At the end of the first quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 123–87 dismantling of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team walked into the spotlight carrying something heavier than gold — their place in history.
Just two nights removed from a 79–51 title-clinching win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA national championship in Phoenix, the Bruins were introduced at halfcourt.
Head coach Cori Close stood off to the left, with stars Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, and the rest of the team holding up their national championship trophy and waving at fans.
UCLA women’s basketball team is honored at halfcourt during the Thunder’s 123-87 blowout win over the Lakers on April 7, 2026 in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
The women of Westwood got the loudest ovation by far, especially considering it was another blowout for the purple and gold at the hands of OKC.
Even some of the celebrities sitting courtside took notice. Academy Award nominee for best actress, Kate Hudson, sat courtside and greeted the players, giving them her congratulations on their impressive performance.
The champs are here! The Lakers honor UCLA Women’s basketball team after winning the 2026 NCAA tournament pic.twitter.com/ullOVNxdM7
The same could not be said for the Lakers. Playing without LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves the team didn’t put up much of a fight against the reigning NBA champions.
Typically, when NHL teams outshoot their opponent 28-10, they can expect to win. That is, in fact, what happened on Wednesday when the Vegas Golden Knights wrapped up their season series against the Vancouver Canucks with a 2-1 victory— but the win didn’t come easily.
“It certainly wasn’t pretty. But we found a way to lead, and we found a way to win,” said head coach John Tortorella postgame.
The Golden Knights took it to the Canucks right from puck drop. In the first period, they outshot Vancouver 10-2 and generated seven high-danger scoring chances while only allowing one.
“I think we started the game really well,” said Nic Dowd following the 2-1 win. “In my opinion, it’s probably one of those games where you want to jump on the team early. You get chances, you want to try and put those away and kind of step on them a little bit. And obviously we didn’t, right?
“But sticking with it, not getting bored, trying to stay consistent, understanding that the tough plays are the ones that are going to earn you offense and not make you play defense, we didn’t get away from that, and we were rewarded for it down the stretch,” Dowd finished.
The Canucks broke the ice at 12:50 in the second period. Linus Karlsson won a board battle, and Teddy Blueger came up with the puck. Blueger entered the offensive zone and found Max Sasson, who drove down into the right circle and beat Carter Hart far-side.
The Golden Knights answered back just 1:56 later. Colton Sissons pressured Marcus Pettersson into a turnover behind the net, and Brandon Saad corralled the loose puck. Saad reset back for Shea Theodore at the blue line; Theodore worked the puck over to his defensive partner, Brayden McNabb, who stepped into his shot and scored from distance.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 8, 2026
In the third, the Golden Knights locked it down defensively. It took the Canucks nearly 14 minutes to record their first shot of the period.The Golden Knights took their first lead of the game at 12:13 in the third. Cole Smith forced a turnover at the blue line, entered the zone, and left the puck for Nic Dowd. Dowd drove deeper in the zone and found Smith in the slot for the go-ahead goal.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 8, 2026
Rasmus Anderson was called for interference towards the end of the period, and the Canucks headed to the power play with 1:41 remaining in regulation. They pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker, but the Golden Knights held them to just one shot on goal and held on for the 2-1 win.
“It’s just one of those games that can get away from you. And that’s what I like about our team, they stayed with it,” Tortorella said postgame. “Good teams win those games.”
Three Takeaways of the Knight
1. On one hand, the Golden Knights need more from their top offensive performers. Vancouver leads the league in goals allowed, and this one came down to the wire. The only reason the Golden Knights won is that the Canucks are dead last in the league in scoring.
On the other hand, the Golden Knights are getting consistent depth scoring, which helps offset the need for more from top performers. They’ve gotten goals from a defenseman in three of their last four games. That matters.
2. It’s been a roller coaster of a season for the Golden Knights as far as the standings are concerned. They comfortably led the Pacific Division heading into the Olympic Break. Then, just last week, they were struggling to stay afloat as third in the division.
After tonight’s win, they’re tied for first in the Pacific once more, though the Oilers hold the tiebreaker.
3. Elsewhere, the Nashville Predators steamrolled the Anaheim Ducks, and the Utah Mammoth beat the Edmonton Oilers in overtime. Hence, the Golden Knights needed this win to keep pace in the standings. At this time of year, it doesn’t matter if two points come against the third team in the league or the 32nd. For the Golden Knights, all that matters is stacking wins and improving their chances of securing home-ice advantage in the postseason.
The Ducks entered this game on the back of a five-game losing streak and had seen their five-point lead in the Pacific Division evaporate. As of Tuesday, they were tied with the Edmonton Oilers for first place and just one point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights in third. A win in this one would have gone a long way in relieving unexpected tension at this point in the season.
Their opponent, the Predators, came into this game on their second leg of a back-to-back, having lost in a shootout to the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Monday. The Preds came into this game one point behind LA and one point ahead of the San Jose Sharks, but still on the outside looking in at the playoff picture.
Cutter Gauthier (upper body) and Radko Gudas (lower body) remained out of the Ducks’ lineup in this game. Ian Moore seems locked in as a fourth-line winger for the foreseeable future, and was joined by Olen Zellweger. Frank Vatrano acted as the team’s healthy scratch in this game, and Pavel Mintyukov returned to the lineup after missing the last three games with a lower-body injury. Tyson Hinds received his second career start in this game.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Granlund-Carlsson-Terry
Kreider-Poehling-Sennecke Killorn-McTavish-Viel
Zellweger-Washe-Moore
LaCombe-Trouba
Mintyukov-Carlson
Hinds-Helleson
Lukas Dostal got the start in this game and saved 20 of 25 shots. He was opposed by Justus Annunen for Nashville, who stopped all 43 shots he faced in this game, earning himself his third career shutout and first this season.
Game Notes
Game flow and analytics will reveal that the Ducks dominated this game and got “goalied.” Some of that may be true; they faced a dialed goaltender, they controlled possession, and they weren’t on the receiving end of any puck luck. However, the aspects of their game that they’ve been able to paper over for the majority of the season all came to light in this game.
“We started doing exactly what we wanted to do,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “We started to sag a bit after they scored the first goal, and they got life. We played the period we wanted. Didn’t get any action around the net with second opportunities, and their goalie played well.”
Two of the biggest ingredients to the Ducks’ winning recipe this season have been outscoring problems and above-average goaltending in the environment provided. In this game, they couldn’t buy a goal, and Dostal was merely human.
“In the last couple of games, there was parts in it where it’s exactly how we wanted to play,” Quenneville continued. “We were seeing teams that have to win the game. We have to win games here. That’s where we’re at.”
Net Front Defending: Whether at 5v5 or on the penalty kill, the Ducks have struggled to box out net front forwards and have struggled to deny cutting forwards access to the front of the crease all season. Typically, when pucks make their way to the point, the strong-side defender will attempt to cut down on an angle and block the shot before it gets to their goaltender. However, if that shot can get through that layer of their defense, there’s typically an open forward at the goal mouth, screening, deflecting, or picking up a rebound.
Their aggressive style also lends way to puck watching from the far side. If the weak-side defender loses focus for a split second, talented puck carriers will easily find an uncovered teammate on their way to a dangerous locale.
Rush Defense: The Ducks have been remarkably susceptible to giving up odd-man rushes, stemming from overaggressiveness in the offensive and neutral zones. When they do have numbers tracking back energetically, they have an unfortunate tendency to over-pursue or fail to pick up their assignments.
These rush and net-front defending issues have plagued the Ducks all season, despite their success, and all came to fruition in this game on each of Nashville’s five goals.
Power Play: Nashville’s penalty kill did well to pressure Anaheim along the wall and at the offensive blueline. Seams were non-existent, and shots were challenged. The only aspect, an aspect they failed to reproduce, was player and puck movement through the middle of the ice, utilizing their bumper and switching along the perimeter.
Beckett Sennecke: Sennecke was one of the Ducks’ more consistent offensive drivers in this game, sparking chances from all three zones. What stood out most in this game, playing on the right side of Leo Carlsson and opposite Mikael Granlund, was his ability to make smart, effective second touches out of the zone on the breakout.
Sennecke consistently scanned before getting to spots and before pucks arrived, reading flow, coverage, and teammates with speed. He made clever one-touches to Carlsson, made crisp cross-ice stretch passes to Granlund in the neutral zone, utilized defensemen for regroups, and when he had a fraction of a second, he even pulled pucks off the wall himself, skating to the middle of the ice and starting a rush.
The Ducks will look to snap their six-game winless streak at the most dire juncture of the season, on Thursday, when they’ll host Macklin Celebrini and his hungry San Jose Sharks squad, vying for a playoff spot.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 7: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final score of Tuesday’s game was both a reflection of the chasm in talent between the Lakers and Thunder but also not entirely indicative of the effort LA gave to start the game either.
For the opening 18 minutes, the hosts held their own on the back of effort and energy plays on both ends. Some timely 3-pointers from unlikely — and unsustainable — sources helped them keep pace with Oklahoma City. But once the threes dried up and the free throws clanked off the rim endlessly, LA didn’t have any more answers and, well, you get a 36-point defeat.
As a result and considering the circumstances, there’s going to be a lot of grace given in these grades. Not one player was playing a role they’re suited for and many of the players have more minutes in the G League than the NBA in recent months. And they were playing against the best team in the NBA. This was never going to be pretty.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
An unexpected start for Timme, who started the game really well with 10 early points. That he finished with 11 points should tell you how the rest of the game went.
As harsh as you could be with Ayton after putting up this stat line, he was being defended by a First Team All-Defense caliber player in Chet Holmgren and was without the four ballhandlers he has the most chemistry with.
Of all the players who have had their role change the most in the last five days, Kennard might top that list. From largely an off-ball scorer to the lead point guard tonight.
Finally, Thiero got some run and it was as fun as you’d hope. Head coach JJ Redick mentioned that he was right at his minutes restriction, but he did a lot in that short span.
Bronny does look a lot more comfortable now, but his jumper is still shaky at best. It should be the biggest thing he works on this summer. He’s a consistent 3-pointer away from being a legitimate rotation player.
Another player with some surprise early minutes. The bulk of his stats, however, came in garbage time. It was nice to see him get some run and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they try him out a bit more to try to get some more scoring off the bench.
Only fourth quarter minutes for NSJ. He’s seen his role usurped by the combo of Bufkin and Bronny, so it’s hard to imagine him getting much more run this year.
A very rare extended run for Mañon, who received G League All-Defense honors earlier in the day.
Grade: C+
Jarred Vanderbilt
It was an adventurous start for Vando, who made his lone shot and was active but also missed all three free throws after being fouled on a long-range shot late in the first. His night abruptly ended in the second quarter when Redick called an early timeout and pulled him from the game for, as he said postgame, a “confluence of things.” Vando never returned, logging only five minutes.
JJ Redick
It’s a pretty impossible situation Redick has been placed in, but credit for him for having the team ready at the jump. The result felt inevitable, but the fight the team had not just in the opening 18 minutes, but throughout the game was evident.
Even with the likes of LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes out tonight but set to return, hopefully some more of the young Lakers continue to get minutes as well.
Grade: B
Tuesday’s inactives: LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes
Chicago Bulls (30-49, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (17-62, 15th in the Eastern Conference)
Washington; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Washington plays Chicago looking to break its 10-game home losing streak.
The Wizards are 11-38 in conference games. Washington is 2-2 in one-possession games.
The Bulls are 18-31 in Eastern Conference play. Chicago has a 12-31 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Wizards are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points lower than the 47.8% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than the Wizards give up.
The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on April 7 the Bulls won 129-98 led by 26 points from Rob Dillingham, while Bilal Coulibaly scored 19 points for the Wizards.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is scoring 10.3 points per game with 3.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 17.6 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 48.8% over the last 10 games.
Tre Jones is shooting 55.3% and averaging 13.8 points for the Bulls. Collin Sexton is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 1-9, averaging 115.2 points, 39.1 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 8.8 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 131.6 points per game.
Bulls: 2-8, averaging 119.1 points, 45.5 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.0 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (knee), Jaden Hardy: day to day (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Tre Johnson: day to day (foot), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Kyshawn George: out for season (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out for season (quad).
Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Isaac Okoro: day to day (quad), Jalen Smith: out for season (calf), Matas Buzelis: day to day (illness), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring), Nick Richards: day to day (elbow), Zach Collins: out for season (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Milwaukee will aim to end its four-game road losing streak when the Bucks face Detroit.
The Pistons are 10-4 against the rest of their division. Detroit is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 27.6 assists per game led by Cade Cunningham averaging 9.9.
The Bucks are 20-29 in Eastern Conference play. Milwaukee is fourth in the NBA averaging 15.0 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.8% from downtown. AJ Green leads the team averaging 2.8 makes while shooting 41.1% from 3-point range.
The Pistons average 10.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.9 fewer makes per game than the Bucks allow (14.8). The Bucks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Pistons allow.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Pistons won the last meeting 124-112 on Dec. 7, with Cunningham scoring 23 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Bucks. Ousmane Dieng is averaging 13.6 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 40.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 7-3, averaging 116.8 points, 42.0 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points per game.
Bucks: 3-7, averaging 106.9 points, 40.0 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.0 points.
INJURIES: Pistons: Cade Cunningham: day to day (lung), Isaiah Stewart: day to day (calf).
Bucks: Kyle Kuzma: day to day (achilles), Kevin Porter Jr.: out for season (knee), Myles Turner: day to day (ankle), Ryan Rollins: day to day (hip), Giannis Antetokounmpo: day to day (ankle), Bobby Portis: day to day (wrist), Gary Trent Jr.: day to day (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Miami Heat (41-38, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (44-35, sixth in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Miami travels to Toronto looking to break its three-game road slide.
The Raptors are 31-18 against conference opponents. Toronto is 7-4 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Heat are 25-24 in Eastern Conference play. Miami is the Eastern Conference leader with 46.5 rebounds per game led by Bam Adebayo averaging 10.0.
The Raptors are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points higher than the 46.4% the Heat allow to opponents. The Heat score 8.5 more points per game (120.4) than the Raptors give up to opponents (111.9).
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Raptors won 121-95 in the last matchup on April 7.
TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 19.4 points over the last 10 games.
Adebayo is scoring 20.0 points per game and averaging 10.0 rebounds for the Heat. Tyler Herro is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 117.4 points, 40.6 rebounds, 34.4 assists, 10.4 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.5 points per game.
Heat: 3-7, averaging 122.0 points, 43.4 rebounds, 29.5 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.3 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: None listed.
Heat: Nikola Jovic: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Orlando looks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Magic take on Minnesota.
The Magic are 25-16 in home games. Orlando is 17-19 in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Timberwolves are 22-17 in road games. Minnesota scores 117.6 points and has outscored opponents by 3.5 points per game.
The Magic average 115.5 points per game, 1.4 more points than the 114.1 the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 117.6 points per game, 2.4 more than the 115.2 the Magic allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Magic won the last meeting 119-92 on March 7. Desmond Bane scored 30 points to help lead the Magic to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is shooting 45.9% and averaging 22.3 points for the Magic. Bane is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Julius Randle is scoring 21.1 points per game with 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Timberwolves. Ayo Dosunmu is averaging 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49.5% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 5-5, averaging 115.8 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.8 points per game.
Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 111.7 points, 44.4 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 10.0 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Jett Howard: out (ankle), Jamal Cain: day to day (calf), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee), Wendell Carter Jr.: day to day (neck).
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: day to day (knee), Jaden McDaniels: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Boston Celtics (54-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (51-28, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: New York hosts Boston aiming to prolong its five-game home winning streak.
The Knicks are 33-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 15.2 fast break points per game led by Mikal Bridges averaging 3.2.
The Celtics have gone 35-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston has a 5-7 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Knicks' 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.2 more made shots on average than the 14.1 per game the Celtics allow. The Celtics are shooting 46.7% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 45.9% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Knicks won 111-89 in the last meeting on Feb. 8. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.
Brown is averaging 28.8 points, seven rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.6 points, 44.6 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.7 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 116.1 points, 47.7 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.
Celtics: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 03: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — For more than two weeks, Jordan Walsh didn’t lace up. The 22-year-old, who had, at one point, started 20 straight games for the Celtics, had completely fallen out of the rotation.
Still, Walsh kept an even-keeled mindset and perspective throughout that adversity.
“I’m still okay with where I’m at because Year 1, I had no chance of playing,” Walsh told CelticsBlog on March 22nd, amid a string of DNPS. “This year, I started 20 games, and we went 15 and 5 — and I proved that I can play at a high level.”
At that point — just over two weeks ago — it seemed likely that Walsh had permanently fallen out of the rotation. But, one hallmark characteristic of this Celtics season has been that as soon as it appears Joe Mazzulla has a solidified rotation, things change.
That latest change?
Jordan Walsh is back.
Over the past 7 games, Walsh has re-established himself as a key member of the Celtics lineup, averaging 20.2 minutes per game.
And, in a Tuesday night win against the Charlotte Hornets, he was crucial, tallying 9 points (on 4-4 FG), 6 rebounds, and a steal in 18 minutes of action — while also guarding Hornets star LaMelo Ball for much of the second half.
“He just understands that when he’s at his best defensively, he’s impacting the team’s best players, creating turnovers,” said Mazzulla. “I thought he was big tonight.”
Jaylen Brown, who has been one of Walsh’s mentors over the past few seasons, praised Walsh’s impact in the game.
“Jordan has the ability to change games,” Brown said. “His athleticism has the ability to change games. So that’s something that in the playoffs or future certain matchups, that will definitely be just continuing to urge him to have discipline and make the right plays out there and bring energy to our group. It makes a big difference.”
Brown pointed to a transition basket Walsh got in the first half as a key moment swing for the Celtics.
“Tonight, our offense wasn’t going in that second quarter, [he] gets out and runs with the transition dump that gets us going,” he said. “Plays like that are important.”
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 8, 2026
Jordan Walsh never changed his approach while sidelined
Amid his DNPs, Walsh said that he had leaned on his teammates to gain perspective on how to handle a changing role.
“I’ve gotten a piece of everybody’s story — Payton [Pritchard], JB [Jaylen Brown], Xavier [Tillman], all these people kind of went through similar things,” Walsh said last month. “I’ve gotten their story, and they gave me their knowledge on it.”
At that point, Walsh concluded he’d ensure that his attention to detail and work behind the scenes didn’t waver, regardless of his on-court opportunities. He’d work just as hard as practice, and be just as meticulous in the film room, ready for the moment in which his number might be called.
“It’s kind of just doing my best in the role that I am in now, and that’s just supporting the guys, showing up to practice, being the last one to leave,” Walsh said then. “Like, all that stuff is so cool to me.”
And, Joe Mazzulla took notice.
“When it’s not your turn, what’s your mindset and what’s your consistency? Still chipping away at the workouts? hHw serious do you take a film?” Mazzulla said on Tuesday. “So [I’ve seen] professionalism and consistency from Jordan, and I think Tyler [Lashbrook] does a great job with the guys that he works with, making sure that they’re ready. But it starts with Jordan’s mindset — if you’re not playing, how are you getting better? And so he continues to do that, and I think that’s why he could pick up where he left off.”
Brown thinks Walsh has improved, even though it hasn’t always been easy.
“Just throughout the whole season, I’ve seen an increase and just a better feel overall for what is needed and what he needs to do when he’s out there on the floor,” Brown said. “He’s just managed that well. At times, it’s not been in his favor, but I think he’s kept a level head.”
Jayson Tatum has similarly been impressed by Walsh’s approach this year.
“Just being ready — not necessarily knowing when he’s going to get in, but knowing that part of being a professional is when your number is called to come in and change the game — crash the glass, defensive rebound, pick up 94-feet, hit open shots,” Tatum said after the Celtics 115-102 win over the Hornets. “And give him credit, he definitely did — [he] changed the energy of the game.”
Still, how Walsh will impact the Celtics in the postseason remains to be seen — he’s never laced up for real postseason action. Jaylen Brown is looking forward to seeing how that shakes it.
“Playoffs is a time of year where you put it all on display, everything that you learn, all the discipline that you’ve acquired, all of that stuff — the ultimate test is coming up,” Brown said.
Walsh’s Stay Ready mindset embodies the season the Celtics have put together thus far. Some nights, it’s been Hugo Gonzalez. Other nights, it’s been Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, or Luka Garza. Heck, even Josh Minott — now a Brooklyn Net — helped win the Celtics a few games.
That’s how the roster exceeded expectations en route to 54 wins — and counting.
Joe Mazzulla summed it up best.
“The story of our season up until this point,” he said, “is we got 14, 15 guys that can impact winning.”
The Vancouver Canucks recorded their yet another loss on home ice Tuesday as they fell 2-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights. Max Sasson scored the only goal for Vancouver as he beat Carter Hart in the second period. As for Nikita Tolopilo, he stood on his head and made 26 saves in the loss.
Tuesday's loss will go down as one of the worst home efforts in recent memory. The Canucks recorded just 11 shots compared to the Golden Knights' 28. Ultimately, Tolopilo is the reason this game stayed close, as he did everything in his power to try to secure a victory in front of the fans.
"I mean, without Tolo, I don't know how close it would be, said Sasson post-game. You know, I thought everyone, including myself, can probably give a better effort in front of our home fans. Only a couple games left, and only getting 10 shots or whatever. It's not good enough."
Vancouver's inability to win games at Rogers Arena has been puzzling all season. With the loss, the Canucks can not hit 10 wins at home, which is a first for the franchise. Post-game, Sasson was asked about the lack of victories at Rogers Arena and why Vancouver has struggled at home compared to on the road.
"We've got to figure that out. Going into next year, it feels, everyone's a little more tense at home. I have no clue, you know why, or what it is. I'm sure that'll be talked about in summer meetings and stuff and going into training camp, but yeah, you're 100% right. It feels, even, you know, in the locker room, it feels looser on the road for whatever reason. And, we've got to be good at home if we're gonna be a good team in this league."
Head Coach Adam Foote was also at a loss for words when asked about the problems at home. He said, "I don't. I mean, there's been lots of talk and discussion about it, but, I mean, you know, I don't, I really don't. But I don't want to look too far into that right now. That's something we'll probably have discussions more about in the off-season."
While it is understood that the Canucks are in a rebuild, the fans at Rogers Arena deserve better than what happened on Tuesday night. Vancouver's only push came at the end of the game, and even then, the team only managed four total shots in the third period. With one final home game left on the calendar, hopefully, this group can step up and provide some form of entertainment for the home crowd.
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone (61) passes around Vancouver Canucks defenseman Marcus Pettersson (29) and forward Max Sasson (63) and forward Teddy Blueger (53) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Stats and Facts:
- Filip Hronek led all players with six hits
- Teddy Blueger extends his point streak to four games
- The Canucks' 11 shots recorded are the second-lowest total in franchise history
- Marco Rossi and Filip Hronek led Vancouver with two shots each
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
No Scoring
2nd Period:
12:50- VAN: Max Sasson (13) from Teddy Blueger and Linus Karlsson 15:46- VGK: Brayden McNabb (5) from Shea Theodore and Brandon Saad
3rd Period:
12:13- VGK: Cole Smith (8) from Nic Dowd
Up Next:
The Canucks hit the road for three straight in California, starting with a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. Vancouver still has two more games against the Kings, with the second meeting being the Canucks' home finale. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm PT.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors drives the lane on Precious Achiuwa #9 of the Sacramento Kings in the second half at Chase Center on April 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After four straight losses, the Golden State Warriors are back in the win column, with a 110-105 victory over the scrappy — but lowly — Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night at the Chase Center.
From the opening tip, it was clear that the Warriors had energy thanks to the return of Steph Curry, who played in his second game following a 27-game absence. Despite Curry’s return, the Warriors were still extremely beat up, and playing without Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, Quinten Post, Gui Santos, and Will Richard, to go along with the season-ending injuries that Moses Moody (who appeared at the arena to massive applause) and Jimmy Butler III sustained. Then again, the Warriors weren’t getting sympathy points from a Kings team that was without Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, among others.
But it was evident that Curry’s return had rejuvenated the Warriors, who brought full-on hustle to an arena that finally had life in it. That said, it took the funky starting lineup — Pat Spencer, De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green, and Malevy Leons — quite a while to find some rhythm, though they finally did locate a little, led by Spencer. Golden State’s defense was solid, while Sacramento’s offense was tremendously ugly at the beginning. The Warriors had gone 3-for-4 on threes before the Kings even attempted a shot from distance.
But even so, the Warriors couldn’t gain much separation, because their offense was still struggling. Curry checked in at the 6:24 mark with the Dubs leading by just a single point, and, not surprisingly, the spacing instantly improved. Yet that seemed to coincide with the Kings realizing that they were a very athletic team, and they started to use that to an advantage, opening up a lead in the process. After a few minutes, Curry started to get into a flow, and the Warriors trailed 26-25 after a closely-contested, back-and-forth opening frame.
The second quarter was weird, especially at the beginning. The Warriors dialed up the energy level to 11, while lowering the execution level to 0.5. They weren’t sloppy — that would come in the third quarter — but they just couldn’t get anything going, at least on offense. They weren’t able to make good passes, or get open looks, or convert buckets.
Around the halfway mark, Curry returned, along with Green and Seth Curry, and that sparked the Dubs, who started using defense to lead to offense. Suddenly the Warriors were clicking — Melton was playing his best game in ages — and they had a 48-40 lead. The Kings responded with a few buckets, before Curry stole the momentum back with an unreal four-point play. Podziemski, who bailed the offense out time and time again, added a three shortly later, pushing the lead to double digits for the first time all game. Not long after that, Curry somehow managed a second four-point play, and suddenly the Warriors lead was 16.
At the break, they led 66-53. They had turned the ball over just five times. Life was good.
They had no idea what awaited them on the other side of halftime.
Sloppiness. That’s what awaited them, so it was entirely a self-inflicted wound, though give credit to the Kings for applying constant pressure. It was sloppy from the get-go — both teams were playing hard and scrappy, but only one of them was executing at a level befitting the NBA, and it wasn’t the team that had a vested interest in winning the basketball game.
There’s no need to linger on a no good, very bad quarter. After turning the ball over just five times in the first half, the Warriors had 11 turnovers in the third quarter alone. They especially fell apart late, when it seemed like they could barely hold onto the ball, let alone dribble or pass it, and the Kings pounced. Sacramento ended the quarter on a 9-0 run, and pulled to within four points when the buzzer sounded.
The Kings finished the run in the fourth quarter, turning it into a 13-0 blitzing that tied the game, before Podziemski mercifully stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws.
From there, the teams threw punches back and forth — not literally, thankfully, though if you’re looking for that, might I suggest watching highlights from the baseball game between the Angels and Braves. Neither team could gain any separation, and it really felt like each team was just waiting for Curry to check back into the game.
He did so at the 5:53 mark, once again accompanied by his brother and Green. This time the Warriors were down two, but Seth immediately drained a three to shift the momentum.
Still, it nearly came down to the wire. The game was tied with two minutes remaining, when Steph rose for a corner three.
It missed. You didn’t expect me to say that, did you? But he read it all the way, dashed in for his own rebound, whipped the ball back out to the perimeter, and watched Podziemski drain a three for a lead that the Warriors would not relinquish.
The Kings, who have been eliminated, then employed a fascinating strategy that felt like an attempt to skirt the NBA’s anti-tanking rules, and, for the second time in the last few possessions, purposely fouled Seth Curry, a career 86.4% free throw shooter. Both teams benefitted from this decision, as he made both free throws, pushing the lead to five with just over a minute remaining.
Golden State got a few stops against a Sacramento offense that at this point just seemed to be goofing off, and they avoided disaster with a 110-105 win.
We’re used to the stars of the game starting in the backcourt, which was the case on Tuesday. But usually that’s because Curry is starting, not coming off the bench. Instead, it was Podziemski and Melton who started and led the team in scoring. Podz had 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Melton had 20 points and three assists. Curry, meanwhile, had 17 off the bench.
But the unsung hero was the new guy: Charles Bassey. With the Warriors missing their three centers, Bassey — playing in just his second game with the organization — controlled the paint any time his number was called. He finished with a sensational line — 14 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks — but that doesn’t paint the picture as to how huge his contributions were. For a deeply undersized team, he made the Warriors feel big. And against a Sacramento squad that had the athleticism advantage, Bassey helped equalize that mismatch. He’s going to be a vital player for them the rest of the way.
The Warriors improved to 37-42, and have just three regular season games remaining. The next one is Thursday night, when they host the banged up Los Angeles Lakers at 7:00 p.m. PT.
Apr 7, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez (61) walks off the mound after being removed from the game during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
The struggle against left-handed starters continued for the Philadelphia Phillies (6-5) as they dropped the middle game of their series against the San Francisco Giants (4-8) on Tuesday night by a score of 6-0.
Christopher Sanchez had a rough night, allowing 11 of the Giants’ 12 hits, the second highest total against him in his career. A rough night for the Phillies’ ace is still a decent night for some, as only two of the four runs credited to him during his 5.0+ IP were earned due to several miscues by his backing group.
Giants’ lefty starter, Robbie Ray, dominated all night, scattering six baserunners on three hits and three walks across 109 pitches with seven punch outs.
Ultimately, the additional damage inflicted by the poor defense didn’t matter as the Phillies’ offense offered little resistance to Ray and the rest of the Giants’ staff. With a left-hander on the mound, Alec Bohm out of the lineup nursing a sore groin, and JT Realmuto leaving the game after the first inning following a foul ball ricocheting off his right foot, the lineup featured the whole bench in Edmundo Sosa, Otto Kemp, Dylan Moore and Rafael Marchan.
Sanchez’s only clean inning came in a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, but he allowed multiple runners to reach base in each of the four others. He didn’t have his usual putaway stuff as eight of his eleven hits allowed came in two-strike counts.
The defensive gaffes were punctuated by a fielding error by Trea Turner, a throwing error by Marchan and a weak throw-in by Justin Crawford that allowed Wilson Ramos to tag-up from first and take second on a fly ball to center. But there was also the around the horn double play started by Sosa to relieve the jam in the second inning, a dart throw by Adolis Garcia to cut down Adames at home plate in the third, and a pick off throw behind the runner at first by Marchan in the fifth.
The Giants opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on an RBI ground out by Luis Arraez that scored Willy Adames who led off with a double.
They would tack on two more in the fifth after a leadoff single by Daniel Susac, an RBI double by Chapman and an RBI single by Arraez.
Sanchez gave way to Zach Pop in the sixth after surrendering a single to Rafael Devers and a ground rule double to Casey Schmitt with no outs. Pop allowed one runner to score on a sacrifice fly by Jung Hoo Lee but kept his own line clean, as did Tanner Banks in the seventh.
Orion Kerkering made his 2026 debut and likely saw ghosts as his first hitter faced, Ramos, knocked a dying dribbler in between Kerkering and Marchan that, after an instant’s hesitation by both battery members, was fielded by Marchan and errantly thrown to first for an error. That error may have been a mercy in disguise for Kerkering who conceded a walk to Schmitt and a triple by Susac that piled on two more runs for the Giants, neither counting against his ERA.
The offense was 0-6 with runners in scoring position. Their lone extra-base hit was a double by Sosa in the second inning and a runner didn’t reach second base again until Sosa and then Moore walked in the seventh.
Bryce Harper worked two walks and reached on a single. Turner and Kyle Schwarber each had one of the team’s four hits.
It’ll be Aaron Nola versus Tyler Mahle in the series decider tomorrow afternoon.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Manager Craig Stammen #14 of the San Diego Padres looks on before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Craig Stammen was a reliever for the San Diego Padres long before he was their manager. By all accounts he was a beloved teammate who could relate to anyone on the roster no matter their age, background or nationality. He was the perfect teammate. Perhaps this is the reason it was so surprising that Stammen, who was assisting the Padres front office with managerial interviews before general manager A.J. Preller asked him to consider interviewing for the position, landed the job. Stammen went from being a teammate to the man in charge.
Padres fans were right to wonder if Stammen could assume the leadership role and get the most out of players he played with like Manny Machado and Joe Musgrove. That question has yet to be answered on the field with just 11 games played this season, but it is a storyline that will no doubt be watched and documented as the season progresses.
What we have seen so far under Stammen is the San Diego offense continues to struggle with run production and at times, the defense has been spotty. Of course, at this point in the season there is nothing to say that what we have seen from the Padres under Stammen is what they will be going forward, but like anyone in a new position, there are multiple areas where fans can and should expect improvement as the first-year manager settles into the new reality of being the one making decisions in the dugout rather than running in from the bullpen.
San Diego has played three series under Stammen and will complete the fourth against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday at 9:35 a.m. PST. The Padres dropped the first two series at home winning one game in each before taking two of three from the Boston Red Sox on the road. The series in Pittsburgh is tied 1-1 and San Diego has Michael King on the mound in the rubber match.
For this week’s Padres Reacts Survey Gaslamp Ball asks you to grade Stammen’s performance to this point in the season. There is a lot of time between now and 162, but everyone has an opinion on how things are going, so here is your chance to tell us yours. Results will be posted later in the week.
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 7: Darius Garland #10 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 7, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks got run off the floor Tuesday night, falling 116-103 to the Los Angeles Clippers in a game that followed a familiar script from this stretch of the season. Dallas struggled offensively all night, shooting just 35.0% from the field and 6-of-33 from three (18.2%), making it nearly impossible to keep up despite getting to the line frequently. Marvin Bagley III was a clear bright spot, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 9 rebounds, while Cooper Flagg added 21 points and 9 boards, though it came on a heavy 25-shot workload. Klay Thompson struggled again, going 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from three, as the Mavericks never found consistent perimeter shooting. On the other side, the Clippers were more efficient and balanced, shooting 44.6% from the field and 37.8% from three, with multiple contributors keeping the offense steady throughout. Dallas hung around for stretches but never truly threatened down the stretch, as another tough shooting night and lack of consistent offense ultimately defined a loss that felt in line with where this team currently is.
Dallas got hit right away in the first quarter, and it completely dictated the flow of the period. The Clippers opened on a 17-0 run, fueled by Darius Garland’s making, Kawhi Leonard’s getting control, and easy interior looks, while the Mavericks couldn’t get anything clean offensively. Early possessions were rough, with missed threes, a blocked Flagg layup, and multiple stalled trips that never put pressure on the defense. Cooper Flagg was eventually the one who broke the drought, scoring on a floater and then adding a step-back three, free throws, and an alley-oop dunk to give Dallas some life. Marvin Bagley chipped in with a couple of finishes inside, but every time Dallas showed signs of momentum, the Clippers immediately answered with another efficient possession. They closed the quarter down 39-26, a stretch defined by a brutal start and an offense that took far too long to find any rhythm.
The second quarter had a few brief moments where it felt like Dallas might settle in, but it never fully came together. The Mavericks opened with some life as Naji Marshall finished inside and Cooper Flagg hit a pull-up. Still, the Clippers quickly responded through Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, continuing to generate cleaner looks. Midway through the quarter, the offense stalled out, with Flagg having multiple attempts blocked and missing floaters, which killed any rhythm. Dallas got a small push from Marvin Bagley with a three, a dunk, and free throws, but second-chance points and trips to the line from LA immediately erased all momentum. Missed threes and empty possessions kept resetting any progress, and by halftime the Clippers held a 65-55 lead, a quarter where Dallas hung around but never took control.
The third quarter was Dallas’ stretch, as they finally found some rhythm and made a real push to get back into the game. It started with Cooper Flagg getting downhill and to the line, while also setting up Marvin Bagley for easy finishes, helping chip away at the deficit. Bagley provided consistent scoring inside, and Ryan Nembhard and Klay Thompson added timely buckets, allowing Dallas to pull even briefly. But every time the Mavericks got close, Kawhi Leonard answered, knocking down multiple threes and tough midrange shots to keep the Clippers in control. Dallas had chances to take the lead, but missed shots and second-chance opportunities for LA stalled momentum. By the end of the quarter, despite the push, Dallas still trailed 89-84, a much closer game but one that remained just out of reach.
The fourth quarter never really gave Dallas a real opening, and it slowly slipped away possession by possession. The Clippers opened with a Darius Garland layup, and even when Cooper Flagg answered with a dunk, and Ryan Nembhard added a layup, Dallas couldn’t actually close the gap. After cutting it to 90-95, the game turned, as the Clippers responded with Garland scoring, second-chance points from John Collins, and free throws from Bennedict Mathurin, quickly pushing the lead back out. From there, the MavericMavericks stalled again with missed threes, a shot clock violation, and multiple blocked attempts, while LA kept adding efficient looks to stretch it into double digits. By the final minutes, it shifted into end-of-rotation basketball, with Klay Thompson adding some late buckets and free throws, but nothing that threatened the result. Dallas never seriously pushed back, and the Clippers closed it out comfortably, 116-103.
Tough Watch for Klay
There was something genuinely sad about watching Klay Thompson out there late in this one, especially surrounded by a lineup that clearly reflects where this team is right now. He finished just 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from three, and a lot of those looks felt forced or rushed, not because he was playing poorly in a vacuum, but because the situation around him isn’t conducive to his success anymore. When you’re a player like Klay, tasked with creating or stabilizing offense on a tanking roster, it just highlights how out of place it all feels.
And to his credit, he’s been sothing but a pro through all of it. He shows up, takes the shots, plays his role, and doesn’t care about anything other than helping the team. But at a certain point, it’s on its Mavericks to recognize what this is. His value isn’t going to go up by playing in games like this, and the longer this goes on, the more it risks fading altogether.
There’s an argument that Dallas should do right by him. Find him a situation where he can contribute to meaningful basketball again, where his skillset actually fits the context. He’s eaHe’s that. And honestly, it would benefit both sides. Because watching him grind through nights like this, at this stage, doesn’t feel like how it should end.
We are Ready for a New Season
At this point, it’s a little relief to feel that the season is winding down. Nights like this are the perfect example of why. You’re going to have a depleted roster go up against another pretty mediocre team in a half-empty arena, and the game itself turns into a grind filled with stoppages, including 45 combined free throws through three quarters. It’s no, it’s losing, it’s what these games feel. Slow, disjointed, and honestly exhausting to sit through.
There’s a sweet element to it, though. On the one hand, it’s been a long season, and a break from this version of the Mavericks feels necessary. On the other hand, you know what’s next is actually exciting. The draft, the offseason, the potential reshaping of the roster. That’s the real intrigue now. Because while there are still flashes and individual performances worth watching, nights like this are a reminder that this team, as currently constructed, isn’t a product right now. And after stretches like this, it’s a hit to be ready to move on to what’s next.
Bagley continues to make his case.
Marvin Bagley III continues to quietly make a real case for himself, even in a season where the bigger picture is about losing and positioning. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting (72.7%), adding 9 rebounds and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, and it never felt forced. He just competed. Every possession, every touch, every opportunity to impact the game, he was there. And that’s consistent since he got to Dallas, even while dealing with injuries along the way.
What stands out most is how natural his fit has been alongside Cooper Flagg. He runs the floor, finishes at the rim, and gives Flagg a reliable interior presence to play off of, whether it’s lob dump-offs or second-chance opportunities. For a team that has struggled to find consistency in the frontcourt all season, that kind of stability matters more than it might seem on the surface.
The Mavericks will have to reevaluate their frontcourt this offseason seriously. That’s that. Bagley might not be a guaranteed piece moving forward, but he’s absolutely earned the right to be in that conversation. When you’re researching who competes, who produces, and who fits next to your cornerstone player, his name should come up just as much as anyone else.
