The Rockies issued 15 walks in a 16-3 loss to the Royals, giving Kansas City far too many free opportunities. Command wavered as pitchers worked through early spring adjustments and fatigue. Offensively, Jordan Beck and Charlie Condon supplied the only sparks with solo home runs, but the lineup struggled to string together consistent, quality at-bats.
Today offers a chance to tighten the details as Colorado faces the Cleveland Guardians.
Chase Dollander makes his second start after an encouraging debut: two scoreless innings, two strikeouts, and a steady tempo throughout. His command stood out — 20 strikes on 32 pitches. The focus today is straightforward: get strike one. After yesterday’s walk-heavy performance, watching Dollander work ahead and finish hitters efficiently would represent meaningful progress.
Cleveland counters with Gavin Williams, coming off an excellent 2025 season (3.06 ERA, 173 strikeouts in 167.2 innings). He may not carry the traditional “ace” label, but he’s a key piece of a strong Guardians rotation. Making his second start of the spring, Williams features a 96-97 mph fastball and sharp breaking pitches — a curve and sweeper — that serve as his primary swing-and-miss weapons. While he has the ability to miss bats, walks can occasionally creep in. It’s a solid test for a Rockies lineup that ran into some swing-and-miss issues yesterday.
The roster battles are heating up, and today’s lineup has some fun names to watch. TJ Rumfield gets the nod at first, Adael Amador is at second, and Zac Veen is in right. Edouard Julien is also back in there after dealing with some lower back tightness.
The president of Iran’s soccer federation says he does not know if the national team can play World Cup matches in the United States following the surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment of his country.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” Mehdi Taj told sports portal Varzesh3 as Iran traded strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the bombardment.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a second day on Sunday after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threw the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of regional instability.
Iran has been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and is scheduled to play in Los Angeles – where it faces New Zealand and Belgium on June 15 and 21, respectively – before it plays Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The United States is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.
Fans from Iran were already banned from entering the U.S. in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
FIFA did not immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press over the current situation regarding Iran’s participation in the World Cup.
The Los Angeles Kings have fired head coach Jim Hiller, the team announced on Sunday, March 1. In an effort to salvage their playoff hopes in Anze Kopitar's final season, the Kings will look elsewhere for leadership.
"I want to thank Jim Hiller for his dedication, professionalism, and the commitment he showed to our players and our team every day," Kings general manager Ken Holland said in a statement. "He is a respected coach and person, and we appreciate the work he’s done behind our bench."
Holland named DJ Smith interim head coach through the remainder of the season. Smith, who is in his second full season as associate coach, was previously the head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 2019-2023. He was also an assistant coach alongside Hiller in Toronto from 2015-2019.
Kings player development coach Matt Greene will serve as an assistant coach under Smith.
"At this point in the season, we believe a change in leadership is necessary to give our group the best opportunity to reach its potential and compete at the level we expect," Holland said. "These decisions are never made lightly, but our responsibility is to position this team for success now and moving forward.”
The Kings (24-21-14) currently sit three points out of a playoff spot. They lost their last three games going into the Olympic break and their first two games coming out of it, culminating in an 8-1 loss at home to the Edmonton Oilers that led fans at Crypto.com Arena to break out into "Fire Hiller" chants.
Hiller took over for Todd McClellan in February 2024 as an interim and led the Kings to a 21-12-1 finish to the season that ended in a first-round playoff loss to the Oilers in six games. He was named permanent head coach that May.
In his first full season, Hiller coached the Kings to 48 wins and 105 points, a franchise best. They met the Oilers again in the first round and held a 2-0 lead after the first two games at Crypto.com Arena, but fizzled out and lost the series in six games. It was the Kings' fourth consecutive first-round loss to the Oilers, who advanced to their second straight Stanley Cup Final.
Hiller came under fire for his decision-making during that series, but team president Luc Robitaille and Holland stuck by him.
In December, Holland again voiced his support for Hiller amid the team's struggles.
"I expect him to be here the rest of the season," he told reporters.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Three years to the day after his first Grapefruit League start, Andrew Painter made his second Sunday.
Finally.
In between the two outings, there has been an elbow injury, surgery, months of physical rehabilitation, and a difficult comeback season last year at Triple-A for the most hyped Phillies pitching prospect since Cole Hamels.
That’s all in the past now, all learning experience, if you will. Painter, still just 22, has made a minor adjustment in his delivery. His early-camp bullpen work has drawn raves from coaches and catchers. And his first start of the spring was impressive – two perfect innings against the New York Yankees in front of a packed house at sun-splashed BayCare Ballpark.
“I thought he was great,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Very encouraging. He got ahead in the count. He attacked.”
J.T. Realmuto, the man who caught Painter, was equally impressed.
“He was really good,” Realmuto said. “He really pounded the strike zone. A lot of early, weak contact, which is good. I was impressed with his fastball. He beat a lot of really good fastball hitters in the zone with his fastball so that’s always a good sign.
“I’ve caught him in some ‘pens, and this was the first time live. Every time, the command has been really good. He’s able to work both sides of the plate and go up and down. That’s something that most of our starters do a good job with and that’s why they’re so successful. Being able to see him do that is important.”
Command and control were issues for Painter at Triple A-last season. In 22 starts and 106 2/3 innings, he allowed 10 hits/3.9 walks per nine innings. He pitched to a 5.40 ERA. His projected “July-ish” arrival in Philadelphia never materialized. This year, it will happen. The Phillies are committed to giving him a shot in the season-opening rotation.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Painter admitted. “I’m still trying to take it one day at a time and look forward to each start.”
Last season, Painter’s arm angle dropped slightly. He addressed the issue in the offseason and has continued to do so in camp. The team’s pitching coaches believe a return to his former (higher) arm angle will bring back his control and command.
So far, so good.
“I think it was going to come naturally anyway,” Painter said. “But I think getting back to those positions has definitely helped.
“This offseason as a whole, even going back to early January, I’ve had a little more attention to detail in catch play and a little more intentionality with the target, whether it’s catch play, bullpen, flat ground, whatever.”
Painter did not face the Yankees’ A lineup Sunday, but he was extremely efficient, nonetheless. He threw just 20 pitches in his two innings of work, 14 of which were strikes. His outs came so quickly, he was not able to work as much on his changeup as he would have liked, but the spring is still young. He threw six different pitches, but mostly relied on his four-seam fastball, which he threw 13 times. It topped out at 97 mph.
“I felt pretty comfortable out there,” Painter said. “Right when I toed the rubber, I felt in control of the game. It didn’t speed up on me. That’s the big thing, just take deep breaths and not allow the game to speed up on you.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone had never seen Painter before, but Triple-A manager Shelley Duncan, who made the trip to Clearwater, had.
“I know there’s been some inconsistency there,” Boone said. “But (Duncan) is like, ‘When he’s good …’
“Today got my attention.”
Painter used four different pitches – curveball, four-seamer, changeup and slider — in striking out Jasson Domínguez to end the top of the first inning. The final slider was up a little in the zone, but Domínguez could not get that bat on it.
“It caught too much plate, but it was a really sharp slider and that’s why you get the swing and miss on a pitch you think location-wise might get hit,” Realmuto said. “That’s just his ability to mix pitches. That was the first slider (Domínguez) saw that at-bat. He saw three or four different types of pitches there. So, the fact he can already do that at this age to a lefty hitter is pretty impressive.”
Realmuto is eager to work more with Painter. He has been for a while, but the elbow injury, the Tommy John surgery, and the struggles of 2025 got in the way.
The path is clearing now.
“He’s very mature for his age,” Realmuto said. “His demeanor is something I really look forward to working with.
“He doesn’t have to come in and light the world on fire, which I know the Philly media at times, or even just the fan base, that’s what they expect. This game is really hard.
“We’re not asking him to come in and be our ace and win the Cy Young, not that he can’t do that. But in this clubhouse, those are not our expectations. We just need him to take the ball every five days and be himself.”
Painter’s next chance to be himself will come on Saturday when he faces the Red Sox in Clearwater.
The Sacramento Kings have been better but not good enough lately as they visit the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sacramento is just 2-8 in its last 10, but has won two of three and covered three of four. The Lakers, meanwhile, have covered just one of their last five, going 2-3 straight up over that span.
Those strings both end today. My Kings vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 1, look for the Lakers to cover the double-digit spread at home.
Kings vs Lakers prediction
Kings vs Lakers best bet: Lakers -12.5 (-110)
The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t used to being a heavy favorite this season.
This is just their fifth double-digit line as a favorite after going 3-1 against the spread in the previous four. The Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, have covered just two of their last six as a double-digit underdog.
The Kings’ recent hot streak has been built on a soft spot in the schedule.
The two wins have come against sub-.400 teams, Memphis and Dallas. Sacramento’s last win over a team with a winning record was Jan. 14, 20 games ago.
The Lakers, meanwhile, will be playing their first losing team in the last five.
Kings vs Lakers same-game parlay
The Lakers and Kings both play in the bottom half of the league in tempo. Los Angeles has gone Under in three of its last four. Sacramento has been going Over lately, but it's been playing fast-paced Dallas and Memphis. Even San Antonio, another recent Over, plays at a faster pace.
Luka Doncic has had games of 38 and 41 points in his five contests since returning from injury. He’s made 10 of his last 20 from three and is facing the NBA’s No. 22 perimeter defense.
Kings vs Lakers SGP
Lakers -12.5
Under 233
Luka Doncic Over 32.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Deep Trouble
LeBron James has topped 20 in three of the last four and will be ready to put on a show in prime time.
Doncic is 24-for-51 from three in the five games since returning. He’s topped four made threes in four of the five.
Kennard had seven 3-point attempts in his last game, his high since joining the Lakers. He’s also topped 20 minutes of playing time in his last two, as the team incorporates him more into the offense.
Kings vs Lakers SGP
Lakers -12.5
LeBron James Over 20.5 points
Luka Doncic Over 3.5 made threes
Luke Kennard Over 1.5 made threes
Kings vs Lakers odds
Spread: Kings +12.5 (-110) | Lakers -12.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Kings +525 | Lakers -750
Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)
Kings vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Sacramento Kings have hit the Team Total Under in 31 of their last 50 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Lakers.
How to watch Kings vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports California, Spectrum SportsNet
Kings vs Lakers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
No rest for the victors, as the Islanders return to Long Island to host the Florida Panthers after winning in Columbus last night. The Panthers are rested and might even be a little healthier, having lost at home to the Sabres on Friday night.
The two-time defending champs are 30-26-3 on the season and sit eight points behind the second wild card spot. Atlantic teams occupy both of those spots right now, so that’s really the only avenue they have to make a big climb back into it. If they miss the playoffs, they certainly wouldn’t be the first Cup champ to do so, but they’d have a little more grace considering how much hockey they’ve played and how many key injuries they’ve had for much of the season.
Amid that backdrop is the status of Sergei Bobrovsky, who’s having another mid-career-level Bobrovsky season rather than anything close to his Columbus and Panthers Cup-run peaks. His top-dollar contract certainly carried him through some highs and lows, so the Panthers are right not to want to rush into a premium extension for a guy who will be 38.
The Isles won’t concern themselves with any of that, of course. They’ll just want to have a better performance than the last two games, where they found ways to pull off 4-3 OT wins despite some shoddy play.
Dmitry Kulikov might return for the Panthers tonight; he hasn’t played since the second game of the season. [NHL]
The Skinny: Ilya Sorokin remains unbeaten in regulation against Columbus, and the Isles are 7-2-0 in their last nine games… The Isles improve to 14-2-3 when tied after two periods; the 14 wins lead the NHL. [Isles]
Gross: The OT win over the Blue Jackets is an example of the desperation the Isles will need to carry through to a playoff spot. [Newsday]
Sears: The Isles’ OT success has been the difference between playoff position and playoff chasing. [Post]
Patrick Roy, who has been burned on multiple goalie interference challenges this season, said he wouldn’t have issued the challenge the Blue Jackets did on the J-G Pageau goal last night:
#Isles Patrick Roy said, had it been him, he would not have challenged for interference on Pageau goal because contact came outside the crease. "If it's not in the crease, I don't know if I would challenge anything right now in the league."
The Kings have fired coach Jim Hiller, who was once an Isles assistant, replacing him with DJ Smith, who gets the interim tag for the remainder of this season. [NHL]
The “embarrassing” losses continue to pile up for the Leafs, who lost at home to Ottawa. [Sportsnet]
Elias Pettersson’s slump hits a new low. [Sportsnet]
Evgeni Malkin will wait till after the season to engage in his latest round of contract drama with the Penguins. [TSN]
Adam Henrique has a no-trade clause and no intention of waiving it in Edmonton. [TSN]
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 26: Royce O'Neale #00 and Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns high five after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 26, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Week 19 for the Phoenix Suns is a reminder of the exercise of restraint. Because at times, it’s hard to restrain from the frustration that you feel when you watch a basketball team become inert on offense. Watching the Suns operate and stall without Devin Booker can be frustrating. A team without the edge that Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin inject into every passing lane and loose ball feels like watching The NeverEnding Story. Because it can feel like the Nothing is destroying our world.
There are possessions when the offense is competent. The ball finds a side, swings to the corner, touches the paint, and kicks back out. For a moment, you see Fantasia in full color. We witnessed this on the possession that sunk the Lakers, where Grayson Allen penetrated, kicked it to Collin Gillespie, who found Royce O’Neale for the game-winner.
ROYCE O'NEALE HITS THE GO-AHEAD 3 TO WIN IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
It’s artistic when the rhythm breathes and the spacing makes sense. You can almost hear Falkor circling overhead, our very own luck dragon energy filling the building.
Then the Nothing creeps in.
You see it in the pump fakes. You see it in the extra dribble that leads nowhere. You see it when a player catches, pauses, scans, and finds no doorway. There is no Childlike Empress whispering a path forward. The shot clock ticks with the same dread as Artax sinking into the Swamp of Sadness. You scream at the screen to keep moving, to keep believing, to refuse to let the mud take another trip.
These are stretches where the offense dissolves into fog. Three, four, five trips in a row where the Suns cannot score, where imagination evaporates, and the floor shrinks. We experienced this plenty this past week.
The Suns were up 41-30 against Boston with 6:41 left in the second quarter. They did not score again until the 2:36 mark, and that was on a trio of free throws by Grayson Allen after being fouled. It wasn’t until 1:06 left in the quarter that they scored another field goal. 5:35 of Nothing. In the same game, they made their 7th three-pointer at that same mark, the 6:41 mark in the second. Their next three-point make came with 1:24 left in the third quarter. In between? Nothing…
Shift the Laker game. Phoenix came out hot, going up 17-9 with 6:50 left in the first. Before you could tweet out your favorite Ayton/Capela joke, the offense stalled, and by the 4:22 mark they were down 21-17. Closing out the third was similar, as Phoenix held a 10-point lead with 4:56 left, up 45-35. They would be outscored 14-4 to end the quarter. A whole lotta Nothing.
It’s like Gmork informing Atreyu, “It’s the emptiness that’s left. It’s like a despair, destroying this world”.
The Rock Biter stands there in your mind, looking down at his massive hands and wondering why they could not hold onto what mattered. The Suns find themselves staring at empty trips that feel heavier than they should, because you know a functional offense – even an average one- swings the outcome.
Thankfully, this is not a never ending story. Reinforcements are coming. Booker will walk back into the lineup with that calm command, bending coverages and restoring order. Goodwin will bring the pressure and the pace. Brooks will eventually return with that restless edge that refuses to let a game drift into apathy.
Fantasia is bruised right now, not gone. The Nothing feels large in the moment, suffocating and relentless, yet it feeds on doubt. When the creators return, when belief returns, the ball will move with purpose again. And these stagnant stretches will shrink back into the shadows where they belong.
And therein lies the paradox of Week 19. Doubt starts creeping in, and like Atreyu at the edge of the Nothing, you have to fight it. You know the circumstances that led to those empty stretches where the offense disappears. You hoped the foundation of the talent would be strong enough to carry it through, but reality keeps tapping you on the shoulder.
The frustration is valid. So is the understanding that this team is nowhere near whole.
That is what you walk away with from Week 19. An understanding that the talent, the rotations, and whatever conclusions you want to draw are largely moot right now. This is a week you log, label, and file away. This is what happens when injuries pile up. You do not extract lessons from it. You put it in the cabinet and move on. And hey, we beat the Lakers. And that is something.
Week 19 Record: 1-1
vs. Boston Celtics, L, 97-81
Possession Differential: +3.8
Turnover Differential: 0
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +8
This is the game where I began writing about the similarities between the Suns and The Nothing. Because being in the building, which sounded like TD Garden, there were prolonged stretches of Nothing.
vs. Los Angeles Lakers, W, 113-110
Possession Differential: -1.2
Turnover Differential: 0
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -13
…and the Suns totally redeem themselves. Any day you beat LA is a good one. And given the recent struggles of the team, this made for a great one.
Inside the Possession Game
Weekly Possession Differential: +0.5
Weekly Turnover Differential: 0
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -8
Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +8
You want a graph? You got it!
As I stated above, there is no deep-seated analysis required for Week 19. When you understand how banged up this team has been, there is only so much you can reasonably extract from it.
You can scan the numbers and walk away recognizing that, even during those inert offensive stretches, some foundational elements held. Because if Week 19 is about anything, it is about foundation. It is about Jordan Ott being tested. It is about seeing how transferable his schemes are when key pieces are missing.
There were positives.
An 11.6 turnover percentage, second best in the league this week. Despite that prolonged stretch in Boston when the rim felt sealed shut, they still shot 39.5% from three on the week, seventh best in the NBA. The process did not completely erode.
Then there is the other side, and it is not pretty.
28th in rebounding. Last in the NBA at 13.5 free throw attempts per game. Last with a 41.1% rebounding percentage. 25th with a 58% assist percentage. 26th in steals at 6.5 per game. Those numbers paint a different picture. One where physicality dips. One where pressure wanes. If there is a concern to file away, it is this. How much of Jordan Ott’s system holds when primary players are unavailable? How much is plug and play, and how much is talent-dependent?
Although even that has to be weighed properly. How realistic is it to expect seamless execution when your core pieces are out? There is only so much a scheme can do when the bodies running it change nightly.
Week 20 Preview
Week 19 gave you two games. That was it. Now the calendar flips to March and the sprint begins. Week 20 brings four games in six nights.
It starts in Sacramento. Tuesday night. 9:00pm on NBC. Nine. PM. Who signed off on that? I am not sure that game needs the national spotlight. Then again, listen to me sounding high and mighty. How did the Kings land an NBC slot? Sacramento enters Sunday at 14-47. They have won two of their last 19. They score the second fewest points in the NBA and allow the third most. It is the definition of a game you have to win. And yes, I am staying true to character by complaining about a 9:00pm tip. Damn you, 9:00pm start!!!
Phoenix comes home Thursday to face the Chicago Bulls. Chicago reshuffled at the deadline and did not win a single game in February. They were 24-25 after beating Miami on January 31. They are now 24-36. This is also the return of Nick Richards. In eight games off the bench, he is averaging 9 points and 6.9 rebounds.
Friday night brings New Orleans to town. The Suns beat them on back-to-back nights earlier this season in New Orleans. They also handled them by 23 in early November, so Phoenix holds a 3-0 edge in the season series. The Pelicans sit at 19-42 entering Sunday. They are not tanking, however. Atlanta owns their first round pick, and it is unprotected. There is no incentive to fade. Expect effort.
The week closes against Charlotte. They are quietly one of the more entertaining League Pass teams out there. LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller. That trio can stress any defense. This is the kind of matchup where you wish Dillon Brooks were available to gum it up. Charlotte enters Sunday at 30-31, riding a four-game winning streak, even if the competition has not been elite. They have the fifth-best offense in the league. They can score in waves.
Four games. Six nights. A mix of must-win, revenge, and trap potential. The sprint has officially begun.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Ryder Ryan #40 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 24, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers hit the road on Monday afternoon to face the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. This is the first of two meetings between these two National League West foes this spring and this week, with another battle coming Saturday at Camelback Ranch.
On Monday, non-roster invitee Ryder Ryan is slated to pitch for the Dodgers, the first of the Ryan brothers in camp to start a game this spring. Ryder has pitched three previous games, one inning apiece, and this will continue his schedule of pitching once every three days. River Ryan will be stretched out as a starter this spring, and last pitched last Wednesday, throwing one inning.
Other Dodgers slated to pitch Monday are Edgardo Henriquez, Paul Gervase, plus non-roster invitees Carson Hobbs and Jordan Weems.
Right-hander Jimmy Herget starts on the mound for Colorado.
“We have to go now to an ABC News special report,” play-by-play voice Bob Wischusen informed viewers as the score was tied 0-0 with just over 7:30 left in the period while the Bruins were on a power play.
The broadcast cut to “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir, who reported that Khamenei was killed in strikes from the United States and Israel.
While Muir said ABC was interrupting the game “for just a moment,” the report lasted approximately eight minutes, according to Awful Announcing.
During the Bruins-Flyers NHL broadcast, ABC went to a special news report about President Donald Trump confirming Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei is dead.
“Couldn’t have done it during an intermission?” fumed another.
One user said the report was “a waste of time” because “people can find out tomorrow in the newspaper.”
“There’s no reason for these interruptions to exist,” another user wrote.
“Anyone watching cable or ABC probably watches the news too and everyone else is on social media in some kind which probably already told them this.”
Another user offered up an alternative way of handling the newsbreak.
ABC’s David Muir interrupts the Flyers-Bruins broadcast to report on the death of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28, 2026. ABC
“Why can’t they split screen at the very least? We can watch sports without audio. Happens at bars all the time,” they wrote.
The Bruins-Flyers game was switched to ESPN and was available on the ESPN app during the news break, per Awful Announcing.
As Muir wrapped up his report he signed off in part: “We’ll return you now to the game. Our thanks to the team at ESPN.”
Bobby Brink (10) of the Flyers tries to wrap the puck around Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman (1) during the second period on Feb. 28, 2026. AP
When ABC returned to the game the score was still 0-0 and the Bruins were on another power play with 3:40 left in the second period.
The Flyers won the game 3-1, with all four goals coming in the third period, including a late empty-netter by Sean Couturier.
The hockey game wasn’t the only sporting event interrupted for coverage on Khamenei’s death. NBC cut into its broadcast of the third round of the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic.
Neither team has been great defensively: the Grizzlies are allowing 117.9 points per game, while the Pacers are giving up 119.5.
Indiana has allowed 130+ points in each of its last four games, and Memphis has done so in two of four. The Pacers have hit the Over in four straight, while the Grizzlies have done the same in four of five.
Grizzlies vs Pacers same-game parlay
While both teams are struggling mightily, I’ve seen a little more fight out of the Grizzlies, who should snag a road win against a Pacers team that has lost five straight. GG Jackson II will lead the charge, as he’s taken advantage of his increased playing time to score 17+ points and hit at least two shots from deep in four of his last six games.
Grizzlies vs Pacers SGP
Grizzlies moneyline
GG Jackson II Over 15.5 points
GG Jackson II Over 1.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Good Game, Jackson
For my longshot SGP, I’ll start with my total and moneyline picks as a strong base. Let’s then back Jackson to clear his PRA total, which he’s gone Over in four of his last six games. I also love Taylor Hendricks to pick up at least one block, as he’s done this in each of his last four contests.
Grizzlies vs Pacers SGP
Over 238
Grizzlies moneyline
GG Jackson II Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
Taylor Hendricks Over 0.5 blocks
Grizzlies vs Pacers odds
Spread: Grizzlies +1 (-110) | Pacers -1 (-110)
Moneyline: Grizzlies -105 | Pacers -115
Over/Under: Over 238 (-110) | Under 238 (-110)
Grizzlies vs Pacers betting trend to know
The Over is 10-2 in Memphis’ last 12 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Pacers.
How to watch Grizzlies vs Pacers
Location
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE Memphis, FDSN Indiana
Grizzlies vs Pacers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
There's not a thing wrong with any of that, but a generation ago, you'd rarely see those cities/towns appear on an NHL roster, much less attached to its five best players.
There was a time when top scorers seemed to come almost exclusively from Canada. Even smaller Canadian cities, towns, and villages were pumping out more NHL talent than entire hockey-playing countries.
So how did we get here? As others have done before, you can probably trace a straight line back to one trade. The trade.
When Wayne Gretzky was sent to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, it wasn't just a trade away from Edmonton. It was a trade from Canada. But whether anyone knew it at the time or not, it's now crystal clear that it planted the seeds for the incredible growth we've seen in the league and the sport over the past four decades.
Hockey moved into Hollywood, celebrities filled the rink-side seats, and kids in California, who had never seen an ODR much less skated on one, suddenly had the game's greatest superstar right in their backyard. It was cool to be a hockey fan in places that hadn't cared about the sport before. Like, at all.
And from there, the league blossomed.
Within five years of the Gretzky deal, the NHL had taken up residence in San Jose, Tampa Bay, Florida, and Anaheim. When Gary Bettman became commissioner in 1993, he leaned even further into the belief that NHL hockey could now thrive anywhere in North America, thanks to the Gretzky effect.
And it has.
League revenues are at record levels, player salaries continue to skyrocket, the salary cap keeps climbing (moving to $113.5 million in 2027-28), and the world is taking notice.
Meanwhile, international tournaments are always a battle for Canada. We're still the best at hockey, but losing isn't just a once-in-a-while thing anymore. Collectively, the rest of the world wins just as much as Canada now, and after the American sweep in Milan, who knows what the future holds?
But the full measure of hockey’s growth isn’t found just at international events. It’s found in NHL dressing rooms.
Admittedly, I'm taking liberties with the Sens' birthplaces as a jumping off point. The Sens top five scorers, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Jake Sanderson, Dylan Cozens, and Brady Tkachuk hail from non-traditional markets for various reasons, and they didn't all grow up exactly where they were born. Batherson, Sanderson, and Tkachuk had dads who were pros and ended up elsewhere.
But Tkachuk grew up in St. Louis, which wasn't always the minor hockey hotbed it's become, and Batherson spent his early minor hockey in Germany.
Speaking of which, Stutzle is also a fine example of the game's growth, that a player so fast and skilled developed completely in Germany. He never played in the CHL and made a last second decision to play pro at home instead of the University of New Hampshire. It's a feather in the cap of Germany's developmental model and the level of passion for the game that now exists there.
Markets that once felt experimental have become established. Kids in Germany or Arizona (or wherever) have grown up with both an interest and opportunity that simply didn’t exist before.
The Senators’ top five scorers aren’t a gimmick or a trivia answer. They’re just a reflection of hockey's growth and its ever-growing worldwide popularity. And if you’re wondering how we got here, you can still trace that line back to 1988, when Gretzky's arrival woke up America.
The dominoes just fell from there.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published by The Hockey News. More headlines here:
FORMER CUBS IN WHITE SOX CAMP: Sean Newcomb, Tyson Miller, Anthony Kay
DURING THE SEASON: The Cubs will play two three-game series vs. the White Sox. They will meet May 15-16-17 on the South Side and Aug. 17-18-19 at Wrigley Field.
Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Hunter Harvey, Grant Kipp, Luke Little, Corbin Martin, Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar.
Former Cub Anthony Kay will start for the White Sox.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network, and there will be a radio broadcast via the White Sox flagship, ESPN 1000.
Please visit our SB Nation White Sox site Southside Sox. If you do go there to interact with Sox fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Chris Bassitt #40 of the Baltimore Orioles warms up during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 16, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Opening Day is 25 days away. For now, spring training games continue. The Orioles bring a 4-4-1 spring record into Sunday’s contest against the Red Sox. This one will air on TV and radio in the Baltimore area, or wherever you are in the world as long as you can access MASN or WBAL/98 Rock from there.
Orioles starting lineup
Colton Cowser – CF
Blaze Alexander – SS
Dylan Beavers – DH
Samuel Basallo – C
Heston Kjerstad – LF
Aron Estrada – 2B
Weston Wilson – 3B
Ryan Noda – 1B
Enrique Bradfield Jr. – RF
The Orioles starting pitcher for this game is Chris Bassitt, making his first appearance in an organized spring game. He is, I believe, the last of the expected rotation pitchers and competitors to get into a game.
This is an extremely “road game in spring training” lineup. If you were projecting out the Opening Day starting lineup a month ago, probably only three of these guys were in it: Basallo, Beavers, and Cowser. And depending on how manager Craig Albernaz chooses to handle his outfield veterans, maybe only one or two of them will actually play on Opening Day.
Alexander wasn’t even in the organization a month ago. If he had been, I would have said he only plays if there are enough injuries ahead of him. As we know, there have been enough injuries ahead of him. Kjerstad is not likely to make the roster unless there are injuries also. Or unless he really, really convinces the front office that he’s in a better place than last year.
At least the lineup has a couple of cool prospects in Bradfield and Estrada. It’s nice that the game will be televised and we can actually see a little bit of these guys in action. Or you can, anyway, I’ve got errands to run and probably won’t get to watch much. Oh well. Post some comments about how Estrada looks.
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Leahy (62) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will get their first taste of a National League Central rival today as they host the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to MLB.com, Kyle Leahy will take the mound for St. Louis while Pittsburgh will start the game with Hunter Barco.
Phoenix, AZ - February 16, 2026: Mookie Betts at Dodgers spring training in Camelback Ranch, Phoenix, AZ on February 16, 2026. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers take on the Angels on Sunday at Camelback Ranch. Here are the Dodgers’ active players for their 10th game of Cactus League play, including Mookie Betts playing in his first game, batting third and playing shortstop.
Lineup
Miguel Rojas 2B Teoscar Hernández LF Mookie Betts SS Freddie Freeman 1B Andy Pages CF Max Muncy 3B Zach Ehrhard DH James Tibbs III RF Eliézer Alfonzo C
Landon Knack makes his second start of the spring.
Other pitchers
Bullpen regulars Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and Jack Dreyer are slated to pitch, as is Kyle Hurt and non-roster invitee Chris Campos.
Pitchers from the minor league side are Nicolas Cruz (wearing uniform number 05), Cody Morse (06), Christian Romero (07, Roque Gutierrez (89), Nick Nastrini (90), Kelvin Ramirez (91), and Cam Day (93).
Other position players
Non-roster invitees Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Kendall George, Noah Miller, Chris Newell, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, and Nelson Quiroz are active on Sunday.
Up from minor league camp are infielders Austin Gauthier (01), Kyle Nevin (08), Logan Wagner (09), and Yeiner Fernandez (02), plus outfielder Kole Myers (04).
