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JJ Redick explained way Pelicans game was unlike recent wins for Lakers

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 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. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

All season long, the Lakers have proven that if they are leading entering the fourth quarter, they will finish the game strong and win.

This year, Los Angeles is 27-1 when in front entering the final period, by far the best winning percentage in the Western Conference.

But what about when they are trailing as the game enters the last 12 minutes? In that category, the Lakers are a woeful 9-22.

So, the Lakers finding a way to come back and beat the Pelicans on Tuesday was a nice change of pace. Sure, the deficit was just one point as the fourth began, but they won with some great team defense and it was the type of victory that could galvanize LA, helping them to go on a run.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked about what made this win unique.

“Frankly, that’s not a win we’ve had since probably November, where we’re down late,” Redick said. “A lot of those early wins when we started 15-4, we had a number of double-digit deficits in the second half and just stuck with it and kept playing. It was a good win for our group to be able to do that again.”

The Lakers had a couple of these kinds of wins early on that met Redick’s criteria.

They rallied in the fourth to beat the Spurs 118-117 on Nov. 5, and in December, they trailed the Sixers in the second half and found a way to win.

Constantly winning in the NBA is hard. And to win when you aren’t playing your best and trailing late in a game is even harder. As Luka Dončić said postgame, the Lakers played an ugly game against New Orleans, but good teams find ways to win those contests as well.

If the Lakers keep stacking wins and finding ways to win when losing seems like the most likely outcome, then they should begin to rise in the Western Conference standings.

And if they can accomplish that, then this season still has the potential to be something special.

For now, it’s just good to see that the Lakers can win in multiple ways and that they still have the opportunity to play their best basketball during this final stretch of the season.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Blackhawks Trade Jason Dickinson & Colton Dach To Oilers For Andrew Mangiapane, 1st Round Pick

The Chicago Blackhawks are an active seller ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. It started on Monday, when they sent defenseman Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a second-round pick. 

Kyle Davidson made a deal with his old boss, Stan Bowman, to get an asset for Murphy, who is currently operating on an expiring contract. 

On Wednesday, the two sides came together for another trade. The Blackhawks traded Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Oilers in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a protected 2027 first-round pick. 

The Blackhawks are, like they did with Murphy, going to retain 50 percent of Dickinson's cap hit. That is their third and final retention spot allowed. 

In Dickinson, the Oilers are getting a third-line center whom they can trust in all three zones. With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins likely playing wing full-time, having Dickinson behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl down the middle makes them one of the deepest teams at center in the NHL. 

Andrew Mangiapane is a cap dump for the Oilers. Getting him off their books is the main purpose of his inclusion in the trade. 

Mangiapane, who turns 30 in late April, has the rest of this season with a cap hit of $2.45 million and next year at $2.375 million. In 52 games played this season, he has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.

If he plays games with the Blackhawks, he is hoping to revive his career in the way that a couple of other depth forwards have in recent years. Mangiapane may never be the 35-goal scorer that he was in 2021-22, but there is room for him to get back to being a 15-20 goal man.

There is also a chance that the Blackhawks buy him out at some point, which is easier for them to do as they finish their rebuild than it is for the Oilers, who are right in the middle of their contention window. 

Colton Dach moving in this deal was unexpected, but it's a sweetener along with Dickinson to get a first-round pick out of the Oilers, along with taking Mangiapane on. 

Dach, an Edmonton native, has been in and out of Chicago's lineup, but he may be a great depth option for the Oilers going forward. With all of the young prospects coming up for Chicago, this is an opportunity for him to go to his hometown instead of dealing with a crowded forward group in Chicago. 

The first round pick in this deal is top-12 protected. Although the 2025-26 Florida Panthers have taught the hockey world never to assume things, it is unlikely that the Oilers will be a bottom-12 team in 2026-27. 

If the Panthers do finish in the bottom 10 and push their first-round pick going to Chicago by a year, the Hawks will have three first-round picks to work with in 2027. 

That is another leader and defensive-minded player subtracted from the Blackhawks' starting lineup, but another elite-level draft pick is banked for a pending unrestricted free agent. 

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Indiana hits 10 3-pointers, routs Minnesota 77-47 to end 4-game skid

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Sam Alexis scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half to help Indiana jump out early and cruise past Minnesota 77-47 on Wednesday night that ended the Hoosiers' four-game losing streak.

Lamar Wilkerson added 16 points for Indiana (18-12, 9-10 Big Ten). Tucker DeVries chipped in with 13 points and Nick Dorn scored 11. The three combined for 10 of the Hoosiers' 24 3-point attempts.

Indiana held a double-digit lead the entire second half. The Hoosiers shot 57% (31 of 54) overall. Alexis and DeVries each grabbed nine of their 37 rebounds.

Cade Tyson scored 21 points and Isaac Asuma added 13 for Minnesota (14-16, 7-12). The Golden Gophers shot 26% (6 of 23) in the second half and 32% overall.

Indiana built a double-digit lead early before Minnesota pulled within three points midway through the first half. The Hoosiers ended the half on a 10-2 surge that included Wilkerson's 100th 3-pointer of the season, followed by a DeVries 3-pointer and dunk for a 43-28 lead at the break.

With 11:23 to play, Indiana began a 14-0 run that lasted about five minutes to turn it into a rout. Dorn and DeVries each hit a 3 during the stretch.

Up next

Minnesota hosts Northwestern in a regular-season finale on Saturday.

Indiana ends its regular season at Ohio State on Saturday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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The Spurs are at their best when Wembanyama doesn’t force things

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 3: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Spurs are back to their winning ways after a stumble in New York. They demolished the shorthanded 76ers in a 40-point blowout that saw eight players finish with 10 points or more.

Among those 8 players, Victor Wembanyama was the closest to not reaching double digits. The big man only took five shots in 25 minutes, yet the Spurs outscored Philadelphia by 41 points with him on the floor, the highest numbers on the team. As J.R. Wilco and I previously discussed, Wemby is dominating games without having to score, which is a fantastic development.

A blowout win is not the best data point, but the win against the Pistons also showed this dynamic. Wembanyama had five points in six shots in the first quarter. He took 10 shots the rest of the way and racked up his points from the free throw line and by scoring late against a scrambling Detroit defense. Wembanyama was a monster on the boards, finishing with 17. He blocked six shots and walled off the paint, and he dished out four assists. He had a usage in the mid-20s, and he passed the ball on a two thirds of his total touches. He didn’t force things or hold on to the ball.

Let’s compare it with the loss to the Knicks. Wembanyama led the team in scoring and field goal attempts and had seven turnovers. He took seven three-pointers and made just one. His usage was in the low 30s while no one else got more than the very low 20s, and he passed the ball in about half of his touches. The final stat line is not that dissimilar. Against Detroit, Wemby finished with 21 points on 16 shots and four assists to three turnovers. Against New York, he finished with 25 points on 17 shots and four assists to seven turnovers. The main difference is how much more in the flow of the offense he played in the Pistons game and some recent others.

Now, Wembanyama being the clear first option on offense is not a bad thing in itself. There are also different ways he’s guarded, some of which only work if he’s passive. By no means is the suggestion here that The Alien needs to be a defense-only role player instead of using his impressive offensive tools. The main point is that Wemby, despite occasionally falling into old habits, seems to be doing a better job of reading what the defense is giving him and recognizing when others might have a better matchup. He only took five shots against the 76ers because he only had to take five shots for the team to win in a blowout.

You can see the new approach in action when you watch him. The Spurs don’t have the most sophisticated offensive playbook, so they stick to a few plays to get Wemby a good look, usually involving an off-ball screen or having him as a screener. When those plays are executed well and the defender doesn’t stick closely to Victor, he can act as a finisher. Then you have the isolations at the mid-post or the elbow, and the inverted pick-and-rolls that turn him into a shot creator. Finally, there are the threes that Wemby has the green light to attempt whenever he wants.

There are games when he simply doesn’t get good looks off those plays, mostly because the defense sells out to stop him, but he tries to make something happen anyway, to normally bad results.

The drives that end in turnovers, the fadeaway twos out of balance, the rushed threes, the pleas for a call as he falls won’t ever be fully eliminated from his game, because he’ll never be perfect. But they can be limited. When Wemby has a center sticking on him, he can simply screen or space the floor and let the guards drive into an open paint. When he has a big wing on him to match his agility or is single-covered, he can hunt switches that will lead to doubles or rotations and just move the ball.

The offense can and should revolve around him most of the time he’s on the court, but he doesn’t have to make tough buckets and get crazy assists to be useful on that end. We’ve seen it, and he’s realizing it.

What makes Wembanyama special is that he can be Rudy Gobert 2.0 on defense but also bring the scoring, spacing, and connective passing of offensively gifted bigs. He can drop 40 if the defense doesn’t have the personnel to stop him or when his shot is going in. But some days, he can just dominate so thoroughly defensively that playing a less central role on offense is the best way for him to contribute to winning. It may seem counterintuitive, but playing the decoy to give an opportunity to the rest of the Spurs’ offensive weapons, might just be what’s necessary to open things up for him to score more.

The fully realized version of Wemby will likely be unstoppable on offense, but for now, he can be an elite finisher and an opportunistic creator who picks his spots. It’s what he’s done in some of the recent wins, and it bodes well for the upcoming playoff run and the near future, when San Antonio’s already impressive guards progress to the point of needing more touches, just like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili did back in the day.

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Khady Leye sinks winning layup in Auburn women's 50-49 win over Texas A&M

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Kaitlyn Duhon scored 14 points, Harissoum Coulibaly added 11 and Khady Leye sank the go-ahead layup with 5.2 left on the clock for No. 15 seed Auburn in a 50-49 win over No. 10 seed Texas A&M in the first round of SEC Tournament on Wednesday night.

Leye finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Tigers (15-16). She committed a blocking foul on the previous possession that sent Janae Kent to the free throw line with 11 seconds to play for Texas A&M. Kent sank both shots to take a 49-48 lead.

Leye slipped through the screen and drove to the basket to put up the shot. The Aggies didn't have enough time to get the shot they wanted and airballed their last attempt. It is the first time the Tigers have beaten the Aggies in the postseason tournament, and it snapped Texas A&M’s five-game winning streak.

The Aggies (14-12) were led in scoring by Ny'Ceara Pryor with 25 points.

Up next

Auburn will play No. 24 Ole Miss in the second round on Thursday. The Rebels are the No. 7 seed in the tournament.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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NHL trade candidates generating buzz before March 6 deadline

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck could be the team's next player who moves in a retool.

He already has let his son know about the possibility.

"If I get traded, I'm fine," he told reporters earlier this week. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm more worried about my family."

Though the Rangers' struggles has led them to trade Artemi Panarin, Trocheck showed his value while winning a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He helped Team USA go 18-for-18 on the penalty kill, including a 5-on-3 Canada power play in the final.

Trocheck, whose contact runs through 2029, said he has a 12-team no-trade list and he told reporters that the list includes Western teams.

“Family’s important to me, and my family’s on the East Coast,” he said.

Here's a look at other players who are generating trade buzz before the 3 p.m. ET deadline on Friday, March 6 (contract details from puckpedia.com):

Center Ryan O'Reilly, Nashville Predators

O'Reilly is a former playoff MVP who has another year left on his contract. He has no trade protection, but the Predators will clear any move with him. He took a high stick to the face on March 3 and while the team said in a statement that he is expected to be fine and an update would be provided on Thursday, March 5.

Defenseman Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues

The Blues have struggled this season and could be shopping plenty of players. Faulk is a right-shot defenseman with another year left on his deal. He has hit double digits in goals for the sixth time in his career. He has a 15-team no-trade list. Defenseman Colton Parayko is being mentioned as another candidate.

Center Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames

He won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 but wasn't re-signed and got a seven-year deal with the Flames. He has a 13-team no-trade list. Flames forward Blake Coleman is also being mentioned.

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs

He sat out Wednesday's game, along with pending unrestricted free agents Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. Ekman-Larsson has a Stanley Cup ring with the 2023-24 Florida Panthers and can put up points. He is signed through 2028 at a reasonable $3.5 million cap hit and has a 16-team no-trade list.

Forward Jake DeBrusk, Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have moved out Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood and Tyler Myers. More could be coming for the NHL's last-place team. Jake DeBrusk told the Vancouver Province that a rebuild "is not something I would be OK with or accepting." The 29-year-old is in the second year of a seven-year contract.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL trade deadline candidates who could move before Friday

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Wallace, Jackson help Illinois women beat Wisconsin 82-70 at Big Ten Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Berry Wallace scored 22 points, Destiny Jackson added 21, and No. 10 seed Illinois beat 15th-seeded Wisconsin 82-70 on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Cearah Parchment scored 14 points for Illinois (20-10) and Lety Vasconcelos — the tallest player in program history, listed at 6-foot-7 — scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting

Wisconsin (13-17) has lost 10 in a row, including a 92-60 loss at Illinois on Feb. 11.

Gift Uchenna tied her season high with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, Kyrah Daniels scored 17 and Laci Steele 12 for the Badgers. Destiny Howell, who went into the game averaging a team-leading 14.1 points per game, finished with six points on 2-of-12 shooting.

Uchenna scored seven points in a 12-3 run that cut Wisconsin's deficit to a point a little more than four minutes into the third quarter, but the Illini scored 16 — eight by Vasconcelos — of the next 19 to take a 62-48 lead with 41 seconds left until the fourth.

Illinois shot 83% from the free-throw line, where the Illini outscored Wisconsin 24-10.

The Illini have won seven of eight against Wisconsin and lead the series 44-43

Jackson had five assists moved past Jill Estey (154 in 1990-91) into second on the program's single-season assist list with 156. Alexis Smith set the record of 168 in 2012-13.

Up next

Wisconsin: Season complete.

Illinois: Plays seventh-seeded and No. 18 Michigan State in the second round Thursday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Mariners Spring Training 2026, Game #12

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 01: Cooper Criswell #64 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Fenway Park on August 01, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the start of the World Baseball Classic, many Mariners are on loan to their respective national teams. As such, get ready to see some weird looks from the M’s as the organization gives some unusual opportunities to top prospects.

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One of those unusual looks is right hander Cooper Criswell. The pitcher was in the Boston Red Sox organization last year, only to be DFA’d the Sox and claimed by the New York Mets. Just over a month after that, the Mets DFA’d him and the Mariners picked him up for cash. Tonight will be his third appearance this Spring but only his first start. He’s gone two innings in each of his last two outings, and it will be interesting to see how far he is pushed tonight. Probable pitchers to follow Cooper are Jose A. Ferrer, Carlos Vargas, Josh Simpson, Yosver Zulueta, and Ryan Loutos.

Also in the “weird” bucket is J.P. Crawford in the DH spot. He’s making room for Leo Rivas, who in turn is over at short to make room for Cole Young to play second and lead off.

SF lineup vs. Seattle 3/4/26 2 Willy Adames - SS 26 Matt Chapman - 3B 7 Will Brennan (L) - LF 10 Casey Schmitt - 1B 29 Luis Matos - RF 58 Grant McCray (L) - CF 61 Jake Holton - DH 18 Eric Haase - C 50 Christian Koss - 2B 38 Robbie Ray LHP

Over in the orange dugout, there’s also a healthy portion of prospects. Real heads will zero in on Robbie Ray, former Mariner, on the mound. Since his time on the Mariners, Robbie Tight Pants has done his best to add a third pitch, picking up his knuckle curve and changeup and using the slider much, much less. Tonight will be his third start of the Spring. Following him is likely to be Carson Seymour, Keaton Winn, and Michael Fulmer. Perhaps the short probables list means they intend for Ray to go deep.

Game Information:

Game Time: 6:05 pm PT

Radio: Seattle Sports 710 AM with Rick Rizzs, Gary Hill Jr. and Shannon Drayer on the call.

TV: Mariners.TV (maybe? Sound off in the comments if it’s working for you.)

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Isiah Kiner-Falefa meant no Yankees disrespect with ‘honest answer’ about ALDS preference

Boston Red Sox third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa throws to first base.
Red Sox third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa throws to first on a single by Atlanta Braves Jorge Mateo in the third inning of a spring training baseball game in North Port, Fla., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a part-time SS (shortstop) by the end of his time with the Yankees, but always a full-time SS (straight shooter).

So the more Aaron Boone thought about Kiner-Falefa’s comments earlier this spring — that the Blue Jays preferred to face the Yankees in the ALDS over the Red Sox because they thought it was a better matchup — the more he realized he probably shouldn’t have been surprised.

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“Because IKF is very honest and real,” Boone said Wednesday. “And I don’t think he meant any slap at us. I frankly didn’t take it that way.”

Kiner-Falefa, the Blue Jay-turned-Red Sox player, confirmed that he did not, in fact, mean it as a jab at his former club, even if it may have quickly endeared him to his new fan base. But he was asked a question in his introductory news conference here last month and did what he always does.

“I just gave the honest answer,” Kiner-Falefa said before the Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-0 at JetBlue Park. “It is what it is. I love the guys over there. I have nothing bad to say about anybody over there. It was just a matchup thing. [Garrett] Crochet’s an unbelievable pitcher and we did not want to face Crochet after he went eight innings against us [in late September].”

Kiner-Falefa did not join the Blue Jays until September, so he was not around to see them bludgeon the Yankees during a pair of series at Rogers Centre over the summer. But he had heard about their success against them during the season (8-5) and also knew that if the Red Sox had beaten the Yankees in the AL wild-card series, that would have meant having to face Crochet, the AL Cy Young runner-up.

Red Sox third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa throws to first on a single by Atlanta Braves Jorge Mateo in the third inning of a spring training baseball game in North Port, Fla., Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. AP

“I was just hearing what everybody else was telling me,” said Kiner-Falefa, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Red Sox to serve as a utility player. “Obviously you know you have all the [Yankees] big bombers and [Aaron] Judge and all those guys. I’ve seen how good these guys are. It’s like, ‘Are you guys sure?’

“I didn’t mean to ruffle the feathers,” he added. “I forgot how it is back in a big market.”

The comment spread like wildfire, even if it had sound reasoning behind it. The Blue Jays had the Yankees’ number for most of the year and that carried over into the postseason, when they scored 34 runs in 34 innings against them, winning the ALDS in four games. Kiner-Falefa called the Blue Jays an “offensive juggernaut,” a lineup that was contact-oriented but had power, too, and was full of players who knew their role.

Aside from losing Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays are essentially returning the same lineup this season, meaning it remains a problem the Yankees will have to figure out — one of many challenges standing in their way in the AL East, which Boone perennially describes as the toughest in baseball.

“It doesn’t feel like everything has to go right for these teams to be good,” Boone said. 

Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2) looks on against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

That includes the Red Sox, the spring version of which the Yankees got their first look at on Wednesday. Crochet, too, remains a problem, but Boone also said their offense could be better than they are getting credit for.

“I know Alex Bregman leaving them is a big loss or whatever, but it doesn’t feel like people are talking about [Willson] Contreras enough, from a production standpoint and how consistent he’s been throughout his career,” Boone said. “So it’s going to be a team that puts the ball in play, they’ve got athleticism, they’ve got some complementary parts. I think they’re going to be good offensively.”

Alex Cora, not surprisingly, was also complimentary of the Yankees – pointing to their pitching and getting “one of the best, if not the best pitcher in the big leagues” back in Gerrit Cole — even if much of their fan base was not satisfied with their winter.

“I got a lot of friends that are Yankee fans and some of them are happy, some of them are upset,” Cora said. “But at the end of the day, one of the things they always do is they’re in the dance, and that’s what you try to do. Just get in the dance and then see what happens.”

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Clayton Kershaw had brutal outing for USA. Why experience was 'worth it.'

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — He is the only retired pitcher on a World Baseball Classic roster.

He’s also the only one with three Cy Young awards, three World Series championships, and 11 All-Star appearances.

And is the lone WBC pitcher who can already make reservations for his Hall of Fame induction in five years.

Clayton Kershaw, who could have stayed home in Dallas after retiring on top of the world with back-to-back World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers, strolled to the mound Wednesday one last time in a spring-training game.

The moment the public address announcer at Salt River Fields called out his name as he walked to the mound, he received a thunderous standing ovation by the sellout crowd of 11,803.

“That was so cool, I had chills out there with the standing O they gave that man,’’ USA teammate and Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge said after the USA’s 14-4 victory against the Colorado Rockies. “The crowd went crazy for him out there pitching. Just to see him back out there and get a chance to share a clubhouse with a guy like that, and so respected around the game. He’s accomplished everything in his career.

“It was pretty special.’’

The results weren’t pretty. Kershaw gave up a home run on the third pitch he thew, walked a batter, threw a wild pitch, didn’t throw harder than 87.2 mph, and struggled with his control, throwing just six of his 13 pitches for strikes.

Yet, just wearing the red, white and blue, and considering his arm and body still felt perfectly fine in his first outing since Game 3 of the World Series, he was ecstatic.

“It was so cool,’’ Kershaw said. “I played against Colorado and Arizona a lot, so to hear that was special. ... Just being on this team was a bucket list for me from the beginning, and so getting to do that, it was really cool.

“Obviously, I thought I was never going to throw a baseball again, so to get to do that with Team USA across your chest, and come back to that dugout, that team is really special.’’

Really, his USA teammates were more thrilled than Kershaw watching him in uniform for the final time before they open the World Baseball Classic on Friday against Brazil in Houston.

“It was awesome,’’ said Paul Goldschmidt, the seven-time All-Star and former MVP, who faced Kershaw 67 times in his career. “I’ve been looking forward to playing with this guy instead of against him my whole career.

“He’s had the most amazing career anyone could imagine. It’s just awesome that he’s coming back and doing this.’’

Said two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal: “That was so awesome seeing that. ... That’s a big reason why I wanted to be part of this, to be with teammates like Clayton Kershaw.’’

Kershaw, who considers himself the emergency pitcher for Team USA, said that if his outing Wednesday was the last time he steps on the mound, “it was worth it.’’

Sorry, but USA manager Mark DeRosa isn’t going to let him sail off into the sunset of his magnificent career with his last outing being against the Rockies in a meaningless spring-training setting. Kershaw will definitely pitch sometime in the tournament when they play four pool games in five days in Houston, DeRosa says, even if it’s just in a mop-role to eat innings.

Kershaw, 37, deserves a send-off that is fitting for one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history, and pitching in a WBC game will be the perfect ending.

“I wouldn’t put on a uniform,’’ Kershaw said, “for anything else.’’

Kershaw, who spent his entire 18-year career with the Dodgers, badly wanted to pitch in the 2023 WBC. Yet, the WBC insurance wouldn’t cover him with his array of injuries, forcing him to miss the tournament.

Now, with his family getting to see him pitch one last time in Houston, this could be the perfect farewell.

“I was pretty much mentally shut down,’’ Kershaw said. “(DeRosa) called and I thought about it for a minute, and I was like, 'it’s not going to be fun to pick up a baseball again, but it’s worth it to be part of this group. …'

“It’s a great group. It’s been a lot of fun to get to know them.’’

And even as sensational as a Hollywood script it would be, Kershaw is already putting a stop to the idea he could be the one pitching the final out against former teammate Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan.

“I think for our country’s sake,’’ Kershaw said, “it’s probably better if I don’t.

“If they need me, I’ll be ready. It’s not going to be pretty, but I’ve got a lot of bullets. They just might not be quality bullets.’’

While Kershaw rules out any possibility of a future comeback after the WBC, he does have one more baseball stop before his career officially comes to an end.

He’ll be at Dodger Stadium on March 27.

He’s got a World Series ring to collect.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clayton Kershaw WBC exhibition went badly ... but was so worth it

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Reds trade Tyler Callihan to Pirates for Kyle Nicholas

CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 03: Tyler Callihan #32 of the Cincinnati Reds hits an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park on May 03, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was Callihan's first career hit. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates may well be National League Central rivals, but that hasn’t stopped them from swinging notable trades of late. Last summer, we saw the deal that sent Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Bucs down river to the Queen City, and on Wednesday evening we saw yet another deal between the two clubs.

This time, it sent infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan up to Pittsburgh in exchange for right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas. The Reds announced the move on Twitter.

Nicolas, 27, is an Ohio native from Massillon and a former 2nd round pick by Pittsburgh out of Ball State University from back in 2020. He’s appeared in 86 games at the big league level across the last trio of seasons, and since the start of the 2024 season owns a 4.27 ERA and 4.00 FIP in 92.2 IP with an 89/49 K/BB in that time. At the AAA level just last year he struck out 50 batters in 35.2 IP using a combination of a fastball that flirts with triple digits (and averaged 97.6 mph during his time in the majors), and he’s also recently added a sinker in early spring training action after working with a slider and cutter over the course of his career.

He’s got an option remaining and is still pre-arb, with his first year of arbitration eligibility due in 2028.

Callihan, meanwhile, is a former 3rd round pick of the Reds who Cincinnati coaxed into turning professional with a well above-slot signing bonus. His minor league career (and brief big league career) have been littered with injuries, his broken arm just last year while playing left field the most gruesome of the bunch. Still, he’s a left-handed hitter with polish who has hit everywhere he’s been when healthy (and not rusty), and his defensive versatility will give him a shot to make the Pirates roster come Opening Day in some form or fashion.

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3 notes before Dallas takes on the Magic

Mar 27, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dribbles the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward-center Dwight Powell (7) in the third quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

The NBA slows for no team, and Dallas continues to struggle with injuries as they get set to continue their extended road trip, this time with a game against the Orlando Magic.

Cooper Flagg and Marvin Bagley have been rules out, while Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Brandon Williams are all game-time decisions. It’s bad enough being without Flagg and Bagley, who has shown promise in the early returns of his Maverick tenure, but that’s a lot of scoring production from three guys who will be up in the air until game time. Get ready to learn AJ Johnson, Mavs fans.

What’s old is new

Dallas started this season looking like a team stuck in the mud, scoring the fewest points per game in the league through October, managing just 107.8. They’d gotten that number up to 114.2 at the start of February, which, while not setting the league on fire, wasn’t dead last.

However, in the eight games Flagg (and others) has been out, the Dallas offense is back to its old ways. They’re putting up 108.9 per game, 25th in the league over that span; 25th in the league. It hasn’t helped that even the guys who have been healthy are experiencing a slump. Max Christie is shooting the three ball at below .300 after starting the season making nearly half his shots from deep. Missing so many other players who would open up good looks for him has obviously played a role, but even his good looks have ended up as bad misses lately.

If the Mavs really are going to be without Flagg et al, hopefully Christie, or someone else who may or may not be named John Poulakidas, can get it going from three. It might not be enough to get a win, but it’s always fun to watch a Dallas player on a heater.

Magic’s big two

Dallas’ defense had its work cut out for it against the explosive Hornets. Charlotte had seven players attempt five or more three-point shots in the process of going 20-51 from behind the arc as a team. It’s some solace then that, in Orlando, the defensive concerns largely hinge around two players — Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. Those two, over the Magic’s last 10 games, are the only ones averaging more than 15 points for Orlando, putting up 24 and 26, respectively. Banchero specifically is coming off a 37-point performance on Tuesday against Washington.

If Dallas’ defenders can slow those two, they may stand a chance to keep the game close. With Franz Wagner out, Orlando doesn’t have quite the amount of scoring depth that Charlotte had. Guys can get hot, but if Dallas doesn’t let Paolo beat them, they at least make Orlando earn it. It’s a shame Flagg isn’t quite ready to be back on the floor, because the Flagg/Paolo matchup, two of the league’s most promising young wings, will be a fun one to watch as both players round into All-Stars.

The thrill of the free throw

With as bad as Dallas’ offense has been, there’s one spot where the Mavs are thriving without Flagg — at the free-throw line.

In his eight-game absence, Dallas is drawing 22.6 personal fouls per game, the third-highest mark in the league, and is attempting a league-leading 29.1 free throws per contest. When Charlotte’s three-point onslaught began during Dallas’ game on Tuesday, the huge discrepancy in free throws kept the game nearly level until the third quarter.

It’s not the most thrilling style of basketball, but it’s impressive that Jason Kidd has found something that his players can control, and it’s putting their head down and trying to get to the basket. A good strategy when the team is missing as much shooting talent as it is, currently.

How to watch/listen

You can watch the game at 6:00 pm on KFAA Channel 29 or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (Spanish).

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Stars acquire defenseman Tyler Myers in a trade with the Canucks

NHL: Winnipeg Jets at Vancouver Canucks

Feb 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers (57) warms up prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

The Dallas Stars answered a division rival’s latest move ahead of the NHL trade deadline with a significant one of their own.

Dallas acquired defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-rounder. Vancouver is retaining half of Myers’ $3 million salary for the remainder of this season and next, meaning the Stars get him at a modest $1.5 million hit for two possible playoff runs.

Myers, a 6-foot-6 right-handed shooter, is in his 17th season in the league and seventh with the Canucks at age 36. The Stars were looking to add depth to their blue line and could also still add up front before the trade deadline on Friday.

“Tyler is a veteran defenseman that will immediately add to our group,” Dallas general manager Jim Nill said. “His ability to play on the right side will give us an added element of flexibility on the blueline.”

Minnesota, likely Dallas’ first-round opponent, made a trade for depth center Michael McCarron on Tuesday night. The Wild also may not be done dealing, with a high-end center on general manager Bill Guerin’s shopping list.

Among the candidates for that role is Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers, one of several teams who have declared they are open for business as sellers.

Two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida is now in that mode after losing three in a row in regulation, and the signing Wednesday of journeyman goaltender Louis Domingue may or may not signal the Panthers’ intentions. Sergei Bobrovsky, who has backstopped them to the back-to-back titles and three consecutive trips to the final and twice won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie, is unsigned beyond this season.

While it might seem crazy to envision Bobrovsky getting traded, fellow pending free agent teammates A.J. Greer, Jeff Petry and others could fetch some value.

Toronto, whose active NHL-best nine-year playoff streak is almost certainly coming to an end, also has assets to move. The Maple Leafs are not dressing Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Oliver Ekman-Larsson at New Jersey on Wednesday night as talks to trade them get close to the finish line.

“It’s obviously a tough time for everybody, no matter what team you’re on,” Ekman-Larsson said following the morning skate. “At the same time, you know what you sign up for, and you know that that’s the case around the league.”

Not getting traded — again — is winger Kiefer Sherwood, who signed a five-year, $28.75 million extension to stay with San Jose. The Sharks got Sherwood from Vancouver on Jan. 19, understanding they could keep him or flip him.

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Mexico vs Dodgers WBC exhibition game score, highlights

Mexico made its final tune-up ahead of the World Baseball Classic against the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday afternoon.

It was a tightly contested matchup between both squads as the fans in attendance — many of whom are both Dodgers and Mexico fans — alternated between chants of "Me-xi-co!" and "Lets go Dodgers!"

It was the Dodgers who would come out on top with a 7-5 win, thanks in large part to a three-run eighth inning sparked by a two-out, ground-rule RBI double by first baseman Joe Vetrano to break a 4-4 deadlock. Mexico rallied in the ninth but ultimately fell short.

Mexico will begin World Baseball Classic pool play on Friday against Great Britain at Daikin Park in Houston.

Here are the highlights from Wednesday's exhibition game between the Dodgers and Mexico:

Mexico rallies late, but it's not enough for the win

Down to their final out, Joey Meneses — pinch-hitting for Jonathan Aranda — turned on a fastball over the heart of the plate from Ben Casparius and lined it on a rope at 109.4 mph into center field for a double. He scored on the next at-bat when a broken-bat chopper hit by Alexis Wilson got past Dodgers third baseman Kyle Nevin and into shallow left field.

Santiago Chávez came to the plate representing the tying run but struck out on four pitches to end the game.

Dodgers prospects come up big

Entering the bottom of the eighth locked in a 4-4 tie, the Dodgers got a much-needed jump-start when Austin Gauthier and the team's No. 14-ranked prospect, Elijah Hainline, drew back-to-back walks to lead off the frame. Vetrano then gave LA the lead with his ground-rule double into the right field corner.

With two runners in scoring position, Dodgers No. 3 prospect and 2025 Minor League Player of the Year Eduardo Quintero added on with a sacrifice fly to center field. No. 13 prospect Kendall George capped off the big inning with a line drive single into left field that scored Vetrano from second for LA's third run of the eighth.

Andy Pages continues productive spring

Individually, Pages largely had a postseason to forget at the plate. He mustered just four hits in 51 at-bats last October, slashing a dreadful .078/.113/.098.

He had highlights in the field, like his ninth inning catch over Kiké Hernández in Game 7 of the World Series, but his lone shining moment on offense came when he chopped a groundball back to the mound in Game 4 of the NLDS that Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering botched and threw away as Hyeseong Kim crossed home plate to advance to the Championship Series.

But the 25-year-old slugger has been putting it together this spring, averaging .333 with an OPS of .906 in 20 plate appearances over seven games. And on Wednesday against Mexico, Pages boomed his first longball of the year, jumping on a hanging slider and driving it 430 feet to left field to put the Dodgers on the board first.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico vs Dodgers score, highlights from WBC tune-up