The Winnipeg Jets continue their west coast road trip when they visit the San Jose Sharks this afternoon.
Kyle Connor has been on a heater since returning from the Olympics, and I’ll break down why the Winnipeg forward will find the back of the net again in my Jets vs. Sharks predictions and NHL picks for Sunday, March 1.
Jets vs Sharks prediction
Jets vs Sharks best bet: Kyle Connor to score (+120)
Kyle Connor was a monster for the Winnipeg Jets in their 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, tallying a goal and an assist while logging over 26 minutes of ice time and three shots on net.
The Jets forward has scored in three straight games and four of his last six, and he’ll extend his goal streak this afternoon vs. the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose has allowed 3.51 goals per game — the third-worst mark in the NHL — and the Sharks will have tired legs today, with this being their third game in four days.
Jets vs Sharks same-game parlay
Mark Scheifele has recorded at least one assist in five of his last seven games, and the Jets are 5-1 in their last six meetings against the Sharks.
Winnipeg should have the edge in net with Connor Hellebuyck starting, and the Jets will be the fresher team.
Jets vs Sharks SGP
Kyle Connor anytime goal
Mark Scheifele Over 0.5 assists
Jets moneyline
Jets vs Sharks odds
Moneyline: Jets -120 | Sharks +100
Puck Line: Jets -1.5 (+195) | Sharks +1.5 (-235)
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Jets vs Sharks trend
The Under is 12-4 in the last 16 meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Sharks.
How to watch Jets vs Sharks
Location
SAP Center, San Jose, CA
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Puck drop
4:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3
Jets vs Sharks 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.
When asked by Ron MacLean again if the Edmonton Oilers are looking at goaltending ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman responded, “No. They’ve already made their move. They’re looking at D or 3C.”
While the need for a blueliner and a depth forward isn't a surprise to anyone, that the Oilers might have thrown in the towel on a netminder might be shocking to some. Given how many goals the Oilers have conceded lately, it's hard to imagine Edmonton feels comfortable with the tandem of Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram heading into the playoffs (technically, as they push towards even cementing a spot).
Still, Friedman suggests the organization is prioritizing other needs. This is the bed they've made, and they're prepared to lie in it.
“They’ve got to move Andrew Mangiapane, but those are the two positions that Edmonton is considering shoring up," Friedman added when discussing Edmonton's specific desire to seek an upgrade on the blue line and a depth center.
First, they’re targeting a defenseman on the right side. Whether that's a right-shot or a left-shot who can play the right side, Edmonton isn't picky. What they need is someone steady, who doesn't break the bank, and won't cost them considerable assets. That need has linked them in rumors to names like Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto Maple Leafs), Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia Flyers), and Justin Faulk (St. Louis Blues).
Second, they’re aiming to add a third-line center. Friedman emphasizes that if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains on the wing, the Oilers' priority becomes finding that 3C. Names linked here include Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton (Toronto), Ryan O'Reilly (Nashville), and other less appealing options. The Oilers have Josh Samanski coming up through the system, but he's green. It's a risk to think he can handle the pressure of the postseason at this point in his development.
As Friedman noted, it's going to take moving Andrew Mangiapane in a trade. It will likely also mean placing Mattias Janmark on LTIR to free up the space needed to address both areas.
And, What About That Goaltending?
As for the goaltending, that's way down the list of to-dos. It's not that the Oilers wouldn't like to feel more confident with what they've got, but the organization is aware that they can't do everything. Given Jarry's play and his contract, there is no real path to clearing a spot, even if someone like Sergei Bobrovsky magically landed in Edmonton's lap.
As for who the starter will be between Ingram and Jarry, that's up in the air. Many thought it would be Ingram after Jarry was pulled in the third period versus the Anaheim Ducks. Jarry wasn't good, and the head coach called him out for his poor performance. Ingram came on in relief and then played a good game against the Los Angeles Kings. On Saturday, however, Ingram allowed five goals, including a botched play in which he went to fetch his stick before the Oilers were clearly out of their own zone. It led to Macklin Celebrini's goal.
Neither netminder has made the decision easy by stealing the net and showing they're capable of going on a long run.
If the Kuminga experiment was a blight, the Porzingis tenure has been a black hole, punctuated by him missing his fourth straight game Saturday because of an illness as the Warriors fell to the Lakers,129-101.
New Golden State Warriors forward Kristaps Porzingis (with towel) watches the action against the Boston Celtics from the bench during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
They sure could’ve used the 7-foot-2 big man, who draws fouls and is a silky 3-point shooter on a night when they had only nine free-throw attempts (less than half as many as the Lakers) and were outshot from beyond the arc, 46.3 percent to 27.3 percent.
Porzingis’ current illness is apparently contagious and has caused him to lose fluids. It supposedly has nothing to do with the extended illness he battled during his final season in Boston and limited him to just 17 games with Atlanta this season.
That longterm illness was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) — or so we thought.
“I read about the POTS diagnosis and called the Hawks [general manager] Onsi Saleh,” Kerr said. “He’s a good friend of mine and I said, ‘Is this POTS story real?’ He said it’s actually not POTS. That was some misinformation out there.”
When asked for clarification Saturday, Kerr essentially issued a retraction.
“It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something that I’m not qualified to talk about,” he said. “I regretted even trying to discuss the diagnosis. That was my mistake and I need to leave that to the professionals.”
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis gestures after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) AP
It’s hard to makes heads and tails of what’s going on,
But it has been that kind of a season for the Warriors, who lost Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL last month and have been without Steph Curry (runner’s knee) for 10 straight games. Now, the Warriors are just trying to keep their heads above water long enough to make the play-in tournament.
For that to happen, they need Porzingis.
When the Warriors pulled the trigger on Porzingis, it was a smart move. Things had become untenable with Kuminga, who viewed himself as a star while the team just wanted him to star in his role.
Kuminga’s relationship with Kerr degenerated. His play was inconsistent. Eventually, things became so unworkable that he played in only three games from Dec. 6 until he was traded just under two months later.
The Warriors tried to take a big swing at the trade deadline for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Milwaukee Bucks decided to hold onto their superstar. So, the Warriors pivoted to Porzingis.
Porzingis seemed like a great get.
He fills a lot of the Warriors’ holes. He mixes things up down low and has a shot that needs to be respected, which opens up the court for everyone around him. If Butler weren’t injured and Porzingis wasn’t a giant question mark, the Warriors could be really good.
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis guards Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
But the problem is that’s a lot of hypotheticals.
Porzingis has only played in one game for the Warriors so far against Boston on Feb. 19. He finished with 12 points in 17 minutes, including making two 3-pointers.
There’s a lot of upside there. But if he can’t stay on the court, it’s all for naught.
So far, the Warriors have traded a guy who was ill-fitted for a guy who can’t stay in uniform.
What’s going on? Is Porzingis actually really going to be able to play? What even is his illness?
When the Warriors acquired Porzingis, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he believed he’d be able to make an impact. “We feel good about it,” he said. Porzingis added that he was “confident” he’d be on the court.
But so far, there are more questions than answers around Porzingis.
So, without Butler, Curry and Porzingis, the Warriors allowed a Lakers team that had lost three games in a row to stop the bleeding with a blowout win.
The Warriors still believe anything could happen if they make the play-in tournament. And they’re not wrong. With Curry, anything is possible.
But without Porzingis, nothing is possible. Not without Butler, too. Curry and Draymond Green just wouldn’t have enough help.
Kristaps Porzingis and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors smile before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
So, while the Kuminga experiment was a failure, the Porzingis experiment so far is an enigma.
All we really know is he has missed seven of the team’s eight games since becoming a Warrior, leaving Green to try and lead a developing team as Curry rehabs his knee.
Looking forward, Kerr is unsure whether Porzingis will play against the Clippers on Monday.
There’s so much uncertainty around the big man.
For the Warriors, it means they went from having a Kuminga issue to a Porzingis disappearing act.
Or, in other words, they traded a headache for knots in their stomach.
Villanova men's basketball's 89-57 loss on Saturday, February 28 at No. 15 St. John’s brought back memories for Wildcats coach Kevin Willard, who previously worked under Red Storm coach Rick Pitino as an assistant.
They weren’t fond ones, either.
Following Villanova’s 32-point loss at Madison Square Garden in New York, Willard was asked what Pitino was like at practice immediately following a lopsided defeat. He didn’t hold back with his answer.
“I’m not [expletive] you — I don’t have hair because of this guy,” said Willard, who is bald. “I had a full set of hair when I started working for him. It’s the most miserable experience in life. You fear for your life every day. Everyone laughs when I say that, but you think you’re going to get fired. It’s miserable.”
Willard started his coaching career by working under Pitino as an assistant with the Boston Celtics from 1997-2001 and then at Louisville from 2001-07. Willard’s father, Ralph, was also an assistant for Pitino, with the New York Knicks from 1987-89, at Kentucky from 1989-90 and at Louisville from 2009-11.
Though the younger Willard hasn’t worked for Pitino since leaving Louisville to become the head coach at Iona in 2007, he imagines his old boss has only changed so much.
“As he’s gotten older, he’s probably become more of a cranky old [expletive] than he was when I worked for him, but you literally fear for your life,” Willard said. “He walks into the facility at 6:30 and you’ve been there since 5:30 thinking you have everything right and he comes in and asks you the one question you don’t know. He’s that intense. He always has been. He’s got the most energy of any coach I’ve ever been around. I think that’s why he’s got 900 wins and national championships because he does it better and more intense than anybody.”
Willard is in his first season at Villanova, where he has the Wildcats at 22-7 and in position to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
The 50-year-old Willard was previously the head coach at Maryland, Seton Hall and Iona. He has a career head coaching record of 357-256 and has led his teams to the NCAA Tournament in seven of the previous nine seasons in which the event was held.
So, for all the misery he endured working for Pitino, at least some of the lessons from the legendary coach apparently stayed with him.
Cody Bellinger during the Yankees' spring training game against the Braves on Feb. 26, 2026.
TAMPA — Cody Bellinger knows the deal by now.
The Yankees veteran’s back issues have become almost an annual rite of passage around this time on the calendar, which gives him assurance that he will be back on the field soon.
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For now, Bellinger is sidelined after his back tightened up on him Friday, keeping him out of games this weekend. The Yankees have an off day on Monday, but Bellinger is expecting to hit live batting practice on Tuesday and then return to game action by Wednesday or Thursday.
“It’s honestly very mild,” Bellinger said Sunday morning at Steinbrenner Field. “Just ramping up activity and it just tightened up on me a little bit. Really nothing serious. Where we’re at on the schedule and not even being March yet (when it happened), take a few days, get right and then I think by the time I get back into games, I’ll still be able to have plenty of at-bats to get ready for the season.”
Cody Bellinger during the Yankees’ spring training game against the Braves on Feb. 26, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Bellinger had played in three exhibitions before the back issues came on. It is the same thing he dealt with last April during the regular season, when he missed two games before getting back on the field.
The 30-year-old outfielder, who re-signed with the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million contract, said he knows what kind of treatment he needs to get his back right.
“Very knowledgeable of that process,” he said with a wry grin. “But even today, feeling really good.”
MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 25: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 25, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images MILWAUKEE, WI – FEBRUARY 25: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 25, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
It was close, until it wasn’t. The Brooklyn Nets hung around for about a half, but the Boston Celtics separated themselves from the Nets and cruised to a 37 point win. The streak is now at seven losses in a row.
The opponent tonight is climbing the charts in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking a bit different these days, but they keep on keeping on. The team was up three in the final seconds of regulation against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, but they fouled up three… while the Pistons threw up a heave from halfcourt. Detroit made all three free throws and he Cavs wound up losing in overtime. THAT’S WHY YOU DON’T FOUL UP THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 3:30 p.m. ET.
🤕 Injuries
Nic Claxton is questionable with a right thumb sprain. Egor Demin is out. The three two-ways remain with Long Island who plays the Westchester Knicks at 3:00 p.m. ET. (If you like, you can watch the first quarter of that game here)
The following are out:
Donovan Mitchell
Dean Wade
Max Strus
Keon Ellis
James Harden is questionable with a right thumb fracture.
🏀 The game
Cleveland won the first two meetings. This is the last meeting between the teams this season.
A lot of former Nets in the house today. Dennis Schroeder is starting for former Net Harden and the former Nets coach, Kenny Atkinson, is in the house! Scoop B caught up with Kenny a few weeks back and got to reminiscing
"I wish they were on the court!" 😂
Nets fans, look away!!!
I asked Kenny Atkinson about the Kyrie/KD era vs. his new Donovan Mitchell-James Harden duo in Cleveland.
The answer was hilariously honest—shifting from "practice court" memories in Brooklyn to "elite equilibrium"… pic.twitter.com/vM0XB2SmT0
The Nets have to avoid the one big run. When you’re at a talent deficit in the ways Brooklyn are, you can’t afford to let a team go on a big run and put you deep in a hole. Being at home should help that out, but it’s the team’s third game in four nights so who knows.
Nolan Traore will look to put another good outing together. He tied a career high with three steals on Friday night and the next two months should help his growth. He’s done a good job of finding his way throughout the year and good games like build confidence that will carry him in to next season.
Without Mitchell and Harden at less than full strength, Michael Porter Jr is the player most likely to hit for 30+ points tonight. He’s started to find his shot in recent games after a slump, and now that we are officially entering the time of year when people start to focus more on the playoff contenders, he’ll be a bit more under the radar than usual. Either way, seeing him start to figure things out again is helpful and will make the last two months of the season entertaining enough.
👀 Player to watch: Jarrett Allen
It’s always fun to watch a player to go on the run of a lifetime. Allen had the best month of his career in February as he averaged around 22 points and 11 rebounds a night on 74 percent shooting from the field. Allen has leveled up in a special way and has the coaches thinking of ways to build on his momentum.
“We just got to keep him there,“ Kenny Atkinson said after the game on Friday. ”You know, it’s our job as coaches to keep him in this great, great space. But I loved his energy tonight.”
If Allen can play anything close to this level in April and May, then the Cavs have a chance to do something really special.
Nic Claxton will look to slow JA down on the inside. A matchup against a resurgent Allen should be a great warmup for the back-to-back he’ll have against Bam Adebayo next week in Miami.
Feb 19, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Tobias Myers (32) poses for a photo during media day at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Tom Seaver demanded a new contract before reporting to camp—a signal of the tensions that would continue to linger between the two sides until their eventual divorce—on this date in 1976.
Feb 14, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. announced today that the St. Louis Cardinals and manager Oli Marmol had agreed to a two-year contract extension with an option for a third year. BDW noted that Oli is in his 20th year in the Cardinals organization and knows what the Cardinals are about. The Chairman indicated that this announcement recognizes that people need to know he is their guy. He offered that they have been building to this moment for a while.
President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom added his own thoughts, reflecting on the trusting relationship he had built with Oli beginning with his first visit into St. Louis in 2024. Bloom offered that he saw a lot of benefit in being able to build a relationship with Oli during his first two years without the burden of being POBO, allowing for a free flow of thoughts back and forth. Bloom emphasized Oli’s strong player development background and articulated a belief that the game itself is evolving to emphasize more development at the MLB level, and that the manager’s role is changing right along with that. Development doesn’t stop when you get to the MLB was his theme.
Oli himself expressed appreciation to ownership, front office and especially the many players gathered in the room for the press conference. Oli described the initial roster he inherited with guys like Wainwright, Yadi, Albert, Nolan and Goldy as a way of illuminating the stark transition this organization has undergone in the last 4 years. He drew a distinction with the roster he has in 2026 and expressed his excitement has never being higher than it is right now. He acknowledged that his role sometimes involves difficult conversations, going both ways and he appreciates the trust and openness he has been able to develop with the players and others in the organization.
Tradition and stability long have been watchwords with the Cardinals and this announcement certainly doesn’t contradict that aspect of their culture. A nuance that I sense from this press conference and other interactions is that additional terms begin to gain strong traction – alignment, development, trust. Not necessarily new terms, but perhaps ones with different emphasis. For the front office, Oliver Marmol embeds each of these attributes in a unique way that makes him their guy.
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol signed a two-year contract extension through at least the 2028 season, the Cardinals announced Sunday.
The deal includes a club option for 2029, the club said.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time, and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” Cardinals president Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow."
The 39-year-old Marmol has led the Cardinals for the past four seasons, taking them to the National League wild-card round in his first season as manager. But he has failed to return to the playoffs the last three years, and St. Louis was just 78-84 last season.
Yet the Cardinals have long considered the past couple of seasons as an opportunity to reset with Bloom taking over for longtime executive John Mozeliak and a roster in need of a refresh. So it makes sense to provide some stability with Marmol, the third-longest tenured manager in the NL behind the Dodgers' Dave Roberts and the Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo.
Marmol has been with the Cardinals since 2007, when he was still in his playing days. He spent five seasons as a manager in the minors before joining the coaching staff in 2017, and he was elevated to the St. Louis manager on October 25, 2021.
Marmol is 324-323 in four seasons with the Cardinals.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Florida Panthers will look to bounce back from a frustrating defeat their last time out when they kick off a challenging road trip on Sunday.
Florida has won one and lost one since exiting the NHL’s Olympic pause, dropping Friday’s matchup with the Buffalo Sabres on a night where the Cats were extremely frustrated with a challenged goal that was allowed, leading to a 3-2 defeat.
Now the Panthers are set to begin a four-game, six-day road trip when they face a strong New York Islanders squad at UBS Arena.
The Islanders have won four straight games, including each of the two they have played since the league resumed following the Olympic break.
Their most recent victories have come on the road, with the Isles battling back from 2-0 deficits in both to claim a pair of overtime wins.
Entering play Sunday, New York is holding onto third place in the Metropolitan Division, clinging to a four-point edge over the Washington Capitals who are out of the playoff spot at the moment, one point behind the Boston Bruins, who hold the final Wild Card spot.
A big reason for the Islanders success this season has been the play of goaltender Ilya Sorokin.
He’s 10-3-0 since the calendar flipped to 2026, picking up three of his six shutouts during the month of January.
Florida, meanwhile, remains eight points behind Boston for that last Wild Card spot.
There is hope that sometime during their road trip, defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and forward Tomas Nosek may come off the injured list and re-join the squad.
For Nosek, he will be making his season debut whenever he gets the green light while Kulikov will be seeing his first action since he suffered a shoulder injury during the second game of the season.
Additionally, Florida is also expecting to have injured defenseman Seth Jones and ailing forward Jonah Gadjovich ready to return in the near future as well, though whether either comes back during the road trip has yet to be determined.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Sunday’s showdown on Long Island:
Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart
Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Photo caption: Dec 7, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) moves the puck against the New York Islanders defenseman Tony Deangelo (77) during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 11: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 11, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are headed to TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics for the fourth and final time this regular season.
Joel Embiid will not be shipping up to Boston, however, after an MRI on Saturday confirmed that Embiid suffered a strained right oblique in the team’s win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night. He will miss the Sixers’ next three games (including Sunday’s) before being re-evaluated. Other than Embiid, Philadelphia will also continue to be without Paul George on Sunday as he sits out his suspension.
After facing off three times in the first three weeks of the season, the Sixers and Celtics haven’t met since way back in November. Philadelphia actually leads the series against Boston so far with two wins and one loss, but all three games were extremely close — the largest margin being two points, the other games decided by a single point.
For this fourth and final meeting the Celtics will, despite rumors and rumblings as of late, still be without Jayson Tatum, who has not played this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in his right leg in the playoffs last season.
Baylor Scheierman also is questionable for Boston for Sunday due to a thumb fracture. Scheierman isn’t a name you might not recognize, but the sophomore guard has actually become a bigger piece of the Celtics rotation as of late. He played 24.3 minutes per game in February and started in the Celtics’ last six contests, averaging 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while playing some good defense in that span.
Even without Tatum this season, Boston has been looking pretty damn good, especially since the turn of the calendar year. The Celtics have won 10 of their last 12 games and are currently second in the Eastern Conference at 39-20, trailing only the 44-14 Detroit Pistons.
Jaylen Brown has been far and away the Celtics leader all season, averaging a career-high 29.1 points per game in 53 contests, but he has a supporting cast playing good basketball right now as well. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White are chipping in career-highs of 17.3 points and 17.1 points per game, respectively.
There’s also Nikola Vucevic, who was moved to Boston from the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline. He has played just eight games with the Celtics but came alive for a big double-double in their most recent contest, putting up 28 points on 9-for-13 field goal shooting and 3-for-3 from long range with 11 rebounds. Sure, it was in a blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets, but still something to watch as Vucevic continues to acclimate to the Celtics squad.
The Sixers have been on a positive streak recently as well — a short one, but positive nonetheless — winning their last three games in a row and putting momentum back in their favor after losing four straight prior. The most recent two of those victories came with the help of Embiid, while the first (against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves) was without him. Philadelphia has been shooting the ball well (or at least better than their usual) in that three-game stint as well, hitting 51.7% from the floor and 42.3% from long range.
It’s a good thing that the Sixers have been hotter from beyond the arc, too, because they’re likely going to need those threes to keep up with Boston. As of Saturday evening, the Celtics are second in the NBA in offensive rating at 120.2. For reference, the Sixers are more of a middle-of-the-pack team at 15th (115.0) in the category.
This is going to be a tough one for the Sixers sans Embiid to kick off a busy March, with 16 games in the month. It is certainly possible, with Philadelphia having done it before without their star center back in that two-point victory way back in November, but that’s ancient history now. Based on how the Celtics have been playing recently, it’s likely going to be one of those games the Sixers need everyone at their absolute best: they’ll need Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to both score and facilitate well, Kelly Oubre Jr. to keep shooting as well as he has the past couple weeks, Quentin Grimes to chip in off the bench, everyone doing their jobs defensively, and someone… anyone… to be aggressive rebounding.
It’s going to take everyone.
The Sixers and Celtics tip off from TD Garden at 8 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Sunday, March 1, 8:00 p.m. ET Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA Watch: NBC, NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Feb 28, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; A detailed view of the field after a spring training game between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images | Allan Henry-Imagn Images
After experiencing the first week plus a day of spring training to exhaust the February portion of the Cactus League schedule, the Dodgers open March with a Sunday home game against the Angels.
Four of the Dodgers’ seven games this week are at Camelback Ranch, including an exhibition game Wednesday against Mexico as part of a build-up for the World Baseball Classic starting later this week. Friday and Saturday against the Royals and Rockies, respectively, are the Dodgers’ first two night games this spring.
To that end, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have already left to join Team Japan in Tokyo, and Hyeseong Kim is also headed to Pool C in Tokyo while playing for Korea in the WBC. Dodgers catcher Will Smith and closer Edwin Díaz will join the United States and Puerto Rico, respectively. The first World Baseball Classic game on the schedule involving a Dodgers player is Kim and Korea taking on Czechia on Thursday at 2 a.m. PT.
Here is the Dodgers’ schedule for the next week, plus WBC pool play games as well. All times are in the Pacific Time Zone.
Sunday, March 1
Dodgers vs. Angels, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, AM 570)
Monday, March 2
Dodgers at Rockies, 12:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Tuesday, March 3
Dodgers at Guardians, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Wednesday, March 4
Dodgers vs. Team Mexico, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Thursday, March 5
WBC: Korea vs. Czechia, 2 a.m. (FS1) Dodgers at Reds, 12:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, ESPN)
Friday, March 6
WBC: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei, 2 a.m. (FS1) WBC: Puerto Rico vs. Colombia, 3 p.m. (FS1) WBC: United States vs. Brazil, 5 p.m. (Fox) Dodgers vs. Royals, 5:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA)
Saturday, March 7
WBC: Japan vs. Korea, 2 a.m. (FS1) WBC: Puerto Rico vs. Panama, 3 p.m. (FS1) WBC: United States vs. Great Britain, 5 p.m. (Fox) Dodgers vs. Rockies, 5:05 p.m. (SportsNet LA, AM 570)
Feb 26, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller (50) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Happy Sunday everyone! It’s becoming a bit of a pattern for the Sunday links to prominently feature Kade Anderson. I wonder if that will end next week. I honestly hope not. The kid is so electric he has me wondering about other undeniable spring standouts and which of them ended up turning out the best for bygone Mariners teams. Which Mariners have had Spring performances that made you think they were headed for absolute greatness?
In Mariners news…
Lookout Landing established boots on the ground in Peoria yesterday, and the first post is an important reminder, all people yearn for properly fitting pants.
Kade Anderson, the darling of Spring Training so far, made his Cactus League debut yesterday, and true to form, he did not disappoint.
Angels outfielder Josh Lowe, who the team acquired via trade a few weeks ago and was expected to be one of the team’s Opening Day outfielders, is taking a little extra time to get up to full speed with oblique tightness.
Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Jose Rojas (81) celebrates after scoring against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
There’s a term that you hear tossed around baseball circles a lot, especially this time of year: Quad-A player. This means someone who is probably better than Triple-A talent but isn’t necessarily cut out for the majors, either. There tends to be subsets of Quad-A players, including but not limited to the defensive whiz who can’t really hit a lick but is phenomenal with the glove, the pitcher whose movement plays on the farm but not under the bright lights, and the corner guy with power.
Jose Rojas is a corner guy with power in the model of Val Pascucci, Nick Evans, Mike Hessman, and other remnants of the 2008-2013 Mets. Rojas has all the markings of this type: a few seasons of slugging over .500, success in Asia, multiple stints in various latin winter leagues, and limited opportunities and even more limited success on the big stage.
On the surface, this is yet another depth signing, an opportunity to squeeze a little juice out of a player that may not have a ton more to give. But for the Mets, there’s a little more here because of their particular roster construction. While not his primary position, Rojas actually has the second most minor league reps at first base of anyone in camp behind Ryan Clifford, and has one more major league game at first as does the Mets’ probable Opening Day first baseman, Jorge Polanco, with two.
On top of that, Rojas’s 2025 season, spent with the Yankees’ Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club, was his best in six years. Rojas put up a .287/.379/.599 line with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs while logging time at three infield positions (not shortstop) and the corner outfield spots.
Does any of this add up to a likely spot on the major league roster? No, it doesn’t. In terms of long term solutions, the club would probably want to have Mark Vientos or Brett Baty fill in at first if Polanco can’t cut it or is hurt. Similarly, if the aforementioned Clifford is having a strong year in Syracuse, he would be a candidate to log innings there.
All of that is to say that for Rojas to be an impact player on the roster a lot would have to go wrong, or he would have to have an offensive season the likes of which he’s never had before to force his way onto the roster. Save for that, Rojas is likely to be a quality bat at Triple-A, ready for a brief call up if the need arises.
