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Jake Bird’s Triple-A stint helped build strengths ahead of promising Yankees start

New York Yankees pitcher Jake Bird (59) throwing a pitch during the 7th inning against the Miami Marlins.
New York Yankees pitcher Jake Bird (59) throws a pitch during the 7th inning against the Miami Marlins.

When Jake Bird arrived in a trade from the Rockies at last year’s deadline, he was looking forward to finding out what made the Yankees so good at making relief pitchers better.

One example he was keenly aware of when he was in Colorado was another right-hander who had come to the Yankees and turned his career around: Luke Weaver.

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“What Luke had done really stood out,’’ Bird said. “To go from struggling to starring in the playoffs here and then continue to have success, that made an impression, in particular.”

Bird’s time as a teammate with Weaver proved to be quite short, as Bird was almost immediately sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after getting to the Yankees because of his ineffectiveness.

“I was excited to pick his brain, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to him that long,’’ Bird said.

Instead, Bird made the most of what turned out to be an extended run with SWB, where he reconnected with the team’s pitching coach, Spencer Medick, whom Bird met briefly when Medick still worked with Driveline.

New York Yankees pitcher Jake Bird (59) throws a pitch during the 7th inning against the Miami Marlins. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“I had talked to Spencer about pitch design and knew he was a smart guy,’’ Bird said. “The whole organization is good at finding what makes guys good.”

For Bird, his focus changed after getting sent down to the minors.

“When I first got here, it was kind of ‘Do your thing,’ ” Bird said. “But when I went down, it was more about working on my stuff to at least get back to earlier last season.”

So his shaky performance — or worse — at SWB following the trade didn’t shatter his confidence.

New York Yankees pitcher Jake Bird (59) throws a pitch during the 7th inning against the San Francisco Giants. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“You never want to [struggle], no matter where you are,’’ Bird said. “But I knew they were helping me build my strengths and improve my weaknesses.”

The results have been excellent so far this year.

After another strong performance in Friday’s win over Miami, Bird entered Saturday having allowed just one hit — and no walks — while striking out five in 4 ¹/₃ innings this season.

“They had thoughts on my repertoire [at SWB] and presented it through a lens of who I was as a pitcher,’’ Bird said.

Bird’s stuff has intrigued teams in the past — which is what led the Yankees to acquire him despite poor overall numbers.

Perhaps he’s now pitching at the level organizations had believed he’d get to and showing what his ceiling could be.

“I don’t think about that,’’ Bird said. “I just want to find out and be the best I can be and have the right approach… It’s been a decent start for me, but I think there’s a lot of room to improve.’’

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Dan Hurley booed at Final Four after UConn win: 'I don't know what they're booing'

Dan Hurley led UConn to its third Men's NCAA Tournament championship game appearance in the last four seasons after the Huskies' 71-62 Final Four win vs. Illinois on Saturday, April 4.

But before he could even get off the court at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, the two-time national championship coach was booed by fans in the stands.

"Are they booing?" Hurley said halfway through a response to a question from CBS Sports sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson. "I don't know what they're booing."

REQUIRED READING: UConn vs Illinois final score, highlights: Huskies hold off Fighting Illini in Final Four

The boos, presumedly from Illinois' fans in the stadium, aren't the first directed at the Huskies coach. He's often greeted with similar gestures and jeers from opposing fan bases due to his animated and passionate behavior on the sidelines.

Indeed, cameras caught boos on the broadcast heading into the under-12 media timeout in the second half after Hurley showed his displeasure for an offensive foul against UConn forward Eric Reibe.

"I get much more of a bad reaction from people, I think, on social media than when I meet regular people," Hurley said Friday, April 3 at the Final Four. "Because anytime I meet regular people, they look at me and they start laughing or they start smiling. Or (say), 'You're the guy from the video. You look a little crazy, but I think you're a good egg.'"

Here's what Hurley said of the boos he received:

"It's not who I really am, you know, as a human being. There's people that write articles about me. Some of you may be standing here. I know that there was someone in there that just wrote one about me, that they rarely come to my games. They never spend time around our program," Hurley said. "They have no idea. They take viral clips of things they see at a game, and then they attack me, either personally or my coaching style. And I think it's a joke. I think that's lazy media. They don't know who I am."

Saturday's win moved Hurley to 5-0 in the Final Four with the Huskies and 18-3 overall in the Men's NCAA Tournament.

Now Hurley will look to add his name to more March Madness records with another title on Monday, April 6.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dan Hurley greeted with boos after UConn Final Four win over Illinois

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Embiid-less Sixers struggle in second half of loss to Pistons

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 04: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s always easier to predict a split back-to-back than actually go through it.

The Sixers fell 116-93 to the Detroit Pistons Saturday night, completing the season series sweep.

They are now 43-35 and will drop back a half game behind the Toronto Raptors for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Tyrese Maxey steadily put up 23 points and two assists going 8-of-17 from the field. Paul George opened the game on fire, going for 20 points and five rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting.

VJ Edgecombe fought his way to 19 points shooting 7-of-18 from the field along with six rebounds. Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 19.

Joel Embiid (oblique injury management) and Johni Broome (meniscus tear) were out for Philadelphia while the Pistons were missing Cade Cunningham (lung) and Isaiah Stewart (calf strain).

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

  • A much different offensive start than the night before, but again it was George leading the way with his aggression. He got to the basket and drew a foul to get the Sixers their first points of the night before hitting three jumpers. Detroit made their first eight shots of the game. Harris was drawing boos on every touch. He got on the board at the line as well before cutting for a dunk and knocking down a jumper.
  • Even when the Pistons finally missed a shot, they were able to tip back the offensive rebound. It was at the 6:03 mark of the quarter that the Sixers got their first proper stop of the game. The decision to start Andre Drummond hadn’t paid off defensively, but at least he had a couple offensive rebounds and a putback early himself. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pistons took 57% of their shots at the rim — the league average is just 31.4%.
  • Some calls were definitely debatable, but the Sixers didn’t do a great job of defending without fouling. They put the Pistons on the line 12 times in the quarter. Maxey, for example, hitting the forearm of Daniss Jenkins shooting a three was one the Sixers really couldn’t afford. Even with Maxey putting up 14 points in the first, the Sixers trailed by 10.

Second Quarter

  • It took a couple of possessions, but the Sixers finally got their hands in some passing lanes and were able to get stops. Detroit wasn’t just walking into wide open baskets. George was able to deflect and steal a pass, leading to an Adem Bona basket that capped off a 7-0 Sixers’ run.
  • Another big reason for the run was George continued to be a microwave scorer. Edgecombe had some aggressive drives for the first time all night, but George’s inability to miss a jumper was the Sixers’ engine. He got his 18 in the first half having only missed one shot.
  • Unfortunately the Sixers’ bench took a hit as they were fighting back in this game. Cam Payne pulled something in his leg trying to chase down a loose ball. He immediately subbed out and was ruled out later in the night with a hamstring strain.
  • Playing most of the first quarter meant the Sixers had to play most of the closing stretch without George. The drop off was again more noticeable on the defensive end. The Pistons were able to create some space. Old friend Bball Paul took Drummond off the dribble before Duncan Robinson made his first two threes of the night, helping the Pistons push their lead back up to 11.

Third Quarter

  • The Sixers continued to have solid offense coming out of the half. Edgecombe set up Drummond wide open in the dunker spot and Maxey got himself a couple of baskets. Detroit’s size continued to overwhelm them on the other end though. Once Ausar Thomspon got open on a roll the Sixers couldn’t do anything to stop his lobs. Thompson to this point was also leading the Pistons in offensive rebounding as they were pulling down half of their misses.
  • The game started to get out of hand for the Sixers when their offense went cold. They went scoreless for over four minutes. George was finally unable to make every jumper while the Pistons defense keyed in on Maxey. Nick Nurse angrily called a timeout as the Pistons took their largest lead of the game at 19.
  • The Sixers started to string stops together coming out of that timeout, but not before a trip to the line for Jalen Duren and a three from Harris. Maxey and Edgecombe continued to attack but the Sixers’ offense was extremely top heavy in this one. The only baskets in the third not scored by those two or George was the dump off to Drummond and a putback by Bona. After eating into the lead a bit, a jumper by Ron Holland kept the Pistons up by 14.

Fourth Quarter

  • With Kelly Oubre Jr. back in the starting lineup and Payne going down with an injury, the only hope for bench scoring was Quentin Grimes, who unfortunately, didn’t have it. Not only was he scoreless, but his turnover directly led to the Pistons first basket of the fourth after they had been kept off the board for a couple of minutes. 
  • The Sixers used their last gasp of this game to try a small lineup with Dominick Barlow as the five so that they could switch everything. They blew a switch on the first inbound coming out of the timeout, immediately giving up a wide open layup. Less than two minutes later and the white flag was raised. This wasn’t an easy game to stomach, but one more affordable to drop after their win over the Timberwolves.
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UConn has held Illinois to its three lowest point totals of the past three seasons

Illinois men's basketball entered the 2026 Final Four with the most statistically decorated offense in the country, an explosive and dynamic group that regularly blitzed past opponents.

In the national semifinals, though, the Fighting Illini ran into a team that's quickly starting to become their kryptonite.

In a 71-62 loss to UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, coach Brad Underwood's team shot just 33.9% from the field and 23.1% from 3-point range, making only six of its 26 shots from beyond the arc.

REQUIRED READING: UConn beats Illinois in Final Four, will play for third national title in 4 years

The fact that the underwhelming performance came against Dan Hurley and the Huskies shouldn't come as a surprise.

The 62 points were the Illini's third-fewest in a game the past three seasons, according to research from ESPN. The only games ahead of it on that list both came against UConn, as well — a 52-point effort in a blowout loss in the Elite Eight in 2024 and 61 points in a Nov. 28 loss to the Huskies in Madison Square Garden earlier in the 2025-26 season.

Even after April 4's disappointing outing, Illinois is still No. 2 in Division I in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.

Much of the Illini's production came from two players — freshman superstar Keaton Wagler and big man Tomislav Ivisic, who had 20 and 16 points, respectively. Outside of that duo, Illinois made just eight of its 29 field-goal attempts (27.6%).

With the win, UConn advanced to the national championship game, where it will play on Monday, April 6 against either Michigan or Arizona.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn has held Illinois to its three lowest point totals of the past three seasons

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NC State walks off Notre Dame, 7-6, to complete series sweep

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 15: The NC State Wolfpack bench celebrates the double during the college baseball game between the Boston College Eagles and the NC State Wolfpack on March 15, 2026 at Doak Field at Dail Park in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for NC State baseball, as you may have noticed. Some close games go the wrong way, you get a bit of a slump at the plate, and next thing you know it’s panic, panic everywhere. Such is baseball season. Fortunately, it’s the first week of April.

NC State put a seven-game losing streak to bed with a 7-3 win over Notre Dame on Thursday night thanks to strong work from Ryan Marohn and Anderson Nance. The Pack clinched the series the next time out with another 7-3 win, this one highlighted by Ryder Garino and Cooper Consiglio out of the pen—they struck out 10, walked just one, and gave up one run in 4-1/3 IP.

Saturday was Dude Day, and he was excellent, throwing 7-2/3 of one-run ball. NC State took a 5-1 lead into the ninth inning, and then promptly gave up five runs because this is just how baseball works sometimes, and then scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the game, because this is just how baseball works sometimes.

Ty Head was the hero.

Scientists have been trying for centuries to explain how baseball works*, but no one can do it. It simply can’t be done. What can you say about this? It’s another result in the middle of a long, grueling season, no more or less definitive than the one that came prior to it. It’s nice to get even in league play, though.

(*Bill James since like 1985.)

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Mariners Game #9 Preview and Discussion: SEA at LAA, 4/4

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 29: Emerson Hancock #26 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park on March 29, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s something I never thought I’d say: I am excited to watch Emerson Hancock pitch tonight.

The Mariners look to win their first series of the season Saturday against the Angels. They won Friday’s opener 4-0 in a long, frustrating, 10-inning game that didn’t really get going until the end. The bats did eventually come alive, just in time to ruin the Angels’ home opener.

Hancock will take the mound looking to make it two in a row for the Mariners and for himself. Hancock threw six no-hit innings last week against the Guardians, striking out nine in the process. He seemed to pick right up where he left off after switching to the bullpen at the end of last year, with improved velocity capable of generating a competitive number of whiffs.

One change he made in that first start was lowering his arm slot even further, continuing his trend from his brief days as a reliever. The improved Stuff+ numbers held in his first start of 2026. With three kinds of fastballs, a changeup, and a sweeper — all thrown from a low arm slot — Hancock now has all the makingss of a contemporary starter, even if “just OK” velocity limits him to a mid-rotation arm. There’s still a lot more to prove, of course, but the lack of depth in the Mariners’ rotation last year is what kept them from a more impressive win total. Hancock pitching anywhere above replacement level would be a crucial development early in 2026.

The Mariners will face Angels’ righty Jack Kochanowicz, who Jake Mailhot covered in our series preview. Brendan Donovan is out of the lineup after exiting Friday’s game with a leg injury after stepping awkwardly on first base while trying to leg out a grounder. Leo Rivas takes his place at third, and Luke Raley moves up to the leadoff spot.

Lineups

News

Brendan Donovan has been announced as day-to-day with a groin injury. He got imaging yesterday and the team will review before offering an update. He is not in tonight’s lineup.

Brennen Davis (hamstring) and Victor Labrada (oblique) have been activated in Tacoma. Both are expected to play tonight.

Game Info

First pitch: 6:38 PM PDT
TV: Mariners TV. For how to watch, Kate’s got the details.
Radio: Seattle Sports (710 AM)

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Mookie Betts’ injury offers unpleasant reminder: Dodgers are old

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Dodgers are old.

That is their reality, and that will remain their reality, regardless of what a scheduled MRI examination reveals about the lower-back pain that forced Mookie Betts out of a 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

The 33-year-old Betts could be bound for the injured list only eight games into the season, and that should renew concerns of what could happen to this team.

Because if the upcoming months don’t unfold as the Dodgers envision, age will be the main reason why.

The 33-year-old Betts could be bound for the injured list only eight games into the season. Getty Images

Just when the Dodgers looked as if they were off and running, and they literally were, Betts’ premature departure offered an unpleasant reminder of how Project Three-Peat could unravel.

With Kyle Tucker in front of him at second base, Betts was on first in the top of the first inning when Freddie Freeman lined a ball into the right-center field gap. Tucker scored, and so did Betts, who upon returning to the bench was complimented by manager Dave Roberts for the walk he drew. Roberts was later informed there was a problem.

“He felt it as he was running,” Roberts said.

Roberts described the injury as “certainly more moderate than significant” but said Betts is “unlikely” to play in the series finale against the Nationals on Sunday. The manager also acknowledged how this could be a setback for Betts.

“Any time you miss, it’s going to take some time to kind of get your footing,” Roberts said.

Roberts described the injury as “certainly more moderate than significant” but said Betts is “unlikely” to play in the series finale against the Nationals on Sunday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

That’s less than ideal for Betts, who was coming off a down year.

What was particularly striking about Betts’ back problem was how it seemed to come out of nowhere. Ignore his .179 batting average. Betts was back.

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He looked as if he regained whatever muscle mass he lost when he contracted norovirus early last season, particularly in his upper body.

He displayed his old power, homering the opposite way at Dodger Stadium and sending a ball into the visiting bullpen at Nationals Park. His play at shortstop was better than it had ever been, enough to where an uninformed observer probably wouldn’t guess he was a converted outfielder.

“Disappointed for him because we were sort of starting to get going a little bit, and the way he’s playing defense, and he’s a big part of what we do,” Roberts said.

He looked as if he regained whatever muscle mass he lost when he contracted norovirus early last season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

But as much as Betts prepared himself for this marathon of a season, he encountered a formidable obstacle in a 270-foot sprint 

Age does that to a player, and Betts isn’t the only important player on the team who is closer to the end of his career than the start.

The Dodgers made concerted efforts to turn back the clock, the front office instructing players to focus on recovering in the offseason and the players ensuring they reported to camp in better shape.

Teoscar Hernandez, 33, is lighter than he was last year, the benefits of which were shown on Friday when he legged out a couple of infield singles. Max Muncy, 35, also lost weight and looks to be moving better.

Freddie Freeman, 36, has hit into some bad luck, which is why he’s batting only .242. But he’s back to hitting line drives and his defense at first base is at the level it was when he first signed with the Dodgers. Miguel Rojas, 37, looks as if he’s prepared to take over as the team’s primary shortstop while Betts is sidelined.

But what happened to Betts is a reminder of how quickly any of that can change, underscoring the importance of Roberts’ practice of giving his veterans occasional days off. On Saturday, that veteran was Hernandez, who was replaced in the lineup by Alex Call.

The Dodgers have the best player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani. They have the most powerful offense in the major leagues. They have a rotation that includes four Cy Young-caliber starters.

But they also have several key players who are old, and the question regarding them isn’t if they will eventually fall apart but when. The World Series is in six-plus months. As much as they have worked to ensure they will hold up between now and then, one man is already down.

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Spurs fall to Nuggets in regular season road finale

DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 4, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The final road game of the season wasn’t supposed to end like this. For three quarters, the San Antonio Spurs looked like a team that had already figured it out: poised, confident, and in control inside a hostile Ball Arena against a championship contender, the Denver Nuggets.

They ran. They shared the ball. They scored 43 points in the opening quarter like it was nothing more than a rhythm exercise. Every possession felt intentional. Every shot felt like it belonged. And at the center of it all was Victor Wembanyama, gliding across the floor, protecting the rim, stretching the defense, doing everything at once; the kind of performance that makes you forget how young he really is.

Even when foul trouble saw him go to the bench, the Spurs didn’t flinch. They have built something that went beyond one player. The lead held. The energy stayed. The belief never dipped.

But across the floor stood Nikola Jokić, and he doesn’t let games drift away. It didn’t happen all at once and there wasn’t a single moment where everything broke. Instead, it crept in little by little. A bucket here. A stop there. A possession that didn’t quite go San Antonio’s way. Jokić, patient as ever, began pulling the strings: a pass to the corner, a soft touch in the paint, a rhythm that slowly tilted the floor back toward Denver.

By the fourth quarter, what once felt comfortable began to feel fragile. The Spurs still led. They still had control, technically, but the air had changed. Midway through the fourth, San Antonio was up seven. Close enough to feel the finish line, far enough to still need execution. That’s when the game tightened its grip.

“It was an extremely competitive game that felt there were a lot of high stakes,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “It was fun game to be a part of and there so many good things that we did and so many things that we can take away to be better at.”

Jamal Murray found space. Aaron Gordon attacked the rim. And Jokić, always Jokić, kept the pressure constant, never rushed, never forced, just inevitable. The lead vanished piece by piece each time the Nuggets had the ball, the Spurs unable to get the stop they needed.

Then came the moment.

De’Aaron Fox fouled Cam Johnson on the three point line. The ball went in and Denver converted the four-point play. And just like that, everything the Spurs had built was hanging by a thread. Still, they had one last chance to hold on, but confusion on the next play saw Aaron Gordon get a wide open dunk to tie the game at 124 and force overtime.

In overtime, things felt different. The Spurs fought. They always do. A three-pointer from Julian Champagnie briefly pushed them ahead again, a flicker of the control they once had. But every answer required perfection now.

And Denver didn’t miss.

Jokić delivered the final blows the way he always does: steady, precise, unavoidable. A bucket in the closing seconds sealed it, a quiet exclamation point on a 40-point masterpiece.

“My conclusion of this game is that it was good for us,” Wembanyama said. “It’s a real test against a team that’s actually playing for something right now. It had some playoff vibes.”

It was just a two-point loss. But it felt heavier than that. Wembanyama had been brilliant with 34 points, 18 rebounds, a presence that shaped the entire night. The Spurs had done so much right. For long stretches, they had been the better team. And still, they walked off without it. Because against a team like Denver, being better for most of the night isn’t enough.

You have to be better at the end.

And for one more game — one final road lesson before the postseason — the Spurs learned exactly how thin that line really is.

“There is no better outcome from this game than to learn,” Wembanyama added. “It is a very good experience.”

Game Notes

  • For those clamoring about the Spurs not having playoff experience, this game was as close to the playoffs as they are going to get. And this just proves they are ready. Yes, they have things to work on, but they are ready.
  • De’Aaron Fox had 14 points, but was 0-for-6 from three-point range. A 33% shooter from beyond the arc this season, he shot two consecutive air balls that fueled Denver’s growing momentum. In the postseason, I hope to see Fox pulling up from midrange or driving to the rim more.
  • Dylan Harper had 12 points off the bench, shooting 71% in 20 minutes. Now, he won’t always shoot the ball that well, but if this is the version of Harper we’re going to get come playoff time — watch out.
  • Stephon Castle had 20 points and was aggressive all night long against Denver’s interior defense. So great to see as the playoffs are just two weeks away.
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Lakers playoff scenario clouded with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injured

The Los Angeles Lakers produced a strong effort following the NBA All-Star Game to reach the third seed in the Western Conference standings.

The Lakers were looking like a true playoff contender, having won 13 of their last 15 games. The only two losses during that stretch came against the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams are the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.

While LeBron James began to settle in as the No. 3 option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, it could be up to the 22-time All-Star to serve as the leading man for Los Angeles during the first round of the playoffs.

Coach JJ Redick felt confident throughout the season that his team would all come together at the right time for a strong finish.

The Lakers’ roster dealt with various injuries early in the season, making it hard to put out a lineup featuring its top three stars.

The four-time NBA MVP did not play until mid-November, leaving the guards to lead the way early.

Reaves and James are already ineligible for awards, and Doncic will have to appeal for an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge if he doesn’t play in one of the final five games of the season.

Luka Doncic injury update

Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season and his status remains unknown for the postseason.

Austin Reaves injury update

Reaves suffered an oblique injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for four to six weeks.

What Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injuries mean for Lakers?

Redick will have to piece together an effective lineup built around James. 

Marcus Smart would be an option to fill the role of either guard, but he’s also dealing with his own injuries.

Smart has an ankle injury that will keep him out against the Dallas Mavericks on April 5. He has not played since March 21, when he played 31 minutes against the Orlando Magic.

Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard may move into the starting lineup.

Hachimura is having one of the best seasons of his career from the three-point line, shooting .430 on the season. He's also started 36 of the 63 games he's played.

Kennard, a former sixth-man of the year candidate, made his debut with the Lakers on Feb. 7.

Lakers' remaining regular-season schedule

The Lakers have five games remaining in the regular season. It could prove to be beneficial for Redick and his staff to try different lineups and rotations before the postseason.

  • at Dallas Mavericks (Sunday, April 5, 4:30 p.m. PT)
  • vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Tuesday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. PT)
  • at Golden State Warriors (Thursday, April 9, 7 p.m. PT)
  • vs. Phoenix Suns (Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. PT)
  • vs. Utah Jazz (Sunday, April 12, 5:30 p.m. PT)

Lakers’ playoff matchup scenarios

The Lakers are currently the third seed in the Western Conference standings with a 50-27 record. If the season ended on April 4, the Lakers would play the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

The Lakers must continue to stay afloat without their guards to remain the third seed. The Denver Nuggets are just half a game behind the Lakers and the Houston Rockets are two games back.

If the Nuggets move ahead of the Lakers, Los Angeles could be matched up with the Rockets in the West’s 4 vs. 5 matchup.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injuries mean for Lakers in playoffs

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4/4 Gamethread: Giants vs. Mets

Landen Roupp stepping forward to throw a pitch.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on July 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a very good series opener on Thursday, and a very bad follow-up on Friday, the San Francisco Giants will look to take the lead in their four-game set with the New York Mets this evening.

Taking the mound for the Giants is right-hander Landen Roupp, who will look to reprise his phenomenal season debut last week. Against the San Diego Padres, Roupp pitched six shutout innings, while allowing just four baserunners and striking out seven. Last year, in 22 starts, the 27-year old went 7-7 with a 3.80 ERA, a 3.91 FIP, and 102 strikeouts against 45 walks in 106.2 innings.

For the Mets, it’s righty Clay Holmes, a 33-year old veteran who is also making his second start of the year. In his season debut, Holmes gave up seven baserunners and two earned runs against the St. Louis Cardinals, while striking out five batters in 5.2 innings. He made 31 starts last year (plus two relief appearances), and went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA, a 4.11 FIP, and 129 strikeouts against 66 walks in 165.2 innings.

Enjoy the game, everyone. Go Giants!

Game #9

Who: San Francisco Giants (3-5) vs. New York Mets (4-4)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 6:05 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNTV

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

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Cavs will be without multiple starters in Sunday’s game vs. Pacers

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 27: Max Strus #1, Sam Merrill #5 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 27, 2025 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be starting the first round of the playoffs in two weeks. There isn’t much left to prove in the regular season. Their number one focus is making sure they’re healthy for the playoffs. As a result, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they will be without multiple key players for their game against the Indiana Pacers on Easter.

Cleveland will be missing starting center Jarrett Allen for what the injury report labels as right knee injury management. Allen hurt his knee during the Cavs’ March 3 victory over the Detroit Pistons. This caused him to miss 10 games after the injury.

Allen has performed well after returning to the lineup for the team’s March 27 win over the Miami Heat. However, he is still paying through pain. Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor reported last week that Allen is still in pain and not quite 100%.

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Additionally, Evan Mobley will also be out due to left calf injury management. Being without both starting bigs will likely force Thomas Bryant into the lineup. It could also allow two-way forwards, Olivier Sarr and Riley Minix, some playing time with the team after the Cleveland Charge’s season concluded this past week.

The Cavaliers also won’t have the services of Sam Merrill. He’s been dealing with and playing through various injuries throughout the season. Merrill is being held out on Sunday with the designation of left hamstring injury management.

The Cavs will still be without Dean Wade (ankle) and Jaylon Tyson (toe). The team hasn’t released an update on those injuries since saying they both would be missing the team’s recent three-game road trip that wrapped up on Friday. We’ll likely get some sort of update from head coach Kenny Atkinson on their injuries before Sunday’s game.

The Pacers, meanwhile, will be down several key players. They will be without Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), Pascal Siakam (ankle), Johnny Furphy (ACL), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (back), Aaron Nesmith (neck), and Ivica Zubac (rib).

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UConn beats Illinois in Final Four, will play for third national title in 4 years

INDIANAPOLIS — Tarris Reed Jr. posted his third double-double of the NCAA Tournament and Connecticut beat Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four to advance to Monday night’s national championship game.

The No. 3 Huskies will meet the winner of the second national semifinal between No. 1 seeds Arizona and Michigan.

Reed had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Braylon Mullins had 15 points on 5 of 14 shooting and guard Silas Demary Jr. had 5 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Illinois guard Keaton Wagler posted a game-high 20 points with 8 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Tomislav Ivicic’s 16 points.

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The Huskies went into halftime leading 37-29 behind the two-man game of Reed and Mullins, who posted a combined 23 points on 9 of 16 shooting. After making his only 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the Elite Eight win against Duke, Mullins went 3 of 5 from deep in the first half.

Illinois was led by Wagler, who had 10 points and 6 rebounds at the break. Wagler also committed the only two turnovers of the opening half by either team. UConn and Illinois shot a combined 24 of 63 at the break and were 10 of 32 from 3-point range.

The Huskies’ lead would grow to 13 points at 49-36 on a pair of Alex Karaban free throws five minutes into the second half. The Illini would get back within single digits at 49-40 with 12:56 to play but UConn answered with an 8-3 run capped by a Jaylin Stewart corner 3 to go in front 57-43 with 9:24 left.

Illinois would have another response. With UConn in foul trouble after picking up its 10th team foul with 8:03 remaining, the Illini made it 57-51 a minute later on a pair of Ivicic free throws and then 57-53 on an Andrej Stojakovic layup with five minutes to play.

After Wagler scored on a driving layup with 1:39 left to make it 63-59, Mullins would make a crucial 3 from the wing to put the Huskies in from 66-59 with 52 seconds to play. They’d make five of six from the line in the final 37 seconds to seal the win.

UConn is chasing its seventh national championship and third in four years after going back-to-back in 2023-24. A seventh title would break a tie with Duke and bump the Huskies into third in NCAA history behind UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn basketball beats Illinois in Final Four, will play for national title

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Sidney Crosby Surpasses Steve Yzerman, Climbs NHL All-Time Scoring List

Another day, and it's yet another milestone evening for Pittsburgh Penguins' longtime captain Sidney Crosby.

And, with this one, he has managed to climb even further up the NHL's all-time scoring list.

With an assist on Evgeni Malkin's second-period power play goal - his 1,400th NHL point, making him the 23rd player to hit the mark - against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Crosby surpassed Detroit Red Wings great Steve Yzerman to take sole possession of seventh place on the NHL's all-time scoring list at 1,756. He tied Yzerman with a primary assist on Erik Karlsson's first-period power play goal.

Crosby, 38, has 28 goals and 69 points in 65 games so far this season. 

Next up for Crosby is Marcel Dionne in sixth place, and he needs 15 points to tie him at 1,771. In addition, Crosby needs just one more point to clinch his 21st consecutive NHL season at point-per-game or higher to pad his own NHL record of 20. and he needs just two more points by the end of the 2025-26 regular season to clinch his NHL-record 21st consecutive point-per-game season.

Do The Penguins Have A Star Player In Egor Chinakhov?Do The Penguins Have A Star Player In Egor Chinakhov?The Pittsburgh Penguins may have landed a star winger in Egor Chinakhov, who they acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29.

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Mets vs. Giants: Lineups, broadcast info, and open thread, 4/4/26

Mar 30, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor – SS
  2. Bo Bichette – 3B
  3. Jorge Polanco – DH
  4. Brett Baty – RF
  5. Mark Vientos – 1B
  6. Jared Young – LF
  7. Marcus Semien – 2B
  8. Carson Benge – CF
  9. Luis Torrens – C

Clay Holmes – RHP

Giants Lineup

  1. Willy Adames – SS
  2. Rafael Devers – DH
  3. Heliot Ramos – LF
  4. Luis Arraez – 2B
  5. Matt Chapman – 3B
  6. Jung Hoo Lee – RF
  7. Harrison Bader – CF
  8. Patrick Bailey – C
  9. Jerar Encarnacion – 1B

Landen Roupp – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 9:05pm EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

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Lightning beat the Bruins 3-1 hours after securing a playoff spot

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Darren Raddysh broke a tie with 5:31 left and Tampa Bay beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Saturday night, hours after the Lightning secured a playoff spot.

The Atlantic Division-leading Lightning wrapped up the Eastern Conference postseason position with Detroit's 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers in the afternoon. Boston holds the first wild-card spot in the East.

After assisting on defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous' tying goal at 2:13 of the third, Raddysh put the Lightning ahead with a sharp-angle shot past goalie Jeremy Swayman from the right side on a break.

Nikita Kucherov added his 42nd goal of the season into an empty net, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 21 saves to help the Lightning finish a seven-game homestand 5-1-1.

Casey Mittelstadt scored for Boston in the second. Swayman stopped 20 shots as the Bruins lost their second straight on a four-game trip. They lost 2-1 at Florida on Thursday night.

Up next

Bruins: At Philadelphia on Sunday.

Lightning: At Buffalo on Monday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl