PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) looks on during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on March 5, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
Kris Letang’s declining performance has become a hot-button topic for Pittsburgh Penguins fans, and for good reason. Despite the workout/exercise regimen and career accomplishments, he is not the player he was five or 10 years ago. Poor decision-making and defensive struggles have made him a liability at even strength and are contributing to some of the Penguins’ worst on-ice results. But is there any solution in sight? [PensBurgh]
The NHL, if nothing else, is a copycat league, as opposing teams look for the best ways for long-term success, on and off the ice. The Penguins’ surprising turnaround under Kyle Dubas has come from a series of moves that have revitalized the roster. However, other rebuilding teams like the New York Rangers may have trouble replicating the Penguins’ model because the “blueprint” isn’t easily repeatable; success relies on multiple moves all working out at once. [PensBurgh]
The Penguins made a few roster transactions on Thursday. First, the team reassigned rookie forward Avery Hayes to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [Trib Live]
They followed that up by recalling defenseman Ryan Graves to the NHL club following the completion of a conditioning assignment with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. [Trib Live]
After being acquired via trade from the Nashville Predators in March 2025, forward Tommy Novak has carved out a valuable, versatile role for the Penguins, contributing offensively and fitting on multiple lines. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews underwent MCL surgery in New York on Thursday. [ESPN]
The New York Islanders plan to relocate their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ontario, bringing pro hockey back to the city for the first time in years. [TSN]
Ryan Johansen has officially retired after 13 NHL seasons, he announced on Thursday. The former fourth overall pick finishes his NHL career with 110 goals and 252 assists for 362 points in 533 games. [Sportsnet]
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2026: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees steals second base during the second inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. The Phillies beat the Yankees, 6-4. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Today is a good day. Not only is it Friday and the start of the weekend—one that may be chock-full of March Madness action—but it’s also the last one before Opening Day. Just two full workdays remain before Opening Day! Well, I suppose it’s three since for most people, the entirety of another workday will pass on Wednesday before the Yankees and Giants square off in the night game opener, but knowing it’s on deck that day will make the time go faster. Maybe. Possibly. Anyway, I’m feeling good.
On the site today, John will look at the varying career paths of the Yankees’ top 30 prospects from five years ago, and he’ll also preview the 2026 season of a new up-and-comer: flamethrower Carlos Lagrange. Nick will celebrate the birthday of Jersey boy-turned-Yankees southpaw Paul Mirabella, Sam will look ahead at what’s on deck for the defending AL champion Blue Jays, and Madison will answer your mailbag questions.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles
Time: 6:35 p.m. EST
Video: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv
Venue: Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, FL
Questions/Prompts:
1. Does Ryan Weathers’ first impression have you feeling uneasy about him, or are you more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because it’s just spring training?
2. Did your college basketball bracket suffer any serious damage on the first day? (I apparently was way too ambitious about Wisconsin, who will not, in fact, be going to the Elite Eight. Whoops.)
Jordan Walsh’s season has already had two distinct phases.
Back in mid-November, he stepped into the starting lineup and stayed there for the next 20 games. The Celtics went 15–5 during that stretch, and his role made sense within what Boston needed at the time. He defended across positions, ran the floor, and kept the offense moving without forcing anything.
The production followed. In November, Walsh averaged 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24 minutes per game. In December, that jumped to 9.5 points on nearly 70%(!) shooting, with his three-point percentage climbing above 50%. For a young wing on one of the best teams in the league, that’s no joke, especially for someone who, two months prior, most of us were still trying to figure out.
Since then, the shape of his season has changed. His minutes have dropped each month, from 20.6 in December to 15.8 in January, then 14.0 in February, and under 12 per game in March. The production has come down with it.
Boston needed length on the wing. Someone who could defend multiple positions, stay active, and keep possessions moving when the ball found him. Walsh did that, and then some. He was often the one getting the offense to pick up the pace, and took on defensive assignments that allowed others to conserve energy.
Walsh fits the type of wing Brad Stevens has prioritized for years. Defend, connect plays, don’t hijack possessions. It’s the same connective archetype Boston has leaned into across the roster — the idea of building, as Nate Moskowitz recently put it, an army of Derrick Whites. For a stretch, Walsh executed his role well enough to stay on the floor, and the statistics backed up the eye test. On top of that, most of those minutes came in lineups that were already winning, so there wasn’t much reason to change anything.
Where the rotation started to change
The change didn’t come all at once.
It showed up in smaller moments. A shorter stint against Sacramento, then a lineup change against the Clippers, when Sam Hauser moved back into the starting group. After his minutes began to dip, Walsh didn’t point to matchups or rotation decisions. He went straight to impact.
“I think just leaving a print on the game,” he said in January. “The other team has to feel me… Every time I’m on the court, I’ve got to constantly make it hard for everybody else to kind of survive on the other team.”
That quote gets to the heart of why it’s hard to keep minutes on this Celtics roster. On a team this deep, checking the boxes is the bare minimum. To be a real contributor, you have to impact the game in a way that forces the coaching staff to keep you out there.
Jaylen Brown related to a good question about Jordan Walsh’s up-and-down minutes:
“He just needs to keep his mind right and stay focused…He's in a tough spot, because we have a lot of talented players…”
“It’s just that we can go do so many different things,” he said. “You saw what Sam was able to do…our offense was obviously different with him out there.”
Nothing broke. The Celtics just have a lot of toys to play with, and they want to see how they all work together before the playoffs arrive.
The “young wolves” are fighting for the same minutes
Jaylen Brown recently called the Celtics’ youthful wings the “young wolves.” That group has been competing for the same rotation spots all season.
Walsh is competing directly with Baylor Scheierman, Hugo González, and the newest wolf cub, Ron Harper Jr., for minutes that don’t have much margin to begin with.
From a statistical standpoint, Walsh’s profile stands out in one specific area. He uses very little of the offense.
Among the group of wolves, Walsh’s usage rate sits near the bottom, around 11%. Scheierman is slightly higher. Harper Jr. and González operate in a similar range, but with more on-ball responsibility in short stretches.
That low-usage role can work (it did earlier in the season), but it comes with a tradeoff. When you’re not creating offense, your value has to show up quickly in other areas.
Walsh does that defensively. Last season, Xavier Tillman dubbed Walsh “The King of the Lockdown.” Bit of a clunky nickname for my liking, but the point stands. His activity, length, and ability to disrupt possessions still give him a clear edge on that end compared to most of the other young players.
Offensively, the gap is slightly visible when it comes to decision-making and versatility.
Scheierman has earned trust as a secondary playmaker as the season has gone on. His assist-to-usage numbers reflect that, showing a real comfort making reads with the ball in his hands. González, even in more limited minutes, has shown flashes of that same ability.
Walsh’s assist rate, by comparison, sits near the bottom of the group. That doesn’t make him ineffective. It just narrows the ways he can put his fingerprints on a possession offensively. When the ball finds him, the play usually needs to move quickly — catch, swing, or finish.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 12: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics shoots a three point basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 12, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On a roster like this, the players who stay in the rotation tend to give Mazzulla multiple options within the same possession. Shooting, passing, or attacking off the catch. The more paths a player offers, the easier it is to keep him on the floor.
Walsh’s path is more defined. Defend, run, finish plays. Earlier in the season, that path was enough to hold steady minutes. As the rotation tightened and more talent rose to the surface, that path became harder to rely on consistently.
The margin for Walsh right now
There was a sequence against Oklahoma City last week that keeps replaying in my head as I write this article. Sam Hauser jumps a passing lane, pushes it ahead, and Walsh steps into a transition three and knocks it down. Clean, immediate, decisive. No hesitation, no extra dribble, no pause. That version of Walsh fits anywhere in this rotation. You don’t have to think about it and, more importantly, neither does anyone else.
The challenge is not knowing how often that version is going to show up possession to possession. In a tighter rotation, the ball finds different players in similar spots, and the ones who stay on the floor tend to keep the advantage moving in the right direction. Catch, decide, go. When that rhythm stalls, even briefly, the possession shifts somewhere else. On a team with this many options, that’s usually all it takes for Mazzulla to start looking for other answers.
Now, the context around those possessions has changed even more. With Tatum back and his minutes climbing into the low 30s, there are simply fewer opportunities to begin with. The role Walsh filled earlier in the season hasn’t disappeared, but it has shrunk, and it now requires a sharper version of the same impact to justify staying on the floor.
That’s the bar Walsh is trying to clear now. Not whether he can contribute, because he already has, but whether he can do it in a way that keeps him in the flow of what Boston is doing on both ends, game after game after game. The minutes earlier in the season proved he belongs in that mix. The last few weeks have shown how narrow that window can get.
Walsh said it himself. The other team has to feel him. Otherwise, we might not see him.
The action Friday continues with another full slate of 16 contests. Once again, this will be your guide for the day with all the matchups, channels and tip times. Stick with us all day as teams advance and brackets are busted.
Once again, the times listed can vary slightly if preceding contests run long, but there should always be something happening throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Here’s the ranking of all the games and everything you need to know about how to watch Friday’s contests.
1. No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State
Time/TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, TNT
The Aggies have appeared in every NCAA Tournament but one since 2019 but own just one victory in that stretch, something this veteran lineup with leaders MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev hopes to change. They should match up well with the Wildcats, though Duke Brennan could give Villanova the edge in the paint.
2. No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)
Time/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, TBS
You’d be hard-pressed to find a first-round contest featuring more contrasting styles. The free-wheeling RedHawks won over plenty of skeptics in Wednesday night’s First Four victory against SMU, but the Volunteers will do their best to make this affair a grind with a premium on controlling the boards.
3. No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa
Time/TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT
The final 8-9 matchup tips off the evening session, though it, too, provides something of a contrast. The Hawkeyes have a true floor general in Bennett Stirtz, who rarely leaves the floor. But the Tigers’ ability to spread the offensive load could serve them well given their recent injury woes. This looks to be tight throughout.
4. No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara
Time/TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS
One of the sport’s name-brand programs appears in the leadoff spot, though this year’s Wildcats can hardly be considered Final Four contenders. They figure to get a formidable first-round challenge from the Broncos, a well-rounded squad led by veteran coach Herb Sendek that shares the ball and holds its own on the glass.
5. No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 10 Missouri
Time/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, truTV
The final game of the round of 64 features what is as de facto home game for Mizzou despite its lower seed. The Tigers, however, enter the tourney on a three-game losing streak, so a fast start by the Hurricanes could neutralize the home-state crowd in St. Louis. Missouri leading scorer Mark Mitchell will have to keep pace with the Miami duo of Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson.
6. No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 Central Florida
Time/TV: 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS
The Bruins’ late push in the crowded Big Ten could elevate them only so far up the seeding hierarchy, but they should at least be at full strength for this assignment. The Knights weren’t at their best in the closing weeks of the season but have enough weapons to be dangerous.
7. No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron
Time/TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, truTV
Unfortunately, the loss of All America forward JT Toppin to a season-ending knee injury severely dampened Final Four hopes for the Red Raiders. They didn’t phone in the rest of their season, of course, but they now find themselves as credible upset picks against the experienced and very talented Zips, paced by lead guard Tavari Johnson and versatile forward Amani Lyles.
8. No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra
Time/TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, truTV
While courts of a different sort have kept Alabama in the news for much of this season, the Crimson Tide are still capable of making noise in March if Labaron Philon has his A-game. His opposite number here will be Hofstra’s Cruz Davis, a high-usage point guard who puts up 20.2 points and 4.6 assists a game.
9. No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist
Time/TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS
With plenty of questions about their overall chemistry and the uncertainty around star freshman Darryn Peterson entering the tourney, the Jayhawks arguably need an easy first-round tuneup more than most upper-tier squads. They might not get it against the Lancers and WAC player of the year Dominique Daniels (23.2 ppg).
10. No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa
Time/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
Big East champion St. John’s and its supporters have plenty of reasons to be displeased with the committee for their tournament draw, not the least of which is this first-round matchup in far away San Diego against a program with a veteran coach, Ben Jacobson, and a reputation as a March giant killer. Be that as it may, the Panthers might not have an answer for Red Storm big man Zuby Ejiofor.
11. No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State
Time/TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS
The new-look Cavaliers have a different playing style than the past versions that proved susceptible to the occasional first-round exit. Nonetheless, they must be ready for a challenge from the Horizon League champion Raiders, who also like to play fast and connect on 36.1% of their three-point tries.
12. No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State
Time/TV: 2:50 p.m. ET, CBS
When everything is working, the Cyclones can look like a Final Four team. But the program has been here before as a No. 2 seed that suffered a memorable loss to Hampton in the first round. The high-scoring guard tandem of Aaron Nkrumah and (17.6 ppg) and Travis Harper (17.3) could keep the Tigers in it for a while.
13. No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens
Time/TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, truTV
The Boilermakers were undoubtedly happy to see their name on the Friday slate on Selection Sunday after a hard weekend of work in the Big Ten tournament. And the improvement to a No. 2 seed means a favorable matchup with the Royals, newcomers to the big stage, at least hope to make a good first impression.
14. No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman
Time/TV: 10:00 p.m. ET, TBS
All UConn coach Danny Hurley has to do to get his players’ attention is remind them what Furman did the last time it played in this event. Bob Richey is still coaching the Purple Paladins, as he was in 2023 when they sent Virginia packing in the first round, and he once again has a dependable floor leader in Alex Wilkins (17.7 ppg, 4.7 apg). But the Huskies look primed to make a title run this year.
15. No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Island
Time/TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TNT
Arizona has a history of underachieving in March, but that usually comes on the second weekend. This well-constructed version of the Wildcats should make short work of this one. Jamal Fuller, a 43.8% marksman from the arc, is a guy to watch for coach Rod Strickland’s Sharks.
16. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M
Time/TV: 9:25 p.m. ET, TNT
Congratulations are in order for the Panthers as they claimed their first ever March Madness victory. The run almost certainly stops here against the defending champion Gators, though Prairie View’s Dontae Horne can make things happen at both ends of the floor.
Twenty-seven days left in the regular season. Teams are fighting for playoff positioning. And you're hopefully doing the same in your fantasy hockey leagues.
Stay focused. Check all the updates. Boost your lineups. Win.
Consider the upcoming 14 entries. Because one of them could be the player who pushes you to glory.
(Rostered rates as of Mar. 20)
Forwards
Troy Terry, ANA (Yahoo: 46%): It's nice when a point-per-game player returns after a long injury layoff and you can pluck him off the wire before others notice. And all Terry has done since returning is notch a goal, three assists and nine shots in two outings while rejoining the Ducks' top line and power play. Get him ASAP.
Anthony Mantha, PIT (Yahoo: 43%): Pittsburgh continues to surprise as an Eastern Conference contender after huge wins in Utah and Colorado, and a 6-5 OT loss at Carolina on Wednesday. The usual suspects have been key, though a couple others have also contributed to the cause. Mantha is enjoying a career season having already eclipsed his previous points peak (48) by five while also racking up 12 goals, 12 assists, three PPPs and 45 shots from his last 23 contests. His man-advantage value will probably diminish once Sidney Crosby goes back on the lead unit, yet, there's too much output over other areas to ignore him.
Jamie Benn, DAL (Yahoo: 19%): Benn went scoreless through 12 outings during January, but he's since accumulated 16 points across the last 15 to go with 21 shots and 28 hits. He's also been active while up a man with all five of his PPPs coming over this stretch. Benn may slide down the depth chart when Mikko Rantanen returns, though he's good for plenty of contributions in the meantime and a stable roster spot within a dangerous forward group.
Brock Boeser, VAN (Yahoo: 20%): It was expected that Boeser would've been dealt at the deadline, yet nothing materialized. And that's since turned into something positive for the Canucks as he's posted four goals, six assists, 19 shots and 11 hits on 18:25 a night. Boeser has built a rapport alongside Marco Rossi combining in all attacking situations. Boeser is primed to keep the run going the rest of the way with Vancouver possibly looking to shop the winger during the summer.
Frank Nazar, CHI (Yahoo: 20%): Nazar is settling back into a groove following a month-long upper-body issue and a few barren scorelines. In the last eight games, he has 10 points, 16 shots, three PPPs and 59 faceoffs, and is averaging 19-plus minutes while centering Chicago's second trio and first man-advantage. As long as Nazar remains healthy, he'll continue to put up promising fantasy numbers.
Matt Savoie, EDM (Yahoo: 6%): It's rare to see a player earn a repeat in this column after only two weeks, though Savoie's inclusion is justified based on him moving up to the Oilers' top-ranked PP after Leon Draisaitl was ruled out for the rest of the regular season. And if that wasn't enough to entice poolies, he's also recently joined Connor McDavid at five-on-five and has found the scoresheet during three of the last four contests. No one with that type of upside should be available in more than 90% of Yahoo leagues.
Connor Brown, NJD (Yahoo: 3%): Brown has been on a tear during March via three goals, eight assists and 16 shots. He also teamed up with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt as part of New Jersey's second line and lead power play (three PPPs from the last three). Regression could be coming for Brown since he's already near his upper limit in terms of scoring, but he's currently hot and well-positioned within the roster.
Bo Groulx, TOR (Yahoo: 2%): Raise your hand if you're not a Leafs fan and knew who Groulx was when he debuted for Toronto last week. Anaheim's 2018 second-rounder had been unstoppable through most of five AHL campaigns, including 50 points over 54 matchups that led to the latest call-up. Groulx definitely hasn't looked out of place for the Blue and White as he's tallied four points, seven shots, 18 hits and 40 faceoff wins. And there shouldn't be any risk in taking a chance on him with the club looking ahead and Auston Matthews done for the year.
Defensemen
Esa Lindell, DAL (Yahoo: 34%): Lindell has been an even-strength fixture on the Stars' blueline alongside fellow Finn Miro Heiskanen while taking on secondary power-play and lead shorthanded roles. And going back 12 games, he's recorded six assists — one of those a PPA — 11 shots, 25 blocks and a plus-11 on 22:50 per game. Lindell may not be the biggest fantasy producer, but he does enough overall and assumes significant responsibilities to fit somewhere in your lineup.
Sean Walker, CAR (Yahoo: 19%): After a nice scoring run earlier this season, Walker cooled down by only notching six helpers across 38 appearances. And since Feb. 28, he's gone off for nine points, 22 shots, 14 hits and 18 blocks. Walker benefits from partnering with K'Andre Miller while logging major minutes, though his offense could drop when Shayne Gostisbehere eventually returns. Probably best to monitor his situation before picking him up unless you're specifically looking for nonscoring contributions.
Vladislav Gavrikov, NYR (Yahoo: 17%): Gavrikov was last featured here during December as he was deputizing for Adam Fox on the Rangers' top PP. So when the latter finally came back after the Olympic break, it was assumed Gavrikov's attacking stats would suffer. Not only has he provided five goals and five assists from the last 12 outings, but two of those points came while up a man. And that's only part of Gavrikov's all-around effort covering a decent amount of shots and significant ice time.
Cole Hutson, WAS (Yahoo: 9%): In case you missed it, Hutson made his NHL debut on Wednesday. He signed a three-year deal with Washington on Sunday after excelling in the NCAA for Boston University. While there was hype going into Hutson's first pro matchup, no one could've predicted he would score an empty-net PPG or receive more man-advantage minutes than Jakob Chychrun. The Caps probably won't rush him, yet he's extremely talented and will probably get enough scoring chances as a favorable addition in most fantasy formats.
Goaltenders
Jakub Dobes, MTL (Yahoo: 35%): The Habs hold on to the third spot in the Atlantic Division mainly thanks to an offense that's scored 57 times over the last 15 games. On the other end, they rank bottom-10 for GAA using a three-goalie setup. Dobes has dominated the starts for most of 2026, where he's gone 10-3-1 while posting a 2.91 GAA and .893 save percentage. Sam Montembeault struggled in his last two outings and hasn't made an appearance since. Jacob Fowler was recently recalled and is being eased into the group. That leaves Dobes as Montreal's lead netminder for the foreseeable future.
Frederik Andersen, CAR (Yahoo: 32%): Andersen endured many absences throughout his career, yet has been mainly available this season. Rookie Brandon Bussi, 27, has been a revelation for the Canes, while Pyotr Kochetkov could return for the playoffs after last appearing in December. Andersen is currently in a rotation with Bussi while winning five of his last six matchups despite allowing a combined 18 goals during that stretch. Bussi has also slipped a bit the last three weeks with a 4.05/.835 line, though he remains Carolina's No. 1. Either goaltender should do well in fantasy as the club excels at suppressing shots on net. Andersen represents a solid selection on his own or as insurance for those who already have Bussi.
O’Sullivan snookered Ryan Day at start of first frame
Seven-time world champion won 5-0 to reach semi-finals
Ronnie O’Sullivan has made the highest break in professional snooker by hitting a 153 at the World Open in Yushan, China.
The 50-year-old achieved the feat after leaving Ryan Day in a snooker to begin the opening frame of their quarter-final and the Welshman’s failed escape attempt gave O’Sullivan a free ball.
New York Islanders (39-25-5, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (37-21-10, in the Atlantic Division)
Montreal, Quebec; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens and the New York Islanders face off in Eastern Conference play.
Montreal has a 19-13-2 record in home games and a 37-21-10 record overall. The Canadiens have a 15-5-1 record when scoring a power-play goal.
New York has a 21-14-3 record on the road and a 39-25-5 record overall. The Islanders have a +eight scoring differential, with 198 total goals scored and 190 allowed.
Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Islanders won 4-3 in overtime in the previous meeting. Matthew Schaefer led the Islanders with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nicholas Suzuki has scored 24 goals with 57 assists for the Canadiens. Cole Caufield has seven goals and four assists over the last 10 games.
Schaefer has 21 goals and 29 assists for the Islanders. Mathew Barzal has one goal and 10 assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Canadiens: 5-4-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.3 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.
Islanders: 6-4-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.6 assists, 2.8 penalties and 6.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Canadiens: Josh Anderson: day to day (upper body), Patrik Laine: out (lower-body), Kirby Dach: out (upper body).
Islanders: Alexander Romanov: out (shoulder), Pierre Engvall: out for season (ankle), Semyon Varlamov: out for season (knee), Kyle Palmieri: out (knee), Max Shabanov: day to day (lower-body).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Luka Doncic scored the most points ever recorded against the Miami Heat [Getty Images]
Luka Doncic became the first player since Kobe Bryant to score 60 points in a game for the LA Lakers as they overcame the Miami Heat 134-126.
Doncic – the NBA's leading scorer this season – has reached 30 points in eight consecutive games and got to 50 twice in his last five appearances but in hitting 60 achieved a mark that no Lakers player had managed since Bryant in 2019.
And on a night of notable marks for the Lakers, LeBron James scored a triple double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to move.
The game was his 1,611th regular-season outing, moving him level with Robert Parish for the most in NBA history. The all-time leading scorer in NBA history will set a new record if he features for the Lakers against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
"He's not only competing against the entire league but also Father Time. And he's giving Father Time hell," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said of the 41-year-old.
Wembanyama stars as Spurs seal play-off spot; Curry honoured by Hornets
Dell Curry was honoured at half-time alongside his family [Getty Images]
Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns 101-100 thanks to a Victor Wembanyama effort with 1.1 seconds remaining.
Wembanyama had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and his winning point secured Spurs a play-off spot for the first time in six seasons in the Western Conference.
The in-form Charlotte Hornets also continued their winning run, beating the Orlando Magic 130-111.
But the game was arguably more notable for a half-time ceremony which saw former Hornets star Dell Curry's number 30 jersey retired.
His shirt was lifted to the rafters at the Spectrum Center as his family - including NBA all-star sons Stephen and Seth, watched on.
Meanwhile the Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 117-95 in their first game without the injured MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, and the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame the Chicago Bulls 115-110.
From Max Dowman to Kimi Antonelli, Sky Brown and Luke Littler, peak performance can be attained ever earlier thanks to support and science
Des Ryan lives on the west coast of Ireland and gets over to watch Arsenal only about three times a season. It was pure fluke that the director of sports and physical wellbeing at the University of Galway was at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, when Max Dowman became the youngest ever scorer in the Premier League. Only a few years ago he was looking after Dowman in the under-12s.
“If you’re an academy specialist, then seeing the young people get their debuts, that’s your trophy,” says Ryan, who headed the Arsenal academy’s athletic development for nine years. He knows well that while Dowman’s abilities are uniquely precocious, his situation isn’t. Marli Salmon became Arsenal’s youngest defender when he made his senior debut at 16 in December, while Brando Bailey-Joseph replaced Gabriel Martinelli on the wing in a Champions League match in January, aged 17. As Ryan notes: “These older teenagers are playing adult sport, and excelling at it.”
It was June of 2025 when Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey broke the internet, as he pulled off a blockbuster deal for Boston Red Sox infielder Rafael Devers.
The trade was somewhat of a shock, but those around Major League Baseball understood that the relationship between Devers and Boston had soured.
However, Matt Chapman doesn’t feel like Devers got his fair shake when it comes to the situation, telling NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic how good of a teammate Devers has been.
“I think the whole Boston thing just kind of got maybe a little bit misconstrued,” Chapman told Pavlovic in the latest edition of “Giants Talk.” “I think they kind of just mishandled the relationship. I don’t think it had anything to do with Rafi. I talked to guys that played with him. They all loved him, Bregman loved him, all his teammates loved him. I think they were sad to see him go, [and] we’re happy to get him.”
Chapman added he hasn’t had a bad encounter with Devers, and while he may not be a “rah rah” guy, the veteran infielder has been a wealth of knowledge for younger teammates.
“All my experiences with Rafi have been unreal,” Chapman told Pavlovic. “He’s a great teammate, great person, everybody loves him, [the] team loves him, and maybe he’s not a guy that’s going to stand up in a meeting and call a meeting or do something like that, but you know he’s been called on, he speaks, he talks to guys one-on-one, really helps guys in the cage. He’s a good teammate, he cares about his teammates and I think he’s the right guy for us.”
While Devers struggled with the Giants last season, as he slashed just .236/.347/.460 in 90 games with San Francisco, Chapman says he’s still a consistent presence in the team’s lineup.
“He’s an elite hitter. He’s been elite his whole career and I think something that’s probably overlooked with him is he’s a smart baseball player; he’s a smart hitter,” Chapman told Pavlovic. “He understands how guys pitch him, what he’s looking for. He doesn’t just go out there and just swing. He’s got a real good routine. He’s always working on getting a good feel and getting in a good position. So, I think he’s just a very advanced hitter, and I think that’s why he’s so consistent.”
Devers had his best month with the Giants in August of last season, when he put up a slash line of .291/.397/.592 while cranking out nine home runs in 28 games.
He finished the season with 35 home runs, 109 RBI and an OPS of .851.
“Every year, you can freaking pencil the dude in for 30 [home runs] and 100 [RBI], .870 OPS, whatever it is,” Chapman told Pavlovic. “He’s just been super consistent, and I think for him to be in our lineup is going to be huge for us. He just is a presence in the lineup, he’s somebody that people circle and pay attention to. I think he’s going to be a guy that can help carry us.”
The Giants will get a full season of the three-time All-Star in 2026, and Chapman says that’s an exciting thing to look forward to.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 09: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the first inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 09, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Opening Day approaches, the Brewers are making their final tune ups before the start of the season. With Brandon Woodruff’s status still uncertain, he made a crucial start this evening. It ended up being the offense that dominated the game, as the Brewers defeated the Rangers 11-4.
The Brewers got on the board quickly. Sal Frelick led off the game with a walk, stole second, and scored on an Andrew Vaughn single. In the next inning, back-to-back home runs from Gary Sánchez and Luis Rengifo added two more runs. David Hamilton set up another run with a single and steal, and Joey Ortiz drove him in with a single. After two innings, the Brewers had a 4-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, the Brewers unleashed a barrage of runs. Vaughn led off the inning with a single, then Garrett Mitchell reached on a fielding error. Sánchez drew a walk after that to load the bases. After Rengifo flew out to center, Brandon Lockridge continued his strong spring with an RBI double, driving in two. Hamilton followed that up with another RBI double to bring in another two runs. That chased Rangers starter Jacob Latz from the game, and Dane Acker entered in relief. After a Frelick groundout and Ortiz walk, Christian Yelich punctuated the inning with a three-run home run. After the first three innings, the Brewers had scored 11 runs.
Meanwhile, Woodruff started the night with two 1-2-3 innings, striking out two. That started to unravel in the third inning. The Rangers got their first run from a Tyler Wade single and Alejandro Osuna RBI double. Woodruff recovered with strikeouts of Jonah Bride and Joc Pederson, but walked Evan Carter between them. Joe Corbett finished out the inning for Woodruff, striking out Danny Jansen to end the inning.
Woodruff returned for the fourth inning, but promptly allowed back-to-back home runs to Ezequiel Duran and Mark Canha. He got Sam Haggerty to line out, but that was it for his day. In total, he pitched a combination of three innings over the course of the first four innings. He allowed three runs and four hits, two of those going for home runs. He also struck out four and walked one while throwing 62 pitches. While he did get the four ups that he wanted in the game (his goal was to start four innings to get warmed up and pitch), his velocity was noticeably down at the end of his start. After the game, Woodruff said that despite the velocity, he felt great.
After the fourth, both bullpens buckled down for the rest of the game. Trevor Megill pitched the fifth inning and struck out two, but recorded four outs after Canha reached on a wild pitch swinging strikeout. Abner Uribe made his first appearance after returning from the World Baseball Classic, allowed a leadoff single but retired the next three in order, striking out one.
Jared Koenig got into some trouble in the seventh by starting the inning with back-to-back singles. He got two outs thanks to a double play from the defense, then a fly out from Canha ended the inning. Grant Anderson walked one in the eighth inning, but that was it in a scoreless inning of work. Stiven Cruz finished out the game for the Brewers, walked two but held the Rangers scoreless to end the game.
Vaughn and Hamilton each had two-hit days for the Brewers’ offense. Yelich had three RBI from his second home run of the spring, and Lockridge and Hamilton added on two RBI each. Ortiz also reached base twice with a hit and a walk, and also drove a run in. As a team, the Brewers had nine hits — three of those home runs — and four walks.
Tomorrow features a doubleheader of action for the Brewers. The day will start out with the first of two Spring Breakout games for the Brewers’ prospects, as the Mariners’ Prospects travel to face them in Phoenix. That game will take place at 4:10 p.m. and be broadcast on MLB Video. Then, at night the Brewers travel to face the Diamondbacks, with first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. That game will have an audio broadcast available on MLB.com.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to field Friday in the third Twenty20 cricket international against South Africa at Eden Park.
Both teams made one lineup change. South Africa named right-arm pacer Lutho Sipamla in place of Ottneil Baartman while New Zealand recalled Bevon Jacobs in place of Josh Clarkson.
___
Lineups:
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (captain), James Neesham, Cole McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson.
Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Dian Forrester, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj (captain), Nqobani Mokoena, Lutho Sipamla.
BUFFALO, NY — This was a moment delayed by two years, a coaching change and a transfer.
Two seasons ago, Indiana State won the Missouri Valley regular-season crown, earning the program’s first national ranking since the Larry Bird-led team in 1979 along the way, before losing to Drake in the finals of the conference tournament.
The Sycamores were then snubbed by the NCAA selection committee, who held them out of the at-large field despite a NET rating of 28, the highest of any team to miss the tournament.
“It was kind of the biggest disappointment we’ve ever had,” said former Indiana State and current Saint Louis assistant coach Antone Gray. “It was a huge letdown that night.”
Two years later, the biggest pieces behind that season’s success — coach Josh Schertz and center Robbie Avila — embraced after No. 9 Saint Louis routed No. 8 Georgia, 102-77, in the opening round of the Midwest region, celebrating an achievement rooted in the decision to leave Indiana State after the 2024 season.
“Our goal was from the beginning of the year to reach this moment, so we got here, we kind of accomplished that goal,” Avila said. “But obviously that 2024 year was just what it was. I'm just excited and blessed to have the opportunity to do it here.”
Shertz accepted the Saint Louis opening days after the Sycamores lost to Seton Hall in the NIT championship game. Two weeks later, Avila followed suit to become the centerpiece of the Billikens’ transformation from 13-20 in 2023-24 to a school-record 29 wins and growing this season.
“I wanted to get this team to the NCAA Tournament for a lot of reasons, but he was the biggest,” Shertz said of Avila. “There was a lot of people that helped bring me here, but I just never wanted for him to have ended his career not in the tournament, particularly after what happened to our Indiana State team.”
The player with a collection of the best nicknames in the sport — Bert, Steph Blurry, Larry Nerd and many more — showcased his deft touch near the basket and skills as a passer against the Bulldogs, posting 12 points to go with five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal before being replaced with 4:45 remaining and the Billikens holding a 38-point lead.
After drilling a 3-pointer to put Saint Louis ahead 86-52 with just over nine minutes left, Avila raised his arms as fans chanted his first name. At this point, Avila and the Billikens had so demoralized the Bulldogs that Georgia fans sitting behind press row began discussing Thursday’s start of spring football.
“Major impact. Energy booster,” said Saint Louis guard Trey Green. “Robbie hit some key buckets. He made some good passes. Defensively, he held his own. To have your leader make an impact like that, you know, it drives us to have his back and do the same thing.”
This was par for the course for one of the top players on the mid-major level and one of the most balanced players in the country, period, even if Avila was not named one of the five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation’s best center.
Avila is now averaging a team-best 12.9 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and a team-leading 4.1 assists per game, all while shooting 50.9% from the field, a career-best 41.7% from deep and 80.3% from the free-throw line.
All this while looking like, well, someone who shouldn’t be this good. With his goatee, beefy frame and lack of rim-shaking athleticism, Avila is a human version of the Spider-Man-pointing meme for those watching at home: Hey, he looks just like me!
“He’s the most team guy that we have,” said Gray. “He leads us. He could’ve gone anywhere in the country and he came here for a reason. He came back for this.”
Like Avila, Schertz saw his profile grow at Indiana State, which hired him in 2021 after a hugely successful run at Division II Lincoln Memorial. He’s since become one of the hottest names in mid-major coaching, drawing heavy attention for the Syracuse opening before declining the Orange’s overtures and signing a contract extension with Saint Louis last week.
There’s no wonder larger programs are so interested: Schertz has made things happen at every stop, making three Division II Final Four appearances at Lincoln Memorial, winning 62.3% of his games with the Sycamores and now posting a 48-20 mark in his two seasons with the Billikens.
“It’s been everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more,” said his son, Jaden, a walk-on junior guard who followed his dad from Indiana State.
“It’s surreal, man. I’ve known my dad is a great coach since the D-II days. We’ve watched March Madness since we were little. So it’s awesome watching it on this stage.”
Overall, Schertz has won 77.8% of his games, ranking him eighth among active college coaches across all NCAA levels. In four seasons with Avila on the roster, he’s gone 103-40. But this win stands alone.
“This was just a full-circle moment,” said Gray. “I think this was what we deserved and honestly, what Robbie and coach deserved the most.”
