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Podziemski, Warriors to visit Raynaud, Kings

Golden State Warriors (37-43, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (21-59, 14th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Warriors -10.5; over/under is 229.5

BOTTOM LINE: Maxime Raynaud and the Sacramento Kings host Brandin Podziemski and the Golden State Warriors in Western Conference action.

The Kings are 3-12 in division games. Sacramento has a 6-39 record in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Warriors are 7-7 in division play. Golden State ranks seventh in the Western Conference giving up just 115.1 points while holding opponents to 48.0% shooting.

The Kings are shooting 46.7% from the field this season, 1.3 percentage points lower than the 48.0% the Warriors allow to opponents. The Warriors' 46.1% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.4 percentage points lower than the Kings have given up to their opponents (49.5%).

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Warriors won the last matchup 110-105 on April 8. De'Anthony Melton scored 21 points to help lead the Warriors to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nique Clifford is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 3.7 rebounds for the Kings. Raynaud is averaging 17.1 points and 8.5 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Podziemski is averaging 13.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Warriors. Pat Spencer is averaging 10.3 points and 4.1 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 3-7, averaging 111.7 points, 42.4 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.1 points per game.

Warriors: 4-6, averaging 113.3 points, 39.8 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 9.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.1 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Russell Westbrook: out (foot), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Drew Eubanks: out for season (thumb), DeMar DeRozan: out (hamstring), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).

Warriors: Quinten Post: out (foot), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Al Horford: out (calf), Kristaps Porzingis: out (illness), Moses Moody: out for season (knee), Will Richard: out (back), Gui Santos: out (pelvis).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Should Knicks tank their way out of the No. 3 seed to avoid Celtics?

NEW YORK — As a rash of shameless tanking is rotting within the NBA, the New York Knicks could’ve done the same.

They could’ve rolled over Thursday, April 9 to let the Boston Celtics clinch the No. 2 seed. They could’ve rested their stars compromised their competitive spirit to gear up instead for the playoffs, which begin April 18.

Let me explain.

In the days leading up to this game, a faction of social media basketball strategists pondered whether New York, the current three-seed in the East, would be better served to target the No. 4 slot. The thinking was that it would avoid an eventual matchup against the surging Celtics, who have won 25 of their last 33 games, in the conference semifinals.

Instead, Knicks forward Josh Hart drained all five of his 3s in the second half — including a pair inside the final 43 seconds that put the game away — to help New York narrowly outlast Boston, 112-106, in a game that had 13 ties and 16 lead changes.

Despite the victory, the Knicks, however, could still feasibly throw their final two games to tank into the four-seed to avoid Boston.

Should they?

I’ll concede that it does make some practical sense for teams at the bottom of the standings to tank. Those attempts to manipulate draft positioning, particularly in a draft class as loaded as this one, can theoretically be the difference between an elite, franchise-altering player and a good-to-very-good one.

Taking this approach, however, as you’re trying to win it all, would be a tell for loser behavior. Indirectly, the message would be that a team is scared of another, or at least giving it far too much respect.

“We’re heading in the direction of where we need to be at,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the game. “I like the climb that we’ve made the last week or so, the last three or four games. We’ve got a couple more games to get there.

“For us, we’ll take it one game at a time, but we’ve got these two left, and we’d like to win both of them. What does that mean? I don’t know; we’ll see. But when we lace them up, we’re playing to win.”

Let’s very quickly run through the scenarios.

The Celtics (54-26) will almost certainly clinch the No. 2 seed. All they need to do is win one of their two remaining games, both of which are at home: against the Pelicans (Friday, April 10) and Magic (Sunday, April 12).

Because the Knicks (52-28) hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (51-29), New York would clinch the three-seed with a victory in either of its remaining games, which are also both at home: against the Raptors (Friday) and Hornets (Sunday).

And, assuming both Boston and New York handle their first-round playoff series, that would set up, once again, a rematch in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

If the Knicks fell to the fourth-seed, their semifinal opponent would likely be the No. 1 Pistons, who only just got All-Star Cade Cunningham back Wednesday, April 8 from a collapsed lung.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) wins a loose ball from Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic.

Making the prospect of a Knicks-Celtics rematch more enticing is that Boston’s players seemingly want it.

“It felt like death,” Jaylen Brown said of last year’s playoff loss during a recent Twitch stream. “The Knicks — good team — but to blow two 20-point leads, like, how does that happen? Just, the energy was off, and we lost, but shout out to the Knicks. They won. They moved on. We lost. We did it to ourselves. Can’t be mad at it.

“But this (year is a different story). We might match up with the Knicks again, and we’ve got to be ready to slide. … Sometimes, you’ve got to spin the block. You’ve got to run it back.”

By beating the Celtics Thursday night, New York can now say that it went 3-1 against Boston in the regular season. The Knicks sharpened their late-game actions in the clutch. They blitzed Celtics star Jayson Tatum — who was playing his first game here in Madison Square Garden since he tore his Achilles in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals — showing they have a recipe to defend him in the postseason.

Most of all, New York can use this momentum to galvanize its group into a rallying point as it tries to win its first NBA Finals since 1973.

Granted, none of New York’s victories over Boston this season were with both Tatum and Brown, who missed Thursday’s game with left Achilles tendinitis, on the floor.

Either way, all of this is setting up for what should be a fascinating rematch.

“That’s fool’s gold, trying to pick and choose your spots in the standings and who you play,” Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters after the game. “That’s fool’s gold (thinking) you have to lose to win.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Should New York Knicks tank way out of No. 3 seed in NBA playoffs?

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Bogey goes boom, Padres walk-off Rockies in extras

Apr 9, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) hits a walk-off grand slam home run against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Valente Bellozo (not pictured) to win the game in the twelfth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres played their first extra-innings game of the 2026 season and the first under new manager Craig Stammen. It took 12 innings for the Padres to top the Colorado Rockies in their series opener at Petco Park on Thursday night, giving them and Stammen the win.

The game was settled in the bottom of the 12th inning when Xander Bogaerts blasted a grand slam home run deep into the left field bleachers for a walk-off 7-3 win. The San Diego shortstop made Colorado pay for issuing intentional walks to Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado with Jake Cronenworth on third base after a Fernando Tatis Jr. sacrifice bunt to load the bases. Bogaerts delivered the game winning drive on a 1-0 pitch on the inside part of the plate that sent the Friar Faithful home happy.  

The game-winning heroics by Bogaerts required Cronenworth to make a game-saving throw to the plate on a two-hopper on the infield to give San Diego a chance to win the game in extras. With one out in the top of the 12th inning, Cronenworth fielded a ground ball off the bat of Brenton Doyle and threw quickly to Luis Campusano at home plate who applied a tag to Willi Castro to keep the game tied, 3-3. Reliever David Morgan got the Padres out of the inning two batters later when Kyle Karros grounded out to Bogaerts at shortstop, sending Tatis Jr., Merrill and Machado to the plate with a chance to win the game.

The end of the game got the headlines and overshadowed another fabulous start from Randy Vasquez, who pitched 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits with eight strikeouts and no walks allowed. Vasquez worked in and out of trouble throughout the game but the one blemish on his start was a solo home run allowed to Doyle in the top of the third inning.

The San Diego offense matched the one run scored by Colorado in the bottom half of the inning when Freddy Fermin and Cronenworth hit back-to-back one out singles to put runners at the corners for Tatis Jr. The Padres right fielder lifted an 0-1 pitch into left field that allowed Fermin to tag up and score from third base.

Neither offense could do much against the opposing pitchers and the game remained tied into the 10th inning. Both teams scored runs in the 10th and 11th innings and the game was decided in the 12th.

San Diego and Colorado play Friday at 6:40 p.m. and the Padres will wear their City Connect 2.0 uniforms, which were officially unveiled on Thursday.

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Padres 7, Rockies 3: A late-night, hard-fought loss (F/12)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Willi Castro #3 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after being tagged out at home during the 12th inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies fought and fought, pushing the San Diego Padres into extras. Unfortunately, they came out on the losing end of a crooked loss, but they showed some absolute heart. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak, and also marked the longest game (by innings) in 2026.

Jimmy Herget opened with a clear inning

Herget played the role of “opener” today. He said on the broadcast that last year he made an appearance in every inning except the first, so today he got his chance. Herget set the tone with an excellent first inning, going 1-2-3 to Jake Cronenworth, Fernando Tatís Jr., and Jackson Merrill. None of the outs were strikeouts, but outs are outs and Herget only threw 10 pitches (six for strikes).

Go Do(llander)

As expected, Chase Dollander took over in the second and ended up going 4.1 innings. He allowed just one earned run with one walk and three strikeouts. He started laboring in the sixth, but was able to get a huge strikeout of Tatís Jr.

Extra (extra) bases

Ezequiel Tovar reached twice again tonight, knocking two doubles.

Brenton Doyle also got to don the purple coat, which did make the trip. The center fielder hit his first home run of the year in the third inning to put the Rockies up 1-0.

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Stop hitting Hunter!

In the sixth inning, Hunter Goodman got hit on the right hand for the second day in a row. Randy Vásquez threw a pitch up and in, and it caught Goodman’s hand wrapped around the bat. He walked to first and was met by Warren Schaeffer and Andy Stover. They immediately wrapped his middle finger and it looked like he would attempt to carry on, but he then started bleeding under the bandage. He went into the dugout to get it wrapped and more deeply examined, but then tore off his helmet and threw it down in frustration — Brett Sullivan would then enter the game in his place.

Luckily, it appears that x-rays were negative and Goodman just suffered a right finger laceration. Schaeffer said after the game that Goodman is “day to day.”

Defensive unraveling

The Rockies have had impeccable defense for most of the season, but when it rains, it pours sometimes…

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rox had plenty of opportunities to make outs but couldn’t hold onto the ball. First, Manny Machado reached on a throwing error by Edouard Julien, who tossed the ball into the dirt and Troy Johnston couldn’t smother it. Then, Dollander had Machado picked off but Johnston couldn’t keep it in his glove to record the out. And then, Xander Bogaerts hit a tailor-made double play ball, but Tovar bungled the transfer and rather than record three easy outs, the Rockies then had first and second with one out.

Bullpen wizardry

Luckily, Jaden Hill came in and quickly struck out Gavin Sheets, but then a double steal put men on second and third. Sullivan attempted to pick off Machado at third, but Willi Castro wasn’t quite at the bag. But Hill struck out Nick Castellanos and the Rockies escaped what could’ve been a very bad inning.

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Hill stayed in for the seventh inning and got Ty France, Freddy Fermin, and Cronenworth 1-2-3.

Juan Mejia came in for the eighth and was outstanding. He battled against Tatís Jr., who did end up walking. They nearly got him at second after Merrill flied out to center, but Castro was once again slightly behind the bag. However, he was picked off on this excellent play:

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Machado singled again, but Mejia struck out Bogaerts to end the inning.

Extra, extra, extra innings!

The 10th inning started with Castro on second as the ghost runner. Jake McCarthy hit a (weird) sacrifice bunt to move him over, and then Doyle walked.

Tyler Freeman hit another clutch single like he did in Toronto to put the Rockies up 2-1 in extras. Unfortunately, he slid early and was nearly leveled by Bogaerts — and that ended up being called interference to end the inning.

In the Padres’ half, Tovar kept Luis Campusano close at second, but then when Cronenworth hit a sacrifice bunt, Victor Vodnik was able to field and pick him off at third base. Unfortunately, Tatís singled and then Merrill walked to load the bases. Machado then hit a sac fly to score Cronenworth.

In the 11th, Sullivan led off with a double down the right field line to score Kyle Karros and put the Rockies up 3-2.

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Johnston then walked, but then TJ Rumfield struck out swinging. Tovar grounded into a force out to get Johnston at second, and then Castro gathered a platinum sombrero with an inning-ending fifth strikeout.

Brennan Bernardino came in to pitch the bottom half of the 11th and gave up a single to Sheets. He got Castellanos to line out on a spectacular glove save by Karros followed by a strikeout of Ramón Laureano. But then Campusano doubled to score Sheets and then Cronenworth popped out to Karros to send things to the bottom half.

In the bottom half, Valente Bellozo came on to try to hold the the Padres’ best hitters off the board. Tatís Jr. laid down a bunt to move over Cronenworth. Then, Schaffer elected to intentionally walk Merrill and Machado. Unfortunately, Bogaerts belted one over the left field wall for a walk-off grand slam, and the Rockies lost 7-3 after battling back all through extras.

Up Next

Luckily, tomorrow is another night game.

Tomoyuki Sugano will take on Walker Buehler at 6:40pm MT.

See you then!

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

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Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Sharks

In their penultimate home game of the 2025-26 season, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the San Jose Sharks in a crucial Pacific Division matchup on Thursday night at Honda Center.

The Ducks, suddenly desperate, entered this game carrying a six-game winless streak and having seen their five-point lead in the Pacific completely evaporated. At puck drop, they were third in the Division, behind the Vegas Golden Knights by a point and ahead of the Los Angeles Kings by four points.

Ducks Goaltender Ville Husso Nominated for Masterton Trophy

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-0 Loss to the Predators

The Sharks were on their second game of a back-to-back, after having lost a critical game on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The Sharks were three points out of the second wild card spot with a game in hand.

This was the biggest game of the season for both sides.

The Ducks remained without forward Cutter Gauthier (upper body) and defenseman Radko Gudas (lower body), each having been sidelined since their March 30 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After playing forward in Tuesday’s loss to the Nashville Predators, Olen Zellweger was scratched for this game.

Here’s how the Ducks lined up:

Kreider-Carlsson-Terry

Killorn-Granlund-Sennecke

Vatrano-McTavish-Viel

Washe-Poehling-Moore

LaCombe-Trouba

Mintyukov-Carlson

Hinds-Helleson

Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks and saved 18 of 19 shots in this game. For the Sharks, Yaroslav Askarov got the nod and stopped 24 of 30.

Game Notes

From an on-ice perspective, with the scoreboards removed, this game felt like a continuation of their game on Tuesday against Nashville. The Ducks were possessing the puck for extended periods of time, including not allowing a shot against for (roughly) the first 15 minutes of the hockey game, and utilizing crisp breakouts to counter and keep pucks out of their end.

San Jose expectedly pushed back, but Anaheim ensured their shot attempts wouldn’t lead to elongated cycles. The Ducks did little things like remain disciplined, only heading to the penalty box once, in a coincidental situation, and blocking every perimeter shot they could, tallying 22 in total.

“We haven’t had a lead like that in a long time, early in the game,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “I thought we did some solid things all game long. With them playing last night, we got after them early in the game and set a very fast pace.

“That was beneficial to us from the start. It’s one of those games where we needed it in the worst way, and we showed that we were going to do everything we could to find a way to get it.”

Containing Celebrini: The coaching staff hard-matched Celebrini’s line with the Ducks’ fourth line (Washe-Poehling-Moore) and top defensive pair (LaCombe-Trouba). Underlying metrics will indicate Celebrini got the better of them, but as a five-man unit, they did well to eliminate time and space while forcing him to defer pucks to teammates, limiting the time it spent on his tape.

They pressured San Jose’s below-average back end on the forecheck, eliminating Celebrini’s ability to transport pucks up ice. They shadowed him in the neutral zone, forcing puck movers to attempt outlets elsewhere, and they kept him to the perimeter in the offensive zone, refusing to give up the middle of the ice, an area of severe weakness for the team throughout the course of the season.

John Carlson: The story of this game will remain Carlson’s first career hat trick. He unleashed his world-class throwback slap shot on all three goals, and they weren’t only hard but cleverly placed and utilized screens in front.

Moving forward, as it did in this game, this weapon can be a go-to form of offense when the Ducks’ power play “Plan A” is denied. Sennecke’s willingness to suffer abuse, act as a presence in front of the opposing netminder, and disrupt his vision was a key factor in all three of Carlson’s tallies.

Leo Carlsson: Carlsson’s “lead-by-example” brand was on full display in this game, seemingly refusing to let his team go down a goal and not allowing their lead to slip away late. He displayed his typical danger off the rush, utilizing his speed to drive opponents back and create in the ice afforded.

However, in this game, he also manufactured offense from the cycle, astutely read opposing breakouts and picked off outlet attempts, and he was diligent in his end, picking up assignments and supporting pucks effectively.

Against the brightest young star in the game, Carlsson showed a relentless physical and mental motor, singlehandedly, completely unwilling to let his team suffer a seventh straight loss.

The Ducks will wrap up their home schedule on Sunday, when they’ll host the lowly Vancouver Canucks.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-3 Loss to the Flames

Ducks Recall Tyson Hinds to NHL, Assign Lucas Pettersson, Damian Clara to AHL

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-2 Loss to the Blues

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7 Takeaways: Hurricanes Embarrass Blackhawks To Start Road Trip

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2 Thursday night at United Center.

It was an epic beatdown by the Hurricanes, who were even without seven starters, as they continued to hold strong to their spot atop the Eastern Conference.

Here are seven takeaways from the win:

Carolina dominates Chicago 7-2

1. Seven Starters Sitting

The Carolina Hurricanes came into the game against the Blackhawks with one thing in mind: getting their top guys some rest.

Now that's both a comment on the Hurricanes' current playoff position, locked in to the top spot of the Metropolitan Division, but also to how lowly the Blackhawks, the league's 31st ranked team, are.

Because even despite resting seven key players — Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, Jalen Chatfield — they still laid the boot to Chicago, scoring seven goals on 22 shots.

"You score on the first shift and that just set the tone," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "It's obviously better to play ahead and then we didn't really have too many lapses in the game. I thought we just played a solid road game. Overall, just everybody had their hand in it."

2. The Regulars Held It Down...

In total, 11 different players found their way onto the scoresheet Thursday night.

Logan Stankoven led the way for Carolina with two goals and three points and other standout performances included those by Mark Jankowski (2g) and William Carrier (3a).

In fact, all but one of the team's anticipated playoff starters registered at least one point in the contest (Eric Robinson did not have a point).

"It just creates confidence for everybody and that's what we're gonna need in these last few games and into the playoffs," Stankoven said. "It's nice when everyone can chip in. It's great for the team, but it's also great individually. It makes everyone feel good."

The only non-assumed playoff starter to even register a point was Nicolas Deslauriers, who picked up his first point as a Hurricane with a secondary assist on the seventh and final goal of the game.

"That was awesome," Jankowski said. "Before my second one there, he was joking on the bench like, 'Guys, get me a touch, get me my first one,' so when he got the assist, he was just fired up. We got the puck for him, his first point as a Cane. He's been huge in our locker room and on the ice when he's been in. It's been a pleasure to play with him and it's great for him to get his first point there."

Nicolas Desluariers celebrates his first Carolina Hurricanes point. © Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Nicolas Desluariers celebrates his first Carolina Hurricanes point. © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

3. ...But The Callups Still Held Their Own Too

Even though they didn't end up on the scoresheet, it was still a solid night for the team's four AHL callups.

Bradly Nadeau, Skyler Brind'Amour, Josiah Slavin and Charles Alexis Legault all got time on the PK, which went a perfect 4-for-4, and each held their own in their 15+ minutes of ice time.

Nadeau didn't have as much opportunity for power play looks, as the team only got one call their way and Nadeau himself cancelled it out after just 56 seconds, but he still had three shot attempts, a block and four hits.

Brind'Amour also went 8-for-10 on draws and nearly had a redirect goal, but it was called off due to his contact with Spencer Knight.

"I thought they did a great job," Brind'Amour said. "It's not the easiest thing to throw all of them in, but I thought they did a great job. On the kill we used them and just everywhere. We had to put them in. There was no, 'Uh, oh. They're on the ice,' type of thing.

"You have to kind of know your people and they fit perfectly. They know how to play and they know how we play. Obviously they're not replacing the guys we had out, but it helps when you have guys that know what they're doing. Kudos to them."

"Our system is pretty straight up so anyone can squeeze right in," Carrier said. "They play the same way down there, so they fit right in like they had been here all season with us."

4. Logan Stankoven: 20(21*)-Goal Scorer

There were certainly a lot of people in my mentions this year that said very adamantly that Logan Stankoven was not a second-line center.

Well, now that the 23 year old has eclipsed the 20-goal and 40-point milestones this season, it's kind of crazy how I don't really see those same complaints anymore.

"It's what you dream of as a kid," Stankoven said on the milestone moment. "A lot of work, for sure, and I know it's far from over. I'm gonna keep getting better every game. I think I'm far from a finished product and I just want to be the best version I can of myself.

Stankoven made the move back to his natural position of center to start the year, that being just his second full NHL season at that, and so you knew it was gonna take some time for him to really get used to it.

But really right away, he found some strong chemistry with Jackson Blake and a variety of other linemates, whether that was Nikolaj Ehlers or Taylor Hall, and his lines had consistently been one of the most possession dominant in the league.

He wasn't getting any bounces for a while there, but now the pucks are finally starting to drop for him and his numbers are matching what his expected production has always been, as Stankoven now ranks 25th in the league in 5v5 goals amongst true centers.

"We've been talking about him all year and he went through that stretch where he wasn't scoring, but he was getting those chances and it was just a matter of time and clearly that's what's happening here lately," Brind'Amour said.

Stankoven is also the sixth Hurricane this season to reach the 20-goal milestone, tied not only for the most in the league this year, but also the most in franchise history.

"I think it's a great confidence booster," Stankoven said. "There's times when it has been frustrating when you get a lot of chances and they don't go in, but I've kind of said to my linemates on the bench, for all the times they've set me up and I've missed or hit posts and it didn't go in, that it's kind of nice now that they are starting to fall and drop in for me."

5. Taylor Hall Continuing To Impress

It seems like Hall can't stop scoring now that he's finally earned his 300th career goal.

Before he got that goal in Ottawa, Hall had gone seven games without a tally, but was racking up the assists and chances.

He's still getting assists now too as his production continues to climb, but his scoring touch seems to be back too, scoring his 18th of the season, and third straight, on Thursday (could we see a seventh player reach 20?).

The Masterton nominee has been a key part of Carolina's offense all year and he's been the perfect mentor for Blake and Stankoven.

It also shouldn't be overlooked that Hall was the one player given a letter to wear with the entire leadership team up in the press box.

The 34-year-old is a long-time veteran of the game, but he's also a well respected member of the Hurricanes.

6. A Solid Outing For Frederik Andersen

A lot of talk has been made about the Hurricanes' current goaltender situation and how it'll play out come Game 1 of the playoffs.

For me, it's really come down to a game-by-game basis on who can emerge as the strongest candidate in these last few games.

While Brandon Bussi has had the better overall body of work this year, he's really struggled since the Olympic break.

Frederik Andersen hasn't been that impressive either to be honest as of late, but tonight was certainly another point in his favor.

The veteran netminder made 23 saves in the win, even stopping a handful of grade-A chances for the Hawks, none bigger than his breakaway stop on Nick Lardis.

"That's what you need in a game like that," Brind'Amour said on the timely saves. "We had a couple gaffes, guys falls down and gives up a breakaway. You don't see that very often and that's a big turning point in the game if they score there. That was probably the save of the game for me."

Freddie was very solid overall for Carolina in a game they were actually outshot in, with none of the two goals he gave up even being remotely on him.

As we get closer and closer to the postseason, let's also not forget the fact that Andersen has been a steady playoff performer.

Yes, he had a poor outing in 2024 against the Rangers, but other than that, the Danish netminder has come up strong in many different series for Carolina.

That experience counts for something.

Frederik Andersen stops Nick Lardis in on a breakaway. © Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Frederik Andersen stops Nick Lardis in on a breakaway. © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

7. Race For The Eastern Conference Crown

With the win, the Canes moved back into sole possession of the top spot in the Eastern Conference (108 points)

They now sit two points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres (106) and have a game in hand on them.

However, the Sabres have four more regulation wins than the Hurricanes, meaning they'll actually finish ahead of Carolina should they end up tied in points and there's no way for the Canes to nullify that tiebreaker.

Buffalo isn't the only team the Canes have to worry about either though, as both the Montreal Canadiens (104) and Tampa Bay Lightning (102) are still in the race too, although they have a much more difficult route to the top.

Montreal can't catch the Canes in regulation wins, so they'll need to finish with more points. For that to happen, the Canadiens would have to secure five or more points more than the Hurricanes in each's last three games.

Tampa Bay meanwhile has to win out just to catch Carolina in points, which means any points gained by the Canes would eliminate the Lightning from being able to catch them.

However, should the Hurricanes lose out and Tampa Bay catches them, the Lighting hold the edge in regulation wins and would finish ahead.

But the Hurricanes control their own destiny and so the best thing for them to do is just to keep winning.

One win would mean that Buffalo remains their only opponent in the race for the East and three points in any fashion would officially secure the conference crown regardless of what anyone else does.

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Player Grades: Lakers vs. Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For at least one game, there is a glimmer of hope in Los Angeles.

The Lakers actually beat the Warriors. Now, Steph Curry was out for the contest, so it was the corpse of Golden State against the ghost of LA, but in the win-loss column, the victory counts the same.

So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

32 minutes, 26 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, 11-17 FG, 3-5 3PT, 1-2 FT, +19

LeBron was superb in this contest. He was aggressively attacking the basket, racking up points. James was a positive defender and led the team in assists. He also had another incredible dunk to add to his infinite highlight reel of jams.

There was a scary moment where he blocked a shot and appeared to hurt his hand, but he remained in the game. That’s great news because the last thing this team needs is another injury.

Grade: A

Rui Hachimura

30 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 fouls, 5-12 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-1 FT, +20

Hachimura had a relatively positive performance. He shot well and was a good floor spacer during the competitive parts of this contest.

Grade: B

Jake LaRavia

31 minutes, 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls, 6-7 FG, 4-5 3PT, +29

This was one of the best LaRavia games in weeks. He finally had a good shooting night and was a threat from deep. Hopefully, this is the start of a good stretch of shooting for LaRavia as we enter the postseason.

Grade: B+

Deandre Ayton

31 minutes, 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 fouls, 9-11 FG, 3-4 FT, +19

Ayton brought the appropriate energy and efficiency to this game. He dominated inside and scored some of his patented high-post buckets. If Ayton can play like this the rest of the way, LA will have a shot at winning

Grade: A

Luke Kennard

32 minutes, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 6-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-1 FT, +20

Kennard had some really rough possessions with the ball. In the third quarter, he had one play where he rushed to the rim and looked like he had no idea how to attempt a layup.

Kennard is being asked to do more than he normally is, and this game is a reminder of why he is best just shooting from deep and setting screens.

Grade: C

Jarred Vanderbilt

26 minutes, 2 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 1-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, +15

Vando’s offensive possessions were an adventure in this game. He’s clearly only playing because the team is shorthanded, but his time on the floor was tough to watch in this one.

Grade: D

Bronny James

21 minutes, 10 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 4-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, -5

Bronny becoming a legit rotation player has been a joy to watch. He is progressing so much during his sophomore season. He still struggles with ball pressure, but he’s improved a lot. Now, when he comes in, it’s not just during wins in garage time. Bronny can help the Lakers win.

Grade: B

Nick Smith Jr.

11 minutes, 12 points, 4-5 FG, 4-5 3PT, +9

Smith Jr. just broke the 10 minutes required for a grade. He is a player unafraid to shoot the ball, and in this game he was hot from deep, going 4-5. If Redick needs some offense during one of these games, Smith Jr. isn’t a bad option to go to.

Grade: B

Maxi Kleber, Drew Timme, Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht

These four players didn’t play 10 or more minutes, so they will not be receiving a grade.

JJ Redick

Redick pushed the right buttons in this game. He ran a tight rotation, and it resulted in the Lakers playing a better game overall. Redick called timeouts when the Warriors went on a run, and the Lakers responded each time.

Grade: B

Thursday’s DNPs: Chris Mañon

Thursday’s inactives: Marcus Smart, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Adrian Kempe Leads The Way In Kings Win Over Canucks

An unnecessarily close game against the weakest team in the NHL ended with the Los Angeles Kings (33-26-19) pulling away in the second period for a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

The game began with LA taking control early. The early starts benefit the Kings a lot by helping them avoid blowouts or close losses, as they experienced a week ago when they struggled to score a goal in the opening period. 

The scoring came a minute into the period, with a nice play led by Brandt Clarke, skating behind the net and around to find Adrian Kempe cutting in to get the wrist shot. Kempe's goal gave him his 70th point of the season, marking his third consecutive season with 70+ points. 

The Kings were outshooting Vancouver 11-7 to end the first period, while the Canucks won just 24% of their faceoffs. Los Angeles was clearly outplaying the visiting team, but couldn't put them away, leaving the game up in the air. 

Vancouver would respond at the 5:43 mark, converting on the big one-timer shot to tie the scoreboard 1-1. Despite giving up a goal, the Kings would counter the Canucks a minute later. 

After a nice steal from Jared Wright, forcing a Vancouver turnover, Scott Laughton would remain in possession of the puck and drop an impressive pass to Joel Armia trailing from behind to score and give the Kings back the lead. 

The third line continues to stay hot with the chemistry that's developed on ice along the Armia-Laughton-Wright unit out there. Los Angeles is a very tough team to beat whenever any one of those guys in the third line gives you anything on ice, showcasing the depth LA has.

Los Angeles did what they have recently struggled to do in its last few games, getting off to hot starts and never looking back. 

The second period was a very gritty one, with both teams struggling to score after several second-chance opportunities. Both teams were looking for a breakaway, especially the Kings, because the Canucks wouldn't go away, still trailing by just one goal. 

Whoever scored it would come a long way, giving that team momentum and an insurance goal. It came down in the final 30 seconds of the period after a long shot from Joel Edmundston, the puck was redirected by Kempe, and somehow found its way inside the net. 

Kempe continues to impress with his recent performance at the right time of the season. The 29-year-old has now scored 8 of the Kings' 20 goals in the last six games, matching the last time he did it back in Jan/Feb 2023. 

Just like that, what felt like Vancouver was slowly getting back into it because the Kings couldn't take advantage of several missed opportunities, LA ended the second period leading with a two-goal cushion. 

Even with the score being 3-1 after 40 minutes, the Canucks were still playing hard and weren't letting the Kings pull away. 

The final frame was where the Kings started to take over the game. LA’s offense and defense looked more comfortable out there, and they did a good job of holding onto their commanding 3-1 lead.

Los Angeles would score its fourth goal of the game at the 10:43 mark after a nice shot by Alex Laferriere through traffic deflected off a Canucks stick and went inside the net. 

That's now 20 goals for Laferriere on the season, a new career high. Despite the Kings winning a game they're supposed to easily get, it was a good sign to see LA's depth and offense spread the wealth and look comfortable in these must-win games. 

Key Stats

Adrian Kempe scored two goals and two points, continuing his hot stretch over the last six games. Artemi Panarin had two assists and two points. Scott Laughton and Joel Armia continued to play strongly in the third line, with Armia notching a goal and a point, while his teammate Laughton recorded an assist and a point. 

Anton Forsberg got his second straight start after that impressive win against the Predators on Monday. Forsberg finished with 23 saves on 24 shots, making key saves when it was a one-goal game to lead another impressive win under the crease. 

Defensively, Brandt Clarke was also very strong today, finishing with four blocked shots and was a +3 on ice tonight. He’s the youngest player to do this since Drew Doughty back in 2010, impressive stuff from LA’s depth in the win.

The Kings win their third straight game and now have the second wild-card playoff spot after Nashville and San Jose lost. LA now has a one-point lead over the Predators and must either win out or win three of their last four games to overtake Nashville, which holds the tiebreaker. 

LA's next matchup will be against its rival, the Edmonton Oilers, on Saturday at 1:00 PM PT. 

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Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson finding offensive rhythm together as postseason approaches

Better late than never?

In the last few days of the regular season, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have played with the kind of rhythm/connection that’s been missing for most of the year. 

You saw it in New York’s win in Atlanta on Monday. And it was present again on Thursday night against the Celtics. 

With five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Brunson found Towns for a dunk and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions.

It was the kind of sequence the Knicks probably envisioned when they traded for Towns in the 2024 offseason. They didn’t see much of it in the first 78 games of this season. The narrative around the Knicks was that Towns and Brunson didn’t fit well together. 

But if the last two games are any indication, that narrative may be changing. 

“They’re getting a rhythm at the right time,” Mike Brown said after New York’s win on Thursday. “Jalen was great without the basketball. He used his ability to get open because he understands angles. He’s second to none with his ability to change directions without the basketball. 

“When we have a passer like KAT who can hand it off or pass it late to you, it makes that duo really effective because of those two guys and the characteristics they have as players. What also makes it good is KAT can shoot the three and Jalen can shoot the three and put the ball on the floor. So (Towns’) man has to be up into him. He’s big enough, long enough to protect the basketball and still making the pass,” Brown added. “Now you’re talking about there’s a lot of room that Jalen’s guy has to cover or try to cover with Jalen moving. The rhythm that those two guys have established these last few games is something they’re gonna have to take into the playoffs because it’s a really good combination, obviously.”

What’s changed between Towns and Brunson? Towns cited conversations he’s had with Brunson ahead of games. 

“Those convos are showing up in the game, especially in the last two fourth quarters,” Towns said. “In high-pressure situations, we’ve leaned on each other and trusted each other in those situations and it’s been very good for our team.”

If the Towns-Brunson pairing works as well in the postseason as it has over the past two games, the Knicks will be a different – and dangerous – team in the playoffs.

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Lakers vs. Suns Preview: Winning streak incoming?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: Jake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls a rebound against Jordan Goodwin #23 and Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 23, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Lakers (51-29) will complete their final back-to-back of the season on Friday against the Phoenix Suns (44-36).

A win would greatly help them secure the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. With just a couple of games left, this playoff race will come down to the wire.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns

When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Apr 10

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

LA hasn’t had much luck against Phoenix this season. They have lost three of their four matchups against them, with Devin Booker and longtime Lakers foe Dillon Brooks doing most of the damage in those contests.

At this point in the season, the Suns are cemented as the No. 7 seed, so they don’t have the same urgency to win as the Lakers do. That could work in the Lakers’ favor.

For LA to win, it’s going to take a coalition of the willing. That means LeBron James, if he’s active, has to carry a large load once again. As the team’s best available ball handler, he has to score and set up the players on the court for good looks at the basket.

For those looks to be converted, his teammates have to knock down shots. Rui Hachimura is one of LA’s best shooters, converting on 43.6% of his 3-point attempts. Luke Kennard is another laser who can get hot from deep. Kennard’s also shown the ability to handle the ball now that Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are out.

Also, can LA get a big performance from Deandre Ayton? He’s coming off a good performance in LA’s win over Golden State, and that level of play is something he can regularly do.

If he replicates that on Friday night, the Lakers can end the game with possession of the fourth seed with just one contest remaining.

The Lakers need this game and the Suns don’t. That, along with the playoffs approaching, should be motivation enough to push through the exhaustion of the back-to-back and secure the result.

Notes and Updates

  • There is no injury report available for the Laker at this time, as they are playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) will remain out. Hopefully, Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness) and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) can return.
  • As for the Suns, Devin Booker (right ankle injury management), Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) and Jordan Goodwin (left ankle sprain) are out. Jalen Green (right knee soreness) is questionable.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Luke Weaver, Brett Baty can't come through in game-changing inning of Mets' loss to Diamondbacks

The Mets' bullpen has been extra sharp to start the season, and Luke Weaver has been a big part of that.

Entering Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks, Weaver had allowed just one hit and no walks across five scoreless innings. That would change at an inopportune time for the Mets.

After young right-hander Nolan McLean exited the game with a 1-0 lead and two runners on with one out, Weaver was called on to get out of the jam. Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno stepped into the box as a pinch-hitter and got ahead 2-1 on Weaver. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Weaver threw a changeup that was down and away from the right-handed backstop, but Moreno went down and got the barrel of the bat on the ball. 

The ball carried to right field, where Brett Baty was. However, Baty could not come up with the ball and a run scored to tie the game. A run-scoring fielder's choice, a sac fly and a triple later, and the Diamondbacks put up a four-spot in the seventh en route to a 7-1 loss for the Mets. 

Weaver would get the two outs needed to end the seventh, but the damage was done. Four runs scored -- two counted against Weaver -- on two hits.

After the game, Weaver was asked about the inning and gave credit to the team for executing against him.

"They’re a good team. Good lineup, put the ball in play," Weaver said. "At the end of the day, there’s only one way to look at it, and it’s if you do your job or you don't. Today was not one of those outcomes. They earned it, but I don’t want to be discouraged. I want to continue doing what I’m doing. Feel like I’m in a good spot. Just got to wrap it up to that."

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Weaver got in trouble after getting behind 2-0 to Moreno, but gave the Arizona catcher all the credit for putting the barrel to the ball on an executed changeup.

Interestingly enough, Weaver disagreed on whether he executed the pitch.

"There was some indecision on what I wanted to do there," Weaver explained. "Pitch clock got involved there. It was a backed-up moment and just didn’t get to the right end of what I needed to do. [Moreno] did a good job of staying on the pitch. Just on the wrong side of it."

Thursday was Weaver's first blown save of the season and it came at the expense of McLean's gem. Again, Weaver was upbeat about the situation -- all thing's considered -- and is confident he'll get the job done for McLean in the future.

"Adds more of a sting for sure," Weaver said of blowing the save for McLean. "He deserves to walk out of that with his head high. Rely on us to get the job done in crunchtime. He deserved the win there. I hated to be that guy for him, but I’ll pick him up at some point and he’ll continue to do a great job for us."

About that Baty play in the OF

The Moreno at-bat was the catalyst for the Diamondbacks' win on Thursday, but could the game-tying double have been avoided?

Including Thursday, Baty has made just five starts in right field -- facilitated by Juan Soto's IL stint -- and is an infielder by trade. Moreno's double had an exit velocity of 99.3 mph and had a hit probability of 45 percent, according to Statcast. But Baty didn't seem to have a bead on it or know where he was in relation to the right field wall. The ball wound up sailing out of the reach of Baty and bounced off the wall.

Mendoza was asked if he felt Baty could have made the play.

"I don’t think so. He was a little shallow there," Mendoza said. "Moreno got a good piece on that one. I don’t think Baty had a chance on that one there."

When asked if the play was catchable, the Mets skipper spoke confidently that Baty wouldn't have made the play.

"We’ll have to go back and look. But especially with Moreno, he uses the whole field, have to give him credit," Mendoza said. "Where [Baty] was positioned, which is the right positioning, I don’t think he’ll make that play."

One batter later, Alek Thomas hit a sharp grounder to Mark Vientos at first base. Vientos grabbed it and squared his body, but bounced the throw wide of the plate, allowing the Diamondbacks to take the lead on the fielder's choice.

Mendoza said the ball was to his left and it's a tough play for any infielder to make. He also gave credit to Jose Fernandez, the runner on third, for his execution of getting down the line quickly. 

With Soto out and Jorge Polanco potentially joining him on the IL, Baty and Vientos are asked to play positions they haven't done much of in their careers. Despite that, Mendoza has liked what he's seen from both despite them learning on the fly.

“I think they’ve been playing the positions very well,” Mendoza said. “Even today, that ball in right field, that’s a tough play. And the one at the plate with Vientos, when you execute the way they did it -- hell of a job from the runner on third base going on contact. Anytime an infielder’s got to go to his right, to his left, you’re going to have to make a really good play to get the guy at home plate. But they've been good.”

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Mets’ Francisco Lindor off to slow start but believes turnaround will come in ‘just a matter of time’

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Francisco Lindor heads back to the dugout after lining out in the seventh inning of the Mets' 7-1 blowout loss to the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026 at Citi Field

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The early numbers are, once again, not pretty for Francisco Lindor.

He snapped a skid of 11 hitless at-bats with a seventh inning single in his fourth trip to the plate in the Mets’ 7-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Thursday night at Citi Field.

He now has just eight hits all season, and just three of those have been for extra bases.

Lindor knows he’s off to another rough first few weeks to a season, but he insists it’s not because of the surgery to remove the hamate bone in his left hand in February.

He can point to the pair of hits, including a double, he had Tuesday against Arizona, with three balls over 100 mph.

Lindor noted the ball he hit off Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller on March 28, a shot that went to deep center at 106 mph, as proof that the procedure, which can rob hitters of power, is not to blame for any slow start.

“They said the power was gonna be down, and I’m hitting the ball just as hard as I have before,” Lindor said before Thursday’s game against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. “It’s just a matter of time.”

Despite his confidence that he will hit like he typically does, Lindor acknowledged he still feels the effects of the injury “here and there, but I’m good.”

Francisco Lindor heads back to the dugout after lining out in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 7-1 blowout loss to the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026 at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

“Of course you worry about not being the same,” Lindor said of his mindset early in the season. “You do grips and strength tests, and you don’t know if it’s strong enough or what it once was. But then you feel you’re hitting the ball like normal and you think you’re fine. That’s where I am.”

The results so far haven’t followed. That’s nothing new for Lindor, no stranger to shaky Aprils, which is what Carlos Mendoza called this one.

“The injury has nothing to do with it,” the manager said of the fact Lindor, who is now Thursday just 8-for-51 (.157) with three extra-base hits and no runs batted in. “He’s fine. Throughout his career, only last year were his numbers in April good. He’s hit a lot of balls hard that have gone right at people.”

But with Juan Soto sidelined with a calf injury and Jorge Polanco dealing with Achilles tendinitis, Lindor’s lack of production — along with Bo Bichette’s — is especially ill-timed.

“I’d like to contribute more to the team in this spot, but my struggles are not because of my hand,” Lindor said. “I have to put more quality at-bats together every day and the results will come.”

Asked if the absence of Soto has added more pressure, Lindor said, “No. Juan is irreplaceable. The stuff he does on the field and in the batter’s box, I can’t make up. None of us can.”

But Lindor can certainly do more than he has in the early going.

“You understand these starts are gonna happen sometimes,” Lindor said. “And at the beginning of a season, it looks worse because you don’t have numbers to make it better. It’s part of it. But you have to have a sense of urgency, which I do, to get going. You can’t just say, ‘I’ll get there.’ ”

And to Mendoza’s point, Lindor didn’t have a multi-hit game last year until the ninth game of the season, and in 2024 he was a mess at the plate well into April and slumped all the way to the middle of June.

“He’s an aggressive hitter,” Mendoza said. “He’s going to swing. He’ll get out of it and be fine.”

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Nolan McLean’s spoiled brilliance is an all too familiar result for Mets

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) reacts to getting out of the sixth inning when the New York Mets played the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. , Image 2 shows New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches in the fourth inning

They call this a deGrom in Queens.

Unrewarded brilliance.

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Nolan McLean was terrific as the Mets offense hibernated. He threw up zeroes for six innings. Then, the bullpen blew it and the lineup did nothing to get him off the hook.

The Mets suffered a series-losing, 7-1 setback to the Diamondbacks, and McLean took the loss despite a strong outing at frigid Citi Field.

“That’s part of baseball, at the end of the day. I’m sure I’ll leave guys out there and our bullpen is going to strand them for me plenty of times this year,” McLean said. “It’s already been done a couple of times. It’s part of the game. It’s a long season. I know those guys have my back.”

McLean departed with two runners on, one out in the seventh and a 1-0 lead. Luke Weaver entered, and two batters later the Mets were behind. Converted right fielder Brett Baty couldn’t get to a Gabriel Morena drive that hit the right field fence. Mark Vientos then threw wide to the plate on an Alek Thomas grounder. Arizona led and continued to add on, scoring seven times in the seventh and eighth.

Nolan McLean celebrates after getting out of the sixth inning of the Mets’ 7-1 blowout defeat to the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post

“He deserves to work out of that with his head held high and rely on us to get the job done in crunch time,” Weaver said. “He deserves the win there. I hate to be that guy for him, but I’ll pick him up at some point, and he’ll continue to do a great job for us.”

Despite the ugly ending, it was another quality outing from McLean.

The right-hander struck out eight, walked two and allowed three hits over 6 ¹/₃ innings. He threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes, and his ERA on the young season now stands at 2.70.

Nolan McLean throws a pitch in the fourth inning of the Mets’ blowout loss to the Diamondbacks. Robert Sabo for NY Post

He allowed just one hit over the first five innings. But McLean walked Geraldo Perdomo leading off the seventh, and with one out Jose Fernando singled softly to center. That was all for McLean.

McLean has made 11 career big league starts and has allowed more than two earned runs just once. The only Mets pitcher to accomplish that feat was Jim McAndrew.

“He had everything working, especially the sinker,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The sinker has been a pitch that’s been kind of off the first couple of outings. But today, the movement, the way he was just commanding that pitch, and he had pretty much everything else working. He was pretty solid.”

It is reminiscent of Jacob deGrom’s start to his career with the Mets. So was Thursday’s outing: no support from his lineup or bullpen.

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LeBron James leads Lakers to blowout win over Steph Curry-less Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Thursday night at Chase Center was what it looked like when a more-talented team that’s still playing for something meaningful but is trying to figure itself out plays a less-talented team that doesn’t have a lot at stake but has gone through its growing pains.

The Lakers, who beat the Warriors 119-103 in the first night of a back-to-back for both teams, had the talent advantage on Thursday even with regular season-ending injuries to Luka Doncic (left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (left oblique), in addition to absences from Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness). 

And the lack of continuity as the Lakers navigate this relatively new reality was apparent.

LeBron James goes up for a dunk. NBAE via Getty Images

In the lineups they played, some of which hadn’t been on the court together before Thursday. In their 19 turnovers, which helped a Warriors team in need of offense score 22 points. 

Meanwhile, the Warriors, who were without several players, including Steph Curry, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, lived life without their top star in Curry for nearly two months. And there was initially a greater comfort playing the way they needed to, helping them keep the game close. 

But in the end, talent won out, with the Lakers outscoring the Warriors 66-54 in the second half to end their losing streak. 

Bronny James rises up for a block in the paint. NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron James, who was back in the Lakers’ lineup after sitting out of Tuesday’s home loss to the Thunder, led the way with 26 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds in 32 minutes. 

Deandre Ayton added 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 5 rebounds in 31 minutes in a game all five Lakers starters scored in double digits.

Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 17 points.

Gary Payton II goes up for a layup. NBAE via Getty Images

What it means

The Lakers picked up their first win since the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, ending their three-game losing streak and improving to 51-29 on the season. 

They stayed at fourth place in the Western Conference standings with Thursday’s victory. 

The Warriors (37-43), who were already locked into 10th place in the West, hope to have a dress rehearsal before opening the play-in tournament on the road. 

Turning point

When Curry was ruled out Thursday afternoon. 

It took away the best chances of Lakers-Warriors being competitive.

But bigger picture, it also took away what could’ve been one of the final opportunities to witness Curry and James play each other in an NBA game after that didn’t happen at all this year.

LeBron James relishes his jumper while Draymond Green can only watch. AP

MVP: LeBron James

James shot 11-of-17 from the field, and racked up five of his assists early in the fourth, a stretch that gave the Lakers full control of the game. 

It was James’ second straight points-assists double-double.

Stat of the game: 37 

That’s how many assists the Lakers finished with, just one short of tying their season-best mark of 38. 

The Lakers have recorded at least 36 assists in both games James has played since the injuries to Doncic and Reaves. 

Luke Kennard had 8 assists in addition to his 14 points. 

Bronny James drives to the basket. AP

Up next

Both teams will close out their back-to-back sets on Friday night.

The Lakers will go back to Southern California to host the Suns, while the Warriors will travel to Sacramento to play against the Kings.

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LeBron James powers shorthanded Lakers to important win over Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - April 09, 2026: Forward LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles.
Lakers star LeBron James controls the ball in front of Golden State's LJ Cryer during the second quarter of the Lakers' 119-103 win Thursday. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)

Fans from New Zealand and Australia held signs toward the camera proclaiming they had traveled thousands of miles to watch Warriors star Stephen Curry play.

On one sign, “play” was crossed out and replaced with a frowning face.

LeBron James instead gave fans a glimpse at a generational star, leading the Lakers to a 119-103 win over the Warriors on Thursday with 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

After missing the Lakers’ last game, the 21-time All-NBA player returned as the guiding force amid a season threatening to fall off the rails. The Lakers (51-29) ended a three-game losing streak and kept pace with the Houston Rockets in a tight race for home-court advantage in the Western Conference.

Read more:Plaschke: Broken Lakers need to shut down the season

“We just had a sour taste in our mouths, obviously, for last week,” James said, referencing injuries to stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and the recent skid. “... And just none of us wants to continue to lose, and then we hurt for our two main guns. So, just a mindset of just trying to figure out how we can be great as a team, how we can figure out how to play well on the road and try to get a win.”

Trying to avoid their longest losing streak of the season, the Lakers relied on James to steady the ship. After the Lakers gave up a 9-0 run to start the second quarter, he hit a contested three out of a timeout to get them back on track. He fed the ball to Deandre Ayton, keeping the big man engaged for 21 points on nine-of-11 shooting with five rebounds.

Luke Kennard had 14 points and eight assists. The sharp-shooting guard has 28 assists in the last three games, adapting into the team’s emergency point guard to compensate for the loss of Doncic and Reaves.

“Talking as a group this morning like this is what we have right now, and we gotta figure it out,” Kennard said. “We're trying to win games. Worked this hard to get where we are, to be in the position that we're in right now, and we don't want to just throw it away.”

Lakers star LeBron James shoots during a win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.
Lakers star LeBron James shoots during a win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)

Losing James to a lingering left foot injury before Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder added to an emotional week for the Lakers. They lost Doncic and Reaves in a blowout loss in Oklahoma City on April 2 and had to face the NBA's best team without their Big 3. Jaxson Hayes also didn't play Tuesday and remains day-to-day after missing Thursday’s game as well.

Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted the Lakers were not prepared to compete Tuesday. He later recognized that an effort to inject some energy into his players by calling early timeouts and subbing out veterans such as Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt didn’t help, especially after a heated exchange with Vanderbilt was caught on camera.

“What I told the team today — I think this is important — is we have had a very disjointed season because of all the injuries and throughout the year, we — collectively, staff, players — we've had to figure out the best path forward with whatever group is available,” Redick said. “And that's no different right now. We have to figure out over these next three games and over next week, the best path for this team to play winning basketball.”

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Through the emotional ups-and-downs, Redick checks in with Reaves and Doncic daily. Doncic, receiving treatment on his injured left hamstring in Spain, is in “relatively — relatively good spirits,” Redick said. Doncic is “attacking” his rehab, Redick said, but being away from the team has taken a toll on his psyche. Reaves, who is out with a Grade 2 left oblique strain that is expected to take four to six weeks to heal, has benefited from staying with the team.

“I think for both of those guys, there is, like, a carrot,” Redick said. “If we can get this season extended, they can come back and they can play. Those guys love playing basketball.”

Houston won its eighth straight game Thursday to stay tied with the Lakers for the No. 4 seed. Both teams have two games remaining, and the Lakers have the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The difference between finishing fourth and fifth is home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but James wouldn’t entertain any talk about planning for the playoffs.

“What the future holds, we have no idea,” James said, “and obviously the past is the past. So what we can focus on is how we continue to get better and better each and every day.”

Lakers guard Bronny James looks to pass under pressure from Golden State's LJ Cryer, left, and Charles Bassey.
Lakers guard Bronny James looks to pass under pressure from Golden State's LJ Cryer, left, and Charles Bassey during the second quarter Thursday. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)

James gave his teammates a scare in the third quarter when he hurt his right hand on a chase-down block. It appeared swollen as he went to the bench. Kennard also walked away from the play holding his left hand after attempting to slap the ball away from the Warriors’ Pat Spencer. Redick joked that the scene made him turn off his Amazon Prime broadcast microphone for several seconds.

But James returned with three minutes left in the third quarter. He wouldn’t give his team yet another reason to worry.

“His leadership all day long, in the meeting, in the walkthrough this morning, just the way he carried himself,” Redick said, “just he really set the tone for the team.”

Battling a chronic knee injury in the latter stages of the season, Curry watched from the bench. His absence in the Warriors’ last home game of the season also put a damper on what could have been another enthralling matchup of two of the NBA's biggest stars.

Between the artistry of Curry and the physicality of James, they’ve been faces of the league, Redick said. But with the 41-year-old James not under contract after this season, the generational stars may never compete against each other on an NBA court again.

Redick called the idea “dark.”

“It's been fun to watch as a fan,” Redick said of the rivalry between Curry and James, “and it's been fun to be a part of it the last couple years.”

Curry greeted James before the game. Now a sneaker free agent after his high-profile departure from longtime sponsor Under Armour, Curry honored his contemporary with a blue and yellow version of the LeBron X iD sneakers.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.