With the Dominican Republic leading Team Netherlands deep in the game Sunday afternoon, manager Albert Pujols was considering pulling some of his starters.
Mets slugger Juan Soto was among those he spoke to, but with his turn in the order due up and the offense quickly closing in on the mercy rule, he told the skipper that he wanted to stay in.
“I was paying attention to the game and I knew that I would come to bat that next inning,” he said via a translator. “He wanted to remove me, but I said no let’s continue, let me hit.”
So Pujols obliged, and the All-Star slugger was sure to deliver.
Soto dug in and immediately crushed the first pitch 419 feet to right-center for a game-ending two-run homer.
He turned and pointed towards the DR dugout after the ball left his bat, then made his way around the bases, before being paraded on by his teammates as he crossed the plate.
“It’s a beautiful experience,” Soto said. “The homer, the feel of the game -- we have a long way to go, yet I have to thank God -- I’m very happy I was able to execute, it’s definitely one of the most important and beautiful times in my career.”
It was Soto's first homer of the tournament, but the team’s seventh through two games.
The loaded DR lineup also has them second among teams with a total of 24 runs over that span.
“It’s great what we can do,” Soto told MLB Network. “We’ve been passing the baton, we don’t try to be the hero -- I feel like we have a great lineup, everybody can do damage, but we’re playing team baseball -- it’s fun to play like that.”
Just how fun? Soto said this is one of the most enjoyable teams of his career.
“I’ve been on a lot of great teams,” he said. “2019, 2024, those were really fun teams that I played with but this has to be top of the top -- you have the whole family, the whole Dominican Republic cheering for you being there for you, there’s nothing better than that.”
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points and Kiki Rice added 15 points and eight assists Sunday as No. 2 UCLA rolled past No. 9 Iowa 96-45 to win its second straight Big Ten Tournament crown.
Rice was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player.
It’s the first time the Bruins (31-1) have captured back-to-back postseason conference titles, and it’s also the first time they have won regular-season and league tournament titles in the same season. The Bruins also extended their school-record win streak to 25 games and their Big Ten win streak to 24, dating to last season’s tourney run.
And they did it with most the lopsided championship-game margin in tournament history, easily surpassing Iowa’s 33-point win over Ohio State in 2023. Six UCLA players scored in double figures, including Sienna Betts — the younger sister of star center Lauren Betts — who matched a season high with 14 points. Lauren Betts had 10 points in 24 minutes.
Ava Heiden scored 15 points for the Hawkeyes (26-6). Addie Deal added 11 points while all-conference forward Hannah Stuelke struggled as she played through a right elbow injury and an illness for the third straight day. Stuelke was scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting and had only three rebounds as Iowa’s eight-game winning streak was snapped.
NO. 1 UCONN 100, CREIGHTON 51
Sarah Strong had 23 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead UConn to a win over Creighton in the Big East semifinals as the Huskies advanced to a conference championship game for the 22nd season in a row.
UConn (33-0) shot 71% from 3-point range in the first three quarters on the way to its 49th consecutive win. It was also the 38th conference tournament win in a row as the Huskies scored 100 points in the Big East tournament for the first time. Kayleigh Heckel added nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Huskies.
Kennedy Townsend had 13 points for Creighton (16-15), which was looking to advance to conference title games in consecutive seasons for the first time since losing in the 2009 and 2010 Missouri Valley Conference championship games.
UConn made 11 of its first 13 shots as the Huskies jumped out to a 27-4 lead, Creighton only hit consecutive shots twice in the first half. Strong had 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, six steals and two blocked shots in the first half. Arnold had 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting at halftime as the Huskies lead 57-22 at the break.
NO. 4 TEXAS 78, NO. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA 61
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)- Madison Booker scored 18 points as Texas sprinted to a 14-0 lead and beat three-time defending champion South Carolina to win its first Southeastern Conference Tournament title.
Booker was named MVP of the tournament. Justice Carlton added 15 points and Jordan Lee had 12 for the Longhorns (31-3), who joined the SEC in 2024.
Texas shot 57% from the field to avenge last year’s 19-point loss to the Gamecocks in the championship game.
Joyce Edwards had 13 points for the Gamecocks (31-3), who had their 12-game win streak snapped.
The powerhouse programs split two tightly contested meetings earlier this season, with the Longhorns winning 66-64 at a neutral site in November and the Gamecocks earning a measure of revenge with a 68-65 win on their home floor in January.
This one was never close.
NO. 15 WEST VIRGINIA 62, NO. 10 TCU 53
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jordan Harrison scored 20 points, Sydney Shaw added 17 and West Virginia avenged two regular-season losses to TCU by beating the reigning Big 12 Tournament champion in the conference title game.
Harrison also had six rebounds and four assists while wreaking havoc on defense, and Kierra Wheeler contributed 10 points, helping the second-seeded Mountaineers (27-6) win their second Big 12 tourney title and first since the 2016-17 season.
Olivia Miles, the league player of the year, scored 17 points for No. 1 seed TCU (29-5) despite playing most of the way in foul trouble. Marta Suarez added 16 points but was just 6 of 19 from the field and fouled out in the final minute.
West Virginia led 56-43 with 90 seconds left before TCU ran off seven straight points to provide some hope. But Harrison, a senior from Oklahoma City, calmly made two free throws with 33.4 seconds remaining to help put the game away.
NO. 13 DUKE 70, NO. 12 LOUISVILLE 65, OT
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Taina Mair had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Delaney Thomas also scored 19 and Duke rallied to win its second straight women’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title after beating Louisville.
Thomas’ layup with 4 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 60-all and sent it to overtime after Louisville held the lead for 35 of 40 minutes.
In overtime, another layup by Thomas moved the Blue Devils (24-8) ahead to stay, and Riley Nelson put the game away when she buried a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left. Nelson finished with 12 points.
Imari Berry scored 18 points and Mackenly Randolph had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Louisville (27-7). Randolph played all 45 minutes.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Brennen Davis #78 of the Seattle Mariners bats during the second inning of the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After briefly flirting with a win yesterday the Mariners went back to their comfort zone today, losing 3-6 in Maryvale to the Brewers. All three of their runs came off homers: a two-run shot by Leo Rivas and a mammoth tank job by spring breakout star Brennen Davis.
Lefty Kyle Harrison, Milwaukee’s big trade acquisition this off-season, looked sharp in his outing, blowing through the top of the Mariners’ lineup in the first on six pitches, including a three-pitch strikeout looking of Brennan Davis.
George Kirby worked around a hard-contact out in the first —111.6 off the bat of Garrett Mitchell, snagged by a surehanded Will Wilson at third – and then a double from Jake Bauers where Lazaro Montes made a strong throw in from right field but Leo Rivas wasn’t able to get the tag down in time.
The Mariners got on the board in the second against Harrison when Patrick Wisdom reached on a dropped third strike and then Leo Rivas leaned on a first-pitch fastball that landed directly in his turn-and-burn zone, pulling the ball 441 feet for a two-run homer. Little lion man ahoy!
Lazaro Montes kept the inning going with a “double” that he hit against the shift and then made the mistake of not going full steam into second, just squeaking underneath the tag. We can allow that since he got robbed of what should have been a solid putout at second earlier.
Lazaro Montes fights a pitch off his first up the third baseline and manages to turn it into a double despite a hesitation around first pic.twitter.com/0AO1CwE42g
Kirby had to work around some more traffic in the second inning, some his fault and some not. He lost a nine-pitch battle with Blake Perkins, walking him on a splitter, and then Will Wilson mishandled a routine groundball to put two on with two outs. (Willllll I have said so many nice things about your defense this spring come onnnnn man). But Kirby was able to put out the fire, coaxing an easy inning-ending groundout off the bat of Ethan Murray. His third inning was even sharper, as he put down the Brewers in order, striking out Mitchell on the changeup then getting a pair of groundouts.
NB: Do not trust Statcast’s analysis on Kirby’s day. Statcast will tell you he threw an 88 mph four-seamer (he did not) and a 94 mph four-seamer. Those were actually the changeup and cutter, respectively, which Kirby was playing around with today. Pitching coach Pete Woodworth said postgame he told Kirby not to focus on throwing a bunch of changeups when he was on a limited pitch count, but George Kirby do what George Kirby want to do, especially when armed with his own PitchCom device that allowed him to call some of his pitches.
Kirby’s day ended on a sour note, unfortunately, as he hung a slider (a real one) in a 3-2 count to Andrew Vaughn, who torched the pitch into the outfield where it hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double. Postgame, Kirby said he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his sliders in this outing. “Just kind of felt like I was trying to make them too nasty. Should just trust the grip and let it fly.”
Troy Taylor couldn’t keep the inherited runner from scoring, and then gave up a three-run homer to put the Brewers ahead 4-2. (110 off the bat. 477 feet. Brutal.) Peyton Alford came up to clean up the mess, and did.
Josh Simpson was not so fortunate, and gave up another two runs on a home run to Jake Bauers and an RBI double to Christian Yelich. But he also struck out the side, one looking and two swinging. Command remains an issue for Simpson, but there’s definitely something there. It’s just not quite something fully formed yet, but he’s another depth piece that’s valuable to have in Tacoma.
Brennen Davis got one of those runs back in the sixth inning, because Brennen Davis will not be denied a tank shot of his own when everyone else is getting one. He took Jacob Misiorowski very deep, a 464 foot blast to deep left-center with a 115.8 EV.
Brennen Davis nearly reached the pitch timer videoboard well beyond left-center field … His team-leading fourth in Cactus League play, and off Jacob Misiorowski.
Exit velo: 115.8 mph Launch angle: 30° Distance: 464 ft. Hang time: 6.4 seconds pic.twitter.com/KwIhl9MVrS
Cole Young worked a walk off the lefty Harrison in the third. Good job, Cole Young. He then stole second. Good-er job, Cole Young.
Yosver Zulueta had a very good outing, allowing one hit on a bad-luck weak contact double but striking out the side. That is his fourth outing this spring and he’s yet to give up more than a pair of hits while striking out six. Another one to keep an eye on for the pile.
Gabe Mosser recovered from a rough outing last time out to pitch two solid hitless innings to close this game out.
The Brewers like to show each player’s hometowns on the board, which is how I found out Jonny Farmelo and Andrew Knizner were born just two hours along I-95 from each other in Centreville and Glen Allen, VA, respectively. Old Dominionheads rise up.
The stars came out for a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.
Inside Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers hosted the Knicks in a nationally televised showcase between two of the NBA’s most historic franchises — two cities that see themselves not merely as markets but as cultural capitals.
It was also the annual gathering of people who live in Los Angeles but arrive wearing their Knicks gear to let everyone know they’re originally from New York City.
And like any big stage in either New York or Los Angeles, the seats were filled with stars.
Yes, LeBron James was there. Luka Dončić, too. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns carried the hopes of Manhattan into the afternoon light. But on this particular Sunday, the audience sometimes felt just as headline-worthy as the performers.
If the Knicks and Lakers represent basketball royalty, then the celebrities sitting courtside looked like a Hollywood premiere with a shot clock.
Almost exactly one year ago, when the Lakers beat New York in a 113-109 overtime thriller, the celebrity roll call looked like an Oscars seating chart: Larry David, Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Kylie Jenner, Denzel Washington, John McEnroe, Brenda Song, Macaulay Culkin, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Connolly, Kyler Murray and Rams star Puka Nacua.
Soaking in the atmosphere with the grin of someone who has seen plenty of big games in this town was actor Martin Lawrence, who sat across from James on the Lakers’ bench. To his right sat Jordan Howlett, the wildly popular internet personality known as “Jordan the Stallion.”
Next to Howlett was Action Bronson — the Queens-born rapper and lifelong Knicks diehard — wearing a Knicks hat just as you’d expect. Across the court from him was Sacha Baron Cohen, who watched with the kind of quiet curiosity that suggests he might be mentally filing the whole thing away for some future satirical masterpiece.
Martin Lawrence sits courtside.NBAE via Getty Images Action Bronson holds a drink while watching NBA action.NBAE via Getty Images Knicks legend Patrick Ewing is all smiles courtside.NBAE via Getty Images Flea, Melody Ehsani and their son at the Lakers game.Getty Images LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: Bill Maher and Sacha Baron Cohen (R) attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Celebrities At The Los Angeles Lakers GameGetty Images LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: Freddie Gibbs (R) and Ben Lambert attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Celebrities At The Los Angeles Lakers GameGetty Images
Bill Maher, never one to hide an opinion, leaned back and observed the circus unfolding around him — a political comic sitting comfortably in the middle of Los Angeles’ most apolitical ritual: celebrity watching. He even got a taste of the action up close and personal as Lakers guard Marcus Smart dove for a loose ball and crashed into him and his girlfriend, film-producer Noor Alfallah, who has a child with actor Al Pacino.
Pacino’s “Godfather III” co-star Andy Garcia, whose Hollywood gravitas feels almost as timeless as the Lakers’ purple and gold, sat a few seats away as well.
Actor Ben Lambert, decked out in a Knicks jersey and Yankees hat, sat courtside next to rapper Freddie Gibbs.
Rich Paul, one of the most powerful agents in sports and the architect behind LeBron’s business empire, sat courtside as he always does. Comedian and actor Jay Mohr, who is married to Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, chatted with his wife throughout the game.
Sitting in Jack Nicholson’s legendary courtside seats was his son, “Smile” actor Ray Nicholson.
Nearby, was Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who has practically become part of the architecture of Los Angeles sports. His presence at Lakers games now feels as routine as the national anthem.
Former big men from both teams: Patrick Ewing of the Knicks and Dwight Howard of the Lakers sat back and smiled from their courtside seats as well. Two Hall of Fame legends sharing the same building.
Some of the celebrities sitting courtside this afternoon for Knicks vs. Lakers on ABC:
Ray Nicholson (son of Jack), Flea, Knicks’ owner James Dolan, Rich Paul, Martin Lawrence, Influencer Jordan Howlett (Jordan the Stallion 8), Patrick Ewing, Dwight Howard, Action Bronson, Bill… pic.twitter.com/hHwt7hafoG
The Knicks billionaire owner sat in attendance as well, a reminder that even the most famous arena in sports — Madison Square Garden — must occasionally take its show on the road.
Because that’s what these games become.
The Knicks versus the Lakers isn’t simply an NBA matchup. It’s a cultural summit meeting between the East Coast’s intellectual swagger and the West Coast’s cinematic glow.
Sunday’s gathering proved something important about basketball in these two cities: The game is never just about the game.
It’s about identity.
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In New York, Knicks fandom is almost tribal — gritty, loud, impatient. Spike Lee pacing the Garden sideline is part of the mythology. In Los Angeles, Lakers fandom is something different. It’s cultural. Sitting courtside isn’t merely about watching basketball; it’s about participating in the entertainment capital’s most glamorous public ritual.
That tension between authenticity and spectacle is exactly what makes Lakers-Knicks such an irresistible television event.
The NBA knows it. Networks know it. Hollywood certainly knows it.
Because when these teams meet, the arena becomes something bigger than sports. It’s about two American cities that believe they sit at the center of the universe.
New York brings the attitude.
Los Angeles brings the spotlight.
And on Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena, the spotlight was bright enough for everyone to share.
Freddy Peralta's energy is felt in the Mets clubhouse.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Freddy Peralta was a ball of energy in the Mets clubhouse before facing the Yankees on Sunday.
Whereas most pitchers prefer solitude on their scheduled day to pitch, even in spring training, Peralta was engaged in a basketball game, shouting as he attempted off-balance shots and laughing most of the way.
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“I just be myself every day,” Peralta said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m pitching or not pitching, that is what I do.”
On this day he faced a skeleton Yankees lineup at Clover Park.
After a rough first inning — with a misplay and weak contact contributing factors — Peralta rebounded into form over the next two to provide the home crowd with a glimpse of the ace who will head to the mound for Opening Day in 2 ½ weeks.
Peralta struck out four over three innings, allowing three hits and one walk with two earned runs in the 10-4 victory.
An adjustment helped. After relying on his fastball early, Peralta turned to his changeup in the second inning and curveball in the third. The Yankees were tamed.
Freddy Peralta’s energy is felt in the Mets clubhouse. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“After the first inning, me and Alvy had a conversation and we thought that was the right way to do it,” Peralta said, referring to Francisco Alvarez. “We saw that they were swinging a little like they were trying to hunt the fastball earlier and we tried to miss it a little bit more. I told [Alvarez] and asked him and he said, ‘Yes,’ and it worked.”
It was the first time Alvarez handled Peralta (who was starting his second exhibition game this spring) in the Grapefruit League.
What has Alvarez learned about Peralta?
“He commands his fastball, he commands the curveball and he’s got a great changeup, too,” Alvarez said. “For him it’s more about command. Every pitch is nasty, so he has just got to command the pitch and that’s it.”
Peralta was asked about his chemistry with Alvarez.
“I had conversations with him even before we got here to spring training,” Peralta said. “And back then I knew that he was going to be very good because he’s very interested and makes you do well for ourselves, for the team, for everything. He showed me that he wants to win, he cared about it, he cared about performance and that is No. 1 for catching.”
Already together in camp with Peralta for over a month, Alvarez has come to appreciate the energy the pitcher has brought to the clubhouse.
“He’s a great teammate,” Alvarez said. “He’s always happy. He brings a lot of energy and he’s going to be big for us.”
The two will work together (provided they remain healthy) more often than not this season. This day against the Yankees represented a nice beginning for the duo.
Freddy Peralta (L.) and Francisco Alvarez will work together more often than not this season. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
“It’s in a good place,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, referring to the chemistry between Peralta and Alvarez. “This goes back to the very first few days of camp when he was throwing bullpens and Alvy was catching him and just kind of get to know some of the targets that he likes, some of the things he likes to do with the baseball as far as the changeup, the breaking ball, the fastball, against lefties and righties.
“Now, the way they are talking about the game between innings it’s just in a good spot. Alvy is asking good questions and Peralta is giving him really good feedback.”
Peralta likely has another two starts remaining in the Grapefruit League before getting the ball against the Pirates on March 26 at Citi Field. The next step will be buildup to four and five innings.
And there could be additional pregame basketball games.
“We’re always betting a coffee or something,” Peralta said. “So, somebody has to bring me a coffee.”
Colson Montgomery broke out of his spring-long slump with a clutch, two-run homer. | (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
The White Sox and their spring winning continued on Sunday, as they picked up their 10th win of the preseason with a 5-4 showing against Kansas City.
Perhaps feeling the heat after I so boldly declared prior to the game that he was “rapidly …” Jarred Kelenic got the South Siders on the board with a lefty-on-lefty home run off Royals starter Noah Cameron, a 430-foot blast that would’ve been gone just about anywhere.
Unfortunately, Sox starter Jordan Hicks was not sharp, walking four over 1 2/3 innings and allowing two runs, one coming on a bases-loaded walk. Hicks’ fastball velocity was down a notch, sitting around 98 mph after being in the 99-100 mph range his first two appearances. He’ll be ticketed for the bullpen sooner rather than later.
The game became tied at two when Luisangel Acuña continued his spring heater, sending a 110 mph line drive screaming up the middle for an RBI single.
Luisangel Acuña lines a single to score Lee (2B), 110.3 mph EV. White Sox tied at 2. pic.twitter.com/RLW8GQr7Rk
Pitching in the multi-inning, middle relief role he’ll see during regular season action, Sean Newcomb looked sharp for two innings before getting touched up in this third, grooving one to Royals first baseman Nick Loftin, who took it out to left field for a 4-2 K.C. lead.
Fortunately, the Sox have Colson Montgomery, who tied the game at four with a blast of his own in the bottom of the inning:
Colson Montgomery goes yard. 430' at 106mph. Luisangel Acuna comes in to score. White Sox tied at 4. pic.twitter.com/XFd73jdqTo
The homer’s 105.9 mph exit velocity just narrowly edged out the 105.7 mph fly out he delivered his first time up, completing a good day for the team’s former top prospect. Anywho, immediately afterward Kelenic gave the Sox a 5-4 lead with his second homer of the game — this one of the Little League variety.
Jarred Kelenic has a real home run today—and this little league home run.
Scoreless innings from Jordan Leasure, Chris Murphy and Tyler Gilbert kept that the score the rest of the way, leaving the final 5-4 as the Sox reached the double-digit win mark in Spring Training.
They’ll be back at it again tomorrow, when they host the Rockies at 3:05 p.m. CT at Camelback Ranch and Chrystal O’Keefe makes her 2026 recapping debut.
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Wiki Carmona scored two goals against his former team after Prince Owusu found the net on a penalty kick and CF Montreal thumped the New York Red Bulls 3-0 on Sunday.
Montreal (1-2-0) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute on a PK goal by Owusu. Montreal's first goal of the season was set up when Iván Jaime drew a foul on Red Bulls' defender Justin Che.
Carmona scored unassisted in the 44th minute off a free kick to give Montreal a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Carmona stole the ball and capped the scoring with another unassisted goal in the 68th minute. Carmona had six goals in 102 appearances over five seasons with the Red Bulls. He failed to score in 21 starts over 34 appearances last season.
Thomas Gillier finished with five saves for Montreal, earning his first clean sheet in his 11th career start. Gillier allowed eight goals through the first two matches.
Ethan Horton finished with one save for the Red Bulls (2-1-0) in his third MLS start. Horton was coming off his first clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution.
New York started teenagers Julian Hall (17), Adri Mehmeti (16) and Matthew Dos Santos (17) for a third straight match.
First-year coach Michael Bradley's Red Bulls were trying to open a season with three straight victories for the first time in club history.
Marco Donadel notched his first victory as Montreal's head coach after taking over on an interim basis last season when the club finished 13th and missed the playoffs.
New York outscored Montreal 3-0 in a pair of victories last season.
Up next
New York: At Toronto FC on Saturday.
Montreal: At Orlando City on Saturday in the fourth of six straight road matches to begin the season.
Mar 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) reacts after a play against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Eight minutes into the third quarter, Baylor Scheierman chased down Payton Pritchard’s missed 3-pointer and slapped the rebound back to him. The extra effort led to a feed to a wide-open Sam Hauser, who buried a second-chance three to give the Celtics a 26-point lead and forced a Cavaliers timeout.
That relentless hustle sums up the difference Scheierman makes.
“He’s just another connector,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “He doesn’t care about starting. He doesn’t care about anything but competing. That doesn’t get rewarded enough — his competing and his care factor. He doesn’t care about anything but competing at the highest level and executing — he takes a ton of pride in that.”
In the fourth quarter, with 10 minutes remaining, Jaylen Brown launched a deep three to beat the shot clock. Right under the basket, it was Scheierman who boxed out 6-foot-11 Cavaliers center Evan Mobley and secured the offensive rebound. It didn’t lead to a second-chance look this time, and even though Scheierman didn’t need to chase the ball, he still attacked the glass anyway.
No matter how long it had been since Scheierman last touched the ball, the Celtics could count on him to be in the right place at the right time. He was a pest on defense, disrupting Cleveland’s offense at every opportunity. He delivered an elite offensive performance en route to his fourth career double-double — all of which have come in his last 14 games. To go along with his 10 rebounds, Scheierman also scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
He knocked down four of six 3-point attempts, including a deep 31-footer to free Pritchard from a double team.
It had been over five weeks since Scheierman last scored at least 16 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, but Boston’s trust in him never wavered. Like everyone else filling a role, it was only a matter of time before he found his next opportunity. In Cleveland, Scheierman stabilized the second-unit offense, delivered key defensive possessions, and outrebounded everyone except starter Neemias Queta, who finished with 11 boards.
Scheierman’s performance wasn’t just a confidence booster — it was a reminder of what he’s capable of.
“Obviously, we’ve got a great team — a lot of great players. Credit to them for finding me when I was open,” Scheierman told Abby Chin, per NBC Sports Boston. “They trust me to make the right play, and I just try to do that every time.”
When it came to protecting the glass and disrupting Cleveland’s offense, Scheierman’s impact was contagious. He played a major role in holding the Cavaliers to 36 first-half points, including just 10 in the second quarter. That marked Boston’s best defensive quarter of the season, as Scheierman and company limited Cleveland to 4-for-25 shooting, including a miserable 0-for-14 from three.
The Celtics used that momentum to build a convincing 56-36 advantage at the half.
“We were just really together defensively as a unit,” Scheierman told Chin. “Everyone was helping each other out. Obviously, they’ve got talented players over there, and they’re tough to stop one-on-one. We don’t play defense one-on-one — we play it as a unit, and I think we did that at a very high level, especially in the second quarter.”
Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley combined to shoot just 8-of-23 from beyond the arc against Boston’s defense. The Cavaliers finished 28.9 percent overall, converting only 13 of 45 attempts in one of their ugliest offensive showings this season. Even when they rallied and cut into Boston’s lead, they couldn’t navigate the Celtics’ defense or hit the critical, clutch shots needed to muster up a comeback.
It required playing both ends of the floor to ensure Cleveland’s comeback never materialized. Scheierman’s two-way versatility made him a problem that Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson had to account for. His first basket was an unforeseen left-handed hook over Thomas Bryant to beat the shot clock that has since become a must-see social media clip. He’s more than just a catch-and-shoot threat, and over the season he’s steadily putting teams across the league on notice.
Scheierman’s recent surge might fly under the radar for many, but it hasn’t escaped Mazzulla’s notice one bit.
“When you have a guy that doesn’t miss a beat, regardless of the situation or the circumstances that he’s in, you see stuff like that,” Mazzulla told reporters. “I think he’s doing a great job handling it.”
This was the type of win that has eluded the Lakers for most of the season.
Controlling.
Decisive.
And just as importantly, it was against one of the NBA’s best teams.
Luka Doncic helped key the Lakers’ home win Sunday against the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ 110-97 victory over the Knicks on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena wasn’t only significant because of the stage — a nationally televised matchup on ABC between the most popular teams in the league’s biggest markets — but because it put a pause to the concerns whether the Lakers have what it takes to beat the league’s best.
And on Sunday afternoon, while LeBron James was in street clothes on the bench for the second consecutive game, they put together arguably their best performance of the season against a healthy Knicks team that won 16 of its previous 21 games.
The shotmaking and playmaking from their stars was present, with Luka Doncic (35 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals) and Austin Reaves (25 points, five assists, four rebounds) combining for 60 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Austin Reaves scored 25 points in the victory. NBAE via Getty Images
The role players contributed with energy and hustle plays, with Marcus Smart, Jaxson Hayes, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia leading the way with impactful plays that don’t show up in the box score.
And the defense was as dialed in as it’s been all season, with the Lakers also benefiting from the Knicks’ poor 3-point shooting.
“We played hard, stuck to the game plan and competed,” Reaves said. “That’s what it came down to. I thought we played harder than them, and we set the tone early and had a really good third quarter.”
What it means
The Lakers’ win over the Knicks put them at 5-12 on the season against teams with .600-or-better records.
They had lost the previous six and 12 of their last 13 matchups against those teams, with the lone win in that stretch being against the Nikola Jokic-less Nuggets on Jan. 20.
Turning point
When Hayes and Smart made multiple hustle plays underneath the Lakers’ basket that ended with Smart throwing the ball off Mikal Bridges out of bounds, helping the Lakers maintain possession.
Doncic hit a step back 2 on the out-of-bounds play, putting the Lakers up 101-86 with 7 ½ minutes left.
“Obviously, he needs to be aggressive like this,” Doncic said of Reaves. “Playing with him is so easy, because he draws so much attention, helps others, too. So, just playing with him, it makes my life easy.”
MVP: Luka Doncic
With the Knicks hanging in, Doncic made a 3-pointer with 1:05 left to put the game out of reach.
Doncic’s shooting numbers weren’t stellar (11 of 25, 5 of 16 on 3s), but he controlled the game.
Stat of the game: 23
That was the combined number of field goal and free-throw attempts Reaves took against the Knicks.
It was the second most Reaves combined for in the statistical categories since he returned to the floor from a calf injury last month.
Reaves shot 8 of 16 from the field and 6 of 7 on free throws.
Up next
The Lakers will host the Timberwolves on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.
They already have won the season series, 2-0, over the Timberwolves after beating Minnesota twice in October.
Feb 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski against the Cleveland Guardians during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Justin Wrobleski continued his impressive spring with three scoreless innings on Sunday in the Dodgers’ 11-7 loss to the Athletics in Mesa
Wrobleski struck out three, with two finished off by his slider and another by his four-seam fastball. The left-hander is in the mix for an early-season spot in the starting rotation, but there’s likely room for him on the active roster even as a bulk reliever.
“I feel like the same guy, I just have a little more experience,” the left-hander told Kirsten Watson during an in-game interview on SportsNet LA. “You can’t get experience until you get experience.”
Andy Pages is also having a nice spring, and got the scoring started with a solo home run in the first inning.
Pages, who also singled on Sunday, has eight extra-base hits in 29 plate appearances this spring.
Notes
Like Pages, Alex Call had two hits in three at-bats, including a home run. Call’s second hit was a two-run single, giving him three RBI.
Dodgers built a 7-0 lead in their first four trips to the plate, but Leo De Vries personally cut that A’s deficit to just one. The 19-year-old consensus top-13 prospect in baseball, ranked as fourth at MLB Pipeline, hit a two-run home run off Kyle Hurt in the fourth inning and a grand slam off Carson Hobbs’ second pitch in the fifth, cashing in all three runs left by Cam Day.
Nick Senzel started Sunday at second base, his ninth start this spring, and reached base all three trips to the plate. His leadoff walk in the six was the taking of CD Pelham’s 1-2-3 inning.
Paul Gervase struck out three in his 1 1/3 scoreless innings, preserving a tie, the most noble task during exhibition season. The 6’10 right-hander has nine strikeouts among his 28 batters faced this spring (32.1 percent).
Jordan Weems, who took the loss in the ninth inning Thursday in Goodyear by allowing four runs without recording an out, allowed four consecutive hits then a two-run double in a four-run eighth inning to decide Sunday’s contest.
Up next
The Dodgers are in Maryvale to face the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday afternoon (1:05 p.m.; SportsNet LA, MLB Network), with Emmet Sheehan back on the mound in his second spring outing and first start.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 9: Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 9, 2026 at Capital One Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
the Washington Wizards play the New Orleans Pelicans at 7 PM tonight. Let’s get a win.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Brooklyn Meyer had 26 points to go with nine rebounds and second-seeded South Dakota State claimed another Summit League championship, defeating top-seed North Dakota State 64-51 on Sunday.
The Jackrabbits improved to 13-2 in Summit League title games and will play in the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time, all since 2009.
South Dakota State took the lead for good with a about 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. The Jackrabbits built a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter but a 3-pointer from Molly Lenz got the Bison within 48-44 with seven minutes remaining. However, North Dakota State made only two field goals the rest of the game.
Playing with the lead in the fourth quarter, the Jackrabbits made 14 of 16 free throws with eight of the makes coming in the final minute. SDSU made 21 of 29 free throws for the game, compared to just 5 of 9 for North Dakota State.
Avery Koenen led North Dakota State (28-4) with 12 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Lenz also scored 12 and Karrington Asp had 10 points off the bench.
Hadley Thul had 10 points for South Dakota State (27-6).
An 11-3 run over a six-minute stretch of the second quarter helped the Jackrabbits build a 27-18 lead. North Dakota State regrouped and Marisa Frost's buzzer-beating 3-pointer got the Bison within 31-27 at halftime.
After the Bison took what would be their last lead at 36-34 midway through the third quarter, South Dakota State scored the next eight points for a 42-36 lead.
North Dakota State has not appeared in the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level but is a five-time Division II national champion.
Up next
NCAA Tournament decisions are due on Selection Sunday, March 15.
Shane Smith, an Opening Day starter to be proud of. | (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
On Sunday, the Chicago White Sox gave fans another reason to be excited about the 2026 season when they announced that Shane Smith will be the Opening Day starter against his former team in Milwaukee. This is the earliest that Chicago has named their starter ahead of Opening Day since 2018, when the Sox pegged James Shields as the starter on February 27.
Smith has been one of the most exciting players and storylines to follow since Dec. 11, 2024 when the Sox selected him in the Rule 5 draft. Coming from an organization known for scouting and producing some of the best pitchers in the game, Smith showed plenty of upside as a starter and reliever. His talent immediately shone in his Sox debut and during his first month in the majors; Smith held a 2.23 ERA and racked up 26 strikeouts in his first six games.
Shane Smith made his MLB debut today!
After being selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft from the Brewers, he went out and showed exactly why he deserves this shot. That changeup? Insane.
As the spring and early summer progressed, Smith continued to dominate. He became the best pitcher in the rotation and was named the Sox’s only All-Star in July. Despite exhibiting natural bumps in his rookie year, Smith finished 2026 with the fewest earned runs (62) and home runs (17) allowed, lowest WHIP (1.196) and most innings pitched (146 ⅓) among Sox pitchers who started more than 20 games.
Fast forward six months, and Smith will be headlining a quirky starting rotation made up of returning youngsters, veteran pitchers and rookies fresh off of Tommy John surgery.
Fans willing to make the trek up to Milwaukee are bound to be treated to a memorable Opening Day. And if the Brewers give fireballing Jacob Misiorowski the bump to start the game, that’ll be even better.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey will sit out at least the next two games with a sprained finger and the two-time All-Star will have additional tests to determine how long he'll be sidelined, the team announced Sunday.
The 76ers said Sunday that Maxey will be consulted after the additional tests to determine a treatment plan. The team added that it would have no further update until after the 76ers' next two games: at Cleveland on Monday night and home against Memphis on Tuesday night.
Maxey, who was selected to his second All-Star team this season, led the 76ers with 31 points against the Hawks before injuring his finger. He's Philadelphia's leading scorer with 29 points per game, which ranks him fourth in the NBA, while also averaging 6.7 assists and two steals.
The 76ers (34-29) entered Sunday eighth in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of the ninth-place Hawks.
Milan cut Inter’s lead at the top of Serie A to seven points after a 1-0 victory in the derby at San Siro. Pervis Estupiñán’s first-half strike helped Milan complete a Serie A double over their fierce rivals for the first time since 2011.
Inter had gone 15 league matches undefeated since their 1-0 loss to Milan in November but it was the full-back Estupiñán who found the only goal in the 35th minute.
