Both Michigan and UConn are banged up entering the national championship game on Monday, April 6.
Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American this season, was limited to 14 minutes in Michigan's Final Four win over Arizona after suffering a knee injury in the first half. He also re-aggravated his ankle, stemming from earlier in the season in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
Meanwhile, multi-year starting UConn guard Solo Ball's status is also unknown. Ball was seen with a boot on his foot during April 5's walkthrough, and coach Dan Hurley said he was unavailable for practice.
Both teams could look a bit different when they square off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, or at least less than 100% healthy for the final game of the season.
Here's a look at our six most important players for the national championship between No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 2 UConn:
Most important players of Michigan vs UConn national championship game
Yaxel Lendeborg
In one way or another, Lendeborg's presence will be felt — or it won't.
The 6-foot-9 forward was one of the best players in college basketball this season, averaging 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game after transferring from UAB. While Michigan still defeated Arizona 91-73 in the Final Four without Lendeborg only playing 14 minutes, the Wolverines are still — obviously — a much better team with Lendeborg in the fold.
Lendeborg was playing his best basketball heading into the Final Four, with consecutive performances of 25, 23 and 27 points against Saint Louis, Alabama and Tennessee respectively. He might not be as mobile against UConn as in prior NCAA Tournament games but can potentially still impact the game old-head style.
"He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA, and a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA," Michigan coach Dusty May said April 5. "Whatever version of Yaxel we get it's going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball."
Tarris Reed Jr.
UConn's offense runs through Tarris Reed Jr., a who has an argument as the most impactful player in the NCAA Tournament this season. The 6-foot-11 center is also facing his former team, adding potential fuel to the fire.
The first-year Huskies starter is averaging 14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds per game, although those totals have jumped to 20.8 points with 13 rebounds per contest in March Madness. He outdueled likely national player of the year Cameron Boozer and top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight, finishing with a ridiculous stat line of 26 points with nine rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals on 10-of-16 shooting.
It's hard to imagine UConn having a path to winning without Reed.
Aday Mara
Aday Mara saved his career-best performance for a perfect time against Arizona in the Final Four, scoring a career-high 26 points with nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks on 11-of-16 shooting.
The 7-foot-3 first-year transfer from UCLA will be tasked with stopping Reed, who has been a force to be reckoned with during the NCAA Tournament. Mara vs. Reed will be a strength-vs.-strength matchup for Michigan and UConn.
Solo Ball
Ball has been one of UConn's most-reliable 3-pointer shooters for three seasons, but the veteran starter could potentially miss the national championship due to injury.
The 6-foot-4 junior is a vital part of the Huskies' offense and is attempting 9.4 3-pointers per game in March Madness. Losing Ball would be a huge blow and would put added pressure on true freshman Braylon Mullins and fourth-year starter Alex Karaban, UConn's other top 3-point shooters.
"I'm just listening to the medical staff," Ball said when asked if he'll play Monday night against Michigan. "I've been preparing and doing rehab already. So definitely just preparing the same way as (if) I'm playing."
Alex Karaban
Alex Karaban is the "best babysitter," according to coach Dan Hurley. The fourth-year starter has been with the program for five years after redshirting as a true freshman, and is looking for third national championship as a player.
The NCAA Tournament's all-time wins leader among players is 3-of-18 shooting in UConn's last two wins over Duke and Illinois, and the Huskies will need its leader for their best shot at Michigan.
The 6-foot-8 wing stepped up and made a huge shot in UConn's upset win over Duke in the Elite Eight, although the 3-pointer to pull within two points with under a minute left was overshadowed by Braylon Mullins' heroic game-winning 3-pointer. Mr. UConn will be relied on in his final collegiate game.
Elliot Cadeau
A former five-star recruit, Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau didn't live up to his potential in two seasons at North Carolina. The junior has been outstanding for the Wolverines in March Madness, though.
The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging an NCAA Tournament-leading 8.6 assists per game, serving as an offensive hub for Michigan's potent attack. He's also averaging 11 points per game and shooting 40.7% from 3-point range, and could be asked for more responsibility if Lendeborg is limited due to injury.
Regardless, the ball will be in his hands a lot in the national championship game.
Hurley led the Huskies to back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, pushing UConn to six titles in program history (all of which occurred from 1999-onward). If he wins another, he would join a short list of elite men's college basketball coaches to win at least three NCAA championships.
Here's what you need to know about coaches who have won at least three national titles in NCAA history:
How many coaches have won three NCAA championships?
Sixteen NCAA coaches have at least two NCAA titles during their coaching careers, which includes Hurley. However, only six coaches have ever won more than three national championships during their careers.
The list that Hurley is looking to join includes UCLA's John Wooden; Duke's Mike Krzyzewski; Kentucky's Adolph Rupp; North Carolina's Roy Williams; UConn's Jim Calhoun; and Indiana's Bob Knight. Rupp was the first to achieve the feat in 1951, with Williams the most recent three-time national champion following the Tar Heels' 2017 championship.
With a win on Monday, Hurley would tie Calhoun with three titles, the most in Huskies' program history.
Men's college basketball coaches with most national championships
Here's a look at the list of NCAA men's college basketball coaches with the most national championships. Of note, current St. John's coach Rick Pitino is not on the list after having his second title, with Louisville, in 2013 vacated by the NCAA.
Obviously, the biggest thing on the line will be who wins the national title for the 2025-26 men's college basketball season. But, while a title would be significant for both programs, not all national championships are created equal: A win would mean something different for the Huskies as opposed to the Wolverines.
A win for the Huskies would cement them as a modern-day dynasty and move them further up the list of all-time national championship winners, while the Wolverines would break a historic title drought for the Big Ten Conference while becoming one of only a few programs to win multiple championships.
Ahead of their national championship meeting, here's a look at which programs have the most national titles in NCAA Tournament history:
Who has the most March Madness national titles?
UCLA leads all Division I men's basketball programs, with 11 championships. The Bruins' last championship came in 1995, when they defeated Arkansas 89-78.
The vast majority of UCLA's championships came under John Wooden between 1964 and 1975, when the program held a chokehold on the sport by winning 10 national titles in 12 seasons. That included a window of seven straight championships between 1967 and 1973.
Teams with most NCAA championships
While UCLA has the most national championships, Kentucky is a close second, with eight national titles. UConn enters its championship game appearance vs. Michigan with six championships, putting it in a tie for third with North Carolina.
Here's a look at the men's programs with the most NCAA Tournament national championships:
Regardless of who wins between the Wolverines, college basketball was guaranteed a new champion this season as early as the first weekend of March Madness, when last year's national champion was shocked with a second-round exit.
Here's what you need to know about who won the 2025 men's national championship, who has the most championships and past champions:
Who won NCAA championship last year?
Florida won the 2025 Men's NCAA Tournament national championship last season. The Gators defeated Kelvin Sampson's Houston 65-63 in the championship round at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The Gators also defeated No. 16 Norfolk State (95-69), No. 8 UConn (77-75), No. 4 Maryland (87-71) and No. 3 Texas Tech (84-79) in their path to the 2025 Final Four. Florida defeated No. 1 Auburn 79-73 in the national semifinal.
The Gators entered the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament having won the SEC regular season championship and earning a No. 1 seed in March Madness for the second straight season. The Gators opened March Madness with a dominant win over No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M (114-55) in the South Region.
However, No. 9 seed Iowa bounced Florida in the second round, 73-72, on a game-winning shot by Alvaro Folgueiras. The Gators had a shot at their own buzzer-beater, but ran out of time when guard Xavien Lee attempted to get to the basket and find one of his big men for a layup down low.
Todd Golden and Co. were seeking to become just the second program in NCAA history to repeat twice after winning national championships in 2006 and 2007.
UCLA leads all men's programs with 11 NCAA Tournament championships, the last of which came in 1995. Kentucky is No. 2 all time with eight titles, while UConn is tied with North Carolina with six (all of which came from 1999 onward).
Here's a look at the men's programs with the most NCAA Tournament national championships:
The first-team All-American forward and Big Ten Player of the Year was held to 14 minutes in the Wolverines' 91-73 dominant win over Arizona in the Final Four, as he dealt with ankle and knee injuries that were re-aggravated in the first half against the Wildcats.
Lendeborg, a first-year transfer from UAB, was the most sought-after transfer portal recruit last season and he has proved it in 2025-26. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season, and his points-per-game average has risen to 19 points per contest in the NCAA Tournament.
Lendeborg returned late in the second half of Michigan's win, and will spend the next day preparing for his final collegiate game.
Here's everything to know of Lendeborg's injury before the national championship game:
Will Yaxel Lendeborg play vs UConn in national championship game?
Lendeborg is dealing with a sprained MCL and a tweaked ankle, which he has been playing with since the Big Ten Conference Tournament. He said he will play against UConn in the national championship game, although likely not at 100%.
"I'm sure he'll give it a go tomorrow, but that'd be entirely up to him and the medical staff," Michigan coach Dusty May said April 5.
Lendeborg explained what happened on the play after the game on April 4, and also said he's playing no matter what.
"I tried to go up for a dunk in between three people like a dummy," Lendeborg told CBS Sports after the game. "I stepped on (Arizona forward Motiejus) Krivas' foot, turned (and) felt the pain right away. My knee, at worst is like an MCL sprain. ... My ankle got re-rolled, so that's bothering me a little bit.
"But I'm going to feel good, I'm going to do a lot to work on it and I'm playing on Monday for sure, no matter what."
Yaxel Lendeborg injury update
Lendeborg exited the floor and entered the locker room with 8:51 in the first half against Arizona after injuring his knee and ankle. He didn't return for the first half but did start the second half with a brace on his knee, playing 14 total minutes.
Lendeborg, a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, said his agent and his mom both said he should sit out the first half, but he declined. His imaging and MRI came back clear after testing on April 5.
When Lendeborg returned in the second half, he was clearly hobbled. May said whatever version of Lendeborg they get still makes the Wolverines a better team, though.
"He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA, and a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA," May said. "Whatever version of Yaxel we get it's going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball."
Yaxel Lendeborg stats
Here are Lendeborg's per-game averages in 2025-26, along with his final stats from each of Michigan's NCAA Tournament wins this season:
2025-26: 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on 52.3% shooting
NCAA Tournament
vs. No. 16 Howard: 9 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 40% shooting
vs. No. 9 Saint Louis: 25 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists on 69.2% shooting
vs. No. 4 Alabama: 23 points with 12 rebounds and 7 assists on 66.7% shooting
vs. No. 6 Tennessee: 27 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists on 52.6% shooting
vs. No. 1 Arizona: 11 points with 3 rebounds and 1 assist on 75% shooting
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 05: Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his third period goal against the Florida Panthers at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins closed out the rare home-home back-to-back on Sunday against the Florida Panthers. Pittsburgh once again took care of business after dispatching the Cats 9-4 on Saturday with a controlled, 5-2 win on Sunday, led by Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell. [Recap]
Egor Chinakhov has made an impact few could have imagined when he arrived with the Penguins after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, thriving on a “fresh start” that’s boosted his confidence and production. [Penguins]
Evgeni Malkin reached his 1,400th career point during the Penguins’ dominant win on Saturday, capping it with a hat trick and becoming the oldest player in franchise history to do so. [Penguins]
It seems like every time the Penguins take the ice these days, one of the players reaches a career milestone. Combine franchise greats like Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust leaving their marks in the history books with a resurgent team on the brink of a playoff berth, and coaches are reminding these players and fans not to take these special moments for granted. [Penguins]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Patrick Roy was fired as coach of the New York Islanders on Sunday. Peter DeBoer was named his replacement with four games left in the season. [ESPN]
The Buffalo Sabres are going dancing for the first time in a long time. The Sabres clinched a playoff berth, ending their NHL-record 14-season drought—the longest in league history—after the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation on Saturday. [TSN]
The Toronto Maple Leafs have begun their search for a new general manager and are expected to target Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta, known for his strong analytics background and role in the Panthers’ recent success. [Sportsnet]
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: David Bednar #53 of the New York Yankees celebrates after the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on August 09, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won 5-4. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees have gotten off to a 7-2 start, the best in the American League, and there’s obviously a lot going well to support that strong record. However, a perfect team the Yankees have not been, and the flaws have been notable especially in their two losses: the bottom of their lineup hasn’t given them much of anything, and the bullpen is a bit suspect. These were the main concerns about the team all throughout the offseason, so having them be front-and-center out of the gate as well is a bit frustrating, but it’s also hard to complain too hard when at the end of the day the team is off to the start they’re on these first two weeks.
Putting aside the lineup for now, I’d like to talk a little bit about the bullpen today. The team didn’t get an ideal start from Max Fried on Sunday, to be sure, but they also got a blowup from Jake Bird in the eighth to let the game get away from them. Similarly, in Saturday’s win the comeback was nearly squandered by Camilo Doval giving up twice as many runs as he recorded outs, and it’s not his only poor outing to start the year. Outside of closer David Bednar and Fernando Cruz, the Yankees don’t have a lot of trust to place in their relief corps. Paul Blackburn has been utilized sparingly when the team has already burnt their main arms earlier in the game or if they’re unavailable, and Cade Winquest hasn’t been able to find his way into a game even with the blowouts that the team has accumulated.
Is there a way to shake the bullpen up outside of waiting for the starting rotation to get healthy and push people down into the ‘pen? Should the team tap into their minor league depth to see if they can amplify the ‘pen? Should they stay the course and see if their current arms can adapt in time for when the team inevitably needs to rely on them for a stretch? All of these are valid questions, but they’re not ones that we can easily answer. What we can tackle, is whether this current bullpen as constructed feels like enough to back the rest of the team up. They’ve passed the test thus far, but the confidence isn’t high should the starting pitching not deliver a stellar outing like they were the first couple of times through. I’d say that while I think the bullpen is currently a weak point, it’s not the most concerning part of the team; that honor would go to what’s been happening in the back half of the lineup. But perhaps you think differently, and want to sound the alarm on this relief corps before more games start getting blown — give us your thoughts down in the comments.
Today on the site, Andrew starts us off with a deep dive into what happened around the league in the Rivalry Roundup (spoilers: the Yankees didn’t lose much ground despite the loss). Then, Matt gives some somber birthday well wishes to the recently-deceased Ken Clay, and Estevão ponders the situation of running into slumping stars early on and what to expect against them. Finally, I’ll be back later in the afternoon to open up the mailbag for another round of questions.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto hoists the World Series MVP trophy as they celebrate their World Series victory at Rogers Centre. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
What do you remember most about the epic, riveting, thrill-a-minute Game 7?
As the Dodgers return to Toronto on Monday, for the first time since conquering the Blue Jays to capture the World Series championship, I wanted to look back with a peek at the official World Series documentary.
Not so fast. Major League Baseball did commission a documentary, as it always does, but the film was not ready for release by the time spring training started. The series was so dramatic that the league is looking into options for a high-profile rollout, probably around midseason.
The Dodgers did their part, with a creative bobblehead series of Game 7 moments: Max Muncy’s home run in the eighth inning, Miguel Rojas’ tying home run in the ninth inning, Will Smith’s game-winning home run in the 11th inning, Mookie Betts turning the game-ending double play, and a Yoshinobu Yamamoto “last out” image.
Collect all five, though, and you still don’t get the behind-the-scenes access that a documentary does. So why not ask the Dodgers themselves to take you behind the scenes in those wild hours between their departure from Rogers Centre as champions and their arrival in Los Angeles the following day?
Actually, by the time the Dodgers left the stadium, it was already the following day. Game 7 did not end until 17 minutes past midnight. The Dodgers gathered on the field to collect their championship trophy, retreated to the clubhouse to douse themselves in champagne and beer, returned to the field to share the moment with their families, then went back inside to shower and dress.
“By the time you get done celebrating, there is nowhere that is still open,” Muncy said. “So we had a little spot downstairs at the hotel. We had a little party down there.”
It was past 2 a.m. by the time most of the players and their families joined the party in a hotel ballroom to share food, drink, and joy.
“It was really cool to embrace all the families, see all the excitement,” Rojas said.
“It was unbelievable that you got to bring the trophy back to the hotel. That’s what I remember: taking those moments and enjoying them with the people that I really care about.”
Freddie Freeman said he was one of the first to leave the party. He and his family stayed about an hour and a half, and by then his kids were so tired that it was time for bed.
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani holds the World Series trophy with teammates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series at Rogers Centre. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Rojas said he hung out at the party until around 5 a.m. He did not sleep that night.
Was there any sleep to be had for Muncy that night?
“At some point, there was,” he said. “I don’t remember it.”
The Dodgers pushed back their flights to noon, manager Dave Roberts said. The Dodgers travel in two groups: one for families, coaches, and team staffers; the other for the players.
“I don’t know what they were doing,” Roberts said. “I was sleeping.”
They were singing.
“My favorite part was the bus ride going to the plane,” Freeman said. “Music blaring. Everyone is singing on the bus.
“Miguel is on the mic. Every song he played, he seemed to know the words, or he made up words.”
For Rojas to get up and sing on the team bus, well, nothing new there. What was new that morning was one song in his repertoire.
“There’s this song they were playing at the stadium in the seventh inning — I think it goes, ‘Oh yay, Blue Jays,’ something like that,” Rojas said. (It’s called “OK, Blue Jays.”)
“And I was just singing the song and getting the guys going. I didn’t plan it. I was just happy and letting myself go, as I always do on the mic. And the guys enjoy it. I do my part on the bus every time, and it’s like a performance. Every time I go up there, I feel like I’m Kevin Hart.”
And then …
“At some point, we were on a plane,” Muncy said. “I don’t remember the timing of any of that. I just know that it was all a lot of fun. Traveling isn’t always something that is fun, but in that scenario, it was something that everyone really enjoyed.
“You’re passing the trophy around. You’re getting pictures taken. You’re playing ‘We Are the Champions’ on repeat for hours, not getting tired of it at all. It’s a really good time.”
The planes landed. The players reunited with their families. It was time to go home.
But reflection on those few hours of celebration — that wild scramble to enjoy the moment, yet hurry to get everyone ready to go home — left the Dodgers envisioning one of the few things this contemporary dynasty has yet to accomplish.
“I would love to win at home,” Muncy said. “We haven’t done that yet. It would be ideal to do that.”
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Remember, at the beginning of this NBA season, when people compared Cooper Flagg to Andrei Kirilenko, also known as AK-47?
Kirilenko was an athletic defensive star, and many people thought that is where Flagg would end up.
Well, not so much.
He’s an excellent defender, as promised, but has also emerged as an offensive star. In the last two games, he has scored 96 points, and shot a collective 33-57, or 57.8%. He’s also shot 8-15 on his threes for 53.3%.
On Sunday night, Flagg followed up his 51-point game against Orlando with a near triple-double against the Los Angeles Lakers: Flagg had 45 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.
He is the first rookie to have back-to-back 40-point games since Allen Iverson did it in 1997.
This comes near the end of the season as the league is witnessing an amazing Rookie of the Year race between Flagg and his former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel, and it’s a great way for Flagg to put a bow on his season as it winds down.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 05: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball against Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half at TD Garden on April 05, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Big 4th Quarter
Through the first three quarters of this game the Celtics looked like they were stuck in mud when it came to their offense. After having some huge first halves in back to back games, Boston only had 80 points going into the fourth quarter, keeping Toronto in the game.
The Celtics would flip the switch in the final frame, outscoring the Raptors 35-24. Boston shot a ridiculous 14-21 (67%) from the field and only 2-4 (50%) from three point range while only turning the ball over once. Toronto shot 10-14 (71%) in the fourth quarter but Boston was able to force 6 turnovers on them, explaining the reason why the Celtics had 7 more shots.
The lineup they ran for most of the fourth quarter with Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta looks to be the closing group of the future going into the playoffs. This looks to be a potent end of game lineup that can space the floor and still defend. Excited to see this when the games really start to count.
Celtics 4Q Shooting Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)
2. Neemias Queta is Peaking
When it comes to his play this season, I think Neemias Queta has exceeded all exceptions set for him and is just now starting to play his best basketball of the season right as the Celtics are heading into the playoffs. Queta had a great performance against the Raptors, finishing with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks on 9-10 shooting.
His offense was carrying Boston for long stretches in the first half, dropping 16 points through the first two quarters and being the spark the offense needed when it stalled out. Queta did an incredible job when it came to cutting to the basket whether it was slipping out of screens or just running the running the fast break. His ability to overpower the Raptors weak center depth also helped when it came to grabbing offensive rebounds for put-backs.
The second half saw Queta turn into 2022 Robert Williams with his ability to block shots, with all 3 coming in the second half. His improvement on the defensive end with his timing on blocking shots has been incredible to watch this season and really does remind me a lot of Time Lord. He always had this ability but now that he has had the opportunity to shine, Queta is becoming a more dangerous player to this Celtics offense than anyone would have thought possible.
3. Jayson Tatum is Seeing Everything
For the 9th time in 14 games, Jayson Tatum has finished with a double-double scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. I don’t think I have ever seen a player go down with a major injury and come back playing arguably better than they were before but Tatum is starting to reach that point for me. I wanted to highlight his ability to see the floor with his passing because he made some incredible assists that arguable only he could have made possible.
Tatum had 3 assists in the first half but 2 of them highlight his mastery of passing out of the double team. When Toronto tried to pressure him, Tatum used his gravity to pass it to a wide open teammate who was able to finish with an easy basket.
When the fourth quarter came around, Tatum was a driving force as to why Boston was so successful with 4 assists. It is amazing to see the Raptors memorized with what Tatum is going to do with the ball in his hands that they completely disregard their defensive assignments to stop him. This leaves Tatum to just make some incredible passes to wide open teammates like this one to Pritchard.
4. Another Great Jaylen Brown Game
While some people out there were worrying about how Jaylen Brown was going to look when Jayson Tatum returned, it was pretty obvious that those concerns were incredibly overblown. Brown finished with another efficient scoring game against the Raptors with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals on 11-20 shooting. Brown is currently ranked first in the Eastern Conference in 20+ point games this season with 62 and second in the NBA only behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who has 66.
Brown was able to get to the basket with ease in this game starting from the opening tip, making an effort to be aggressive. Ten out of his eleven baskets in this game ended in the painted area which doesn’t even sound real but Toronto just had nobody who could guard him inside, finished off with an emphatic dunk for the exclamation point. His one three pointer that he made looked similar to his shot in the corner against the Pacers in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Similar to the Bucks game on Friday, Jaylen Brown made this game look easy and put up another MVP level performance.
5. Payton Pritchard 4Q Explosion
Going into the fourth quarter of this game, Payton Pritchard only had 6 points on 3-5 shooting which wasn’t bad but Boston needed a spark to ignite the offense and he did just that. Pritchard had 11 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals on 4-7 shooting in the final quarter of play and was the biggest reason why the Celtics were able to pull away from Toronto in this game.
Pritchard did a great job of being aggressive and looking for his shot, taking advantage of a Raptors team who was really fighting above their weight class and tiring out. He was able to exploit their lack of paint defense by driving to the basket and finishing over Toronto’s big men. On defense he was also factor, grabbing his first steal to continue a 16-4 run the Celtics had dating back to the 2:04 mark of the third quarter and getting his second one to essentially ice the game before the Raptors put in their reserves.
6. Jordan Walsh Big 3Q Minutes
I think an underrated stretch in this game were the 6 third quarter minutes that Jordan Walsh received where his defense made a legitimate impact. He had 4 points and 1 steal on 2-2 shooting in this quarter and it shows that Joe Mazzulla is starting to rely on him as the main energy provider off the bench.
Walsh was able to nab a steal on Brandon Ingram and outrun the Raptors defense for a dunk on his first basket and made a really a really nice reverse layup on his other. It is really interesting to see Mazzulla entrust Walsh with this role since it was interchangeable for most of the season with Hugo Gonzalez and Ron Harper Jr also seeing time. Walsh has been solid since return to the lineup and it is cool to see him run with the opportunity. I am excited to see him inevitably make a big play in a playoff game this year.
7. Nikola Vucevic Return
For the first time since May 6th, Nikola Vucevic returned to the Celtics rotation after suffering a fracted right ring finger. You could tell he was still trying to get back after missing a month of time but he had okay game, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist on 2-5 shooting but was a -14 overall in 13 minutes.
I would say the best part about this game was his two man game with Payton Pritchard at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He was able to clear out space when Pritchard was attacking to the basket and it resulted in a basket and an assist in this time frame.
I think we are going to have to be patient with Vucevic’s return. It took him a few games to get going when he was first traded to the Celtics so once the playoffs come around I have faith that he will be able to mesh well together with the rest of the team. If not, Neemias Queta has been playing out of his mind recently so he could always get more minutes or they can see if Luka Garza can provide a spark from the back up center position. Overall though I think Vucevic will be fine and will provided much needed bench scoring in the playoffs.
8. Historic Paint Scoring
If you’ve noticed throughout the takeaways so far, I have highlighted the Celtics ability to get to the paint with relative ease against the Raptors defense. That is because Boston finished with a ridiculous 76 Points in the Paint compared to Toronto’s 58. This was the most points in the paint that the Celtics have scored in a game in the play-by-play era which is an incredible feat.
The Celtics are a team known for their three point shooting, averaging 41.8 threes a game but in this game they were only 8-28 (29%) shooting from beyond the arc. In the painted area, Boston shot 38-57 (67%), just getting whatever they wanted whenever they wanted against Toronto.
Celtics Shooting Zone Chart Full Game (Via NBA.com)
9. Defensive Improvements
Over the last two games, although Boston was blowing out their opponents, they also allowed back-to-back games with the other teams making 20+ three point shots. I didn’t file it away as a concern but it was just something that was very strange. All of my possible concerns were put to bed with this game against the Raptors where the Celtics defense held them to only 8-20 (40%) shooting from three and 40-84 (48%) shooting from the field.
The only reason why Toronto stuck around so long in this game was the fact that Boston wasn’t able to hit their threes to match. Although Boston had a little bit of a problem turning the ball over themselves with 15, they responded by forcing Toronto into 15 turnovers as well. The Celtics turned them into 26 points off turnovers and that was most relevant in the fourth quarter when Boston forced the Raptors into 6 turnovers.
10. Possible First Round Matchup
With the regular season quickly coming to an end, this game had some interesting implications for both the Celtics and the Raptors. With the Celtics win to push their record to 53-25, their Magic Number to clinch the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference has been lowered to 2. This means that Boston needs either 2 more wins or the New York Knicks to lose 2 more games to official have home court advantage on their side of the playoff bracket.
The Raptors on the other hand needed to win this game to possibly avoid playing the Celtics as a part of the Play-In Tournament. Toronto is currently the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference but have the same 43-35 record as the Philadelphia 76ers who are at the 6th seed. If Toronto did end up in the Play-In and beat the 8th seed who is currently the Charlotte Hornets, they would face Boston in Round 1 of the Playoffs.
Thinking of a Toronto vs Boston matchup in the first round makes me think it will end similarly to the way this game played out. The Raptors would put up a good fight against the Celtics for the first three quarters of games but run out of gas in the end. At best I think Toronto could end up finishing similar to the Orlando Magic last season against Boston, losing in at most 5 games or get flat out swept.
The Warriors had the ball in the right hands in the final seconds of their 117-116 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday at Chase Center, but Steph Curry came up empty.
Golden State trailed by one point with 11.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter before Curry dribbled up the court to attempt the game-winning shot.
Defended by two Rockets at the top of the key, Curry threw up a deep shot that clanked off iron right before the final buzzer rang and ended the Warriors’ spirited fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked why he did not call timeout to draw up a play before the final possession.
“Well we didn’t want to take the timeout because we wanted to keep their defensive guys on the floor, that lineup on the floor,” Kerr explained. “You take the timeout, they just put all their Dobermans in and switch everything and it’s really hard to get a good look.
“I haven’t seen a replay yet. My gut is our spacing wasn’t great. I think I saw three guys on one side, we wanted to give Steph a high screen, pulling their weaker defenders in. He got a decent look, but it’s probably a good clip for us to have for these last games and the play-in, just to go over that again. I never really like to take timeouts in that situation if there’s time. I’d rather have the chaos that ensues and the matchups that you want. And so, the process was what we wanted, I’m not sure we got spaced very well, I’ll have to look at it.”
At the 0:12 mark in the clip above, both Kerr and Warriors forward Draymond Green can be seen emphatically motioning to, it appears, guard Brandin Podziemski, to come help set a screen for Curry, who ended up double-teamed on the final shot.
Curry also was asked about the final possession, and echoed similar sentiments as his coach, while stating he had no regrets from the sequence.
“We didn’t have a play call because we thought we were going to get a stop, but the usual kind of reaction there is to try and get, they had [Alperen] Şengün out there, is to try and get him in a pick and roll and see what they were going to do, but everything kind of got a little stagnant at the top of the key,” Curry said. “I haven’t watched the possession to see where there might have been a better option, but it seems there was a wall at the 3-point line and I couldn’t figure out exactly where to go.
“There’s no regrets there, you like the matchup with their lineup out there thinking you can get a good shot with whatever it was, 11-12 seconds left. Tough finish for sure, but proud of the way we fought down the stretch.”
While Curry was unable to hit the shot that ultimately mattered most, he still had an excellent game in his long-awaited return to the court, scoring 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field and 5 of 10 from 3-point range in 26 minutes.
And, depending on the outcome of the game, maybe not even them!
“When we lose a game, our fans are so brutal on social that — and obviously I'm disliked by a number of different programs. When we lose, the celebration that goes on and the mocking, that's kind of like a loud external,” Hurley said Sunday, April 5.
But if he’s not coaching your team, Hurley is going to rub you like sandpaper with his yelling at the refs, snarking about officiating and ignoring the boundaries of the coach’s box.
Thus, those boos after UConn beat Illinois in the Final Four.
If Hurley was just some obnoxious coach, it would generate yawns or “this guy again” eye rolls. But Hurley and his team are really, really good. Like historically good. Especially at this time of year.
And that’s what really sets people off.
College basketball has undergone so many seismic changes in the past decade that anyone watching has at least a mild case of whiplash. There are no constants, no continuity. Even Duke doesn’t seem quite so smarmy these days, going more than a decade without a title and losing to UConn in the Elite Eight in such shocking fashion that you almost felt sorry for the Dukies.
I said almost. Let’s not get carried away.
Yet UConn has been impervious to the turmoil. By winning their second consecutive title in 2024, the Huskies joined Duke (1991 and 1992) and Florida (2006 and 2007) as the only repeat champions since 1973.
Now UConn and those early-90s Dukies are the only teams to get three cracks at the title in four years since John Wooden’s heyday.
UConn is 18-3 in the NCAA tournament since 2021, and its 13-1 overall record in the Final Four is the best in tournament history. At 20-5, Hurley’s record in the tournament is third behind only Phil Woolpert and that Wooden guy.
Should UConn beat Michigan, Karaban will be the only non-UCLA player to win three NCAA titles.
“They have championship DNA,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “This run they're on is one of the best — probably the best since John Wooden.”
But success has a very short shelf life in American sports. The only thing fans root for more than the dominance of a dynasty is seeing that dynasty get its comeuppance.
The New England Patriots. The New York Yankees. The Kansas City Chiefs. UConn’s women. We love to see them win and we root for them to lose.
And now Hurley and his UConn program have joined the ranks of the reviled.
“People don't necessarily want to see the same team win over and over again. And what coach Hurley's been able to do these last four years has been incredible and it's just adding to the history of college basketball,” senior forward Alex Karaban said.
“A lot of people don't want to see the Chiefs playing in the Super Bowl again. That’s kind of like the example that coach used for us, too,” he added. “People don't want to keep seeing the same team win, but why does that matter with us? We want to keep winning.”
That’s the thing with villains or bullies. The only way to stop them is to shut them down.
Until then, you can boo Hurley and UConn all you want. They’ll be too busy winning to care.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
Five reasons Michigan will beat UConn to win national championship
1. Nobody looks better than Michigan in this tournament
UConn has been playing well since halftime of the Duke game, but nobody has looked more dominant than Michigan throughout this entire tournament. The Wolverines won their past five games by an average margin of 21.6 points, with no game closer than a 13-point margin against Alabama in the Sweet 16.
In wins against Arizona and Tennessee, Michigan left no doubt by halftime as to which direction the game was headed. The Wolverines did it against Arizona despite star player Yaxel Lendeborg barely playing in the first half because of foul trouble and injury.
UConn can’t expect to rally against Michigan the way it did against Duke.
2. Wolverines have sufficient experience
Old teams win in March Madness. That’s a cliché for a reason — because it plays out time and again. Duke’s young team wilted in the second half against UConn. Arizona started three freshman in the semifinal loss to Michigan. You saw how that went.
Michigan’s national title hopes don’t rest on the shoulders of teenagers. The Wolverines start two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore. They’ve got ample depth, too, which became apparent and impressive while they established a commanding lead against Arizona even without Lendeborg on the court.
3. Michigan’s frontcourt is big and dominant
The length and wingspan of Michigan center Aday Mara is so extreme, he can almost dunk without ever leaving the floor.
The size of Michigan’s starting frontcourt goes like this: 7-3. 6-9. 6-9.
Nobody can match that. These aren’t big stiffs, either. The 6-9 Lendeborg went 3 for 3 from 3-point range against Arizona. He’s a good assist man, too.
UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. — he’s 6-11 — came up big in the Final Four win against Illinois. The Huskies will need Reed to be at his best against Michigan, but he’ll need help, too.
Somewhat lost in the fact that Michigan has topped 90 points in every game of the tournament is the fact that the Wolverines play tough defense. Arizona shot just 37% against Michigan.
Analytics guru Ken Pomeroy ranks the Wolverines No. 4 nationally for offensive metrics.
And, Michigan’s defensive rating? No. 1.
5. Michigan plays with winning attitude
This team is locked in and playing with swagger and guts. The Wolverines showed against Arizona they’re about more than one man, winning big on a night when the team’s star, Lendeborg, played only 14 minutes.
Simply put, the Wolverines just believe they should win. And, so, they do.
One reason Michigan won’t beat UConn
Taking down a dynasty is tough work
Michigan is the nation’s best team, but UConn is a dynasty, and dynasties are difficult to topple. Ask Duke.
UConn can match Michigan’s experience, and its winning attitude.
As Huskies coach Dan Hurley put it after UConn rallied against Duke, “We just believe we’re supposed to win this time of year.”
They usually do.
UConn’s 3-point shot can be an equalizer, too, if the Huskies get hot. They made 12 3-pointers against Illinois, after going 9 of 21 from distance in a Sweet 16 win against Michigan State.
UConn needs Reed to be tough on the interior and for Alex Karaban, Braylon Mullins, Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. to get their 3-point shots falling.
The stage at American Airlines Center on Easter Sunday felt exposed. LIke it was stripped of its stars. Sure, there was still LeBron James and on the other side of the court 19-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg, but there was no Luka Doncic making his return to Dallas. No Austin Reaves or Kyrie Irving either.
In their absence, multiple players on the Los Angeles Lakers roster will have an opportunity to step up and shine. One of those players is Luke Kennard.
For the Lakers, this is no longer about surviving a stretch without their top two scorers who average 58 points per game combined. This is about forging a new identity without them. One that will hopefully sustain them through not just the remainder of the regular season, but into the first round of the NBA playoffs as well.
“Both those guys are going to try and come back,” said Lakers head coach J.J. Redick of Doncic and Reaves. “It’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back.”
The former 12th overall pick in the 2017 Draft was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks. NBAE via Getty ImagesBefore the Dallas game, Kennard was averaging 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. NBAE via Getty Images
Playing without their engine and their spark plug, the Lakers sputtered on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks 134-128. But a silver lining in the loss was the play of Kennard.
The former 12th overall pick in the 2017 Draft was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 5 for Gabe Vincent and a future second-round pick. Kennard was always seen as a luxury for the Lakers, a spot-up shooter off the bench that could improve their paltry three-point percentage.
Thrust into the starting lineup at point guard in place of Doncic, Kennard was suddenly asked to do something he hasn’t done before in his nine-year career: become a playmaker.
Entering the game, Kennard was averaging 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Through two-and-a-half quarters on Sunday, he had his first career triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists. He also had the highest rating out of any Lakers player on the floor with a +8.
“It’s an encouraging sign. He did a nice job,” said Redick of Kennard’s performance. “Him playing 41 minutes and having to handle the ball that much is not a normal thing for him…but he did some amazing things.”
Before we get carried away, it’s worth noting that one game does not erase years of precedent. Kennard has built his career as a three-point specialist. A sniper that can hide in the corner, and space the floor. Asking him to morph into any version of Luka Doncic is not just ambitious, but it borders on reckless.
But honestly, what other choice do the Lakers have?
Without Doncic and Reaves, the offense doesn’t just shrink, it collapses inward. The geometry changes. A 41-year-old James will be asked to shoulder the offensive load, but he can’t have the ball in his hands for 48 straight minutes. And unless someone stretches the floor not just with shooting, but with decision-making, this team becomes predictable. Easy to guard. Easy to beat.
“We’re going to play lineups that haven’t played together all season,” said Redick before the game. “All the guys know that we need to step up. We need all hands on deck.”
One of those hands has to be Kennard.
Kennard has built his career as a three-point specialist. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesKennard’s offensive evolution is a must, and his defensive engagement is just as critical. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
He has to be aggressive. Not selectively. Consistently. That means hunting his shot, not waiting for it. That means turning a closeout into a drive, not a swing pass. That means reading the second defender, manipulating weak-side help, and delivering passes that create advantage—not just maintain it. Sunday was a promising start, especially when he threw a lob to James on the break in the third quarter.
But if the Lakers think they can outscore teams without Doncic and Reaves, they’re fooling themselves. This team’s margin for error just evaporated. Effort, communication, physicality—those aren’t optional now, they’re survival tools. And while Kennard’s offensive evolution is a must, his defensive engagement might quietly be just as critical.
Because on Sunday, it wasn’t even the Lakers offense that was the problem. It was the defense. Against a Mavericks team that was 24-53 and already looking ahead to ping-pong balls, the Lakers defense, that had held opponents to 115 points per game this season, allowed Dallas to score 134. Nearly 20 points more than normal.
“Missing those two guys is a big change,” admitted Kennard after the loss. “We did some really good things offensively, but it has to be defense for us. That’s what we have to hang our hat on going forward.”
Kennard isn’t being asked to replicate Doncic. That would be absurd. He’s being asked to expand—to stretch the edges of his game in real time, under pressure, with no runway. That’s where players either evolve or get exposed.
“It’s something I’ve never really done, being that involved and having the ball in my hands that much,” said Kennard of his new role. “I have to be better with it. The shots are going to fall, but it’s about getting everyone connected and being organized out there and just being confident with it. It’s something I’m looking forward to getting better with.”
If Kennard can sustain even 70% of what he showed on Sunday–double-digit assists, keep defenses honest with his shooting, and compete defensively–then the Lakers can stay afloat.
But if he shrinks—if he defaults back into being a spot-up spectator—then the Lakers season will be over sooner than later.
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Apr 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) steals second base against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
MLB | Bryan Hoch: Who said Giancarlo Stanton was just a stationary slugger? In Saturday’s 9-7 comeback win against the Marlins, Stanton showed that he has more tools in his bag besides clobbering homers. After drawing a leadoff walk in the seventh inning, Stanton took advantage of the Marlins’ lax defense and stole his first base since 2024, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch. Stanton made his mark again in the eighth with two outs and the bases loaded, coming up with a two-run single that proved to be the decisive blow. Maybe a 40-steal season isn’t in the cards for Stanton, but just the fact that he’s willing to take a base if the other team gives it to him is a good sign for his health. Keep showing off those wheels, G; just don’t go too crazy.
FanGraphs | Dan Szymborski: Not every game is a must-win, but they do all count, even in April. Our very own Josh highlighted the importance of building a comfortable cushion in the early goings to soften the blow of any potential swoons down the road. Szymborski’s piece is written from a more general view, as he notes that the results from the first week have already had a sizeable impact on each team’s playoff odds. Yankees fans rejoice: the Bombers’ 5-1 start against the Giants and the Mariners have added a whopping 8.1 points to their playoff odds. I recommend reading the full article for a quick view on how the Yankees’ divisional rivals have fared.
ESPN: Finally, a quick update on the new ABS system. ESPN is compiling an ABS tracker which records the results of each player and team’s ABS challenges. A few Yankees appear on the individual leaderboards: through yesterday’s action, Trent Grisham is 2-for-2 in batter challenges, Max Fried is 1-for-1 in pitcher challenges, and Austin Wells is 5-for-6 in catcher challenges. As a team, the Yankees have a successful challenge rate of 66.7 percent, good for fourth in MLB. Let’s see if they can keep up this impressive performance in the coming months.
