The Golden Knights continued their offensive prowess for a second straight game, as Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals and had one assist in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.
Just as important, at the other end of the ice, goaltender Adin Hill registered his first shutout of the season after stopping all 21 shots he faced.
Rasmus Andersson and Keegan Kolesar also scored for the Knights, who were fresh off Thursday's 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The win moved Vegas, which had slipped to third place last week, back into first place with 76 points, one point in front of the Anaheim Ducks. The Edmonton Oilers are one back of the Ducks, who have a game in hand on both teams.
The Ducks lost 2-0 at Ottawa earlier in the night, while Edmonton was idle.
KEY MOMENT
The staredown! Andersson's 12th goal of the season - and second with the Knights - resulted in the Rasmus staredown. The goal, which came 11:35 into the first period, gave the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead. The staredown, though, sent a message.
KEY STAT
5 ... After struggling to take early leads and lose the first period, it marked the fifth consecutive game the Knights didn't allow a goal in the first period.
"We've changed our pregame routine a little bit, our morning skate we've done a little bit differently," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I don't know if that has any effect ... to be honest, it's just something to get their attention. Obviously, we are doing something better. I think the players have better focus; maybe those tweaks have helped them focus.
"We're not chasing the game as much, and it's a lot easier to play that way."
WHAT A KNIGHT
Dorofeyev is an easy candidate after his second consecutive three-point night, but the nod goes to Hill, after turning in his first shutout of the season.
In starting for the fourth consecutive game, Hill turned in his best performance of the season.
It was Hill's first shutout in more than a year, his last coming on March 13, 2025, when he blanked Columbus in, ironically, a 4-0 win.
UP NEXT
The Golden Knights continue their four-game homestand against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
PHOTO CAPTION: Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) makes a save against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at T-Mobile Arena.
The Lakers' fifth win in a row required heroics from Austin Reaves just to force overtime, which is where Luka Doncic made the final shot of the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 127-125 on Saturday night in one of the best, most entertaining games of the season. Reaves, who finished with 32 points, forced overtime when he intentionally missed a free throw, grabbed the rebound and made a floater with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation. Lakers center Deandre Ayton deserves credit on that play for clearing out Nikola Jokic and creating the space for Reaves to make his play.
In overtime, Doncic was the hero, hitting the final shot of the night with 0.5 seconds left.
Doncic finished with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double of his own (his 27th of the season) with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists. Aaron Gordon scored 27 points to lead the Nuggets. All-Star point guard Jamal Murray had a rough night, shooting 1-of-14 from the floor and fouling out near the end of regulation.
Japan lost to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.
MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani is only one player.
Samurai Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela on Saturday night in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic was a reminder of this reality.
Ohtani produced another moment of magic, blasting a leadoff homer in the first that countered Ronald Acuña’s in the top of the first inning, but it wasn’t enough.
Shohei Ohtani reacts after flying out in the ninth inning of Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on March 14, 2026 in Miami. Getty Images
It wasn’t enough to overcome his team’s terror-inducing bullpen and it wasn’t enough to overcome Venezuela’s offensive firepower.
Ohtani flied out for the final out of the game, but the at-bat was ultimately inconsequential. The bases were empty.
Samurai Japan’s dream of a third consecutive WBC championship was over. Venezuela, not Japan, advanced to a semifinal matchup with Italy on Monday.
The game started with Acuna sending a 96.5 mph fastball by Yoshinobu Yamamoto over the right field wall. The former National League MVP screamed as he rounded the bases, and so did the fans.
The response was swift, as Ohtani golfed a breaking ball at the bottom of the zone for a leadoff home run of his own. Ohtani discarded his bat and turned to the Samurai Japan bench, pushing his palms down as if to tell his team to calm down.
Nevertheless, the inning ended disastrously for Samurai Japan. Caught stealing second base for the third out, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki injured his right knee on the slide.
Wilyer Abreu reacts after hitting a home run during Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic win on March 14, 2026. AP
Japan’s second-best hitter was removed from the game.
The situation was about to become worse, as Yamamoto resembled a rocket launcher more than he did a World Series hero. The Dodgers right-hander gave up back-to-back doubles to Ezequiel Tovar and Gleyber Torres that produced another run for Venezuela.
The game flipped again in the third inning. With one out and a runner on second base, Ohtani was walked intentionally. That brought up outfielder Teruaki Sato, who struck out 163 times last season with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese league and struck out again in the first inning of this game. Sato managed to get his bat on the ball this time, lining a ball down the right-field line for a run-scoring double that leveled the game at 2-2.
Venezuela celebrates after its World Baseball Classic quarterfinal win on March 14. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The next batter was Sato’s teammate on the Tigers, Shota Morishita, who entered the contest as Suzuki’s replacement. Morishita reached out for a changeup by Venezuela starter Ranger Suarez and redirected the pitch into the seats behind Samurai Japan bullpen in left field.
Suarez was knocked out of the game, and Japan was leading 5-2. The two-time defending tournament champions were on their way.
The dynamic of the game shifted when Yamamoto came out of the game. Some of the pitchers who followed him out of the bullpen were as small as he was physically, only they didn’t have his ability.
Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a home run during Japan’s loss on March 14. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Standing only 5-foot-9, left-hander Chihiro Sumida served up a two-run homer to Maikel Garcia in the fifth inning that reduced Japan’s lead to 5-4. What remained of that lead vanished entirely in the next inning when another 5-foot-9 pitcher, right-hander Hiromi Itoh, gave up a three-run blast to Wilyer Abreu.
Suddenly, Samurai Japan was down, 7-5.
Venezuela’s lead extended to 8-5 in the seventh inning when 6-foot right-hander Atsuki Taneichi tried to pick off Tovar at second base and tossed the ball into center field. Tovar scored on the error.
The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Vegas Golden Knights in the second of two games on the West Coast, in between games at the United Center.
The Blackhawks won the first one, an overtime victory against the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City. With a difficult Golden Knights team looming, Chicago knew that it needed their best effort to compete.
From the puck drop on, however, things did not go well for the Blackhawks. They were outshot by Vegas 32-21, and were shut out on the scoreboard 4-0.
Early in the game, when the Blackhawks were going through the early storm, Jeff Blashill used up his timeout. From that point forward, they competed a bit better, but it was far too late.
It is hard enough to beat a heavy team like Vegas without spotting them a 3-0 lead early in the match. It's almost impossible to come back when down by multiple goals against them.
Adin Hill and the Knights have been looking for more consistent play this season, and the Blackhawks made them look like that Cup-contending team that everybody knows they can be.
Spencer Knight started in goal for the Blackhawks, his second start of the road trip following his three-game absence due to illness. It wasn't his best performance, but the team in front of him did not take care of their assignments the way that they are expected to.
The Blackhawks saw both Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Mangiapane hit the post, Connor Bedard had his share of chances, and an Artyom Levshunov goal was waved off due to a missed stoppage of play (hand-pass). No, that doesn't help them on the scoresheet, but they found chances despite Vegas controlling almost the entire game.
Once or twice a month, for most teams in the NHL, a game comes along where you get thoroughly outplayed. It's emphasised when you're a bottom team like the Blackhawks, but the message will simply be to throw it away and move on. The players know this was an improper effort, and it will be corrected by the next time they hit the ice.
Watch Every Chicago Goal
The Chicago Blackhawks did not score a goal in this match, so there are no videos to share for this one.
What’s Next For The Blackhawks?
The Blackhawks will be back in action again on Tuesday night, St. Patrick's Day. This will be a matchup against the Minnesota Wild, who defeated them in a shootout back on January 27th. This is a home-and-home for these two teams, so it's another opportunity for the Blackhawks to play the same team twice in a short time, mimicking some aspects of a playoff series.
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The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets delivered a heavyweight fight worthy of the national spotlight Saturday night, a 127–125 overtime thriller that swung wildly like a pendulum in a storm. The Lakers led by 17. The Nuggets clawed back and briefly seized a seven-point advantage late. Then chaos took over.
Austin Reaves missed a free throw with five seconds left, chased down the rebound like a man refusing to let the moment escape him, and tied the game with a desperate layup.
AUSTIN REAVES GRABS THE BOARD OFF HIS OWN MISSED FREE THROW AND TIES THE GAME
Overtime followed, where punches were traded possession after possession until Luka Doncic slipped along the baseline and buried the dagger that sent the arena into delirium.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson enjoyed watching the same competitive fire between opponents that translates across all of sports.
Despite all the celebrities in attendance, when Doncic’s game-winner splashed through the net, the phones dropped. The celebrities stood. And the building roared.
NBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty Images
For a brief moment, fame, fortune and followers didn’t matter.
Basketball did.
And on nights like this, in a city that turns everything into theater, the NBA delivered the best show in town.
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Cameron Green has sent a statement to Australia’s Test selectors with a century for Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales at Sydney’s Cricket Central.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Bobby McMann had two goals and an assist in his Kraken debut and Seattle beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak and move within a point of the final wild card in the West.
McMann went from Toronto to Seattle at the trade deadline, but was delayed because of a visa issue that was resolved Friday.
His new linemates also had three-point nights, with Matty Beniers finishing with a goal and two assists, and Jordan Eberle added three assists.
Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak added goals for the Kraken, and Brandon Montour had two assists. Philipp Grubauer stopped 32 shots.
Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scored for NHL-worst Vancouver. Nikita Tolopilo made 28 saves. The Canucks have five games left on an eight-game homestand.
McMann scored on a power play at the end of the first period and added his second early in the third. Seattle got him for a a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2027.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mathieu Choiniere scored twice — the 27-year-old's second career multi-goal game in MLS — and Hugo Lloris had his fourth consecutive shutout on Saturday night to help Los Angeles FC beat St. Louis City 2-0.
Loris finished with four saves for LAFC (4-0-0), which has outscored its opponents 8-0 this season. The 39-year-old Lloris, who had 12 clean sheets in each of his first two seasons with the club, joined Roman Bürki (St. Louis, 2025) as the only players in MLS history with four consecutive shutouts to open a season.
Choiniere, in his ninth MLS season, went into the game with 12 goals in 132 career appearance.
Choiniere intercepted a pass near midfield, raced to the top of the penalty arc and slipped a rolling shot inside the left post to open the scoring in the 73rd minute. Then, in the 81st, Choiniere ripped a shot from near the right corner of the penalty box that skipped between the legs of defender Timo Baumgartl and bent inside the left post to make it 2-0.
Bürki had three saves for St. Louis (0-3-1).
LAFC's Denis Bouanga hit the crossbar with a shot in the opening moments and Nate Ordaz had his shot from the center of the area bounce off the right post.
Players for both teams wore black armbands with “IL” in white lettering to honor Ilona Löwen, the wife of St. Louis City's Eduard Löwen, who died Monday following a two-year battle with brain cancer. Eduard Löwen, who signed with St. Louis as a designated player in 2022, has not played this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to prove they have what it takes to be considered a contender in the Western Conference this year.
Luka Doncic and the Lakers defended home court on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, beating the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in overtime.
The Lakers have now won five straight games and eight of their last nine games. The team improved to 42-25 overall and sits third in the conference.
Doncic produced 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for a triple-double against Denver. It was the Slovenian’s seventh 30-point triple-double this season and the 55th of his career.
Doncic broke free of a double team to hit a jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime to break a 125-125 tie and give Los Angeles the edge.
“I felt like it was the best atmosphere since I've been a Laker,” Doncic told reporters after the game. “The whole crowd was into it and was really special to witness that."
The clutch performance followed Doncic's previous game, where he nearly put together a triple-double. He had 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Austin Reaves helped send the game to overtime when he intentionally missed a free-throw attempt and collected the rebound to score a jumper and tie the game at 118 with 1.9 seconds left in regulation.
AUSTIN REAVES GRABS THE BOARD OFF HIS OWN MISSED FREE THROW AND TIES THE GAME 😲
Reaves finished the game with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists. LeBron James added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists and Marcus Smart scored 21 points.
For 30 ½ minutes on Saturday night, the Lakers were in the driver’s seat while hosting the Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. And then the Nuggets were in control.
And then each team gave the other their best shots.
But the Lakers had the best shot: a game-winning 17-foot fadeaway jumper from Luka Doncic in overtime to give the Lakers a 127-125 dramatic win over the Nuggets to close out a 5-0 homestand they had three of their best victories of the season during.
“He just made a great basketball play, got to his spot and hit a tough shot,” coach JJ Redick said. “And that was a great moment for him. I’m happy for him.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic shoots a game winning shot while under pressure from Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones during overtime at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Doncic capped off the game with another big play when he blocked Tim Hardaway Jr.’s last second-shot attempt, sealing the victory for the Lakers.
But Doncic wasn’t alone in his late-game heroics.
There was LeBron James, at 41 years old, fully extending his body while diving on the floor for a loose ball to force a jump ball with the Lakers down, 112-111, with 54.6 seconds left in regulation.
“Just living in the moment – understanding the impact of the game, the implications of the game and our opponent and what we’re trying to build,” James said. “Every possession matters.”
After the Lakers lost the jump ball, Marcus Smart picked Aaron Gordon’s pocket, making a layup in transition to momentarily give the Lakers a one-point lead in regulation. And when the game went into overtime, Smart once again stepped up with a 3-pointer that gave the Lakers a 125-123 lead with 31 seconds left.
Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton also made big plays on both ends of the floor to help the Lakers beat the Nuggets.
Doncic didn’t have the most efficient shooting night (10 of 26), but he recorded a 30 point-13 assist-11 rebound triple-double.
Reaves led the Lakers with 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists, making big plays in his own right during a game several Laker plays did.
Smart made five 3-pointers and recorded five steals, finishing with 21 points, while LeBron James added 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with a 24 point-16 rebound-14 assist triple-double.
Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers improved to 42-25 on the season, moving back up to third in the Western Conference’s standings.
They won the regular season series over the Nuggets (41-27), 2-1, with Denver staying at sixth in the West.
The Lakers are on a five-game winning streak.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
Turning point
With the Lakers down 118-116 with 5.2 seconds left in regulation, Reaves intentionally missed his second free throw before grabbing an offensive rebound off of his own miss and hitting an eight-foot floater to tie the game at 118 apiece.
“I knew I was going to miss,” Reaves said. “I wasn’t going to give the ball an opportunity to go in. Some people shoot it high and they end up making it on accident. But I don’t think my ball ever got over 10 feet.”
End of 4Q: Lakers 118, Nuggets 118.
Austin Reaves intentionally missed the 2nd FT and made the runner to send Lakers-Nuggets into OT.
Both of the Lakers star guards made big plays down the stretch to put the Lakers in position to beat the Nuggets.
They combined for 62 points, 19 assists, 18 rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals.
Stat of the game: 6
Saturday marked Doncic’s sixth career game-winning field goal in the final five seconds of a game (five in the regular season, one in the playoffs), according to the Lakers.
Up next
The Lakers will kick off a six-game road trip when they play the Rockets on Monday at Toyota Center.
It’ll be the first of two matchups in Houston, with the Lakers playing the Rockets again on Wednesday.
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Isaac Johnson scored 22 points to lead No. 2 seed Hawaii to a 71-64 victory over top-seeded UC Irvine on Saturday night for the Rainbow Warriors' first Big West Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth since 2016 — coach Eran Ganot's first with the program.
Hawaii (24-8) led for most of the game and took the lead for good on Johnson's layup with about 10 minutes to play. UC Irvine pulled to 66-64 with 38 seconds left but Harry Rouhliadeff answered with a layup and then Dre Bullock followed with a breakaway two-hand slam dunk to help seal it for the Warriors.
Rouhliadeff, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-63 win against Cal State Fullerton in the semifinal, finished with 15 points and a season-high 12 rebounds against the Anteaters for his second double-double of the season. Bullock also scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds for the Warriors.
Jurian Dixon scored 17 points for UC Irvine (23-11). Derin Saran and Kyle Evans added 13 points apiece and Andre Henry had 12.
Hawaii entered 0-3 in matchups against UC Irvine in the tournament (2013, 2018 quarterfinals and 2015 finals).
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Wilyer Abreu uncorked an epic bat flip during Venezuela's World Baseball Classic game Saturday.
In a World Baseball Classic already filled with cinematic moments, with epic home run celebrations and moments capturing the magnitude of these games on the international stage, Wilyer Abreu just added another one to the list.
Abreu, a Red Sox outfielder playing for Venezuela, took a 2-1 pitch from Japan pitcher Hiromi Itoh and crushed it 409 feet over the right-field fence in the sixth inning, giving Venezuela the lead for good with a three-run blast during its eventual 8-5 upset in the quarterfinals on Saturday night loanDepot Park in Miami.
Wilyer Abreu (16) celebrates with his Venezuela teammates during their March 14 game. Getty Images
After Abreu swung, he watched his ball’s flight trajectory for a moment.
Then, another moment.
He turned toward the Venezuela dugout, already erupting with cheers, and pumped his bat once before launching it high in the air and beginning to shuffle down the first base line.
Wilyer Abreu hits a home run during Venezuela’s 8-5 upset win over Japan in the WBC quarterfinals on March 14, 2026. Getty Images
“That was an exciting moment,” Abreu said in a postgame television interview. “I tried to at least tie the game with a sac fly. He gave me a really good pitch to hit. I made good contact. I’m very excited for this win. Now in the semifinals I hope I can do the same thing I did today.”
It was a stunning moment, one that meant Japan — and Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani — failed to defend their WBC title after winning it in 2023.
Abreu, 26, was hitting seventh in a batting order that already includes Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. — who homered in the first inning off Yoshinobu Yamamoto — and Royals star Maikel Garcia, whose two-run homer in the fifth inning trimmed Japan’s lead to one.
Wilyer Abreu reacts after hitting a home run during Venezuela’s upset win over Japan on March 14. AP
Then, Abreu uncorked the swing for the ages.
Ezequiel Tovar added another homer in the eighth inning that extended Venezuela’s lead, while former Yankee Gleyber Torres also flew out to the wall in that same frame.
Venezuela will now face Italy in the semifinals on Monday.
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 3: Luka Garza #52 and Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the LA Clippers on January 3, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — When Neemias Queta finally checked out of Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards, Luka Garza shot to his feet and slapped Queta’s chest in congratulatory fashion. Queta had just completed one of his best games of the season — tallying 24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal — and Garza was eager to celebrate.
Such has been a common sight on the sidelines. Whenever one Celtics big man has put together a strong performance this season, the other center celebrates the success as though it were their own.
“We definitely are great friends,” Garza told CelticsBlog before Saturday’s game.
So, in typical fashion, as Queta exploded for a career-best 22 points in the first half, Garza was the first to his feet after every basket, pumping his fist at every putback and crafty finish that Queta converted.
Then, in the second half, the roles had somewhat reversed, and Garza was the one hitting shot after shot, finishing the game with 15 points.
This time, it was Queta leaping to his feet every time Garza
“When I’m on the bench, I’m just trying to cheer him up as much as I can,” Queta said. “Maybe learn a little bit with the crashing, and be[ing] able to get offensive rebounds.”
The two big men — who rarely share the floor — together combined for 39 points on Saturday, their highest-scoring total as Celtics teammates. The two have very different cultural backgrounds — Queta grew up in Portugal, Garza in Virginia — but have become fast friends in Boston.
And, they’re bonded by a similar uphill journey to make it in the NBA. Both centers were drafted in 2021, in the second round; Queta was picked 33rd by the Sacramento Kings, and Garza was picked 52nd by the Detroit Pistons. Both have fought for two-way contracts, and in moments, felt their future in the NBA was in jeopardy.
“There’s just a level of respect there from both of our journeys of coming to the league and both being second-round draft picks, both being in and out of the G League, not really getting a chance,” Garza told CelticsBlog before Saturday’s game. “And then, obviously, this year being the year that both of us get the biggest opportunities of our careers. So, I think there’s a lot of support for each other through that.”
Luka Garza gave Neemias Queta a standing ovation as he checked out of the game
Now, both are playing their best basketball, having received their most extended opportunities yet.
After being the Celtics’ fourth-string center last year, Queta has started every game he’s appeared in this season. He’s averaging 10 points and 8.4 rebounds in 25 minutes a night, having established himself as one of the league’s elite big man defenders.
Garza is averaging a career-high 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game, having appeared in 56 of the Celtics’ 67 games. He’s shooting 42.1% from three — a stark improvement from his 27.8% clip last year. Compared to Queta, Garza’s role has been more inconsistent; he’s dealt with stretches of DNPs and more limited minutes, especially in the weeks after Nikola Vucevic’s arrival in Boston.
But Luka Garza has always stayed ready
Despite fluctuating opportunities, Garza’s mindset and preparation have never wavered. So, when Vucevic fractured his ring finger last Friday, Garza was ready to slot back into the rotation.
“If I’m not playing, I’m really focused on growth and development and working on what I can do to improve when the next chance comes,” Garza said. “That helps keep my mind right in shape and all those kinds of things. So when it does come, then I’m ready.”
Another key?
Garza’s game-day routine never changes, regardless of how things have gone of late.
“The last three years in Minnesota, more often than not, I wasn’t going to check in, but I still kept the same routine, just because you never know what can happen,” he said. “And I’ve seen guys who don’t do that, and then the opportunity comes, and they’re not ready. And those small opportunities that you take advantage of can change your life, can change your career.”
It’s that type of preparation that has allowed Garza to pour in 15 points on 5-6 shooting in 15 minutes on Saturday. And, during game action, when Garza is on the sidelines, he’s scouting Queta’s every step.
“During the game, I’m mostly watching him, because that’s my position, that’s what’s happening in the game – I’m locked in on him,” Garza said. “I’m locked in on how he’s setting screens, how they’re treating him. If they’re trying to go under, if they’re trying to go over.”
Neemias Queta was the first person up after this awesome putback by Luka Garza
If Queta’s positioning is at all off on either end of the floor, Garza tries to note that too. Anything he observes from the sideline is critical information he’ll use when he checks into the game. In particular, Garza looks to study Queta’s defensive positioning, which has become critical to the Celtics’ success.
“I’m always just kind of watching and seeing, and that leads to learning a lot from him, especially defensively, and just how he anchors the paint and his positioning, especially in deep situations when he’s playing kind of a deeper drop,” Garza said. “And, there are certain times that I’ll be in that [coverage] as well, and that’s something I’ve always looked to improve on and get better at.”
And, when roles are revesed and Queta is on the sidelines, he takes it as an opportunity to study Garza’s uncanny ability to offensive rebound.
“He’s such a workhorse,” Queta said. “And, he really gets his imprint on the game.”
For Joe Mazzulla, both players have been critical to the Celtics’ success this season.
“They’re both different in their versatility,” Mazzulla said. “They both can impact matchups. They both can impact coverages. You can play different coverages with them defensively. They both do a great job of playing off of each other, having an understanding that they need each other, and that our team needs both of them to be really good, and they both have an understanding of what each guy can do. When you have that, it’s just part of being a good team. It’s a credit to those guys for helping us be that.”
Off the court, the two have grabbed dinner and gotten to know each other in a more meaningful way.
“Neemi’s an awesome dude,” Garza said. “This team, in general, is really connected.”
Queta and Garza’s underlying friendship has been one of the many strong relationships key to the Celtics’ success. Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman are in theory competing for minutes, but that hasn’t stopped them from being the best of friends.
“At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is to win,” Mazzulla said.
All season long, Queta and Garza have helped the Celtics do just that.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 14: Ezequiel Tovar #14 of Team Venezuela reacts after hitting a double in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team Japan at loanDepot park on Saturday, March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
For the first time in the history of the World Baseball Classic, Japan won’t be in the semifinals. They were out-slugged by Venezuela 8-5 on Saturday night at loanDepot Park in Miami. Venezuela is into the semifinals of the WBC for the first time since 2009, and with the win clinched a berth into the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Maikel Garcia hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, and Wilyer Abreu hit the go-ahead three-run shot in the sixth to give Venezuela the lead for good. Of the 17 total hits in the game, 10 were for extra bases, including five home runs.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled at the start, needing 57 pitches to record his first nine outs. Ronald Acuña Jr. hit the second pitch of the night out for a leadoff home run, but Shohei Ohtani answered the call in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff blast of his own.
Venezuela hit consecutive doubles for another run in the second inning, driven in by Ezequiel Tovar, who has Yamamoto’s number at this point. The Rockies shortstop has eight hits in 12 at-bats against Yamamoto, with two home runs and two doubles. But lukily for Yamamoto, one of those outs was a strikeout to end the third inning, when Venezuela stranded a leadoff double.
With three doubles and a home run on Saturday, Yamamoto allowed four extra-base hits in a start for just the second time in 60 starts since joining the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season. The other time came last June 13 against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.
But after Japan scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning, including a three-run home run by Shota Morishita for a 5-2 lead, Yamamoto remained in and pitched a perfect fourth inning, retiring his final six batters faced. Yamamoto allowed those two early runs but nothing else in his four innings, with five strikeouts and a walk in his 69-pitch effort.
Japan did not score after the third inning, at one point held hitless for 13 straight at-bats by Emmanuel De Jesus, José Buttó, Angel Zerpa, and Andrés Machado, including two strikeouts of Ohtani. Those were the only times Ohtani struck out in five games in this tournament. In all, he had six hits, including three home runs and a double, in 12 at-bats plus five walks, three of them intentional, hitting .500/.647/1.333 with six runs scored and seven RBI.
Japan reached the semifinal round in the first five World Baseball Classics, including tournament wins in 2006, 2009, and 2023.
Earlier in Saturday quarterfinals action in Houston, Italy remained undefeated, this time holding on to beat Puerto Rico 8-6.
Edwin Díaz hit a batter, walked another, and threw a wild pitch, but pitched a scoreless ninth inning, with two strikeouts. In three appearances during the WBC, the Dodgers right-hander pitched three scoreless innings with one hit, one walk, one hit batter, and allowed two steals, but also struck out seven of his 12 batters faced.
Catcher Will Smith is the only Dodgers player still active in the World Baseball Classic.
Remaining WBC schedule
Sunday semifinal: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 5 p.m. PT (FS1)
Monday semifinal: Italy vs. Venezuela, 5 p.m. (FS1)
Spanish world No 1 falls to first defeat of tennis season
Medvedev wins 6-3, 7-6(3) to set up final against Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz said he was finding it tough to constantly have a target on his back and was surprised by the level of performance from Daniil Medvedev after the Russian handed him his first defeat of the season at Indian Wells.
Medvedev’s 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over the world No 1 in the semi-finals ended the Spaniard’s 16-match winning run to start the season. World No 11 Medvedev will play Jannik Sinner in the final on Sunday.
Joe Burrow & Bijan Robinson in the building for 
