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The Mike Brown approach change he believes will benefit Knicks in playoffs

New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson talks with head coach Mike Brown during an NBA game.
New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, left, talks with head coach Mike Brown during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics Thursday, April 9,...

Mike Brown has noticed something important about himself. 

He made a Finals appearance as a head coach, back in 2007 with the Cavaliers. He won four championships as an assistant — in 2003 with the Spurs and in 2017, 2018 and 2022 with the Warriors. He’s certainly used to coaching teams with high expectations. 

But he’s changed his approach. And he believes the Knicks can benefit from it. 

“More mature, more experienced, more seasoned,” Brown said after practice Wednesday. “If you want to get specific about it, I didn’t message great back then. It was more about the work. That’s the one thing I always knew I had control over, is I can outwork this guy if I want to — it’s my call, that’s easy. Therefore, if I’m gonna do something with our team, our team is gonna outwork that team, it’s easy. 

“Now it’s based more on feel, a little bit smarter with my work and the team’s work. I do feel like I message better. I learned all these things being around great players and great coaches and just over time, learning from your mistakes I feel like I have a better opportunity now, because I’ve been through a lot, to be more present than before. When you’re present, it helps you be able to make adjustments more timely on both sides of the ball.” 

AP

Having been around those championship teams, what were the common traits and similarities between them? Do the Knicks share them? 

“It’s what our standard is about,” Brown said. “They were different teams. I was the head coach of Cleveland and we got to the Finals with a young team. Assistant coach in San Antonio with a veteran team. Assistant coach in Golden State with a veteran team. If there was something that was similar with all those different teams, they all somehow, someway sacrificed throughout the course of the year.They found a way to be connected, especially at the right time. They all had an unbelievable competitive spirit and the belief in the process and each other was always there. And everybody was OK holding one another accountable. They all embraced that. 

“I feel that this group has trended towards that way.” 

Everyone, including OG Anunoby, practiced Wednesday, Brown said. Anunoby exited the penultimate game — a win over the Raptors last Friday — with an ankle injury, but it didn’t appear to be serious. He, like the majority of the main rotation players, sat out the meaningless Knicks finale Sunday. 

Wednesday’s positive update means he should be good to go for Game 1 on Saturday. 

Jalen Brunson described Madison Square Garden’s playoff atmosphere simply. 

“It’s something that we could sit here and explain,” he said Wednesday. “But no one really knows it unless they experience it.”

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Alex Condon puts off NBA and returns to Florida for senior season and run at another title

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Forward Alex Condon is returning to Florida for his senior season, giving him a final opportunity to boost his 3-point shooting before making the jump to the NBA.

His decision that was announced Wednesday should improve the Gators’ chances of winning another national championship.

Condon, a 6-foot-11 Australian, is the seventh player to re-sign with the Gators, following point guard Boogie Fland, shooting guard Urban Klavzar and role players Isaiah Brown, AJ Brown, Alex Lloyd and Alex Kovatchev.

All-Southeastern Conference center Rueben Chinyelu is expected to do the same. The biggest unknown, though, is whether forward Thomas Haugh will join them for another year. Haugh, the team’s leading scorer, is widely considered a lottery pick but is considering putting off NBA riches in hopes of winning another title.

The 2025 champs lost to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last month.

Former Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen plans to re-enroll at Florida to finish his degree and is petitioning the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility. Aberdeen spent his first three years at Florida before transferring to the Wildcats.

Golden clearly prefers the idea of filling his roster with players versed in his system and familiar with each other. Bringing back Condon gives the Gators someone to run the offense through next season.

Condon averaged 15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a junior while starting 34 of 35 games. He led the team in blocked shots (48) and turnovers (83). He had eight games with at least four turnovers, a stat he would like to reduce.

A more significant number for NBA teams: Condon was 9-of-53 shooting from 3-point range, a 17% clip that was a career low. Raising his shooting percentage from behind the arc is considered key to him becoming a first-round selection and maybe a lottery pick.

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Martin, Curvelo to i.l., Collyer, Quantrill up

SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 20: Texas Rangers pitcher Gavin Collyer (77) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during a Spring Breakout game on March 20, 2026, at Surprise Stadium at Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Texas Rangers have placed reliever Chris Martin on the 15 day injured list with a shoulder impingement and reliever Luis Curvelo on the injured list with a biceps strain. To replace the pair, the Rangers have purchased the contracts of righthanded pitchers Gavin Collyer and Cal Quantrill. To make room on the 40 man roster for the new additions, the Rangers have moved Cody Bradford from the 15 day injured list to the 60 day injured list and have designated reliever Marc Church for assignment.

Martin and Curvelo each left yesterday’s game due to their injuries, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether either of them would have to go on the i.l. Martin had injury issues last year, and so playing it safe with him makes sense, and Curvelo is just a guy, so there’s no real need to wait and see on him.

Collyer, 24, will be making his major league debut when he first steps on the mound. Picked in the 12th round by the Rangers in 2019, and signed to a $585,000 bonus, Collyer had mixed results for much of his minor league career and had just one inning above A ball prior to 2025. He showed progress in 2025, however, splitting the season between AA and AAA, and though he became a minor league free agent after the season, the Rangers were able to re-sign him.

Collyer had an impressive camp, showing much improved command compared to prior years, and was reportedly being considered for a spot on the Opening Day roster. In 6.2 innings at Round Rock over 6 games, he allowed two runs, struck out 11 of 27 batters faced, and walked two. He has the stuff to be a potential late inning arm, and given the state of the pen, will likely get some late inning opportunities.

We wrote about Quantrill earlier this week when he won the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week award. He will presumably fill the long man/mop up role for the time being.

The initial hope was that Bradford would be back in the majors in May, but after having soreness after his rehab start on April 8, he’s on pause, and so the Rangers have apparently determined he’s not going to be an option before Memorial Day.

The surprising news is the decision to designate Marc Church for assignment. Church, taken five rounds after Collyer in 2019, established himself as a relief prospect, and made his major league debut at the end of the 2024 season. Church started the 2025 season in the majors, but was sent down after five appearances, and wasn’t healthy for most of the remainder of the season. He struggled with his command this spring, and has allowed four runs in 4.2 innings over five appearances at AAA this year.

The Rangers will now have seven days to waive, trade or release Church. If he clears waivers, he can be outrighted.

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Semyon Varlamov returns to competitive hockey again as questions about his future loom

New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) makes a stop on a shot by Detroit Red Wings left wing J.T. Compher (37) during the second period when the New York Islanders played the Detroit Red Wings Monday, November 25, 2024 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) makes a stop on a shot by Detroit Red Wings left wing J.T. Compher (37) during the second period when the New York Islanders played the Detroit Red Wings Monday, November 25, 2024 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.

No one but no one would have blinked twice had Semyon Varlamov decided, off two knee replacements, to take the money he was owed, count his blessings for a long career and hang up his skates.

Instead, Varlamov, some 502 days from his last NHL game and 12 days from his 38th birthday, was in Hartford, Conn. on Wednesday night to make his return to competitive hockey as part of a conditioning assignment with AHL Bridgeport.

Who knows whether his comeback is ultimately successful. Who can even say what success would look like in this context. The fact that Varlamov was even trying, and had gotten as far as practicing in recent weeks, had his teammates and general manager blown away.

Goalie Semyon Varlamov looks on during the second period of the Islanders’ win over the Canadiens on Oct. 19, 2024 at UBS arena. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“He’s Iron Man,” Ilya Sorokin said. “Totally. He’s a big professional. He works hard. Every day that I see on the rink is positive. A good mind. Can’t wait for when I see him in a game.”

“We have so much respect for him,” David Rittich said. “Not just me. From every single guy in this room. Even through the tough times, still trying to get back. Nothing but respect to Varly.”

Since he’s on a conditioning loan, Varlamov isn’t eligible to play in the postseason with Bridgeport. He’ll be there for just six days, with the possibility to play a second game over the weekend if things go well.

Darche declined to say whether Varlamov — whose two knee replacements were revealed unwittingly by then-coach Patrick Roy earlier this season — had the same knee replaced twice or both done separately. But he did say that Varlamov “had procedures on both of his knees.”

Exactly how that impacts the Islanders’ plans at goaltender, where Rittich is an unrestricted free agent, is unclear.

General manager Mathieu Darche said Varlamov is considered an option going forward, but it’s hard to believe the Islanders can go into next year without Rittich — or someone of similar standing — given the total unknown around Varlamov.

Semyon Varlamov makes a stop on a shot by J.T. Compher during the Islanders’ loss to the Red Wings on Nov. 25, 2024 at UBS Arena. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Still, it says a whole lot that he’s trying.

“He might play one game this weekend and see where it goes for next year,” Darche said. “But I’m telling you, from what the doctors were saying to where he is — it’s like Gabe Landeskog [in Colorado]. For three years, he didn’t play, people said he’s done. Now he’s playing hockey. A lot of credit to Varly.”

Tony DeAngelo and Rittich, both pending unrestricted free agents, said they wanted to return to the Islanders next season.

Cal Ritchie, Isaiah George, Victor Eklund and Liam Foudy will all rejoin AHL Bridgeport for the playoffs. Ritchie played just three games in the AHL this season before being called up, but the Islanders want him to get playoff experience.

Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech, Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom all said they were open to playing at World Championships if asked. Bo Horvat did not rule it out, but having played in the Olympics, said the year “has been a lot. Not only physically, but mentally, it’s been a long year.”

Ryan Pulock was dealing with knee and shoulder injuries and “hanging by a thread” at the end of the season, according to Darche. Pulock said he expects to be ready for camp, but the shoulder may need surgery to resolve. The knee is more of a “little issue,” Pulock said, which came up in the last few weeks, whereas the shoulder was a season-long problem.

DeAngelo has been dealing with a groin issue, and Max Shabanov with a rib injury, Darche said. 

Kyle Palmieri (torn ACL) said he has a couple months left of rehab, but is optimistic about having a normal summer after that and should be back for training camp.

Alexander Romanov (shoulder) confirmed that he had a good chance of returning had the Islanders made the playoffs, and expects to have a fairly normal offseason.

Quinn Finley, whose season at Wisconsin ended last weekend at the Frozen Four, is also headed to Bridgeport. Finley signed a two-year entry-level deal Wednesday morning that begins next season, and will sign an ATO to join Bridgeport this year. The 2022 third-rounder had 33 points in 37 college games this season.

2025 second-round pick Daniil Prokhorov left to come over from Russia on Wednesday, though it is not clear if he will play right away at Bridgeport.

No decisions have been made as yet on the assistant coaching staffs or front office staffs. Darche and coach Pete DeBoer will meet over the next few days on the coaching staff; Darche said he liked his staff in the front office, but stopped short of saying definitively that they will all return.

Darche clarified that there are no plans for Roy to stay with the organization in a scouting capacity.

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Knicks well aware of indisputable standard they will be judged on during this playoff run

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jalen Brunson participates in practice at the Knicks' training facility on April 15, 2026 in Tarrytown, N.Y, Image 2 shows Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson participate in practice at the Knicks' training facility on April 15, 2026 at Tarrytown, N.Y

Jalen Brunson sat at the podium, moments after the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in the conference finals last year, and acknowledged how much had to happen just to get back to where they were. 

They wouldn’t just start again in the conference finals. They’d have to go through the preseason, through the regular season, then climb through the playoffs once again. So many things would have to go right along the way. So many potential pitfalls would stand in their way. 

Now comes the defining part. 

“At the end of the day,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after practice Wednesday, “We’ll be judged on what we do on this run.” 

Jalen Brunson participates in practice at the Knicks’ training facility on April 15, 2026 in Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

All that matters is what comes next and how far the Knicks go this postseason. And just getting back to the conference finals won’t be good enough — Tom Thibodeau was fired after reaching the conference finals, after all. Owner James Dolan explicitly issued a Finals-or-bust mandate this season, despite Mike Brown being in his first season with the team.  

There is no escaping that pressure. There is only embracing it, or folding under it. 

What makes them believe they’re equipped to live up to it? 

“To be honest, there’s a lot of things that go on that you guys don’t see,” Brunson said Wednesday. “A lot of things we talk about, a lot of things we do that we don’t even say publicly. For a reason — because we want to keep everything in-house. We want to make sure the people inside this building, inside that locker room, we’re all we got, no matter what. 

“I have the utmost confidence in them.” 

The trap, of course, is looking ahead to the final piece of that mandate — reaching the Finals — and overlooking the immediate challenge right in front of them in the Hawks.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson participate in practice at the Knicks’ training facility on April 15, 2026 at Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Flash back to last year, and the Celtics and Cavaliers were widely expected to meet in the conference finals. Neither did. There were much bigger doubts surrounding the Knicks and Pacers, who ended up being the two teams in the conference finals. 

They must perform every step of the way, meticulously delivering high-stakes results just to get back to where they were last year before they have a chance to exceed it. 

“I enjoy that,” Brunson said. “I enjoy the process every single day. Yes, it’s tough. Yes. There’s times, there’s ups and downs and self-doubt creeps in maybe sometimes, but this is something that I enjoy doing and it’s something I worked my entire life for. So I embrace the opportunity.” 

Those ups and downs were the theme of the regular season. With the Finals-or-bust mandate hovering over everything, their polarizing performances at times made it seem believable and at times made it seem inconceivable. 

In truth, that pressure is not just starting now. It’s been a constant all season. They’ve known for a while now that if they fall short, all options are on the table in terms of what changes could be made. 

“The highs are high and the lows are lows,” Towns said. “You just weather the storms, you stick with each other. That’s when team bonding and unity are so important, when things aren’t going well. It’s never when things are going great that team bonding is lacking. You test each other when things are going bad. We’ve had those highs of highs this year with the [NBA] Cup. We’ve had the lows of lows with the losing streak. And this team has stuck together. The locker room has been great. So it’s good for us to know that if things are not going well, we’re going to lean into each other and get closer.”

That volatility has also helped the best version of the Knicks emerge. 

“We started off the year playing one way on offense and one way on defense and we made some pretty big changes throughout the course of the year,” Brown said Wednesday. “I don’t know if I’ve ever gone through a season with a team, as a head coach or as an assistant coach, making the changes that we’ve made with a group of guys. And them continuing to try to stay the course and believe and buy in and all that, to see that from a veteran group, when we’ve hit some adversity even during that time, has a lot to do with their makeup.” 

From the moment Brunson delivered his message at the podium, close to midnight May 31, the only thing that has mattered is getting at least one step farther. 

They’ve completed the preliminary steps in the preseason and regular season. Finally, here comes the defining part.

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Game 18: Seattle Mariners at San Diego Padres

San Diego, CA - April 14: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres hits a single in the third inning as Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners looks on at Petco Park on April 14, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

Seattle Mariners (8-10) at San Diego Padres (11-6), April 15, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Game 18 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ West Sacramento Athletics

Apr 15, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. All MLB players will be wearing the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day to commemorate Robinson making his major league debut in 1947. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Texas Rangers @ Athletics

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 8:40 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

Sutter Health Park

RHP Kumar Rocker vs. RHP J.T. Ginn

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSATHLETICS
Brandon Nimmo – RFNick Kurtz – 1B
Corey Seager – SSShea Langeliers – C
Wyatt Langford – DHCarlos Cortes – DH
Evan Carter – CFTyler Soderstrom – LF
Joc Pederson – 1BJacob Wilson – SS
Josh Jung – 3BJeff McNeil – 2B
Josh Smith – 2BMax Muncy – 3B
Danny Jansen – CLawrence Butler – RF
Ezequiel Duran – LFDenzel Clarke – CF
Kumar Rocker – RHPJ.T. Ginn – RHP

Go Rangers!

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Blackhawks Chairman Danny Wirtz Announces Contract Extension For GM Kyle Davidson

Right before the Blackhawks took the ice for their final game of the season, Chicago Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz announced that General Manager Kyle Davidson has received a contract extension. 

Wirtz made this announcement on a segment in which he appeared on CHSN's pregame show.

This is a chance for Davidson to have some security ahead of the most important summer of this current Blackhawks rebuild. So far, the very top of the Blackhawks organization is confident in the work that Davidson has already done and his plan for the future. 

"Kyle's done everything we've expected of him," Danny Wirtz said of Kyle Davidson. "When he got the job, his first task was to rebuild our prospect pool. If you remember, our cupboard was pretty bare. We didn't have a lot coming in. He very systematically, very confidently built that to where I believe right now we have the best prospect pool in the NHL. Many of those prospects are now actually NHL players, contributing and highly impactful on our team."

It hasn't translated to winning on the ice at the NHL level yet, but the comments about the prospect farm are correct. The Blackhawks have a top-three system in the NHL, and many media organizations rank them number one. 

Davidson was extended for executing the first part of the rebuild, which was replenishing the franchise with young players to build around. Now, the aforementioned security will allow him to take the next step with the foundation that he's built. 

“I am extremely grateful for the support that Danny Wirtz has shown me these last four years," Davidson said of the extension. "His commitment to our shared vision for the future of the Blackhawks has been vital to the success we’ve seen as we’ve worked to build our roster into a team that can compete for years to come. We still have lots of work to do as we strive to bring the Stanley Cup back to Chicago, and I’m excited to continue building a team that our fans can be proud of.”

Danny Wirtz made it very clear that he expects the team to take the next step towards being a contender. He did say that "he wasn't hired to be the prospect GM". Now that he has filled the cupboard, it's time to win. 

"We believe he has the right insight, the right team around him, and the belief he can continue to build a championship team," Wirtz said. 

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Mets' Christian Scott goes 5.1 innings for Triple-A Syracuse, retires last 11 hitters in a row

Mets right-hander Christian Scott took the mound for Triple-A on Wednesday and had a second consecutive solid start for Syracuse.

After giving up some early runs, Scott settled in and struck out five in his 5.1 innings of work, retiring the last 11 hitters he faced and 13 of the last 14. The one batter that reached base during that stretch reached on an error. 

Scott allowed just two hits and a walk in his outing while throwing 82 pitches (50 strikes), but the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, made them count. Spencer Jones hit a two-out double following a walk to open the scoring in the first and Ernesto Martinez Jr. tagged the 26-year-old for a solo shot to lead off the second. 

From there, Scott faced one over the minimum until he was pulled from the game in the sixth, in line for the loss with Syracuse down 2-0. Regardless, his season ERA dropped from 6.48 to 5.27 over 13.2 innings this season.

Scott missed the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery following a big league promotion in 2024. That year, Scott had a 4.56 ERA in nine major league starts and a 2.76 ERA in nine starts in Triple-A. 

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Mets place Jared Young on IL with meniscus tear, recall MJ Melendez from Triple-A

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Jared Young #29 of the New York Mets gets set against the Athletics during the game at Citi Field on April 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Prior to tonight’s series finale against the Dodgers, the Mets placed Jared Young on the IL, retroactive to April 13, with a meniscus tear in his left knee. The team later revealed that Young will undergo surgery and is expected to miss six to eight week of action as a result. To take his place on the roster, the team called up MJ Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse. As an unrelated roster move, the team also released reliever Luis García, whom they designated for assignment last week.

Young had seen more playing time since Soto’s injury, picking up some at-bats at first base and the outfield. In 23 plate appearances, he’s posted a .350/.391/.450 slash line with two runs scored, two runs batted in, a 137 wRC+, and a 0.2 fWAR. Looking at tonight’s lineup, the team will go with Brett Baty at first base, an outfield configuration of Tommy Pham in left, Luis Robert Jr. in center, and Carson Benge in right, and the newly-recalled Melendez manning the DH role.

Melendez is coming off a game in which he homered and tripled for Syracuse Mets in an 8-6 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Tuesday night. In all, the 27-year-old outfielder, whom the Mets signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal over the winter, is hitting .216/.286/.431 with two homers, three runs batted in, and seven runs scored for Syracuse.

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Giants go down swinging in 2-1 loss to Reds

CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 14: Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The most telling statistic in the San Francisco Giants’ 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds is the two teams’ pitch counts. Four Giants pitchers combined to throw 145 pitches in eight innings. The Reds got through nine innings against the free-swinging Giants in just 111 pitches, an average of 12.3 per inning.

The Giants had seven hits but only one walk, getting their lone run when Willy Adames crushed his third home run of the season in the 5th inning. Cincinnati got only three hits in the game but two of them were solo home runs off Robbie Ray (2-2), which gave the Reds the first game of the series. The defining moment came in the bottom of the 4th, when Reds first baseman Sal Stewart fouled off four pitches before going deep on Ray’s ninth pitch of the at-bat.

The Giants pitchers didn’t make too many mistakes apart from that fastball to Stewart and a hanging slider that Spencer Steer turned into a 401-foot bomb in the 3rd.

Reds starter Brady Singer pitched a solid six innings of one-run ball, striking out only one batter, hitting another, but walking none. That’s less of a challenge with the walk-averse Giants, but it allowed him to get through six innings in only 75 pitches. The Giants never had more than one runner on base at a time Tuesday, thanks to a caught stealing in the first inning and a Matt Chapman GIDP in the 8th.

Both teams had runners erased in the opening frame, with Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson throwing out Adames trying to steal and Gold Glover Patrick Bailey gunning down Matt McClain. Perhaps traumatized, neither manager called for a steal the rest of the game.

Adames did crush one in the 5th inning, reaching the second deck in left after sitting on Singer’s sweeper.

But that was it for the Giants offense, besides two singles by Luis Arraez, who went 3-for-4 and raised his batting average to .333. Jung Hoo Lee had a single and a double, but six Giants starters went hitless.

Even the team’s leading hitter, Daniel Susac, couldn’t come through Tuesday. He pinch-hit for Bailey with two outs in the 9th and hit one to the wall, but the ball fell short and lowered his average to .583. What a bum!

The Reds bullpen was excellent. Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Emilio Pagan (5 saves) struck out four Giants in three innings, giving up only a single to Arraez and an unintentional-intentional walk to Rafael Devers. Ashcraft was particularly filthy, getting Jared Oliva to whiff on a pitch at least five feet wide of home plate.

SF’s relievers were solid as well, with Keaton Winn and Ryan Walker throwing no-hit innings and Caleb Killian escaping a two-on, no-out jam in the 6th with a strikeout and a timely double play.

It’s the third game in a row that the Giants have scored two runs or fewer. It’s the ninth time in 17 games this season they’ve scored two or fewer and they’re 0-9 in those games.

Tony Vitello may be considering dramatic lineup changes. The most obvious move might come in left field, where Heliot Ramos has two extra-base hits all season, though the team isn’t exactly flush with options. Harrison Bader has struck out in a third of his at-bats. Oliva has one hit this season. Jerar Encarnacion might have the most upside — at least based on exit velocity.

If you can’t hit in the Great American Ballpark, that’s a very bad sign. It’s encouraging for the Giants pitching staff but another rough data point for the sputtering Giants hitters.

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Steph Curry drops one-word key to Warriors beating Suns in play-in game Friday

Steph Curry drops one-word key to Warriors beating Suns in play-in game Friday originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry has one simple key for the Warriors’ play-in matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

Spoiler alert: It’s the same X factor that was pivotal in Golden State keeping its season alive on Wednesday, as Curry led a 126-121 comeback win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome.

After a game-high 35 points, Curry explained what it will take for the Warriors to advance out of the play-in tournament and into the NBA playoffs for a matchup with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.

“The same resiliency,” Curry told Allie Clifton of NBA on Prime. “Coach [Steve Kerr] talked about it in the locker room before, these win-or-go-home scenarios, we think we know the team, but you got to be able to withstand the runs and stay in it emotionally, because it was … back and forth all game. And then we got over the hump the last three minutes. So, stick with it; no, it’s not going to be perfect but just try to find a way to win.”

As Curry said, the Clippers delivered several blows throughout the game, but the Warriors fought back each time. And with the game in reach down the stretch, Curry, Al Horford and Draymond Green lifted Golden State over the top.

The Suns likely will go on some runs as well in another win-or-go-home game on Friday, and the Warriors will need to replicate that same mentality to avoid elimination.

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Islanders’ breakup day grounded in ‘miserable’ reality of missing playoffs: ‘Absolutely sucks’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) reacts after scoring a goal past Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y, Image 2 shows Center Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders reacts after he gets into a scuffle with defenseman Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at UBS Arena, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Elmont, NY, Image 3 shows New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche speaks at a press conference before the game when the New York Islanders played the Saturday, November 22, 2025 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY
islanders

Breakup day on Long Island, for the past handful of seasons, came with a theme: We believe in the group. 

No matter what the rest of the league, or the stats, or their own fans thought, the Islanders, almost uniformly, insisted on optimism.

Not Wednesday.

Big picture, yes, the organization is in a much better spot than it was a year ago. It’s got an 18-year-old superstar in Matthew Schaefer, a prospect pipeline that looks legitimately promising and real reason to believe there can be a contending team on Long Island in the very near future.

Center Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders reacts after he gets into a scuffle with defenseman Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at UBS Arena, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

In the immediate?

“It’s a miserable feeling around here,” Mat Barzal said.

This breakup day was entirely rooted in reality, and the reality is that the Islanders were in a playoff spot for 105 days, then crashed out in epic fashion, losing 10 of their final 14 games and seven of their final eight, while getting their coach fired in the process. 

They are still grappling with it, very much in the process of digesting and figuring out how this could have happened and what can be done to ensure it never happens again. But the Islanders wore this one.

“It absolutely sucks,” general manager Mathieu Darche said. “This morning is a terrible morning.”

New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche speaks at a press conference before the game when the New York Islanders played the Saturday, November 22, 2025 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Darche, who acted somewhat aggressively in adding Carson Soucy and Ondrej Palat before the Olympic break, then dealing a first-round pick to get Brayden Schenn at the trade deadline, repeatedly acknowledged that the year was a failure because the Islanders missed the playoffs. He did, though, offer some defense for those trades, which have been heavily criticized by the fan base.

“Did we get aggressive a little bit? Yeah. But you know what, I always said I’d rather fail trying than failing to try,” Darche said. “… Palat, Soucy, the acquisition cost was basically nothing. Cause we got some draft picks too. So in a way, those two days, Tsyplakov went out, we brought in Palat, Soucy and a sixth-round pick. We’re a better team, right, because of that. 

“Schenn, we were in that position. We wanted to bring, cause we felt like yes, we could have defended better. Let’s bring some veteran guys that can help with that and push it forward. We went 4-1 [in the first five games after the deadline] and the last 10 games, our two leading scorers were [Cal] Ritchie and Schenn. 

“So by the end result, yes it’s a failure because we didn’t make the payoffs. But to say that it’s because of those acquisitions, I don’t think that’s the case.”

What exactly is the root cause then? Darche didn’t have a firm answer on that, but he did allude more than once to the fact that the Islanders overperformed their underlying defensive metrics for most of the season. That was at the heart of why Patrick Roy was fired and Pete DeBoer hired with four games left in the season, and the Islanders’ improved shot suppression over those four games was a common talking point.

New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) reacts after scoring a goal past Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. AP

Things can always change but at least at a glance, the Islanders appear to have somewhat limited flexibility this offseason. Before accounting for any buyouts or injuries, they have $9-10 million in salary cap space, and Darche alluded to “slim pickings” on the free agency market. 

There is some opportunity for change given Anders Lee’s expiring contract, and you never know what else could happen. If, say, Auston Matthews asks out of Toronto, maybe Darche steps up and takes a swing, but there’s a whole lot of ground between here and there. Almost certainly, Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov and DeBoer — two injured players who missed most of the season with injury and the new coach — will be three of their biggest “offseason acquisitions.”

“We might have a similar team, we might have a completely different team,” Darche said.

What you can bank on is a shift in identity driven by the coach, and a general manager who will be more than willing to sound out options to change up the group. What that means for the roster composition when the Islanders gather for training camp in September, though, is anyone’s guess.

“The guys who are back need to be prepared come training camp to get to work,” DeBoer said. “Cause we have a lot of work to do in order to get where I believe we need to get to.”

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NBA Draft watch: Who has already declared for the NBA Draft?

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) goes to the basket against UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

With both the NCAA Tournament and NBA regular season done and dusted, it’s now time to turn our attention to the NBA Draft, where the Dallas Mavericks are set to have multiple first-round picks and three selections in the draft overall. The process over the next few weeks gets a bit murky, but these are the important dates you might want to keep in mind.

  • Now through April 21st: The NCAA Basketball transfer portal is open. Players do not have to have their destination selected by the 21st, but they must enter the portal by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 21st. You will see several players declare for the draft while leaving the option open to return to school while entering the portal at the same time.
  • The early entry deadline for underclassmen to declare the NBA Draft is April 24th. Any player who is not a senior must declare for the draft by this date.
  • The NBA Draft Combine will take place from May 8th through the 17th from Chicago. Most players who declare for the draft but leave open the return to college will make their decision during this time, based off of feedback from NBA teams.
  • The NBA Draft Lottery is May 10th. There are several tiebreakers that need to be worked out in both the Lottery and the remainder of the first round. The NBA will break those ties on April 20th.
  • The NCAA’s early entry withdrawal deadline is May 27th, meaning any player that declares for the draft on or before April 24th must decide whether they are staying in the draft or returning to college by this day.
  • The NBA Draft will take place June 23rd and 24th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The draft will be televised on ESPN, starting at 7:00 p.m. CT on both nights. The first round of the draft on June 23rd will also be televised on ABC.
  • NBA Summer League in Las Vegas runs from July 9th through the 19th.

With that housekeeping out of the way, here is a running list of some notable NBA Draft decisions that have been or will need to be made between now and then.

Top end guys expected to declare

Players like Flemings or Acuff might only be available if the Mavericks have some good luck Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
  • AJ Dybantsa (F, BYU)
  • Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)
  • Cam Boozer (F, Duke)
  • Kingston Flemings (G, Houston)
  • Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)
  • Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)

It would be a genuine shock if any of these guys came back to school. All six of them should be gone in the top ten selections.

Notables who have already declared

Mikel Brown Jr. is one of the interesting cases of this draft cycle Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
  • Caleb Wilson (F, UNC)
  • Keaton Wagler (G, Illinois)
  • Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)
  • Labaron Philon (G, Alabama)
  • Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Michigan)
  • Christian Anderson (G, Texas Tech)*
  • Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)*
  • Ebuka Okorie (G, Stanford)*
  • Allen Graves (F, Santa Clara)*
    • Also entered NCAA Transfer Portal
  • Juke Harris (F, Wake)*
    • Also entered NCAA Transfer Portal
  • Chris Cenac (F, Houston)*

*Legitimate chance that they return to school.

There are some really interesting scenarios here for Dallas, especially with their 30th overall pick. If the Mavericks go guard early, a player like Swain or Graves could be very intriguing with pick 30. Swain is a do it all slashing wing, while Graves translates as a four or small ball five who can step out and shoot. If the Mavericks strike out on guard early, a player like Anderson or Okorie makes much more sense. There are many options here, but we likely won’t know what is fully available until after the May 27th deadline for these guys to return to school.

Yet to make a decision

Tyler Tanner faces an interesting decision in this draft cycle | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Koa Peat (F, Arizona)

I think Peat could use another year of seasoning, but we’ll see if the forward gets the guarantee he’s after.

Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)

Originally thought to be one of the five best players in the class, Ament largely didn’t live up to expectations this year. Could that lead to him returning to school?

Braylon Mullins (F, UConn)

The Elite Eight hero has a legitimate decision to make, as the sharpshooter was much more up and down this year than you’d want.

Mo Krivas (C, Arizona)

Krivas likely falls in the twenties of this draft, whereas he could easily be a lottery guy next year in a weaker class.

Morez Johnson and Aday Mara (bigs, Michigan)

This duo is also in that twenties range. Michigan is operating as if they’re gone, so we’ll see if they do actually come out.

Tyler Tanner (G, Vanderbilt)

Expect to see Tanner declare soon, but there’s a good chance that he returns to Nashville if he doesn’t get a strong guarantee somewhere in the first round.

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Most of the Warriors key players are active vs. Clippers

Steph Curry standing next to Kristaps Porzingis.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 9: Stephen Curry (right) and Kristaps Porzingis (left) of Warriors are seen before the NBA game 41 between Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in San Francisco at Chase Center on April 9, 2026 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images

Game No. 83 has arrived. The Golden State Warriors are starting the postseason where they ended the regular season: at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, visiting the LA Clippers. It’s a win-or-go-home game for both teams: the loser is eliminated, while the victor will advance to Friday’s road game against the Phoenix Suns.

Thankfully for the Warriors, they’re as healthy as they’ve been in the last three months. Steph Curry, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porziņģis are absent on the injury report, with only one name accompanying the players the team lost to season-ending knee injuries. Though as a reminder, two-way players are not eligible for playoff games, which is why LJ Cryer isn’t listed here (they are, however, allowed to travel with the team and sit on the bench).

Here’s the full injury report for both teams.

Warriors

Out — Quinten Post (right foot injury management)

Post’s foot injury really lingered. He’s only played once since mid-March, and only played a few minutes in that game. He’ll need the Warriors to win — likely at least twice — if he wants to play again in his sophomore year.

Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)

Nothing to note here. We’ve known these two will be out for the rest of the year — and much of next year — for quite a while.

Clippers

Out — Bradley Beal (left hip fracture)

Beal’s first season with the Clippers didn’t go well, as he played just six games before suffering a season-ending injury. He signed a two-year deal with LAC after working a buyout with the Suns, so he’ll get a chance to run it back next year.

Out — Yanic Konan Niederhäuser(right lisfranc ligament tear)

The final pick of the first round in the 2025 draft played exactly half of LA’s games before suffering a season-ending injury.

Probable — Isaiah Jackson (right ankle sprain)

Jackson has played sparingly this year, and hasn’t appeared in a game since March. So if he plays in this game, it’s likely because the outcome has already been decided.

Enjoy the game, Dub Nation! It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video.