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Utah Jazz vs Portland Trailblazers Recap: Good, Old Fashioned, Ethical Losing

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 12: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz drives past Scoot Henderson #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of a game at Delta Center on February 12, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a feisty and generally entertaining 48 minutes of basketball, the Utah Jazz ultimately fell to the Portland Trailblazers, 119-135. But hey! This loss with zero minutes of Lauri Markkanen will allow us to dodge the $500,000 anti-tank hammer viciously swung down on the… win with 25 minutes of Lauri Markkanen. Adds up.

Brice Sensabaugh was the teams leading scorer tonight, dropping a calm, cool, and collected 28 points. His ability to operate on and off the ball will be key for Utah’s offense next year – every bit of off-the-dribble creation will be valued when paired up with the off-ball scoring of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. For that reason, I’m all for continued experimentation from Brice to close out the year, as long as he understands that some of the early shot clock isolations will have to dialed back as the team gets ready for some serious, competitive basketball.

The rest of the team showed the flashes that we have come to expect; Ace exploded for some startling dunks, Collier continues to fear no man when he has a head of steam, and Filipowski displayed the fascinating versatility of agility and strength that makes him a fun long term option in the front court. The youth of the team really started to show, however, in the 3rd quarter. The Trailblazers threw out a lineup featuring Jrue Holiday, Sidy Cissoko, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, and Donovan Clingan – that groups size and defensive intensity really threw a wrench into the offensive flow the Jazz had built in the 2nd quarter. Jrue Holiday, in particular, was the Jazz-killer of the night, with a stat line of 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists – it was clear that his 17 years of NBA experience gave him a significant leg-up compared to the 10 combined years of experience of the Jazz starting lineup.

A moment for the newcomers – each of Vince Williams Jr., John Konchar, and new signee Blake Hinson had moments to show their value tonight. Vince Williams has a way of shifting the tone from the second he checks in. It seems that constantly he is trying his best to do a convincing Kris Dunn impersonation, a Jazzman who fans have remembered fondly for his sturdy defense and heady plays. Perhaps he took that impersonation too far, however – he was (oddly quickly) ejected after arguing over a call in the 2nd quarter, which, according to Andy Larsen, is the first Jazz ejection since the aforementioned Dunn. Still, the energy is much appreciated. Konchar provided some energy of his own, constantly finding ways to make his presence felt on the court. Blake Hinson, a recent signee from the G-League, played some key minutes, hit some nice threes, and really tried his best guarding 7’2 behemoth Donovan Clingan. I’d like to see more Hinson as the season goes on.

The race to the bottom continues! The Jazz currently have a bit of a cushion on both sides of the standings: 1.5 games behind the Nets, and 2.5 in front of the Mavericks, leaving them solidly with the 6th best lottery odds. They will have the opportunity to improve those odds after the All-Star Break; next time we see the Jazz play will be February 20th in Memphis at 5 P.M.

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Thunder’s Nikola Topic makes NBA debut after testicular cancer diagnosis

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topić drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng.
Nikola Topic drives with the ball during the Thunder's Feb. 12 game against the Bucks.

The reaction that Nikola Topić received — a standing ovation from Thunder fans inside Paycom Center on Thursday, when he checked in for the first time late in the first quarter — captured the magnitude of the moment.

Topić, Oklahoma City’s first-round pick at No. 12 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, was about to make a debut more than a year in the making.

First, there was the torn ACL that sidelined him for all of last season, forcing him to miss the entirety of the Thunder’s championship run.

Nikola Topić drives with the ball during the Thunder’s 110-93 loss to the Bucks on Feb. 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City. AP

And then there was the testicular procedure in October, the testicular cancer diagnosis and the chemotherapy that upended the point guard’s career and kept him out of the lineup for the first 55 games of the season, too.

But during the Thunder’s 110-93 loss to the Bucks, Topić stepped onto the court for the first time as an NBA player in a heartwarming scene and contributed two points, one assist and one rebound across 12 minutes.

“He could’ve made 100 shots, missed 100 shots,” Thunder teammate Chet Holmgren said postgame. “Tonight’s an amazing game for him.”

After checking into the game, as Thunder fans cheered around him, Topić patted his chest while standing under the basket before collecting the ball, inbounding it and receiving a return pass to bring it up the court.

It served as a small step for Topić in his return, as head coach Mark Daigneault described the 20-year-old as still being in the “infant stages” of returning to full game shape in terms of his conditioning, athleticism and strength.

Nikola Topic looks to move the ball during the Thunder’s loss to the Bucks on Feb. 12, 2026. Imagn Images

He appeared in one preseason game for the Thunder in October before his absence, and then played in two games for their G League team this week before returning.

“Anybody who’s battling cancer is fighting for their life,” Holmgren said. “I could never begin to understand what that’s like, and it just speaks to the strength of [Topić] and who he is as a person. It would’ve been very justified for him to weigh everybody around him down and sulk and be mad at the world because the kid he is, he doesn’t deserve that. We’re all just so happy that he was able to battle through that and get back to hooping.”

The Thunder, despite the loss, entered the All-Star break as the top seed in the Western Conference with a 42-14 record.

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Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Player Grades

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 12: Svi Mykhailiuk #10 of the Utah Jazz drives against Scoot Henderson #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of a game at Delta Center on February 12, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Jazz lose a sloppy game 135-119 to the Portland Trail Blazers. Svi kept it close in the 4th quarter for a while, but Portland proved to be too good, and cruised to a comfortable win.

Ace Bailey – B

Bailey had a ridiculous dunk tonight, where he faked a shot, lobbed it off the backboard to himself, and slammed it down. His athleticism just jumps off the screen every game, and he has the makings of a really really good player. His rebounding continues to impress, as he had 8 tonight. Unfortunately he did struggle from deep tonight, going 1/5, but he still finished with 15 points.

Cody Williams –C-

Yes Cody went 0/3 from deep tonight, and yes one of those misses was a horrible air ball, but he still found ways to contribute. He had two steals, and had a nice block as well. He continues to be a menace in passing lanes for opposing teams. His passing has also improved this year, as he had 3 assists tonight. Cody finished with 9 points going 4/9 from the field.

Isaiah Collier –B

Collier fouled out late into the fourth quarter, but we’ll give him a pass as he probably just wanted some rest since he has been playing so much while Keyonte is out. Collier plays at 100 miles per hour every night. He hit some tough mid-range jumpers, to finish with 15 points while dishing out 9 assists, and notching 3 steals. He also shot a team high 12 free throws. Defenders just can’t keep up with him in transition, and have to foul him to stop him from scoring.

Brice Sensabaugh –A–

Brice lead the team in scoring tonight with 28. Simply put he’s a walking bucket and should serve this team really well coming off the bench next season.

Kyle Filipowski –B+

Whatever Clingan said or did to Flip tonight unlocked something in him, as I don’t think I’ve seen Kyle this aggressive since Summer League. He rebounded well tonight, grabbing 9, and had a team high 6 steals. Hopefully we can see more of this version of Filipowski going forward.

John Konchar –C

Konchar continues to struggle from deep, as he has not hit a three for the Jazz yet. He didn’t shoot particularly well from the field either tonight. But he made up for it with his hustle on defense, and his rebounding. He had 3 steals and 7 rebounds tonight. He is definitely a depth piece worth keeping going into next season.

Oscar Tshiebwe –Incomplete

We were robbed of watching an Oscar Tshiebwe masterclass tonight, as he was ruled out at halftime with a possible concussion. He may have only played 5 minutes, but he did have some impressive passes, logging 3 assists, and grabbing one board.

Vince Williams Jr. –A

Vince got ejected in the second quarter of this game after arguing a call, and tossing the ref the ball too aggressively. He reminds me a lot of Jae Crowder, high intensity, high effort player. He only logged 7 minutes in this game, but they were certainly memorable. He would finish with 6 points and 3 rebounds.

Blake Hinson –B

Welcome to the NBA Blake Hinson! In his first action in an NBA game he logged a rebound an assist and 11 points. He looked like he belonged out there, and he might prove to be a piece the Jazz, (or another team) may want to keep around.

SviMykhailiuk –A+

Long time no Svi! This marked his first action since February 5th against the Hawks. He had a clutch steal and bucket to cut the lead to 6 in the fourth quarter. His monster 4th quarter would continue as he went 4/5 from deep and gave the Jazz life for a second there. He would score all his 14 points in the 4th while adding 3 assists.

Adam Silver – F-

Good commissioner Silver fined the Jazz $500,000 dollars for the “management of their roster” in recent games. I must have missed the news that he was apart of the Jazz’s coaching staff. Maybe if the Jazz had announced that they would rest their two best players for the rest of the season, (like a certain other team) we could’ve avoided the fine! Oh well, maybe the extra half million will help Commissioner Silver make the All-Star game watchable this year.

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Utah Jazz fined $500k by Adam Silver for adjusting to his poor league decisions

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 05: Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith looks on during the second half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Delta Center on February 05, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Adam Silver fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 today for decisions prioritizing draft position over winning.

Adam Silver’s full statement states, “Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition, and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”

It’s interesting that Silver decides to punish the Jazz for $500k, considering he didn’t fine the Toronto Raptors last season for doing the same things.

But Adam Silver hasn’t made a good decision for the on-court product in a long time. Everything makes the game worse, and there’s no consistency with anything he does. Utah has entered the rebuild, dealing with Silver’s latest idiotic change, flattening the lottery odds. All it did was increase the number of tanking teams and keep the bad teams from having any shot at improving.

Now it looks like the worst commissioner in sports has another way of removing hope from the bottom of the league. He wants to have some sort of tournament to play for draft position.

Oh great, just another way that the worst teams in the league will have no shot of beating the teams at or near the playoffs. And you can just count on one of these borderline play-in teams taking advantage of the opportunity.

The reality is that going to the former odds mostly fixes the problem. Would it be perfect? No. But it would improve on the current situation and go back to having fewer teams tanking at the end of the season again. The reality is, getting a top player in the draft is one of the only ways to build a team. If you don’t have that possibility, there’s little to no chance of ever improving.

After the news broke, Ryan Smith, owner of the Jazz, had some strong comments on Twitter.

That’s the funniest part of this, that Utah won one of the two games this was all stemming from. Ryan Smith is completely right. He’s also right to call out Bobby Marks and his faux outrage at the integrity of the game being “compromised.”

First thing to point out is the same use of the word “integrity.” Pretty clear that Adam Silver was pushing this line to all his media friends and outlets.

It’s a stupid decision from a bad commissioner who consistently handles things with incompetence. All Utah can do now is work within the rules Silver has set, which is apparently just making up injuries or flat-out shutting down players for the season.

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Yankees news: Schlittler dealing with back inflammation

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

SNY | Alex Smith: Cam Schlittler is dealing with inflammation in his mid-back, manager Aaron Boone told the press on Thursday. The issue is considered minor and, after taking a few days off the mound, the right-hander is expected to return to his throwing program. “Zero, I’d say,” Schlittler said with regard to his likelihood of starting the season on the IL. “It’s early and I’ve been dealing with it for a little bit, so just want to make sure I’m on top of it and ready for Opening Day and that week in San Fran.”

The starter also clarified that there is a minor lat issue he’s been dealing with. With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt all expected to begin the season on the shelf, Schlittler figures to have a prominent role in the Yankees rotation to start the season.

SNY | Phillip Martinez: The Yankees signed right-hander Rafael Montero to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. He’ll be on a $1.85 million salary if he makes the majors, per Joel Sherman. The reliever, 35, struggled in the first half with the Astros and Braves but had a more encouraging run with the Tigers down the stretch, pitching to a 2.86 ERA in 20 appearances. A 10-year veteran and 2022 World Series champion with Houston, Montero came up as a Mets starter in the mid-2010s before finding his niche in a bullpen role elsewhere.

New York Post | Dylan Svoboda: The Yankees considered pursuing a trade for now-former Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos earlier this offseason but were talked out of the move by several people who gave him mixed reviews, per Jon Heyman. It’s unclear from whom these reviews came and what their nature was, though the veteran endured some controversy this past season as he was benched Phillies manager (and former longtime Yankees coach) Rob Thomson for an “inappropriate comment” and bringing a beer into the Phillies dugout after he was removed from a mid-June for defense. New York reportedly also considered Austin Slater, Randal Grichuk, and Ty France to add right-handed depth before re-signing Paul Goldschmidt. Castellanos was released by Philadelphia on Thursday and could be in play for multiple teams, per Heyman.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: The Yankees are planning to give Giancarlo Stanton regular rest as he embarks on his age-36 season, per Aaron Boone. “Obviously, the big thing with G is keep him healthy,” the Yankees manager said. “In a perfect world, we don’t have any interruption with an injury or anything, but I want to protect him. Get into that role where you’re playing three out of four, four out of five I think is a good thing for him.”

The DH was exceptionally productive last season when healthy but has of course struggled to stay on the field during his tenure in New York, landing on the IL nine times in eight seasons. Boone also did not rule out the veteran playing the outfield this year—as he did in a pinch late last year to keep his bat in the lineup with Aaron Judge briefly restricted to DH duty—noting that “the biggest thing is keeping it available so that when things do come up we’re in a position to pop him out there if we have to.”

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Max Fried has been using his implosion in Game 2 of the ALDS as fuel for what will be his sophomore season in pinstripes. “Every time that I get to the gym or I pick up a ball, anything I have to do with baseball, it’s definitely a motivating factor,” the starter said. “You want to always keep getting better, learn from your mistakes and make sure that you’re not making the same mistakes again. I’m just trying to remember that feeling.”

Fried was an All-Star in his Yankees debut and pitched 6.1 scoreless innings against the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, but was chased after allowing seven runs in three innings against Toronto the following series.

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Ace Bailey added to Rising Stars

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 27: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of a game against the LA Clippers at Delta Center on January 27, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA announced that Ace Bailey will be added to the Rising Stars game over All-Star Weekend.

Bailey has been selected to replace Cooper Flagg who is out with a foot sprain. It’s a big honor for Bailey, who deserved a right to be on the team before the injury to Flagg.

For the season, Bailey is averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 44.9% frrom the field and 34.3% from three.

With Bailey’s addition to the team, he will be the sole representative from this Utah Jazz team. Things were going to be pretty quiet for Jazz fans this All-Star week (before Adam Silver decided to obsess over the Jazz tanking). Now, the young wing gets a chance to represent the team and show what he can do. Night after night, Bailey makes an exciting play that hints at a bright future. Now, the entire NBA gets to see it.

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What is your favorite Warriors All-Star memory?

Jason Richardson dunking in the slam dunk contest.
PHILADELPHIA - FEBRUARY 9: Jason Richardson #23 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a dunk during the 2002 Slam Dunk Contest on February 9, 2002 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 2002 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to February Daily Topics at Golden State of Mind. A question (almost) every day this month to give the community a prompt to talk about!

The All-Star break is mercifully here. The Golden State Warriors limped to the break — both literally and figuratively — with a team in dire need of a rest and a reset. They’re in eighth place in the Western Conference and very comfortably in a play-in spot, but they’re just 4-7 since Jimmy Butler III suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Steph Curry hasn’t played in a while, and Kristaps Porziņģis has yet to play for the team following a deadline-deal trade.

So the All-Star break — and the week off from playing basketball — is certainly well timed for a Warriors squad that hopes to get Curry and Porziņģis back for Thursday’s return to action against the Boston Celtics.

In the meantime, we get non-Warriors basketball, in the form of the All-Star Game, and all the All-Star festivities.

The Warriors, however, won’t be partaking in the fun.

Golden State has no participants in Friday’s Castrol Rising Stars game, as neither Quinten Post nor Will Richard were selected for the annual rookie-sophomore showdown. Despite being the team that everyone associates with shooting (and for good reason), the Warriors won’t have a representative at Saturday’s State Farm 3-Point Contest, which features the surprising inclusion of Oakland’s own Damian Lillard. They also won’t have a player at the return of the Kia Shooting Stars competition, though former Warrior Corey Maggette will be coming out of retirement for the event. They won’t be included in Saturday’s concluding event, the AT&T Slam Dunk contest, though the mostly no-name field is highlighted, in my eyes at least, by Jace Richardson, the son of a Warriors legend.

And they won’t even have a player on Sunday, as Curry was selected to his 12th All-Star Game (as a starter, no less), but will miss the exhibition while he rehabs his runner’s knee and gears up for a stretch run.

So when it comes to Warriors this weekend, we’re stuck with memories and old highlights. Which got me thinking … what is your favorite Warriors All-Star weekend?

Mine is easy: watching the aforementioned father of Jace, Jason Richardson, who is, in my eyes, the most underrated dunker in basketball history. And what the hell, let’s relive those sensational contests.

Oh yeah. That’s the good stuff.

What are your favorite Warriors All-Star memories?

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Jazz, Pacers slammed with $600K in fines over tanking decisions

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Utah Jazz shoots a basket over Precious Achiuwa of the Sacramento Kings, Image 2 shows Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam dribbles the ball against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges and center Ariel Hukporti
The Jazz and Pacers were both fined by the NBA.

The NBA slammed the Jazz ($500,000) and Pacers ($100,000) with substantive fines, saying both teams sat healthy players in recent games in violation of the league’s player participation policy. 

Both teams are near the bottom of the league, and the decision comes after the Jazz were fined for a similar reason last season. 

“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. attempts a shot during Utah’s Feb. 11 game. NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA hit the Jazz with a fine due to instances on Feb. 7 and 9, against the Magic and Heat, respectively, when the league said Utah took out Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. before the start of the fourth quarter and did not have them play the rest of the night. 

The games, respectively, and the league said that “these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt.”

Jazz owner Ryan Smith did not seem to agree with the NBA’s decision and took to social media to voice his opinion. 

“Agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense,” Smith wrote. 

Pascal Siakam is pictured during the Pacers’ Feb. 10 game against the Knicks. Imagn Images

The Pacers’ fine stemmed from a Feb. 3 game, ironically, against the Jazz, when Pascal Siakam and two other Indiana starters “could have played under the medical standard in the Policy, including by playing reduced minutes. Alternatively, the team could have held the players out of other games in a way that would have better promoted compliance with the Policy.”

The fines were handed out just before the start of the All-Star break. 

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Purple Row After Dark: Will the Rockies’ defense improve in 2026?

Apr 30, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Jordan Beck (27) celebrates with center fielder Brenton Doyle (9) and outfielder Mickey Moniak (22) after the game against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Okay, let’s talk defense.

This week, Mike Petriello is doing some Statcast projecting, and here’s an interesting tidbit: The Colorado Rockies are expected to be in the top five of improved defenses.

He writes:

“The Rockies are in the midst of changing everything, and that’ll take time. The projections adore both center fielder Brenton Doyle and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, despite relative down seasons for each, and Hunter Goodman provided roughly average catcher defense, which is harder than it sounds. The expected improvement comes from the departure of first baseman Michael Toglia, who rated as among baseball’s weakest defenders, and the expectation that new outfielder and elite speedster Jake McCarthy might help shift Mickey Moniak into more of a DH role. Keep an eye out for third baseman Kyle Karros, who rated well in limited time last year and should get a larger opportunity this season.

So, the Rockies improved by subtraction.

I’ll turn the floor over to the Purple Row night owls: Will the Rockies see improved defensive numbers in 2026, and where will those improvements come from?

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

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McMahon scores 21 as No. 14 Ole Miss women get past Arkansas 80-57

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Cotie McMahon racked up 21 points and dished five assists as No. 14 Mississippi cruised by Arkansas 80-57 on Thursday night to reach 20 wins for the fifth straight season.

McMahon scored 20 or more points for the fourth straight game and has scored double figures in all but one outing this season.

The Rebels (20-5, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) bounced back from a 64-63 loss at then-No. 21 Alabama last Thursday to comfortably get back into the win column in their first home game in over a month.

Latasha Lattimore added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, and Denim DeShields tacked on 12 points for Ole Miss.

Ole Miss took the lead for good just 2:25 into the first quarter on a Lattimore layup and built a double-digit lead before the end of the first frame. They kept the lead the rest of the way, with a 40-27 lead at the half stretching to 20 points after a 7-0 run to open the second half.

For the Razorbacks (11-15, 0-11), Taleyah Jones led in scoring with 16 points, and Bonnie Deas had 14 with eight rebounds. Arkansas struggled at 34% and 19% shooting from the field and beyond the arc, respectively.

Up next

Arkansas hosts Mississippi State on Monday.

Ole Miss plays at No. 18 Kentucky on Sunday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Elroy Face, groundbreaking relief pitcher for Pirates, dies at 97

Elroy Face, an All-Star pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates and World Series champion, has died at the age of 97, the Pirates announced on Feb. 12.

"It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Pirates Hall of Famer Elroy Face, a beloved member of the Pirates family," Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement. “I was fortunate to get to know Elroy personally, and I will always be proud that we had the chance to honor him with his induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame."

Nicknamed "The Baron of the Bullpen," Face was a groundbreaking pitcher, performing in a role that evolved into the modern-day closer. Face holds the National League record for wins in relief (96). Face also holds Pirates franchise records for appearances (802) and saves (188). His NL record for saves was not broken until 1982, when Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter surpassed Face's total.

Face made All-Star Game appearances in three consecutive seasons from 1959-1961. The peak of his career coincided with the Pirates winning the 1960 World Series, a Fall Classic made famous by Bill Mazeroski's walk-off Series-winning home run in Game 7. Face recorded three saves in that World Series win over the New York Yankees.

It was Face's 1959 season that was his finest. He went 18-1 with a 2.70 ERA over 57 appearances, finishing seventh in NL MVP voting. During his career, he was a three-time league leader in saves and twice led the league in games pitched.

Face spent 15 seasons with the Pirates before pitching briefly with the Detroit Tigers and Montreal Expos to close out his storied career.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elroy Face, Pirates' pioneering relief pitcher, dies at 97

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All-Star reliever Elroy Face, who saved 3 games for Pirates in 1960 World Series, dies at 97

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Elroy Face, an All-Star reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates who saved three games in the 1960 World Series to help them upset the New York Yankees, has died. He was 97.

In a news release Thursday, the Pirates announced they confirmed Face's death. Team historian Jim Trdinich said the club was contacted by Face's son, Elroy Jr., and informed the former pitcher died earlier in the day at an independent senior living facility outside Pittsburgh in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.

No cause of death was provided. Face was eight days shy of his 98th birthday.

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Pirates Hall of Famer Elroy Face, a beloved member of the Pirates family,” team chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement.

“Elroy was a pioneer of the modern relief pitcher — the ‘Baron of the Bullpen’ — and he played a critical role in our 1960 World Series championship."

Selected to six All-Star teams, Face went 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 major league seasons with Pittsburgh (1953-68), Detroit (1968) and Montreal (1969). He pitched in 848 games, starting only 27, and compiled 191 career saves — although saves didn't become an official statistic until 1969.

The 5-foot-8 right-hander holds the National League record for wins in relief with 96 and the major league mark for relief wins in one season after going 18-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 1959.

He topped the National League with 68 appearances and 61 games finished in 1960, when the underdog Pirates stunned Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and the mighty Yankees on Bill Mazeroski's famous home run that won Game 7 of the World Series at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Face made four relief appearances in the Series, posting a 5.23 ERA in 10 1/3 innings. He closed out Pirates wins in Games 1, 4 and 5.

Inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2023, he is the club's career leader in appearances with 802. And the team noted that if saves had been an official stat before 1969, he also would hold that franchise record with 188.

Face was born in Stephentown, New York, on Feb. 20, 1928. He is survived by his three children, Michelle, Valerie and Elroy Jr., and his sister Jacqueline, the Pirates said.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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Brock Holt alleges former Red Sox teammate once disturbingly joked he would ‘kill’ team with a gun

Brock Holt of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out.
Bronx, New York 9/18/18 Brock Holt #12 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after he strikes out swinging to end the 6th inning in an MLB baseball game at Yankee...

The Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, but not without some clubhouse crossfire.

Postseason hero and longtime Boston infielder Brock Holt revealed an incident from that season in which a teammate allegedly said he would bring a gun to the field and “kill” the entire team.

Holt was a guest on the “Section 10 Podcast” on Thursday when they discussed Rafael Devers’ unceremonious exit from Boston, leading to a broader discourse on the importance of clubhouse chemistry.

Brock Holt spent seven seasons with the Red Sox. Paul J. Bereswill

This ultimately led to Holt addressing the 2018 team.

“We had a guy or two in ’18 like that, and we got rid of them,” Holt began.

“We were in Tampa, and we were in a circle stretching before [batting practice], and having a good ol’ time. And this someone looks around at all of us and says, ‘You know what? I’m going to bring a gun to the field tomorrow and kill all of you.’ And then he looks straight at me and says, ‘And you’re gonna be first.’”

Holt, who spent seven seasons in Boston, said the unnamed Red Sox player was “probably joking,” but the nature of his comments left people around the organization concerned.

“Our strength coach at the time was like, ‘Dude, I got to tell [then-team president Dave Dombrowski].’ And I was like, ‘Please do because I’m the first one that’s going to go.’

“We don’t have a lot of time, let’s get him out of here.”

Andy Barkett, who was the Red Sox’s assistant hitting coach during the 2018 season, appeared to corroborate Holt’s allegations on social media.

Boston Red Sox players celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium. USA TODAY Sports

“True Story…” he posted on X while replying to a clip of the podcast.

The purported incident did not impact the Red Sox on the field.

Boston won 108 regular-season games before steamrolling through the Yankees, Astros and Dodgers en route to the franchise’s ninth world championship.

Holt enjoyed a strong season, .277/.362/.411 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs in 109 games.

The 2015 All-Star also became the first player in MLB history to hit for the cycle in the playoffs, reaching the feat in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees.

After spending 10 MLB seasons with the Pirates, Red Sox, Brewers, Nationals and Rangers, Holt retired from baseball in 2022.

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Elroy Face, baseball bullpen pioneer, dead at 97

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Elroy Face, pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1960 World Series

Elroy Face, one of the late-inning reliever pioneers in baseball, died Thursday, the Pirates announced. He was 97.

Face, nicknamed “The Baron of the Bullpen,” emerged as a forerunner for what would later be considered a closer during his 16-year career, which was primarily with the Pirates.

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Pirates Hall of Famer Elroy Face, a beloved member of the Pirates family,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said, according to MLB.com. “I was fortunate to get to know Elroy personally, and I will always be proud that we had the chance to honor him with his induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame.

Headshot portrait of American baseball player Elroy Face, of the Pirates in Pittsburgh, Pa. 1960. Getty Images

“Elroy was a pioneer of the modern relief pitcher — the ‘Baron of the Bullpen’ — and he played a critical role in our 1960 World Series championship, leading the league in appearances and recording three saves against the Yankees.

“Our thoughts are with his three children — Michelle, Valerie and Elroy Jr. — and his sister Jacqueline.”

After some struggles as a starter at the beginning of his career, Face was moved to the bullpen full-time during the 1956 season, seeing immediate success.

Face, a native of Stephentown, spent 15 seasons in Pittsburgh, racking up 188 saves, the most in franchise history.

The righty held a 3.46 ERA during his Pirates tenure and was named an All-Star during three straight seasons (1959-61).

Pittsburgh Pirates Elroy Face in action vs New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima

Face was also a key member of Pittsburgh’s 1960 World Series Championship squad that bested the Yankees in seven games, notching saves in Games 1, 4 and 5.

His most remarkable year came in 1959, when the reliever had an 18-1 record with a 2.70 ERA in 57 appearances, finishing seventh in National League MVP voting.

Face was inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2023 alongside Bob Friend, Kent Tekulve and Dick Groat.

Elroy Face acknowledges the crowd after being inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame Class of 2023 before Pittsburgh’s loss to the Cubs at PNC Park on Aug. 26, 2023. Getty Images

Upon that class being announced, Tekulve credited Face for his impact on the future of relief pitchers.

“At one time, relief pitchers were guys who weren’t good enough to start,” Tekulve said at the time.

“But Elroy Face helped relief pitchers become important members of their team — not just an extra piece.”

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Rapid Recap: Bucks 110, Thunder 93

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 12: Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder plays defense during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks just keep on surprising, beating the (admittedly bruised) Oklahoma City Thunder 110-93. Ousmane Dieng led the Bucks with 19 points, six assists, 11 rebounds, and four blocks! That said, Milwaukee had seven guys reach double digits, which is amazing. Isaiah Joe was probably the Thunder’s best player, dropping 17 points. Also, a big shoutout to Nikola Topic, who played his first NBA game tonight after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. Salute.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap

The Bucks were able to keep the Thunder at arm’s distance throughout the opening quarter, with AJ Green and Kevin Porter Jr. scoring 12 of Milwaukee’s first 16 points. With both SGA and Jalen Williams out, the Thunder stayed in it through the three-ball, with their first nine points coming from deep; Isaiah Joe was spectacular early for OKC, scoring 11 of their first 20. The Bucks built a small edge to close the quarter, highlighted by an Andre Jackson Jr. put-back slam from the clouds, leading 30-25 after one.

Milwaukee extended its lead to open the second, clearly identifying that the newly acquired Jared McCain could not guard AJ Green, who knocked some threes down in quick succession. However, two big triples from Alex Caruso kept the Thunder close initially, with him later hitting another to cap an 8-0 run and tie the game at 40, four minutes in. The Bucks, however, would respond in a major way, going on an extended 20-4 run! How? Well, the visitors ran a great offence and took advantage of the smaller Thunder lineup, which allowed them to set their defence and force OKC to play in the half-court. The Thunder got some stops to close the half, reducing the deficit to 12, Bucks up 67-55.

Scoring slowed significantly for both teams for most of the third. It was a brick-fest until the final few minutes of the period. The Thunder were getting by on Lue Dort self-created buckets, which never seemed very sustainable, while it was a lot of KPJ and Cam Thomas for the Bucks. Milwaukee’s lead remained at around 10 for most of the quarter, but it was later in the third when some exciting stuff started to happen. Ousmane Dieng nailed a step-back triple, followed by a mid-range jumper off the empty-side pick-and-roll, followed by a Connaughton-esque no-dip three. The Ous’ is loose! This was the run that allowed the Bucks to grab a major edge heading into the fourth, up 89-73.

Believe it or not, the Bucks delivered the knockout blow in the opening 1:29 of the final frame, with AJ Green cashing his fifth triple of the night, followed by Pete Nance knocking his third to put the visitors up 22! OKC would make a few shots to get it down to the 16-point mark, but the Bucks had an answer at every turn (and it truly was a bunch of different contributors). What really stood out is the way Milwaukee was moving the ball; I haven’t seen them cause rotation after rotation like that in a long time. What a game; what a win.

Stat That Stood Out

I mean, Dieng’s four blocks stand out to me. If he can become a true plus on defence… man, that trade could be a steal. Not counting my chickens before they hatch, but it’s exciting.