanta’s starter, Chris Sale, as he pitched for the White Sox for so many years. But they haven’t actually faced him since 2023, when he was still with the Red Sox. He’s a very different pitcher now than he was then, back to being absolutely elite when he’s on the mound, and the Royals are going to have their hands full.
Lineups
The Royals’ opening day lineup includes four players who weren’t on the team at this time last year. Maikel Garcia also returns to his old home at the top of the lineup after a monster 2025 and an even better WBC performance, after being left out of the Opening Day lineup last year.
The Royals are really leaning into their platoons, at least to start the year, with Starling Marte and Lane Thomas getting starts over Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone, who each figure to get the majority of the playing time at their positions over the course of the season. However, you can understand letting them sit against one of the very toughest lefties in the game. They could both enter as pinch hitters later in the contest.
I think it probably says something less than kind that the Royals’ plan for leadoff last year now bats seventh, and their “big” offseason acquisition is batting eighth. But Lane Thomas is having a lot of faith put in him to bat third today. Still, it may be Opening Day, but it’s also only one game out of 162. So let’s try not to panic too much about what this lineup construction means or how lineups will work for the rest of the year. Looking purely at the positive, it’s nice to see Manager Matt Quatraro leaning into the platoon matchups the front office built for him. We’ll just have to see whether they and he did well enough.
The Hockey News' main site has revealed players 21 to 40 for their latest top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects rankings. A notable Philadelphia Flyers prospect made the cut this time around, as defenseman Oliver Bonk was given the No. 38 spot.
Bonk is a prospect who the Flyers are hoping will be a major part of their blueline in the future. This is because the 2023 first-round pick has the tools to blossom into a high-impact defenseman at the NHL level.
Bonk is currently in his first season at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 37 games this campaign with Lehigh Valley, he has recorded five goals, 11 assists, and 16 points. This is after he had 11 goals and 40 points in 52 games during the 2024-25 season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Bonk also had a big year for the Knights in 2023-24, as he posted 24 goals, 43 assists, and 67 points in 60 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the right-shot defenseman has good upside.
Bonk will certainly be a Flyers prospect to watch for the remainder of the season and onward. It will be interesting to see how he continues to grow his game from here.
Astros All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña will make his season debut on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels after missing Opening Day due to his recovery from a fractured right index finger.
Peña suffered the injury playing for the Dominican Republic in an exhibition game leading up to the World Baseball Classic. He was healthy enough to be included on the Astros’ Opening Day roster and spent Thursday facing live pitching with the Astros Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land, TX.
“He feels good. He’s excited to be back in the lineup. We’re all excited to have him back in the lineup,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
Espada said Peña’s availability for Saturday’s game will hinge on how he feels after Friday’s game. Peña hit a home run while playing in Tuesday’s exhibition against Sugar Land at Daikin Park.
Peña, 28, finished last season batting .304 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 125 games with 20 stolen bases. He was selected to his first All-Star Game and finished 10th in American League MVP voting.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 07: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during a game at State Farm Arena on March 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Are we sure this is legal? Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. are officially available. The Sixers will have all their regulars against the Hornets Saturday night.
This is a lot of good injury news at once — is this allowed?
The Sixers released their injury report ahead of a big matchup with the Charlotte Hornets and it revealed that Tyrese Maxey may return to the court slightly earlier than expected. Both Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain) are listed as questionable. Charlotte has yet to submit their injury report.
Tyrese Maxey listed as questionable tomorrow vs. the Hornets. The Sixers might have their whole team available. Wow.
This would be just a few days ahead of the approximate three-week timeline the Sixers originally gave for his reevaluation after suffering a torn tendon in his right pinky when he last played on March 7 against the Atlanta Hawks. After participating in left-handed only drills, Maxey has been seen on the court doing work with the right hand this week.
It’ll be a really big one in Charlotte at that. The Sixers currently sit just a half game behind the Toronto Raptors for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, but they’re just a game ahead of the Orlando Magic, Hornets and Miami Heat for the eighth, ninth and 10th seed, respectively.
The Sixers next stop after the Hornets will be in Miami to take on the Heat. Tiebreakers for the season series are on the line as well with the Sixers going 1-1 against in each of their first two games against both opponents.
The 2025–26 season hasn’t been very kind to the Vancouver Canucks, but it has been to some of the organization’s former players. One such player is none-other than Bo Horvat, former Canucks captain and now 30-goal scorer for the fourth time in his NHL career.
Horvat’s first career 30-goal season came as a member of the Canucks back in 2021–22, during which he scored 31 goals in 70 games. The season after that remains his career-high, as he scored 31 goals in 49 games with Vancouver before being traded to the New York Islanders and adding seven more to his overall total in 30 games. He has since scored 30+ goals in two of his three other seasons with New York, with his lone sub-30 goal season being the 2024–25 season. He scored 28 goals in this particular year.
Horvat has enjoyed quite the season in his third full-year with the Islanders, having scored his 30th goal of the season in his team’s 2–1 win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. This goal extended Horvat’s current point streak to five straight games, with this being the second time this season he’s had a point streak of that length.
Throughout the month of March, 13 games so far, Horvat has scored six goals and five assists, going pointless in only three of his team’s games. This came only a few weeks after he suited up for his first Winter Olympic Games with Team Canada, during which he scored two goals in six games.
Mar 7, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) scores the game-winning goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) in the overtime period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Prior to sustaining a couple of injuries in December and January, Horvat had scored 19 goals in 31 games with the Islanders this season, putting him at a goals per game pace of .612. While his 30th goal of the season now ties him with Zach Hyman and Connor Bedard for 27th-most in the NHL, had he been healthy through the whole season, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he ranked much higher.
Horvat and the Islanders are currently deadlocked in a stiff battle for the Eastern Conference’s wildcard spots. While the Islanders currently occupy the final spot with 87 points in 73 games, the Ottawa Senators are only a point behind them with a game in hand.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The NBA’s process of finding new ways to deter teams from tanking is currently focused around three separate concepts to change the draft lottery, two people with knowledge of the discussions surrounding the issue told The Associated Press on Friday.
The concepts — they are not yet finalized proposals — were presented to the league’s board of governors by NBA executives earlier this week, the people said.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because none of the details have been shared publicly.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday he expects a special meeting of owners to take place in May to vote on changes to the lottery, vowing that the league would fix the tanking issue. And one of the people who spoke with the AP on Friday said it’s almost certain that the concepts will change or at least be tweaked in the coming weeks, with a possibility of more ideas being presented to owners as well. The league’s general managers — for some time — have also been weighing in with ideas for potential changes.
ESPN first reported that the concepts were shared with the governors.
“I will say again, as I’ve said this before, this is not a new issue in this league,” Silver said this week. “You can go back to the ’60s, when coin tosses were used to determine who got the first pick, then in the ’80s, when a draft lottery was created. That lottery has been modified four times since then. Does not seem to be operating optimally where we are now.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media following the Board of Governors meetings on March 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The changes — whatever they end up being — won’t be in place for this year’s lottery, which will be held in May.
The current rules
The 14 teams that don’t make the NBA playoffs go to the lottery, where a four-number combination of ping-pong balls are drawn to decide the order of the top four teams in the draft.
The teams with the worst three records all have a 14% chance of winning the No. 1 pick — and none of the teams with the worst five records can finish lower than eighth in the lottery. The odds of winning the No. 1 pick decrease gradually for the other 11 teams outside the top three, from 12.5 percent for the team with the fourth-worst record to 0.7 percent for the team with the 14th-worst record.
“Incentives need to be fixed,” Silver said. “We will fix them. I’m looking forward to that.”
Concept 1: An 18-team lottery
The 10 teams that don’t make the playoffs and the eight teams that reach the play-in tournament all would be headed to the lottery. The bottom 10 teams would all have 8 percent odds of winning the lottery, and the odds would decrease from there.
Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (C) tries to control a loose ball while being surrounded by the against the Oklahoma City Thunder defense during the second half at the Barclays Center in New York, New York, USA, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
This is the scenario where the 18th-worst team — a playoff team — could still win the lottery. It would have a 1 percent chance of winning.
Concept 2: The WNBA model
The WNBA lottery is for the worst teams over a two-season span, not just the previous season. An idea the NBA is considering would be similar to that.
But the NBA would also have a floor for wins as well — the current idea there being 25 wins per season. It would mean that if Team A won 31 games over two seasons, it would have the same odds of winning the No. 1 pick as a team that won exactly 50 games over those two seasons. That floor would be in place to give teams no incentive for trying to lose every game.
Concept 3: Better odds for more teams
A third idea being presented is one where the five worst teams would all have 11% odds of winning the No. 1 pick — instead of the current three-teams-at-14% model.
There would be some pick protections in that model as well, keeping the worst teams from falling too far in the draft.
With arms and bats more promising than recent seasons, the Charlotte Knights are poised for a winning record in 2026. | Charlotte Knights
Welcome back to the Charlotte Knights’ redemption season. Last season didn’t go as expected, as the Knights finished 65-85, the fourth-worst record in the International League East. Despite spending time early in the season with a winning record and flirting with .500 for a while, the club ultimately struggled because the bullpen frequently gave up games, and the bats were streakier than Midwest weather in the spring. Fortunately, the Knights finally appear to be sporting some top-notch talent this year.
Starting Pitching The Knights rotation looks slightly different than last year.
After securing a Southern League title, Tanner McDougal is ready to cruise through Charlotte. His 3.26 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and .241 allowed batting average made him a standout pitching in the farm system in 2025. But the real test is yet to come. McDougal lasted less than four innings in nearly half his starts last year, which isn’t enough in the majors. All eyes will surely be on the only new starter.
Jonathan Cannon returns to Charlotte after missing Chicago’s 26-man roster cut. He hopes to work his way back to the majors after posting a 5.82 ERA and giving up 17 home runs in 22 games. His regression from 2024 and struggles in Charlotte require he work especially hard to reclaim any role in Chicago.
Duncan Davitt and Noah Schultz fall into a similar category of needing to prove themselves. Davitt didn’t give up the long ball as much as he couldn’t stop the bleeding. His 27 earned runs in nine starts with the Knights set a sink-or-swim expectation for him this year. Schultz is also in hot water after his leap from Double to Triple-A was a disaster. Schultz was decimated for 15 runs in his first three starts, was plagued for a month by a bum knee, and couldn’t manage to squeak out shutout appearances in his last two very short starts.
Shane Murphy starts the season with the Knights after breaking out last year. His stunning 1.66 ERA, 24 walks, and 104 strikeouts from High-A through Triple-A went under the radar, but he was one of the best pitchers in the minors. Murphy needs reps in Triple-A before he gets the call up, and his timeline could speed up if Erick Fedde or Drew Thorpe get annihilated in April and May.
Relievers Shifting to the bullpen, not much has changed. A few old faces will reclaim their place in the pen after pitching at least 25 innings last year for the Knights:
Wikelman González – 33 IP
Tyler Schweitzer – 50 IP
Chase Plymell – 52 ⅓ IP
Garrett Schoenle – 27 ⅔ IP
Ben Peoples, Adisyn Coffey and Zach Franklin got a taste of Triple-A last year, but struggled in the few innings they pitched.
Brandon Eisert had two appearances in Charlotte before being called up to play out the rest of the season with the Sox. He’s been relegated back to the Knights — although it could be a brief stay given Chicago embarrassed itself on Opening Day in a 14-2 loss to Milwaukee. Eisert’s 34 earned runs, 74 strikeouts, and nine holds in 72 innings aren’t keeping him off the 26-man as much as lack of space. However, he still has yet to show he isn’t a 4A reliever.
Position Players With Korey Lee released, the Knights will rely on backstops Michael Turner, Josh Breaux and DrewRomo. With Reese McGuire signed to an MLB deal (no demotion to Triple-A in the plans) and Kyle Teel on the mend and preparing to share catching duties with Edgar Quero, it’s unlikely that any of this trio will get off of the Charlotte busses in 2026. However, Turner is the closest thing the White Sox have to an ace catcher in the system at this point.
Making our way around the horn, first base seems anyone’s guess, while there is some strong talent otherwise. A trio of middle infielders anchor the group, including Sam Antonacci, William Bergolla Jr. and Jacob Gonzalez. Gonzalez, the only one a first-rounder, is probably the odd man out and pushed to third base, as Antonacci strutted his stuff at the WBC representing team Italy and seems destined to be the first bat up in Chicago when injury calls. Like Antonacci, Bergolla impressed with his Spring Training invite. Oliver Dunn was solid at third base and could slide over to play some first. Darren Baker also had an active camp with the White Sox, and he’ll be subbing in at second base and pinch-running.
Finally, the outfield. Dustin Harris comes from the Rangers minor league system bouncing between Triple-A and the majors. While he didn’t hold his own in Texas, he slapped the ball around for Round Rock Express (.285/.369/.435, 44 walks, 41 RBIs). He should help move runners around the diamond on a team that loved to strand hitters. Dru Baker had a strong season with the Knights and has a real chance of being called up. Acquired in the Matt Thaiss trade, Baker hit a respectable .256 batting average and kept the offense. The only issue is that he is one of the few guys who can incite an offense on a whim. Jarred Kelenic takes over right field after struggling with Braves and Gwinnett Stripers. With batting averages below or just touching the Mendoza line, there are no expectations. And finally, LaMonte Wade Jr. couldn’t parlay his terrific Spring Training with the White Sox into a guaranteed deal somewhere else, so he is back to club the ball in Charlotte.
My first question: Is Will Wade bringing the boombox with him to LSU?
My second question: Does LSU possess no scruples at all? Never mind, I know the answer to that question. LSU is a kingdom of rebels and renegades. Just win, baby.
Wade, Lane Kiffin and Kim Mulkey walk into … well, I can’t quite figure the punchline of that joke, but wherever they’re walking into, they’re probably going there to win, and if you try to stand in their way, they’ll just steal your players.
Vaudeville pined to cast a trio of characters quite like these three.
There’s Wade, the disgraced cheater, turned boombox-blasting Cinderella, turned prodigal son returning to save LSU.
There’s Kiffin, the — mercy, what’s the word for him, even? We’ll go with college football’s shameless and slippery renegade-in-chief.
Considering the company she keeps, Mulkey qualifies as the decorous statesman of these three amigos, but her enemies despise her with the fire of a thousand suns.
If you find either the sum or individual parts of this trio a bit odious, do you really think LSU cares? Not as long as they’re winning.
NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said he felt “lied to” after Wade bolted back to LSU after one season with the Wolfpack. Corrigan will get no sympathy here. Don’t hire duplicitous renegades and expect them to behave as a straight shooter.
Scofflaw returns to LSU, as Will Wade vows to 'follow more rules'
In bringing back Wade this week, LSU became the first school I'm aware of to rehire a coach it fired for cause, just four years previously.
Never mind that Wade trampled on NCAA rules for several years, to the extent he got a pink slip, a show-cause, and a suspension, and his conduct resulted in LSU getting probation, scholarship reductions and recruiting restrictions.
That “strong-ass offer” Wade once spoke of making to secure JaVonte Smart positioned Wade as a scofflaw, within an ecosystem that no longer exists.
After arriving back in Louisiana, Wade told reporters he'll try "to follow more rules this time."
Rules? What rules?
NCAA enforcement is a husk, not to be feared, and the LSU president and athletic director who fired Wade in 2022 are gone from the school.
With the sheriff out to lunch, long live the rebel, and fill up the stands.
Will Wade suits LSU's tribe of rebels and renegades
A few years away gave Wade some time for the stink to blow off of him. He even spawned an underdog’s tale at McNeese, set to the tune of a boombox, a year ago.
Now, it’s LSU basketball that stinks, and so Wade returns as a savior. The school hopes Wade will reinstall basketball relevance, like Mulkey delivered in women’s basketball.
If Wade gets LSU back to the Sweet 16, as he did in 2019, he’ll be hailed as a hero on the bayou.
“Will is a consistent winner, a diligent program-builder, and a charismatic leader with an incredible ability to connect with his student-athletes,” LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry said in a news release announcing Wade’s hiring.
The announcement naturally made no mention of Wade’s firing, the NCAA scandal, or the FBI wiretap.
In Louisiana, there’s no such thing as being too tarnished for a comeback, or too scandalized for a revival. As a fellow sports columnist who’s native to the state once said, “They love scoundrels down there.”
Do they ever.
Louisianans elected Edwin Edwards as governor four times. Edwards overcame a slew of scandals to make not one, but two, political comebacks before ultimately heading to federal prison.
In Louisiana, a scoundrel can be governor, and a once-fired cheater can be a savior.
Scruples get stomped in the Boot. Ethics and moralities, that’s so pollyannaish anyway in this no-holds-barred time and space College Sports Inc. finds itself in. A lawless enterprise suits LSU.
The current guvnah of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, made it clear he wanted to reshape LSU when he tossed out athletic director Scott Woodward. And, who would rise up to replace Woodward? That’d be Ausberry, whom LSU banned from attending football games in 2021, when he was also suspended for a month without pay after he mishandled allegations of domestic abuse and did not follow Title IX reporting requirements.
Remember, you’re never too tarnished for a comeback in Louisiana, so Ausberry took the reins of LSU athletics in November and swiftly made his mark by plundering Kiffin from rival Mississippi. Now, LSU would only love it if Wade could bring the juice (and transfers) to Tigers basketball, like Kiffin supplied for football.
Landry’s reconfiguration of LSU continued with the hiring of Wade Rousse as university president. Rousse previously was president at McNeese, the school that had rescued Wade from the scrap heap. And, so, the pieces quickly snapped into place for Wade to return to LSU.
“It's a chance to go home,” Wade said.
Home?
Wade’s from Nashville.
He’s spent his coaching career like a traveling salesman, living out of a suitcase before jetting off down the road to where business might be better.
And yet it makes sense Wade would see LSU as home. In Louisiana, a scandal is but a speed bump, and a scoundrel who arrives in a time of need receives a hero’s welcome.
With the 20th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov. The Blue Jackets are hoping that the 19-year-old will be a big part of their roster later down the road, as he certainly has the potential to become a very good NHL goalie.
Because of his good upside, Andreyanov was given the No. 77 spot on The Hockey News' latest Top 100 NHL-affiliated prospect rankings.
When looking at how well Andreyanov has played in Russia, it is understandable that he is being viewed as one of the NHL's best prospects. The 6-foot goaltender had a 13-8-3 record, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.59 goals-against average in 26 games with CSKA Red Army Jr. of the MHL this season. He also had a .918 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average in the VHL with HC Zvezda this campaign.
Andreyanov also had a 1.75 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage in 37 MHL games in 2024-25 with CSKA Red Army Jr.
With all of this, there is no question that Andreyanov has shown plenty of promise. It will be interesting to see how he continues to grow his game from here.
The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have signed defenseman Owen Protz to a three-year entry-level contract, which kicks in during the 2026-27 season.
Protz was selected by the Canadiens with the 102nd overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-2 defenseman appeared in 64 games during this regular season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, where he had five goals, 18 assists, 23 points, 84 penalty minutes, and a plus-45 rating.
Protz is a defenseman with size who plays a very heavy game. With this, he is undoubtedly an intriguing prospect in the Canadiens' system, and they will be hoping that he can become a nice part of their blueline in the future.
Protz has continued to show promise at the junior level, too. During the 2024-25 season with the Bulldogs, he had five goals, 27 assists, 32 points, and a plus-11 rating. He also had one goal and six points in 11 playoff games for Brantford last year.
Overall, there is a lot to like about Protz's game, and it will be fascinating to see how he continues to develop his game from here.
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Atlanta Hawks (41-32) at Boston Celtics (48-24) Friday, March 27, 2026 7:30 PM ET Regular Season Game #73, Home Game #37 TV: NBCSB, FDSNSE, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 92.9 The Game, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics continue their home stand after a win over the Thunder on Wednesday as they host the Atlanta Hawks. This is the 3rd of 4 games between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first game 132-106 in Atlanta on January 17. They lost the second game 117-106 in Boston on January 28. They will meet again for the final time in Atlanta on March 30. The Hawks won the series 2-1 last season with the Celtics winning one in Atlanta and the Hawks winning twice in Boston. The Celtics are 246-152 overall all time and they are 132-57 in games played in Boston. The Hawks have won the last 3 games in Boston.
The Hawks were among the most active teams at the trade deadline. They traded Trae Young to Washington for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum before the deadline. They traded Vit Krejci to Portland for 2 second round picks. They traded Luke Kennard for Gabe Vincent. They got Jock Landale for cash considerations. And their biggest move was trading Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.
Since the All Star break, the Hawks are 15-2, the best record amongst all Eastern Conference teams. Before the break, Atlanta ranked 27th in the NBA in offensive rebound %. Since the break, the Hawks rank fourth-best among all NBA teams over that time. In March, Atlanta is 11-1, tied with the Thunder for the best record in the league since the beginning of March. They are coming off a 130-129 overtime win in Detroit over the Pistons.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 7.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 8 games ahead of 6th place Toronto, and 8.5 games ahead of 7th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 29-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 25-11 at home and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
The Hawks are 5th in the East, 11.5 games behind 1st place Detroit7 games behind 3rd place New York and 4 games behind 4th place Cleveland. They are half a game ahead of 6th place Toronto, 1 game ahead of 7th place Philadelphia, and 2 games ahead of 8th place Miami. They are 23-21 against Eastern Conference teams. They are 20-16 on the road and 9-1 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.
This game at home against Atlanta completes a 3 game home stand. Then it’s back on the road for a 4 game trip through Charlotte, Atlanta once again, Miami and Milwaukee. They will then play two games at home against Toronto and Charlotte before one game on the road at New York. They will finish the season with 2 games at home against New Orleans and Orlando.
Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
This is the 2nd game of a 2 game road trip for Atlanta. They beat the Pistons in Detroit on Wednesday to begin the trip. They will return home to play Sacramento and complete the series against Boston. Then they play at Orlando and at Brooklyn. They then have a game at home against New York before a home and home series against Cleveland. They will finish the season on the road at Miami.
Nicola Vucevic remains out after surgery to stabilize a fracture in his right ring finger. Neemias Queta is available after being questionable due to a right thumb sprain. Derrick White is also available after originally being questionable with a bruised right knee. Jaylen Brown is out due to left Achilles tendinitis. I’m just guessing that Baylor Scheierman will get the start. The Hawks had a late addition to their injury report. Jock Landale is questionable due to a shoulder injury.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs CJ McCollum
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesCJ McCollum | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Baylor Scheierman | NBAE via Getty ImagesNickeil Alexander-Walker | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Dyson Daniels
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesDyson Daniels | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Jackson
Jayson Tatum | Getty ImagesJalen Johnson | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Onyeka Okongwu
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesOnyeka Okongwu | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh Max Shulga Charles Bassey (10-Day) 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr
Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out Neemias Queta (thumb) available Derrick White (knee) available Jaylen Brown (calf) out Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Hawks Reserves Mouhamed Gueye Buddy Hield Caleb Houston Corey Kispert Jonathan Kuminga Asa Newell Zaccharie Risacher Gabe Vincent Keaton Wallace
2-Way Players Rayj Dennis Keshon Gilbert Christian Koloko
Injuries/Out Jock Landale (shoulder) questionable Head Coach Quin Snyder
Key Matchups Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Johnson Johnson is averaging 22.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 49.3% from the field and 34.9% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 15.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 33.3% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him well and keep him off the boards.
Baylor Scheierman vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 19.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 41.9% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. He is a good 3 point shooter and the Celtics need to stay with him on the perimeter. Honorable Mention Derrick White vs CJ McCollum McCollum is averaging 18.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He is shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.2% from beyond the arc. In 4 games against the Celtics this season, he is averaging 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 34% from the field and 18.2% from beyond the arc.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always a key to winning games. The Celtics have an offensive rating of 119.3 (2nd) while the Hawks have an offensive rating of 114.7, which is 14th. The Celtics have a defensive rating of 111.5 which is 4th while the Hawks have a defensive rating of 113.0, which is 10th. The Celtics have been hot and cold on defense this season. Sometimes they can shut down the other team (See OKC) and sometimes they allow them to score at will (see Minnesota). The Celtics need to defend the perimeter because the Hawks are 6th, shooting 36.9% on threes. They also have to defend the paint as the Hawks are 6th with 52.3 points in the paint per game. The Celtics must make defense a priority in this game and they have to play that tough defense for 48 minutes and not let up.
Rebound – Next to defense, rebounding is the key to winning. When the Celtics put out the extra effort on the boards, it usually carries through to the rest of their game. The Hawks are averaging 43.4 rebounds per game (17th) while the Celtics are averaging 46.5 rebounds per game (4th). The Celtics need to aggressively go after every rebound. They can’t afford to give the Hawks extra possessions and 2nd chance points by allowing them to beat them to rebounds.
Move the Ball Carefully – When the Celtics move the ball and find the open man, they are tough to beat. When they hold the ball and try to play iso ball, they become predictable and struggle. When the Celtics have more assists than their opponents they are 29-0 and when their opponents have more assists than the Celtics, they are just 17-22. The Hawks average 30.4 assists per game so getting more assists will not be easy. The Celtics need to move the ball, but they have to make careful passes because the Hawks are 3rd in the league with 20.3 points off turnovers per game.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead, especially down the stretch as they did against Minnesota. They have to stay focused for all 48 minutes and be ready for their opponents to play harder in the second half and they need to match that effort. They also have to come out with more effort and energy to start the game and not dig themselves into a hole. The Hawks have been playing the best of any team in the league and just beat the first place Pistons. The Celtics will need maximum effort for all 48 minutes to beat them. With Jaylen Brown out, every player will need to step up their game.
X-Factors Home Game and Revenge– They call it home court advantage for a reason and the Celtics need to take advantage of playing on their home court. The Celtics need to get motivation from the home crowd, which should be loud and doing everything in their power to support the Celtics and rattle the Hawks. The Hawks have the distractions of travel, an unfamiliar arena and a hostile crowd and hopefully that will give the Celtics an advantage. The Hawks were also embarrassed by the Celtics on their home court in January and will be looking for some revenge on them. The Celtics need to be ready for the Hawks to give it their best effort in this one.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game the right way. We have seen how much of an x-factor officiating can be in a few games this season. The Celtics have to play so well all game that the officiating, no matter how bad, can’t influence the outcome.
