ATLANTA, GA - JULY 13: The Nike RBI kids announce Tate Southisene as the twenty-second overall pick by the Atlanta Braves during the 2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Coca-Cola Roxy on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While we were watching Chris Sale beat the flu and the Athletics, the 2026 MLB Draft pools were released. The draft order was finalized in December, now we get the pools. The Braves will receive a pool of $15,870,800 for the picks in July’s Rule 4 Amateur Draft. That’s up from $9,081,100 from last year. So that 6.8 million dollars more. Having a lousy injury-plagued season and receiving a Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick by promoting Drake Baldwin, last year’s Rookie of the Year, has its benefits.
The Braves will have the seventh highest pool in 2026. Teams almost always outspend those allotments by 5 percent, which is the maximum that teams can spend until incurring penalties. So that would give the Braves $16,664,340 to work with. They have three picks in the top 50 by owning the 9th, 26th, and 48th. That Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick was pushed forward 5 picks due to competitive balance tax infractions by the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, and Dodgers. For example, the Dodgers will have less than 4 million to spend on this year’s draft, but I don’t know that they care.
The minor league staff willl have a much better idea of who the Braves will be able to take. My understanding is that the juiciest position player position are typically found in the top ten. The Braves pick ninth, but waiving around that PPI pick money might lure a better prize than that pick location might suggest. So if you’ve been pining for a hot position player prospect, this might be your year.
Info on all the teams is here, and the order of the draft pools is below. But it’s exciting news, and maybe the Braves will find a new star come July.
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Pitcher Jon Lieber #22 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during game six of the American League Championship Series on October 19, 2004 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s hard to make your mark on a franchise in a single season. Juan Soto is one of the Yankees’ most prominent one-and-done players, finishing third in 2024 AL MVP voting and helping lead his team to the pennant in his sole year in pinstripes, but he’s a notable exception. Jon Lieber spent 14 years in the big leagues, quietly establishing himself as one of the game’s most reliable right-handed starters. And, in an era that saw the Yankees take fliers on many flashier veteran hurlers, his single year in the Bronx was an unqualified success.
Jonathan Ray Lieber Born: April 2, 1970 (Council Bluffs, IA) Yankees Tenure: 2004
An Iowa native, Lieber was taken by the Royals out of the University of South Alabama as a second-rounder in 1992. He only spent a year and a half in Kansas City’s system, showing enough to make himself a trade chip that brought back Pirates closer Stan Belinda. Lieber reached the Show at the age of 24 in ’94, spending three seasons as a swingman before settling into a full-time starting role for his final two years in Pittsburgh, even earning an Opening Day nod in ’97.
Before the 1999 season, the right-hander was shipped off again, this time to Chicago for outfielder Brant Brown (fresh off an error that nearly cost them a Wild Card berth in ’98). Lieber would find his greatest success on the North Side, making his sole All-Star team in 2001 while winning 20 games and finishing fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting for a Cubs team that fell just a few games shy of the playoffs.
Lieber’s next season was derailed by a UCL injury that required Tommy John surgery in August and would keep him out for all of 2003 as well. “He was hurt from Day 1,” Joe Girardi, his catcher with the Cubs, later said of that fateful season. “But he tried to suck it up and pitch, because the thing about Jon is he really thinks about the team first. He kept telling me he didn’t want to let the team down. I kept telling him: ‘Liebs, if you’re hurt, you’re hurt. You’ve got to get it taken care of.’”
With an aging 2003 rotation that featured a 41-year-old Roger Clemens and 40-year-old David Wells, the Yankees were a logical fit to sign the relatively youthful 33-year-old Lieber to a two-year, $3.5 million deal, content with the knowledge that he would not be able to contribute until ’04. “I could have cussed the world out, but I totally believe everything happens for a reason,” Lieber said, looking back on his career-altering injury. “That’s why I’m here in New York.”
With Clemens, Wells, and Andy Pettitte all departing to free agency after the 2003 campaign, Lieber had a spot in the rotation waiting for him upon his return. The Yankees’ brain trust said everything you would expect them to about their on-the-mend starter. “From everybody I’ve talked to, he has absolutely no ifs on his résumé at this point,” said manager Joe Torre said. “He’s 100 percent,” added GM Brian Cashman. Still, given his age and long layoff from pitching, Lieber had to be considered something of a question mark entering the ’04 season.
Waylaid by a groin injury suffered during spring training, the veteran did not make his Yankees debut until May, when he went eight innings and earned the victory against the team that drafted him, Kansas City. He would go on to have the kind of sturdy season the Yankees would have hoped for, tossing 16 quality starts in 27 outings and pitching to a slightly-above-average 104 ERA+ in 176.2 innings. He wasn’t blowing anyone anyway, but he didn’t waste anyone’s time with walks, leading the majors with a 0.9 BB/9.
Despite slotting near the middle or back end of a star-studded staff for most of the season, Lieber cracked the playoff rotation after the Yankees won nine of his final 10 starts. He was a workhorse too, pitching into the eighth on five different occasions — most impressively firing eight innings of two-hit, one-run ball on 93 pitches in a win against the future playoff opponent Red Sox on September 18th before faltering in the ninth. Lieber even held that formidable lineup hitless until David Ortiz broke it up two outs into the seventh.
Lieber’s rock-solid reliability stood in contrast to the likes of Kevin Brown, who broke his hand punching a clubhouse wall; Javier Vázquez, who collapsed after an All-Star first half; and Esteban Loaiza, whose 8.50 ERA made him one of the worst Trade Deadline acquisitions in franchise history. Although skipper Joe Torre would have to dabble in postseason starts for Brown and Vázquez, but he felt much more confortable deploying the likes of Lieber and Mike Mussina in the opening contests. Remarkably, after toiling for a decade on subpar teams, 2004 would be the first—and, ultimately, only—playoff action of the 34-year-old’s career.
Lieber’s first postseason start came with the Yankees down 1-0 to the Twins in the ALDS following a Johan Santana gem in the opener. He staked Minnesota to a 3-1 lead by the second inning, but he settled in with the Yankees’ season beginning to approach the brink, holding the Twins there until the seventh inning, when he departed with two outs and a 4-3 lead. After Mariano Rivera uncharacteristically blew the lead in the eighth, Lieber would not factor into the decision, though his gutty performance played a key role in an eventual 12-inning victory. New York won the next two games at the Metrodome to advance to the ALCS for the sixth time in seven years.
But it was in Game 2 of the ALCS when the veteran would turn in the performance of a career. With his team up 1-0 in the series, Lieber was tasked with opposing Pedro Martínez, the longtime Yankee foil who had just earned his seventh top-five Cy Young finish in eight seasons. The journeyman would outduel the future Hall of Famer, holding Boston to two hits and no runs through seven innings.
Lieber allowed a single to lead off the eighth who would eventually come around to score, ending his night. For his part, Pedro allowed a pedestrian three runs in six innings as the Yankees squeaked out a 3-1 victory with the help of a long ball from fellow 2004 newcomer John Olerud.
By the time Lieber came back around to pitch in Game 6, of course, the series had taken a turn for the worse. He kept the Yankees in the game, allowing four runs in 7.1 innings, but Curt Schilling and his bloody sock would carry the day. The ignominy of the Yankees’ historic collapse in that series effectively wiped the first three games from the collective memory of the Yankees faithful, an unfortunate fate for Lieber, whose dethroning of Martínez would likely occupy a place in the team’s lore had they gone on to win the pennant. There were multiple reasons why that series went awry; Lieber wasn’t really one of them.
On the strength of his comeback campaign, Lieber signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Phillies that offseason. While there was some interest in a Yankees reunion, New York opted to let him walk as part of another rotation remodel that saw them trade for Randy Johnson and bring aboard free agents Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. The results were decidedly mixed (to be kind), and there’s a fair argument that—even putting Pavano aside since his reputation was better at the time—the Yanks should have at least re-signed Lieber over adding the inconsistent Wright on an identical deal. The latter’s 2004 in Atlanta was better than Lieber’s by some numbers, but it was also such an outlier compared to his ineffective and injury-ravaged 1999–2003. Alas.
Lieber joined a Phillies team that was gradually building an impressive young core under manager Charlie Manuel with Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels. He pitched to a league-average level in his three seasons in Philly, but he missed out on their incredible 2007 NL East comeback to dethrone the Mets because he ruptured a tendon in his ankle during a start in late June. Lieber’s season was over and he could only cheer from the sidelines during the thrilling September comeback. One year later, those Phillies won it all for just the team’s second World Series title in franchise history — though Lieber had officially moved on.
At age-38 in 2008, Lieber elected to return home with the Cubs for his 14th and final season. He mostly pitched out of the bullpen for Lou Piniella’s NL Central winners, but for the second-straight year, October eluded him anyway. Lieber went to the shelf with a right foot strain in mid-July and made just one more appearance in September before leaving the field for good. The Cubs were swept by the Dodgers in the NLDS, and Lieber officially hung up his spikes.
Lieber finished his big-league tenure with 131 wins and 2,198 innings pitched, markers of his long, consistent career. He spent more time with each of his four other franchises and is only somewhat remembered for donning the pinstripes. Still, his steady hand and reliability were a godsend for the 2004 Yankees, who nearly won the pennant in no small part due to his efforts. Join us in wishing a very happy birthday to one of the great one-year Yankees, Jon Lieber.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
The Detroit Pistons, who are closing in on securing the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed, take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, another title contender. Anthony Edwards just returned to the Timberwolves from a two-week absence. The Pistons are still missing star guard Cade Cunningham.
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons
The Philadelphia Flyers are set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. This is a massive game for the Flyers, as they are fighting for their playoff lives and would jump ahead of Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings with a victory.
Now, ahead of this big matchup against, the Flyers have announced some exciting news.
The Flyers have shared that forward Tyson Foerster will be returning to the lineup for the Metropolitan Division club.
This is massive news for the Flyers, as they are currently fighting for a spot in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race. Thus, it is significant that they are getting back one of their top forwards in Foerster.
Foerster has not played for the Flyers since their Dec. 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins after undergoing arm surgery. Yet, with this news, the 24-year-old winger is ready to return to the Flyers' lineup.
Foerster was off to a very strong start this season before being sidelined. In 21 games for the Flyers this campaign, he has 10 goals, 13 points, and a plus-7 rating.
Boston, MA - March 27: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown sits next to center Nikola Vucevic on the bench in the first quarter. The Celtics played the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on March 27, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
MIAMI — As Jayson Tatum concluded his media availability on Wednesday morning, Nikola Vucevic sauntered by.
“Say something nice about me, Jayson!” Vucevic belted after passing by the scrum.
Nikola Vucevic walked by during Jayson Tatum’s media availability this morning:
“Vooch? He’s been working his ass off,” Tatum said with a smile. “He’ll be back soon, I hope.”
How soon that’ll be remains to be seen, but the veteran’s return to the court certainly feels imminent. Vucevic spent a portion of Wednesday’s shootaround playing 3-on-3 alongside Hugo Gonzalez and Celtics assistants Craig Luschenant, DJ MacLeay, Amile Jefferson, and Tyler Lashbrook. He took physical contact, shot around, defended, and threw passes, seemingly utilizing his injured right hand.
Vucevic fractured his right ring finger on Friday, March 6th, almost four weeks ago. The Celtics announced the following day that he underwent a successful ORIF surgery to stabilize the fracture and that he’d be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks.
And, while no formal update has been provided, Wednesday’s shootaround in Miami appeared to be a promising development.
“He’s getting better, as you saw in the workout today,” Joe Mazzulla said before Celtics-Heat. “The most important thing is that he feels 100%. When he’s ready, he’ll come back, and we just want him back when he’s ready to go. He’s going to help us — we obviously see the impact that he has on us as a player, especially last time we played Miami, he was huge.”
Vucevic played 12 games with the Celtics before fracturing his finger, averaging 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, while shooting 44.5% from the field and 35.1% from three.
Good sign: Nikola Vucevic is doing some on-court work here at shootaround in Miami
Mazzulla said that, while he’s been sidelined, Vucevic has been around for everything the team has done since he first suffered the injury.
“He’s a professional. I mean, he hasn’t missed a film session, practice,” Mazzulla said. “Even two days after he had his procedure, he was out working on his cardio.”
As he rehabs, Vucevic has been working most closely with Celtics assistant coach Amile Jefferson, with whom he was previously teammates in Orlando in 2018. Jefferson said on a recent episode of Derrick White’s “White Noise Podcast” that the two have been working out routinely, but that Vucevic has been doing things exclusively with his left hand.
Jefferson has played a crucial role in helping Vucevic acclimate to a new squad midseason. Almost immediately after Vucevic was traded from the Chicago Bulls to Boston, the two went out to dinner, reuniting after years spent in different cities.
“It was really helpful to have a familiar face and somebody I can talk to about other things, not just the X’s and O’s of the game and the coverages and all that,” Vucevic said then. “The relationship we had before as friends just kind of translated. It’s pretty easy: we have respect for each other.”
In Vucevic’s absence, Luka Garza has stepped up, averaging 9.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17.8 minutes, shooting 63.8% from the field and 46.4% from three. On Monday, he posted 20 points on 8-9 shooting as he continues to excel in the backup big role.
How Mazzulla and the coaching staff will divvy up frontcourt minutes remains to be seen, but all three bigs — Neemias Queta, Garza, and Vucevic — have all proven to be effective when given the chance.
Mazzulla is looking forward to Vucevic’s healthy return to the floor.
“He’ll always be prepared,” he said. “And, I know when he comes back, he’ll be ready.”
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live as we continue to watch the Pistons’ magic number fall down and down. With how dominant the team has been this season, is it simply time we and NBA fans in general quite doubting them? How can the Pistons ensure a strong finish to the regular season? Who would be the best Round 1 matchup? And more!
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 29: Jake Allen #34 of the New Jersey Devils skates during the second period of the game against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 29, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The goaltending for the New Jersey Devils has been an often touched upon issue this season. With Jacob Markstrom looking to be declining, and Jake Allen being used exclusively as a backup despite having better stats, the team has struggled to pick up wins with regularity. While the rest of the team is far from perfect, and there have been defensive lapses more times than any fan or pundit could probably count after 74 games, at some point your last line of defense needs to make a save. The Devils just aren’t getting those saves on most given nights.
But is it JUST the Devils having those issues?
Looking at NHL statistics from this season compared to previous ones has been an eye-opener. Jake Allen right now for example sits tied for 16th in the league in save percentage and his .906 is just .01 away from league leader Scott Wedgewood’s .916! Even last season when the top four tenders in the league all had percentages above .920, Jake’s .908 in 2024-25 was still good enough to be tied for 14th. Allen is still falling right in the “league average” in terms of this category, but the Devils are still faltering as a whole. Part of that is certainly on Markstrom, whose last two seasons have seen him rank tied for 29th (2024-25) and now tied for 49th in the entire league. 2024-25 was essentially backup numbers from him while this season is basically “not an NHL goalie anymore” numbers…and Tom Fitzgerald gave him a two year extension…
In viewing the league’s data as a whole though, it had me wondering if save percentage is still an effective way of determining if a goalie is any good or not. Wedgewood’s .916 this season is .01 worse than Anthony Stolarz’s league leading percentage from last season. The NHL also currently has only 10 goalies with save percentages at .910 or above. In seasons past, it was seemingly agreed upon that teams would want their starters shooting to have a .915 in order for their team to be successful. Now we live in an NHL where a .916 leads the league and has helped that player’s team to a league best 108 points at the time of writing. Go back even a couple seasons further, and it gives a better idea of how goalie numbers have continued to trend downward.
It’s not a secret that the NHL wants higher scoring games; more goals equals more excitement equals more happy fans unless the goals are being scored against the team they’re rooting for. The game has been trending in this direction for a bit and with more teams trying to be fast-paced, high scoring clubs, it leads to more situations where there’s an odd man rush, or a defender out of position. With fewer goalies posting “elite” numbers in the NHL now as well, you have to think that those players just aren’t making the saves that tenders of the past would. Maybe it is just a skills thing; after all, I’ve never seen a goaltender as big as Markstrom play as small as he does.
Maybe breaking down some more advanced stats would be a better way now to judge individual goalie performances. After all, if a team has two goalies with roughly similar stats, it’s hard to say if the problem lies with them or with the team in front of them. With the Devils and one goalie having quite a bit better of stats than the other, I think a conclusion can be drawn that one goalie just isn’t very good anymore. High danger chances versus medium danger versus low danger is also worth looking into, because if any goalie is letting in a lot of shots deemed medium or low danger, they’re probably not NHL caliber.
There’s more to this discussion than just one writer’s opinion, but I think it is worth at least questioning if we need to change how goaltender effectiveness and quality is determined. Save percentage used to be a quick, easy way to assess this. With league-wide numbers going down, however, maybe there needs to be a new way, or at the very least, a different percentage number that’s seen as a bar for the minimum required of a starting goalie. And maybe it needs to be the Devils who within their own organization set a number that their goalies need to strive to achieve. If not that, then at least a way of assessing ability so that a certain GM doesn’t give out another junk contract to visibly and statistically declining players.
What are your thoughts on save percentage being down around the league; do you think it winds up being just this season where the numbers are this low? Do you agree that this is just the way the game is trending? What save percentage number do you think starting goalies should be looking to achieve in today’s NHL? Are you more of the opinion that there are better metrics to measure this than save percentage nowadays? Leave any and all comments down below and thanks as always for reading!
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 16, 2026: Kahl Stephen #32 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during a minor league spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Goodyear Ballpark on March 16, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Today is the first day that all Cleveland Guardians’ minor league affiliates will play baseball (weather-permitting) – rejoice!
The new look Hill City Howlers will take on the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers at 7pm ET in Lynchburg, Virginia. Joey Oakie will take the mound for the Howlers after opening some eyes in the Spring Breakout game with electric stuff.
The Showtime Lake County Captains open at home against the West Michigan Whitecaps at 6:35PM where Justin Campbell will take the mound for the Captains. Campbell was an exciting arm when the Guardians drafted him in , but he has yet to be seen in minor league affiliated baseball due to a series of unfortunate injuries. It’ll be exciting for Campbell, for the Guardians’ organization and for Guardians’ fans to see him pitch tonight and show if he’s still got some of the potential he had when they drafted him.
The Akron Rubber Ducks also open at home against the Reading Fightin’ Phils at 6:35PM ET. Most excitingly for me, Khal Stephen takes the mound for the Ducks. I had been concerned about Stephen’s health when he did not make an appearance in any major league spring training games or in the spring breakout game, but it appears he is ready to go. He was the return for the Guardians’ trading of Shane Bieber to the Blue Jays, and he has some very Bieber-like traits. Stephen having a strong first half would go a long way in strengthening the upper level depth of this organization for starting pitching.
Finally, the Columbus Clippers are set to return to action tonight as well at 6:15PM, with lovable Pedro Avila taking the mound for the Guardians’ Triple-A affiliate as they take on the Indianapolis Indians (now without Konnor Griffin who got a promotion to the Pirates today). Every day, I wait to see Travis Bazzana get on track because, when he does, I think a promotion will be in the offing before long. However, for now, Juan Brito has been hitting the ball very well and may force the issue for his own promotion at some point. Also, Daniel Espino had another scoreless outing last night and I never lose the appreciation for seeing that young man overcoming his own host of injuries and showing his immense talent and potential.
If you have an MLB subscription, you can watch all these games with it. Also, even if you don’t, if you have the MLB app, the Columbus game is the free game of the day. Which game are you most excited about today, and which prospects do you most look forward to seeing as minor league season begins? Let us know in the comments below!
The Championship – a league so chaotic it makes a piano falling down some stairs resemble a Zen garden – resumes with an old-fashioned Easter weekend double header. Automatic promotion, playoff places and the drop into the abyss all remain up for grabs, with only beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday’s relegation rubber-stamped as the contenders jockey for position on entering the home straight. Not a Stone Island jacket will go unworn as fans of all 24 clubs proudly get the badge in before heading off to support their teams over a hectic bank holiday schedule. At the top, Frank Lampard’s Coventry City are in the box seat for automatic promotion, with an 11-point cushion between them and Ipswich Town in third. They will fancy their chances of at least maintaining the gap in tomorrow night’s televised Geographically Quite Near Each Other But Not Really A Derby derby against, er, Derby County. With no Good Friday game due to Southampton’s weekend FA Cup appointment with Arsenal, Ipswich will have additional time to de-Farage Portman Road for Monday’s visit of Birmingham.
Two of the league’s best teams over the past two months meet at the Canadian Tire Centre, with the Ottawa Senators hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, April 2.
My top Sabres vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks are headlined by emerging Ottawa defenseman Tyler Kleven.
Sabres vs Senators prediction
Sabres vs Senators best bet: Tyler Kleven Over 1.5 shots (-120)
Kleven’s shot volume had already been trending up prior to the Chabot injury, as he’s registered a respectable 20 shots on 36 attempts across his past nine games while recording two or more shots in six of them.
This also isn’t a terribly daunting matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, who have allowed 29.2 shots per road game and rank 21st in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five on the highway.
Sabres vs Senators same-game parlay
The Sens have been dominant at 5-on-5, ranking fifth in Corsi For percentage and second in expected goals percentage during their current 15-5-3 run, and Ottawa also desperately needs a win.
I particularly like that the Sens allow the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes on home ice, and I expect Ottawa to batten down the defensive hatches and prevail tonight.
Buffalo has only hit the Over in nine of its last 25 road games (-7.60 Units / -27% ROI), and Ottawa has only played to the Over in eight of its last 20 games (-4.10 Units / -18% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Senators.
How to watch Sabres vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5
Sabres vs Senators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Oklahoma City Thunder play host to the Los Angeles Lakers in a meeting of two of the Western Conference’s top championship contenders. The Thunder hold a two-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the NBA and the West’s No. 1 playoff seed. The Lakers are currently seeded third in the West. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic are also two of the top contenders for the MVP award.
How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
While a couple of teams can clinch playoff spots tonight — the Rockets and Cavaliers — Thursday is really about some big and important games for playoff seeding. Here's what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
• Cleveland can clinch a playoff spot with a win on the road at Golden State. This game sets up for the Cavaliers, as the Warriors are shorthanded (still without Stephen Curry) and are on the second night of a back-to-back. • Houston has the night off but can clinch a playoff spot with a Phoenix loss on the road in Charlotte.
Games to Watch
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Two of the hottest and best teams in the NBA go head-to-head in a measuring-stick game that could also have real impacts on seeding in the West. It's also a showdown of two MVP candidates, the frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the surging Luka Doncic.
Oklahoma City has gone 9-1 in its last 10, but equally-hot San Antonio remains just two games back (and the Spurs have the tiebreaker). The Thunder need the win to help keep the No. 1 overall spot. The Lakers need the win, too. Los Angeles sits as the No. 3 seed in the West but is just 1.5 games ahead of another hot team in Denver. The Lakers have a pretty soft schedule the rest of the way, aside from two games against the Thunder, getting a win in at least one of those is a huge boost to keeping the No. 3 seed.
Phoenix Suns at Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)
This game matters a lot to the Hornets, who enter the night tied with Orlando for the 8/9 seed in the East, with Miami just half a game back of both of them. It's a huge difference in getting out of the play-in between the eight and nine seeds, and Charlotte needs wins to hold on to eighth. Phoenix is basically locked into the No. 7 seed in the West, but is finally healthy with Dillon Brooks back.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
This game is far more important to the Timberwolves than the Pistons, but Detroit has been the hotter team. Minnesota currently sits sixth in the West, just half a game back of idle Houston (the teams are tied with 29 losses each). If the Timberwolves are going to climb past the Rockets in the West, this is the kind of game they need to win. Detroit has gone an impressive 6-2 without Cade Cunningham and comfortably the No. 1 seed in the East, four games up on Boston with six to play.
When Pittsburgh Pirates fans show up to PNC Park on Friday for the 2026 home opener, they're going to be greeted by perhaps the most celebratory atmosphere in decades after the team announced on Thursday that they will be promoting top prospect Konnor Griffin in time for the game.
Griffin is the top prospect in baseball according to most prospect ranking sites and seemed primed to make the Pirates' Opening Day roster when Spring Training began. However, the 19-year-old struggled with his swing decisions, posting just a 68% contact rate overall and a 15% swinging strike rate while hitting .171/.261/.488 with a 28.3% strikeout rate. The Pirates sent him down to Triple-A with the expressed instruction of continuing to work on his approach.
So far, so good on that front as Griffin has gone 7-for-16 (.438) in five games at Triple-A with three steals, and five walks compared to just four strikeouts. That early success, when paired with the Pirates' shortstops' underwhelming start to the season, led the organization to finally decide that it was time to simply see what their talented 19-year-old could do. ESPN's Buster Olney also reported that Griffin and the Pirates were “deep” in contract negotiations, so perhaps this move will coincide with an agreement being struck in the near future.
In the meantime, Griffin will take the field with sky-high expectations. Last season, he hit .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs, 117 runs scored, and 65 steals in 122 games across three levels. He had a 50% hard-hit rate in spring training and crushed a few balls over 100 mph, which hints at the plus raw tools he has.
However, we also need to acknowledge that this is a 19-year-old who will immediately become the youngest player on an MLB roster and the first teenage position player in Major League Baseball since Juan Soto debuted in 2018. On Opening Day this season, Didier Fuentes of the Braves was the youngest player at 20 years and nine months old. Griffin won't turn 20 until April 24th. Griffin also posted just a 72% contact rate with a 12.6% swinging strike rate in his 21 games at Double-A last season, so there may be some contact issues early on as he adapts to MLB starting pitcher.
Yet, even with all those caveats, Griffin's first game will be appointment viewing. He has vaulted back into the betting favorite for NL Rookie of the Year, and all eyes will be on Pittsburgh at 4:12 pm ET on Friday afternoon.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Mark Cuban leaves the court following a game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on October 29, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into their Friday night game against the Orlando Magic, the Dallas Mavericks sit as the sixth worst team in the NBA with a 24-52 record. With only six games remaining in the season, you would think the team could quietly head into the offseason with a focus squarely on the draft. Mark Cuban had other ideas and instead stirred up some ghosts of the past.
Cuban was a guest on the Intersections Podcast where, among other things, he spoke about selling his majority stake in the Mavericks to the Adelson-Dumont families, and the trade of Luka Doncic. Before the podcast even became available to listen to, an excerpt made the rounds wherein Cuban expressed regret over who he sold the Mavs to. What better teaser to get people to tune in, right? Unsurprisingly, the comment immediately garnered the attention of multiple media outlets and the Mavericks once again have attention for the wrong reasons.
In fairness to Cuban, the podcast ran nearly 90-minutes and he only discussed the Mavericks for eight of them. The attention his Mavs-related comments received are not commensurate with the podcast as a whole. That said, those comments were nonetheless provocative and it’s all but impossible to believe Cuban wouldn’t know they would be just that. There are a handful of quotes we’ll dive into here, but you can also check out the podcast starting at the 56-minute mark to hear them straight from Cuban.
“I don’t regret selling. I regret who I sold to. I made a lot of mistakes in the process and I’ll leave it at that.”
This is just bizarre and runs counter to any sense of professional decorum. We’ve all heard the adage of not airing dirty laundry, but Cuban does just that. This comment also smacks of sour grapes, as Cuban is likely still bothered by the fact he was ousted from the control of basketball operations that he once claimed was promised to him on a handshake. Cuban certainly isn’t wrong to feel resentment if in fact Patrick Dumont reneged on a promise, but as a billionaire business person, Cuban not getting himself a contract is a major oversight inconsistent with his apparent level of business prowess. It’s fine to want to have your cake and eat it, too, but absent a contract, Dumont was well within his rights to do as he wished. Dumping on the majority owner who still has the right to buy more of your shares simply comes across as churlish and makes the organization look amateurish at the dawn of the Cooper Flagg era, and on the cusp of hopefully getting another franchise cornerstone in the coming months.
“I called the new owner and he started telling me stuff that wasn’t true that he had been told as the reason why he approved [the trade].”
No one is going to feel bad for Nico Harrison, but Cuban calling him an outright liar is basically one of two things. A pot shot at Harrison, who is already reviled by the fanbase; or an odd protection of Dumont as someone who was manipulated by a person of Grima Wormtongue proportions. After his preceding comment, it’s difficult to imagine Cuban defending the man he just offended moment prior. All this does is once again make the organization appear as though it is run by a bunch of clueless caricatures, right on the cusp of potentially hiring a new GM and trying to build the future behind Flagg and a pending high draft pick.
“All I’ll tell you is, that it wasn’t Michael Finley and you can surmise who else was in the room… That doesn’t justify it for our coach and our general manager to stand up and trade our best player.”
Here is the doozy. Cuban does Finley a major service here. As someone as close to the Mavs as he has been for decades (and someone I admit to being a huge fan of), it’s nice to hear further evidence that he had nothing to do with trading away Luka Doncic. This is especially critical as all signs seem to indicate Finley will be involved with the franchise long term, quite possibly being a long term co-GM with Matt Riccardi. But all of that buries the lede.
The juice in this quote is Cuban grouping head coach Jason Kidd in with Nico Harrison as a decision maker in the trade of Doncic. Cuban doesn’t elaborate, so it’s quite possible Kidd’s story from the outset – that he was notified at the 11th hour – is true. He may have been brough over the fence after the deal was all but done, and he may very well have agreed. It seems clear from their interactions (or lack thereof), that Doncic himself believes Kidd was involved. Again though, none of that is really the point. Cuban ripping on the loathed former GM is one thing, but slinging mud at the active head coach is another thing entirely. Why do it? We’re over 400 days removed from the trade and rounding out a dreadful season, yet the team (minority) owner feels the need to say this?
“I don’t care” (when asked if the sale and everything thereafter has hurt his legacy).
This quote all but ended the Mavericks’ portion of the podcast, as Cuban segued from that quote into speaking about how he’s hoping to change people’s lives by way of his prescription medication business. Still, this may be the most attention-getting quote of the entire segment. It’s one thing to spill the tea in ways that arguably do nothing but damage the team image. At least you can say you were asked a question and gave an honest answer. But to then say you don’t care about how selling the team – which directly led to the Doncic trade and now Dumont as the primary decision maker – affects your legacy as owner is stunningly preposterous. Cuban has practically gone on a media tour since February, 2025 to make sure anyone and everyone knows a) he got victimized by a liar who went back on an agreement and a GM that cut him out, b) had nothing to do with trading Doncic and never would have done so himself and c) that Dumont is a sucker and wouldn’t be here at all if he had a do-over.
To be clear, I’m not here to tell Mark Cuban how to live or what to say. However, it’s my job to cover team-related news and give my opinion. In this case, that opinion is a simple one – I wish Mark Cuban would stop talking about all of this. It does nothing but paint the team in a bad light, causes internal turmoil and distracts from what should be the excitement and hope of special things to come in the Flagg era of Mavericks’ basketball. Cuban didn’t have to sell his majority stake. If he’s being honest about not wanting his children involved in the franchise due to all the stress it could bring, there was a simple solution – don’t let them work within the franchise. He had every opportunity to maintain control and instead elected not to. Fine. To each their own. But please stop tarnishing the team’s image in this strange apology/explanation tour that has frankly gone on far too long.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
There's plenty beyond basketball to keep you busy with fan events and concerts popping up across downtown Indy to mark the April 4 and 6 games at Lucas Oil Stadium — plus the Division II, Division III and NIT championships taking place back-to-back-to-back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse April 5.
Concerts featuring Twenty One Pilots, Zac Brown Band, Post Malone and Megan Moroney are the headliners. There will be an additional music festival, a dribbling contest through the city and what the NCAA is dubbing a multi-day “sports wonderland” at the Indiana Convention Center are on tap for the extended Final Four weekend. Here’s your guide to everything downtown will have to offer.
More than 200 local artists, performers, vendors and chefs will be part of the family-friendly festival, where visitors can grab free commemorative posters and postcards by Herron School of Art and Design students. The Indy Arts Council, Indiana Sports Corp, Forty5 Presents, Ganggang, Epicurean Indy, and the Local Organizing Committee for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four are putting on the celebrations. Events include:
Noon-6 p.m. each day: Live music performances by central Indiana musicians, dancers and spoken-word poets at Monument Circle, 1 Virginia Ave., PNC Plaza, Starbucks at 30 S. Meridian St. and sites to be announced
Sidewalk Galleries: Vinyl-wrapped storefront murals and poems as well as mural-wrapped traffic signal boxes and art installations at the Indianapolis International Airport
11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 4: Epicurean Market and MOKAO, with more than 50 vendors an international market with food, artisan coffee and chocolate. At the Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave. epicureanindy.com
Sampson Levingston will lead walk and talk tours about college basketball history in downtown's Mile Square. Reserve free tickets at tinyurl.com/3sdknyc9
March 27-April 4: The Asante Art Institute will present the play "A Touch of Glory" about the 1955 Crispus Attucks Tigers, the first all-black school in the country to win a high school basketball state championship. At the Basile Theatre at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. $30-$45.
Final Four Fan Fest
April 3-6. Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave. $10 tickets until March 29, $15 during event week. Tickets here and more info here.
The Indiana Convention Center will host games, activations, music, celebrity appearances and more throughout the Final Four extended weekend. Free entry for kids under 12 (with accompanying purchase of adult ticket), Final Four game ticketholders, military personnel, college students with valid school ID and Capital One cardholders.
April 3: noon-6 p.m.
April 4: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
April 5: noon-6 p.m.
April 6: noon-8 p.m.
Final Four Friday
April 3, 10 a.m.-3:35 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave. Free entry. More info here.
Lucas Oil Stadium will open its doors for a USA Basketball 3x3 exhibition game Friday morning, followed by open practices from the Final Four teams. Final Four Friday will conclude with the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game, featuring the top seniors in Division I basketball. All-Star players will also sign autographs at the South End of Lucas Oil near section 138.
March Madness Music Festival
April 3-5. American Legion Mall, 700 N. Pennsylvania St. Free entry. More info here.
Downtown’s American Legion Mall will host a three-day music festival with a lineup of major artists and performers. The festival will kick off April 3 with the AT&T Block Party, followed by Coca Cola Live April 4 and the Capital One JamFest finale April 5. Alternative duo Twenty One Pilots, country group Zac Brown Band and a double bill of country hip-hop superstar Post Malone and surging pop country star Megan Moroney will headline April 3, 4 and 5, respectively.
The NCAA has also announced a Madness After Dark event, which will feature a DJ set from EDM duo The Chainsmokers, to take place after the April 4 performances. The event will run from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Indiana Rooftop Ballroom, located at 140 W. Washington St.
Men’s Final Four Dribble
April 5 at 1 p.m. Carroll Stadium (1001 W. New York St.) to Victory Field (501 W. Maryland St.). Free registration. Registration here and more info here.
Participants 18 and under will dribble a basketball along a one-mile course from IU Indianapolis' Carroll Stadium to Victory Field. The first 3,000 to register will receive a t-shirt, basketball and free entry to the Final Four Fan Fest.
Men’s Final Four Tip-Off Tailgate
April 3-6. 126 E. Georgia St. Free entry. More info here.
Downtown Indianapolis will offer free watch parties for both the Men’s and Women’s Final Four along Georgia Street. The festivities will also include games, activations and giveaways.
April 3: 4-11 p.m.
April 4: 1-11 p.m.
April 5: noon-6 p.m.
April 6: 4-11 p.m.
Contact IndyStar Pop Culture Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X @hmb_1013.
