Venezuela vs Italy Home Run Picks for the World Baseball Classic Semifinal

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Team Venezuela and Team Italy meet in the second World Baseball Semifinal at LoanDepot Park on Monday, March 16, with the winner advancing to face the Americans. 

Here are my top Venezuela vs. Italy home run predictions for the showdown, and make sure to also catch our full World Baseball Classic best bets and Venezuela vs. Italy predictions for tonight’s game.

Venezuela home run pick

Wilyer Abreu (+400 at DraftKings)

The Italians are sending veteran righty Aaron Nola to the hill tonight, and he struggled against left-handed hitters last MLB season while serving up a 2.21 HR/9 and .369 wOBA.

As a result, I’m targeting Venezuelan outfielder Wilyer Abreu to go yard tonight.

Abreu hit 21 of his 22 homers last year against righties, while posting a rock-solid .237 ISO, and he has also homered with a respectable .471 slugging percentage during the World Baseball Classic.

Italy home run pick

Jac Caglianone (+500 at DraftKings)

The 2024 sixth overall pick put up big numbers in Triple A last summer with 20 home runs and a monster .348 ISO across just 66 games, and Jac Caglianone is having a major impact in the World Baseball Classic with a homer, four RBI, and a 1.290 OPS through four games.

He also bats left-handed and should see multiple plate appearances against Venezuelan righty Keider Montero tonight, and Montero allowed a 2.14 HR/9 and .384 wOBA to left-handed batters last MLB season. 

How to watch Venezuela vs Italy and game info

LocationLoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
First pitch8:00 p.m. ET
TVFS1

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Week in Review: Mostly healthy Spurs take care of business to close homestand

Mar 14, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) hugs guard Devin Vassell (24) after the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!


Week 20: From a massive blowout in Philadelphia to close the Rodeo Road trip with an 8-1 record, to another competitive win over the Pistons in the return home, an emotionally draining 25-point comeback against the Clippers, and finally a comfortable blowout of their rival Rockets, it was a fun week that had it all as the Spurs played in San Antonio for the first time in a month.

Week 21: 2-1 (49-18, 2nd in West)

125-116 win vs. Boston Celtics

With Jayson Tatum back from a ruptured Achilles suffered last season, the Spurs traded leads with the Celtics in a highly competitive first half, but things took a turn in their favor when Jaylen Brown got himself ejected late in the second quarter for volatilely arguing for a foul on a Stephon Castle “push” (that looked much more like a flop on Brown’s part). The Spurs held the lead for the entire second half, countering a 34-point outing from former Spur Derrick White with a 39-point one from Victor Wembanyama, which included tying his career high of 8 made three-pointers.

131-136 loss vs. Denver Nuggets

With Wemby a late scratch due to a sore ankle, at first the Spurs didn’t miss a beat without him, leading by has much as 20 points and in control for the first 2 1/2 quarters of the game while using Castle’s second career 30-point triple-double to offset a 30-20-12 night from Nikola Jokic. Unfortunately, the offense went cold late in the third quarter, and combined with Jokic’s pleading for calls finally getting in the refs’ heads and Jamal Murray going nuclear on offense, the Nuggets rallied back to hand the Spurs just their second loss since January 31 and end their five-game winning streak.

115-102 win vs. Charlotte Hornets

Speaking of January 31, the Spurs were ready to get revenge for that winter debacle that involved gametime changes and getting stranded in the snow in Charlotte. With Wemby back from his one-game absence, the Spurs returned to their February/March selves with a steady beatdown of the Hornets. They led for the final 45 minutes and always had an answer whenever Charlotte threatened to make things interesting. Wemby remained hot from three with five more makes and just missed his own triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists.

Power Rankings

John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 2 (last week: 1)

OffRtg: 117.7 (4) DefRtg: 110.5 (3) NetRtg: +7.2 (4) Pace: 100.9 (12)

Victor Wembanyama missed a game for the first time since early January and the Spurs blew a 20-point lead to the Nuggets. But they’ve won 17 of the last 18 games that Wembanyama has played in, with the last five having come against the Pistons, Clippers, Rockets, Celtics and Hornets.

Three takeaways

1. The Spurs have outscored their opponents by an amazing 23.6 points per 100 possessions in Wembanyama’s 540 minutes on the floor over those 18 games. That’s the best on-court mark among 339 players who’ve played in at least 10 games since Feb. 1. And 13 of those 18 games he’s played in have come against teams currently at or above .500.
2. The Celtics dared the Spurs to shoot 3-pointers, and they did, registering their highest 3-point rate (55% of their shots) of the season on Tuesday. They shot 20-for-46 (43%) from deep, but also outscored the Celtics at the free throw line, with Wembanyama going 8-for-15 from beyond the arc and 9-for-12 from the stripe. Stephon Castle (who had a 30-point triple-double in the loss to Denver) still isn’t shooting a lot of 3-pointers, but he’s 18-for-45 (40%) from beyond the arc since the All-Star break, up from 29% prior.
3. The Spurs have been at their best (plus-12.3 points per 100 possessions) in the first quarter and have led by double-digits in 13 (72%) of their 18 losses. That would be, by far, the highest rate for any team in the 30 seasons of play-by-play data, with only one other team in that time (the 2019-20 Heat, 55%) having had double-digit leads in at least half of the games it lost.

Coming up: The Spurs will play eight of their next 11 games on the road, with a potential first-round preview at the Intuit Dome on Monday. They came back from 25 points down to win their first meeting with the Clippers 10 days ago.

Law Murray, The Athletic — 2 (last week: 1)

2025 draft class: PG Dylan Harper (second pick), SG Carter Bryant (14th pick)

San Antonio went 5-1 on its homestand, with the loss coming in the game that Victor Wembanyama missed; the Spurs also blew a 20-point lead to the Nuggets, and their defense was horrible. If the intent was to help Wembanyama get a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, it did the job. Harper has a calf contusion, but he has been a helpful part of a San Antonio team that has arguably the most enviable guard depth in the league. Harper isn’t in a position to shine while sharing the ball with starters Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, and Harper has to iron out his jumper. But he is an assignment-sound rookie, while Bryant is the 10th man in the rotation due to his strong defense.

Brett Siegel, Clutch Points — 2 (last week: 1)

The only reason the San Antonio Spurs dropped a spot behind the Thunder is because of their loss to Denver this past week and Oklahoma City’s win over the same team. Still, this doesn’t impact the Spurs’ chances of competing for a championship, as they are still widely expected to meet the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

After some key tests at home, all of which (except Denver) the Spurs passed comfortably, this team now enters a stretch where five of their next eight games are against teams below .500 on the season to close out March.

With Victor Wembanyama continuing to elevate his play on both ends, as well as the Spurs’ youngsters in Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant becoming more comfortable in their secondary roles, San Antonio looks very strong heading into the postseason.


Coming up: Mon. 3/16 at Los Angeles Clippers (34-33); Tues. 3/17 at Sacramento Kings (15-51); Thurs. 3/19 vs. Phoenix Suns (39-28); Sat. 3/21 vs. Indiana Pacers (15-53)

Prediction: 4-0 — Are the Spurs unbeatable when Wemby plays right now? That may be a stretch, but this is a relatively friendly schedule after that gauntlet of a six-game homestand in which they still went 5-0 when he played. They have a couple of match-ups with potential first-round opponents, along with two games against teams that are already eliminated from playoff contention and have nothing but draft odds to play for. As they showed last week, the Clippers will be the hardest matchup of these games (especially with Dillon Brooks out for the Suns), but the Spurs won’t be at a rest disadvantage this time, plus they now know what to expect from Kawhi and Co.

Magic at Hawks prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 16

The Orlando Magic (38-28) and Atlanta Hawks (36-31) meet on Peacock in the first of a doubleheader. Atlanta has won both meetings versus Orlando and both teams enter as two of the hottest squads in the NBA. Atlanta has won nine-straight games, while Orlando is victorious in the past seven.

The Hawks are winners in the past nine games beating only one team with a winning record in that span (76ers). Atlanta has won both against Orlando earlier this season back in October and November by four and 15 points. The Hawks are on the final game of a five-game home stand before they travel to Dallas and Houston.

Orlando has won seven consecutive games and beat three playoff teams in that span (Cavaliers, Heat, Timberwolves). The Magic are rated as the 9th-best offense during March and the 4th-best defense. Orlando is sporting the 9th-best turnover to assist ratio and 8th-best true shooting percentage as well in that span.

The Hawks are 9th in the Eastern Conference and a 0.5 game back from the 76ers for 8th and 1.5 back of the Heat for the 7th spot. For the Magic, they have crept into the No. 5 seed in the East and are a 0.5 game ahead of the Raptors and 1.0 game ahead of the Heat. This is a monumental matchup for both teams to continue their climb in the Eastern Conference.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic at Hawks

  • Date: Monday, March 16, 2026
  • Time: 7 PM EST
  • Site: State Farm Arena
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Magic at Hawks

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks (-148), Orlando Magic (+124)
  • Spread: Atlanta -3.5
  • Total: 231.5 points

This game opened Magic -1.5 with the Total set at 230.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Magic at Hawks

Atlanta Hawks

  • PG CJ McCollum
  • SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
  • SF Dyson Daniels
  • PF Jalen Johnson
  • Onyeka Okoungwu

Orlando Magic

  • PG Jalen Suggs
  • SG Desmond Bane
  • SF Tristan De Silva
  • PF Paolo Banchero
  • Wendell Carter Jr.

Injury Report: Magic at Hawks

Orlando Magic

  • Anthony Black (abdomen) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
  • Jhett Howard (illness) has been ruled QUESTIONABLE of tonight’s game
  • Jonathan Issac (knee sprain) has been ruled OUT for tonight's game

Atlanta Hawks

  • Jonathan Kuminga (knee) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Magic at Hawks

  • Orlando is 30-36 ATS, ranking 10th-worst
  • Orlando is 15-16 ATS on the road and 9-7 ATS a road underdog
  • Orlando is 7-9 on the ML as a road underdog
  • Orlando is 35-31 to the Over, ranking 5th-best
  • Orlando is 16-15 to the Under on the road
  • Atlanta is 35-32 ATS and 35-32 to the Under
  • Atlanta is 16-18 ATS at home and 9-11 ATS as a home favorite
  • Atlanta is 21-13 to the Under at home, ranking 8th-best

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Magic and Hawks’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Magic Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Magic +3.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 231.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

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MLB Spring Training Picks and Predictions for March 16: Stay Classy, San Diego

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Opening Day is quickly approaching as the World Baseball Classic wraps up, and we're turning our attentions back toward spring training with three MLB picks on Monday, March 16.

I'm making three moneyline spring training predictions, highlighted by the San Diego Padres, as they face a San Francisco Giants lineup missing its best bats.

Spring Training predictions for March 16

PickOdds
Angels LAA moneyline+105
Padres SD moneyline-125
Rockies CHC moneyline+100

Pick #1: Angels moneyline

Los Angeles Angels right-hander George Klassen has looked electric this spring, posting a 2.25 ERA with nine strikeouts over eight innings of work as he pursues a rotation gig to open the regular season.

A strong outing against the Athletics would go a long way toward making that happen. The A's have some big boppers like Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Tyler Soderstrom, but this is a lineup that also struck out 23% of the time (tied for 10th in MLB) last year.

The plus money on the Angels' moneyline offers enough value, especially with no starter yet announced for the A's, that I'll take the plunge.

Pick #2: Padres moneyline

I don't know if the Walker Buehler experiment will work out for the San Diego Padres, but they will keep trying in case they strike gold.

Initially, he seems like a good fade candidate against the San Francisco Giants, but that's before you notice that Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Heliot Ramos aren't in the starting lineup. 

While the Friars have neither Manny Machado nor Fernando Tatis Jr. active as they lick their wounds from the Dominican Republic's controversial World Baseball Classic ouster, Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts are still taking reps.

Even if Giants SP Tyler Mahle has yet to surrender a run in spring (he has issued seven walks in six innings), I'll take the more complete offense this afternoon.

Pick #3: Cubs moneyline

I'm really high on Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams this season, but with Jose Ramirez nursing a banged-up shoulder, the offense will likely be without its best weapon against the Chicago Cubs.

Cade Horton hasn't had great results this spring, but he showed that he can hang at the big-league level in his 2025 rookie campaign, boasting a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings.

Lineups haven't been announced, but the edge there should typically favor Chicago. Doubly so with Ramirez on the bench or otherwise limited due to injury.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Spring GameThread: Jays @ Marlins

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: A detailed view of a base line and base prior to the spring training game between the Miami Marlins and the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Jays are busing to Jupiter, Florida, to play the Marlins. Google Maps says 3.5 hours, which is a long time on a bus. But a number of the veterans are going for the ride. Even George Springer. He really must want the at bats, because he could easily say ‘I don’t want to go’ and no one would make him. Seven hours on the bus for 3 or 4 plate appearances? He could stay in Dunedin and take as many swings as he wants.

Lineups….with no pitch listed for the Blue Jays, but it is going to be Lazaro Estrada

Today’s Lineups

BLUE JAYSMARLINS
George Springer – DHKyle Stowers – LF
Nathan Lukes – RFXavier Edwards – 2B
Davis Schneider – 2BOtto Lopez – SS
Addison Barger – 3BLiam Hicks – 1B
Daulton Varsho – CFConnor Norby – 3B
Myles Straw – LFGriffin Conine – RF
C.J. Stubbs – CEsteury Ruiz – DH
Riley Tirotta – 1BDaniel Johnson – CF
Arjun Nimmala – SSBrian Navarreto – C
– HPJanson Junk – RHP

I’ll admit, the crappy umpiring of last night’s WBC game has put me off baseball at the moment. That last strike call was almost unbelievable, unless you had seen the strike call to Soto an inning before. As my son said, about the one in the ninth: it was closer to the ground than it was to the strike zone.

The conspiracy theorist in me wants to think that the WBC just wanted the US to win. But Occam’s razor would tell you that incompitence is the more plausible explanation.

NBA owners reportedly will vote next month on exploring adding expansion teams in Seattle, Las Vegas

When NBA owners get together next month, they will vote on exploring adding expansion teams specifically in Las Vegas and Seattle, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.

This would be the first formal vote on accepting bids for those specific markets. The NBA Board of Governors meeting is set for March 24-25, and if approved, the goal would be for the teams to begin play in the 2028-29 NBA season.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said during All-Star weekend that the owners would be "having further discussions around an expansion process" during the March meeting, but would not be voting. That timeline may have sped up in the past month as Siver counted the votes and realized he has the support needed, as Charania suggests.

There is momentum within the board of governors and league office to approve moving forward with taking bids for franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Seattle and Las Vegas have long been the strong frontrunners to be the cities the NBA expands to. Seattle had a thriving franchise and fan base in the Sonics, but new owners who wanted to move the team to Oklahoma City, combined with an arena issue that gave them leverage, led to the team's relocation and the formation of the Thunder. The NBA owes Seattle a team. Las Vegas has seen a thriving NHL team, the Golden Knights, an NFL team, the Raiders, and a championship and well-backed team in the WNBA's Aces all become part of the city, plus the construction of an MLB stadium for the A's to start playing in starting in 2028 is well underway.

"I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities," Silver said back in December. "Obviously, we had a team in Seattle that had great success. We have a WNBA team here in Las Vegas, the Aces. We've been playing the summer league here for 20 years. We're playing our Cup games here, so we're very familiar with this market. I don't have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all of the other major league teams that are here now, the other entertainment properties, that this city could support an NBA team."

A team in Seattle would likely play at the renovated Climate Pledge Arena (formerly the Key Arena), where the NHL's Kraken play. In Las Vegas, while the T-Mobile Arena is a viable venue — it is home to the Aces and Golden Knights, and the NBA Cup semifinals and finals are played there — there is considerable speculation in the city that a new ownership group would build a new arena further down the Las Vegas strip, which would anchor a completely new resort and casino complex.

A few questions remain. One is what the franchise fee paid to the league by the prospective owners will be — money that gets divided up among the current owners and goes straight as a one-time boost to the bottom line. Charania reported that "Industry executives project proposals in the $7-10 billion range for each team." Whatever that number is, it needs to be high enough that a majority of owners are willing to dilute their shares in the league (and its revenue) from 1/30th to 1/32nd.

Another question is conference realignment. Both Las Vegas and Seattle would unquestionably be added to the Western Conference, which means one team in the West would move to the East — and teams will be lobbying and jockeying to make that move (wanting to go to an Eastern Conference seen as not as deep as the West). Minnesota and Memphis are the teams seen as most likely to move East, as Charania reports, but New Orleans also makes geographic sense.

Alabama basketball guard Aden Holloway arrested, charged with felony ahead of NCAA Tournament

Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway was arrested on Monday, March 16, four days before the Crimson Tide is scheduled to play in the Men's NCAA Tournament.

According to the Tuscaloosa News — part of the USA TODAY Network — Holloway was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp. More than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash were found inside the residence on the 400 block of 30th East Avenue on Monday morning by the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force.

Holloway, 21, was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and had his bond set for $5,000, according to the Tuscaloosa News. He was no longer listed as an inmate, which indicates he was released on that bond.

With Alabama as a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament, it is scheduled to open the tournament against at 3:15 p.m. Friday, March 20, from the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

It is unclear if Holloway will face a suspension from the program following the arrest and felony charge. The junior guard was second on the Crimson Tide with 16.8 points per game, while also adding 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama basketball guard Aden Holloway arrested, charged with felony

How to watch Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks: TV, live stream info for tonight's game

Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday slate features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, the Atlanta Hawks host the Orlando Magic. At 9:30 PM, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, followed by a San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clipper match up at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.

See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's tripleheader. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

NBA: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
Achiuwa is one of the players on lottery-bound teams who have provided excellent value during the “silly season.”

Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks Game Preview:

With less than a month left in the regular season, the Magic and Hawks — two of the league's hottest teams — continue to fight for one of the top 6 playoffs spots and look to avoid the Play-In Tournament.

Orlando has won it's last seven consecutive games and sits two games behind Cleveland for the 4 seed in the East. Atlanta has won nine straight — which is the longest active streak in the league — and is currently two games back of Toronto for the sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot in the East.

Tonight's contest is the third of four meetings between the Magic and Hawks this season. Atlanta won the first two match ups on October 24 and November 4.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks:

  • When: Monday, March 16
  • Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
  • Time: 7:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream: NBCSN and Peacock

What other NBA games are on Peacock tonight?

  • Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets- 9:30 PM ET on NBCSN and Peacock
  • San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers - 10:00 PM ET on Peacock

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule:

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

Steve Kerr says Steph Curry will ‘for sure’ be back this season

There’s no doubt in Steve Kerr’s mind that Steph Curry will return this season.

“We expect him back,” the Warriors coach told NBC’s Bob Costas in an on-court interview before their 110-107 loss to the Knicks on Sunday.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after a three point shot in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty Images

Curry, who turned 38 over the weekend, missed his 17th consecutive game with inflammation in his right knee, commonly known as runner’s knee. He has been ruled out for at least three more contests but joined Golden State as it began a six-game road trip.

The loss to the Knicks dropped Golden State to 9-19 without Curry this season and 5-12 over his current absence. Their current five-game losing streak is the Warriors’ longest of the season.

Curry will be re-evaluated again Saturday, before the Warriors visit the Mavericks. The team said in its last update that he had made “good progress” and was intensifying individual work but had not begun doing anything with the rest of the team.

“He’s trending in the right direction,” Kerr said. “It’s been a tricky injury. But I think he’ll be back, for sure.”

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr yells during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Sunday, March 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) AP

Curry also appeared on the broadcast for an in-game interview with Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford. He wasn’t asked about his status, but they did ask about playing with his younger brother, Seth, a 13th-year vet who the Warriors signed in December.

One problem: Injuries have prevented the Curry brothers from sharing the floor yet this season.

“We’ve been the rehab brothers,” Curry said. “That’s not a good title to have.”

Nets vs. Trailblazers preview: Home for the week

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 13: Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 13, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 13: Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 13, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A miracle comeback that ended the way people wanted it to. The Brooklyn Nets rallied from a 28 point deficit to take a lead in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they couldn’t bring it all the way home and lost in the end.

The opponent tonight will be competing in the postseason for the first time in a long time. At the very least, the Portland Trailblazers will be in the play-in tournament this spring. It will be their first postseason game of any kind since the 2021 Playoffs. They were in Philadelphia last night and lost to a shorthanded 76ers team, 109-103.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.

🤕 Injuries

The following are out:

  • Michael Porter Jr
  • Day’Ron Sharpe
  • Noah Clowney
  • Egor Demin
  • Terance Mann

Ben Saraf is questionable. The three two-ways — Tyson Etienne, E.J. Liddell and Chaney Johnson – remain with the big team as does 10-day Malachi Smith.

Shaedon Sharpe and Damian Lillard are out. Night two of a back-to-back so we’ll see who else sits for Portland. Hansen Yang remains with the Remix, the Blazers G League club.

🏀 The game

Amazingly, this is the first meeting between the two teams this season.

This is the second night of a back-to-back and game two of a six game road trip for the Blazers.

Former Nets assistant coach Tiago Splitter is coaching the Blazers these days. And it feels like a lifetime ago, but Splitter got the job because the feds got Chauncey Billups in a sweep. If he can get them into the playoffs, there’s a chance he’ll be there permanently.

So where’s the scoring going to come from for the Nets? With no MPJ and Clowney out, perhaps Nolan Traore will be the guy? The Nets could use all the punch that they can get and Traore can stand to up the aggressiveness when he’s on the court. He’ll likely have Jrue Holiday assigned to him, so it will serve as a great learning lesson either way.

Without Day’ron Sharpe, the Nets are even more compromised on the glass. This is especially painful against a Blazers team that is top ten in the league in rebounding this season. Donovan Clingan is third in the NBA in rebounds at close to 12 per game, and Nic Claxton is going to have his hands full battling him and perhaps Robert Williams III on the inside tonight.

As for the NBA lottery, the Nets are back in third going into tonight’s game by percentage points over the Kings. They’re two and a half games back of the Pacers who remain in the top spot, and two and a half ahead of the Utah Jazz. The Nets have 15 games left and considering they were 2-13 in their last 15, it’s getting harder to imagine the Nets winning enough games to fall back to fifth prior to the May 10 Draft Lottery.

👀 Player to watch: Deni Avdija

Slow and steady wins the race. Avdija got better each season he’s been in the league, and it paid off with the first All-Star appearance of his career this season. He’s averaging career highs across the board and is taking on new roles. Over at Blazers Edge, Dave Deckard took a look at where Portland could get the most out of Deni:

I’m calling this right now. As long as he’s on the team, Deni Avdija needs to be the point guard. Things go better for him and his teammates when he runs the show. He’s the spiritual captain of the squad already, also its leading scorer right now. Taking the reins is a natural step. His vision and passing just keep getting better. Frankly, the team plays differently when Deni has the ball up top than they do with anybody else, even Jrue Holiday. The Blazers get better looks too.

I know Portland has approximately 56 true point guards right now. I’m not trying to insinuate what will, or should, happen with any of them. But I am saying that this is almost certainly Deni’s best destiny. The way the team is built now, that also makes it the Blazers’ best destiny.

Deni at point. Book it.

That’s the good thing about being a team that’s on the rise. You have room to explore, try stuff out, and see what works. And if you land on something, you can take it with you into an exciting future. Win-win!

Danny Wolf has gotten the start in each of the last two games and figures to do so as long as Porter Jr is out. He’s been filling up the box score in recent games and similar to Traore, will have all the opportunity in the world to figure things out and do more with an increased role.

📺 From the Vault

The last time the Blazers were in the playoffs, this happened

Also, it’s 3:16!

More reading: Blazers Edge, SB Nation NBANew York PostNew York Daily NewsClutch PointsNets WireSteve’s Newsletter

Two Words, Wolves Pod: A Disastrous Road Trip

On today’s episode, Ryan Eichten and Leo Sun discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 116-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the brutal last week for the team, and much more:

— The Wolves’ loss to the Thunder on Sunday afternoon was their fourth loss in five games, ending a truly awful four-game road trip.

— Julius Randle has his best performance since the All-Star break, putting up 32 points on 11-18 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, six assists, and only one turnover. Minnesota will need to see this version of Randle come the Playoffs if they want to make it back to the Conference Finals.

— Rudy Gobert had a rough night against OKC, something that has become a bit of a trend against higher-caliber opponents. The issue might speak to a team-wide issue more than a Gobert-specific problem, as the ball movement that helps Gobert’s offense has been severely lacking of late.

— Jaden McDaniels had one of his worst games of the season, scoring two points in just 16 minutes. How can the Wolves find a more consistent offensive role for Jaden?

— Anthony Edwards has had an up-and-down past few games. He’s had a pair of incredibly high-scoring performances in between two inefficient nights where his jumpshot has been unreliable. With his defensive production even more inconsistent, the Wolves need more from their star player on both ends of the court.

— The Wolves are now 12th in offensive rating, 11th in defensive rating, and 11th in net rating. While being top-ten on both sides of the ball signals a team’s status as a contender, the Wolves being 11th or worse on both sides of the ball makes for a tough sell that Minnesota is one of the league’s best.

— Ayo Dosumnu has been outstanding since the Wolves acquired him at the trade deadline. He scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, against OKC and projects to be a sizeable part of the Timberwolves’ future if they can re-sign him this summer.

Has there ever been a perfect March Madness bracket?

It's time to get those brackets filled out.

In just three days, the Men's NCAA Tournament will officially get underway with TEAM 1 vs. TEAM 2 at XX p.m. ET inside LOCATION, the first of 16 Round of 64 games set to be played out across Thursday's slate of March Madness games.

Filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket is one of the all-time great March Madness traditions, and a viral one at that.

There are several ways to approach making NCAA Tournament bracket picks — either randomly by choosing the better mascot in a matchup or by overanalyzing bracketology metrics — that make it a fun event for all involved. Then there is the fun (and stress) of hoping to have that perfect bracket — or what later becomes the best bracket — in a bracket group.

Here's what you need to know on whether there has been a perfect March Madness bracket before and more:

Has anyone ever had a perfect March Madness bracket?

No, there have not been any confirmed perfect March Madness bracket entries in the history of the NCAA Tournament, according to the NCAA.

The NCAA notes that the longest a bracket has remained perfect — or at the very least verifiable through one of the bracket challenge websites — has been 49 consecutive games. This took place during the 2019 NCAA Tournament, and was snapped when 3-seed Purdue beat 2-seed Tennessee 99-94 in overtime in the Sweet 16. The previous record was 39 consecutive correctly picked games.

The longest streak in last year's sets of men's brackets submitted was 42 games, the best run for a bracket user since 2019. Per the NCAA, the bracket was named "#RoadToPerfection" and was a part of ESPN's bracket challenge, and was snapped when 3-seed Kentucky upset 6-seed Illinois in the round of 32.

Longest surviving March Madness bracket streaks

Here's a look at the top five longest surviving NCAA Tournament brackets, according to the NCAA:

Round busted in parentheses

  1. 2019: 49 games (Sweet 16)
  2. 2025: 42 games (Second Round)
  3. 2017: 39 games (Second Round)
  4. 2014: 36 games (Second Round)
  5. 2015: 34 games (Second Round)

March Madness bracket deadline: When do NCAA Tournament picks need to be submitted?

Though specific times vary depending on which bracket challenge you enter, you have to get your bracket entry (or entries) in before the start of the first set of first-round games on Thursday, March 19. Here's a breakdown of deadlines for Men's NCAA Tournament bracket entries, including the USA TODAY Sports Men's Bracket Challenge.

  • USA TODAY: Thursday, March 19 at noon
  • CBS: Thursday, March 19 at noon
  • Yahoo!: Thursday, March 19 at 12:15 p.m.
  • ESPN: Thursday, March 19 at 12:15 p.m.
  • NCAA: Thursday, March 19 at noon

Click here to enter the USA TODAY Sports Men's Bracket Challenge.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness: Has there ever been a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket?

Flames vs Red Wings Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

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The Calgary Flames will look to play spoiler when they visit the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena tonight.

My top Flames vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks are headlined by promising Calgary rookie Matvei Gridin.

Flames vs Red Wings prediction

Flames vs Red Wings best bet: Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots (-130)

Calgary Flames winger Matvei Gridin is receiving a late-season audition in an offensive role and has recorded 2+ in 10 of his past 13 games while piling up an impressive 61 attempts.

The 2024 first-round selection averaged a healthy 2.78 shots per game during his AHL stint this season, and the high-volume shooting dates back to putting up 4.21 per game in the QMJHL while making the CHL All-Rookie Team last year.

Finally, the Detroit Red Wings have allowed a healthy 28.1 shots per game out of the Olympic break, too.

Flames vs Red Wings same-game parlay

The Flames have scored the fewest goals per road game (2.18), and the Red Wings have only averaged 2.33 per game out of the Olympic break, so I’m expecting the two teams to continue their trends of low-scoring tilts tonight.

Turning to the final leg of this SGP, Calgary starter Dustin Wolf sports an elite .933 SV% and 2.17 GAA across his past five road starts, and the Flames have allowed 29.2 shots per game since the NHL Trade Deadline.

Flames vs Red Wings SGP

  • Under 5.5
  • Dustin Wolf Over 25.5 saves
  • Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots

Flames vs Red Wings odds

  • Moneyline: Flames +155 | Red Wings -180
  • Puck Line: Flames +1.5 (-155) | Red Wings -1.5 (+135)
  • Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)

Flames vs Red Wings trend

The Flames have cashed the Under in 11 of their last 14 road games for +7.70 units and a 49% ROI, and the Red Wings have played to the Under in 15 of their last 25 games for +6.40 units and a 23% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Red Wings.

How to watch Flames vs Red Wings

LocationLittle Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
Puck drop7:00 p.m. ET
TVFDSN-Detroit, Prime Video

Flames vs Red Wings latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Hell yeah, that was a ball, man!’

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on March 15, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For some reason, the Knicks have decided to play down to the level of their opponents.

Nearly lost in Indianapolis. Damningly close to dropping one to a G League-like Warriors. Will it finally happen when the Pacers visit MSG on Tuesday?

Here’s what the protagonists had to say, including Steve Kerr.

Mike Brown

On whether he will change the starting lineup before or for the playoffs:

“Right now I don’t feel the need to. But like I said, if I felt the need to, I would. I don’t feel the need to right now.

“It’s not too late to do anything. And if I feel the need, I will. I’m not thinking that right now. I’m not concentrating on each individual because, like you said, we’ve started different people at different times.”

On demanding better starts despite the recent wins:

“We have to figure out individually, collectively, how we can start games better…. I’m not talking about the outcome, win or loss, I’m talking about the start of the game. (We need to start games) with a level of focus, a level of physicality, so that they’re feeling us to start the game. This group knows it. They understand it. Now we’ve just gotta go do it.”

On Mikal Bridges’ overall impact on the game:

“It’s no secret Mikal has not shot the ball well. But he’s given us life at times, and he’s given us life at the right time at times. I thought he was fantastic in Indiana. On both ends of the floor. So it’s not just Mikal. It’s us collectively as a group.”

On expecting more from the team despite the strong defensive numbers:

“I’m sitting here bitching about this and somebody told me from the first of January on, we had the No. 1 defense in the league. Something like that. We can play better. I know for myself and every man in that locker room, every person in that locker room, expects more. And somehow, someway, we got to figure it out.”

On Steve Kerr’s pregame warning text:

“Steve texted me and he said he came up with some killer plays that were going to make us spin backwards and forward. I believe him. Situations like this, we faced it in Utah. We faced it to a certain degree in Indiana. They’re tough. But if you expect to be who you think you are at the end of the day, you will approach this in a business-like manner.”

On not skipping details against undermanned teams:

“The biggest thing is making sure you don’t skip any details. I think in games like this, the details or the small things are huge. And playing with a sense of urgency while making them feel you on both ends of the floor — that doesn’t mean going out and blowing them out, but if you’re lackadaisical at any point in the game for any stretch, they’re NBA players. A lot of these guys are hungry and some of them have proven that they belong on this level and in a pretty good spot in terms of a rotation. If you relax at any moment in time and they see one, two, three go in, like the guys did in Utah, it can be a climb back up the hill to get back in the game.”

On road trip fatigue not being an excuse:

“I think every game can be challenging for a lot of different reasons. Mainly, all teams are in the NBA, and they’re here for a reason. That stuff’s above my head. A lot of times they say, ‘it’s because of your clock’ or whatever. You win some, you lose some, and I don’t see rhyme or reason for it.”

On prioritizing playing the right way over seeding:

“It’s tricky because let’s say we were in second, and we were a game in front of somebody. Are we just gonna play better because of that? I hope at this point of the season we’re playing the right way regardless of seeding, and sometimes, you’ll lose while playing the right way, but you’re playing the right way all the time—not just to try to catch Boston. That’s part of the equation, but that’s not the end-all, be-all.

“I want us to play the right way because it’s time to do that. We’re going into the playoffs. Play the right way. Again, you’ll lose sometimes playing the right way, but you want to go into the playoffs doing this, not just with your play but with your confidence or your belief, and so I think that’s just as much of it as opposed to — hey let’s find a way to win just to catch these guys. No, no: handle all the small details, embrace the details, embrace the journey. All that stuff and go get a win. So there are a lot of factors, not just those guys are ahead of us by a game-and-a-half and the guys are behind us by two games.”

Josh Hart

On the possibility of the NBA reducing the 82-game schedule:

“I probably be retired before that happens. So I don’t care. Nah, do I think it will be probably be better for the game and the quality on the court? I think so. Do I think it will happen? Probably not because everybody is so money-hungry and money-driven. I think everybody puts that above everything else.”

On the need for respecting undermanned opponents:

“At the end of the day, you got to respect everybody. And if you’re in a situation like this against a team without its starters, you never want to play with a game or anything like that because you’ll never what’ll happen at the end of a game. You don’t want to put yourself in that position for someone to make a shot, someone to miss a shot or a ref to call a call you don’t agree with. So we got to approach this like any other game. And if that’s the case, then we should handle business early and it should be a game where everybody gets to play. But these guys are good. They’re in the NBA for a reason.”

On his knee soreness leaving him out of two games of late:

“It was just a play in the Laker game where I did my normal fastbreak finish, but just the landing on it kind of irritated it. So I think that kind of flared it up.”

On whether the knee will linger:

“I hope not. We’ll see. Time will tell.”

On not making excuses based on the injury:

“Ehh. I was out there. If I’m out there and able to play, there’s no excuses.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On avoiding slow starts:

“Don’t play like that. I think it’s pretty simple.”

On Brown’s frustration even after the win:

“Yeah, he was frustrated. Obviously, the win’s everything, but we don’t want to win games like that, especially this late in the year when we should have better standards and a better execution in playing. I understand it.”

On Jordan Clarkson’s impact off the bench:

“Special. The stats don’t lie. One of the best players coming off the bench in NBA history. He does one thing better than almost anybody in the league, and that’s put the ball in the basket. When he’s doing that, he’s playing with that fire and that passion he has; there’s not many players in the NBA coming off the bench you feel better about.”

On the Dominican Republic’s elimination from the WBC at the hands of the USA:

“Hell yeah, that was a ball, man! That was some bulls**t. They should have had a chance. They had Tatis Jr. coming up. Come on, man.”

Jalen Brunson

On the need to avoid playing catch-up every damn game:

“If we play better from the start, we don’t have to play catch-up. It’s definitely something that we need to get better at and it has to be our focus.”

Steve Kerr

On shortening the NBA season:

“I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing.”

On managing player workloads:

“In talking to performance people, looking at the data, hearing the experts in our own group talk about the load that these guys are facing and then you get older players like Steph or Al or Jimmy – we have to manage them through 82 games. So there are nights where you just have to say, can’t play this guy. I get emails all the time from fans saying ‘I spent $2,000 on tickets to go to this game and Steph didn’t play.’ And it wasn’t an injury designation and I held him out. Shouldn’t we reconcile that somehow? Maybe it’s stretching the season out a little bit. If you can’t give up 10 games, can you extend the season by two weeks and give players more time in between games? I don’t know. I know there’s no guarantee that players are going to be out there every night, but I know that we have enough issues all clumped together that if we put our heads together – we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this league. I think we can address a lot of them and satisfy the fans, the owners, the TV partners. I believe that’s possible. Maybe I’m naïve. But I think it’s important to put it out there just for discussion and see where it goes.”

On advocating for a shorter season:

“I’m just saying what I see with all the injuries. The soft tissue injuries. I see all the data about how fast the guys are running, how much distance guys are covering now compared to 20-30 years ago. I see all the injuries, the tanking. I see everything. I’ve been in the league a long time. I’m well aware fewer games would mean less revenue, which means everybody takes a pay cut, and I’m willing to stick my neck out and say I’m all for that because I think the quality of the product is the most important thing. So I don’t say these things flippantly. I say these things because I mean them. I think there’s a meaningful discussion to be had, and I love the league, I’ve loved the NBA my whole life. My whole adult life has been spent in the NBA in some form and it’s an amazing league. We have incredible people in this league and great fans. I just want to make sure we give our fans the very, very best product we can and try to satisfy all of our corporate partners, and I just think there’s probably a way to do that without just completely ignoring some of the obvious issues we’ve established.”