With the Nets hosting Portland — and rising Trail Blazers star Deni Avdija taking on Nets rookies Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf — Monday marked the first time three Israelis ever faced off in the NBA.
“Yeah, it’s special,” said Nets coach Jordi Fernández. “When other countries outside the US and Europe can be represented with three players here, it means the world, and it’s a special day that everybody has to enjoy. And I think they are already. …I don’t know Deni, but I’m sure he’s excited to play. I know Ben and Danny are.
“And that’s good. It’s one of the two times that we’ll see this and hopefully for many years, see how these guys grow. Obviously Deni, a career year and how much better he has gotten. And then our two young guys, they’re getting better. And I want to see this matchup over the years and how interesting, how cool it is to see them play against each other.”
Deni Avdija (R.) and Ben Saraf pose together after the Nets-Blazers game on March 16, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesDanny Wolf dribbles during the Nets-Blazers game on March 16, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Wolf started a third straight game with Michael Porter Jr. out.
He came into Monday averaging 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds over his prior ten games before Portland.
Porter missed a third straight game with a sprained right ankle Monday vs. Portland, but has resumed on-court work and appears to be close to a return.
“Yeah, I’m not qualified to talk about grades [on his sprain], but I can share that he did form shooting in the last game that we played, and [Monday] is going to be his first workout,” Fernández said before Brooklyn hosted the Trail Blazers. “So let’s see how he feels after it. He’s getting better, and then we’ll assess.”
Porter has sat out four of the past five games.
With 14 games left in the regular season, the Nets host the reigning champion Thunder on Wednesday.
Backup center Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb UCL tear) and rookie lottery pick Egor Dëmin (left plantar fascia injury management) have both already been ruled out for the season. Veteran Terance Mann missed Monday’s tilt with left Achilles soreness and Noah Clowney was simply rested.
Saraf was available after having been listed as questionable with a left calf contusion.
The Nets started rookies Wolf, Nolan Traore and Drake Powell, along with Ziaire Williams and Nic Claxton.
Portland’s Damian Lillard and Shaedon Sharpe were both out. Chinese rookie Hansen Yang was with the G-League Remix.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 11: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: As spring training nears an end, these are some interesting observations or storylines to follow. Due to a minor setback, Cam Schlittler’s buildup time was pushed back a little, so while he’ll probably only be able to throw 70 or so pitches come Opening Day, the Yankees can leverage a piggyback situation for his season debut since they won’t need a fifth starter the first time through the rotation. Outside of that, Carlos Lagrange and Kervin Castro are names to watch. While the former will likely continue to build up as a hard-throwing starter in the minors, both could make an impact out of the bullpen at some point this year.
New York Post | Mark Suleymanov: Following the United States’ victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday night, Aaron Judge spoke to reporters about the atmosphere that he’s been a part of during the World Baseball Classic. Captain America compared the atmosphere of the tournament to the World Series we don’t talk about and said that it’s “been bigger.” It makes sense though as fans get to cheer for their countries here and display national pride, and right now his team’s winning as they get ready to play Venezuela in the final tonight.
FanGraphs | Davy Andrews: It’s everyone’s favorite time of year — Power Rankings Season! Between now and Opening Day, FanGraphs will be going around the diamond and doing a positional power ranking to see how teams stack up against each other. They start with catchers and the Bombers come in just outside of the top five in sixth place. Though Austin Wells is coming off a down year in 2025, he’s still projected to be a solid lead backstop for The Bombers and legitimate power threat who can really be an asset at home plate. This ranking also factors Ben Rice into the catching mix, even though he’ll likely see little-to-no playing time there, barring an emergency, but they’re also still high on J.C. Escarra.
FanGraphs | Eric Longenhagen: When MLB is considering any drastic rule changes, they first pilot them in the minors to see how players adapt to them and see what kind of results they produce. So it’s always interesting to see what rule changes MLB is trying out in the minors, as they announced their latest set of experimental rules. Granted none of these are locks to make it to the majors, but still fun to see and think about. Some of the more interesting ones include rules to allow a starting pitcher to re-enter a game after being removed and introducing a “Check-Swing Challenge” to go along with the ABS system. Outside of that, they’re experimenting further tinkering with rules around mound visits, pitch clocks, batter disengagements, and the position of second base.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been getting production from up and down their lineup during a 2025-26 season in which they've exceeded expectations, and they find themselves in the thick of the playoff race.
And one winger - new to the Penguins this season - continues to build on what has been the best year of his NHL career.
In Monday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, winger Anthony Mantha set a new career-high in goals when he potted his 26th of the season on a breakaway during the first period. Mantha's goal was Pittsburgh's second of the game and, at the time, put the Penguins up, 2-1.
And, with the goal, he continues to build on a new career-high in points (52) as well.
The 31-year-old was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in the offseason by Penguins' GM/POHO Kyle Dubas after playing just 13 games last season for the Calgary Flames. Mantha tore his ACL, which ended his 2024-25 season prematurely.
He is just one goal shy of tying captain Sidney Crosby - still out with a lower-body injury - for the team lead in goals.
One year ago, folks in Pittsburgh were discussing the aftermath of an NHL trade deadline that came and went without general manager and president of hockey operations trading one of Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, or Rickard Rakell.
Why? Well, back in those days, the Pittsburgh Penguins were clear sellers at the deadline. They were in the midst of their third consecutive season of likely missing the postseason, and they were already in rebuild mode. So, recouping assets for three of their better players seemed pretty logical.
The player discussed the most was Rakell, who was putting together the best season of his NHL career. He finished the 2024-25 season with 35 goals and 70 points - both career-highs - and many folks wondered if his value would ever be higher than it was then, even with a rising cap. And, surely, if he wasn't dealt at the deadline, he would be dealt in the summer, right? Or, at least, someone would?
Yet, the summer came and went, and Rakell remained in Pittsburgh. Same with Karlsson and Rust. Flash forward to this season, and Karlsson is having his best overall season in years and has been the Penguins’ best player as of late, and Rust has 25 goals and 53 points in 60 games.
As for Rakell? It's been a bit of a different story, and it's not necessarily even entirely his fault.
After beginning the 2025-26 season with three goals and eight points in nine games - picking up right where he left off last season, and then some - he broke his hand blocking a shot against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 25, and he ended up missing 21 games and needed the hand surgically repaired. He didn't return to action until Dec. 13 against the San Jose Sharks.
And he had a bit of a slow start after coming back from the hand injury - the type of injury that, typically, isn't great news for goal-scorers - as he recorded just two goals and four points in his first 10 games back. He began to pick up a little bit more steam in the 16 games between Jan. 3 and the Olympic break, as he posted six goals and 11 points during that time before joining Karlsson in Milan to represent Team Sweden over the break.
Even still, that goal-scoring touch that was so outwardly evident last season hadn’t quite come back in full force, and perhaps the Olympics would help him return to form.
But he came back into the fold to play a role he wasn’t necessarily expecting to play, which threw another wrench into his season. However, this is precisely where things have started to turn for Rakell - and where he showed that he is still, indeed, a very valuable member of this hockey team.
When captain and first-line center Sidney Crosby went down during the Olympics, the Penguins and the hockey world at large held their collective breath. With Crosby out of the lineup - and limited options on the roster and in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) who could be effective in a top-six role - the sharpshooting winger Rakell was asked to play center, a position he hadn’t played regularly in almost a decade.
It was already a tall ask. But, then, Evgeni Malkin was suspended five games as well, and all of a sudden, Rakell found himself manning, arguably, the most important position on the team as first-line center and was being relied upon to help that line - alongside Bryan Rust and Egor Chinakhov - to be the driver of the bus on offense for the Penguins in the five games they would be without both of the their best players.
Some folks had their criticisms for Rakell, who mostly struggled in the faceoff dot and began that stint looking a little out of place down the middle. But, game by game, he got better and more comfortable, and he ended up registering a pair of goals and six points in those five games.
And given the situation he found himself in? He deserves a whole lot more credit for his role in guiding this team to a 2-1-2 finish without two of their best players.
Switching to a relatively unfamiliar position - even if he had played there in the distant past during his career previously - is hard for any player, let alone being thrust into the most relied upon offensive position on the team. Not only was he up to the task by the end of it, he actually started to look pretty comfortable in the last three games filling that role, as he, Chinakhov, and Rust were driving offense at a pretty good rate. The line combined for six goals and 20 points in those five games.
Even if Rakell isn’t scoring goals at the clip that he did last season - which is understandable given the nature of his injury - his ability to step up and fill a role that is pretty much impossible to fill when it’s 87’s place he was taking speaks volumes about the kind of work ethic, character, and ability he has, and it speaks to the teammate and the player he is as well.
Rakell’s contributions to the Penguins’ stretch without Malkin and Crosby may not have been the flashiest nor the team’s best. But if the Penguins make the playoffs, he will have been a huge reason why - and he deserves his flowers for that.
Sep 26, 2022; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks talks to the media during media day at HSS Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
There’ve been rumors going back to trade deadline about how the Nets plan to move beyond their deep rebuild next season, but Brian Lewis writes more in detail on the team’s plan, quoting sources knowledgeable about things.
Multiple league sources told The Post that the idea remains the same: The Nets intend to flip the switch and try to compete as soon as next season.
Just how aggressive their rebuild is, and exactly what it looks like, is going to be determined by four or five touch points over the next 18 months.
A year and a half timeframe would mean big decisions in the 2026 Draft and free agency as well as the 2027 Draft and free agency.
Each of said “touch points” will determine just how fast the Nets move as they accelerate in their rebuild must as they did in Sean Marks first rebuild between 2016 and 2019, going from 21 to 28 to 42 wins and with a mostly homegrown cast attract two of the NBA’s top stars and lay the groundwork for the addition of James Harden.
How the Nets rookies develop, what kind of lottery luck they get, what happens in the upcoming playoffs, if a star becomes available and free agency will all play roles in shaping how Brooklyn’s rebuild goes.
“Yes, it’s all of the above,” one source told The Post. “There’s going to be like five touch points where you go OK, where’s the team.”
This draft is loaded, and the Nets will be in the lottery; the 2027 free agent class could be stacked, and they’ll have flexibility. Whether they become aggressive this summer, next summer or the trade deadline in-between remains unclear.
What’s crystal clear is they expect to compete sooner rather than later. Think months, not years.
Lewis enumerates the Nets current situation including development of the Nets five first round rookies in 2025 and their lottery pick in June. (Brooklyn currently has three picks in the 2026 lottery, currently the third best odds at the top pick as well as picks at Nos. 33 and 44, putting them second in Tankathon’s draft power rankings.)
But one of the more intriguing aspects of Lewis’ intelligence dump is how they believe that the playoffs will determine how some of the league’s top stars react to various playoff scenarios.
Even though the Nets are nowhere near the playoffs, the postseason will shape their offseason. Underachieving can elicit breakups, and make stars available.
Sources told The Post that Brooklyn was interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell before entering their tank. If either became available — and the former is largely expected to — could the Nets circle back?
“They’ll have conversations [about stars],” one league source told The Post. “They already had conversations; they just weren’t quite the right time.”
Of course, Sean Marks & co. thought that those two superstars, specifically, would consider the Nets before but were wrong. Indeed, the Nets failure to pair Mitchell with his friend Mikal Bridges was one consideration in their willingness to trade Bridges to the Knicks and get their lottery picks back in 2025 and 2026.
Also, Lewis notes that beyond circumstances, there’s timing. As Lewis notes, the Nets may very well have to swap first round picks with the Rockets in 2027 which will put an end to tanking. Moreover, the 2027 draft is seen as mediocre at best. So, in the meantime, it will be about development and evaluation.
“Our wins are not just the ones you see in the standings, and we’ve had that clear from the beginning,” Lewis quotes Jordi Fernández. “I know at times it may sound foreign for other people, but we have a plan. We know what we’re doing, and we’re confident that we’re going to be good for a long time. It’s just [that] it’s a process.”
CHICAGO (AP) — Josh Giddey had 16 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists for his fourth triple-double in five games, and the Chicago Bulls blew out Memphis 132-107 on Monday night to hand the depleted Grizzlies their eighth straight loss.
Giddey is third in the NBA with 12 triple-doubles this season, trailing Nikola Jokic (27) of the Denver Nuggets and Jalen Johnson (13) of the Atlanta Hawks. Giddey is averaging 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists, all career highs. The fifth-year guard has been limited to 46 games this season by hamstring and ankle injuries.
Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 29 points, including five 3-pointers. The second-year forward, who was the 11th pick in the 2024 draft, has logged three of the four highest-scoring totals of his career in just the last three weeks.
Tre Jones added 17 points and Rob Dillingham had 15 off the bench for the Bulls, who started a four-game homestand by winning for just the fifth time in their last 23 games. The Bulls, who are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and six games out of the last play-in spot, outscored the Grizzlies 71-50 in the second half.
Cedric Coward led the Grizzlies with 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting, and Jaylen Wells and Taylor Hendricks each added 16 points. The Grizzlies, who have shelved standout Zach Edey for the remainder of the season and not had star Ja Morant play for nearly two months, were also without starters Ty Jerome (bruised shoulder) and G.G. Jackson (sore foot). Memphis is 3-15 in its last 18 games.
With very little action in the first, Lenyn Sosa picked up a walk in the second, but the White Sox failed to do anything. Josh Jung tripled in the bottom of the second and crossed the plate when Danny Jansen doubled, putting the Rangers on the board.
In the top of the third, Tristan Peters was hit by a pitch, and with one out, Derek Hill singled on a bunt. With two outs, Everson Pereira drew a walk to load the bases for Jarred Kelenic, prompting a pitching change for the Rangers. Josh Hejka stepped in. Naturally, Kelenic grounded out to end the inning.
In the fourth, LaMonte Wade Jr. picked up a four-pitch walk with one out and stole both second and third, but was caught in a rundown on Curtis Mead’s grounder. Mead made it to second base on the rundown and got to third on a wild pitch, but it was all in vain when Korey Lee struck out.
After giving up a walk and hit by pitch in the bottom of the fifth, Sean Burke was pulled and replaced by Ben Peoples. Thankfully, Peoples got Jake Burger to line out and end the inning. After giving up that run in the first, Burke settled down pretty well, going 4 ⅔ innings with three hits, three walks and four Ks.
[Quick World Baseball Classic update: Sam Antonacci showed off his White Sox skill set by leaving the bases loaded for Italy while watching his third strike fly by in the sixth inning.]
Back to Arizona, where Jordan Leasure came in to face the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh and immediately gave up a double to Ezequiel Duran. With one out between plays, Wyatt Langford walked, putting runners in the corners. Burger ended the threat after being called out on strikes.
In the mix of the inning, there was a really great catch from Hill:
In the eighth Alejandro Osuna singled with one out, and Cooper Johnson picked up a walk. Jansen managed his second RBI double of the night, making it 3-0. Those two insurance runs would loom large in mere minutes …
… because just as I was writing the team off with a funny comparison of cold bats and the city of Chicago’s cold front, the White Sox scored two late runs. Dustin Harris hit a one-out double, and Oliver Dunn brought him in with a home run to make it 3-2.
CWS – Oliver Dunn 2-run HR (3) 🌴 Spring Training 🌴
📏 396 ft | 💨 103.4 mph | 📐 32° ⚾️ 86.1 mph cutter (TEX – RHP Peyton Gray) 🏟️ Out in 29/30 MLB parks
Alas, the ninth-inning rally would be fruitless after William Bergolla Jr. lined out, and Lee struck out swinging. Lee would end up with a golden sombrero, whiffing all four times up to the plate. Come back soon, Kyle Teel!
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball in the second quarter against Anthony Gill #16 of the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors snapped a five-game losing streak on Monday night, getting a much-needed 125-117 win over the Washington Wizards. It was an entertaining game, with the Warriors at times flirting with turning it into a blowout, and at other times risking blowing a lead and suffering another gut-wrenching loss.
But in the end, it was the first win in 11 days for the shorthanded Dubs. So let’s grade the players who got the job done. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that individual.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 58.0%.
Well … Steve Kerr ripped into Richard during Sunday’s loss for a turnover, and the rookie responded by playing 32 minutes without a single turnover. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good game for him. He seemed out of rhythm, and couldn’t by a bucket. Still, not turning the ball over while playing the level of perimeter defense he plays means he was an asset, even in a down game. But hard to get a good grade when you’re a non-factor on one end of the court.
There was one big weakness in Santos’ game on Monday: he repeatedly got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. That meant he had to go to the bench early in the second quarter with a third foul, and it meant that one of the best players on the team played a few seconds shy of 28 minutes.
But other than that? Near perfection. While the team struggled to shoot from deep, Santos drained three after three when the Dubs needed it most. He shot 4-for-6 from beyond the arc … his teammates? 5-for-26. His defense was strong, his energy was infectious, and he always had a big play up his sleeve … when he was on the court, at least.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
Green did some good stuff in this game and some bad stuff in this game. His defense wasn’t as good as it’s been in recent weeks, and he had some truly careless turnovers. He also had a masterful game boxing out, set strong screens, and had some great playmaking. A lot of key stuff, but it didn’t feel like he was one of their most impactful players.
Grade: B- Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds and assists, worst plus/minus on the team.
Podz had a hard time getting his offense going in this one. I wouldn’t say he was forcing things, per se, but things weren’t easy, even though he got a lot of shots off. He also took a violent forearm to the face and seemed a little woozy, so hopefully he’s OK. As usual, he had some nice plays doing the small things, but ultimately the offense wasn’t there.
A sensational showing by Melton. He didn’t play during the team’s loss on Monday to the New York Knicks, and in the first quarter, he was fittingly the only Warriors player who seemed to have his full legs. He brought much-needed energy until his teammates could catch up, and then he started to take over in the third quarter when the rest of the offense stagnated. He scored in double figures in that frame, which included a tantalizing poster dunk.
Hopefully Steph Curry can get back on the court soon, because I desperately want to see him playing alongside this version of Melton.
GPII had an absurd game cutting without the ball. It seemed every time he was on the court, he made a remarkable backdoor cut and finished at the rim. He also played strong defense on Trae Young, and was a huge factor on the glass, as usual. He’s really been finding a groove lately.
A so-so game from Pat. Like Podziemski, he had a hard time getting separation and easy looks. But he also kept the offense rolling, with some really nice passes that got the offense into motion. He’s not always flashy, but he’s a good quarterback.
This is the type of game that makes it abundantly clear why the Warriors traded for Porziņģis, and why I expect them to re-sign him this offseason. He was nothing short of a star, in every phase of the game. He scored more than a point per minute, and had five stocks while barely playing half the game. Washington’s defense was completely helpless against him, and was forced to foul, foul, and foul some more (you can see how Bam Adebayo did it, can’t you?). When the Warriors needed a bucket, they fed Porziņģis, and he was able to get them one. That’s something that has been sorely missing. He set massive screens, controlled the paint on defense, and looked like the only player that the Wizards had no game plan for. His best game as a Warrior, without a doubt.
Grade: A++ Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.
A really solid game for Leons, who was the only one of the Warriors two-way players to get significant run in this game. He held his own on defense, and showed a lot of fight, hustle, and athleticism in his scoring, which included climbing the ladder for a highlight reel alley-oop.
Just a short burst of minutes for Williams in this game. There will be more minutes for him in some other contests, especially given how frequently everyone on this team gets hurt.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela rounds the bases after his home run during the first inning against Team Japan during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a battle of the relative underdogs in this semifinal, Venezuela appearing in this round for the first time in 17 years after eliminating tournament favorites and defending champions Japan in the quarters, while Italy made its first ever appearance this late in the tournament. Italy rode their patient, disciplined approach this far in the tournament, but could never come through with the big hit tonight against a transcendent Venezuela bullpen, allowing Arepa Power to come from behind in the seventh and punch their ticket to the World Baseball Classic Championship Game against Team USA.
Semifinals Game 2: Venezuela 4, Italy 2
Michael Lorenzen was supposed to start this game for Team Italy, but manager Francisco Cervelli had a last minute flash of inspiration and switched to Aaron Nola, hoping the Phillies veteran’s experience could carry the day against the dangerous Venezuela lineup. Maikel Garica was the game’s first baserunner, reaching on a one-out bunt single in the first, but he was doubled off at first by a cannon throw from center fielder Jakob Marsee on a Luis Arraez fly out. A more conventional double play ground ball ended the bottom half after Jon Berti reached with a one-out single.
Venezuela starter Keider Montero was on a strict 45-pitch limit after pitching twice over the previous five days, and it became clear in the second why his manager had such a short leash. He gave up a one-out single to Zach Dezenzo and then walked the next three batters he faced, putting Italy on the board, 1-0, and ending his outing at just 34 pitches. Therefore, it was up to a Venezuela bullpen taxed by their efforts against Japan in the quarterfinals to pitch the final 7.2 innings of this game. Dante Nori then rolled over a grounder to the right side resulting in Italy’s second run to score on a fielder’s choice out at second.
Eugenio Suárez signed a one-year deal to return to the Reds this offseason and he finally stamped his mark on this tournament. His 325 home runs are third-most all time for a Venezuelan player behind Miguel Cabrera and Andrés Galarraga, and he did what he does best in the fourth inning, pulling an 0-1 knuckle curve from Nola into the seats in left to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.
The game slowed to a relative lull for the next two innings, neither team managing more than a single here, a walk there, a hit batsman there. In the sixth, Italy created their best chance to score since the second, loading the bases on a Dezenzo single, J.J. D’Orazio intentional walk, and Nori single. However, Venezuela reliever Angel Zerpa — yet to give up a run in four relief appearances this tournament — struck out Sam Antonacci to leave all three ducks on the pond.
Originally scheduled Italy starter Lorenzen did come on in relief of Nola after the fourth, and Cervelli’s decision to flip-flop his pitchers appeared paid off with a scoreless fifth and sixth. That is, until there were two outs in the seventh. He issued a leadoff walk to Gleyber Torres but then tallied a quick pair of strikeouts to pull close to escaping the jam. However, he surrendered a pair of ground ball singles to Jackson Chourio and Ronald Acuña Jr., the latter plating pinch-runner Andrés Giménez as the tying run. That prompted Cervelli to emerge from the Italy dugout, but it appeared that Lorenzen managed to talk his manager into staying in the game after a lengthy mound visit, and that’s a decision he and his manager instantly regretted. Lorenzen yielded another pair of two-out singles to Garcia and Arraez to give Venezuela their first lead of the game, 4-2.
From there, the credit belongs to Venezuela’s heavily-used bullpen. Things looked like they could get out of hand after Montero was chased from the game having recorded just four outs. However, Ricardo Sánchez, Luinder Avila, Zerpa, Eduard Bazardo, Andrés Machado, and Daniel Palencia issued a relief gem, tossing 7.2 scoreless frames with just three singles and two walks allowed. Palencia in particular was untouchable, striking out the final two hitters on 99 mph fastballs to lock down the victory, 4-2.
Just like that, we have our WBC Championship Game set, and what a matchup it’s shaping up to be. Both lineups for Team USA and Venezuela are packed with All-Stars, both teams possessing bona fide game-winners. Team USA has the distinct advantage of a day’s rest after downing the Dominican Republic, 2-1, on Sunday, while Venezuela’s bullpen is taxed after two heavy usage elimination games in three days.
USA manager Mark DeRosa selected Mets sophomore pitcher Nolan McLean to start the game despite the hard-throwing 24-year-old having given up three runs in three innings on a pair of home runs in his team’s 8-6 loss to Italy in the final game of pool play. Venezuela will turn to former Red Sox/current Diamondbacks southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, who could be in for a stern test against Aaron Judge and the rest of the Team USA offense. First pitch is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT with the broadcast on FOX.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, De’Anthony Melton added 27 and the Golden State Warriors snapped a five-game losing streak with a 125-117 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night, earning coach Steve Kerr his 600th career victory.
Golden State is without Stephen Curry (right knee) and Jimmy Butler (torn right ACL), and Seth Curry (left groin) and Al Horford (left calf strain) were also out Monday. The Warriors are almost assured of ending up in the play-in round in the Western Conference, but it matters where among that foursome you finish, and they were able to end their skid against the lowly Wizards.
Washington has dropped 12 in a row, but the Wizards still haven’t taken over last place in the East because Indiana has lost 13 straight.
The Warriors rested Draymond Green, Porzingis and Melton in Sunday’s loss at New York, and those three were able to help them on the second night of this back-to-back. Golden State led by 17 in the second quarter before the Wizards fought back to within two. It was 64-57 at the half.
Golden State led by 15 early in the fourth before the Wizards made one more push. They could draw no closer than five.
Trae Young scored 21 points in 21 minutes for Washington.
HAWKS 124, MAGIC 112
ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a career-high 41 points, Jalen Johnson had his 13th triple-double of the season and Atlanta rolled past the Magic, extending their winning streak to 10 games and snapping Orlando’s at seven.
The Hawks improved to 38-31 and reclaimed eighth place in the Eastern Conference, bumping Philadelphia back to ninth.
Johnson had 24 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists in his second straight triple-double. Dyson Daniels added 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Alexander-Walker scored 24 points in the first half, helping Atlanta to a 67-50 lead at halftime. Alexander-Walker’s previous career high was 38 points against the Spurs earlier this season.
The Hawks kept momentum rolling after the intermission, scoring 23 points in the first 5:12 of the third quarter to extend their lead to 29 points. The Hawks totaled 37 points in the period and led 104-83 at the start of the fourth.
Orlando cut the deficit to 12 points with 3 1/2 minutes remaining before Atlanta put the game back out of reach.
Paolo Banchero had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic. Desmond Bane also added 18 points.
TRAIL BLAZERS 114, NETS 95
NEW YORK (AP) — Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara each scored 18 points, and Portland coasted to a victory over Brooklyn.
Donovan Clingan finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds and reserve Scoot Henderson had 16 points for the Blazers, who never trailed and led by as many as 31.
Nic Claxton had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the short-handed Nets, who have lost four consecutive games and 14 of 16. Leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. (ankle) missed his third straight game and Noah Clowney (rest) was held out.
CELTICS 120, SUNS 112
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 18 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and Jayson Tatum scored 21 in his fifth game back from an Achilles tendon injury to help Boston beat Phoenix.
Devin Booker scored 40 for the Suns, who have lost back-to-back games after snapping a four-game winning streak. Jalen Green scored 21 for Phoenix.
Derrick White, who was presented with February’s Eastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month Award before the game, had 21 points for Boston, and Payton Pritchard scored 19.
PELICANS 129, MAVERICKS 111
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson scored 27 points and New Orleans defeated injury-depleted Dallas.
Saddiq Bey had 23 points, while Jeremiah Fears and Trey Murphy III each added 17 to help the Pelicans win for the eighth time in 12 games.
Naji Marshall scored 32 points for the Mavs against his former team. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg, the top pick in the 2025 draft, had 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
BULLS 132, GRIZZLIES 107
CHICAGO (AP) — Josh Giddey had 16 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists for his fourth triple-double in five games, and Chicago blew out Memphis to hand the depleted Grizzlies their eighth straight loss.
Giddey is third in the NBA with 12 triple-doubles this season, trailing Nikola Jokic (27) of the Denver Nuggets and Jalen Johnson (13) of the Atlanta Hawks. Giddey is averaging 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists, all career highs. The fifth-year guard has been limited to 46 games this season by hamstring and ankle injuries.
Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 29 points, including five 3-pointers. The second-year forward, who was the 11th pick in the 2024 draft, has logged three of the four highest-scoring totals of his career in just the last three weeks.
Tre Jones added 17 points and Rob Dillingham had 15 off the bench for the Bulls, who started a four-game homestand by winning for just the fifth time in their last 23 games. The Bulls, who are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and six games out of the last play-in spot, outscored the Grizzlies 71-50 in the second half.
Cedric Coward led the Grizzlies with 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting, and Jaylen Wells and Taylor Hendricks each added 16 points. The Grizzlies, who have shelved standout Zach Edey for the remainder of the season and not had star Ja Morant play for nearly two months, were also without starters Ty Jerome (bruised shoulder) and G.G. Jackson (sore foot). Memphis is 3-15 in its last 18 games.
LAKERS 100, ROCKETS 92
HOUSTON (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 36 points to lead Los Angeles to a victory over Houston in the opener of a two-game series between teams fighting for Western Conference playoff position.
Los Angeles moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston for third in the West standings. There were 13 lead changes in a game that had a playoff atmosphere, but the Lakers ultimately won their sixth straight.
LeBron James found Marcus Smart for a corner 3-pointer that put Los Angeles up 94-90 with 2 minutes remaining. James finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Doncic hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the fading minutes of the third quarter to give the Lakers an 83-80 lead after trailing 57-51 at halftime. Doncic was 4 for 12 on 3s in the game and needs 11 more to match D’Angelo Russell’s franchise record of 226 in a season.
Doncic had his sixth straight game with 30 or more points but fell just short of his 12th 40-point game this season. He went 14 for 27 from the field.
Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 22 points. Amen Thompson had 19 and Kevin Durant added 18 for the Rockets, who committed 24 turnovers compared with just 12 for Los Angeles.
SPURS 119, CLIPPERS 115
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and San Antonio overcame an early 14-point deficit before blowing most of a 24-point lead and recovering to hold off Los Angeles.
Stephon Castle had 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead the Spurs (50-18), who reached 50 wins for the first time since 2016-17 and trail the first-place Thunder by three games in the West. Devin Vassell added 20 points.
Fighting to secure a spot for the play-in tournament, the Clippers’ second straight loss dropped them back to .500 with Kawhi Leonard watching from the bench. The NBA’s sixth-leading scorer sat out with a sprained left knee.
Darius Garland led six Clippers in double figures with 25 points and 10 assists. Jordan Miller had 22 points off the bench, which outscored the Spurs’ reserves 57-30.
And even as McLean has opened eyes with the Mets both in the spring — as well as down the stretch last season after being called up to the majors — Carlos Mendoza said this will be a type of environment the rookie has never seen before.
Most importantly, the manager hopes McLean finishes the game unscathed.
“I have mixed feelings,” Mendoza said Monday at Clover Park before the Mets faced the Nationals. “I’m not gonna lie.”
The biggest fear among organizations is that an important player will be lost to injury in the tournament, as the Mets know well after Edwin Díaz was knocked out for the 2023 season when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee while celebrating a win for Team Puerto Rico in that year’s WBC.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza talks in the dugout. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
But Mendoza also knows how much McLean can gain from pitching in that type of game.
“You’re representing your country and you’ve got the whole world watching you,” Mendoza said. “In this case, he’s got ‘USA’ on his chest, playing with and against the best players. It’s going to be intense. That doesn’t mean the intensity is not the same at the big league level. The big leagues are the big leagues, but this is something different. It’ll be definitely different than what he experienced last year.”
With that comes the concern that he tries to do too much at this point of the spring.
“That’s on the back of the mind of people and organizations,” Mendoza said. “I’m pretty sure the Pirates felt the same way with [Paul] Skenes pitching. … You hold your breath.”
Nolan McLean #26 of Team United States pitches in the second inning against Team Italy during the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Pool B at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026. Getty Images
In the end, though, Mendoza is confident McLean is up for the challenge.
“As far as him pitching in that environment, he’s wired, he’s built for moments like that based on what we saw last year,” he said. “I’ve been around him and said the moment is never too big for him. It’ll be fun and I’ll be watching.”
Watching, and one other thing: “We’ll be praying.”
Francisco Lindor felt good Monday, according to Carlos Mendoza, after playing Sunday in his first Grapefruit League game since he underwent left hamate bone surgery last month.
The shortstop was a full participant in Monday’s drills. If he doesn’t report any setbacks, Mendoza said Lindor would play Tuesday in Jupiter and then begin playing back-to-back days following Wednesday’s team off-day.
Carson Benge is still trying to land a spot on the Opening Day roster and started Monday’s game in right field.
Mendoza and the front office have declined to tip their hand about the top prospect’s chances of making the team out of spring training.
“He needs to continue to play his game,’’ Mendoza said. “There’s a lot that can happen by Opening Day. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He doesn’t have to do anything extra. Just let us make the decision.”
Carlos Mendoza had a conversation with Mark Vientos on Sunday.
The Mets' skipper just wanted to sit the 26-year-old slugger down amid his continued spring training struggles at the plate to remind him that he already has a place on this team.
Mendoza didn’t necessarily get the sense that Vientos needed to hear that, but he felt it was important for him.
“It’s the human-element,” he said. “They are competitors going out there, they want to see results -- I think the past couple of years he comes into camp trying to make the team, and we know he is part of this team moving forward.
“I thought it was just important for him, like we’re not looking for results here we’re just looking for quality at-bats and as long as you’re seeing the ball well and swinging it good, that’s all that matters right now.”
Vientos responded by going 0-for-4 again on Monday night.
He is now hitless in three games since returning from a sluggish World Baseball Classic.
While the infielder did strikeout for the sixth time this spring during his second plate appearance, he did also hit into another tough luck out before that.
After youngster Carson Benge opened the bottom of the first with a seven-pitch walk, Vientos dug in and scorched an up and in slider from Nationals left-hander Zach Penrod for a 106.4 mph liner.
It was the eighth-hardest hit ball of the night, unfortunately it was directly at the left fielder, which has been the story of his spring to this point.
There's no denying Vientos is struggling, but he has been hitting the ball hard, which gives Mendoza confidence he can find his way out of it.
“We’re not putting too much into results right now,” the skipper emphasized. “The biggest thing for him is just continue to see the ball well, continue to make hard contact, and continue to work hard defensively.
“He’s going to be a big player for us. He’s going to be a big bat, and we’re counting on him. I’m pretty confident that we’re going to get a really good version of Mark Vientos.”
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 16: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 16, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks leaned further into the tank on Monday night, falling 129-111 to the New Orleans Pelicans in a game that never truly felt competitive down the stretch. Dallas showed brief life early, but couldn’t sustain it as the Pelicans controlled the pace and physicality for most of the night. Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 32 points, continuing his strong stretch, while Cooper Flagg added 21 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds in another all-around performance. For New Orleans, Zion Williamson dominated with 27 points on highly efficient shooting, and Trey Murphy III chipped in 17 points as the Pelicans generated consistent offense and pulled away comfortably.
The Mavericks opened with good early energy, getting contributions across the board as P.J. Washington knocked down multiple threes and Cooper Flagg immediately impacted the game as both a scorer and playmaker, helping Dallas briefly grab control. Flagg was especially active early, finishing in transition and creating for others, while Marvin Bagley added efficient scoring with a three and a lob to keep the offense flowing. But that rhythm didn’t last, as the Pelicans—led by Zion Williamson’s relentless rim pressure and a scoring burst from Saddiq Bey—flipped the game by attacking the paint and getting to the line. Dallas’ offense stalled late in the first with missed shots and turnovers, while New Orleans consistently generated clean looks, shot 57.1% compared to Dallas’ 41.7%, and took control of the glass, leading to a 32-26 deficit.
The Mavericks tried to stabilize things in the second quarter, with Naji Marshall finishing inside and Max Christie knocking down a three to briefly spark the offense, but that push quickly faded. Zion continued to live at the rim while Trey Murphy III added timely shot-making, and New Orleans kept forcing Dallas into tough, late-clock looks. As the quarter went on, the Mavericks’ offense completely unraveled, with missed layups, blocked shots, and empty possessions piling up while the Pelicans generated second chances and free throws to extend the lead. Even when Dallas showed small flashes late, every run was immediately answered, and the execution gap remained clear. By halftime, it was 67-54, with the Mavericks still unable to find any consistent rhythm on either end.
The third quarter opened with Dallas trying to make a push, as P.J. Washington knocked down a three and Naji Marshall followed with a pull-up and transition finishes, briefly trimming the deficit to around 89-76 and giving the Mavericks some life. Marshall stayed aggressive early, scoring on multiple possessions and even setting up Washington, as Dallas showed a short stretch of rhythm. Still, that window closed quickly as Zion Williamson got downhill for layups and free throws while Trey Murphy III added a reverse finish and helped generate turnovers into easy points. Midway through the quarter, it fully unraveled—after a Washington dunk cut it to 96-82, Dallas had chances to build momentum but came up empty on a missed Washington three, a blocked Marshall layup, and a bad turnover from Derrick Queen, all in a short stretch. New Orleans immediately capitalized with a Matković three, Murphy layup, and Johnson finish, pushing the lead right back out and erasing any progress, and from there the Mavericks couldn’t convert stops into offense as missed jumpers and empty possessions piled up. By the end of the quarter, it had turned into an 86-103 deficit, and the fourth never offered any real energy or comeback window.
It quickly shifted into an extended run for the two-way and end-of-rotation guys, with Dallas opening on mostly empty possessions, including missed threes from Ryan Nembhard, while New Orleans calmly added points at the line through Jordan Hawkins. The Mavericks had a few scattered moments, like an A.J. Johnson alley-oop to Nembhard, but nothing that resembled a real run as stalled possessions continued. New Orleans didn’t need to do much, simply maintaining control with a Matković three and free throws from Saddiq Bey to keep the margin comfortable, and from there it fully turned into garbage-time basketball with both teams trading misses and turnovers. Dallas never seriously threatened, and it quietly closed as a 129-111 final, a finish that felt more like a formality than a comeback opportunity.
Another Good Loss
This loss matters more than it looks because Dallas is stuck in one of the most volatile spots on the lottery board, where every single result swings real odds. Right now, the Mavericks are sitting around 6th–7th in the lottery standings, tightly packed with teams like the Pelicans and Grizzlies, and even one win or loss can flip that order. From the Tankathon data, that difference is massive around this range; you’re talking roughly 8% odds at No. 1, but if you slide just a couple spots, those odds drop quickly, while your chances of falling out of the top tier increase.
That’s what makes games like this so important. The Pelicans are in a unique spot where they don’t even control their pick, so they have no real incentive to lose, which creates an opportunity for Dallas to pass them in the standings if they keep losing. At the same time, Memphis is right behind them, meaning the Mavericks are essentially in a three-team tug-of-war where every result reshuffles positioning.
So this isn’t just another late-season loss; it’s a direct movement in a crowded lottery race. Instead of risking a meaningless win and dropping a spot, Dallas stays in range of jumping higher, which matters because worse records mean more ping-pong ball combinations and better chances at a top-four pick. As the season winds down, this is the reality: the difference between the 5th and 8th lottery slot could be the difference between landing a franchise player or missing that tier entirely, which is why losses like this quietly carry real long-term weight.
Another Fun Flagg Game
Cooper Flagg was once again one of the few bright spots for Dallas, continuing what has quietly been a really strong stretch of basketball over the past week. He finished tonight with 21 points on 10-of-21 shooting, along with 8 assists and 7 rebounds, consistently creating offense even as the team around him struggled to find rhythm. What stood out wasn’t just the scoring, but how involved he was in everything, initiating sets, pushing in transition, and making the right reads when the defense collapsed. Over his last five games, Flagg has been steadily productive, putting up 27, 25, 13, 14, and 17 points, while maintaining solid efficiency and contributing across the board as a rebounder and playmaker.
More importantly, his impact goes beyond the box score. Even in losses like this, he’s been the one stabilizing presence, keeping possessions alive, generating looks for others, and showing flashes of control that you don’t usually see from a young player. The scoring has been consistent, the playmaking is trending up, and the all-around production is becoming the norm rather than the exception. As the Mavericks lean further into development down the stretch, Flagg isn’t just putting up numbers; he’s starting to look like the clear centerpiece of everything they’re building.
DALLAS (AP) — Jack McBain’s tie-breaking shorthanded goal early in the third period began a four-goal outburst and led the Utah Mammoth to a 6-3 win over Dallas on Monday night, ending the Stars’ point streak at a franchise-record 15 games.
Clayton Keller, Kailer Yamamoto, Michael Carcone, Lawson Crouse and defenseman Nate Schmidt also scored for the Mammoth, who hold the Western Conference’s first wild-card position by five points. Vitek Vanecek, making his 16th start of the season, stopped 27 shots.
Wyatt Johnston, Sam Steel and Adam Erne scored for the Stars, who lost in regulation for the first time since Jan. 22, going 14-0-1. Dallas also had a 15-game streak in its 1998-99 Stanley Cup season (12-0-3).
McBain gained possession just outside Utah’s blue line following a turnover by Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Skating in alone, McBain lifted a backhander past Casey DeSmith at 4:16 of the third period for a 3-2 lead.
DeSmith made 16 saves and saw a personal four-game win streak end.
Dallas has the second-most points in the league (94) and will play its next two games, both on the road, against the teams just ahead of them (Colorado) and just behind them (Minnesota) in the Central Division.
Yamamoto added an insurance goal almost four minutes later followed by Carcone’s power-play goal and Crouse’s empty-netter in the final minutes.
It was McBain’s seventh goal of the season, ending a 20-game goal drought that began Jan. 15.
Schmidt ended a 15-game goal drought since he had two goals and four points on Jan. 17.
Mark Vientos has struggled at the plate this spring.
Observations from Mets spring training on Monday.
Alvarez is all right
After being hampered by injuries early last year, Francisco Alvarez continued his solid spring with a double, impressing Carlos Mendoza with his rhythm at the plate.
Mark Vientos has struggled at the plate this spring. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Hit or miss
Maybe Mark Vientos is saving his hits for the regular season. He’s 1-for-25 for the Mets after another hitless night.
Mendoza said he spoke with the slugger. “He’s fine,” the manager said. “I told him, ‘You’re on the team. You’re not trying to make the team. Continue to get hard contact, and work defensively. He’s gonna be a big player for us.”
Caught my eye
Christian Scott has shown flashes of promise in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, but he struggled against Washington, allowing a homer and a double to the DH.
Tuesday’s schedule
Sean Manaea takes the mound against the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla. at 1:10 p.m. in a spring in which the left-hander’s velocity has been down.
