DETROIT (AP) — Tomas Hertl scored a power-play goal with 2:49 remaining in overtime and the Vegas Golden Knights rallied from a two-goal, third-period deficit to edge the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Hertl scored in front off a pass from Mitch Marner as Vegas snapped a three-game losing streak. Marner scored the tying goal with 3:24 left in regulation and had two assists.
Reilly Smith and Ivan Barbashev had the other goals for Vegas, which wrapped up a five-game road trip. Adin Hill made 23 saves in the Golden Knights’ third game in four nights.
Simon Edvinsson and Alex DeBrincat each had a goal and an assist for Detroit, which is now 24-1-3 when leading after two periods. Emmitt Finnie also scored for the Red Wings and Cam Talbot made 21 saves.
Vegas’ second-leading scorer, Mark Stone, missed the game due to an upper-body injury.
Vegas scored twice in the final nine minutes of regulation to erase a 3-1 deficit.
DEVILS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 3, SO
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Paul Cotter and Jesper Bratt scored in the shootout, Connor Brown forced overtime with a tying goal with 2:21 left in the third period and New Jersey beat Toronto, sending the Maple Leafs to their fifth straight loss.
Timo Meier and and Arseny Gritsyuk also scored in regulation for the Devils, who have won three in a row and improved to 25-8-1 when scoring at least three goals. Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves.
William Nylander, Matias Maccelli and Matthew Knies had goals for the Maple Leafs, who haven’t won since beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Feb. 3 — their last game before the Olympic break. Anthony Stolarz made 44 saves.
Cotter put a backhander past Stolarz to start the shootout for the Devils. After Nylander’s wrister was stopped, Bratt also scored on a backhander to put New Jersey up 2-0 in the shootout. Auston Matthews’ wrist shot was then stopped by Markstrom, giving the Devils the victory.
NEW YORK (AP) — Chet Holmgren had 28 points and eight rebounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the New York Knicks 103-100 on Wednesday night.
Holmgren tied a career high with six 3-pointers and Lu Dort added 16 points for the Thunder, who recovered after the Knicks took the lead with a 40-point third quarter, going back ahead early in the fourth and nursing a small advantage the rest of the way.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby missed tying 3-point attempts on the final possession as Oklahoma City won its fourth straight and snapped New York’s three-game winning streak.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson had 16 points and a season-high 15 assists, but shot just 5 for 18. Anunoby also had 16 points.
HORNETS 118, CELTICS 89
BOSTON (AP) — Kon Knueppel scored 20 points and Charlotte extended itswin streak to six games with a win over Boston.
Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball each added 18 points. Coby White finished with 17 points and six assists to help Charlotte move above .500 for the first time since Oct. 26.
The Hornets never trailed and led by as many as 29 points while committing only five turnovers.
Derrick White led the Celtics with 29 points. Jaylen Brown added 20 points and 11 rebounds as Boston’s win streak was stopped at three games.
The Celtics came out sluggish playing in their sixth game in nine days, shooting just 38% (30 of 79) from the the field and committing 16 turnovers that led to 21 Charlotte points. Boston also was mostly cold from the 3-point line, connecting on only 10 of 36 attempts
Despite playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Hornets sprinted out to an 8-0 lead as the Celtics missed their first eight shots.
76ERS 106, JAZZ 102
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quentin Grimes hit two tiebreaking free throws with 16.4 seconds remaining, Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points and short-handed Philadelphia beat Utah.
Grimes finished with 16 points and Jabari Walker had 22 points for the 76ers, who were without Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and suspended Paul George.
Keyonte George scored 30 points for the Jazz, who have lost seven in a row.
Philadelphia, which entered in sixth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race, trailed 100-94 with 4:51 left after George hit a 3. But Utah missed its next six field goals, and Philadelphia tied it at 100 on Adem Bona’s follow dunk with 1:50 left.
Isaiah Collier’s layup 46 seconds later put the Jazz ahead by two points, but Grimes tied it on a drive with 46.8 seconds remaining. After George misfired on a long-range shot for Utah, Grimes converted both free throws after being fouled. Utah coach Will Hardy did not call timeout, and a wide-open look from long distance by Kyle Filipowski was off.
TRAIL BLAZERS 122, GRIZZLIES 114
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jrue Holiday had 35 points and 11 assists, and Jerami Grant added 30 points as Portland snapped a two-game skid with a win over Memphis.
Portland (30-33), making a push to qualify for the postseason, used a 24-19 scoring edge over the final nine minutes to seal the win. The Trail Blazers had lost three of their last four and four of their last six games entering Wednesday.
Robert Williams III had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Portland. Matisse Thybulle contributed three rebounds, an assist and a steal on his 29th birthday.
The Grizzlies got double-figure scoring from seven players, but it wasn’t enough against Portland as they lost their second straight and for the ninth time in 12 games. Memphis was playing the second game of a back to back after falling to Minnesota 117-110 on Tuesday.
HAWKS 131, BUCKS 113
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Atlanta defeated slumping Milwaukee to win its fifth straight game and move above .500 for the first time since December.
Atlanta was 15-12 after a Dec. 14 victory over Philadelphia, but the Hawks lost their next seven games and hadn’t owned a winning record since.
Onyeka Okongwu had 21 points and Jalen Johnson added 20 points and nine assists as the Hawks erased an early 16-point deficit. CJ McCollum scored 18 points, while Dyson Daniels had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hawks outscored the Bucks 65-42 in the second half.
Atlanta didn’t have Jonathan Kuminga available due to inflammation in his left knee, while Milwaukee was missing Kevin Porter Jr. because of swelling in his right knee.
Milwaukee fell five games behind 10th-place Atlanta in the Eastern Conference standings, putting the Bucks’ bid for a 10th straight playoff berth in serious jeopardy. The Bucks have lost their last four games by a combined 97 points.
CLIPPERD 130, PACERS 107
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 on 8-for-11-shooting, and Los Angeles won its third in a row, beating Indiana.
Brook Lopez had 17 points for the Clippers while Darius Garland had 12 in his first home game since being acquired in a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers last month.
Pascal Siakam had 29 points in his return after sitting out three games with a left wrist sprain to lead Indiana, but the Pacers lost their seventh in a row and fell to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 15-47 record.
Jay Huff had 18 and was 4 of 8 on 3-pointers, and Jarace Walker finished with 17.
The Clippers led 42-25 after one quarter and 63-51 at halftime, with Leonard racking up 20 points. The Clippers pulled away with a 16-2 run in the third quarter to extend a seven-point lead to 21 points.
The Clippers shot 12.2 percentage points better from the field (55.1%) than the Pacers (42.9%).
Nets coach Jordi Fernández reacts during a timeout in Tuesday's drubbing against the Heat in Miami.
A ninth straight loss would warrant any coach having a strong word with his or her team.
Yet, after what was an abysmal Nets performance that made for their longest losing streak this season, as well as the worst skid in the NBA, Jordi Fernández had more than a warning for his team.
He issued a challenge.
After watching his best player in Michael Porter Jr. score just nine points, Fernández yanked him off the court with 9:33 remaining in the third.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández reacts during a timeout in Tuesday’s drubbing against the Heat in Miami. Imagn Images
“I want Mike and the first group to play as hard as they can,” Fernández said. “I want to challenge them to do it, because I’ve seen them doing it, especially on the defensive end. If that happens, I can live with whatever happens. If that is there, then you’re being selfless, you’re playing for the team, and just good things happen. I’m trying to just challenge every guy in different ways.”
The Nets have their first chance to answer the call against the Heat again Thursday night.
For Fernández, it hopefully cannot be that much worse of a performance — one that Nic Claxton called “an all-around stinker.”
Miami’s physicality on defense held the Nets to only 38.4 percent shooting from the field (33-for-86) and a brutal 18.8 percent (6-for-32) from deep, which is their third-worst mark from beyond the arc in a single game this season. They also committed 18 costly turnovers.
Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. gets his weak offering swatted away by Kel’el Ware (left) and Andrew Wiggins on Tuesday. AP
It was easily Porter’s worst game of the season, shooting 3-for-17 and 0-for-9 from beyond the arc.
It was once thought that his first-half tear would have earned the 27-year-old his first All-Star nod as he averaged 25.6 points per game in the first 38 games of the season.
Yet, his production has fallen off since the break, averaging just 19.8 points per game.
However, the stat sheet and Fernández’s challenge don’t just come down to the starters and veteran players.
Twelve of those turnovers came from two rookies alone.
Nolan Traore, who started the game, scored 14 points and logged six turnovers without a single assist.
Ben Saraf, who stood in for Egor Dëmin as the backup point guard, also committed six turnovers against four assists.
It was the most either of them has committed in Brooklyn.
“[Traore and Saraf] need to grow. They need to grow and watch it and learn from it,” Fernández said. “And I know they’re better. It’s not an excuse if they’re young. I’ve watched them play and they’re way better than 12 turnovers. How they organize the team, how vocal they are, all that, it’s important.”
Nets guard Nolan Traore turned the ball over six times against the Heat on Tuesday. Imagn Images
“Regardless how they happened, you can’t have that many [turnovers] for that many points,” forward Noah Clowney added. “I don’t know how many they scored off of [them], but even [if] we missed layups or they blocked shots, they were running the other way and scoring in transition because we don’t get back.”
The Nets (15-46), who sit second in the draft lottery race and 1 ¹/₂ games behind the Kings, are in the middle of a tanking season and trying to find some victories outside of the wins column.
However, it can weigh heavily on players as it has been made clear by the front office what the season mission is.
Still, the Nets will be challenged to reset Thursday and put up a fight in South Beach.
“I don’t know how to answer that. I take s–t day by day,” Clowney said when asked about the locker room environment during the losing streak. “I couldn’t tell you who we played last game. I try to forget about everything. Play, live in the moment. As far as the locker room, we’ll figure it out. We got to.”
Darius Acuff Jr. had 28 points and 13 assists, Trevon Brazile scored a career-high 28 and No. 20 Arkansas beat Texas 105-85 on Wednesday night to clinch a double bye into the quartefinals of the SEC Tournament.
After securing a top-four finish in the Southeastern Conference standings, the Razorbacks (22-8, 12-5) will bypass the first two rounds next week in Nashville, Tennessee.
Acuff became the first player in Arkansas history with at least 25 points and 10 assists in a game. He had 19 points and eight assists by halftime as the Razorbacks took a 22-point lead into the break.
Brazile, a senior playing his final home game, shot 9 of 11 from the field and added seven rebounds.
Matas Vokietaitis led Texas (18-12, 9-8) with 21 points. He was one of four Longhorns players in double figures.
NO. 7 HOUSTON 77, BAYLOR 64
HOUSTON (AP) — Kingston Flemings had 21 points and seven assists, Emanuel Sharp added 19 points and Houston rallied for a win over Baylor.
Flemings and Sharp combined to shoot 13 of 26 from the field, and Sharp was 5 of 10 on 3-pointers.
Joseph Tugler finished with 14 points and six rebounds and Milos Uzan had 12 points for Houston (25-5, 13-4 Big 12), which used a big second-half run to overcome Baylor (15-15, 5-12).
The Cougars forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 28 points. They shot 46% and were 9 of 25 on 3-pointers.
Tounde Yessoufou had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Caden Powell added 12 points and Cameron Carr and Obi Agbim each had 11 for the Bears. Baylor shot 42% from the field and 8 of 25 from behind the arc, but made just two of their final 16 from long range.
NO. 15 PURDUE 70, NORTHWESTERN 66
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — C.J. Cox scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 48 seconds left that helped Purdue edge Nick Martinelli and Northwestern.
Cox outlasted Martinelli in a memorable duel in the final minutes, sending Purdue to a sorely needed victory. The Boilermakers (23-7, 13-6 Big Ten) had lost two in a row and three of four overall.
Trey Kaufman-Renn added 11 points and 10 rebounds, shaking off a shoulder injury in the second half. Fletcher Loyer finished with 10 points.
Martinelli, a senior playing his final home game, scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half. The Big Ten’s leading scorer moved into seventh on the school’s career list with 1,687 points, passing Northwestern assistant coach Bryant McIntosh.
Jayden Reid scored 16 points for the Wildcats (13-17, 5-14), who had won three in a row.
NO. 22 MIAMI 77, SMU 69
DALLAS (AP) — Tre Donaldson scored 17 points, Malik Reneau had a double-double and Miami beat SMU, ensuring the Hurricanes a double bye in next week’s ACC Tournament.
Reneau had 12 points and 11 rebounds while Tru Washington scored 15 for Miami (24-6, 13-4), which got its seventh win in eight games since the start of February. Freshman guard Noam Dovrat had 12 points on four 3-pointers for the second game in a row.
The Hurricanes played their first game as an AP Top 25 team since December 2023 after getting ranked on Monday. They matched their school record for regular-season wins and increased Division I’s best turnaround to 17 victories more than last season with first-year coach Jai Lucas.
Jaron Pierre Jr. had 27 points with six 3s and Boopie Miller scored 21 for the Mustangs (19-11, 8-9), who have lost three in a row after earlier this season getting double-digit wins at home over Top 25 teams North Carolina and Louisville. They haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2017.
NO. 25 SAINT LOUIS 79, LOYOLA CHICAGO 65
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Amari McCottry scored 18 points, Dion Brown added 15 and Saint Louis clinched the top seed in the Atlantic 10 Tournament by beating Loyola Chicago.
The Billikens (27-3, 15-2) finished unbeaten at Chaifetz Arena for the first time in the building’s 18-year history and tied the school record with their 22nd consecutive home win, 19 coming this season.
Xavier Amos led the Ramblers (7-23, 3-14) with a season-high 25 points and Kayde Dotson scored 19. Amos made all seven of his shots in an 18-point first half, including four 3-pointers in a three-minute stretch to close an early 12-point deficit.
HOUSTON (AP) — Kingston Flemings had 21 points and seven assists, Emanuel Sharp added 19 points and No. 7 Houston rallied for a 77-64 win over Baylor on Wednesday night.
Flemings and Sharp combined to shoot 13 of 26 from the field, and Sharp was 5 of 10 on 3-pointers.
Joseph Tugler finished with 14 points and six rebounds and Milos Uzan had 12 points for Houston (25-5, 13-4 Big 12), which used a big second-half run to overcome Baylor (15-15, 5-12).
The Cougars forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 28 points. They shot 46% and were 9 of 25 on 3-pointers.
Tounde Yessoufou had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Caden Powell added 12 points and Cameron Carr and Obi Agbim each had 11 for the Bears. Baylor shot 42% from the field and 8 of 25 from behind the arc, but made just two of their final 16 from long range.
Trailing 58-54 with about eight minutes remaining, the Cougars went on a 23-4 run to grab a 77-62 lead on two free throws by Tugler with 1:21 left. Houston, which never led for the first 32 minutes, took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Sharp with 7:16 remaining. The Bears were 2-of-9 shooting in the final eight minutes.
The Bears led 29-19 after a layup by Yessoufou with 5:47 remaining, but the Cougars closed the half on a 16-6 spurt and tied it at 35 going into halftime on two free throws by Flemings with 5 seconds left. Flemings scored eight points in the half-ending run.
Up next
Baylor: Hosts Utah on Saturday in its regular-season finale.
Houston: Travels to Oklahoma State on Saturday in the regular-season finale.
George Lombard Jr. took the Red Sox ace deep to lead off Wednesday’s exhibition, then drilled a single off him in his second at-bat for two of the three hits Crochet allowed.
“It’s always good getting to face the elite guys in the league,” Lombard said. “I was excited for it. Looking for something to hit, not trying to do too much with it and put a good swing on it.”
But he has also flashed his offensive potential with plenty of hard-hit balls like Wednesday, with his OPS now up to 1.196 through six games.
George Lombard Jr. celebrates with Ben Rice after hitting a homer off Garrett Crochet in the first inning of the Yankees’ 4-0 spring training win over the Red Sox on March 4, 2026. Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Crochet, the big lefty who most recently shut down the Yankees in a dominant start in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series last October, threw a 97 mph fastball at the top of the zone on a 1-2 count to Lombard to lead off the game.
The top prospect had no trouble catching up to it, clobbering it over everything (including the Green Monster replica) in left field for a 392-foot homer that came off the bat at 104.2 mph.
Then in the third inning, Lombard roped a 108.5 mph bullet that got past shortstop Trevor Story for a single.
“He’s been great,” manager Aaron Boone said. “You see what he’s capable of. The thing he does pretty well already, as a young hitter, is control the strike zone and has real pop. Obviously a no-doubter there to start things off. He’s just continuing to develop as a hitter.”
Luis Gil looked the sharpest he has all spring in his third start, striking out six and walking two across three-plus scoreless innings.
More significant than the results, Gil’s fastball velocity continued to tick up, averaging 95.7 mph (up from his 2025 average of 95.3) and maxing out at 97.9 mph on a strikeout of Trevor Story to end the third inning.
“It feels great, to know that the velo is there when you need it,” Gil said through an interpreter. “It also shows how the body is progressing and getting into shape to be able to execute pitches like that. Routine is very important and I feel like I’ve been building slowly to that.”
Boone acknowledged that Gil’s “progression has been slow” this spring, but told the righty he keeps getting better.
“I want to see more, because I know what he’s capable of,” Boone said. “Keep working him back to that early ’24 form where he was dominant. I feel like he’s moving in that direction but he’s got to keep doing that.”
Cam Schlittler is scheduled to make his spring debut Friday night against the Rays at Steinbrenner Field after being delayed by mid-back/left lat inflammation.
The Yankees slowed Schlittler’s buildup earlier in camp to let the back issue settle down, but the right-hander has since faced hitters twice and then threw a bullpen session Wednesday morning that cleared him for Friday’s start.
If the rest of his spring goes well, Schlittler should be built up to around 65-80 pitches by the time the regular season begins, Boone said.
Aaron Judge blasted a 453-foot home run in Team USA’s exhibition against the Rockies on Wednesday, taking lefty Kyle Freeland deep on a tape-measure shot that came off the bat at 115.9 mph.
Oswaldo Cabrera is also “trending” toward making his spring debut on Friday, Boone said, as the Yankees ease the utility player back into action coming off a broken ankle last May.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Fanuza Kadirova scored two goals, including the power-play winner with 1:46 remaining, and the Ottawa Charge beat the Seattle Torrent 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Alexa Vasko and Emily Clark also scored for Ottawa, while Katerina Mrazova and Kathryn Reilly provided two assists each. Gwyneth Philips made 33 saves.
Jessie Eldridge had two goals for Seattle and Alex Carpenter scored the first penalty shot goal in Professional Women’s Hockey League history. Julia Gosling ad two assists and Hannah Murphy stopped 23 shots.
Carpenter tied the game at 3-3 midway through the third, beating Philips glove side after being pulled down by Reilly on a break.
The game was delayed an hour due to ice issues following a lengthy pregame ceremony that included carpet and chairs near the visitor’s net. Players stood for nearly 30 minutes during repairs before returning to their locker rooms.
The Charge took a 2-0 lead with 57.3 seconds remaining in the first period when Mrazova made a great cross-ice pass to Kadirova, who tipped the puck short-side past Murphy.
The Torrent cut into the lead with a power-play goal midway through the second period when Eldridge was left alone at the side of the net.
Ottawa regained its two-goal lead 42 seconds later. Reilly won a foot race to create a two-on-one with Clark, who beat Murphy in close.
But Eldridge and the Torrent power play struck again with five minutes remaining in the second to make it 3-2.
Clark hit the 40-point mark (16 goals, 24 assists) in her PWHL career with her second-period goal.
The MSG crowd saw more than just a heavyweight fight on Wednesday night.
As the Knicks and the defending champion Thunder duked it out on the court, Mike Brown did something he hasn't done as the head coach of the Knicks. He picked up a technical foul.
Now, Brown has a public persona of being calm, especially during games -- he's no Tom Thibodeau -- but the frustrations with the officiating boiled over for the first-year Knicks coach. And in the first quarter, Brown erupted.
With the Thunder up, 20-18, with two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shed his defender and drove to the basket, where Jalen Brunson met him. The Knicks captain stood his ground to take a charge, the defending MVP ran through Brunson and finished the play with a bank shot. No foul was called on the play. What made the no-call more significant was that SGA had already committed two personal fouls. A third foul would have put OKC's best player on the bench for a good portion of the first half, and perhaps the result of the game would have been different.
After the game, Brown pointed to the free-throw difference as a major factor in the loss while complimenting SGA's play.
"SGA, he’s a tough cover. He does a great job of convincing the referees -- better than anybody in the league -- that he’s getting hit," Brown said. "Them shooting 84 percent from the free-throw line compared to our 73 percent was a factor throughout the course of the game."
Brown was asked about picking up his first technical foul of the season and why Wednesday night was different for him when it came to the officiating.
"One of the things I wanted to get across to the guys is that we're good enough to win despite whatever the officials are calling out on the floor," Brown explained. "We need to have that mentality.
"Trying to leave the officials alone is something I pointedly tried to do. Tonight, SGA had two fouls and Jalen was there, and he ran him over. Just like the call they made on OG [Anunoby]. I don’t understand why that was a no-call. That should have been his third, the bucket shouldn’t have counted and we should have gone the other way with the basketball. To see that, knowing that Jalen is standing there and he’s putting his body on the line and our guys are fighting their asses off to try to win a ball game, it didn’t sit well with me."
"I’m going to have his back every single night. He has ours," Brunson said of Brown. "Regardless of what he does or the tech he gets, or whatever. I’m going to have his back."
Although both teams shot a similar number of free throws -- OKC had 25 attempts to New York's 22 -- it was the timing and magnitude of the calls that seemed to tip the game in the Thunder's favor.
Another example came in the fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns was having an impressive game, dominating the boards and giving the Knicks offense a lift in spurts. However, he picked up a fifth foul late in the final frame after a Thunder review overturned an out-of-bounds call. Towns then picked up his sixth foul shortly after, trying to guard SGA.
"It’s obviously frustrating. You want to win the game and this one’s tight. You want to win the game and be out there with your teammates," Towns said of his late foul calls. "It’s unfortunate that it was called. After the review, it was called. At the moment, I’m not even thinking of the foul, I’m just thinking about staying locked in at the goal at hand…just go out there, play solid basketball and give us the best chance to win."
Despite Towns being out of the game for the final possessions, the Knicks had a chance to send it into overtime. However, Brunson missed a three and Anunoby missed a wide-open three-pointer of his own after the offensive rebound as time expired.
Brunson said after the game he wished he had his shot back, but when asked about the noticeable mark under his right eye, the Knicks captain said it was a little black eye before ending his availability with a quip.
On Wednesday, Pittsburgh Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas made clear what his plans are for both Friday's NHL trade deadline and for the foreseeable future.
The Penguins figure to be one of the most interesting teams to watch on deadline day, as they find themselves second in the Metropolitan Division in a season many thought was going to be a lost one. They are near the top of the league in some of the most important categories - including goal differential (plus-29), regulation wins (27), and points percentage (.625) - and they are a legitimately good hockey team with a future that's becoming increasingly bright because of Dubas's asset management and track record with the NHL Draft.
However, they will still be without their best player in Sidney Crosby for a few weeks, and they have the league's most difficult schedule to close out the season. They could use a boost to their roster at the trade deadline, but Dubas made it clear that they are looking for specific types of players.
"In terms of acquisitions, I think where we look is both up front and on defense," Dubas said on the Penguins' 'GM Show' on iHeart Radio. "And I think the ideal acquisition for us will be a player that's in their 20s - closer to their mid-20s - that has some team control. Either they're signed or they are a pending-restricted free agent, or just where they're not a rental.
"That said, if we get closer to Friday, and there's a chance to add to the team with someone who is a rental, we could look at that, too. Everyone looks at the deadline as a time that you have to act, and I think it is."
Dubas also mentioned the Egor Chinakhov acquisition - the Penguins sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and forward Danton Heinen to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Chinakhov - as a blueprint for the type of trade they'd be looking for.
So, with that said, which forwards and blueliners would make sense for the Penguins? Who could fit the "Chinakhov template?"
Unfortunately, for both Perfetti and the Jets, things have not gone as planned this season. Just one year after capturing the President's Trophy as the league's top team in the regular season, the Jets may be lottery-bound, and Perfetti is having a somewhat forgettable year in his fifth season of NHL action.
The 24-year-old forward has a whole lot more potential as an offensive weapon, and a year ago, the Jets' 10th overall pick in 2020 would almost certainly have cost another first. But, with just eight goals and 22 points in 46 games this season in a second-line wing role, his stock has likely gone down.
He hasn't quite lived up to his billing in Winnipeg, and there have been trade rumors surrounding him for a long time. The Penguins might be able to snag the pending-RFA forward in hopes that he can rebound and be re-signed as a key part of their roster for the coming years.
Logan Stanley - Left Defenseman, Winnipeg Jets
Stanley is a towering defenseman at 6-foot-7, 231 pounds, and not only is he unafraid to use his size to his advantage in terms of physicality and reach, he's also a player who finally experienced a bit of a breakout in 2025-26.
He has nine goals and 21 points so far this season, and the left-side blueliner has the defensive toolset that the Penguins should be coveting as well. At 27 years old, he's still young enough to fit the mold of what they're looking for, and he isn't afraid to stand up for his teammates, as he is a bit of an old-schooler in terms of style.
Stanley is a pending-RFA, and he's a guy Winnipeg should want to keep. But it's possible that they sell high on him during what has, by far, been his most productive season as an NHLer.
Yes, the Blue Jackets are in the middle of a race to secure a playoff spot, and they have been one of the hottest teams in hockey for the last several weeks. In fact, they sit just five points behind the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division standings.
But that didn't stop them from making Johnson a healthy scratch on Feb. 28 against the New York Islanders. He has six goals and 18 points in 57 games this season, which is a steep dropoff from last season, when he recorded 24 goals and 57 points in 68 games.
Like Perfetti, he's 24 years old, he was drafted within the top-10 (fifth overall in 2021), he's a natural center who can play effectively on the wing, and he could badly use a change of scenery - not unlike his former-teammate-turned-Penguin in Egor Chinakhov. He is on the books for one more season at $1.8 million.
Simon Nemec - Right Defenseman, New Jersey Devils
Well, Devils' general manager Tom Fitzgerald did say his team would be listening on offers for some of his players, as New Jersey has found itself in the mix for a top-five pick this season. And one of those players is 22-year-old blueliner Simon Nemec.
He surely fits the "reclamation project" mold, as Nemec is still very raw and very much a work in progress. However, he has superstar potential, even if any team may have to be a little bit patient as he develops the defensive side of his game a bit more.
Nemec may the player on this list who would come with the highest acquisition cost, as the Devils will surely want a young scoring winger. Unfortunately, that's not something the Penguins have quite developed at the NHL level yet - other than Ben Kindel, who should be near-untouchable - so they would likely have to overpay and overcompensate for not necessarily having the available assets.
I wrote about Wright recently, and the song remains the same. His biggest issue at the NHL level so far has been consistency, and in his second semi-full NHL season, that might not be the end of the world.
So, it would likely still take a bit of a haul to bring the 22-year-old center to Pittsburgh, as it is rumored Seattle wants an established scoring winger in return. Of course, the Penguins have a few of those - such as Anthony Mantha and Rickard Rakell - but they may be pieces they're not willing to part with in the midst of a playoff run, especially with such a tight locker room.
He has 11 goals and 23 points in 60 games this season - a dropoff from last season - and he doesn't quite seem to fit in Seattle's system. However, he still has a year remaining on his entry-level contract, so they won't be in any hurry to move him unless a good offer comes along.
Zach Whitecloud - Right Defenseman, Calgary Flames
Perhaps the most logical and sensical name on this list is Whitecloud's, even if he is 29.
Whitecloud was traded to Calgary when Rasmus Andersson was sent to the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this season, and he is a right defenseman with some size who is fundamentally very solid - much like a Parker Wotherspoon. He can contribute occasionally on offense with two goals and 11 points in 59 games this season, but his steady defense and physicality are his bread and butter.
He is signed for two more years at $2.75 million AAV, and he is a great option to have as insurance on the right side behind Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang. He would make for a steady, solid bottom-pair defenseman, especially for their stretch run this season, and the acquisition cost shouldn't be terribly high.
For the same reason that Nemec may be made available by the Devils, Mercer is, too. However, he wouldn't cost nearly as much, and he would help fill a pressing need for the Penguins in the short- and long-term.
The 24-year-old has 13 goals and 30 points in 60 games this season, and his positional versatility, high IQ, 200-foot game, and offensive potential are all intriguing. But even if he isn't much more productive than he is at this point, he is a near-perfect third-line center for this team, and it would allow the Penguins to bump Ben Kindel up in the lineup.
He's signed for $4 million through the end of next season, so there is some staying power. The Penguins may be able to unlock more out of a player who already fills a need, and Mercer is someone Dubas should certainly target if he is available.
Braden Schneider - Right/Left Defenseman, New York Rangers
Even if Schneider has the tools to become an effective blueliner, he is largely unproven at this point, and the defensive side of his game could certainly use some work.
He is a pending-RFA, and there is some risk in acquiring a player like him - even if the 6-foot-3, 24-year-old blueliner certainly has a higher ceiling to reach and can play both sides. But this could be a perfect example of a guy who - like Chinakhov - needs a change of scenery and a new system to maximize his raw two-way talent and provide opportunity.
The Penguins shouldn't overpay here, but the Rangers won't sell him off cheap, either. This is a risk v. reward situation for them to weigh, and it could be one where all those second-round picks could come in handy.
Well, if there is a big fish on this list not named Robert Thomas (probably TOO big a fish for the Penguins at the moment), it's Pettersson. And it's no secret why.
Despite having two down years in a row when it comes to production, the 27-year-old is still very much capable of being one of the league's elite centers, and it was only two seasons ago where he was above point-per-game and three seasons ago when he registered 39 goals and 102 points. With only 13 goals and 35 points in 51 games so far in 2025-26 - as well as his $11.6 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season - there's a decent chance that this is the lowest acquisition cost for Pettersson there is going to be.
So, Dubas should be on the phone. This is a player long in dire need of a change of scenery, and the Penguins probably have the assets to pull it off without too much detriment to their future. And, well, he could be a big part of the picture for them.
Pavel Mintyukov - Left Defenseman, Anaheim Ducks
As long as the 22-year-old Mintyukov stays in Anaheim, he will probably be in the shadow of Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger, both of whom have passed him on the depth chart. And it wasn't long ago that Mintyukov was unhappy with his role.
However, his play has elevated throughout the season, and he is now part of a Ducks team that is in the midst of a playoff chase. But he is still getting third-pair minutes, and there are still blueliners such as Ian Moore who will continue to push for playing time.
His puck-moving ability and offensive upside is reason enough to acquire him, as his seven goals and 17 points on the season put him just about on pace to match or surpass his rookie output. Anaheim should want to keep him - especially as they push for the playoffs - but they may still move the pending-RFA for the right price.
And if he is available, he's one of the more intriguing options for the Penguins.
With Nashville down a defenseman, a center and a winger, three call-ups were made Wednesday night following the Nick Blakenburg trade.
According to Nick Kieser of Lower Broad Hockey, LW Reid Schaefer, D Ryan Ukfo and C Fedor Svechkov have all been recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals.
Schaefer has played 27 games in Nashville this season as a rookie, recording four goals and two assists for six points and 13 penalty minutes. In Milwaukee, he has 28 points (15G, 13A) in 31 games and 55 penalty minutes.
This is Ufko's first call-up of the season. He has 44 points (11 goals, 33 assists) in 50 games and 20 penalty minutes. Ufko was the Admirals' lone AHL All-Star and is second in the league in defenseman points.
Svechkov has spent the majority of the season with the Predators, recording nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in 49 games. He was assigned to the Admirals ahead of the Olympic break. In 10 games in Milwaukee, Svechkov has eight points (5 goals, 3 assists).
D Nick Blakenburg Traded To Colorado Avalanche For 2027 5th Round Pick
🔁TRADE:
We've acquired a fifth-round draft pick in 2027 from Colorado in exchange for defenseman Nick Blankenburg.
The Predators now have 12 picks in the 2027 NHL Draft, four of which are in the third round.
The 27-year-old was in the final season of a 2-year, $1.55 million contract, with him becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Blankenburg is also the third upcoming UFA that's been traded by the Predators.
Blankenburg is in the midst of the best season of his career, scoring 21 points (6G, 15A) in 49 games and logging just 10 penalty minutes. This is the first season he has not split time between the NHL and AHL since 2022-23, and the first time he has recorded more than 20 points.
The Predators now have nine picks in the 2028 NHL Draft: two in the second and third rounds, one in the first round, and rounds four through seven.
Smith's trade was written on the walls as he played just three seconds in the Predators' 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, likely due to the trading rule. Smith was originally scratched alongside McCarron.
This season, Smith had 10 points (6G, 4A) in 41 games and 31 penalty minutes, skating on Nashville's fourth line. He is in the final year of a 2-year, $2 millon contract and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
Sedoff, a 24-year-old, 6-foot, 2-inch defenseman, was signed by the Golden Knights to a 3-year, entry-level contract in 2023, worth $2.61 million, which will expire at the end of this season.
Sedoff has yet to play an NHL game, spending three seasons with the Henderson Silver Knights. This season, in 38 games, Sedoff has no goals, four assists and 15 penalty minutes.
The Predators announced McCarron had been scratched prior to Tuesday’s road game against the Blue Jackets due to “roster management purposes.”
Nashville now has eight picks in the 2028 NHL Draft: one first round, two second round and one each in rounds three through seven.
He is in the final year of a 2-year, $1.8 million contract. McCarron will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
The 31-year-old, 6-foot-6-inch center has played in 59 games this season, recording 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points. McCarron has also logged a team-high 73 penalty minutes.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jaliya Davis recorded a double-double and No. 11-seed Kansas beat 14th-seeded UCF 56-35 in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament on Wednesday night.
Davis scored 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting and collected 11 rebounds — her third career double-double for the Jayhawks (19-12). They will go on to play sixth-seed Colorado on Thursday.
The Jayhawks broke the game open with a 15-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to jump ahead 24-10, which featured two layups from Davis and back-to-back 3-pointers from Brittany Harshaw and Sania Copeland.
The Knights (11-19) were led in scoring by Jacorriah Bracey, with 10. UCF didn't scored in the final 5:50, and shot 25% (14 of 57) including 11% (2 of 19) from 3-point range.
Up next
UCF: Season over.
Kansas: will play No. 6 seed Colorado on Thursday.
And A.J. Minter was supposed to be a key piece of the Mets bullpen last season after signing a two-year, $22 million deal, but he made just 13 appearances before a lat injury led to season-ending surgery.
Both were back on the mound Wednesday, Scott in a 5-2 win over Team Israel at Clover Park and Minter in a minor league game on a back field.
And the results were encouraging, as Scott hit 96 mph in his 2 ²/₃ scoreless innings, walked none and struck out five in a performance the right-hander had envisioned “for a long time,” he said.
“Probably 18 months,” Scott said. “As soon as I got the surgery, I knew this was on the horizon. It was just about being consistent, keeping up day-to-day. I was thinking of this day for a long time.”
Regardless of how Scott does this spring, it seems likely he’ll open the season with Triple-A Syracuse, since the Mets don’t have any room in the rotation.
Christian Scott throws live batting practice during Spring Training at Clover Field on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Still, Carlos Mendoza called the 48-pitch outing “pretty impressive.”
“It’s been a long road for him and it hasn’t been easy,’’ the manager said. “To go through the rehab process after he had a taste of [the majors] in 2024, when he was really good for us.”
Scott’s command stood out, in particular.
“He attacked,’’ Mendoza said. “One thing from him, he’s not gonna back down.”
Neither is Minter, whom the Mets believe can be an integral part of their new-look relief corps.
“The first one is always the hardest,’’ the lefty said of his return to the mound. “It was good to get back out there and I was happy with the results.”
Mendoza said before Minter’s outing that he could be back in late April or sometime in May.
“This is a guy that’s used to pitching high-leverage,’’ the manager said. “We saw it last year before he went down. With teams nowadays playing the matchups, you want a left-handed pitcher that can get righties and lefties [out].”
As for the rest of the bullpen, Mendoza said with Minter out, it’s not essential that the team carry two lefty relievers, thanks to the presence of newcomers Luke Weaver and Devin Williams.
“We’ve got guys that are platoon-neutral,’’ Mendoza said. “We’re gonna take what we feel is our best guys north with us.”
With the NHL Trade Deadline fast approaching, the Winnipeg Jets appear to be at a crossroads. While several teams around the league are expected to sell off assets, Winnipeg’s recent play may complicate any plans to move key pieces before the deadline.
Much of the trade speculation surrounding the Jets has centered on defenseman Logan Stanley, a pending unrestricted free agent who has been linked to potential deals in recent weeks. However, beyond Stanley, Winnipeg has not been heavily involved in major trade rumors.
According to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, fans should not expect anything dramatic from the Jets before the deadline. Speaking Monday, Kypreos said he believes there are “no blockbuster moves coming out of Winnipeg,” adding that the organization is unlikely to move one of its top young assets like Cole Perfetti.
Instead, Winnipeg may be leaning toward keeping its core intact as the team continues to collect points. Since Jan. 6, the Jets have quietly posted a 9-5-6 record. That mark ties them with the Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild for the 11th-best record in the NHL during that span. The club has also earned points in four consecutive games heading into a difficult matchup Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
How Winnipeg performs in that game and in the days leading up to the deadline could influence its strategy. If the Jets continue to hold their own against top competition, recent reports suggest the team may shift away from selling and instead, they could look to strengthen its lineup.
David Pagnotta: There's interest from the Jets in Shane Wright, they're trying to solidify their second line - The Sheet (1/23)
The club is believed to be interested in adding scoring help to the second forward line while improving its depth offense. That approach could push the Jets toward pursuing a notable addition rather than dealing away pieces.
Whether Winnipeg ultimately sells, stands pat, or attempts to add ahead of the deadline remains to be seen. One thing that is clear is the Jets are not ready to concede the season, and there is belief within the team that it is better than its overall numbers suggest.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 4: Jabari Walker #33 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 4, 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 DowNBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tyrese Maxey – 22 Joel Embiid – 9 VJ Edgecombe – 9 Paul George – 6 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 1 Adem Bona – 1 Justin Edwards – 1 Quentin Grimes – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
This will technically count as an NBA game in which the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Utah Jazz 106-102.
The Sixers were very shorthanded. VJ Edgecombe was ruled out for a back contusion after exiting last night’s game just before halftime after falling hard. In addition to the rookie, Joel Embiid (oblique), Paul George (suspension) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (illness) were all also unavailable.
So, Tyrese Maxey and the hospital Sixers against a tanking Jazz squad… unstoppable force versus immovable object? Complete lack of force versus very movable object?
The Sixers led by five at halftime led by a burst of scoring by Jabari Walker with 15 points on perfect 5-for-5 field goal and 4-for-4 long range shooting. Maxey was the other main contributor with 14 points at the break on slightly less efficient shooting. And then, as it always does, the third frame came along. The Sixers let the Jazz — who are basically actively trying to lose basketball games — go on a 10-0 run to start the second half, taking their first lead of the game.
It wasn’t a pretty fourth quarter for either team as the Sixers had to claw their way back from down six late. A win is a win, I suppose.
This game was the second leg of a back-to-back for the Sixers. Now, thankfully, they’ll get a couple of days to rest before their next contest visiting the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Mar 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz in the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs’ demolition of the Sixers on Tuesday night wasn’t good for much, but it might have helped Jabari Walker get into a groove. After putting up 20 points (yes, mostly in garbage time, but still) last night, Walker came into Wednesday’s game red hot — I’m talking perfect shooting through halftime level hot.
Walker came into the game off the bench in the second half of the first frame and immediately got to work, sinking back-to-back triples within a few minutes of taking the floor. He then settled right back into the corner of the arc, pump-faked his way into a drive to the basket and drew a trip to the line. He scored seven points in his first four minutes on the floor to close the first frame. But he wasn’t done — he contributed the Sixers’ first eight points in the second period on two triples and a layup. Fifteen straight Sixers’ points across the end of the first into the beginning of the second came from Walker. At halftime, he had 15 points on perfect 5-for-5 field goal and 4-for-4 three-point shooting.
Not only was Walker racking up some points, but he also was incredibly aggressive on the offensive boards (which led to a few of his points, actually) and played some physical, effective defensive as well.
Walker finished Wednesday with 22 points, 10 rebounds (three offensive), two assists and a block in 28 minutes off the bench.
Sure, it’s just garbage time versus the Spurs and a good performance against a tanking Jazz team, but it’s never a bad thing to get a player moving in a more productive direction… especially for a team that desperately needs more help from its bench like the Sixers do.
Tonight's video goes to Jabari Walker, who put up a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench for the Sixers. It was his second +20-point performance in just over 24 hours.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
There is a lot of discussion, mainly on social media, judging Tyrese Maxey on his ability to completely carry the Sixers team on his back.
I’m not sure what else he could have done in this one (other than just shoot with more efficiency, but more on that in a second). From the jump, the Jazz went with the defensive strategy of just sticking a double or even triple team on Maxey at all times. Not a bad idea, considering he was really the only shooting threat on paper from the Sixers’ lineup tonight. Even with all of that attention, though, Maxey managed to make it work. He started using his speed and footwork to maneuver through the defense before they could trap him, getting into the paint to find opportunities there and sometimes earning a trip to the line in the process.
His shooting… could have been better. He finished the night just 8-for-22 from the floor and 2-for-10 from long range. That being said, it’s sometimes harder to criticize Maxey when you know in part that the shot selection is him desperately trying to make something happen for the Sixers. You obviously want him to shoot better than 36.4%, but this felt like one of those nights you kind of have to take it with a grain of salt.
All that being said, Maxey finished the night with a team-leading 25 points with two rebounds, six assists, one steal and three blocks.
Tyrese Maxey doing all he can — the three-point play to tie the game, then the defense and assist to retake the lead for Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/JorrBGVHtM
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 4: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz in the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Jazz 106-102. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I won’t lie, this was far from the perfect game from Quentin Grimes. He had a few head-scratching-level questionable passes and couldn’t hit at all from long range. He had three turnovers. But, Grimes also stayed aggressive the entire game, and started driving hard into the paint to down under the rim where he was able to achieve a lot more success. Don’t believe me? Take a look at Grimes’ shot chart for this game.
In a game like this… whatever works, I guess!
Grimes had a number of really important points as well, such as four in the last 47 seconds of the game — a lay-up to tie the game at 102 apiece, and then two free throws on the following possession to take a two-point lead for Philadelphia. He finished the game with 16 points (on 7-for-12 field goal shooting), five rebounds (three offensive), two assists and one steal.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 4: Adem Bona #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 4, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t a perfect game from Adem Bona, either. To be frank, sometimes it just seems like he cannot grab on to the basketball without it bouncing off of his hands for the life of him. That being said, there aren’t many players that bring the amount of energy to the Sixers that Bona does. Whether it’s getting up for a big block, battling for every board or dunking the ball with all his might, Bona brings an undeniable boost to this Sixers lineup at times.
It was simply a solid night from the backup five (who actually started tonight instead of Andre Drummond in Joel Embiid’s absence). Bona finished the game with 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor with five rebounds (three offensive), an assist, a steal and a block.
If nothing else, at least enjoy watching this excellent put-back Bona slammed home on a missed Maxey three-point attempt.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Ace Austin scored all of her 14 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night and Alabama beat Missouri 65-48 in the first round of the SEC Tournament and extend the Tigers' skid.
Alabama (22-9), which had lost back-to-back games and five of six, won its first conference tournament game since 2022. The Crimson Tide plays No. 6 seed Tennessee on Thursday.
Austin hit four 3s in a 12-2 run to open fourth that made it 14-point game with 6:39 remaining and the Tigers got no closer.
Diana Collins scored 13, Ta’Mia Scott finished with 12 points and three blocks, and Essence Cody added 10 points for Alabama. Karly Weathers scored just four points on 1-of-9 shooting, 1 of 8 from 3-point range, but finished with a career-high 16 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
Missouri (16-16) has lost six games in a row. Jordana Reisma led the Tigers with 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting while Grace Slaughter had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Tigers hit just 25% and had more turnovers (eight) than made field goals (seven) before the intermission in their lowest-scoring half this season. Alabama made 11 of 34 (32%) from the field and had 10 assists before the break and took a 31-20 lead into halftime.
Then-No. 21 Crimson Tide won 74-63 at Missouri on Jan. 12 and Alabama leads the series 12-9, 2-1 at neutral sites.
