Brock Nelson delivered in overtime, finishing off a brilliant setup from Martin Nečas to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals in an afternoon clash at Capital One Arena.
Colorado flipped the game on its head early in the third period, striking on its first two shots to seize control. Just 1:05 into the frame, Nečas intercepted a misplayed puck by goaltender Logan Thompson behind the Washington net and quickly fed Gabriel Landeskog, who was playing in his first game after missing the previous seven with a lower-body injury. Landeskog buried the puck into a wide-open net from the right circle for his 10th of the season.
A recent media scrum with Brock Nelson.
Moments later, Nicolas Roy extended the lead after forcing a turnover by rookie defenseman Cole Hutson in front. Roy pounced on the loose puck and snapped it past Thompson at 6:03, giving Colorado a 2-1 advantage. The goal was his third in nine games since being acquired ahead of the trade deadline, adding to the five he recorded in 59 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this season.
But the Capitals had an answer—and it came from a familiar source. With Landeskog in the penalty box, Alexander Ovechkin unleashed a trademark one-timer from the left circle just 20 seconds into the power play, tying the game 2-2 with 5:43 remaining.
The goal was historic. It marked his 923rd career regular-season tally and his 1,000th combined goal across the regular season and playoffs, as “The Great 8” joined Wayne Gretzky as the only players in NHL history to reach the 1,000-goal milestone.
In net, Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves in his second consecutive start for Colorado, while Thompson stopped 21 of 24 shots for Washington.
But ultimately, it was Nelson who had the final say, sealing the win in overtime and capping a dramatic comeback for the Avalanche.
First Period
In the early stages, Washington forward Ryan Leonard was tied up by Landeskog and, taking exception, responded by slashing him on the right leg, but no penalty was called.
At the 3:14 mark of the period, Hutson was penalized for holding Nathan MacKinnon, giving the Avalanche a power play, though they were unable to convert.
Later, Roy—who had been moved down to the fourth-line center spot for this game—was sent to the box for high-sticking Trevor van Riemsdyk, but like Colorado, Washington could not capitalize on the man advantage.
A scary moment followed when Devon Toews tripped Capitals forward Ethan Frank as he closed in on Blackwood. The contact sent Frank crashing into the post, arm first. After writhing in pain in the crease, he managed to get up on his own but was holding his injured arm and immediately headed down the tunnel.
Toews was not penalized on the play, and Washington capitalized shortly after. Rookie Justin Sourdif slipped behind the defense and ripped a wrist shot past Blackwood at 11:53 to make it 1-0.
Colorado went on its second penalty kill of the period with 5:50 remaining when Parker Kelly was called for slashing.
Second Period
Ovechkin was penalized for hooking Cale Makar at the 4:29 mark of the second period, but Colorado failed to convert on the power play. Washington even generated a prime shorthanded chance late in the advantage.
Not much else developed in a quiet period, though Kelly had a late breakaway opportunity. Thompson made the stop just before Kelly absorbed a hard hit while trying to regain control of the puck.
After two periods, Washington held a 1-0 lead, with both teams recording 14 shots on goal.
Third Period
After a sluggish second, the Avalanche came alive in the third. Thompson misplayed the puck behind his own net, allowing Nečas to recover it and find Landeskog wide open in the slot. He buried the equalizer into an empty net to make it 1-1.
Nearly four minutes later, Roy forced a turnover in front and quickly snapped a wrist shot past Thompson. In just 240 seconds, Colorado turned a deficit into a 2-1 lead.
Josh Manson was later penalized for tripping Aliaksei Protas, but the penalty kill stood firm, improving to a perfect 4-for-4 on the day.
Landeskog was sent off for holding with 6:03 remaining, giving Washington its fifth power play. This time, it proved costly. The puck worked its way to the left circle, where Ovechkin blasted it past Blackwood to tie the game.
Alex Ovechkin scores his 1,000th combined regular-season and playoff goal from his office! He is 16 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky #ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com/uKdPoi9JId
The goal also marked his 1,000th career tally across regular season and postseason play, further cementing his place alongside Gretzky in NHL history.
Overtime
For the second time in three games, Colorado needed overtime—but this time, it didn’t take long. Nečas set up Nelson on a backdoor tap-in from the left post, sealing the win.
After going 11 straight games without a goal, Nelson now has goals in back-to-back contests, delivering when it mattered most.
What’s Next
With the win, the Avalanche (46-13-10) extended their lead in the Central Division to five points over the Dallas Stars (43-15-11), 102-97. However, the Stars are set to face the Vegas Golden Knights tonight and will look to trim that margin.
The Avalanche return to action Tuesday when they visit Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, with coverage set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. Colorado will be seeking redemption after a 7-2 loss in the previous meeting.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 10: David Peterson #23 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Jorge Polanco – 1B
Luis Robert Jr. – CF
Brett Baty – DH
Marcus Semien – 2B
Carson Benge – RF
Ben Rortvedt – C
SP: David Peterson (LHP)
Marlins lineup
Javier Sanoja – SS
Liam Hicks – 1B
Agustín Ramírez – C
Owen Caissie – RF
Heriberto Hernández – LF
Graham Pauley – 3B
Kemp Alderman – DH
Jesús Bastidas – 2B
Andrew Pintar – CF
SP: Sandy Alcantara (RHP)
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:10 PM EDT TV: Marlins.TV Radio: WAQI 710
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 21: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts with Keldon Johnson #3 after scoring against the Indiana Pacers in the second half at Frost Bank Center on March 21, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you follow NBA Draft conversations, you’ve likely heard some familiar narratives about Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs. Some argue the Spurs should have taken Kon Knueppel, as he fits into the team’s current needs as a knock-down shooter who can play on or off the ball. Others argue that Harper is held back by his role on a team that is contending for a championship.
In the Spurs’ 134-119 win over the Indiana Pacers, Harper’s role was changed from that of the first guard off the bench to a starter alongside De’Aaron Fox. The result was tying his career high with 24 points, adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists with no turnovers. We got a glimpse of a future when Harper plays a secondary role in the offense with Victor Wembanyama. That future is bright.
Anyone who has watched the Spurs this season understands that Harper is already elite at getting to and finishing at the rim. What struck me about his performance against Indiana was all of the other stuff he did offensively. He hit floaters in the lane, turnaround mid-range jumpers, and knocked down a spot-up three. The game was a sign of the big leaps he’s made over the course of the season.
Since the All-Star break, Harper is averaging 12.7 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 56.2% from the field and 43.9% from three. He’s evolved from an intriguing rookie to a legitimate offensive weapon who is up there with some of the most effective bench scorers in the NBA.
After the game, Harper talked about what it has been like to accept a bench role this season:
There is a load of maturity in that response. Harper has sacrificed the accolades and glory that other rookies, like Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, have received this season, for making a tangible impact on a winning team. Saturday night showed what Harper can do with an increased role. Harper can be a go-to scorer in the future. For now, he’ll keep helping the Spurs win as they approach the playoffs.
Takeaways:
It was another ho-hum near 5×5 game for Wembanyama with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, and a steal. The Pacers had no chance of scoring inside when he was in the game. San Antonio outscored Indiana 76-48 in the paint. There isn’t another player in the NBA who makes a bigger defensive impact than Wemby.
What was even more impressive about Wembanyama’s performance was his playmaking. Is Vic the best seven-foot-four lob thrower of all time? It’s possible. There is nothing more fun than watching Wembanyama handle the ball and toss an alley-oop to Carter Bryant or Luke Kornet.
Julian Champagnie went 0-5 from three on Saturday but still managed to make an offensive impact by attacking closeouts and getting to the basket. It was one of the most drive-heavy games I’ve ever seen Champagnie play. Adding that wrinkle to the Spurs offense would be huge. Champagnie has proven that he can finish at the rim with athletic dunks when he has a runway. It’s not often you get a shooting specialist who can also put the defense on a poster. Come playoff time, Champagnie will have to make the defense respect his ability to put it on the deck if they close out too hard.
I’ve really enjoyed Jordan McLaughlin’s minutes this season. He plays hard defense, moves the ball well, and knocks down open shots when they come his way. Having a competent fourth guard is an underrated aspect of the Spurs roster, and allows them to rest guys like Stephon Castle to get them fully healthy for the playoffs.
It just feels like Keldon Johnson is going to have a game-winning performance in a playoff game this season. When he is getting to the rim and knocking down spot-up threes, it boosts the Spurs to another level. He had 24 points on 10-12 shooting on Saturday, giving the Pacers no chance of getting back into the game when the starters got a rest. That kind of bench production is going to swing a playoff series in a month or two.
Harper’s performance got me thinking: How soon will we see legitimate minutes from the three-guard lineup, including him, Fox, and Castle? It could be a dangerous lineup come playoff time, especially if Harper and Castle continue to knock down catch-and-shoot threes. We haven’t seen much of it this season, but with all three’s ability to get into the paint and create for others, you’d think it would make sense for Mitch Johnson to go to it more. I’d like to see more of those three playing together next year at the very least.
Non-Spurs note here. I love Kobe Brown. He hit three triples for Indiana. He’s not a main rotational player, but is shooting 44% from three this season. He’s a big-bodied forward who can hit outside jumpers and showed a lot of offensive creativity when he was an upperclassman at Missouri. If the Spurs are trying to build out their wing room for cheap in the near future, Brown could be an effective buy-low depth piece.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 19: A general view of the field as members of the Tampa Bay Rays warm up prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
First pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays is at 1:05 at TD Park and the Rays will be providing tv and radio coverage.
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Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) goes to the basket against Virginia Cavaliers center Ugonna Onyenso (33) during the men's ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Though the NBA season is rolling on, a good chunk of the basketball world puts it on the back burner every March to pay attention to the NCAA Tournament. And there are plenty of bets to be made for both leagues if that’s your thing.
This week at Mavs Moneyball, I kept the survey simple. First, I wanted to know how many of you planned to watch the tournament.
Nearly 8 in 1o of yall indicated you would be watching at least some of the games. If that’s the case, I hope you saw all of our coverage the last several weeks on potential Dallas draft picks.
The second question asked if you were watching if there was a specific position type you would focus on.
It seems everyone watching wants the Mavericks to find a guard for next season. I happen to agree but would take literally any player.
The next graphic and answer comes from the national poll. It’s about MVP.
I am starting to think that Spurs fans dominate the national poll. Y’all need to sign up and participate more. Luka not being a voting option really tells you how people feel about him this year.
The next question was Rookie of the Year centric.
Knueppel with a commanding lead in this vote and I think that’s how it comes down when NBA voters get their chance. The Hornets are a feel-good story and the Mavericks are very bad, no matter how good Cooper Flagg is. That’s something Kon will get to take advantage of.
This last one is about Coach of the Year.
Bickerstaff makes sense, the Pistons have outperformed. If Detroit can hold on with Cade Cunningham likely missing a few weeks with his collapsed lung, then he absolutely locks up the award. Charles Lee needs to get more love here though, as does Mazzula, as each coach has done a very good job this season.
Feb 14, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) and pitcher George Soriano (65) work from the bullpen during spring training at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The last weekend Spring Training game before the regular season begins happens today at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches when the St. Louis Cardinals will tangle with the Houston Astros starting at 11:05am. According to MLB.com, Michael McGreevy will start for St. Louis while Christian Javier will begin the game for Houston.
1986 (1) vs 2009(12) G1: 7-1, ’09 G2: 15-2, ’86 G3: 4-3, ’86 G4: 3-0, ’09 G5: 4-3, ’09 Series MVP: Johan Santana
The Whiteyball Cardinals couldn’t do it. Mike Scott and the Astros couldn’t do it. Even winning 5-3 with one out to get, the Red Sox couldn’t do it. But there were the 2009 Mets, celebrating at Shea Stadium as the highest-ranked team in Mets Madness — and one of the best teams in baseball history — was finally eliminated. In their previous two series, the 1986 Mets dropped a game early before firing back to win in four games. It seemed that pattern was destined to repeat itself, as after getting shut down by Johan Santana in Game 1, they annihilated the ’09 squad 15-2 in Game 2 (Ron Darling turned in a four-hit, two-run complete game while Gary Carter slugged two homers) and took a tight Game 3 win on homers from Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry. But then, the four-game formula was foiled. The game that will haunt the ’86 Mets forever is Game 4, in which they got shut out by a quartet of relievers (Ken Takahashi, Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green, and Francisco Rodríguez) while letting Carlos Beltrán beat them by driving in all three of ’09’s runs. The best way for an underdog baseball team to win is by having an ace starting pitcher to shut down the opposition, which might be why the ’86 team has done so much better in the back half of series (facing the weaker portion of a team’s rotation) than in the front half. They needed to win Game 4 to avoid seeing Santana again. They couldn’t do it. ’09 scraped out runs by capitalizing on a Mookie Wilson error and executing a successful squeeze bunt. With first and third and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Wally Backman looked to hit a fly ball to at least tie it — but instead, he grounded the ball to Alex Cora, who flipped it to Luis Castillo, who fired it to Daniel Murphy. Champagne in the visitors’ clubhouse after all.
2002 (10) vs 1968(11) G1: 8-6, ’68 G2: 5-3, ’68 G3: 5-4, ’68 Series MVP: Greg Goossen
This was a matchup of two teams with two upsets under their belt, and it showed. Each game in the series came down to the wire, packed with clutch rallies and max-effort defensive plays, making it thrillingly balanced — except for the fact that the same team won each one. In Game 1, the 1968 Mets outlasted the 2002 Mets in a battle of ineffective aces Tom Seaver and Al Leiter, with ’02 getting homers from Timo Perez, Ty Wigginton, and Jeromy Burnitz but failing to stack hits in the way ’68 did. In Game 2, a 4-0 ’68 lead turned to 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks in part to a pinch-hit homer from Tony Tarasco, but in the following frame Greg Goossen — a future actor who would be traded the following offseason for a player to be named later (eventually Jim Gosger) — delivered a pinch-hit homer of his own for insurance. In Game 3, ’02’s previous Series MVP Mo Vaughn continued to rake with an early 458-foot, 2-run homer, but ’68 fought back. With the score tied 4-4 and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, up stepped who else but…pinch-hitter Greg Goossen, who lined a walk-off RBI single to left-center. This MVP could have gone to Ed Kranepool, who hit .583 with two homers and five RBI in three games. It could have gone to Tommie Agee, who homered in Game 3 and went 3-for-5 while making an excellent diving catch in Game 1. But unlike Goossen’s trade value, this particular MVP need not be named later; I bestow it upon him, the pinch-hitter (and actor) extraordinaire.
QUADRANT 2
1969 (1) vs 2017 (12) G1: 4-1, ’69 G2: 3-1, ’17 G3: 3-2, ’17 (f/11) G4: 5-4, ’69 G5: 5-4, ’69 (f/13) Series MVP: Art Shamsky
Upsets? Who said anything about upsets? The 1969 Mets are a one-seed that acts like it! Well, except for the part where they nearly lost this series in four games, and then nearly lost it in five. The 2017 Mets entered hot off a six-game winning streak, and were instantly given a gut check when Tom Seaver steamrolled through their lineup with a complete-game, five-hit, one-run performance in Game 1. ’69 appeared bound to avoid the kind of upset plaguing the rest of the tournament’s top seeds, but they suddenly found themselves staring down elimination after a Jacob deGrom complete game in Game 2 and a devastating extra-inning Game 3 loss (which featured a Wilmer Flores two-out, game-tying hit in the ninth and an Asdrúbal Cabrera walk-off single in the eleventh). In Game 4, they trailed 4-3 in the seventh, but Art Shamsky played the hero by ripping a game-flipping two-run homer off Steven Matz. In Game 5, the ’69 Mets trailed 4-0 in the eighth inning, having been blanked by Noah Syndergaard, but scored three runs on walks and a big hit from Donn Clendenon to make it a 4-3 ballgame. Down to their final out in the top of the ninth, Shamsky came to bat with a runner on third. He slashed an opposite-field, game-tying single just in front of a charging Yoenis Céspedes to keep his team alive. The marathon winner-take-all game rolled on, with neither team able to break through until Wayne Garrett’s walk-off single off Jeurys Familia in the bottom of the 13th inning. And thus, the tournament’s final one-seed lives to fight another day, facing a clearer field than they could have ever imagined. But if this series proved anything, it’s that the Miracle Mets may need to pull off at least a few miracles to win this tournament after all.
1988 (2) vs 1985(3) G1: 5-1, ’85 (f/12) G2: 4-2, ’85 G3: 4-3, ’88 (f/11) G4: 5-0, ’85 Series MVP: Rick Aguilera
If you were forced to look at the box scores for every series in Mets Madness thus far and guess which one was a matchup of top-three seeds, you’d be right on the money. This exquisite, hard-fought battle of ’80s teams with a total of 198 regular season wins between them lived up to the hype off the bat. 1985 Dwight Gooden and 1988 David Cone each allowed only one run in Game 1, prompting an extra-inning affair which finally ended when the ’85 Mets erupted for four runs off Roger McDowell in the top of the twelfth. Game 2 was locked at 2-2 entering the seventh, when George Foster (who hit a solo homer earlier in the evening) laced a two-run double to give ’85 another win. The ’88 offense jumped on Sid Fernandez early in Game 3, with a Keith Hernandez RBI single and Darryl Strawberry two-run homer bringing home three runs in the top of the first inning. But Kevin Mitchell lifted ’85 up, delivering an RBI double in the sixth and then a two-RBI, game-tying double in the eighth to force extra innings once again. In the top of the eleventh, Kevin McReynolds hit a go-ahead sac fly to win it for the ’88 Mets, but it was the last run they would score. Rookie Rick Aguilera fired a complete-game shutout in Game 4, perhaps giving them flashbacks to when another right-handed starter fired a shutout to vanquish their championship aspirations. For the ’85 Mets — the last of the great ’80s teams still remaining in the tournament — their primary obstacle to a championship now waits in the next round, where they will face the 1969 Mets in a clash of the titans.
After upsetting the N.L. Champion 2000 Mets in the previous round, the 2011 Mets just kept firing on all cylinders. The starting pitching was excellent, with R.A. Dickey allowing two runs in seven innings, Dillon Gee allowing one run in 6.1 innings, and Jon Niese outdueling Tom Seaver. Let me say that again. Jon Niese outdueled Tom Seaver. It’s sentences like those that make this tournament feel especially mad. Offensively, the ’11 lineup continued to prove its potency, with batting champion José Reyes going 7-for-15, Jason Bay providing extra-base pop, and Lucas Duda recording 5 RBI (including a game-tying single off Seaver in Game 2 and a go-ahead single off last round’s MVP George Stone in Game 4). The ’74 team, after upsetting the ’16 Mets and ’90 Mets, only mustered one win in this series thanks to a shutout compiled by Jerry Koosman, Tug McGraw, and right-hander Harry Parker in Game 3. Along with the ’09 and ’13 teams elsewhere on the bracket, the 2011 Mets are now providing hope that a rather disappointing era of Mets baseball may in fact take home the Mets Madness championship.
2006(2) vs 2019 (6) G1: 5-4, ’19 G2: 6-5, ’06 G3: 6-5, ’19 G4: 7-4, ’06 G5: 6-0, ’06 Series MVP: David Wright
For the 21st-century Mets fan, this series was as dreamy as it gets. On the 2006 side, there was David Wright, Carlos Beltrán, and Carlos Delgado combining for seven homers, while on the 2019 side, there was Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto combining for five. Jacob deGrom barely outdueled Pedro Martínez in Game 1, and then Pedro completely outshone deGrom in Game 5. Each side even had its own epic walk-off win. In Game 2, after the score was locked at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, each team traded three-run homers — Beltrán blasting one to right-center off Seth Lugo and Nimmo immediately responding — to eventually set up a bases-loaded, two-out at-bat for Wright in the bottom of the ninth against Edwin Díaz. With a 2-2 count, Wright lined a fastball up the middle to win the game and even the series. In Game 3 at Citi Field, ’06 went ahead 5-0 early with the help of a Delgado three-run homer off Noah Syndergaard, but an electrifying Pete Alonso line-drive grand slam in the fifth and Michael Conforto solo homer in the eighth tied it. In the bottom of the ninth, Jeff McNeil hit a one-out single up the middle, and Juan Lagares dashed home just in time to beat Beltrán’s throw to the plate. ’19 did their best to keep pace with the ’06 team in Game 4, but a 3-for-4 day for Wright with a homer and two doubles was too much to overcome. They tried to pull off one last “LFGM”-worthy rally in the ninth inning of Game 5, but Billy Wagner got Todd Frazier chasing on a ball in the dirt to end it. For the ’06 Mets, the next obstacle on what they hope to be a championship journey is the eight-seed 2011 Mets. They didn’t imagine their route out of the quadrant might bypass the 2000 or 1987 teams, but that doesn’t mean they can take their foot off the gas (see pretty much everywhere else on this bracket for evidence). Their path to the Final Four is clear. Now, it’s just up to them to seize it.
QUADRANT 4
2001 (8) vs 2004 (12) G1: 4-3, ’04 G2: 5-4, ’01 G3: 5-2, ’04 G4: 3-2, ’01 (f/11) G5: 6-4, ’01 Series MVP: Al Leiter
It was bound to happen eventually, but it was strange all the same: Al Leiter faced Al Leiter twice in this series. In Game 1, 2001’s Leiter was mightier, firing 7.2 innings of one-run ball, but the 2004 Mets still came away with the win thanks to a late comeback fueled by a Cliff Floyd two-run double and Eric Valent two-run homer. The ’04 Mets were one win from advancing, but found themselves on the short side of an eleventh-inning thriller in Game 4. ’04 trailed 2-0 after eight innings, with lefty Glendon Rusch providing a scoreless start for the ’01 team. They were down to their final out in the bottom of the ninth facing Armando Benítez when Víctor Díaz hit a first-pitch, pinch-hit, two-run homer to left field to tie it, sending Shea into a state of jubilant chaos. The score remained knotted until the top of the eleventh, when Piazza hit a solo shot that stood as the game-winning hit. ’01’s Leiter outdid himself in Game 5 (both symbolically and literally), with the eight-seed seizing an early 5-0 lead on homers from Todd Zeile and Rey Ordóñez. Valent homered again, as did Kaz Matsui, but ’04’s reliance on comeback attempts finally caught up with them. Despite their many clutch moments, they never even held a lead in the series’ final two games.
1999 (2) vs 2013(11) G1: 3-2, ’13 G2: 5-2, ’99 G3: 6-3, ’99 G4: 11-8, ’13 G5: 6-4, ’13 Series MVP: Matt Harvey
Happy freakin’ Harvey Day, folks. The All-Star Game starter at the peak of his powers was absolutely electric, even while battling a thunderous 1999 lineup, a raucous Shea Stadium crowd, and acts of divine intervention. In Game 1, it became clear what the blueprint for ’99 had to be in this series: get Matt Harvey off the mound. He threw eight innings without allowing a run before the ’99 team began immediately barreling the ball against Bobby Parnell in the ninth, nearly earning a walk-off victory. The next two games played out as planned. ’99’s offense went to work against 2013’s less powerful starters Jon Niese and Zack Wheeler, and scored eight runs in Game 4 — the only problem was, the ’13 lineup shockingly scored eleven (shoutout to David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Lucas Duda, Rubén Tejada, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis for multi-RBI games). In Game 5, Harvey bent but seemed impossible to break, evading a bases-loaded-and-nobody-out jam in the fifth and a first-and-second-and-nobody-out jam in the sixth. Two more men got on to begin the seventh, but just as Harvey was ready to get to work on another escape act…the skies opened up. After a brief rain delay, Harvey returned to the mound likely out of his rhythm, and four pitches later he hung a curveball which Mike Piazza hit over the right-center-field fence. ’99 had gotten their miracle. Harvey was out of the game. In the ninth, they even got a break when David Wright couldn’t handle a John Olerud dribbler due to the wet grass (yes, the OOTP play-by-play did in fact specify this). ’99 might have had the heavens on their side, but ’13 had (Josh) Satin, who reached base three times in the winner-take-all game while Lucas Duda hit a clutch homer late to preserve a narrow lead. Somehow, the 2013 Mets overcame the odds — and the gods — and are advancing to the next round.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 04: Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Aaron Nola (27) delivers a pitch to the plate during the spring training game between the Team Canada and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 04, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phillies will play their penultimate game of the 2026 Grapefruit League season on Sunday when they travel to Tampa to face the New York Yankees.
Aaron Nola, coming off a strong performance in the WBC will get the ball in his final appearance before the regular season.
The Yankees will go with righthander Will Warren.
Game time is 1:05 PM and will be televised locally on NBCSP.
The No. 4 seed Cornhuskers defeated No. 5 Vanderbilt 74-72 when Tyler Tanner's potential game-winning half-court heave at the buzzer rattled in — then out — of the rim. It was Nebraska's second win ever in the Men's NCAA Tournament, both coming in the last three days, moving it to 2-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
Of course, the honor of calling the game went to a 41-year veteran announcer for the Cornhuskers, Kent Pavelka. Following the game, Nebraska players made sure to find Pavelka and celebrate the historic moment with him.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 6: Hugo Gonzalez #28, Derrick White #9, Payton Pritchard #11 and Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Miami Heaton February 6, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’re back, and so is Jayson Tatum! Welcome to the Celtics’ Top-5 Highest IQ Plays of the Week!
Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball sickos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game.
Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one—one being the smartest—and will only be taken from games that occurred within the past week. For this week, games from March 14th to March 21st are considered. The Celtics went 4-0 this week, with wins over the Wizards, Suns, Warriors, and Grizzlies.
And listen, I understand that these have basically become Derrick White’s top-5 highest IQ plays of the week, but it’s not my fault the guy is a complete and utter genius.
What a fun play this is. White finds himself in the paint without his dribble, but he doesn’t panic. He waits for his teammates to cut around him, because he knows their defenders might come to double as in common in situations where ball-handlers pick up the ball. And as soon as Garza’s defender loses sight of the cutter, Derrick knows Luka is open. But he doesn’t throw it right away; rather, he waits for Garza to make a cut, thereby improving his passing angle. Patience is key. Also, nasty finish from Garza.
The Celtics are a principled team, built on a shared foundation of certain philosophies and tactics—and one of those principles is sealing on drives. When Boston’s big men set on-ball screens, they do a great job of immediately getting into the middle of the paint and positioning themselves in a screening position such that both their defender and the guard’s defender are blocked from an easy contest. Theis used to do an amazing job of this years ago (and of course Gortat originally), and Garza has made it a cornerstone of his game this year, as mentioned in previous weeks of this column. Queta is learning from someone—whether it be the Celtics’ coaching staff, his teammates, or a combination of both—and it’s paying dividends for him and the entire offensive system.
You could put this in the category of hustle rather than IQ, but it’s still important to note how good Derrick White is at tracking the ball off the rim and getting a fingertip on it. He somehow simultaneously lines up his attack of the offensive glass while also keeping track of where the ball is most likely to go, and it makes him one of the better corner crashers in the entire league. And then, after his second offensive rebound in 5 seconds, he beautifully throws the ball off a Wizard defender. Wow.
This is the definition of off-ball instincts. While starting in good enough help-position to close out to a corner shooter, White instantly reads Hauser’s overplay and knows Jalen Green is going to cut backdoor even before he does. Derrick then beats Green to the spot and contests beautifully before getting hosed by the refs. This is what it looks like to be engaged and active even when you’re not involved in the offensive action.
If you’re short and wondering how to finish in transition against bigger, longer, and more athletic players, watch this clip. The key to converting fastbreak layups as an undersized guard is disallowing the defender a running late to time up their steps. If you don’t make contact, the defender has a clear path to time accurately their jump and contest your layup. But if you get in front of them like an annoying car on the highway, you force the defender to slow down and throw off his timing. That’s exactly what Pritchard does on this play, and it’s textbook stuff.
Jordan Greenway (undisclosed, Jan. 22; injured reserve)
Notes
Buffalo has allowed just one goal over the team’s last three games, tied for the second-fewest goals allowed in a three-game span in franchise history. Buffalo has never allowed one or fewer goals in a four-game span.
Alex Lyon is 10-0-0 in his last 10 road games, which is the longest road winning streak in franchise history. Lyon is currently tied for the third-longest road winning streak in NHL history and a win today would move him into a tie with Devan Dubnyk (2014-15) and Evgeni Nabokov (2009-10) for the longest in NHL history.
The Sabres are riding a franchise-record 13-game road point streak (12-0-1) that dates back to Jan. 20 at Nashville. All 12 of the Sabres’ road wins in that stretch have come in regulation.
With a point in today’s game, the Sabres would move into a tie for the 10thlongest road point streak in NHL history. It would make the Sabres the first team since the Nashville Predators (12-0-3 from Jan. 4 to March 19, 2018) to register a road point streak of at least 14 games.
During the team’s current road point streak, the Sabres are averaging 4.31 goals per game (1st among all NHL teams) and 1.77 goals against per game (1st among all NHL teams).
The Sabres have 33 wins in their last 41 games, tied for the fifth-most wins by an NHL team all-time in any 41-game span. Only Boston (36 in 1929-30 and 34 in 1970-71), Detroit (34 in 1995-96) and Montreal (34 in 1977-78) have recorded more.
Tage Thompson has tallied 49 points (23+26) in 41 games since Dec. 9 and his 21 even-strength goals in that span rank second among all NHL skaters.Thompson has registered a goal in consecutive games and a goal today would mark his third goal streak of three or more games this season. Thompson’s 209 goals scored as a member of the Sabres ranks 13th on Buffalo’s all-time list, two goals behind Alexander Mogilny for 12th.
Rasmus Dahlin has recorded 34 points (11+23) in his last 27 games, including 15 points (4+11) in his last 11 contests. Dahlin has recorded one goal in two straight games and a goal today would mark the fourth time he has posted a goal streak of three or more games in his career.
FORT MEYERS, FL - MARCH 10: Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Fort Meyers, Florida. (Photo by Cole Carter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryne Nelson (19) throws to the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning during a spring training game on March 16, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Team News
Ryne Nelson’s Final Spring Start Could be a Sign of Even Better 2026
“It felt good,” Nelson said after his outing Saturday. “[I’m] getting deeper into games, which is nice, and I feel like I had stamina that’s holding up throughout the game, so that’s nice to see. I feel like that’s one of the main question marks, is how you’re going to feel later into the games. But today felt good. I felt like I could keep going if that was the plan. Happy with it.”
Diamondbacks Reveal Surprising Starting Rotation Order
“It’s clear that Merrill Kelly just doesn’t have enough time to build up and start the season on the active roster,” Lovullo said. “Might have been the worst-kept secret of this camp, but just wanted to make sure that I gave the right amount of time before I made that announcement. Merrill will start on the IL, and whatever his buildup is, it will continue. I don’t know what the timeline is on that.” https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/arizona-diamondbacks-news/diamondbacks-reveal-surprising-starting-rotation-order
Australia is the only continent without an active volcano.
The nearest active volcanoes are located off the continent of Australia but are still within its territory. One is located on Head Island and the other on McDonald Islands. The reason why Australia does not have any active volcanoes located on the continent is that it isn’t on a plate boundary.
Time travel is banned in China.
Or at least it is in Chinese media. The Chinese government bans any movie with aspects of time travel. For the Chinese government, altering historical events are a dangerous element of fiction.
There are more chickens in the world than there are people.
Chickens are mainly bred primarily as a source of food. Others may keep them as pets as well.
Barça four points clear at top after beating Vallecano
Vinícius Júnior scored twice as Real Madrid fought back to beat Atlético Madrid 3-2 in a breathless Spanish capital derby on Sunday, keeping Alvaro Arbeloa’s side within four points of the La Liga leaders, Barcelona.
Atlético’s Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, finishing a slick counterattack involving Matteo Ruggeri and a delightful backheel from Giuliano Simeone. Vinícius equalised from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after David Hancko clumsily tripped Brahim Díaz, and Federico Valverde capitalised on a José María Giménez error three minutes later to make it 2-1 to Real.
