The Mets designated Luis Garcia for assignment on Sunday.
One part of the Mets’ bullpen makeover is already gone, with Luis García designated for assignment prior to Sunday’s series-finale against the A’s.
After the 39-year-old right-hander was forced into Saturday’s loss, in part because of Luke Weaver’s ineffectiveness, Carlos Mendoza said the bullpen needed to be replenished for Sunday’s game at Citi Field.
So the Mets opted to recall right-hander Joey Gerber from Triple-A Syracuse and are set to lose García, who was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal in January.
The Mets designated Luis Garcia for assignment on Sunday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“We needed an arm, especially with the way we used the bullpen the past couple of nights,’’ Mendoza said. “We feel like we needed some protection there in case something bad happens again.”
Of the decision to DFA Garcia , Mendoza said it was “not an easy one. Luis had to pitch [Saturday] on a day we were staying away from him. [Weaver] got in trouble and we needed a fresh arm here.”
Gerber last played in the majors with the Rays last year, making two appearances, while spending most of the season with Triple-A Durham.
His contract was purchased by the Mets in November and he struggled in four outings in the minors this season.
It appears that the Abbotsford Canucks are dealing with yet another injury. As reported by Rick Dhaliwal of "Donnie and Dhali", forward Nils Åman, "broke his toe over the weekend, his season is over." Abbotsford has two games remaining this year, with both on the road.
Åman has spent the last four seasons with the Canucks organization. This year, he played two games in the NHL, while suiting up for 55 in the AHL. Åman leads Abbotsford with 41 points, while his 35 assists are tied for 22nd in the league.
This season was the second of a two-year deal Åman signed in 2023. He will enter the off-season as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. In 132 career NHL games, Åman has scored eight goals while recording 29 points.
As for his time with Abbotsford, Åman has recorded 95 points in 123 games. He ranks in the top 10 for points and top five for assists. Åman was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020 and signed with the Canucks in 2022 as a free agent.
Feb 22, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Nils Aman (88) skates against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 23: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 23, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Orlando Magic (45-36) at Boston Celtics (55-26) Sunday, April 12, 2026 6:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #82 Home Game #41 TV: ESPN, NBCSB, FDSNFL Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub , WYGM 96.9, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics host the Orlando Magic for the 4th, and final, meeting between these teams this season. They played twice in a row in Orlando with the Magic winning the first game 123-110 and the Celtics winning the second game 111-107. The Celtics won the 3rd game 138-129 in Boston. The Celtics won the series 2-1 last season. The Celtics are 78-58 overall all time against the Magic. They are 51-18 all time in games played in Boston.
This could be a preview of the Celtics most likely first round matchup. Orlando can move up to 6th if they beat the Celtics and Toronto loses to the Nets. If Toronto beats the Nets, Orlando will have to play Philadelphia in the play in to decide the 7th seed. The Celtics are 12-10 against the Magic in the playoffs, including a 4-1 win in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 4 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 9 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta and 10 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 35-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 29-11 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
The Magic are 7th in the East, 6 games behind 4th place Cleveland, 2 game behind 5th place Atlanta and tied with 6th place Toronto. They are 1 game ahead of 8th place Philadelphia, 2 games ahead of 9th place Charlotte and 3 games ahead of 10th place Miami. They are 26-25 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 19-19 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 5 games.
The Celtics have an extensive injury report for this game. Jaylen Brown (Achilles), Neemias Queta (toe), Jayson Tatum (injury management), and Derrick White (knee) are all listed as out. Sam Hauser (back), Payton Pritchard (plantar fasciitis), and Nikola Vucevic (finger) are all doubtful. Hugo Gonzalez was a late addition to the injury list as questionable with foot pain. I have just made a wild guess as to the Celtics starters for this game. For the Magic, Jett Howard (ankle) and Jonathan Isaac (knee) are both listed as questionable.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Max Shulga vs Jalen Suggs
Hugo Gonzalez | NBAE via Getty ImagesFranz Wagner | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jordan Walsh vs Paolo Banchero
Jordan Walsh | Getty ImagesPaolo Banchero | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Luka Garza vs Wendell Carter, Jr
Luka Garza | Getty ImagesWendell Carter, Jr | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Amare Williams Ron Harper, Jr Delano Banton John Tonje
2-Way Players None Injuries/Out Derrick White (knee) out Neemias Queta (toe) out Sam Hauser (back) doubtful Jaylen Brown (Achilles) out Jayson Tatum (injury management) out Payton Pritchard (plantar fasciitis) doubtful Nikola Vucevic (finger) doubtful Hugo Gonzalez (foot) questionable
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Magic Reserves Goga Bitadze Anthony Black Jamal Cain Jevon Carter Tristan daSilva Noah Penda Jase Richardon Moritz Wagner
2-Way Players Colin Castleton Alex Morales Injuries/Out Jett Howard (ankle) questionable Jonathan Isaac (knee) questionable
Head Coach Jamahl Mosley
Key Matchups Jordan Walsh vs Paolo Banchero Banchero is averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. He is shooting 46.2% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc. In 2 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 12.5% from beyond the arc.
Hugo Gonzalez vs Franz Wagner Wagner is averaging 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He is shooting 48.5% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. In 3 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 20.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 42.2% from the field and 25.0% from beyond the arc. Since Hugo is now questionable, if he can’t play I would guess that Ron Harper, Jr starts here. Honorable Mention Baylor Scheierman vs Desmond Bane Bane is averaging 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is shooting 48.5% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc. In 3 games against the Celtics this season he averaged 16.3 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists while shooting 48.6% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the key to winning games. The Celtics are now 4th in the league with a defensive rating of 111.8. The Magic are 14th with a defensive rating of 113.7 In their last loss, the Celtics allowed the Knicks to shoot 53.8% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. They were lax on defense and that cost them the game. The Celtics are going to have to work harder on defense than the Magic and lock down the Magic’s shooters.
Rebound – Rebounding is also a big key to winning The Magic are 19th with 43.3 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 3rd with 46.4 rebounds per game. They simply have to fight harder to grab rebounds than the Magic. Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound. The Celtics can’t score without the ball and a good way to get the ball is to crash the boards.
Effort and Energy for 48 Minutesc- The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. The Celtics are missing a lot of firepower on the injury list and so the best way to make up for that is to play harder than the Magic. The Celtics need to make playing with more effort and energy their identity for the upcoming playoffs and it needs to start with this game.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics play best when they share the ball and keep it moving. They can’t try to do too much individually or the offense gets bogged down. They need to move the ball to find the best shots instead of taking quick shots or over dribbling. They have to move the ball carefully, however, and not turn the ball over. The Magic score 18.6 points off turnovers per game. If the Celtics get sloppy again, the Magic will make them pay.
X-Factors Celtics Pride at Home – The Celtics will have the home crowd behind them and that should give them a boost. The Magic will have all the distractions of playing on the road such as travel, hotel stay, and playing on an unfamiliar court in front of a hostile crowd. The Celtics need to be ready for a team that plays very hard for 48 minutes. The Celtics need to match the Magic’s effort especially on the defensive end. The Celtics have to show pride and play harder than the Magic to protect their home court and get a win against this motivated Magic team.
Next Man Up – The Celtics will be missing at least 4 and possibly as many as 7 players for this game. The stay ready group will get a chance to show that they are ready for playoff minutes and need to take advantage of that opportunity. They need to hit their shots and defend at a high level in order to beat the motivated and healthy Magic.
Officiating – The officiating is always an x-factor. Some referees call the game tight and others let them play. Some favor the home team and others call it evenly. Some refs just seem to have an agenda that doesn’t fit the events on the court. At times they miss important calls that change the momentum of the game. The Celtics need to play well enough not to leave the game in the hands of the officials at the end and they can’t let bad calls take away from their focus.
The NBA regular season concludes on Sunday night with a Nuggets vs. Spurs matchup that offers more betting value in the player prop market than the spread or total.
Our NBA player prop projections break down the expected production on both sides, highlighting where the numbers create betting value.
Alongside our Nuggets vs. Spurs predictions and top NBA picks, here are the best player props to target for April 12.
Nuggets vs Spurs computer picks for April 12
Nuggets
Spurs
Jokic o0.5 threes -150
Fox u6.5 assists -105
Jones u5.5 assists -112
Champagnie u12.5 points -110
Strawther u2.5 threes -135
Fox o1.5 threes -110
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Nuggets computer picks
Nikola Jokic Over 0.5 threes (-150)
Projection: 1.5 threes
Nikola Jokic clearing one three is about as low a bar as it gets, especially in a game Denver actually cares about. With the Nuggets still pushing for seeding, expect full minutes and a normal offensive role.
San Antonio’s defense gives up clean looks to bigs on the perimeter, and Jokic has been more willing to fire.
He's hit at least one 3-pointer in two of his last three games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Jokic Now at bet365!/span
Tyus Jones Under 5.5 assists (-112)
Projection: 4.1 assists
Tyus Jones’ role is the issue here, not his talent. With Denver playing for seeding, the ball is going to live in Nikola Jokic’s hands, not Jones’.
He’s more of a secondary initiator in this offense, and his assist upside is capped unless minutes spike. In a tighter rotation game, that’s unlikely.
Jones has gone Under this total in 14 straight games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Jones Now at bet365!/span
Julian Strawther Under 2.5 threes (-135)
Projection: 2.0 threes
Julian Strawther’s role is always fragile, and that’s amplified in a high-leverage game for Denver. The Nuggets will tighten the rotation, leaning more on trusted options, which limits Strawther’s volume and minutes.
Even if he gets on the floor, he’s a streaky shooter who needs attempts to get there.
He's gone Under this number in 16 of his last 17 games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Strawther Now at bet365!/span
Spurs computer picks
De'Aaron Fox Under 6.5 assists (-120)
Projection: 5.6 assists
De'Aaron Fox’s role is score-first, and that becomes even more pronounced in a meaningless end-of-season spot.
With the Spurs not playing for anything, offensive structure tends to break down, leading to fewer clean assist opportunities. He’s more likely to hunt his own shot than facilitate, and the projection reflects that.
At 5.6 assists, this line is simply a bit too aggressive for his expected usage and game environment.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Fox Now at bet365!/span
Julian Champagnie Under 12.5 points (-110)
Projection: 10.9 points
Julian Champagnie is a decent role player, but 12.5 is a touch too high for someone whose production can disappear fast if the shot volume is not there.
With a projection of 10.9, there is enough cushion to back the Under, especially if his minutes or usage dip even slightly.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Champagnie Now at bet365!/span
De'Aaron Fox Over 1.5 threes (-110)
Projection: 1.7 threes
De’Aaron Fox isn’t known as a high-volume 3-point shooter, but he’s quietly cleared this number with more consistency when his usage spikes.
With a 1.7 projection, you’re not getting a massive edge, but you don’t need one at this line.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Fox Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Nuggets vs Spurs tonight
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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PITTSBURGH, PA - CIRCA 1977: Phil Garner #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during an Major League Baseball game circa 1977 at Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Garner played for the Pirates from 1977-81. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Phil Garner, longtime major league infielder and longtime major league manager, has passed away, it was announced. He was 76.
Garner originally came up with the Oakland A’s, and in 1975 and 1976 solidified what had been an unsettled situation at second base for the A’s, including getting an All Star nod in 1976. During spring training, 1977, Garner was dealt, along with Chris Batton and Tommy Helms, to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Tony Armas (the Elder), Doug Bair, Rick Langford, Mitchell Page, Doc Medich and Dave Giusti.
Garner had a four-plus year run as a key part of the Pirates’ infield, highlighted by his slashing .472/.537/.722 in 10 playoff games in 1979 as the We Are Family Pirates won the World Series.
Garner was dealt at the end of August, 1981, to the Houston Astros for prospect Johnny Ray, with the Pirates giving up their second baseman of the present for their second baseman of the future. Garner played with the Astros until the 1987 trade deadline, when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers. His final season came in 1988 with the San Francisco Giants.
For his career, Garner put up a 29.7 bWAR in 1860 games over 16 seasons, with a .260/.323/.389 slash line an 99 OPS+. He is 68th all time in career bWAR for second basemen.
Garner was named the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers following the 1991 season. He spent seven-plus years as the Brewers’ manager, being let go during the 1999 season with the team sporting a 52-60 record. Garner was hired by the Detroit Tigers in the 1999-2000 offseason — Rangers fans may recall that that was the offseason when Texas traded Juan Gonzalez to the Tigers. The Tigers were not successful during Garner’s time there, however, and he lasted two seasons and six games, being fired in 2002 after the team got off to a 0-6 start.
Garner’s final stop was with the Houston Astros. When the Astros fired Jimy Williams at the 2004 All Star Break, with the club at 44-44, Garner was brought in to take over. The Astros went 48-26 the rest of the way, then beat the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in the NLCS.
Garner led the Astros to the World Series the following year, beating the Braves again in the NLDS and exacting their revenge against the Cardinals in the NLCS. In the World Series, however, the Chicago White Sox proved to be too much, with the ChiSox sweeping the Astros.
The Astros missed the playoffs in 2006, finishing 82-80, and in 2007, with a much different roster than the ones that had had so much success in 2004 and 2005, Garner was fired mid-season when the team’s record was 58-73.
Garner ended his career having managed 2040 games, with a career 985-1054-1 record.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Alex Ovechkin #8 and John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals talk to the referees along side Sidney Crosby #87 and Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during a game at Capital One Arena on January 18, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
BALTIMORE — Zach Eflin is looking forward to 2027, less than a week after having Tommy John surgery on his 32nd birthday.
He left his March 31 season debut after striking out seven and allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings against Texas. He had elbow reconstruction surgery Wednesday.
“I’m in a lot better spot than I was a week, a week and a half ago,” Eflin said Sunday. “I knew something happened on the field. Really felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. I was going through so much this offseason to come back on time and I honestly never felt better in my career before.”
Eflin was 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts while making three trips to the injured list last season. Back trouble ended his season after a July 28 start.
Baltimore re-signed Eflin to a $10 million, one-year deal in December that includes a $25 million mutual option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.
Baltimore hoped the 11-year veteran would be a steady rotation presence, and his 7 1/3 scoreless innings in two spring training starts offered promise.
“I had felt amazing for three games, and there in the fourth inning it took one pitch,” Eflin said. “It was an up-and-away heater or cutter and it just felt like a hamstring cramp in my elbow. Literally out of nowhere. I’d never felt anything in elbow before.”
Eflin, 68-67 with a 4.28 ERA in 201 big league appearances with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Baltimore, hopes to spend as much time as possible around the Orioles this summer as he works to recover and make it back to the majors next year.
“I think that’s why I got it done so early,” Eflin said. “I want to be back as quickly as possible. I’ve been through too much in my life to let this affect me and let this be the thing that brings me down. I’m going to absolutely crush rehab and be back better than ever.”
Also Sunday, the Orioles placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the seven-day concussion injured list retroactive to Thursday and recalled outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez from Triple-A Norfolk. O’Neill is hitting .241 with a homer and four RBIs in 10 games a year after injuries limited him to 54 games in his first season with Baltimore.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays put designated hitter George Springer on the 10-day injured list Sunday because of a fractured left big toe and selected Eloy Jiménez from Triple-A Buffalo.
Springer fouled a ball off his foot in the third inning of Saturday’s 7-4 loss to Minnesota. He finished the at-bat, but was replaced by Myles Straw in the sixth.
Springer went 0 for 1 with a walk and scored a run Saturday. He’s batting .185 with two homers and six RBIs in 14 games.
Springer was a big part of Toronto’s run to the 2025 World Series, hitting .309 with 32 homers and 89 RBIs in the regular season. He also hit the decisive homer in Game 7 of the ALCS against Seattle.
The MVP of the 2017 World Series with Houston, Springer is in the final season of a six-year, $150 million deal with the Blue Jays.
A Silver Slugger with the White Sox in 2020, Jiménez joined the Blue Jays organization on a minor league contract last August but has yet to play for Toronto. An outfielder and first baseman, he hit .257 with one homer and five RBIs in 11 games at Buffalo this season.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 11: Head coach Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche watches as his team plays the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period at Ball Arena on April 11, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche have suffered a litany of injuries this season, but I didn’t expect that trend to strike the coaching staff. Here we are, though, as the Avalanche made a concerned comeback effort that fell short in a game where a stray puck caught their lead bench boss up-high.
Following the game, the Avalanche informed the public that Bednar was “fully alert and conscious” but was heading for a CT scan. Now we know the loose puck resulted in an orbital abrasion and facial fractures that will not require surgery, but will keep him from traveling with the team on their upcoming two-game road trip.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar will not accompany the team on their upcoming two-game road trip due to facial fractures and a corneal abrasion. He will not require surgery at this time and is expected to make a full recovery.
As far as the rest of the game went, Vegas clinched a playoff birth on the back of a Jack Eichel OT winner in what played out as a back-and-forth slugfest.
The Game
Establishing a lead has been a common goal for the Avalanche this season, and last night’s game started with a goal from none other than Devon Toews.
His tally at the 9:17 mark was the result of a point wrister that was screened beautifully by Gabe Landeskog and went right through the seven-hole. 1-0 good guys.
The Golden Knights would only need four and a half minutes to log an equalizer.
Mark Stone scored on the power play on an odd-bounce play where Mitch Marner threw the puck toward the net. It bounced off two players (including Mark Stone himself), fell to Stone’s feet, and he was able to tuck it past Blackwood, and we were tied at one a side after one period of play.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 36th goal of the season by picking the top corner over Blackwood’s right shoulder just two minutes and nine seconds into the second period, and the Knights took the 2-1 lead.
It was Nicolas Roy and Nick Blankenburg combining on a tying goal, Colorado style, as Blankenburg’s shot from the blue line hit the post, went off of Carter Hart, and into the net.
That was Nick Blankenburg’s 7th of the season, and although I’ve been critical of his defensive play in the past, I do see him making strides inside this system. His first goal as an Avalanche should propel that even further.
The third period would come and go all knotted at two a side, and this contest would require OT.
Jack Eichel would prove the OT hero for the Vegas Golden Knights after Martin Necas and Devon Toews nearly combined on a game-winner. The puck fluttered off of Toews’ stick on a grade A chance, which resulted in an odd man rush the other way.
With Mark Stone on his left, Jack Eichel broke in and decided he’d go with the shot rather than the pass and beat Blackwood for the win.
Takeaways
I think it’s safe to say most fans are cool with not seeing the Avalanche in those Nordiques jerseys. They haven’t had much success in them, and now they’ve seen their Head Coach leave the game during a Nords night. It might seem silly, but humans are superstitious, and hockey fans and players take that to a whole other level.
As previously mentioned, it’s nice to see Blankenburg taking steps in the right direction, and moreover, Devon Toews play in the absence of Cale Makar has noticeably improved.
Obviously, not having Makar is less than ideal, but the added pressure has fallen on the remaining defense, and it’s brought out the best in Toewser. Sure, he’d likely want that two-on-one potential game-winner back, but we know about bounces here in Colorado.
Not sure what is happening on home ice for the Avalanche of late, but I’m not going to get too worked up about it. When playoff hockey comes around, having the crowd on your side will go a long way, and if the Avalanche can establish early leads at home, it will prove tough for any opposition to stage a comeback.
One last thing, Erik Johnson is quickly becoming my favorite hockey media personality. Obviously, I have my bias, but putting that aside, he’s been really good at his job and appears more than capable of providing answers we might not get if the questioner were different.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The sneakers worn by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was rushed to the hospital after taking a puck to the face on Saturday, which resulted in facial fractures and a corneal abrasion.
Bednar, 54, will now miss the Avs’ upcoming two-game road trip, at the very least, due to the injuries suffered.
The freak accident took place during Colorado’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
Bednar was admitted to a nearby hospital following the incident and was fully conscious, according to a spokesman for the Avalanche, and underwent a CT scan for an advanced evaluation of the injuries.
Avs head coach Jared Bednar took an attempted dump-in from Keegan Kolesar to the side of the head and has left the bench pic.twitter.com/Qh0uQQSXgd
Bednar was standing behind the Colorado bench as a puck bounced off Knights defenseman Keegan Kolesar’s stick, flying over the boards and hitting the Avs head coach in the face as 16:39 remained in the third period.
He was ultimately aided to the locker room by one of the team’s athletic trainers and replaced in the interim by Avs assistant coach Dave Hakstol.
With three games to go, Colorado has and will finish with the top spot in the NHL’s regular season, currently at 115 points on the year.
Head coach Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche watches as his team plays the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period at Ball Arena on April 11, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
The Avalanche have seven more points than anyone in the league, with the Western Conference foe Dallas Stars sitting behind them at 108.
Colorado is currently the betting favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup with a goal differential of +94, which is 34 goals better than the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are second at +60.
The Lakers are converting Nick Smith Jr. from a two-way contract to a standard NBA contract before the regular season ends.
The signing, which was first reported on Sunday by ESPN, will make Smith eligible for the Lakers’ playoff roster.
Smith, who signed a two-way contract, will have a team option for 2026-27, and his salary for next season is non-guaranteed, a source told The California Post.
The Lakers signed Nick Smith Jr. to a standard NBA contract Sunday, making him eligible for the postseason roster. Getty Images
With star guards Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) sidelined, the Lakers opted for more shooting and backcourt depth going into the postseason.
The Buffalo Sabres positioning for the upcoming playoffs improved slightly after Saturday’s results, as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens used up their games in hand and now have two games left before the end of their regular season on Wednesday. The Sabres chances of finishing first or second in the Atlantic Division and securing home-ice advantage per Moneypuck.com are at 96.4%. The Lightning won 2-1 over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden and moved to within two points of the Sabres for top spot in the Atlantic, while Montreal remained two points back of Buffalo after a 5-2 loss to Columbus at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens received some bad news in the contest, as the club revealed on Sunday that defenseman Noah Dobson suffered an upper-body injury on Saturday and will be re–evaluated in two weeks, which likely excludes the veteran blueliner from seeing action until late in the first round. Montreal recalled defenseman David Reinbacher from AHL Laval, where the former top-five pick has played 57 games this season.
The Habs play the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Sunday, and if they lose in regulation, the Sabres will clinch at least second place in the Atlantic and home ice in the opening round of the playoffs. Buffalo can also clinch if they win in Chicago against the Blackhawks on Monday. Tampa finishes off its regular season schedule with home games against Detroit on Monday and the NY Rangers on Wednesday, while the Sabres finish off their regular season with Fan Appreciation Night against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
If the Sabres win the Atlantic, they are guaranteed to face an Atlantic Division foe in the opening round. The Ottawa Senators clinched a wildcard spot with a 3-0 win over the Islanders on Saturday afternoon, and moved into a tie with the Bruins. The Senators occupy the first wildcard spot due to a tiebreaker, and that spot would face the Atlantic Division winner, while Carolina has clinched home-ice through the Eastern Conference Final and will play the second wildcard club.
Both the Bruins and Senators play on the road on Sunday, with Boston facing the much tougher matchup in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. The Senators take on the Devils in Newark. The Bruins finish off their season at home against New Jersey on Tuesday, while the Senators play in Kanata on Wednesday against Toronto.
The Sabres practiced at KeyBank Center on Sunday morning before departing for Chicago to face the last-place Hawks on Monday night. With Alex Lyon out for at least a week, it is expected that Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff will give Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and rookie Colten Ellis each a start. Luukkonen was in the starter’s net on Sunday, which is a preliminary indicator that the veteran will get the start at the United Center.
The Charlotte Hornets will look to clinch a home Play-In game as they visit the New York Knicks tonight.
New York is resting virtually everyone you’ve heard of on its roster, which has me backing Charlotte to cover in my Hornets vs. Knicks predictions below.
Let’s take a closer look at this matchup as I reveal my free NBA picks for Sunday, April 12.
Hornets vs Knicks prediction
Hornets vs Knicks best bet: Hornets -14 (-110)
The New York Knicks are locked into the No. 3 seed heading into Sunday’s game, which means a significantly diminished lineup for this contest.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson have all been ruled out for the regular-season finale, part of seven players listed on the injury report.
The Charlotte Hornets don’t have that luxury. Charlotte’s second half has put it in a playoff position, and it now has the chance to host its first-round Play-In matchup. Given how the Hornets have played down the stretch, that would make them formidable against anyone, let alone a team that isn’t really trying to win.
Charlotte has gone 10-5 over its last 15 games. That includes beating a Knicks team that was actually trying back in March, when Kon Knueppel went for 26 points in a 114-103 victory.
I don’t think anyone expects the Hornets to blow this opportunity, so the only question becomes whether they can cover a large spread on the road.
Charlotte’s last eight wins have all come by double digits, with seven of those being 14+ point victories. This isn’t a team that takes its foot off the gas when it has the chance to put opponents away.
If the Knicks were playing literally anyone relevant, I might question the size of this spread, but this is a game Charlotte can run away with. I’m taking the Hornets to cover.
Hornets vs Knicks same-game parlay
With the Hornets playing for home-court advantage and the Knicks resting so much of their talent, LaMelo Ball can put up big numbers in a game where Charlotte will be playing its starters until it's sure the game is well in hand. Ball has scored Over 21.5 points in each of his last three games and dished out at least eight assists in five of six, and I’m happy to back him to hit both of those totals tonight.
Hornets vs Knicks SGP
Hornets -14
LaMelo Ball Over 21.5 points
LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: The Big Three
There’s a bit of added drama with my lottery SGP, as Knueppel and Ball are locked in a tight race to see who will lead the league – and set the Hornets record – for most 3-pointers this season.
I like both players to do their best to pad their totals against a weakened Knicks lineup. While we’re at it, let’s also throw in a 3-pointers prop on Grant Williams, who has hit at least two shots from beyond the arc in five of his last six games.
Hornets vs Knicks SGP
Hornets -14
LaMelo Ball Over 5.5 made threes
Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 made threes
Grant Williams Over 1.5 made threes
Hornets vs Knicks odds
Spread: Hornets -14 (-110) | Knicks +14 (-110)
Moneyline: Hornets -850 | Knicks +575
Over/Under: Over 217.5 (-110) | Under 217.5 (-110)
Hornets vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Hornets were outstanding against the spread this season, posting a 50-31 ATS record. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Knicks.
How to watch Hornets vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Tip-off
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Southeast Charlotte, MSG Sportsnet
Hornets vs Knicks latest injuries
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Giannis Antetokounmpo will not play in the Milwaukee Bucks' season finale on Sunday. The team has ruled him out due to a knee hyperextension and bone bruise that has sidelined him for nearly a month. Antetokounmpo had hoped to play a game this season with his two brothers.
That ends what may have been Bucks fans' final chance to see Antetokounmpo in a Milwaukee uniform because a split appears all but inevitable this offseason. Current Bucks coach Doc Rivers talked about that on the Dan Patrick Show last week (hat tip Hoopshype).
"What does Giannis want?. Oh, boy. Um, I don't know. Uh, and we talk probably more than anyone. Um, you know, Dan, it's a tough one because he has done such a great job here in Milwaukee, right? And yet he still wants to win a title. And clearly we have to do a better job here with our roster to make that even look like a possibility. And if we can't do that, then he's going to look outward. And so I think that's a two-fold answer. I think one, if we had all the pieces here, I have no doubt he'd want to stay here. But we don't. And so that puts him in a tough spot."
Marques Johnson, the legendary Bucks player and color analyst for the team's local broadcast, was more direct speaking with Essentially Sports at the Wooden Awards (Johnson was the award's first winner).
"It is as toxic as it appears. It's just a bad situation. Doc Rivers talked about it. I'm not speaking out of turn. He talked about going public about the fact that Giannis was healthy enough to play and the team was holding him back. I didn't like that part about it...
It's too messy right now. So right now, he wants to play on the same court with his two other brothers. I say, 'Let him do it.' He's done enough. He deserves that moment...
"You just go down this rabbit hole of resentment, retribution and revenge. From a business standpoint, if you're trying to attract a free agent and they look at how they treated Giannis, they might think they did him dirty. We don't want that."
This offseason — and very likely before the 2026 NBA Draft on June 24 — the Bucks and Antetokounmpo will sit and discuss their future together. The expectation in league circles is that Antetokounmpo will tell them he will not sign an extension with the team, and the sides should part ways, and with that, the Antetokounmpo trade talk will heat up again. What teams throw their hats into the ring remains to be seen — and the playoffs will have something to say about that — but expect a lot of bidders. And a lot of drama.
Nuggets
Spurs
