Mar 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) challenges Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) for the ball in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
On Wednesday night, the Houston Rockets squared off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on the prime-time slate, in a game that had a playoff feel to it. Certainly a playoff intensity.
The game held major stakes, as it pertains to the Western Conference standings, as the two teams were separated by just a half game. Kevin Durant struggled at the onset, going 1-for-6 in the opening quarter, as the Wolves made it a point to neutralize him, by either employing double teams or having Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels rotate as Durant’s primary defender.
And although Julius Randle gashed the Rockets for 39 points in the last matchup between the two teams, he went 0-for-4 in the opening quarter. Houston struggled to execute on relatively higher percentage looks, going 9-of-23 in the paint in the first half. The Rockets also had seven straight 3-point misses in the opening half (which shouldn’t be a surprise, considering their struggles from the outside of late).
Defense was the story of the game. Alperen Sengun was a force on that end, amassing four blocks in total. But not just the blocks, Sengun was drawing charges, diving for loose balls to get key stops and even had the key stop of the game, getting a block on Randle that saw him bloody his lip at the end of regulation to extend the game to overtime.
The overtime period was a quarter of runs, by both teams. The Rockets went on an 8-0 run, looking like they were going to walk out victorious. However, the Wolves went on a 15-0 run to close the period, becoming the first team since the Phoenix Suns in 2021 to go on such a run in overtime.
The Rockets lost 110-108 and seem entrenched in the sixth seed in the West, as they are now 1.5 games back from the Wolves for the fifth spot and 3.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns, who are in the seventh spot. Durant finished with 30 points, albeit on an inefficient 22 shots and had a key missed free throw in overtime, while Sengun also had 30 points on 22 shots.
Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard went a combined 10-of-28 from the field and 4-of-16 from deep, in addition to five turnovers. Amen Thompson had a near triple double, with 11 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
The Azzurri are under pressure to avoid failing to qualify for soccer’s biggest event for a third consecutive time after being eliminated by Sweden in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2022.
In all, 16 teams are competing for four spots at the World Cup in North America.
Eight one-off semifinals are followed by four finals next week. The winners of the finals secure qualification.
Path A: Italy vs. Northern Ireland, Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Path B: Ukraine vs. Sweden, Poland vs. Albania.
Path C: Turkey vs. Romania, Slovakia vs. Kosovo.
Path D: Denmark vs. North Macedonia, Czech Republic vs. Ireland
Juan Soto, Tarik Skubal, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge will be in the mix for awards this season. Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty)
The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is …
A welcome introduction. Recent years have seen a tactical flattening of the game with the introduction of the universal DH, the banning of the shift and the three-batter minimum rule, but this adds an interesting wrinkle to game management. The league table of catchers’ challenge percentages will be fascinating. AE
The robo-ump makes me sick, but I also didn’t love the pitch clock and I could never go back to 3hr 45min games. In the end I think we’ll all get used it fairly quickly. Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo claimed he wouldn’t use it all year and didn’t make it one inning before he reversed course. BAG
Count me among the naysayers. There’s something pure about a pitcher figuring out the nuances of a particular ump’s strike zone. And ABS minimizes an important aspect of a catcher’s repertoire: framing. MJ
Umps have gone from God to gotcha thanks to instant replay and now, ABS. It’s been a slow, painful demise for the men in blue and now umps will be emasculated even more acutely. That said, strike zones will become more consistent, and once the umps just give up and learn what the computer likes, we’ll probably see fewer challenges and fewer embarrassing moments. DL
Shohei Ohtani is the greatest player since …
Eddy Merckx? Michael Phelps? Jan Zelezny? Leonidas of Rhodes? Secretariat? At this point you have to look beyond baseball and start making comparisons with other sports’ greatest ever competitors. What he is doing should be impossible. AE
He’s the greatest to ever do it, full stop. Ruth never faced 100mph sliders. Bonds never took the mound. Ohtani’s doing both at historic levels in the analytics age. BAG
There really is no comp for the value and domination Ohtani has brought to the game. No offense to The Babe, but he wasn’t exactly hitting off flamethrowers or throwing the ball 100mph like Ohtani. MJ
Himself! Ruth made 36 starts over two years before his hitting prowess forced him off the mound, while Ohtani has made nearly 90 starts over the past four seasons in which he has hit full-time. You can’t take your eyes off him. DL
What I’m most looking forward to …
Last year was supposed to be the year the Orioles’ young stars properly broke through. Instead, it was a disaster – players couldn’t find a rhythm, injuries piled up and the rest of the American League East was the strongest it had been in years. But the young core is back, Pete Alonso has joined, there’s a new manager, and the new owners seem to be more ambitious than the Angelos family was. AE
Seeing whether October bends to LA once more or finally breaks them. We haven’t seen this kind of superteam-v-the field tension since the fin-de-siècle Yankees. The Dodgers feel like a team all but nailed-on for a coronation, which usually means something weird is coming. The fun will be finding out which contender, if any, is bold enough to disrupt it. BAG
Exciting prospects. From elite infielders Konnor Griffin (Pirates), Jesús Made (Brewers), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) and JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals) to power hitters Travis Bazzana (Guardians) and Sebastian Walcott (Rangers), there’s a great chance at least a couple of these prospects become household names. MJ
MLB and the MLB Players’ Association using every minute of this season to get together and figure out the next collective bargaining agreement. This is hard to believe, but baseball is actually on the rise for the first time in for ever after a great season, World Series and World Baseball Classic. It has real momentum, and to have an extended work stoppage that cancels or shrinks next season is sports suicide. DL
Young player to watch …
Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo played 31 games last year and averaged just .165, but the Camden Yards front office clearly saw something in him and signed him to an eight-year extension. Spring training is largely meaningless but the 21-year-old finished it with an OPS of 1.115 including several big home runs. Everyone in Baltimore loves Adley Rutschman, but if he has another down year, Basallo will be waiting in the wings. AE
Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony feels like the next face-of-the-league test case: a blue-chip prospect with only 71 games of big-league experience fixed to be the everyday leadoff hitter for an AL East contender. One of the World Baseball Classic’s breakout stars, the 21-year-old has even been hyped as a MVP candidate. BAG
Travis Bazzana. It’s not just that Bazzana, drafted first overall by the Guardians in 2024, is Australian. The kid was balling out this spring. The infield prospect’s power was on display for Team Australia in the WBC and for the Guardians – he hit two homers in a game last weekend. Bazzana will start in Triple A but there’s already buzz around his presumed call-up, which could turn the back-to-back AL Central winner into even more of a juggernaut. MJ
Well, the Pirates have a two-for-one now that pitching phenom Bubba Chandler has earned a spot on the rotation. The onetime two-way player who gave up the dream to focus on pitching will be Pittsburgh’s fifth hurler after Buccos brass wisely decided to start the 23-year-old rather than put him in the bullpen. DL
MVP winners will be …
It’s hard to look beyond Ohtani in the National League, for reasons outlined above. In the AL it’s trickier – Cal Raleigh deserved it last year, but Aaron Judge plays in a major market, is relentlessly consistent, and has shown he’s not a one-off. AE
It’s Ohtani in the NL and the Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez in the AL. The 25-year-old Rodríguez, just entering his prime, has the supporting cast in place to turn his electric tools into a season too overwhelming for voters to overlook. BAG
Ohtani (NL) and Bobby Witt Jr (AL). Make that four in a row for Ohtani. The AL race is a tad more fun, and I’ll cast a vote for Witt to double down on his all-around dominant 2025 and regain the batting title he won in 2024. MJ
Let’s be honest: the only way Ohtani and Judge don’t win the MVP awards is if they get hurt. DL
AL East winners …
The Yankees. Toronto were one the league’s luckiest teams last year and rode that fortune to within one out of winning it all, but are likely to fall back a bit. It’s the strongest division in baseball again, and any of the five teams could win it, but there is always an inevitable feeling about the Yankees. AE
Blue Jays. It’s the most volatile division in baseball, but Toronto’s recent October experience and offensive ceiling give them the narrowest edge. Health is the swing factor, yet if even a portion of the rotation stabilizes, their lineup can outslug anyone in a division where margins are razor-thin. BAG
Red Sox. There are safer picks. The Yankees have a superhero hitter and mostly unchanged roster that was successful in 2025. The Blue Jays were inches away from a World Series victory. It will be hard for Toronto to duplicate that effort, though, especially with Bo Bichette’s departure. But I’m smitten with Boston’s potential give their young talent, how well Anthony hit in the WBC, and adding Ranger Suárez to a rotation already featuring Garrett Crochet. MJ
If Gerrit Cole comes back and is healthy and effective, the Yankees will have a superb pitching staff, but I still like the Blue Jays to repeat as AL East winners. Yes, they lost Bichette, but they did sign Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to help fill their power gap, and the pitching staff is still rock solid. DL
AL Central winners …
The Royals. Tarik Skubal will depart the Tigers at some point, leaving them significantly weaker. The Guardians are arguably past their peak, which makes it time for the Royals’ decade of rebuilding to finally pay off. AE
Tigers. This is less about dominance than comparative stability. Detroit’s pitching foundation, bolstered by the Framber Valdez addition, gives them a higher floor than rivals with more obvious flaws. In a division defined by uncertainty, the Tigers are the safest pick. BAG
Tigers. Detroit were already the favorite in baseball’s weakest division. Then they signed Valdez. The Royals are intriguing by virtue of Witt’s presence. But none of the teams in the division did much this offseason to bolster their chances. MJ
Oh, the middling Central, where you never know who to pick because, well, who knows? That’s why I’m picking the Royals, with their young talented roster about to be infused with one of the best catching prospects in the sport, Carter Jensen. DL
AL West winners …
The Mariners have such a fun, likable team and it still feels as if they’re on an upswing. All the projections put them well ahead of their division rivals. And even though it would feel extremely Mariners-y for them to miss the playoffs regardless, they are just too well-rounded to fail completely. AE
Mariners. The consensus favorite on merit, Seattle’s elite pitching and improved offense make them the most complete team in the AL. Raleigh may not belt 60 homers again, but paired with a fully unleashed Rodríguez and a deeper, more balanced lineup, Seattle won’t need a historic outlier to score enough runs. BAG
The Astros are on a clear downward trajectory. The Rangers’ big acquisition of MacKenzie Gore could easily be a bust. The A’s may hit a billion home runs this season, but it won’t be enough to compensate for a weak pitching staff. That leaves the juggernaut Mariners. MJ
We know who it won’t be – the Angels, whose owner Arte Moreno doesn’t believe winning is a top priority for the team’s fans. That’s a hot take! They do actually enjoy winning in Seattle, where the Mariners fell just a game short of reaching their first World Series. Their three-headed pitching monster of Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo and Bryan Woo, mixed with Raleigh and company should have enough to hold off Houston for a second consecutive season. DL
NL East winners …
It’s been a strange offseason for the Mets, but they’re clearly trying to get over their disappointing 2025 quickly by focusing on the immediate future, with short and short-ish contracts for newcomers Bichette, Luis Robert Jr and Freddy Peralta. All have proved their quality and if they gel, they could dominate the division. AE
Phillies. How many more times can Rob Thomson and Co run it back with this core? The answer may be one. But the lineup can still rake and the rotation is deep even before Zack Wheeler’s anticipated return in late April. The free-spending Mets will push them, but Philadelphia’s October-tested identity gives them the edge over 162 games (even if their final grades have left something to be desired in recent years). BAG
This shapes up to be a tight one. The Mets and Phillies are clear contenders, but the Phillies are old, and the Mets’ collapse is too recent to have faith. Enter the Braves and Ronald Acuña Jr, who returns to earlier career form. Atlanta also didn’t lose anyone significant and enter the season with a stacked, healthy roster. MJ
Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski said Bryce Harper’s 2025 season was “not elite”, and despite that being a correct assessment, it still hurt the first baseman’s feelings. That’s water under the bridge according to the pair, but I don’t buy it. Wheeler is recovering from injury, Suárez is now in Boston, and suddenly the Phils seem stale. So they’re no match for a revitalized Mets roster filled with multiple defensive gamers playing out of position. Yes, they’re the Mets, and yes, the team is a bit weird, and yes, it’s a make-or-break season for team president David Stearns, but the worn-down Phils will yield to the team in Queens as things turn around for the Amazins’. DL
NL Central winners …
The Pirates have been awful for a decade, but this may be the year that ends. Paul Skenes is the most exciting pitcher in the league, and Griffin is MLB’s top prospect. The Pirates weren’t quite ready last year and didn’t meet expectations, but the young stars and a weak division could mean Pittsburgh’s window is opening. AE
It’s a coin-flip division, but Chicago’s balance – enough pitching, enough lineup upside, fewer glaring weaknesses – makes them the safest bet. Milwaukee’s development machine keeps them close, yet the Cubs’ incremental improvements across the roster give them the slight advantage in a division no one has put their stamp on. BAG
It’s hard not to be smitten with the Cubs give their monster offseason additions, Alex Bregman and Edward Cabrera. They finally have to depth the overcome the Brewers. Look for the Pirates to make a run after adding several powerful bats. MJ
It’s the Milwaukee miracle: nine seasons, seven playoff appearances, just one finish below second place. For a tiny market, you can’t do much better than that, and if it weren’t for those pesky Dodgers, the Brewers might have even made it to their second World Series. That said, they traded Peralta and Caleb Durbin, so they’re going to rely on their younger up-and-comers to bridge the gap, hold off the Cubs and win their fourth straight division title. DL
NL West winners …
The Dodgers, obviously. But to make it a bit more interesting, I’ll predict they win more than 105 games but fewer than 110. AE
This isn’t really a race so much as a formality. The question isn’t whether they Dodgers win the division, but how hard they’ll gun it during the regular season. With unmatched depth and star power, they’re playing a different game than everyone else. BAG
Let me think. Oh yeah, the Dodgers. The only time in the past 13 years they haven’t won the NL West, they still cranked out 106 wins. They are the ultimate destination for free agents too, this year snagging Kyle Tucker, the best overall free agent, and the best available relief pitcher, Edwin Díaz. MJ
I picked the Rockies last year and was let down. I’m not picking them again this year, but am wondering, will they win 60 games? Not necessarily, but it is possible. What does this have to do with the Dodgers? Nothing. Will LA win the West? Yes. Who will finish second? San Diego, despite looking weaker in 2026. DL
AL wildcards …
Orioles, Blue Jays, Astros. AE
Yankees, Red Sox, Royals. BAG
Blue Jays, Royals, Yankees. MJ
Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers. DL
NL wildcards …
Cubs, Braves, Padres. AE
Mets, Braves, Brewers. BAG
Brewers, Pirates, Mets. MJ
Cubs, Phillies, Padres. DL
ALCS
Yankees over Orioles. AE
Mariners over Blue Jays. BAG
Mariners over Yankees. MJ
Mariners over Red Sox. DL
NLCS
Dodgers over Mets. AE
Dodgers over Phillies. BAG
Dodgers over Cubs. MJ
Mets over Dodgers. DL
Your World Series winners will be …
Dodgers over Yankees. The Dodgers are the best team in the league for boring reasons: they have the biggest payroll by far, and the best player in history. The depth of their roster is ridiculous – an injury to any other team’s ace could derail an entire season, but the Dodgers would barely notice. If they’re stuttering in July, they’ll just overpay at the trade deadline for whoever’s having a good year. The Yankees are probably best placed to try to stop them, but it’s hard to imagine any other outcome than a third consecutive title. AE
Mariners over Dodgers. All $ign$ point to three-peat in Chavez Ravine: unmatched rotation depth, a lineup with no soft spots and Ohtani elevating the whole operation’s confidence. It should be a cakewalk for an LA team who can beat you in so many different ways, but baseball is funny sometimes. Seattle have a deep rotation of their own that can go toe-to-toe with anyone, while Andrés Muñoz anchors a bullpen built for tight postseason games. Once they finally shed the dubious distinction of being the last active major-league club to have never appeared in a World Series, look for the Mariners to take it one further in unforgettable fashion. BAG
Dodgers over Mariners. Back in Tiger Woods’s prime, every major would lead with the question, Tiger or the field? Only a fool would bet the field. That’s the current Dodgers who, barring disaster or lots of weirdness, will three-peat. They plugged two minor holes this offseason, nabbing Tucker to fortify their outfield defense and signed star closer Díaz. The Dodgers have no weakness. Even if Ohtani’s batting is hurt by an increased load on the mound, he’s still the best player in baseball by a mile. The Mariners, so close to making this World Series happen last year, will snag a win or two thanks to an excellent rotation and closer. Jack of all trades Brendan Donovan is a nice boost and prospect Colt Emerson could add some pop, but Seattle just don’t match up toe-to-toe with the Dodgers. MJ
Mets over Mariners. Just imagine the confetti flying out of the windows on a crisp October afternoon. Hot pretzels fly off the carts. Four million souls line Broadway as the floats make their way down towards City Hall. The Mets beat Seattle in seven with a walk-off home run – I’m not sure who will hit it, that hasn’t come to me yet. When it does, I’ll let you know. What I do know is that Stearns is building meticulously, and though he had to make hard decisions, and did have a disastrous 2025, the team have a different quality. With a few deadline additions, they’re championship calibre. DL
The Netflix logo appears on a smartphone screen in Ontario, Canada, on March 16, 2026. (Photo by Thomas Fuller/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Athletic | Andrew Marchand: As MLB, and sports leagues around the country, tries to keep juicing television revenues, it becomes harder and harder for fans to keep track of where their favorite team’s games will be shown. The Yankees’ opener on Netflix last night was symbolic of the fractured nature of the TV landscape, with fans needing a paid subscription to access the opening night game, the only Yankees game Netflix will broadcast this year. Regular season Yankee games will be broadcast on eight different platforms this year, plus two more if they make the playoffs, though it should be noted that fans that have access to a cable subscription and Amazon will at least be able to watch the vast majority of Yankees games. It forces one to ask, were we better off before we started cutting the cords?
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Luis Gil didn’t make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, a move that makes plenty of sense given the team’s early-season setup. Not only do the Yankees not need a fifth starter until April 11th, but Gil now has a chance to continue to work on some adjustments to his arsenal and mechanics. “We feel good about the adjustment he made going into the last outing,” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “Got the quality of the fastball back, the velo up.” Rather than a setback, this trip to the minors could prove to be a stepping stone for Gil, who will look to recapture his 2024 Rookie of the Year form in 2026.
The Ringer | Ben Lindbergh: José Caballero made history last night, becoming the first player in history to challenge a ball/strike call (he lost). Lindbergh writes that the ABS challenge system, which rolls out in full this season, might soon be history too. The system was tested to very positive reviews in the minors, but that’s just the thing; once fans and players see how easy it is to overturn missed calls, how long will it be before calls for fully automated strike zones take over?
MLB Trade Rumors | Steve Adams: The Dodgers signed former Yankees reliever Jake Cousins to a major-league contract for a guaranteed $950K. Cousins had a bit of a breakout with the 2024 Yankees, posting a 2.37 ERA over 38 innings, but underwent Tommy John surgery last June. He projects to return some time this summer.
And, before the season officially started last night, the Yankees got through some roster housekeeping:
Following Tuesday’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves: • Placed LHP Carlos Rodón on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to 3/22) with left elbow surgery recovery. • Placed INF Anthony Volpe on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to 3/22) with left shoulder…
No surprises here. Carlos Rodón, Anthony Volpe, and Gerrit Cole all start the year on the injured list, all with target return dates over the next couple of months.
The Boston Bruins are in the midst of a very competitive playoff race in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, and even though they are in a strong position to qualify for the postseason, the job is far from finished.
A brutal 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on home ice Tuesday night was a setback, but the Bruins earned a much-needed two points Wednesday night with an overtime victory versus the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres.
Only 10 games remain on the Bruins’ schedule, and plenty of challenges await on the road to the postseason.
Let’s look at the state of the East playoff race and where the Bruins stand entering Wednesday.
Standings
Atlantic Division
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Wild Card
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If the Bruins make the playoffs, it will most likely be in a wild card spot, but they could also still finish top three in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens and Bruins both have 88 points in third place, but Montreal has two games in hand.
The wild card battle is currently a four-team race, with the Islanders in the worst position of the group. The Bruins are in a good spot with a three-point edge over the Senators and Islanders, along with more regulation wins than the Islanders and Red Wings. Regulation wins is the first tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins (ROW).
The Bruins will take two points any way they can get them, but accumulating them in regulation is the most impactful way to help their cause.
Remaining schedule
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Jeremy Swayman has been one of the NHL’s best goalies this season.
The No. 1 argument for why the Bruins could miss the playoffs is their schedule. It’s brutally tough the rest of the way. In fact, it’s the hardest remaining slate in the league, per Tankathon.
Seven of the Bruins’ final 10 games are against teams currently in a playoff spot. Six of the 10 are on the road. They play the teams with the second-best, third-best, fifth-best, sixth-best and ninth-best records.
Two matchups remain against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who might be the best team in the East right now. Two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets remain, too, and those matchups will be pivotal (CBJ has 87 points as the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division). Both of those matchups are in Columbus.
Boston’s “easiest” games are against the Panthers and Devils. The Panthers are a tough team to beat and have given the B’s trouble for years, while the Devils beat the Bruins just 10 days ago.
With a bunch of good opponents remaining, plus three more back-to-backs, the Bruins will need to play their best hockey of the season to secure enough points to earn a playoff spot.
What the analytics say
MoneyPuck’s model gives the Bruins a 75.1 percent chance of making the playoffs. HockeyStats’ model gives the Bruins a 71 percent chance. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s model gives the B’s a 57 percent of reaching the postseason.
What must happen for the Bruins to make the playoffs?
They need Jeremy Swayman to keep playing at a Vezina Trophy level. He ranks third among all goalies with 28.3 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, and his 4.72 WAR (wins above replacement) also ranks third-highest in the league.
Strong goaltending has been the primary factor in the Bruins exceeding expectations so far this season. That trend has to continue for the Bruins to punch their ticket to the playoffs, especially when you consider seven of their last 10 games are against opponents who rank top 13 in goals scored per game.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics react during the game after the game on March 25, 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
In the Celtics 119-109 statement win over the Thunder, Joe Mazzulla went with a tight nine-man rotation. In what felt like a Finals preview, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown performed at a championship level against the defending champs after laying an egg on Sunday against the visiting Timberwolves.
The game was speckled with some questionable calls. Boston and Oklahoma City combined for 55 trips to the line and just twenty turnovers. In the end, the Celtics identity shined through to win the possession battle with the team hitting 18-of-41 from behind the arc and dominating the offensive glass to the tune of 19 second chance points to the Thunder’s 2.
Currently, our friends at FanDuel have the Thunder at a +130 to represent the Western Conference and the Celtics sharing odds with the Spurs at +600.
Jayson Tatum
35 minutes, 19 points (3-6 from 3, 6-6 from the free throw line, 5-12 from the field), 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 5 turnovers, 1 block, +2
As quickly as Tatum has recovered from his Achilles tear, it seems as though his assimilation back into the rotation has proportionately been just as fast. In his ninth game back, JT nearly registered a triple-double in a very laboring matchup with the defending champs with 19 points (3-of-6 from 3), 12 rebounds, and 7 assists (and 5 turnovers). It wasn’t a perfect performance, but considering the opponent and their physicality, it was another step in the right direction with ten games to go before the playoffs.
Grade: A
Jaylen Brown
39 minutes, 31 points (1-3 from 3, 12-14 from the free throw line, 9-17 from the field), 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, +7
Since Tatum’s return, Brown has ceded some of the scoring responsibilities to his counterpart. His shot attempts are down, but he’s averaging more assists and made a concerted effort to drive the ball and get to the line.
Against the Thunder, JB was intent on testing the league’s best defense at the rim. With a handful of spectacular finishes and fourteen trips to the line, he carried the team with 14 points in the 3rd and 10 more in the 4th. It was MVP-level work.
After a close loss in Oklahoma City, Brown was critical with the officiating that night and in general, particularly SGA’s whistle and stars like him “foul baiting” and manipulating the game with flopping. The NBA’s iconoclast made it a point to show the league the difference between toughness and the grift.
Grade: A+
Derrick White
33 minutes, 12 points (2-7 from 3, 4-4 from the free throw line, 3-11 from the field), 2 rebounds, 6 assists, one turnover, +6
DWhite didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but his two back-to-back threes in the second quarter got the Celtics back into the game after trailing by double digits. Along with the Jays in the final frame, White was part of the trio that limited SGA to just one shot in the fourth quarter.
Thunder are double teaming Tatum now. Derrick White has hit back to back threes pic.twitter.com/9mgYHZZRo5
After spending much of the season as the de facto starting point guard, White should benefit with more catch-and-shoot threes as teams start to double team Brown and Tatum and dare the rest of the team to beat them.
Grade: B
Payton Pritchard
33 minutes, 14 points (4-6 from 3, 5-11 from the field), 2 rebounds, one assist, one turnover, 1 block, +11
OKC is super switchy with strong perimeter defenders up and down the roster. Much of Pritchard’s isolation game is predicated on taking advantage of mismatches
Like White, Pritchard is going to get more open looks playing next to the Jays. He was 4-of-6 from 3
Grade:
Sam Hauser
29 minutes, 19 points (3-8 from 3, 3-19 from the field), 5 rebounds, +4
In the first quarter, it felt like the Thunder were leaving Hauser wide open behind the arc in favor of clogging up the paint. It’s too bad that Hauser couldn’t covert, going just 1-for-5 from 3. In the second half,
Grade: B
Neemias Queta
30 minutes, 13 points (3-4 from the free throw line, 5-7 from the field), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, +3
Neemi’s greatest area of improvement this season is his understanding of time and space. No, this is not a Robert Williams III reference, but like The Timelord, he’s figured out in Year 3 with the Celtics where to be at the right place and more importantly, at the right time.
He outscored both Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein working off the pick-and-roll with Tatum and being careful not to flash too soon into a passing lane and disrupting the team’s spacing. This dunk on Holmgren is the perfect representation of holding the screen long enough for Tatum to draw two, waiting at the free throw line to catch the pass, and using that runway to rise over Holmgren:
9 minutes, 3 points (1-2 from 3, 1-2 from the field), 2 rebounds, -3
The rookie played nine minutes in the first half and matched up predominantly against SGA. Frankly, he got cooked a bunch, but that was more about the MVP doing MVP things rather than Gonzalez not sticking to him. Tip of the hat to better offense beating good defense.
Grade: C
Luka Garza
12 minutes, 7 points (1-2 from 3, 0-1 from the free throw line, 3-4 from the field), 2 rebounds, one turnover, +9
Production-wise, you never know what you’re going to get from Garza; what you can rely on is that he’s going to root around the restricted area and do everything he can to earn a couple of Tommy points off the offensive glass. Oh, and the 43.1% three-point shooter will hit a 3 or two if teams are silly enough to leave him open at the top of the arc.
Grade: B+
Baylor Scheierman
20 minutes, 11 points (3-7 from 3, 4-8 from the field), 5 rebounds, one assist, +11
Scheierman absolutely owned the second half. With two threes and a forced turnover against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the third and another triple and putback dunk in the fourth, he had TD Garden rocking as the Celtics gained the lead and never relinquished it.
Like Luka, Baylor has become the unlikely difference maker in so many of these wins by finding ways to make winning plays. He always in the hunt for offensive rebounds and become a nifty finisher off the dribble because of his consistent shooting. If that wasn’t enough, what’s keeping him on the floor is his versatile defense against the league’s best.
Grade: A+++
DNP-CD: Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., Amari Williams, Max Shulga, Charles Bassey
SAN FRANCISCO — Max Fried signed with the Yankees before last season with the idea of pitching at the top of the rotation, alongside Gerrit Cole.
But when Cole was lost for all of last season with Tommy John surgery, Fried took charge as the ace of the rotation.
With Cole approaching a return at some point in late May or early June, he and Fried should be able to provide that anticipated one-two punch soon enough.
Fried left after 86 pitches and was dominant after the first despite insisting he didn’t have his best stuff — a sentiment Aaron Boone agreed with.
“It was one of those outings you’ve got to try to figure out how to get it done when you aren’t the most locked in out of the gate,” Fried said. “You grind through it.”
Max Fried throws a pitch during the Yankees’ 7-0 Opening Day win over the Giants on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Boone said of Fried: “He can beat you in different ways … his arsenal is so vast that he makes you have to account for a lot of things.”
It includes a four-seam fastball, cutter, sinker and curveball, with some sweepers, changeups and sliders mixed in.
Boone noted that since Fried’s cutter wasn’t as effective as it usually is, his four-seamer was even more important.
It all added up to Fried easily outpitching San Francisco ace Logan Webb.
Max Fried delivers a pitch during the Yankees’ Opening Day win over the Giants in San Francisco. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“That’s what an ace looks like when he’s grinding,’’ Boone said.
Certainly, something must have changed after that rough top of the first, when Fried found himself in trouble almost immediately with Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee coming to the plate.
“He was a little more in the zone early and got ahead [in counts],” Austin Wells said.
And Fried credited the early five-run advantage for giving him some breathing room for most of the outing.
“It gives you a little more room for error and you can be aggressive and make adjustments,” Fried said.
It also helps to have filthy stuff, as Ryan McMahon noted.
The third baseman scoffed at the notion that Fried was anything but excellent in his first start.
“He really knows how to pitch,” McMahon said. “He probably told you he didn’t have his best stuff, which is crazy with what he did. He knows how to compete, and we feed off that.”
With a new Major League Baseball season here, a major change will play a unique role in how the year progresses.
Coming to the majors this season is the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, or ABS for short. After many years of players and coaches resorting to ineffective arguing with umpires on controversial pitch calls, the technological advancement will aim to reduce human errors while adding new layers of strategy.
The system has been tested in the minor leagues since 2022, working its way up to MLB Spring Training games last year. It works similarly to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in soccer, but with slightly different regulations and team control.
Here’s everything to know about how the ABS Challenge System will work in MLB as it debuts in 2026:
What is ABS in MLB?
ABS stands for the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System that is being used in baseball and coming to MLB starting in 2026. It helps to ensure important calls are being made correctly and offers balance between human umpires and previously incorporated “robot umps.”
How will ABS work in MLB?
The system monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone. Players can request a challenge on a ball or strike call that they disagree with, which can either be confirmed or overturned after a brief review. A graphic displaying the result will also be available for fans to view on the videoboard inside the respective stadium as the review unfolds.
Challenges will be available at every MLB ballpark, but not at the Mexico City Series, Field of Dreams game or Little League Classic, as those venues will not be able to support the technology.
Ballparks are also required to display the number of challenges remaining for each team using the code “ABS.”
How many ABS challenges will MLB teams have? What about extra innings?
Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece.
If a game goes to extra innings, teams can get an extra challenge in the 10th if they are out. If they use it in the 10th, they can get another in the 11th and so on until the game concludes.
But if a team still has challenges left entering extra innings, they will not get another for that inning until it is used, if necessary. Then they’ll receive another for possible subsequent innings and so on.
Are successful ABS challenges retained?
Yes. But a challenge will be lost if the challenge is not overturned, so they must be used wisely.
Who can issue ABS challenges?
Only the batter, pitcher and catcher can issue challenges, and it must be in the immediate aftermath of an umpire’s call (roughly within two seconds). Outside assistance is prohibited, even from a team’s manager. Umpires can refuse a challenge if they deem the call was aided by non-eligible teammates or coaches.
To issue a challenge, the player can tap their cap or helmet to alert the umpire, but are also encouraged to verbalize it if necessary.
In the event of technological issues, umpires can inform teams that challenges will not be allowed until the situation is resolved, along with an in-park announcement.
Are there any instances a pitch may not be challenged?
Challenges are not permitted when a position player is pitching or right after replay reviews, though it can be case by case.
How will ABS work on broadcasts?
It will remain up to broadcast networks on how they want to display the strike zone box on screens. The main change is that MLB is requesting broadcasters to no longer differentiate the circle in the box depending on whether the pitch is a ball or a strike.
Will ABS challenges be a statistic for MLB players?
Yes, Baseball Savant will include challenge statistics for players. For example, the catchers that are most successful not just at framing pitches but challenging calls will be available to dig through.
For more on the ABS and how it’ll work in MLB, click here.
With a new Major League Baseball season here, a major change will play a unique role in how the year progresses.
Coming to the majors this season is the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, or ABS for short. After many years of players and coaches resorting to ineffective arguing with umpires on controversial pitch calls, the technological advancement will aim to reduce human errors while adding new layers of strategy.
The system has been tested in the minor leagues since 2022, working its way up to MLB Spring Training games last year. It works similarly to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in soccer, but with slightly different regulations and team control.
Here’s everything to know about how the ABS Challenge System will work in MLB as it debuts in 2026:
What is ABS in MLB?
ABS stands for the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System that is being used in baseball and coming to MLB starting in 2026. It helps to ensure important calls are being made correctly and offers balance between human umpires and previously incorporated “robot umps.”
How will ABS work in MLB?
The system monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone. Players can request a challenge on a ball or strike call that they disagree with, which can either be confirmed or overturned after a brief review. A graphic displaying the result will also be available for fans to view on the videoboard inside the respective stadium as the review unfolds.
Challenges will be available at every MLB ballpark, but not at the Mexico City Series, Field of Dreams game or Little League Classic, as those venues will not be able to support the technology.
Ballparks are also required to display the number of challenges remaining for each team using the code “ABS.”
How many ABS challenges will MLB teams have? What about extra innings?
Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece.
If a game goes to extra innings, teams can get an extra challenge in the 10th if they are out. If they use it in the 10th, they can get another in the 11th and so on until the game concludes.
But if a team still has challenges left entering extra innings, they will not get another for that inning until it is used, if necessary. Then they’ll receive another for possible subsequent innings and so on.
Are successful ABS challenges retained?
Yes. But a challenge will be lost if the challenge is not overturned, so they must be used wisely.
Who can issue ABS challenges?
Only the batter, pitcher and catcher can issue challenges, and it must be in the immediate aftermath of an umpire’s call (roughly within two seconds). Outside assistance is prohibited, even from a team’s manager. Umpires can refuse a challenge if they deem the call was aided by non-eligible teammates or coaches.
To issue a challenge, the player can tap their cap or helmet to alert the umpire, but are also encouraged to verbalize it if necessary.
In the event of technological issues, umpires can inform teams that challenges will not be allowed until the situation is resolved, along with an in-park announcement.
Are there any instances a pitch may not be challenged?
Challenges are not permitted when a position player is pitching or right after replay reviews, though it can be case by case.
How will ABS work on broadcasts?
It will remain up to broadcast networks on how they want to display the strike zone box on screens. The main change is that MLB is requesting broadcasters to no longer differentiate the circle in the box depending on whether the pitch is a ball or a strike.
Will ABS challenges be a statistic for MLB players?
Yes, Baseball Savant will include challenge statistics for players. For example, the catchers that are most successful not just at framing pitches but challenging calls will be available to dig through.
For more on the ABS and how it’ll work in MLB, click here.
Per site tradition, we make our picks and lay them bare for all to see. And this year, 10 of us took on the challenge. Here are our section-by-section picks, which we’ll revisit and tabulate in October to reveal the best and worst. And by all means, feel free to listen on four of our writers discussing their picks in our Sox Populi podcast, found on The Feed here on site:
By all means, praise and chide in the comments — and feel free to chip in with your own prognostications, tough guys and gals.
The Tigers and Mariners are clear division favorites in the AL, with a much tougher fight in the AL East. Over in the NL, it’s the Brewers, Mets and Dodgers looking fine in our eyes.
And yes, trust us, dear readers, site suspensions of at least a full week have been discussed for Hannah Filippo, David James and Joe Kiang-Resis. We’ll let you figure out why.
The race for the AL’s best seems quite a fight, at least opposed to the NL. In the case of league worsts, there is fight between two teams in both leagues — and in the AL, no one picked the White Sox! Novel.
And yes, trust us, dear readers, a site suspension of at least a full year has been discussed for Hannah Filippo. We’ll let you figure out why.
Most of us have learned our MVP lessons and are meekly prognosticating repeats wins for Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. It looks like a two-arm race for AL Cy Young, with the NL looking like a runaway for Paul Skenes.
As for the White Sox-specific picks, our wins total ranges from 66 to 80, and for once it is not Brett Ballantini as the most dour pick. It seems an absolute runaway for team MVP and best pitcher, and frankly for Best Rookie as well. And is the usual super-fun contradiction, Hannah Filippo picks Luisangel Acuña as best rookie, while David James has Acuña as the team’s worst player. Most likely, he won’t be either extreme — but that’s why we play the games!
The formatting of our final “tiebreaker” categories (mostly just an excuse to goof off with topical takes of the moment) is a little too difficult to fit onto the page here, but the questions for us all to consider were:
Do the White Sox have a winning record at any point after Tax Day? Do the White Sox select Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 pick? Will Justin Ishiba become owner by December 31? Will the White Sox trade Andrew Benintendi? Will the Birmingham Barons Win a Third Straight Southern League Title? Will the White Sox extend Munetaka Murakami?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 25: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 and Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate 110-108 win against the Houston Rockets at Target Center on March 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 110-108 in overtime. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There have been a lot of crazy nights at Target Center over the years, and tonight’s game is right up there as one of the craziest games in a long time.
On Wednesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Houston Rockets in a game that will play a dramatic role in determining the seeding for the Western Conference Playoffs. The two teams came into the game separated by just half a game in the standings, and with the Rockets leading the season series between the two teams 1-0, a Houston win would clinch it in their favor.
The game started well for the Wolves. They jumped out to a 12-4 lead and carried that lead through most of the first half, including a nasty transition dunk from Naz Reid.
The Timberwolves led the entire first half, but without Edwards, they were unable to sustain consistent offense in the half-court as the Rockets cut the Wolves’ lead to just one heading into halftime.
Houston took a brief lead early in the third quarter, but Minnesota stormed back to build its lead back up heading down the stretch of the game. Jaden McDaniels was the catalyst late in the fourth quarter as he scored five straight Minnesota points, including a stepback 3-pointer and a strip of Kevin Durant for two points on the other end.
Jaden McDaniels nasty PnR stepback 3 + strip steal on Kevin Durant + transition dunk OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/zBWUrGUXUS
That is when the game went totally off the rails. Following an Alperen Şengün layup and a Timberwolves shot clock violation, Julius Randle ran over Şengün, who was setting a screen, for a foul. With the Rockets in the bonus, this meant two free throws.
Upon review (there were many in this game), the play was curiously upgraded to a flagrant foul as the lead official, Scott Foster, said he “launched” into the opposing player.
The flagrant gave the Rockets two free throws and the ball back, which Houston capitalized on as Şengün slammed the ball home to cut the Minnesota lead down to just five.
The Wolves continued to melt down as they turned the ball over on three straight possessions. The Rockets scored on each of their subsequent possession to give themselves a one-point lead. All in all, it was a 12-0 run over about 3.5 minutes of game time that turned a sure win to the Wolves into a dog fight with less than a minute left.
Randle got into the paint for a layup to give the Wolves a one-point lead back before an away-from-the-play foul on an inbounds play from Rudy Gobert gave Durant a free throw to tie the game. The Wolves forced a turnover and nearly had the game won on the other end, but there was no call on the Randle layup attempts as the game went to overtime.
Things went from bad to worse in overtime for the Wolves in overtime as they quickly went down by five points. The Scott Foster show continued from there. Following an upheld call on a review of a Naz Reid charge, Reid was ejected for seemingly saying, “He’s moving.” After the game, the officials were asked about the ejection via the NBA’s pool report and said, “Reid made a statement that questioned the integrity of the officiating crew.”
With Reid ejected, McDaniels on the bench with an injury he sustained late in the fourth quarter, and Gobert out of the game after fouling out, the snowball kept rolling down the hill, and before the Wolves knew it, they had given up the first 13 points of overtime.
If the game ended right there, it would have been crazy enough, but it didn’t. With fans heading toward the exits, the Wolves didn’t quit on the game. They continued to generate good looks on offense and get stops on defense. Mike Conley knocked one down from deep, Kyle Anderson put in an and-1, and Julius Randle put in a layup to cut the Houston lead down to one possession.
Minnesota didn’t stop there, as Donte DiVincenzo tied the game on the next Wolves possession before Randle put the Wolves back in the lead with another layup. In total, it was a 15-0 Timberwolves run that turned a 15-point deficit into a two-point lead.
According to Sportradar, the 13-point overtime comeback was the largest in NBA history since they started keeping track of play-by-play data during the 1996-97 season. The next highest? The Wolves’ nine-point lead was blown in Denver this past Christmas.
After a pair of missed free throws from Durant (one of which was intentionally missed), the Wolves secured a 110-108 victory in one of the most absurd games at Target Center in a long time.
After the game, Randle made his displeasure with the officiating known, yelling out, “That shit didn’t work, Scott Foster,” as he walked back to the locker room. When asked about the flagrant call earlier in the game, Randle responded, “Don’t get me fined, man.”
“I’ve never seen it before,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said about the flagrant call on Randle. “They’re telling me they had a clear opportunity to avoid the screen. They said he sought him out to run him over. I’ve never seen a flagrant like that. He goes through a screen, they call a foul, fine. That’s clearly a foul. Play on. But a flagrant? I don’t know.”
Throughout a long NBA season, there are bound to be games where the officiating doesn’t go the way a team would hope. While those types of games seem to happen more often with Foster on the floor, how a team responds during those types of games is almost as important as the actual result of the game.
“I’m so proud that we didn’t quit,” Gobert said after the game. “We had a lot of opportunities to get very frustrated tonight. For the most part we were able to overcome that. That’s the blueprint for us. We want to win a championship, so we know there’s going to be adversity.”
DiVincenzo gave insigth into what allowed the Wovles to come back in overtime explaining, “That last timeout we just basically regrouped and looked up and we had a lot of time. I think it was like 3:25. That’s a lot of time in the NBA, but we just got stop after stop and executed on offense. We did a great job of getting the ball into Julius’ hands and trusted his decision making and it worked out for us.”
The hope is that a win like this is a springboard to the Wolves finally becoming the team many fans and media think they can be. Through most of the season, something has just felt off about the Wolves. The consistency of performance has not been there, and each solid stretch of play is followed by abhorrent basketball.
On the flip side, the Wolves have shown this season, and really the past few seasons, that when it seems like they are at their lowest, they can dig out of it with one of their best performances of the season. This game, especially the overtime, was a perfect example.
With just eight games left on the schedule, the question is what Timberwolves team will we see down the stretch of the regular season? The team that gave up a 26-2 run late in the fourth quarter and into overtime, or the one that came storming back just when all seemed lost.
Up Next
The Timberwolves get another couple of days off before taking on the Detroit Pistons on Saturday at 4:30 PM CT. The Pistons will be without Cade Cunningham, who suffered a collapsed lung last week. Fans can watch yet another nationally televised game airing on ABC.
Brooklyn Nets (17-56, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (47-26, third in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles plays the Brooklyn Nets after Luka Doncic scored 43 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 137-130 win over the Indiana Pacers.
The Lakers are 23-12 on their home court. Los Angeles is eighth in the Western Conference with 14.7 fast break points per game led by LeBron James averaging 5.8.
The Nets are 8-30 on the road. Brooklyn averages 15.3 turnovers per game and is 4-18 when winning the turnover battle.
The Lakers are shooting 50.0% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points higher than the 49.4% the Nets allow to opponents. The Nets' 44.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 4.1 percentage points lower than the Lakers have given up to their opponents (48.4%).
The teams play for the second time this season. The Lakers won the last meeting 125-109 on Feb. 4. James scored 25 points to help lead the Lakers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Austin Reaves is scoring 23.6 points per game and averaging 4.7 rebounds for the Lakers. Doncic is averaging 39.1 points and 8.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Terance Mann is averaging 7.2 points and 3.1 assists for the Nets. Ben Saraf is averaging 10.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 44.0% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 9-1, averaging 120.9 points, 41.0 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 9.6 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points per game.
Nets: 1-9, averaging 102.6 points, 36.4 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.2 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Deandre Ayton: day to day (back), Marcus Smart: day to day (ankle), Adou Thiero: day to day (knee), Rui Hachimura: day to day (calf).
Nets: Noah Clowney: out (wrist), Nolan Traore: out (rest), Danny Wolf: out (ankle), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: out (hamstring).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers (36-36, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (16-57, 15th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana aims to stop its 10-game home losing streak with a victory against Los Angeles.
The Pacers are 10-26 on their home court. Indiana gives up 120.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 8.8 points per game.
The Clippers are 16-21 in road games. Los Angeles is 6-8 in one-possession games.
The Pacers score 111.9 points per game, 0.6 fewer points than the 112.5 the Clippers allow. The Clippers average 12.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than the Pacers give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Clippers won the last matchup 130-107 on March 5. Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points to help lead the Clippers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jarace Walker is scoring 11.6 points per game and averaging 5.2 rebounds for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith is averaging 14.9 points and 2.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Kris Dunn is averaging 7.7 points, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 22.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 55.1% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 1-9, averaging 114.9 points, 37.8 rebounds, 30.3 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.3 points per game.
Clippers: 5-4, averaging 121.6 points, 38.1 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 10.9 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out for season (rib), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
Clippers: Jordan Miller: day to day (back), 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.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 25: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not when he fell out of the rotation early on this season, not when he had a tough shooting stretch last Summer League in Las Vegas.
The 25-year-old Celtics forward always saw this kind of success coming.
“I’m super confident in my abilities,” Scheierman said after the Celtics’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
That much has been evident from the first time he donned Celtics green.
In his two years in Boston, Scheierman has blown kisses and concocted a myriad of new celebrations. Last year, he invented Jayson Tatum’s wrist celebration. This year, he’s rocked his own ‘thumbs up’ celebration in an ode to the fact he’s playing with a broken thumb.
Scheierman has probably talked more trash to opposing teams’ benches than any player on the team, and carried himself with a swagger more reminiscent of a perennial All-Star than a role player trying to break through.
That seemingly unwavering confidence has translated to plenty of on-court success. And, Wednesday’s win over the Thunder was the latest example of just how successful a season it’s been.
In a 119-109 Celtics win, Scheierman tallied 11 points in 20 minutes, hitting 3 of his 7 three-point attempts. He grabbed 5 rebounds and forced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into a turnover. The Celtics outscored the Thunder by 11 points in his minutes, tied with Payton Pritchard for the best plus-minus on the team.
Still, as per usual, Wednesday’s box score doesn’t begin to capture Scheierman’s impact on the ball game.
“I thought Baylor was great — his shot making,” said Joe Mazzulla. “He was great defensively on his match-ups. He’s a guy that just makes plays.“
Those winning plays can be difficult to quantify and even harder to explain. But, you watch Scheierman play for just a few minutes, and it becomes evident: when he’s on the court, he makes the Celtics better.
His teammates have taken notice, too.
“He can do a little of everything,” Sam Hauser said last month. “At times, it’s really hard to take him off the floor.”
Scheierman’s ability to create chaos on the offensive glass has been a major strength — nearly every time a shot goes up, Scheierman is in the action, whether he’s trying to tip the ball out to a teammate, deflect it off an opposing player, or simply wreak havoc.
There’s no perfect science to crashing the offensive glass, and Scheierman just follows his instincts.
“Shoot, it really just comes down to a feel thing,” he said. “You’re not perfect all the time, but that’s one area they give you a lot of freedom to be able to just crash or stay — so it’s really just a feel thing.”
Mazzulla doesn’t know exactly how to explain Scheierman’s penchant for winning plays, either.
“It’s just who he is,” said Joe Mazzulla. “He just has a knack for making plays. He doesn’t want to be defined by one thing. He doesn’t care if he shoots, he doesn’t care if he has to play defense, crash, take care of the ball. He just has a knack for making basketball plays. It’s a huge strength of his.”
How does Scheierman explain that knack?
“Playing hard, I guess,” he said with a smile. “Just having a little bit of a feel for the game, and a nose for the ball, I guess. And then just competing super hard on both ends of the floor.”
Amazingly, Baylor Scheierman’s impact hasn’t diminished since Jayson Tatum’s return
On the outside, it wasn’t clear what kind of season Baylor Scheierman was going to have.
Last year, he spent most of the season with the Maine Celtics. This year, he began the year on the outskirts of the rotation but became increasingly important as the season progressed.
Scheierman averaged 7.4 minutes per game in October, 14.3 minutes in November, 16 minutes in January, and 24.3 minutes in February, his on-court opportunities steadily climbing as the season progressed.
With Jayson Tatum back in the lineup, one would assume Scheierman’s minutes would be significantly reduced.
But, he’s actually played more in March than any month this season; he’s averaging 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 27.5 minutes of action. His shooting numbers have actually increased since breaking his thumb late last month; Scheierman is shooting 39.2% from three this month, up from 32.7% in February.
Scheierman is no longer starting — Jayson Tatum reclaimed his spot in the starting lineup when he made his season debut on March 6th — but he’s continued to play a pivotal part in the Celtics’ success.
That might be a surprise to some, who saw him struggle in Las Vegas in July and begin the season toward the bottom of the depth chart.
But Scheierman smiled when asked if he was surprised at the success he’s had this season. The answer was an obvious ‘no.’
“The work I put in coming into my rookie year, coming into this year, has prepared me for this,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s just taking it one day at a time, one game at a time. I’m super blessed and grateful for the opportunity, and I just try to take advantage of that. But to answer your question, no, I’m not surprised. I’m super confident in my abilities.”
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
