A day after pitching 1 ¹/₃ innings in relief, the displaced Mets starter was asked Monday how he will remain stretched out for the first time he’s needed in the rotation this season.
The ideal scenario for the left-hander is one in which he’s used in a piggyback role, allowing him to pitch three or four innings to remain built up.
Manaea will likely be utilized as a sixth starter on the next homestand.
“If it’s going to be like [Sunday], I don’t really know how you do it in that situation, stay stretched out,” said Manaea, who allowed two walks and one hit over his scoreless stint, which consisted of 29 pitches.
Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated there are decisions that will have to be reached regarding Manaea’s usage.
Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after ending the seventh inning at Citi Field, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I’m not worried about this time around,” Mendoza said. “The tricky part is if this becomes something that we are planning on doing, where we are just going to do 30 pitches in games, it will affect him. But with him being built up to 85 pitches the last time he pitched, the 29 he threw [Sunday] we’re not concerned moving forward.
“But then the decision will be, ‘Is it 50 pitches here? Is it 40? Is it another short outing?’ These are some of the things we have to keep in mind.”
Jorge Polanco has dealt with Achilles soreness the past two days, according to Mendoza, relegating him to DH duty for both games. Jared Young, who went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI, started at first base on this night to become the third Mets player to start at the position this season (Polanco and Brett Baty are the others).
“We’re not concerned [about Polanco] to the point that he is playing,” Mendoza said. “But we want to limit his exposure on the field. We have just got to treat it here and just be careful with him, especially this early.”
Luis Robert Jr. was on the bench, as the Mets look to preserve the outfielder’s legs during this stretch in which the team is scheduled to play nine straight days. Baty received his first major league start in right field — a position at which he worked in spring training.
“That third deck in the outfield is new for him,” Mendoza said. “The sound of the ball off the bat is different compared to a spring training game. You have got more people here. It’s a bigger outfield. There’s a lot of new for him there, but he’s comfortable and if anybody can do it, Brett Baty is the guy.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots and scores over Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the Chicago Bulls in the second half at Frost Bank Center on March 30, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The first few minutes felt uneasy, like a storm quietly building. The San Antonio Spurs weren’t sharp out of the gate. The Chicago Bulls came in swinging, pushing the tempo and landing early blows that made the Frost Bank Center crowd shift in their seats.
But then, as he so often does, Victor Wembanyama changed everything.
It didn’t happen all at once. It never really does. First came a rebound — high above everyone else. Then a quick putback. A step-back jumper. A block that sent the ball, and the crowd, into the air. Within minutes, the uneasiness was gone, replaced by a growing realization: This was about to be his night.
By the end of the first quarter, the rhythm had shifted. By the second, it belonged entirely to San Antonio.
“A sense of urgency and sharpness,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of what he was looking for in his early timeout a minute into the game. “I thought we got it at times and we responded out of halftime. We didn’t sustain it as long as I’d wish or that I know we’re capable of.”
“There’s definitely areas we need to shore up and get consistent in,” Johnson added. “I’m always looking for teaching moments. We’re winning games and that feedback can be misleading… the standard and level of play we know we’re capable of must be acknowledged.”
Wembanyama was everywhere: gliding through defenders, stretching the floor, controlling the glass. The Bulls had no answer, only reactions. And each reaction came a step too late. As the Spurs surged ahead, the game began to tilt, then lean, then finally tip all the way over.
Still, this wasn’t a one-man show, it just felt like one at times.
Stephon Castle moved through the chaos with calm precision, threading passes, attacking gaps, and doing a little bit of everything. Each assist, each rebound, each bucket added another layer to a Spurs offense that was suddenly humming with its usual routine.
By halftime, the tension was gone. In its place: control. The second half opened the way the first one ended, with Wembanyama asserting himself. A quick burst pushed the lead beyond 20, and just like that, any lingering hope from Chicago began to fade. They fought back in spurts — a run here, a couple of tough shots there — but every push was met with an answer.
And more often than not, that answer wore No. 1. By the fourth quarter, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The Spurs weren’t just winning, they were dictating. The pace, the space, the moment.
“We’re preparing for something that only a few of us have been a part of,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said. “How we started today is unacceptable. We need to continue to impose our will on teams and push our best effort forward.”
When the final buzzer sounded on a 129-114 victory, it felt less like the end of a game and more like the continuation of something building and that something is going to be very dangerous. When the Spurs find their rhythm and their young star turns dominance into routine, it’s easy to see the bigger picture forming in real time.
And it’s even harder to imagine anyone stopping it.
Game Notes
With OKC’s narrow win against an undermanned Detroit Pistons team, the race for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference might come down to the final week of the season. Spurs remain 2.5 games behind OKC and have the “lighter” schedule to close out the regular season.
Mitch Johnson was not satisfied with his team’s effort against Chicago to start, so expect him to use these last few weeks to iron out any lingering issues with the playoffs around the corner.
Wembanyama and Castle combined for 62 of the Spurs’ 129 points in the win.
Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) heads down court after a basket during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com...
If there was any night for Luka Doncic to not be available for as he served a one-game suspension for an accumulation of technical fouls, and any games the Lakers didn’t need him, Monday was the night.
Because even with Doncic being an MVP candidate and playing his best basketball of the season over the last month, the Lakers didn’t need him to take care of business against the tanking and lowly Wizards.
It was evident in the Lakers’ 120-101 victory on Monday at Crypto.com Arena during a game in which contributions from throughout the roster led the team to its 15th win in the last 17 games despite Doncic not playing.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a 21 point-12 assist-10 rebound triple-double, surpsssing his own record as the oldest player in league history to record a triple-double.
Tasked with more ball-handling duties, Austin Reaves struggled with his shot (4 of 11, 0 of 4 on 3-pointers) but made up for it with his inside the arc scoring and playmaking, finishing with 19 points and nine assists in 27 minutes.
Luke Kennard (19 points), Jaxson Hayes (19 points, seven rebounds and 2 blocked shots), Rui Hachimura (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Deandre Ayton (12 points on 5-of-5 shooting to go with 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots) also scored in double figures.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a 21 point-12 assist-10 rebound triple-double. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDeandre Ayton dunks. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers shot 55.7% (44 of 79) against the Wizards, who are tied with the Pacers for the league’s worst record.
What it means
The Lakers improved to 49-26 on the season with Monday’s victory.
But with the Suns also beating Grizzlies, the Lakers have yet to officially clinch a spot in the playoffs and win the Pacific Division.
Jake LaRavia fights for to a rebound during the first half. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Turning point
There were two.
The first came when Jaxson Hayes dunked in transition at the 9:25 mark of the second quarter, cutting the Lakers’ deficit to 31-29 after a slower start. The play energized the Lakers on a night they lacked energy early, starting an 11-0 run.
The second was when James passed to Bronny James, his son who’s been getting rotation minutes the last few games, with the shot clock winding down late in the third quarter.
The younger James drove into the paint off the pass from his father, kicking out to Luke Kennard for a corner 3 to put the Lakers up 84-71 after the Wizards cut the Lakers’ 24-point lead earlier in the quarter to 10 multiple times.
Backup center Jaxson Hayes shot a perfect 8 of 8 from the field. Getty Images
MVP: Jaxson Hayes
It’s rare for a backup center to receive this honor.
And Hayes’ counting stats weren’t the best among the Lakers. But he injected the Lakers with an energy that they lacked early.
He shot a perfect 8 of 8 from the field.
The cherry on top: Hayes made his third 3-pointer of the season midway through the fourth.
Stat of the game: 1,228
That’s how many combined regular-season and playoff wins James has after Monday’s victory, which is tied for the most in league history with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Already the league’s all-time leader in games played, Monday was James’ 1,044th regular-season win, 30 away from Abdul-Jabbar’s record.
But James’ league-record 184 playoff victories helped him tie Abdul-Jabbar’s combined regular season and postseason record.
James would’ve already surpassed Abdul-Jabbar in combined victories if the league counted his three play-in tournament wins and 202 NBA Cup final victory.
Austin Reaves was finished with 19 points and nine assists in 27 minutes. NBAE via Getty Images
Up next
The Lakers will close out their back-to-back set when they Cavaliers on Tuesday.
The Cavaliers are also playing on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Jazz in Salt Lake City for their sixth win in their last seven games.
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 30: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his walk-off single during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park on March 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The opening salvo in this three-game battle between the Yankees and Mariners was as tight as you could have expected—and also true to expectations, pitching led the way. Neither staff so much as blinked throughout this game, but ultimately the Mariners found the big hit late as they prevailed, 2-1. Cal Raleigh’s walk-off single against Paul Blackburn sealed the deal following a tremendous start from Luis Castillo, but Ryan Weathers showed plenty of panache in his Yankee debut, and the bullpen turned in another strong effort until the dam finally burst.
The Mariners grabbed the initiative in the second inning when, following an early rally against Weathers, second baseman Cole Young grabbed a two-out ribbie on a shattered-bat single to right. It was the first time the Yankees trailed this season—the Giants had rarely threatened them in the previous series.
The Yankees failed to respond in the top of the third inning, but José Caballero showed off his umpire skills by reversing two called strikes against him. Those successful challenges produced a walk which ultimately allowed Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger to take two-out plate appearances. Judge walked, but Bellinger punched out to end the rally.
Then in the fourth, Ben Rice, Giancarlo Stanton and Jazz Chisholm Jr. all won challenges of their own on low strike calls. This led to a rather tense dialogue between home plate ump Mike Estabrook and the Yankee dugout. You can never fully foresee all the implications from implementing something like the ABS challenge system; one thing I didn’t expect was this kind of spat. It feels like a foregone conclusion that Aaron Boone will find a way to get himself tossed for this at some point this season.
Unfortunately, the Yankees’ prowess in catching Estabrook’s mistakes could not get them on the board against Castillo, who made them flail all night against his sharp fastball. La Piedra piloted smoothly through six scoreless innings, striking out seven Bombers—including a punchout of Judge in the sixth which marked the 1,500th in his excellent career. Overall he racked up 17 whiffs, 13 of which came on his four-seam fastball.
Weathers, for his part, fought through some early turbulence to put together a solid first start with the Yankees. After throwing around 40 pitches through the first two innings, he was far more economical in the third and fourth before running into another jam in the fifth which ended his night. The M’s got two in scoring position with one out, compelling Boone to make a call to the bullpen with lefty-killer Rob Refsnyder looming on deck.
Fernando Cruz came in for Weathers, and Dan Wilson countered by pinch-hitting Dominic Canzone. But the lefty outfielder swung over the top of a filthy splitter for out number two. Then the notoriously slow-starting Julio Rodríguez proved unable to lay off the split-finger either, allowing Cruz to preserve a solid final line for his starter: 4.1 innings, one run, four hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts.
That kept the Yankees solidly in the Mariners’ rear-view mirror. In the seventh, they crept closer thanks to a leadoff knock from Rice and a patented Giancarlo Stanton Infield Single. Jazz moved the tying run to third on a fielder’s choice before Amed Rosario came off the bench to hit for Ryan McMahon. Wilson opted to switch from lefty Jose A. Ferrer to righty Eduard Bazardo. Rosario got the job done, lofting a fly ball to deep right center to score Rice and knot the score at 1-1.
The Mariners got a dream scenario to take the lead back in the home seventh, but their two superstars’ struggles continued to get in their way. Brent Headrick got himself cornered before facing Cal Raleigh, pinch-hitting for Canzone. Raleigh had earned himself a rest day to start this series thanks to his 10 strikeouts in four games against Cleveland to start the year, and Headrick allowed him to continue his sabbatical with yet another strikeout. After that, Camilo Doval entered to retire Rodríguez on a chopper to second base, stranding the pair on M’s.
Both offenses went quietly in the eighth before Stanton continued his excellent start to the year in the ninth. Facing fireballer Matt Brash, he slashed a blistering line drive into the left-center gap and cruised easily into second for a double thanks to a poor route from Randy Arozarena. That marked his fourth consecutive multi-hit game to begin the season. A productive out from Chisholm moved pinch-runner Randal Grichuk to third for Rosario with two outs, but Brash’s slider wiped him out and compelled the Yanks to force extra innings.
But it wasn’t to be. Blackburn, who pitched the eighth for New York, soldiered on into the ninth and quickly found trouble. The Mariners got runners on the corners with just one out for the scuffling Raleigh—the big moments always seem to find you when you’re struggling, don’t they? But this time, the AL MVP runner-up lined a Blackburn cutter just fair down the line to hand the Yankees their first loss of 2026.
Boone probably considered closer David Bednar off the table for this situation (even with the MVP runner-up at the plate), but regardless, it was curious not to see at least Tim Hill make an appearance, especially with the two tough lefties in Young and Brendan Donovan taking turns at the dish in the ninth. Blackburn was easier prey. The 162-0 dream vanishes in Game 4. Oh well.
For a series featuring these two stellar pitching staffs, the first game certainly delivered on the billing. We’ll see two aces take the hill tomorrow: Max Fried opposite Logan Gilbert. First pitch will come at the same 9:40 PM EST slot as tonight, with coverage on YES.
Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Angel Martinez (1) steals second base against Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Looking to keep their undefeated season alive, the Dodgers couldn’t get anything going until the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians as the offense fell mostly silent in a 4-2 defeat.
Roki Sasaki made his first big league start since May of last year, looking to turn the page after a rough spring training where he walked 15 hitters and allowed 15 earned runs over 8 2/3 innings. Sasaki couldn’t get an out after tossing 30 pitches in his final spring tune-up against the Angels, but against his first batter of the regular season, he struck out Steven Kwan looking. He eventually allowed just one hit to Jose Ramírez in a scoreless first inning on 21 pitches. Sasaki continued to impress in the top of the second inning, facing the minimum and striking out a hitter on just 13 pitches.
Sasaki faced immediate pressure in the top of the third inning, as he allowed a leadoff double to Austin Hedges. Kwan traded places at second with Hedges, marking the fourth straight game that the Dodgers would have to play from behind. Miguel Rojas started the bottom of the third inning in the same manner as Hedges against left-hander Parker Messick, and the Dodgers had two men on with nobody out with Shohei Ohtani at the plate. On a 3-2 count, Messick picked off Rojas at second base, got Ohtani to line out and then struck out Kyle Tucker to keep the Dodgers scoreless.
Compared to his counterpart, Sasaki’s pitch count was noticeably high, and although he posted good results in his first start, he was pulled after allowing a leadoff single to Angel Martínez in the top of the fifth. Over 4+ innings of work, Sasaki allowed just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four. Tanner Scott came in relief of Sasaki, and although he put another man on, he was able to leave runners on second and third by striking out pinch-hitter Rhys Hoskins. Max Muncy reached on a single to put the tying run on base with one out, but Messick got Miguel Rojas to ground to third and the left-hander got bailed out on a tremendous pick by Ramírez, igniting a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.
Justin Wrobleski made his season debut, and although he had a quick and easy nine pitch inning in the sixth, he loaded the bases with nobody out to begin the seventh inning. He managed to get two outs, but walked Hoskins to bring in the second run for Cleveland. Daniel Schneeman thanked Wrobleski for keeping the bases loaded by lining a two-run double to left-center field to put Cleveland up by four.
The Dodgers began to rally against Shawn Armstrong in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages both reaching on singles, but Max Muncy failed to give the Dodgers hope as he struck out swinging with to end the inning. The Dodgers were nearly shut out on Monday, but Mookie Betts put the Dodgers on the board in the bottom of the ninth inning with an RBI double. Freddie Freeman knocked in Betts on an RBI groundout to cut the deficit in half, but the comeback attempt ultimately fell flat.
The Dodgers look to bounce back after their first loss of the season as they host the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Shohei Ohtani makes his first start of the season against right-hander Tanner Bibee.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Petco Park on March 30, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres recorded just three hits against San Francisco Giants pitching, but the last hit was the most exciting. Jackson Merrill strode to the plate with one on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Padres trailing 3-0. He worked the count full and then belted a two-run home run to right field that pulled the Padres within a run. Giants reliever Ryan Walker was able to end the game and help San Francisco get its first win of the season one batter later when Xander Bogaerts grounded to short for the final out of the 3-2 loss for the Padres.
Merrill was the last San Diego batter to record a hit in the game, but the list of players to record hits in the game only had two more names on it. Bogaerts recorded the first Padres hit in the bottom of the second inning with a one-out single to right field. The second hit of the game for San Diego belonged to Fernando Tatis Jr. who also had a one-out single to right field, which came in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Padres did not have an answer for Giants starter Landon Roupp and his changeup. He threw six innings, allowing two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Roupp kept the Padres hitters off balance throughout the game, resulting in ugly at-bats that often involved changeups being smashed into the ground or hit softly on the infield.
The Giants crawled into the series with the Padres after getting swept by the New York Yankees to open the season. San Francisco allowed 13 runs over three games and scored just one run in that span. That changed against Padres starter Walker Buehler. The Giants were able to get to Buehler for three runs in four innings. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out three on 72 pitches.
The San Diego bullpen was asked to cover the final five innings of the game and Wandy Peralta, David Morgan and Ron Marinaccio did so with a great deal of success. The three relievers combined to allow just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.
Craig Stammen gave his perspective on Walker Buehler's debut and the Padres' offensive struggles tonight and thus far this season: pic.twitter.com/t64zRDNeQd
Lakers star LeBron James passes to his son, guard Bronny James during a 120-101 win over the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers followed the lead of their oldest member, the triple-double producing LeBron James, in dispatching the Wizards 120-101 at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night.
Two days off between games left James looking spry, with lob dunks and dunks on the fast break contributing to his 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. James was eight for 16 from the field in notching his third triple-double of the season and the 125th of his 23-year NBA career, ranking him fifth all time.
At 41 years and 90 days old, James once again became the oldest player in league history to record a triple-double, passing his previous mark (41 years, 79 days).
Lakers star LeBron James dunks against Washington at Crypto.com Arena on Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
For James and his teammates, Sunday’s practice had “value” because it allowed them to clean up some things, do some “teaching” and get some “reps” that will pay off with the playoffs approaching.
They put that into action against the Wizards, but the Lakers did so without star guard Luka Doncic, who did not play after being given a one-game suspension by the NBA for his 16th technical foul.
Austin Reaves took over the primarily ballhandling duties with Doncic out, running the show in delivering a near double-double with 19 points and nine assists. Reaves was just four for 11 from the field and he missed all four of his three-point attempts, but he was 11 for 12 from the line.
Backup center Jaxson Hayes was outstanding in scoring 19 points on eight-for-eight shooting, including a three-pointer with six minutes and 41 seconds left.
Luke Kennard had 19 points off the bench, knocking down four of five from three-point range.
Deandre Ayton was a force for the Lakers, his efficient five-for-five shooting leading to 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
Each of them played their part to help the Lakers win for the 12th time in 13 games and limit the effect of Doncic's absence.
Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (33.7 points per game), is fourth in assists (8.2), second three-pointers made (4.0) and first in points scored in the first quarter (12.0).
He’ll return against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Although the Lakers won handily, it was against a Wizards team tied for the worst record in the NBA (17-58). Washington has lost 18 of its past 19 games.
For the Lakers (49-26), the game was about making strides from a practice they rarely get to have.
“The value is being able to continue to improve,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game. “And again, I said this, we've placed a heavy emphasis on what we're teaching in film and what we're cleaning up in film, because we haven't had court time to do that. So [Sunday], it was some of the game clean-up stuff. All the guys got some reps doing some things that they probably won't do during a real game."
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, Austin Reaves added 19 points and nine assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a 120-101 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.
It was James’ 1,228th career victory, including the playoffs, to tie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most in NBA history.
With Luka Doncic serving a one-game suspension after getting called for his 16th technical foul of the season against Brooklyn on Friday, an energized James led the Lakers to their 12th win in the past 13 games, attacking the rim from the start including throwing down two emphatic two-handed dunks set up by Reaves in the first quarter.
Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes each had 19 points off the bench, Deandre Ayton chipped in with 12, and the Lakers improved to 7-6 without Doncic in the lineup this season.
Los Angeles would have clinched a playoff berth and the Pacific Division title with the win and a Phoenix loss, but the Suns’ 131-105 victory over Memphis delayed the formality of securing a fourth straight trip to the postseason.
Will Riley led the Wizards with 20 points and Justin Champagnie had 18 as they lost for the 19th time in 20 games.
Washington was actually ahead by one point after the first quarter, but Hayes had the final five in an 11-0 flurry early that gave Los Angeles a lead they would not relinquish again. The Lakers closed the half on a 38-13 run and took a 21-point lead back to the locker room.
James helped quiet the Wizards for good after they cut the deficit to 10 late in the third, finishing with his third triple-double of the season and 125th in the regular season of his 23-year career.
The Yankees were walked off by the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Monday night at T-Mobile Park.
Here are some takeaways...
-- Ryan Weathers endured a bit of an up-and-down Yankee debut. The young lefty worked around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, but Seattle made him pay for putting a pair on in the second, scratching across the first run of the game on a Cole Young two out RBI single.
Weathers retired the next seven batters he faced before allowing back-to-back knocks leading off the fifth. He forced a groundout then was pulled, turning things over to righty Fernando Cruz, who bailed him out with a pair of huge punchouts to keep it a one-run ballgame.
Weathers closed his line allowing just the one run on four hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
-- Unfortunately for him, the Yankees' offense couldn't get much of anything going against Luis Castillo. Their lone two hits against the righty in six innings were erased on the bases, as Giancarlo Stanton was gunned down trying to stretch a single into a double and Jose Caballero was picked off first after singling in the fifth.
Castillo allowed just those two hits and a pair of walks while striking out seven over his six scoreless frames.
-- New York was finally able to create some traffic with Castillo out of the game. Ben Rice led off the top of the seventh with a single, and after advancing his way into scoring position, he came in to score the game-tying run on an Amed Rosario pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center.
-- Seattle immediately threatened to answer back in the bottom-half of the inning, as a double and single put a man on third with just one out, but Brent Headrick struck out Cal Raleigh before Camilo Doval got Julio Rodriguez to groundout end the threat and keep the Yanks' bullpen scoreless for the season.
-- Stanton laced a one out double to left in the top of the ninth, giving him his fourth consecutive multi-hit game to start the year. New York was able to push him to third on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. groundout, but then Rosario struck out on just three pitches to end the threat.
-- The Mariners rallied against Paul Blackburn in the bottom of the ninth, eventually walking it off and handing the Yanks their first loss of the season on Raleigh's one out single. The backstop has gotten off to a slow start this season, so you knew he was due to deliver in the big spot.
-- The Yankees had a field day with home plate ump Mike Estabrook, going 5-for-5 on ABS challenges.
Game MVP: Cal Raleigh
Raleigh didn't get the start, but came off the bench and delivered when Seattle needed it.
Mar 30, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Brendan Donovan (33) hits a single against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Mariners 2, Yankees 1
Cold baseball because it’s March: Julio Rodríguez, -.18 WPA Cold baseball because it’s October: Luis Castillo, +.35 WPA
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Khris Middleton #20 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at American Airlines Center on March 30, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks kicked off the first game of a back-to-back Monday night, with their first opponent being the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves got the better end of a 124-94 decision.
Let’s get to the grades!
Ryan Nembhard: C+
8 PTS / 3 REB / 5 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN
Like so many other Mavs not named Daniel Gafford, Nembhard could not find the range, connecting on only 3-for-10 shots overall. He had one of those magical assist nights relative to minutes played and turnovers (zero), but nothing special was happening for him tonight.
Max Christie: C-
3 PTS / 4 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN
About the only thing going for Christie Monday night was his rebounding. Getting four boards from the guard spot isn’t too shabby, but it still wasn’t enough to pretty up a 1-for-5 shooting night and not much else.
Cooper Flagg: C
12 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 31 MIN
Flagg will likely be happy the Mavs are on the first night of a back-to-back, so he can forget this one and move on. Connecting on only 5-for-19 overall, Flagg had a shocking plus/minus of minus-35. It just simply was not his night.
Khris Middleton: C+
9 PTS / 6 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN
Middleton struggled with his shot (4-for-10) and had an insane five turnovers. He managed to chip in a bit just about everywhere else, but this wasn’t his best night by any stretch of the imagination.
Daniel Gafford: B+
21 PTS / 8 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 24 MIN
Gafford has been playing well over the last month or so, and tonight was no exception. Despite sitting out the last two games, Gafford looked like he was in peak form and was by far the best player for Dallas Monday night. He picked up a nice handful of fouls (four), and bricked a staggering number of free throws (3-for-8 from the charity stripe) but otherwise played well on 9-for-11 shooting, coming just short of a double-double.
Dwight Powell: B
9 PTS / 8 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN
Powell had himself a solid night, tying for the team lead in rebounds. He brought the energy he is well known for at this point in his career and even played solid defense at points. The most noteworthy part of his night is how he got his points. 9-for-10 from the free throw line and zero shot attempts may be an NBA first. If not, it’s certainly a bizarrely anomalous night.
Brandon Williams: B
15 PTS / 6 REB / 7 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 28 MIN
His 4-for-10 shooting may have stood out as sub-par if nearly everyone else on the team wasn’t worse. Despite iffy shooting, Williams hit all six of his free throw attempts and dished a team-high assist total.
Final thoughts
The Mavs hung around for a fair bit of the game, but things really came unglued in the third quarter where a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it span resulted in the Mavs looking at a 24-point deficit by the midway point of the quarter. Things only got worse from there. The three ball and fast breaks really did them in and the thin lineup (missing P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall) didn’t give the Mavs much chance to stem the tide.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 30, 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
After a sloppy first quarter, the Lakers pulled away for a comfortable win against the Wizards without Luka Dončić on Monday, 120-101.
With Luka serving his one-game suspension after receiving his 16th technical foul, Austin Reaves and LeBron James stepped up, along with the Lakers’ centers. LA also crushed the Wizards in transition, outscoring them 21-6 in fastbreak points.
The game began with the Lakers going on a 6-0 scoring run, led by LeBron James. Tristan Vukcevic was the hot hand for the Wizards with seven points in response. Austin Reaves hadn’t scored yet but had three assists, including a ridiculous tapped alley-oop pass to LeBron for a dunk.
LeBron slammed yet another dunk off an assist from Reaves for his eighth point. Justin Champagnie logged a quick five points for the Wizards. At the 2:53 mark, LA was up by four.
Luke Kennard provided a nice spark off the bench with four points. Los Angeles played a lot of unserious basketball in the quarter, though, with zero defense. As a result, at the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by one.
Admirable job by the Lakers to make one last very compelling argument for Luka's MVP case https://t.co/n9a432nGFV
The second period began with Will Riley scoring on a layup for Washington. Jaxson Hayes, who had eight points in this quarter, followed up a missed 3-pointer from Bronny James with a putback dunk.
That jump-started a big 11-0 scoring run to retake the lead.
Jaxson Hayes has been dominant since entering, with 9 points and 4 rebounds in just 7 minutes, helping the Lakers take a 38-31 lead with 7:09 left in the 2nd Q.
Out of a timeout, Jamir Watkins stopped some of Washington’s bleeding with a layup. Reaves finally saw the ball go into the basket with a jumper. LeBron then slammed home what felt like the 50th dunk of the half.
At the 5:30 mark, Los Angeles was up by 10.
Rui Hachimura scored a quick five points. Reaves was now up to nine assists in the half. The Lakers were shooting 59% from the field and led by 21 at halftime.
The third period began with Champagnie converting on a floater off the glass for the Wizards. On the other end, Ayton responded with a dunk. LA maintained a big lead, but Washington started to chip away at the deficit thanks to a few defensive breakdowns by Los Angeles.
Washington was chipping away at the deficit, going on a 12-2 scoring run. The Lakers found themselves nursing a 10-point lead with 2:43 left in the quarter.
Kennard drained two much-needed triples for LA. At the end of the third, Los Angeles was up by 14.
Luke Kennard's 3rd 3 in 3 attempts tonight has LA up 91-75 with 29.1 seconds to play.
The final frame started with a turnover and a few missed shots, until Hayes converted on a three-point play. The Lakers regained a 20-point lead.
LA’s two bigs were a combined perfect 12-for-12 from the field. Hayes drained a 3-pointer, his third 3-pointer of the season. Kennard then scored six in a row to seal the win with 5:49 left and empty the bench for LA.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with a triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Reaves ended with 19 points and nine assists. Deandre Ayton scored 12 points with seven rebounds and three blocks.
Hachimura pitched in with 14 points and six rebounds. Hayes logged 19 points with seven rebounds and two blocks. Kennard had 19 points off the bench. LaRavia did the dirty work with three rebounds, two assists and three steals and one block.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at 7:30 PM PT.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Jaden Hardy #8 of the Washington Wizards controls the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 30, 2026 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. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you were hoping for an upset tonight by the Washington Wizards tonight, you would be disappointed. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier tonight, 120-101.
Though Washington was able to head out of the first quarter with a 26-25 lead, they allowed the Lakers to outscored them 40-18 in the second quarter, which was more than enough to make the difference in this one.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. For the Wizards, Will Riley led with 20 points while Justin Champagnie added 18 more.
The Wizards’ next game is on Wednesday when they head back home to face off against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then.
Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) reacts after defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) scores a goal past New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25).
In a season of lows and rock bottoms, the Rangers are in danger of hitting another one.
With a loss to the Devils on Tuesday in the Battle of the Hudson, it would mark the first time that the Blueshirts were swept by both New Jersey and the Islanders in the same season — a brutal indictment of the hockey hierarchy in New York City. The Rangers and Islanders met in the Battle of New York for the first time in October 1972. The Blueshirts and the Devils started their rivalry a decade later, when New Jersey joined the league.
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They were already swept by the Islanders before February and the trade deadline even arrived, failing to manage a goal during their first pair of matchups before dropping a back-to-back at the end of January. That’s when the Islanders — revived by rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer — secured the sweep for the first time since 2017-18, which doubled as a campaign when the Rangers managed just one win against the Devils.
Tuesday’s match at the Garden will mark their third game against the Devils this month, and both of their previous losses, as has been the case in the Jack Hughes era, were shaped by Team USA’s Winter Olympics hero. He collected a hat trick during New Jersey’s 6-3 win March 7. He added another goal — one that ruined any comeback attempt by the Rangers in the third period — and a pair of assists 11 days later, giving him 20 goals and 35 points in just 25 career games against the Blueshirts.
Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) reacts after New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) scores a goal pass New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the first period when the New York Rangers played the New Jersey Devils Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Sometimes, especially this time of year, these rivalry games have stakes attached to them. Ramifications in the divisional standings. But the Devils are well outside the postseason picture. The Rangers, even after their consecutive wins entering Tuesday, are still in the basement of the Eastern Conference. If there’s a representative from the New York City area in the postseason tournament, it’ll be Patrick Roy’s group on Long Island.
But for one night, the Rangers are trying to avoid an ignominious conclusion to their local slate.
After managing just one goal through his first 43 games of the season, Conor Sheary has collected four across his last 11 — including one Sunday while the Rangers were short-handed.
It hasn’t been anything close to the season Sheary was supposed to have after making the roster out of training camp, as he turned a professional tryout contract into a full-time spot. He missed 15 games while on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
“It helps when the puck goes in I think,” Sheary said. “I thought early in my season it was just bad puck luck here and there, and the chances I was getting, I was either missing or getting a big save against. Obviously, with my line, I’ve been getting a little bit more opportunity and a few more chances, and like I said, the puck started to go in for me.”
The Rangers have scored 55 goals since March 2, which is tied for the most in the NHL across that stretch, according to the team.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 30: Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz drives against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Delta Center on March 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In another matchup where the Utah Jazz had to do everything they could to lose, Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs pulled away late to win 122-113.
It’s another example of the Utah Jazz having to manipulate games to make sure they lose. What’s incredible is that this is against Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and a Cavaliers team that’s 4th in the East. What’s interesting about watching this game is that there wasn’t a lot of emotion watching Donovan Mitchell. There have been players in the past that Jazz fans have hated and felt residual emotion about after they left. A good example is Gordon Hayward, who left in a very cowardly fashion. The difference with Donovan Mitchell, and maybe it’s because Mitchell did give the Jazz an opportunity to get assets back for him, isn’t getting a lot of emotion from fans, almost nothing at all. Utah seems to be completely over their Ex… player, and it’s because they’re in a much better situation than before.
The time with Donovan Mitchell, even though it had some really fun moments, was like a toxic relationship. It’s now nearly four years later, and it feels like the Jazz have spent the last four years working on themselves, finding out who they are. The best part? They’re better for it and will be better than they ever were with Mitchell and Gobert. The core the Jazz have now is deeper, more talented, and more well-rounded than they ever had in the previous iteration. Oh, and they’re better coached as well. Keyonte George and Walker Kessler came in the Gobert trade, and you can bet the Jazz wouldn’t take that trade back. In the Cleveland trade, Utah received Lauri Markkanen and have picks to come down the road that’ll be helping the depth as the Jazz compete for the title. In the absence of Mitchell, they were able to draft players they traded for Jaren Jackson Jr., and one of their own picks became Ace Bailey. It’s a core that should be really good next year and for years to come.
Tonight, just like every game with the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell got his points (34), but it was not a victory that felt dominant, it felt like a soft win. It’s not the type of win I’d be excited about if I’m a Cavs fan.
For Utah, there’s a lot to be excited about. It’s a loss that will help lead the Jazz to keep their pick while also showcasing some of their young talent that will contribute to wins next year. Ace Bailey continues to show more and more consistent flashes of solid play. Tonight, he had 19 points on 8/15 shooting from the field and 3/6 from three. He also showed more ability playmaking with 5 assists. More and more, you see him being comfortable handling the ball. Bailey is never going to be Kyrie Irving handling the ball, but he is learning more and more how to handle the ball in situations, so he’s not turning it over or wasting possessions. Cody Williams had another impressive outing with 26 points on 11/22 shooting, with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. He’s also proving to be yet another nice young piece that is developing nicely with the team. Utah also has some pieces in Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski, who are putting up consistently good numbers. Filipowski is showing some great late-season signs, and Sensabaugh has found a real groove lately, scoring at a high level in these games. That consistency from Filipowski and Sensabaugh is a fantastic sign and will make them invaluable next year, even if they may be doing more spot minutes.
All in all, it’s a nice night for the Jazz. Maybe the nicest thing was seeing Donovan Mitchell. Not because he was missed, but because he’s not missed, maybe at all. It’s a great feeling to feel free of all the baggage of the past and enter a new chapter that feels like it’s been done the right way.
