Washington Wizards (17-55, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (35-38, 10th in the Western Conference)
San Francisco; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Brandin Podziemski and the Golden State Warriors host Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards in non-conference play.
The Warriors have gone 20-15 at home. Golden State is fourth in the league with 29.0 assists per game led by Draymond Green averaging 5.3.
The Wizards are 6-29 on the road. Washington gives up 123.9 points to opponents while being outscored by 11.1 points per game.
The Warriors average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 13.5 per game the Wizards allow. The Wizards average 112.8 points per game, 2.0 fewer than the 114.8 the Warriors give up.
The teams play for the second time this season. In the last matchup on March 16 the Warriors won 125-117 led by 30 points from Kristaps Porzingis, while Trae Young scored 21 points for the Wizards.
TOP PERFORMERS: Podziemski is shooting 44.6% and averaging 13.1 points for the Warriors. LJ Cryer is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Bilal Coulibaly is scoring 11.3 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 15.0 points and 3.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 3-7, averaging 114.5 points, 40.7 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points per game.
Wizards: 1-9, averaging 116.4 points, 38.7 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.4 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Seth Curry: out (adductor), Al Horford: out (calf), Quinten Post: out (foot), Moses Moody: out for season (knee), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Malevy Leons: out (illness).
Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Tre Johnson: day to day (foot), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out (quad).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Houston Rockets (43-29, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (24-48, 12th in the Western Conference)
Memphis, Tennessee; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Houston will attempt to end its four-game road skid when the Rockets take on Memphis.
The Grizzlies are 6-8 against opponents in the Southwest Division. Memphis gives up 119.1 points to opponents and has been outscored by 4.0 points per game.
The Rockets are 7-6 against the rest of their division. Houston has a 20-16 record against teams over .500.
The Grizzlies score 115.1 points per game, 4.9 more points than the 110.2 the Rockets give up. The Rockets average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.0 fewer made shots on average than the 14.2 per game the Grizzlies give up.
The two teams play for the third time this season. The Rockets defeated the Grizzlies 108-99 in their last matchup on Jan. 27. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 33 points, and Santi Aldama led the Grizzlies with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cam Spencer is shooting 46.7% and averaging 11.1 points for the Grizzlies. Javon Small is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 1-9, averaging 111.6 points, 37.2 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 127.1 points per game.
Rockets: 4-6, averaging 111.3 points, 45.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.1 points.
INJURIES: Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: out for season (knee), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Ja Morant: out for season (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Ty Jerome: day to day (ankle), Jaylen Wells: day to day (toe), Jahmai Mashack: day to day (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out for season (calf).
Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas Mavericks (23-50, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (37-37, ninth in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas is looking to break its five-game skid with a win against Portland.
The Trail Blazers have gone 25-20 against Western Conference teams. Portland ranks seventh in the NBA with 46.0 rebounds led by Donovan Clingan averaging 11.8.
The Mavericks have gone 12-33 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas is 10-15 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 14.2 turnovers per game.
The Trail Blazers score 115.5 points per game, 3.8 fewer points than the 119.3 the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks average 114.0 points per game, 2.7 fewer than the 116.7 the Trail Blazers allow.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 125-122 on Dec. 30, with Deni Avdija scoring 27 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Clingan is shooting 52.6% and averaging 12.4 points for the Trail Blazers. Avdija is averaging 21.6 points over the last 10 games.
Naji Marshall is averaging 15.4 points and 3.3 assists for the Mavericks. Cooper Flagg is averaging 21.0 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 47.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 7-3, averaging 118.4 points, 48.4 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 7.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.1 points per game.
Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 118.7 points, 44.3 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.7 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Vit Krejci: day to day (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Caleb Martin: day to day (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Daniel Gafford: day to day (shoulder).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Utah Jazz (21-52, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (46-28, fourth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Friday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Denver hosts the Utah Jazz after Jamal Murray scored 53 points in the Denver Nuggets' 142-135 victory against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Nuggets are 28-16 in Western Conference games. Denver scores 121.1 points while outscoring opponents by 4.4 points per game.
The Jazz are 1-12 against division opponents. Utah leads the Western Conference with 29.4 assists. Isaiah Collier leads the Jazz with 7.2.
The Nuggets are shooting 49.5% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 49.1% the Jazz allow to opponents. The Jazz average 117.3 points per game, 0.6 more than the 116.7 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Nuggets won 128-125 in the last matchup on March 3.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Hardaway Jr. is scoring 13.7 points per game and averaging 2.6 rebounds for the Nuggets. Murray is averaging 25.3 points and 4.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Cody Williams is scoring 7.7 points per game and averaging 2.8 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 127.4 points, 46.0 rebounds, 32.8 assists, 6.1 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.6 points per game.
Jazz: 2-8, averaging 115.2 points, 42.8 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 9.8 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.8 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: day to day (hamstring).
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: day to day (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Kyle Filipowski: day to day (illness), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (rest), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SAN FRANCISCO ― It was a beautiful day in the Bay and a perfect evening for Major League Baseball as a sold-out Oracle Park had all the vibes on a 65-degree peak day.
Red, white and blue streamers dropped in the stands to celebrate the start of the new season.
Opening Day was highly anticipated for the 40,856 in attendance, but the home fans left disappointed as the New York Yankees shut out the San Francisco Giants, 7-0.
There's been lots of commotion surrounding the Giants' offseason splash hire to bring in Tony Vitello as new manager with no prior major league experience. Vitello had a stellar stint at Tennessee where he led the Volunteers to multiple College World Series appearances and won the national title in 2024.
His debut in the majors wasn't as favorable – a lopsided loss.
"On a personal level, but also the whole team, everybody would like a better result, but the results are going to fluctuate," Vitello told reporters after the game. "I think the biggest thing is, I guess ... a more competitive effort would have been better."
The starting pitchers for Opening Day were the Yankees' Max Fried and Giants' Logan Webb. It was a vast difference in performance with Fried allowing only two hits and no runs.
Webb, on the other hand threw 86 pitches, 58 strikes with seven strikeouts in total. He allowed nine hits and seven runs. The only positive takeaway from Webb's day was that he struck out Judge three times in a little over five innings. But he couldn't "care less" if it doesn't come with a win.
"I did a bad job today," Webb said. "It just sucks that I put our team in the position that we were in. First inning was great. Second inning get [Ben Rice] to ground out on the first pitch of the inning. Then just all hell broke loose."
The Yankees did the majority of their damage in that second inning. He allowed five hits, resulting in five runs, giving the Yankees a 5-0 lead and they never looked back.
"It's quirky how it worked out for Webby, because a couple of those innings, he absolutely rolled," Vitello said. "And then again, they seem to have had the formula for stacking hits tonight. ... Maybe we look back as a group and the excitement of being the home team and the hype going into it and kind of a new vibe and things like that."
He added: "You certainly want to make adjustments, because we want to perform better and make it a more competitive situation, no matter what night it is or who the opponent is."
There was a lot going into the game. Opening Day fireworks. Yankees in town. Netflix making its MLB broadcast debut and the ABS challenge replay system going into effect.
But the talk around San Francisco was the debut of Vitello.
His hire raised questions for some around baseball, but the Giants dugout only has positive reviews.
"We wanted to win today for a number of reasons," Giants third baseman Matt Chapman told USA TODAY Sports. "[It'd] be cool to get Tony that first win on Opening Day, but it didn't happen. The thing that Tony's been great with, he does bring a lot of energy. He's the same guy every day."
He added: "He knows winning baseball, he doesn't have professional experience, but he came in and kind of hit the ground running. For guys that have been around for a long time, we're on board with everything he's doing. He seems like he's been here before, you know, even though he hasn't. That's why Buster [Posey] picked him. And I fully expect you guys to see throughout the course of the season, you know, why he's here."
A legend's encouragement
If there's anyone who can relate to the nerves that Vitello felt before his Major League debut, it's baseball legend Dusty Baker.
Baker, cooler than the Pacific Ocean breeze sweeping through Oracle Park, kicked back in the Giants' dugout just hours before the first pitch to lead off another MLB season and their 69th year in San Francisco.
"This is the start of the long race. ... you know, you hope that you're still playing in late October. And this is a beautiful day to start the season, a beautiful place," Baker told USA TODAY Sports.
Baker is no stranger to San Francisco. He's coached the Giants from 1988 to 1992, before being named manager from 1993 to 2002. Unlike Vitello, Baker played in the big leagues, carving out an 18-year career cemented with a World Series ring.
"I'm sure he's nervous. I was nervous before my first game," Baker said. "I remember what it was like. You wonder if you're going to win or not, start off 1-0, and it was against Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals, and, man, we beat them."
Vitello didn't have the same start to his managerial career but Baker advised those rooting for the orange and black to give him time.
"I know he doesn't have any experience at the major league level, but he has he has a lot of experience at the college level. And any experience is better, no experience," Baker said. "There are quite a few managers around don't have any experience doing anything. So, I think he's gonna be fine because there are a lot of managers that don't have the experience that he has."
He added: "You just gotta give him a chance. That's the thing. You know, just give him a chance and then you got to give him more than a year to make the adjustment. That's why they gave him a three-year contract."
The Giants are 0-1, but on a positive note there are 161 more chances for Vitello to nab that covenant first MLB win as manager.
SAN FRANCISCO — Gui Santos scored a career-high 31 points, Draymond Green made two clutch free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining and the Golden State Warriors beat the Nets 109-106 on Wednesday to clinch a play-in spot.
Brandin Podziemski had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Warriors (35-38), who won their first game at Chase Center since returning from a grueling 2-4 road trip.
Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and De’Anthony Melton had 14, including a pair of free throws in the final seconds, as Golden State beat Brooklyn in San Francisco for the first time since Dec. 16, 2023.
Gui Santos, who scored a game-high 31 points, goes up for a layup as Ziaire Williams looks on during the Nets’ 109-106 loss to the Warriors on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco. John Hefti-Imagn Images
Ziaire Williams had 19 points for the Nets, who have lost nine straight. Jalen Wilson added 15 points off the bench while Ben Saraf had 14 points and seven rebounds.
The sellout at Chase Center was the 600th consecutive sellout for the Warriors, the sixth-longest streak in NBA history,
The Nets, who will face LeBron James and the Lakers on Friday night, led most of the game, trailed going into the fourth then wore down over the final 12 minutes.
Brooklyn shot 8 for 20 (2 for 9 behind the arc) down the stretch.
Still without injured star Stephen Curry, the Warriors committed 15 turnovers in the first two quarters and had trouble running their offense with much consistency.
The Nets also got off to a sluggish start and missed 10 of their first 15 shots before Williams warmed up.
The former first-round draft pick repeatedly attacked through the paint and scored 11 points to help Brooklyn to a 58-50 halftime lead.
Golden State pulled within 63-62 midway through the third before Powell made consecutive 3-pointers to get Brooklyn on track.
SAN FRANCISCO — The New York Yankees heard all about that effusive energy coming out of the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse, that ol’ college spirit that was going to be a game-changer in Major League Baseball, and how the Yankees would be the first to bear witness to the new sheriff in town.
Well, by the end of the night, the Yankees were the ones who let Giants rookie manager Tony Vitello know that energy can be nice, but it’s absolutely worthless when you have a pitcher that can shove that energy where the McCovey Cove kayaks can’t float.
The Yankees, behind Max Fried’s brilliant performance, completely shut down the Giants, 7-0, on Wednesday night in the 2026 season opener, with all of that energy vanishing into the night in front of a sellout crowd of 40,856 at Oracle Park.
The Yankees, with Fried giving up just two hits in 6 1/3 innings, with the seven-run defeat equaling the Giants' most lopsided in a season opener.
The Giants had one hit in the first inning.
Another hit in the fourth inning.
One in the eighth inning.
That was it.
It was the Giants’ fewest hits on Opening Day since April 12, 1965.
“We could nitpick,’’ Vitello said, “but this wasn’t a March Madness game where we drew up the wrong play at the end.”
It was a complete and thoroughly ugly beatdown by the Bronx Bombers, but it could have been much worse.
Can you imagine the damage the Yankees could have done if Aaron Judge didn’t strike out four times in the first six innings, becoming the first reigning MVP to strike out four times in a season opener?
Or, what if Fried actually had his good stuff this evening.
“It’s really a testament to just how good he is and how he can beat you in different ways,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought it some ways it was a bit of a grind for him tonight, kind of in and out of rhythm a little bit. It’s just his arsenal is so vast even though he was a little effectively wild, it makes you have to account for a lot of things ...
“I mean, that’s what an ace looks like when he’s grinding, but what a tone he set for us.’’
The only time the Yankees lost anything the entire night was in the fifth inning when Jose Caballero became the first player in history to employ the ABS challenge. He argued that a strike called by veteran home plate umpire Bill Miller should be a ball, only for the call to be confirmed by replay, with the Yankees losing the challenge.
“I wanted to go for it,’’ Caballero said. “I think it’s really good to keep everyone accountable and give us a chance to see if we are good with the strike zone or not.’’
Well, if nothing else, at least he will go down in baseball history.
“It’s cool,’’ he said. “I just wish it was the other way around.’’
It turned out that would be the biggest suspense of the night with the Yankees pounding out 10 hits, with every hitter in the lineup but Judge collecting at least one hit, and either scoring or driving in a run.
“This is a lineup that can do this often,’’ Caballero said. “We just trust one another.’’
Says leadoff hitter Trent Grisham, who became the first Yankee to triple on Opening Day since Johnny Damon in 2009: “It’s fun to be part of this team. Just seems like we have those stretches were we can continue to put good at-bat after good at-bat.’’
The Yankees showed their depth for all of the Netflix viewership to see. It started off innocently enough with Giants ace Logan Webb retiring Ben Rice to lead off the second inning, but suddenly, he watched everything spiral out of control.
Giancarlo Stanton became the Yankees’ first baserunner of the game with a single to center. Webb then hit Jazz Chisholm in the shoulder on a 92.5-mph sinker. Caballero ripped a single to left field, scoring Stanton. Webb got ahead 0-and-2 on No. 8 hitter Ryan McMahon, only for McMahon to flip a changeup to center field for two runs. No. 9 hitter Austin Wells followed with a single.
Grisham became the sixth consecutive Yankee to reach base, punishing Webb with a two-run triple to the right-center-field gap for a 5-0 lead.
And the rout was on.
“It happened fast,’’ Wells said. “It was awesome. I was really cool to watch and be a part of."
The Yankees blistered Webb for nine hits and seven runs (six earned) in just five innings. It matched the most runs he gave up in a start in San Francisco in his career, spanning 91 starts.
It was a direct contrast to Fried’s domination. He opened the game by walking three-time batting champion Luis Arraez on four pitches, and when cleanup hitter Willy Adames came to the plate, the Giants already had runners on the corners with only one out. No problem. He struck out Adames on a 95-mph cutter. And Jung Hoo Lee hit into an inning-ending groundout the next pitch.
The Giants didn’t reach second base again until the eighth inning, well after Fried left the game.
“It was one of those outings where you just got to try to figure out how to get it done when you aren’t the most locked in,’’ said Fried, who went 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA last year, “especially coming out of the gate. I definitely was searching. But when the guys go out there and put up five runs in the second, it just allows you to take a deep breath and it just allowed you to take a deep breath ...
“One through nine [in the lineup] can beat you, and we obviously have the best player in the world hitting for us, but we also have a lot of guys being able to support him.’’
It was just one game in a long, grueling season, but if nothing else, well, maybe the Yankees’ idea of running it back with virtually the same team as last year just might work.
“Look, we’re confident,’’ Boone said. “I know they’re confident in their ability to have good at-bats and put up runs. But we’re just one game into this thing.
“We’ve still got a long ways to go to prove that, and I think we have a chance to do that.’’
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 25: LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 25, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Those of you who stayed up to watch our 17-win Nets play into the wee hours of the morning were rewarded with an entertaining bout, a touch of history, and somehow still, a lottery-friendly game result.
Those of you who reading this in the morning, first off, no one is blaming you. Hanging with this team in any capacity through this point in the season is more than admirable. So, we’ll do our best to deliver everything that went down anyway…
Brooklyn’s usual, and by that I mean “poor,” start tonight in no way indicated the wild ride they’d eventually take us on. They began the game 2-10 from the field and looked headed for another blowout in a hurry. With a few timely cutes and slick feeds, the Nets queued themselves up several good looks at the rim, but just couldn’t slide the turkey into the oven.
However, the Warriors, who’ve gone 7-16 since having to shelve Steph Curry with runners knee, had their own debilitating basketball vice in the opening minutes too. Golden State surrendered 10 turnovers in the first period alone. And with that grace provided by the extra possessions, Brooklyn eventually found its footing, pulled into the lead, and its shooting above 50% from the frame.
Even as the offense improved, Brooklyn’s closing minutes of the first weren’t without their mistakes…
In fairness, we’re well beyond asking for perfect, or even decent basketball from this young, hard-working, but obviously talent-deficient team. However, as the game rolled on, the former traits shined brighter than the latter, and brighter than gold.
Brooklyn continued to turn the Warriors over in the second, getting their total up to 15 less than 18 minutes into the game. The Nets also got up by a dozen around that point after Ben Saraf nailed a triple that broke a streak of 18 straight misses for him from deep. Brooklyn’s audaciousness grew so abundant in the second, that at one point, Terance Mann tried to drop a hammer on one of the best statistical rim protectors of our time…
Wisely, Golden State started slowing things down after that, getting to the line and getting 10 points there in the period. They were about to close the half on a 16-9 run until Malachi Smith, with his second 10-day contract still damp with ink, bolted past everyone for lay-in off the glass that made it a 58-50 game at the break.
Jalen Wilson and Ziaire Williams led the Nets with 11 points each at that point. Williams nabbed four steals along the way as well. The most he’d had in a game before tonight was five. He tied that mark less than three minutes into the second half and surpassed it a few minutes later. He finished with a whopping six to go with 19 points on 6-11 shooting.
One of the few other veterans available tonight, Nic Claxton, was less involved in the box score both at half and beyond. Clax picked up his fourth foul of the game with 5:27 to go and ended up with only three shot attempts in the first half. He logged just eight points in 20 minutes for the game and did not play beyond the third quarter.
In that period, Golden State looked primed to re-take the lead the after starting it on a 12-5 run. However, Drake Powell said “not so fast” with two back-to-back threes that kept his team afloat.
But while maintaining their buoyancy, the Nets eventually drifted into rough waters, and took the Warriors with them. Like a limp sailboat, both teams rocked back and forth in the latter half of the third, trading possessions and points at a rapid pace as the turnovers and shot-making both increased.
Gui Santos, who averages 8.3 points per game, added 15 points in the quarter while shooting 3-4 from deep. Brooklyn got their own “where’d that guy come from” contributions amidst the chaos as well, as Chaney Johnson added a quick six points in the frame. Williams, however, remained the guy, adding another eight before the start of the fourth.
There, the Nets started with an 86-77 lead, though Santos’ hot shooting quickly threatened the advantage again. Getting support now from Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, and Draymond Green at the defensive end, the Warriors made their first three triples to open the period and tied things up 88-88 with 8:10 remaining.
Again, Drake Powell tried to change the tide, picking off a pass and going the distance to give Brooklyn back the lead once play resumed. But the Warriors, who still feel like a force of nature for this writer whose formative years took place during their heyday, maintained the look of a strong swell midway through the fourth. Next time down the floor, De’Anthony Melton got in for an easy two before Will Richard walked into a three that gave Golden State it’s first lead since the first period.
However, Golden State couldn’t get any further, and even took a few steps back with many of the final minutes played either with the score tied again or with Brooklyn ahead by a possession or two. Smith played a large part in that, beating the shot clock, blanketing defense, and the odds odds just to be there tonight at one point…
Tough shot in a tough moment. Malachi Smith is making a lot of viewers sweat tonight.
The Warriors, on the other hand, opted to roll with Porzingis in isolation down the stretch and found mixed results. On many occasions, the Unicorn looked more like a run down horse, missing short on a variety of looks around the paint. He did, however, rise over everyone to flush in a missed layup from Santos that tied things back up. Not long after that, he drew a foul on Johnson that brought him to the line and Golden State back up two with just under a minute to go.
In game riddled with responses from both teams, Brooklyn’s next was the best by a landslide, even if it wasn’t game-deciding. Next time down the floor, Saraf put Draymond on a poster and possibly into a retirement home. Maybe it’s just getting late here, but I think he gave him a bit of a stare after too…
But while Saraf’s jam had many on the Brooklyn bench smiling from ear to ear, it was Melton who got the last laugh. On the subsequent possession, the legendary ex-Net drew a foul made the necessary free throw to give his team the lead.
With only a handful of seconds remaining after that and no timeouts, the Nets had to heave the ball across the court. Rather than another chance at redemption, Josh Minott’s pass found Melton’s hands. The clock quickly ran out, the Nets told everyone “goodnight,” and picked up their eighth loss in a row.
Alas, once could argue Nets “won” with their 17 steals tonight, the most in a game in over a decade. With the Washington Wizards mopping the floor with the Utah Jazz, they also pulled into a tie with them for the second slot in the lottery standings.
We’re a ways to go, both in seeing how much that’ll matter and getting to the point where real wins are on the table, but certainly closer now.
Final: Golden State Warriors 109, Brooklyn Nets 106
Milestone Watch
Ziaire Williams career-high six steals tonight in Golden State are the most by a Net since Caris LeVert’s six on 2/22/20 at Charlotte.
The Nets have a season-high 17 steals tonight against the Warriors, which is their most in a game since recording 19 vs. Chicago on 3/3/14.
Next Up
Nets #afterdark continues on Friday evening as Brooklyn will head out to Los Angeles for a date with the Los Angeles Lakers. For those unaware, Luka Doncic has been on an absolute tear lately at the offensive end. That should provide the night owls among you with some entertainment even as the Nets likely get beat to a pulp. This one tips off at 10:30 p.m. EST.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Aaron Judge went hitless on opening day for the first time and struck out four times for the first time since September 2024, but the New York Yankees still produced plenty of offense and beat San Francisco 7-0 Wednesday night in the debut of Giants manager Tony Vitello as the major league season began.
José Caballero drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in a five-run second and also lost the first challenge taken to Major League Baseball’s so-called robot umpire, unsuccessfully appealing a strike by Logan Webb in the fourth.
Max Fried (1-0) allowed two hits in 6 1/3 innings to became just the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1969 with at least 6 1/3 shutout innings on opening day, joining Catfish Hunter (1977), Ron Guidry (1980), Rick Rhoden (1988) and David Cone (1996). New York won an opener with a shutout on the road for the first time since 1967.
Webb (0-1) started the fourth inning with a 90.7 mph sinker on the upper, inner corner that was called a strike by Bill Miller, a major league umpire since 1997. Caballero tapped his helmet, and the 12 Hawk-Eye cameras of the Automated Ball-Strike System upheld Miller’s decision in a graphic shown on the Oracle Park scoreboard.
Caballero singled in the second and Ryan McMahon followed with a two-run single before Austin Wells’ single prompted a mound visit for Webb. Trent Grisham hit a two-run triple and was checked by medical staff after a hard slide into third.
Webb, a 15-game winner last season making his fifth start on opening day, was tagged for six earned runs — seven in all — and nine hits over five innings.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gui Santos scored a career-high 31 points, Draymond Green made two clutch free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining and the Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-106 on Wednesday to clinch a play-in spot.
Brandin Podziemski had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Warriors (35-38), who won their first game at Chase Center since returning from a grueling 2-4 road trip.
Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and De’Anthony Melton had 14, including a pair of free throws in the final seconds, as Golden State beat Brooklyn in San Francisco for the first time since Dec. 16, 2023.
Ziaire Williams had 19 points for the Nets, who have lost nine straight. Jalen Wilson added 15 points off the bench while Ben Saraf had 14 points and seven rebounds.
The sellout at Chase Center was the 600th consecutive sellout for the Warriors, the sixth-longest streak in NBA history.
The Nets led most of the game, trailed going into the fourth then wore down over the final 12 minutes. Brooklyn shot 8 for 20 (2 for 9 behind the arc) down the stretch.
Still without injured star Stephen Curry, the Warriors committed 15 turnovers in the first two quarters and had trouble running their offense with much consistency.
The Nets also got off to a sluggish start and missed 10 of their first 15 shots before Williams warmed up. The former first-round draft pick repeatedly attacked through the paint and scored 11 points to help Brooklyn to a 58-50 halftime lead.
Golden State pulled within 63-62 midway through the third before Powell made consecutive 3-pointers to get Brooklyn on track.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 25: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 25, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday, falling 142-135 to the Denver Nuggets (45-28) in a game that felt within reach early before completely getting away from them late. Dallas had a few solid stretches to start, showing some offensive rhythm and energy, but couldn’t sustain it as Denver’s shot-making and overall execution took over. Cooper Flagg continued his strong stretch with 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while P.J. Washington added 19 points and 15 rebounds with steady production inside. On the other side, Jamal Murray put together a dominant performance with 53 points, and Nikola Jokić orchestrated everything with 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists, as the Nuggets controlled the game from the middle quarters on.
The Mavericks hung around for stretches in the first half, but a Jamal Murray explosion ultimately tilted the game, as the Denver Nuggets took a 68-59 lead into halftime in a game that quickly started to feel like it was slipping away. Dallas opened with solid energy, getting contributions from multiple spots, as Naji Marshall scored efficiently and Cooper Flagg made his presence felt early as both a scorer and a playmaker, helping keep things within reach. Flagg had a noticeable impact in those opening minutes—knocking down pull-ups, attacking downhill, and creating looks for others—while Marshall’s shot-making kept the offense afloat during key stretches.
But every time the Mavericks made a push, Murray had an answer. He completely took over the second quarter, piling up 33 first-half points on 11-of-15 shooting and 6-of-9 from deep, hitting pull-ups, step-backs, and tough contested shots that Dallas simply couldn’t slow down. At the same time, Nikola Jokić quietly controlled everything else, finishing the half with 11 assists and 9 rebounds, consistently creating easy looks and keeping Denver’s offense flowing even without scoring much himself.
Dallas had some bright spots, though. There were moments especially in the third where Dallas strung together a few stops and got downhill, but it never turned into anything real, as missed shots, turnovers, and Denver’s instant responses kept resetting the margin.
The Mavs need a stopper
If this game didn’t make it obvious, nothing will Dallas desperately needs a guard who can defend at the point of attack. Jamal Murray didn’t just have a good night, he had complete control, getting wherever he wanted and scoring however he wanted, finishing with 53 points on 19-of-28 shooting and 9-of-14 from three. There was no real resistance at the top of the defense no one who could consistently stay in front, disrupt his rhythm, or even make him uncomfortable. Once he got downhill or into his pull-up game, it was over, and that kind of pressure completely breaks a defense before it even has a chance to rotate.
This is where roster construction starts to matter. Dallas has length and some versatility in the frontcourt, but without a guard who can actually contain the ball, none of it holds up. You can’t ask your bigs to clean everything up every possession, especially against elite shot-makers. That’s why this draft becomes so important. It’s not just about adding talen it’s about adding the right kind of player. Someone who can fight over screens, stay attached, and at least make life harder for guys like Murray at the point of attack.
Because nights like this aren’t just about one player getting hot they expose a structural issue. And until Dallas finds a guard who can defend at that level, this is going to keep happening.
Someone seeds to close, eventually
The Mavericks have played a ton of close games this season, but the results just haven’t followed, and that’s something that continues to show up late in these losses. Too often, possessions in crunch time turn into rushed shots, stalled actions, or empty trips, while a single defensive breakdown on the other end swings momentum the other way. It’s not just one game it’s been a pattern, and it speaks to a team that’s still learning how to execute when everything tightens up.
That said, context matters right now. Dallas isn’t necessarily trying to squeeze out every late-game win at this point in the season, and losses like these actually help their lottery positioning. There’s value in being competitive and getting those reps without sacrificing long-term upside, especially in a strong draft class.
But long term, this is something to watch especially with Cooper Flagg. He’s already showing flashes as a primary creator, but closing games is the next step: controlling tempo, getting to the right spots, and making the right reads under pressure. It’s okay that it’s messy right now given where the team is, but if the Mavericks want to take a real step forward next season, turning these close games into wins has to be part of that growth.
Cooper Flagg continues to shine
Cooper Flagg continues to look more and more like the centerpiece of what Dallas is building, and nights like this are a big part of why. He finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, impacting the game in just about every way despite the result. What stands out isn’t just the production it’s how he’s getting it. He’s initiating offense, pushing in transition, making reads out of drives, and consistently putting pressure on the defense as both a scorer and playmaker.
This stretch has been especially encouraging. Over the past few games, Flagg has been steadily trending upward, not just in scoring, but in overall control of the game. He’s starting to look more comfortable as the primary option, picking his spots better and showing more patience when defenses collapse. Even when shots don’t fall, he’s still influencing possessions through rebounds, assists, and defensive activity.
There are still things to clean up, especially late-game execution and shot selection in tighter moments, but that’s expected at this stage. The important part is that the flashes are becoming more consistent. For a team leaning into development, Flagg isn’t just putting up numbers he’s showing real signs of growth as a lead initiator, and that’s the biggest takeaway moving forward.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 23, 2026 at American Airlines Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Down eight at halftime and down nine in the fourth quarter to a Brooklyn Nets team that came into Chase Center with one of the worst records in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors looked like a squad still jet-lagged from everything the road took from them. The Dubs coughed up twenty-six turnovers and this looked like a bad loss brewing to a tanking team.
And then Gui Santos decided he didn’t care about any of that.
The 23-year-old finished with 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, a career statement carved out against a legitimately bad team, yes, but carved out nonetheless. When a young player finds that kind of rhythm, the opponent’s record becomes irrelevant. Santos was locked in.
The fourth quarter told the real story. Brooklyn tied the game 106-106 with under a minute left, Ben Saraf’s driving dunk over Draymond Green threatening to turn a sloppy Warriors performance into a loss nobody could explain away. Then De’Anthony Melton, who finished with 14 points and 9 rebounds, stepped to the line and hit the go-ahead free throw. Melton stopped Saraf on the next possession and Green, ice in his veins at the line down the stretch, sealed it at 109-106. That closing sequence was Warriors basketball at its most essential: survive the mess you made, close it with character.
The Warriors have clinched a spot in the play-in after tonight’s win.
Two wins in a row. First game back home after a road trip that tested this team’s identity at every stop.
Here’s the real concern the scoreboard can’t hide, though. Twenty-six turnovers against a 17-56 team is not a footnote; I see it as more of a flashing warning light. The Warriors gave up 28 points off those turnovers. Against a playoff contender, this game isn’t close at the end. That number needs to get addressed in practice, in film, in conversation, because the schedule doesn’t stay this forgiving.
But tonight, Chase Center got its team back. Santos gave them a reason to be loud. Sometimes winning ugly is exactly what a team healing from the road needs most.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 25: Blake Hinson #2 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 25, 2026 at Delta Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz likely had this game circled on the calendar for some time. It’s the matchup of two ultra tankers facing off, and the prize for losing was all-important playoff positioning. The Utah Jazz came out on top … I mean, as the losers 133-110.
At halftime, the Jazz were down a massive amount, way more than anyone expected.
It’s a good thing because the Jazz got an incredible boost from Blake Hinson. In 11 minutes tonight, Hinson was 4/5 from three, 6/8 from the field, and a +15 in a blowout loss. His shooting with this Jazz team has been incredible, and he’s looking like one of the big steals of the current rebuild. It’s really nice to see because it’s showing that Utah is finding players from multiple avenues that can contribute. Utah has Hinson for two seasons minimum with his two-way contract, but they may want to find a way to give him a standard contract next season. His shooting and overall feel for the game make him a valuable role player. Not bad at all for the Jazz to find a player like that from the G-League, and they didn’t have to use a single asset to make it happen.
We also need to give Ace Bailey some major credit for some of his highlight plays. Bailey had a bad shooting night tonight, but it felt like every one of his scores was a highlight dunk. This reverse dunk was unbelievable.
He’ll still have some up and down nights shooting the ball, but the ceiling for Ace Bailey continues to rise.
Finally, there needs to be huge credit given to Cody Williams, who has been asked to do things outside of his comfort zone. Overall, he’s doing a solid job. Williams had a great night with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. He’s playing under control and, most importantly, with real confidence. That confidence is great to see, as it shows Williams can be a contributor to winning basketball for the Jazz. If he continues on this trajectory, there’s no reason not to believe he can’t be a core part of a future playoff rotation.
It’s a massively important loss for the Jazz, who stay in the hunt for the #4 spot with the Kings.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 03: Byron Buxton #25 of Team USA signs autographs prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Team USA and San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome one and all to Twins Opening Day! As always, we will have our game thread up this afternoon to make predictions about the rest of the season based off a single game, but for now you can read our predictions before a single game is played. All your favorite Twinkie Town writers have pitched in their thoughts. Leave yours as well!
Who will be the Twins’ best hitter in 2026?
Ben Jones: Byron Buxton this, Luke Keaschall that. How about Matt Wallner? He has major flaws but he’s also not that far away from being one of the best hitters in baseball, frankly. Wallner has his best season as pro, hits 45 dongs, and leads the team in every major offensive category including, yes, strikeouts.
Matt Monitto: Seeing a lot of buzz for a Luke Keaschall breakout, and I have to agree with it, especially if he bats leadoff ahead of Buxton: that would suggest pitchers go after him to avoid facing Buck with men on, giving him more chances to hit.
Zach Koenig: I think we may have seen the apex of Buxton in 2025. Now, slightly-regression Buxton may still be the best hitter on this squad, but I’m gonna go with Luke Keaschall. He really impressed me last year I sometimes wonder if he hadn’t gotten hurt maybe the Pohlads wouldn’t have gone scorched earth on the bit. Extremely inexperienced, I know, but that speed really plays.
James Filmore: Byron Buxton
John Foley: Byron Buxton. It’s still best to look at things for Buck on a rate basis, even after he played in 126 games last year (his most since 2017), but we shouldn’t overthink this question. Since the 2020 campaign, Buxton has solidified his place as one of the game’s premier sluggers. By isolated slugging, Buxton trails only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani over that span.
John Von Mosch (aka our good friend Imakesandwichesforaliving): Byron Buxton. He’ll carry over from last season. Maybe a 30-30 season??
Hans Hollander: Buxton continues to be a star with another fantastic season…this time earning top-10 MVP honors.
Who will be the Twins’ best pitcher in 2026?
Ben Jones: This was a more fun question back when Pablo Lopez was healthy and Bailey Ober could crack 90 MPH on his fastball. Now, the only real answer is Joe Ryan. However, I’ll add a caveat that I think there’s like a 80% chance Ryan is dealt at the deadline, leaving space for someone to catch him on overall impact. In that case, 2027 All-Star Taj Bradley is on the case.
Matt Monitto: Joe Ryan for as long as he remains a Twin.
Zach Koenig: I’m going chalk here with the Joe Ryan Experience. When he’s right, he’s a top-flight MLB starter. With Pablo out, I don’t see an obvious challenger to that mantle.
James Filmore: Joe Ryan
John Foley: Joe Ryan for the first half of the season. Again, let’s not overthink it. Who will be the best pitcher in the second half is anyone’s guess because Ryan won’t be with the Twins past the trade deadline. If the outlook going into 2027 is going to be improved over this past winter, the answer needs to be Taj Bradley and Mick Abel.
Sandwiches: Joe Ryan. I think he’s the only pitcher on the staff, isn’t he?
Hans Hollander: Joe Ryan will lead the staff…and will stay with the Twins for the entire year! And, as a unit, the rotation is tops in the division. As for the bullpen, Taylor Rogers regains the closer title and leads the team with saves.
Who will be their breakout star?
Ben Jones: I really think Brooks Lee puts it together this year. That doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a mid-order bat, but a .750 OPS and 20 home runs would unironically make him one the Twins’ three most important position players. With Kaelen Culpepper on his heels, he’ll feel the pressure to get back to his top-prospect status and it’s now or never.
Matt Monitto: I already said Keaschall, but I’m going to add another and say Eric Orze becomes a high-leverage option in the bullpen. My justification is that I had Orze as a solid relief options for several seasons in my Twins Out of the Park save, so I’m rooting for him.
Zach Koenig: A bit of a swerve here, but I’ll say manager Derek Shelton. I know from all accounts that Rocco seemed to be really good behind the scenes with player relationships. But to me, that never translated to fans. He never showed much emotion and, quite frankly, at times (too many times, by the end) didn’t seem to be having much fun at all. I’ve heard a few Shelton interviews and he seems to bring a new energy.
James Filmore: Taj Bradley because the Twins are due for a great young starter.
John Foley: Austin Martin in a nearly everyday super utility role. (Editor’s note: the heart yearns for 2024 All-Star Willi Castro)
Sandwiches: I have a feeling Luke Keaschall will tear it up this year.
Hans Hollander: Austin Martin proves he belongs in the lineup, leading off more than any other Twin.
Which top prospect will have the greatest impact in 2026?
Ben Jones: I don’t think he’s the best of the Twins’ top 100 quartet, but the answer here is probably Connor Prielipp. Minnesota’s bullpen is so vacant of impact arms that he would probably be their best reliever right now. As it stands, he’s in St. Paul working as a starter, but the Twins will likely want to lighten his load as the season wears on, giving him a chance to step in as their best reliever down the stretch.
Matt Monitto: Gabriel Gonzalez because eventually they’ll call up a right-handed-hitting outfielder.
Zach Koenig: I have to plead the fifth on this one, as I simply do not follow the minor leagues or prospects enough to have an informed opinion. As I always say, a player “becomes real” to me when he hits the majors. (Editor’s note: that makes Zach’s answer 30-year-old career minor league catcher David Bañuelos according to the TT bylaws. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.)
James Filmore: Prielipp because his name sounds kinda kinky.
John Foley: Mick Abel. His improvement in throwing strikes last year appears to have carried over into this spring. Abel has been hard to square up throughout his minor league career and generates frequent ground balls when hitters do put it in play. Avoiding free passes at a much higher rate has changed the trajectory of his outlook.
Sandwiches: I’ll have to go with Emmanuel Rodriguez. I don’t keep tabs on the prospects well enough, but I think he’s been healthy and had a great spring. He’ll get the nod at some point and impress folks.
Hans Hollander: Culpepper ends the season as the starting shortstop, starting to make Twins fans optimistic about the position.
Predict the Twins’ final record and whether or not they make the playoffs.
Ben Jones: Most projection systems have the Twins between 78-80 wins. Outside of the bullpen, I think that’s about where they stand as a team with the opportunity for more if some combination of Wallner, Larnach, Roden, Lewis, Lee, Martin, and Bell can turn into true mid-order bats. That’s about where you want to live as a team who is mid-rebuild (despite what Tom Pohlad will tell you). Bullpens are fickle and it’s just as likely that Cole Sands has the best year of his life that the entire thing implodes. I’ll be the positive one and say they finish 85-77 and sneak into the final Wild Card slot.
Matt Monitto: 64-98, but incredibly, they finish first in the Central after a string of tornadoes sweeps through opposing clubhouses and leaves them without uniforms for the entire sea— actually, no, they finish last.
Zach Koenig: No playoffs—I just don’t see even a Wild Card berth happening. I do think this squad still has enough talent to not be 92+ loss bad. At the same time, they have enough holes that unless everything comes up 21, I don’t see them all that competitive. I’ll go with 74-88—four games better than last year based on the fact that morale won’t be quite as low as August/September ’25. But also not enough to really move the needle.
James Filmore: 72-36 (wait for it…)
Marea Anderson: Somewhere around 65-97, and that’s being generous. I’m not blaming players at all; this is based purely on the ownership. I’m convinced they’re trying to recreate the movie Major League into a documentary, and are doing everything they can to make the fans and players hate it here so they can move to a larger or warmer climate.
John Foley: 74-88. I think the chances they finish below the White Sox in the standings in 2026 are higher than their chances of making the postseason.
Sandwiches: 72-90, and I sadly think I’m being optimistic. If they make the playoffs with that record, something went terribly wrong in MLB.
Hans Hollander: The Twins finish at .500 and out of the playoffs. BUT, they finish with one of the stronger Septembers in the sport and clarity on a direction for the next season.
Give me a bold prediction for this season.
Ben Jones: I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I absolutely know that Austin Martin’s hair will cause him to make a game-losing mistake. Maybe it gets in his eyes during a crucial at-bat. Maybe his glove gets caught in it as he goes to make a leaping grab in left field. Maybe a bird takes up residence in his luscious mane, they develop an unbreakable bond, and said bird hears the high frequencies of the PitchCom device and starts whispering pitches into Martin’s ear but often gets it wrong because it’s still new to english.
There’s no way to know the specifics, but I guarantee it will happen. I can feel it my bones.
Matt Monitto: Due to a positional change forcing them to use their DH in the field, Kody Funderburk is forced to bat in a late June game and homers.
Zach Koenig: If by some chance the Twins are in contention on August 13—the Field of Dreams game—they are able to summon the ghost of Walter Johnson out of the corn. He hadn’t shown up with the 1919 bunch back in the Ray Kinsella Era because the notoriously above-board Big Train would never associate with known gamblers. Because he is, well, Walter Johnson, he immediately pitches a perfect game in Dyersville and the Twins are the new AL favorites. Because Minnesota is, well, Minnesota, he feels “a little something” in his elbow the next day and is diagnosed with a torn ACL. Because he can’t step over the chalk line of any ballpark, the surgery must be performed by Archibald “Moonlight” Graham, who of course botches it because he lived decades before Tommy John’s landmark procedure. The Twins collapse the rest of the way.
James Filmore: The Twins finish 72-36 because… the season will be canceled in August when the Twins are on the verge of clinching a #1 playoff seed, just because MLB hates YOU personally. Not Twins fans in general, just YOU. YOU know who YOU are and YOU know what YOU did.
John Foley: No fewer than five Twins finish the season with 10+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases. (They had 3 do it last year, none in 2024, and 1 in 2023).
Sandwiches: The Twims will set the record for the most innings pitched by position players in a season by a long shot, most of them by Kody Clemens, enough for him to qualify for some sort of award. Maybe best K/9 by a reliever.
Hans Hollander: T.C. Bear announces he has twin sons: Lil’ Minnie and Paulie B(ear). (Editor’s note: the notoriously litigious Disney Corporation already has a cease-and-desist in the mail, Hans. Nobody infringes upon Michael Theodore Mouse’s wife’s copyrighted name, image, or likeness. You can’t just say things like this on Al Gore’s internet!)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 25: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after a basket against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INDIANAPOLIS — The Lakers’ season was not going to be defined by a late March road trip. But when the games truly start to matter, the six games LA battled through could very well serve as a reference point.
Across those six games, the Lakers faced a myriad of challenges, both on and off the court. They found solutions for nearly all of them and, as a result, head back home with a real chance to finish the regular season on a high.
“This is the thing that we’ve talked about a bunch is just play the game in front of you and win the game in front of you,” head coach JJ Redick said. “It’s not about looking ahead. It’s more, ‘What does this game present?’ And each game on this trip presented a different problem that we had to solve and a different matchup nightmare that we had to solve and our guys did a great job of executing throughout the trip.”
The problems presented themselves in a myriad of ways. In Houston, it was athleticism. In Miami, it was sleep deprivation. In Detroit, it was physicality. In Indiana, it was the speed and pace of play.
And on Monday, it was Bronny James who provided a spark.
Mar 25, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) shoots the ball over Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
The seldom-used sophomore guard parlayed his recent success in the G League into a rare appearance with the depleted parent Lakers. And they weren’t ceremonial minutes, but important ones that included a momentum-stopping jumper late in the fourth quarter to stem the tide of a Pacers run.
“He did a great job today,” Luka said of Bronny. “A big game from him. That pull-up two [in the fourth quarter], it was a big bucket. It was probably one of the most important shots of the game. They’re coming back, he hits that one. I think he did really great in those minutes.”
While Bronny is not the solution himself, he is emblematic of the Lakers’ ability to find answers. When the playoffs came around last season, they ran out of ideas quickly, bowing out in swift fashion as a result.
This season, the Lakers are a more resilient group with an ability and willingness to problem-solve, something they proved time and time again over the last week-and-a-half.
“I think we did a great job – even the game we lost that we could have won – I think just not giving up,” Luka said. “Numerous times, teams went on a run and we didn’t give up. We just kept at it.”
By keeping at it, the Lakers have positioned themselves for a strong finish. Of their final nine games, six are at home, seven are in California and only once will they have to leave the Pacific time zone. Games against Brooklyn, Washington, Dallas and Utah will match them up against tanking teams.
Following Wednesday’s results, they sit 1.5 games up on Denver, two games up on Minnesota and 3.5 games up on Houston with tiebreakers over all three teams.
Even with a game against OKC left on the schedule, the Lakers, should they simply take care of business in the final two weeks of the regular season, are primed to lock up the No. 3 seed for a second year in a row.
But if they’re to avoid the fate that followed last year’s team after the regular season ended, it’ll likely be performances like these six road games they can turn to in order to see their ride through the postseason last a little bit longer.
