PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: José Leclerc #25 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Four of the World Series at Chase Field on October 31, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
About a week ago, it was reported that the San Diego Padres were nearing a deal with a key player from the Texas Rangers’ 2023 World Series run. According to Mike Rodriguez, the Friars were targeting a deal with José Leclerc as a depth piece in their ‘pen.
A former closer for the Rangers, Leclerc dominated on the mound when he was healthy. But he wasn’t always that way.
Injury worries before a dominant resurgence
When he was first named the closer by Texas in 2019, Leclerc struggled. He ended the year with a 4.33 ERA across 70 innings for a Rangers squad that finished third in the AL West.
Then, in early 2021, he underwent Tommy John surgery that kept him out for the season, leading many to question if he could ever return to the flashes of dominance he displayed in 2018 (1.56 ERA, 57.2 IP).
He put those worries to rest in 2022.
From 2022-23, Leclerc recorded a 2.75 ERA with Texas, capping it off with a World Series ring to boot. He was a key piece out of the relief corps for the Rangers, and helped bring the club its first ever Fall Classic win after falling short in 2010 (San Francisco Giants) and 2011 (St. Louis Cardinals).
Has Father Time caught up?
That being said, Leclerc struggled mightily in his last two seasons. From 2024-25, between the Rangers and Athletics, he posted a 4.64 ERA across 74 games.
That figure includes a ballooned 2025 ERA (6.00) after he only saw nine innings of action with the A’s, giving up six runs in that time frame. His season in Sacramento ended early due to a right shoulder injury that saw him undergo surgery last July.
He’s certainly had an up-and-down career in terms of results, but the stuff is there. He obviously has a desire to compete after throwing a bullpen session for interested clubs earlier this offseason.
Leclerc is still rehabbing after his season-ending surgery, targeting a return sometime around July. If that’s the case, it will mark an opportunity for San Diego to bolster its relief corps amidst the dog days of summer.
Until then, it is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Padres. If Leclerc can touch his previous heights and offer some serviceable innings, then San Diego will have made a worthwhile pickup.
That’s the beauty of a minor-league pickup. There are no real strings attached. If Leclerc comes back at the Triple-A level and struggles, then he’ll likely not get an opportunity to affect the big-league club.
On the other hand, if he can be dominant again, Leclerc could figure to be a valuable piece of a bullpen already crowded with shutout relievers.
Tickets for general public to go on sale on 9 April
Tickets for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will go on sale to the general public on 9 April, organizers said on Monday, as LA28 also moved to reassure fans over ticket security by naming a group of verified resale platforms.
A presale for residents in qualifying areas of Los Angeles and Oklahoma City, which will host softball and canoe slalom events, will begin on 2 April.
Mar 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Richard Lovelady (55) reacts during the tenth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Mets are (probably) one better third-base coach decision away from being 3-0 on the young season, but there’s an issue that has already reared its head in all three games of 2026 thus far: the bullpen.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Mets are coming off a season where their bullpen was less than spectacular, and so a stated goal of the offseason was to rebuild the relief corps. On the higher end of the free agent pool, the Mets did just that, bringing in both Devin Williams and Luke Williams and retaining both Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter through options. Tobias Myers was part of the Freddy Garcia trade, and Huascar Brazobán is also back, and those six pitchers are making up the core of the bullpen. And, although Minter hasn’t played yet and Brazobán has had an up and down Mets career thus far, those players aren’t the issue.
But it’s the other three pitchers currently in the Mets’ bullpen that are the issue. Our Chris McShane already spoke about Sean Manaea’s velocity dip and how that is likely unsustainable at the big league level. The other two arms are Luis García and Richard Lovelady, both of whom have appeared in multiple games and surrendered multiple runs.
There has been discussion about how the Mets are leaving a few spots in the bullpen for the waiver wire/upward mobility pool. To translate that a bit, he means guys who are fungible enough to call up for a few games and then send down and/or designate for assignment when they’ve been used too many days in a row. It’s an approach that makes sense when you consider how many more bullpen innings are needed in the modern game and you don’t want to destroy your main guys’ arms.
However, this weekend was a prime example of why that methodology may be logical but unsound. On Opening Day, the Mets had a big lead going into the ninth inning, and so when García gave up two runs on three hits without a strikeout, it wasn’t such a big deal. But the Mets had to get Williams up and throwing in what should’ve been a laugher of a game. Again, the schedule helped here with the off day on Friday, but that’s not going to be the norm throughout the season. When you can’t close the door on a big lead against a second division club with a fully rested bullpen, that’s an issue.
On Saturday, García was back at it in the tenth inning and surrendered the free runner on second while allowing two hits and one walk. One inning later, after the Mets had scored to tie the game, Loveady entered the game and surrendered the Manfred Man again. Thankfully, Luis Robert Jr. sent the Mets home happy and the bullpen ineffectiveness is a footnote rather than a headline.
But on Sunday, the Mets’ luck would run out. After Manaea somehow tap-danced through seven batters with limited stuff, Weaver sat the Pirates down in the ninth. But Lovelady was back for the tenth, and on the first batter of extras, the game was untied by Ryan O’Hearn. Dicky got a ground ball double play to almost escape the inning but couldn’t put it away. Two straight walks and a single put Pittsburgh up by two.
Like I said at the top, if Francisco Lindor was held at third base, the Mets might’ve come back to win that game and this would all seem a little less pressing. I’m really not trying to pick on Garcia or Lovelady, two journeymen relievers trying to put food on their families’ tables and keep their careers going. I’m questioning the construction of the roster and the deployment of the relief pitchers.
The answer seems fairly simple, which is that if you want fungible relievers, you’ve got a number of relievers in your minor league system with minor league options: Austin Warren, Ryan Lambert, Dylan Ross, Jonathan Pintaro, Alex Carrillo, and Joey Gerber. I’m not sure any of them are the answer long term, but I can’t imagine that they would be appreciably worse than García or Lovelady were in their first two appearances each. Using those players also helps you see what you have in terms of potential long-term pieces instead of getting the expected results from a guy who your team has already DFA’d four times.
The Manaea of it all is the hardest part of this, because if either Lovelady or Garcia were DFA’d ahead of today’s game, no one would blink an eye. But if we’re stashing Manaea in the bullpen, we’re not talking about a third fungible spot. We’re talking about a veteran who was expected to be a big part of this team whose stuff is simply not up to snuff. This won’t be an easy cut in any way, and this seems like the type of player who will linger on the roster long past their possible usefulness.
This is the least Stearnsian piece of the Mets’ current roster, and one that I fear won’t be addressed for some time. However, this would be less of an issue if there weren’t two other (at best) replacement-level players in the ‘pen.
Personally, I would advocate for the Mets to take a more proactive approach and add at least one reliever who isn’t intended to be here today and gone later today. It may hurt some of the churn, but it would also likely prevent some of the issues that cropped up over the weekend. If one roster spot was dedicated to the churn guy, and the pool for that spot was minor league relievers who need some big league appearances to evaluate, sign me up. But to have three borderline poor performers on the roster at once is a bad place to be, even just three games into a season.
Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) checks out his World Series before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Going out of their way to provide Roki Sasaki with the opportunity to find himself as a starting pitcher, the Dodgers offer him a spot in the Opening Day rotation. The reigning champs do that even if his spring training showing did little to lower the volume on those concerns. Part of why that’s feasible is that, to no one’s surprise, the Dodgers already start the year with starters on the shelf, as Blake Snell is currently on the injured list. Even so, if going by performance alone, Dave Roberts had better candidates for that fifth rotation spot and chose to hand Sasaki this opportunity.
It’s under this outlook that Sasaki makes his season debut, dealing with the pressure of someone who probably has more to prove than any other player on this roster. The young Japanese starter was supposed to be the next big thing coming out of the NPB, and so far, all of his better moments have come as a reliever. Intent on making it as a starter, Sasaki needs to get off to a hot start in order to gain some confidence and then take things from there.
The Guardians at home aren’t exactly a cakewalk, but he could hardly ask for a much better matchup, squaring off against a team that averaged 3.25 runs per game in their first four appearances. Although that probably had a lot to do with facing an outstanding Seattle Mariners pitching staff, and not just the reflection of a mediocre effort from Cleveland. Don’t let Chase DeLauter beat you. Sure, José Ramírez is the big star, but what the rookie DeLauter did against the M’s was magnificent, hitting four home runs in as many games.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 15: Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) delivers a pitch to the plate during spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 15, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Deniz Undav turned up the pressure on Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to select him for the World Cup after he scored the 2-1 winner against Ghana on Monday to back up strong club form.
Undav hadn't played for Germany since June but seven goals in his last six Bundesliga games helped him earn a recall. Germany was playing the friendly at the home stadium of his club Stuttgart and fans chanted for Undav long before he came off the bench.
The game seemed to be fizzling out to a draw when he flicked the ball over Ghana's goalkeeper in the 88th minute to give Germany a seventh successive win.
Ghana's Abdul Fatuwu earlier scored on the counter to cancel out Kai Havertz's penalty for Germany.
After Florian Wirtz's spectacular attacking display in Germany's 4-3 win against Switzerland, Germany was expected to score high against an opponent coming off a 5-1 loss to Austria. It ended up being a subdued win in constant driving rain.
Nick Woltemade started in one of four German changes but his main impact was heading against the bar in the second half.
Havertz put Germany ahead with his penalty just before halftime after Jonas Adjetey blocked a shot with his arm. Ghana leveled on the counter in the 70th when Germany-born Derrick Köhn surged down the left flank, beat defender Josha Vagnoman and crossed low for Fatawu to score.
Ghana defender Kojo Peprah Oppong of Nice had to be helped off the field after injuring his left leg challenging Woltemade.
Germany has further pre-World Cup friendlies against Finland in May and co-host the United States in June before facing Curacao, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E of the tournament.
Ghana has lost four friendlies in a row. It's in Group L with Panama, England and Croatia.
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 12: Svi Mykhailiuk #10 and Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz box out Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game on January 12, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the season slowly winds to a close, Utah Jazz fans should be excited for the future at this point. It’s finally the end of this years-long blatant tank job. Depending on what happens with the Draft Lottery and the 2026 NBA Draft, next year should look tremendously different for this young Jazz squad.
There are 7 total games left. All of them are against decent team, apart from the last three against New Orleans, Memphis, and the Lakers. Tonight, we see an old friend back in town. Donovan Mitchell and the 46-28 Cleveland Cavaliers. Don is our what-if after the what-if of Gordon Hayward. To be fair, we did give that Mitchell-Gobert core a good run, but it’ll be interesting to see how Utah greets Spida Mitchell, as his exit wasn’t necessarily negative or even positive. It just was.
On the Cavs side, they will be without several rotation players, including Craig Porter Jr, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, and Dean Wade. For Utah, expect a lot of the G League guys and end of roster fill-ins. For the Jazz injury report, most of the main guys are out, including Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic (out for year), Jaren Jackson (out for rest of year), and Walker Kessler (he’s been out folks).
It’ll continue to be fun watching these young guys develop. We’ve seen a lot of promise for Filipowski, Elijah Harkless, and Brice Sensabaugh to grab rotation bench sports next year. We still don’t know what we have in guys like Blake Hinson, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Bez Mbeng. Perhaps tonight will be another big game for future star Ace Bailey.
Have fun and enjoy these final test games! Next year will be much different.
Three marquee NBA teams can secure their playoff seeding on Monday night, and there are a couple of must-watch games with playoff seeding on the line. Here's what you need to know about NBA playoff scenarios for March 30.
Playoff Scenarios
• The Los Angeles Lakers can clinch a playoff spot and the Pacific Division title with a win over the Washington Wizards and a Phoenix loss at Memphis. The Lakers will have to pick up that win without Luka Doncic in the lineup, he is suspended for the game after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season over the weekend.
• Denver can clinch a playoff spot with the exact same scenario above: A Lakers win over Washington and a Phoenix loss to Memphis.
• New York has the night off, but the No. 3 seed in the East can still clinch a playoff spot if Miami beats Philadelphia (in a game that is important for the East's tight 5-10 seeding race.
• Detroit will clinch the Central Division title with a win against Oklahoma City in the best game of the night. The Pistons can also clinch that title if the Cavaliers are upset by the Jazz Monday night.
Games to Watch
Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat (7 p.m. ET, Peacock)
These two teams are just 2.5 games apart in the crowded middle of the Eastern Conference, but headed in opposite directions. Philadelphia has finally gotten healthy with Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey all expected to play. The No. 7 seed 76ers are just half a game behind the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, so a win here is a huge boost for Philly. Miami is 1-7 in its last eight games.
Detroit Pistons at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)
This is a potential NBA Finals preview, with both teams sitting as the No. 1 seeds in their conferences. However, this isn't all about sending a statement for June, both of these teams are trying to hold off hot teams (Boston and San Antonio) to maintain those No. 1 seeds, so the wins matter. Detroit will be without Cade Cunningham, but has gone 5-1 without its All-Star.
Nov 15, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) runs the ball as Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young (9) attempts the sack during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Happy Monday one and all.
The Arizona Cardinals will be on the clock in just over three weeks, and they need to help.
We discussed that with your own thoughts this morning:
104. Arizona Cardinals: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
143. Arizona Cardinals: Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
183. Arizona Cardinals: Toriano Pride Jr., CB, Missouri
217. Arizona Cardinals: Jager Burton, G, Kentucky
The first three rounds is what I really want to focus on, because it seems to be a weirdly precise look at the Cardinals potentially.
Mauigoa going at three overall seems to be the consensus favorite among fans and the media, which is interesting because we don’t see that line up very often.
Then there is Young. Young came in at 6-6 and 262lbs at the 2026 NFL Combine, and improved each of his four years in college football. He finished his career at Mizzou with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. Before that in three seasons between Michigan State and Mizzou he had a total five sacks and 12 tackles for loss in his career.
We know what Beck is. He is a good college quarterback who needs to get back to having the zip on the ball he had before his UCL surgery. If he gets there, he could be a potential starter, but he has the makeup to be a longtime NFL backup.
On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks had a scheduled day off from practice. This is very typical following a long road trip. Chicago went 1-3-0 out east and didn’t play particularly well in any of those games, even the one in which they earned a victory.
One of their issues as a team, since the trade deadline, has been team toughness. They sent a lot of that mentality out when they traded Colton Dach, Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, and Jason Dickinson.
On Monday, they took a step toward addressing that problem. Alex Vlasic, Louis Crevier, Sam Rinzel, Ethan Del Mastro, Sacha Boisvert, and Landon Slaggert showed up at Blackhawks Ice Center to practice their fighting.
These are Chicago’s biggest players in stature, but only Boisvert has ever publicly expressed his desire to fight, and he’s three games into his NHL career. Jeff Blashill and the organization clearly see it as a skill worth developing as they work towards becoming a winner.
This could be a bit of a Tampa Bay Lightning/Florida Panthers effect on the league, as they have won four of the last six Stanley Cups through being a tough, skilled team. There is a lot of skill on those rosters, but there is plenty of “sandpaper” to go with it.
According to Scott Powers of The Athletic, it was Blackhawks pro scout Wade Brookbank who taught these players a thing or two about NHL fighting during this practice. This is not a skill that every one of these players is going to master through one session, but it’s a mentality step that the Blackhawks are clearly taking.
I was told this wasn't a fighting instructor, but actually Blackhawks pro scout Wade Brookbank who was brought in to teach some of the young players how to defend themselves. https://t.co/nttqyjpzG2
Earlier in the season, Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks kneed Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews is out for the season as a result of this hit, and Gudas is already back from suspension. At the time of the hit, none of Matthews’ teammates did a single thing about it for the sake of their captain, and it was a horrific look for the team.
The Blackhawks have been better than the Leafs when it comes to standing up for teammates, but it isn’t good enough, according to management. This practice wouldn’t have happened otherwise. When JT Miller hit Artyom Levshunov into the boards on Friday night at MSG, it took the Blackhawks a couple of shifts to do anything about it.
There are enough stars on the team now for this to be a necessary thing, and the young players who attended this fight practice have to take over for the veterans who were shipped out. They don’t have to become one of the league’s heavyweights, but having enough courage to stand up for teammates through fighting or playing a physical game is always important for a certain portion of the lineup.
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New South Wales cricket’s failure to retain talent has once again been thrust into the spotlight after South Australia successfully defended its Sheffield Shield title to become back-to-back champions.
It’s been a surprisingly busy Monday for the Milwaukee Brewer organization. After the team announced a trade for outfielder Luis Matos earlier this afternoon, it has also been reported that infield prospect Cooper Pratt has agreed to a big eight-year, $51 million contract with a pair of club options.
In other news, the Brewers’ new City Connect jerseys are rumored to have been leaked on Twitter/X over the weekend. More on that below.
Pratt Extension
Pratt, just 21, was a sixth-round pick out of high school in 2023, as the Brewers signed him for second-round money to lure him away from an Ole Miss commitment. A defense-first infielder, Pratt is ranked as Milwaukee’s No. 4 prospect and MLB’s No. 62 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
Source confirms: Infield prospect Cooper Pratt finalizing eight-year, $51M contract with Brewers. Deal includes two club options with escalators on option years. Has played only three games above AA. Brewers’ No. 6 prospect per The Athletic’s Keith Law. First: @BNightengale
His scouting grades are headlined by a 60-arm rating and a 60-field rating on the 20-80 scale. He also has average speed and hit tools (both at 50) and a slightly below-average power rating at 45. With Double-A Biloxi in the notoriously difficult Southern League last season, Pratt hit .238/.343/.348 with eight homers, 22 doubles 62 RBIs, 71 runs, and 31 steals over 120 games. He also walked nearly as many times as he struck out (67 and 80, respectively).
A Minor League Gold Glove winner in 2024, Pratt continues to improve on both sides of the ball and is now locked up as a key part of Milwaukee’s future. He’s currently at Triple-A Nashville, but with the extension, it seems more likely than not that he’ll be in the majors before we know it.
City Connect Jerseys
In an article written by JR Radcliffe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier on Monday afternoon, Radcliffe speculated that the Brewers new City Connect jerseys may have been leaked on Sunday. “A Brewers spokesman declined to comment when asked if the jersey posted to X by user Steve Freed is indeed the jersey that has yet to be officially unveiled for 2026,” per Radcliffe.
An apparent leak of the Brewers new City Connect jersey
The Brewers, who released their first City Connect jerseys back in the summer of 2022, were retired after the 2025 season, with the promise of a new design in 2026. The old jerseys, which were powder blue with “Brew Crew” across the chest, were retired at the same time Milwaukee brought aboard a new powder blue option, which was announced during the offseason.
The potential new uniforms feature “Wisco” across the chest and “Forward,” Wisconsin’s state motto, sewn into the collar. The color looks to be similar to the Bucks’ “Great Lakes Blue” used in alternate jerseys in recent seasons, though this design also seems to include orange, which (in my opinion) makes it look like a Mets jersey. Bleh.
The Brewers haven’t said when they’ll officially unveil the new design, but it isn’t the first City Connect design to reportedly be leaked, following recent leaks of the Royals, Rangers, Pirates, Padres, and Orioles new designs. If these jerseys are indeed the new City Connects, I have a feeling Brewer fans won’t be very happy.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 25: Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever sits on the baseline and makes photographs during the Indiana Pacers game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There aren’t many things Clark can’t do on a basketball court, which now apparently includes photography as Clark snapped photos of LA’s win over the Pacers.
After the game, Luka Dončić said he noticed Clark taking photos and revealed that he’s a fan of her game.
“I’m a big fan, for sure,” Luka said. “I watch a lot of games. Definitely, her hooping, it’s great to watch. For sure, I got to go to one game this year.”
This came a couple of days before Clark appeared on NBC’s pregame show on Sunday before Thunder-Knicks and declared Nikola Jokić was her favorite player and the best player in the world.
"H'es probably my favorite player to watch and I think he's the best player in the world"
Before Lakers fans turn on Clark too much, she did call LeBron her GOAT when talking about the experience of taking photos at the game.
Caitlin Clark on taking photos of LeBron James during Lakers vs Pacers:
"The King. That's my GOAT…. I swear we made eye contact so I sat down the camera and I smiled at him and he just looked at me with a straight face" https://t.co/TFKKtZ0ph2pic.twitter.com/YkxoTLixyX
Caitlin comes to Los Angeles a couple of times this year to play the Sparks, which could be an opportunity for Luka to catch her in person, though one of them is in mid-May when the Lakers could be in the playoffs and the other is in early July when players typically flock to Las Vegas for Summer League.
Still, regardless if Luka shows up or not, it’s very cool to see greats of the game showing respect for one another. Just maybe a little less praise for the Nuggets in the future, please.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 6: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers walks to the dugout prior to a Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners at Surprise Stadium on March 6, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for March 30, 2026 against the Baltimore Orioles: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Chris Bassitt for the O’s.
Texas heads to Baltimore for three after their series win in Philadelphia. After extensive bullpen usage on Saturday and Sunday, the Rangers will be wanting Jack Leiter to try to work fairly deep today.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Smith —2 B
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Higashioka — C
5:35 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 27: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 27, 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
Boston Celtics (50-24) at Atlanta Hawks (42-33) Monday, March 30, 2026 7:30 PM ET Regular Season Game #75 Road Game #38 TV: NBCSB, FDSNSE, NBA-LP 98.5 Sports Hub, 92.9 The Game, Sirius XM State Farm Arena
The Celtics continue their road trip after a win over the Hornets. This is the 4th 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 won the 3rd game 109-102 in Boston on March 27. The Celtics are 247-152 overall all time and they are 114-95 in games played in Atlanta. The Celtics are playing on the second night of back to back games. They are 7-4 in the 2nd of back to back games.
Atlanta has won 12 straight home games with 9 of those wins coming in the month of March. They are 12-2 overall in the month of March, which is the most wins in the East in March. They have had 45 games with 30 or more assists this season and they have had 37 games with 10 or more steals this season. Both of these are the most in the NBA this season. Since the All Star break, the Hawks are 16-2, the best record amongst all Eastern Conference teams.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2.5 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 4 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 8 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 8.5 games ahead of 6th place Atlanta, and 9 games ahead of 7th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 31-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 24-13 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.
The Hawks are 6th in the East, 12.5 games behind 1st place Detroit, and 4.5 games behind 4th place Cleveland. They are tied with 5th place Toronto, half a game ahead of 7th place Philadelphia, and 2 games ahead of 8th place Orlando. They are 23-22 against Eastern Conference teams. They are 22-16 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
After completing a 3 game home stand, The Celtics are on the road for a 4 game trip that began with a win in Charlotte and will finish up in 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.
This is the 2nd straight home game for Atlanta. They beat Sacramento on Saturday and complete the home stand 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.
Jayson Tatum will sit this one out for injury management. and that Jaylen Brown will return. Derrick White (knee) is probable and Neemias Queta (thumb) is doubtful. Nikola Vucevic (finger) is out. Ron Harper, Jr. (ankle) is questionable. Jaylen Brown is not on the injury report. For the Hawks, Jock Landale is questionable due to illness. I’m just guessing that Jordan Walsh will get the start in place of Tatum and Luka Garza will start in place of Queta.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs CJ McCollum
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesCJ McCollum | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesNickeil Alexander-Walker | Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Dyson Daniels
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesDyson Daniels | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jordan Walsh vs Jalen Johnson
Jordan Walsh | NBAE via Getty ImagesJalen Johnson | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Luka Garza vs Onyeka Okongwu
Luka Garza | NBAE via Getty ImagesOnyeka Okongwu | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Amare Williams Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Charles Bassey (10-Day) 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr
Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Derrick White (knee) probable Neemias Queta (thumb) doubtful Ron Harper, Jr (ankle) questionable
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 (illness) questionable Head Coach Quin Snyder
Key Matchups Jordan Walsh vs Jalen Johnson Johnson is averaging 22.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 49.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. In the first 3 games against the Celtics, he averaged 20 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 37.3% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him well and keep him off the boards. If I am wrong and Tatum plays, he would start here.
Jaylen Brown vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.1% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc. In the first 3 games against the Celtics, he averaged 19.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 steals while shooting 43.2% from the field and 42.3% from beyond the arc. He is a good 3 point shooter and the Celtics need to stay with him on the perimeter. If Jaylen remains out, it will likely be Baylor Scheierman starting here.
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 36.9% from beyond the arc. In 5 games against the Celtics this season, he is averaging 14 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 35.6% from the field and 21.9% 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 114.8, which is 14th. The Celtics have a defensive rating of 111.5 which is 4th while the Hawks have a defensive rating of 113.2, which is 11th. 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 36.8% on threes. They also have to defend the paint as the Hawks are 10th with 51.9 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 (18th) while the Celtics are averaging 46.5 rebounds per game (4th). When the Celtics have more rebounds then their opponents, they are 38-10 when they have fewer rebounds, they are just 9-13. 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 30-0 and when their opponents have more assists than the Celtics, they are just 17-22. The Hawks average 30.3 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 20.2 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 will be looking to avenge their loss in the March 27th game. The Celtics will need maximum effort for all 48 minutes to beat them.
X-Factors Road Game and Fatigue – The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games on the road and will have the distractions of travel and a hotel stay and playing in front of hostile fans in an unfamiliar arena. The Celtics may be playing short handed for the second straight game and so fatigue due to the missing players, travel and playing back to back can be a factor down the stretch.
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.
