Rather than declare as early entry candidates for the 2026 NBA Draft, several of the top players in college basketball decided to go back to school.
With the significant rise of NIL packages offered to collegiate players to play another season with their college team or use the transfer portal, the basketball world has never seen such little financial incentive to turn pro. In many cases, top men's basketball players can actually collect more annual money at their university than they would have in the first year of their rookie scale contract.
Prospects have until 11:59 p.m. ET on April 24 to declare as early entry candidates for the 2026 NBA Draft. Those players can remain as draft candidates 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 if they want to maintain their collegiate eligibility.
It is not uncommon for players to "test the waters" and go through the draft process and attend the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, then decide to go back to school.
Notable players who have already declared for the draft but may still return to their college team next season include Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) and Meleek Thomas (Arkansas). Some who have declared (e.g. Allen Graves, Flory Bidunga, Tounde Yessoufou, Milan Momcilovic and Juke Harris) also entered the transfer portal and a few have already committed to new schools.
This year, more than ever, several notable players announced they will not even go through the pre-draft process.
Thomas Haugh (Florida), Braylon Mullins (UConn) and Patrick Ngongba II (Duke) are among those who were widely considered potential first-round picks but opted to not enter the pre-draft process. Others, including Pryce Sandfort (Nebraska), Alex Condon (Florida), Joseph Tugler (Houston) and David Mirković (Illinois), made the same decision.
Haugh is reportedly expected to earn what he would have made in his first two NBA seasons combined at Florida next season, according to The Athletic.
Some have argued that NIL is bad for the NBA, but in many cases, the opposite is true. NIL is mutually beneficial for both the NCAA and the NBA at large.
For college basketball, top players returning can help teams compose the most talented rosters available and keep the product as interesting as possible for fans with old faces at either familiar or new places. Players can build their brands and create a legacy while improving their draft stock in the process.
In the NBA, meanwhile, professional teams can reserve roster spots only for the most ready-to-contribute players. Rather than drafting young players with the hope to develop them over the years, they can use the spots at the end of their bench for veterans who do not need that same on-ramp in the pros.
Ideally, these players can become known quantities while in college rather than alluring but risky mystery boxes for the next level. Now that players can hire agents, it is often even more financially lucrative for their clients to stay in school as well.
College basketball provides players from around the world a chance to get mentally and physically ready as they mature, rather than rush, to reach their dreams of playing in the NBA. Big name players staying in the NCAA is mutually beneficial for everyone involved.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 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
Boston Celtics (1-1) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-1) Friday, April 24, 2026 7:00 PM ET Round 1 Game #3 Road Game #1 TV: Prime Video Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 97.5 The Fanatic, Sirius XM Xfinity Mobile Arena Officials: John Goble, Brent Barnaky, Andy Nagy
After splitting the games in Boston, the Celtics travel to Philadelphia for Game 3. The Celtics dominated Game 1 with a 123-91 win over the 76ers. The 76ers topped the Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 to tie the game at 1 game each. The Celtics have a 67-51 record against the 76ers overall in the playoffs. In the regular season, the Celtics are 272-199 overall, all time against the 76ers. They are i93-129 all time in Philly.
The Celtics have struggled in Game 2 over the past few years. In their past 20 playoff games, the Celtics have gone 14-6. They are 11-2 in games other than Game 2, in which they are just 3-4. In 2024, when they won the championship, They lost Game 2 to Miami in Round 1, but came back to win Game 3 by 20 points and won the series in 5. They also lost Game 2 at home to the Cavs in Round 2 and won Game 3 by 13 points.
Since 2023, the Celtics are 7-1 after a loss with 5 of those wins coming on the road. In 2024, when the Celtics won the Championship, they went 16-3 in the playoffs, Two of those three losses were in Game 2s at home in the first 2 rounds. In the regular season, the Celtics were 23-18 on the road. The 76ers were 23-18 at home. The Celtics were very good about bouncing back after a loss in the regular season, going 21-5 after a loss.
The Celtics need to avoid close games down the stretch in these playoffs if they can help it. The 76ers had the #1 clutch defense in the NBA in the regular season They had a 98.6 defensive rating during the last 5 minutes of games that were within 5 points. They were 23-18 in games that included clutch minutes. The Celtics were 16-17 in games that included clutch minutes and that includes going 1-2 against Philadelphia this season.
Teams that win Game 1 of a best of 7 series at home go on to win the series 86.0% of the time. Teams that win the first 2 games at home go on to win the series 94% of the time. However, if a home team wins game 1 but loses game 2 in a best of 7 series, the odds of them going on to win the series drops down to 76.6%. The team that wins Game 3 of a series that is tied 1-1 goes on to win the series 73.3% of the time.
The Celtics need to be focused and bring their best effort in this game. They need to get motivation from the other series in the East. The Pistons already lost Game 1 at home to the 8th seed Magic. The Knicks lost Game 3 to the lower seeded Hawks and are down in the series 1-2. The Cavaliers lead their series 2-1 but lost Game 3 to the lower seeded Raptors after winning 2 at home. The Nuggets are also down 1-2 to the lower seeded Timberwolves. Just because the Celtics are the 2nd seed doesn’t automatically give them the series. They have to play harder and smarter if they want to beat the 76ers.
The Celtics come into this game with a clean injury report. For the 76ers, Joel Embiid is the only player on their injury report. Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9. Recovery for an appendectomy is anywhere from 20 days to 5 weeks. After missing the first 2 games, he has been upgraded to doubtful for this game. I’m guessing that Adem Bona will start at center once again.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
Derrick White | Getty ImagesTyrese Maxey | Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe | Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Kelly Oubre, Jr
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesKelly Oubre Jr | Boston Globe via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Paul George
Jayson Tatum | Getty ImagesPaul George | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Adem Bona
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesAdem Bona | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Nikola Vucevic Ron Harper, Jr Delano Banton John Tonje
2-Way Players None Injuries/Out None
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
76ers Reserves Andre Drummond Quentin Grimes Kyle Lowry Justin Edwards Trendon Watford Dalen Terry Dominick Barlow Jabari Walker
2-Way Players MarJon Beauchamp Tyrese Martin Injuries/Out Joel Embiid (Appendix) doubtful
Head Coach Nick Nurse
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey In the regular season, Maxey averaged 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc. In Game1, the Celtics were able to hold him to 21 points on 20 shots along with 1 rebound and 8 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. He pretty much had his way in Game 2 with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 39.3% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must do a better job of defending him in this game.
Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe Edgecombe averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc. In Game 1, he finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while shooting 37.5% from the field and going 0-5 from beyond the arc. In Game 2, he finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while shooting 60% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc. The Celtics left him open way too much. They absolutely have to defend him better in this game. Honorable Mention Jayson Tatum vs Paul George Neither of these players were able to play in any of the 4 games between Boston and Philly this season. In Game 1, George finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, but he only took 8 shots. In game 2, he finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting 53.8% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. As with Maxey and Edgecombe, the Celtics have to do a better job of defending him in this game.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is absolutely the key to winning this, and every, game. Defense becomes even more important in the playoffs. It is very true that defense wins championships. The Celtics need to continue to make defense a priority and they need to play physical, lock down defense for all 48 minutes. In Game 1, the Celtics held the 76ers to 38.9% from the field and 17.4% from beyond the arc. In game 2, the Celtics defense faltered as the 76ers shot 47.8% from the field and 48.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to make defense their priority and they need to play physical, lock down defense for all 48 minutes.
Rebound – Rebounding is also one of the biggest keys to winning every game. As Pat Riley once said, “No rebounds, no rings. In the regular season, the Celtics were 43-12 in games that they tied or out-rebounded opponents and just 11-13 in games in which they were out-rebounded. In Game 1, the Celtics out-rebounded the 76ers 43-40. In Game 2, they out-rebounded the 76ers 50-42, but they were unable to capitalize on them since they shot s poorly. They simply have to fight harder to grab rebounds than the 76ers if they want to win this game. Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound.
Offensive Execution – The Celtics shot just 39.2% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc in Game 2. It wasn’t just one Celtic who struggled to hit their 3’s, it was almost everyone on the team. In the last 161 games, including the regular season and playoffs, that was just the 12th time that the Celtics didn’t shoot better than 26% from three. They lost all 12 of those games. Three of those games were in the playoffs, Games 1 and 2 against New York last year and Game 2 vs Philadelphia. They need to stay focused on taking and making good shots. But, if they struggle from 23 early in the game, they need to score in the midrange or in the paint and not continue to brick 3’s the entire game.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball and trust their teammates. They are at their best when they keep the ball moving and find the open man. When they lapse into hero ball and dribble too much, they tend to struggle, as they did in Game 2. They are 37-2 when they have 25 or more assists and 20-0 when they have 29 or more assists. In Game 1, the Celtics kept the ball moving and they had 31 assists. In Game 2, the ball tended to stick more and they finished with 24 assists. They also turned the ball over 13 times for 15 points. They have to move the ball carefully to have a better chance to win this one.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics will be on the road and facing a very hostile crowd. Philly fans hate the Celtics because they have pretty much owned them in recent years. They hate Jayson Tatum because the Celtics took him with Philly’s pick after the 76ers traded up to take Markelle Fultz. There will likely be a lot of boos and the Celtics need to play through them. They have to shake off the distractions of playing on the road game and stay focused on playing good basketball.
Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 4th season as Celtics’ head coach. He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars. Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and he did a great job in the regular season. Nick Nurse is in his 8th season as a head coach overall and his 3rd as the 76ers head coach. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019. In the playoffs, coaching becomes more important as it becomes a game of adjustments as they play the same team game after game. Joe came out on top in Game 1 and Nurse made adjustments to win Game 2. Joe has to be ready to adjust again and have the Celtics ready to come out strong and play harder throughout the game.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently. Some call it tight and call every bit of contact while others allow more physical play. Some favor the home team while others call both sides evenly. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the refs are calling the game and not allow the no calls and bad calls to affect their focus on playing the game.
Official Report Crew Chief: John Goble The Celtics were 6-1 with Goble this season. The 76ers were 4-1. Over the past 2 seasons the Celtics are 12-2 with Goble while the 76ers are 4-4. His home win/loss record this season is 37-26.
Referee: Brent Barnaky The Celtics were 4-1 with Barnaky this season. The 76ers were 2-1. Over the past 2 seasons, the Celtics are 10-3 while the 76ers are 2-4. His home win/loss record is 34/30.
Umpire: Andy Nagy The Celtics were 1-3 this season with Nagy, The 76ers were 4-0 with Nagy. Over the past 2 seasons, the Celtics are 5-3 with Nagy while the 76ers are 5-4. His home win/loss record is 33-29.
The Boston Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of their NBA first-round playoff series. The teams split the first two games in Boston. Games 3 and 4 will be in Philadelphia. The Celtics are favored by 7.5 points in Game 3.
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Date: Friday, April 24
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers +240 (28.2%) / Boston Celtics -300 (71.8%)
Over/Under: 214.5
Series schedule
Game 1:Celtics 123, 76ers 91 Game 2:76ers 111, Celtics 97 Game 3: Fri., April 24 at Philadelphia (7 p.m., Prime) Game 4: Sun., April 26 at Philadelphia (7 p.m., NBC) *Game 5: Tue., April 28 at Boston (TBD) *Game 6: Thu., April 30 at Philadelphia (TBD) *Game 7: Sat., May 2 at Boston (TBD)if necessary
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 23: Starting pitcher Ryan Feltner #18 of the Colorado Rockies throws against the San Diego Padres in the first inning at Coors Field on April 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday afternoon just before the Colorado Rockies were scheduled to kick off a three-game series against the New York Mets, it was announced that right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner is being placed on the 15-day injured list.
Feltner, 29, has been diagnosed with right ulnar nerve inflammation. He had been dealing with discomfort in his right triceps following his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 18th. The condition also caused some numbness in his fingers. Feltner was removed from his start against the San Diego Padres on Thursday after pitching just two innings and giving up two earned runs on two hits and a walk.
In a corresponding roster move, the Rockies will recall left-handed reliever Sammy Peralta from the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.
Peralta, 27, was claimed via waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month. In seven appearances with Triple-A Albuquerque he has a 3.72 ERA with seven strikeouts and three walks over 9.2 innings of work. He will be just the second left-handed pitcher in the Rockies bullpen this season, joining Brennan Bernardino.
Peralta will wear no. 57, last worn by Angel Chivilli.
The Rockies will have additional pitching decisions to make over the next week. Kyle Freeland—currently on the injured list with left-shoulder soreness—will be available to return to the active roster on April 28th.
The Mets shuffled a pair of right-handed pitchers in a Friday afternoon roster move, optioning Christian Scott back to Triple-A Syracuse and promoting veteran pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. to the major league squad.
Scott, who was promoted on Thursday, struggled in his season debut. In 1.1 innings pitched, he allowed one run, five walks, and a hit by pitch. It was the 26-year-old’s first big league start since July 21, 2024, after which he underwent Tommy John surgery.
Edwards was signed to a minor league deal by the Mets in December. The twelve-year veteran had a strong spring training, tossing 8.2 innings with two earned runs, three hits, and four walks to 11 strikeouts. In Syracuse, he hasn’t found the same success, pitching to a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings of work.
It remains to be seen how the Mets will fill the fifth spot in their starting rotation behind Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga. Edwards, David Peterson, Tobias Myers, and Sean Manaea are all candidates to give the Mets multiple innings going forward, regardless of whether any of them are stretched out to be a full-time starter.
Jonah Tong, a candidate for the role later in the season, has had an up-and-down start for Syracuse, throwing three gems on the road (a combined 1.88 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched) and two rough outings at home (a combined 14.21 ERA in 6.1 innings pitched).
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 30: Nike shoes are seen worn by Amari Williams #77 of the Boston Celtics during a game at State Farm Arena on March 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Knicks down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs following their loss on Thursday night, head coach Mike Brown said on Friday that the starting lineup for Game 4 on Saturday will be a "game-time decision."
Brown mentioned that everything is on the table for New York, who has dropped the last two games against the Hawks after a convincing win in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.
The news of a possible change comes on the heels of Mikal Bridges scoring zero points in Game 3 and turning the ball over four times in just 21 minutes. Josh Hart also had a rough game offensively with two points, although he finished with nine rebounds and six assists in 40 minutes.
It was the second straight poor performance from Bridges who was held to 10 points in the Knicks' Game 2 loss, all of which came in the first half. Bridges also missed the potential game-winning shot in that game and in the last six quarters for New York he's gone 0-for-7 from the field.
In his second season with the Knicks after getting traded by the Nets for five first-round picks, Bridges scored 14.4 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and added 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
The 29-year-old hasn't missed a game since joining New York and has started every single game he's played since the 2020-21 season with Phoenix Suns, who drafted him 10th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
We're looking to head into the weekend on a winning note, with our expert MLB picks looking at two moneylines against struggling teams, as well as a NRFI bet with two underratedly good pitchers on the mound.
See why our MLB best bets for April 24 love the value on the Twins/Rays being quiet early, plus the Halos and ATL to win.
UPDATE: Added more best bets from the Covers staff.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Angels moneyline
Price: 49¢ (+104) at Polymarket
Let’s fade the Kansas City Royals, a weak offense that is especially bad against left-handed pitching. Only the Phillies and Rangers rank worse in wRC+ against southpaws, and Yusei Kikuchi is coming off his best start of the year — plus the winds blowing in should provide additional support. What may not be fully priced in is the Los Angeles Angels' edge in the later innings: Kansas City’s bullpen has been putrid all season, but has hit a new low, posting a 7.17 ERA over the last seven days while issuing plenty of walks... and allowing home runs at a high rate. This is a buy to -115.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Twins/Rays NRFI
Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket
Tampa Bay Rays righty Drew Rasmussen has been sharp in three of four starts, sporting a 2.75 ERA and 0.66 WHIP, while holding opposing hitters to a .141 average. The Twins are countering with Taj Bradley, and he’s posted a similarly solid line with a 1.63 ERA and limited opponents to a .276 wOBA. Scoring in the opening frame also hasn’t been a calling card for either club: Minnesota has plated a first-inning run in just 32% of its games — and the Rays are even lower at 29.2%.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Braves moneyline
Price: 58¢ (-138) at Polymarket
The Atlanta Braves come in red hot, winning eight of nine, while the Philadelphia Phillies have dropped nine straight. Andrew Painter has been average and was rocked in his lone road start this season, plus pitch count issues are a major concern tonight: He’s struggled to work deep into games, which is a dangerous flaw against a Braves lineup that leads the league in scoring and OPS vs. righties over the last two weeks. That puts even more strain on a Phillies bullpen that’s already overworked after using five arms yesterday.
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The Cardinals knew who they wanted to draft. They just didn't know how to reach him.
Arizona was ready to select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 as soon as it was on the clock. The Cardinals, however, had to wait to turn in the card since they couldn't get Love on the phone.
“If you want me to tell you the honest-to-God truth, we had the wrong phone number," Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort said, via Saad Yousuf of TheAthletic.com. “The phone number that we were given was the wrong one. That was the little bit of the delay. We got that straightened out, and we called Jeremiyah and we got ahold of him. That’s what the delay was — technical difficulties. There [were] very minimal [trade] conversations. There was some surface-level, but nothing that came anywhere close to getting us to move off the pick.”
The NFL limited access to prospects' phone numbers after several players received prank calls last year. This year, the league gave the list of phone numbers to a single point of contact at the club in football operations, with that person charged with protecting the information.
It is unclear how the NFL corrected the error in time for the Cardinals to call Love before turning in the card.
Aug 31, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Alex Pavlovic (right) interviews Miami Marlins assistant general manager and former San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
It’s really hard to write a preview about the Miami Marlins after the San Francisco Giants took two out of three from the Dodgers. That series was the ultimate RETVRN to tradition in that the Giants overcame their longstanding Giantsness to actually dominate the Dodgers for 18 innings of the series. It’s a staggering embarrassment for the previously perfect if not impervious Dodgers, and it’s an early feather in the cap of Tony Vitello. But now he and these confident Giants now host the Marlins, and they have proven to be a thorn in the Giants’ side as long as they’ve existed.
The Giants haven’t won the season series since 2022, and last season, their three-game sweep in San Francisco prompted headlines on here like “Not good enough!” and “So many opportunities, so little made of them” and “Done in by friendly fire.” That series also saw the Marlins register 4 hit by pitches in the first two games of the series, prompting retaliation in the finale (Hayden Birdsong plunked Otto Lopez). Previously, there was the Marlins Death Fog, which I guess — given last year’s sheninghans — remains relevant here.
The Marlins built their modest 12-13 record atop a very soft schedule to open the season, hosting the Rockies and the White Sox (5-1). They’re just 2-7 on the road so far, too. But, they’ve got a middle of the pack lineup (102 wRC+) and middle of the pack pitching staff (+2.7 fWAR 3.59 xERA) on the season and only the lineup has really fell down over the last two weeks (96 wRC+).
In fact, their last two weeks is a good comparison point with the Giants, when most people would agree that the team has started playing better. The Marlins’ team batting average since April 9th is .253, 10th in MLB. Their team OBP has been .330 and they’re slugging .364. They have a 9.4 BB% and 21.5 K%. They’ve scored just 53 runs (24th in MLB). Meanwhile, the Giants have a superior team batting average (.254 — 9th in MLB) but among the dregs of the sport everywhere else: .287 OBP (28th, ahead of only the Phillies & Mets), .366 slugging (24th), 40 runs scored (29th, ahead of only the Mets). And their 4.1 BB% (30th) and 20.7 K% (20th) and .112 ISO (26th) show just how little they produce in a rate sense. Their .292 wOBA (28th) is a key factor in their 84 wRC+ (25th).
The Giants might be a better team on paper, but through the first month of the season, the Marlins have been better. Leading the way are three acquisitions over the past few years: shortstop Xavier Edwards was acquired by Marlins exec Peter Bendix after he left the Rays and is off to a great start (.869 OPS). Otto Lopez, whom the Giants discarded at the end of Spring Training 2024 and the Marlins then grabbed, has a 3:1 strikeouts to walk rate but an .877 OPS to start out (101 PA). And then there’s 2024 Rule 5 acquisition Liam Hicks, a left-handed designated hitter who had a sub-.700 OPS last season but is hitting .321/.368/.513 with 4 homers and 21 RBI to start this season (87 PA).
Their pitching staff remains a work in progress but with two anchors: former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who appears to be rounding back into form just in time for this year’s trade deadline (2.80 ERA plus a shutout under his belt already); but also, 23 year old Eury Perez who received some Rookie of the Year votes back in 2023 after striking out 108 in 91.1 IP.
Anyway, this figures to be a pesky series, but one the Giants should be competitive in, unless that Dodgers series was a complete mirage. The Giants have had the fifth-best team ERA over the past two weeks (3.48) and they’re playing a team that struggles on the road. The Marlins do have a raft of pesky players they can deploy to annoy us this series — Connor Norby, Esteury Ruiz, Owen Caissie, Kyle Stowers (more on him in a moment) — but so do the Giants — Christian Koss, Jerar Encarnacion, Drew Gilbert — so, hopefully, this doesn’t look like Miami’s last visit to Oracle Park.
And just to make sure we’re all a little tense or annoyed, the General Manager of the Marlins working under Peter Bendix is Gabe Kapler and the Marlins DFA’d Austin Slater before they left Miami for San Francisco.
Series overview
Who: San Francisco Giants (11-14) vs. Miami Marlins (12-13) Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California When: Friday at 7:15pm PT, Saturday at 1:05pm PT, Sunday at 1:05pm PT National broadcasts: None.
Projected starters Friday: Sandy Alcantara (RHP 2-2, 3.06 ERA) vs. Adrian Houser (RHP 0-2, 5.40 ERA) Saturday: Eury Perez (RHP 2-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. Robbie Ray (LHP 2-3, 2.86 ERA) Sunday: Max Meyer (RHP 1-0, 3.96 ERA) vs. Landen Roupp (RHP 4-1, 2.28 ERA)
Players to watch
Marlins
Kyle Stowers: He was the Marlins’ best hitter last season (25 HR, .912 OPS in 457 PA) but missed the start of this season due to a hamstring strain. He’s 3-for-10 since being activated off the IL, helping the Marlins win two out of the three games in which he’s played. The former Oriole was acquired by the Marlins along with Connor Norby at the 2024 deadline for LHP Trevor Rogers, who is now the apparent #1 starter of Baltimore’s staff. He’s got 2 career homers at Oracle Park in 6 games (23 PA) to go with a .316/.435/.737 line.
Pete Fairbanks: The Marlins didn’t trade him last year and then declined his option after the season which left people scratching their heads as to what was going on with a perfectly serviceable closer (75 saves across the three prior seasons). The obvious answer had to be a health issue. The Marlins signed him to a 1-year $13 million deal and, so far, they’ve been treated to a 7.27 ERA (7 ER in 8.2 IP). But! But… he’s recorded 5 saves in 6 tries, and has just one blown save (a 6-5 loss in Atlanta). His ERA is excused by a 2.34 FIP but also — and most importantly — 3 of the 7 earned runs he’s been charged with came as an opener against the Yankees back on April 5th. So, is he the lights out closer they’re paying for? That’s what Giants fans will find out soon enough.
Owen Caissie: In the offseason, the Cubs traded their #3 prospect at the end of 2025 (per MLB Pipeline) in order to get their hands on starter Edward Cabrera, who’d previously given the Giants some problems (3-0, 1.91 ERA!). He got into 12 games last year with Chicago and this year the Marlins slotted him in as their starting right fielder, and why not? He had a triumphant WBC for Team Canada (7/17 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB). But the results here in the 2026 regular season have been suboptimal: 2 homers, 14 RBI in 23 games (78 PA), sure, but 34 strikeouts to 3 walks. He’s also 5-for-his-last-37, too, with 1 walk and 21 strikeouts! It would be a real shame if this was the weekend he found his swing.
Giants
Rafael Devers: You know what? You don’t have to watch him. He’s been terrible. Unwatchable. Is he washed? Cooked? Finito? Maybe. It’s baseball, after all. Sometimes, players wake up one morning and they’re no longer able to play the game. Devers’ own brand of not being able to play the game is his ability to swing through pitches in the strike zone. On defense, he’s been physically able to stay around the bag but he’s hardly the sturdy defender needed there. In fairness, he’s 7-for-26 going back to the start of the Nats series (6 games), but a .269 average with just 2 extra base hits (doubles) and zero walks to go with 10 strikeouts is simply not the kind of production from Devers one might call “fine.” He’s slugging .320 on the season. He’s off to his worst start ever.
Erik Miller: Ryan Walker’s triumphant return of sorts to the closer role was certainly heartening to see, but in this series, Miami will be flashing some dangerous lefties and it’ll be up to the Giants’ most dangerous lefty to corral them.
Christian Koss: He last got into a game on April 12th. Play him or option him!
Tony Vitello watch
The Marlins have flummoxed many a Giants manager before. Will Vitello be different?
Our NBA player prop projections are locked in ahead of Game 3 between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, with the model highlighting several high-value spots across the board.
By breaking down the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve pinpointed where the strongest edges appear.
If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, April 24.
Celtics vs 76ers computer picks for Game 3
Celtics
76ers
Tatum o23.5 points -120
Maxey u27.5 points -112
Queta o7.5 rebounds -112
Drummond o8.5 rebounds +115
Brown o4.5 assists -120
George o2.5 threes -130
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Celtics Game 3 computer picks
Jayson Tatum Over 23.5 points (-120)
Projection: 24.63 points
When the Philadelphia 76ers are at home, opposing power forwards have thrived from deep, knocking down 45.6% of their threes, which is the second-best mark in the NBA.
That sets up a prime opportunity for Jayson Tatum to capitalize offensively and help the Boston Celtics grab a 2-1 series lead.
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Neemias Queta Over 7.5 rebounds (-112)
Projection: 9.18 rebounds
The Celtics have been one of the league’s best road rebounding teams this season, ranking sixth with 12.5 offensive boards per game, which sets up a favorable spot for Neemias Queta in a high-stakes Game 3.
Queta has also been productive on the glass, clearing his 7.5-rebound line in six of his last 10 contests.
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Jaylen Brown Over 4.5 assists (-120)
Projection: 4.72 assists
Jaylen Brown’s season average of 5.1 assists sits just above this line, and he’ll be tasked with blending playmaking and scoring as he looks to get teammates involved while fueling a bounce-back win for the C's.
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76ers Game 3 computer picks
Tyrese Maxey Under 27.5 points (-112)
Projection: 26.9 points
The Celtics play at the league’s slowest pace this season, which could limit overall possessions for the 76ers in this matchup and, in turn, make it tougher for Tyrese Maxey to consistently find a rhythm.
Maxey has also struggled to clear his 27.5-point line lately, finishing Under in seven of his last 10 games.
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Andre Drummond Over 8.5 rebounds (+115)
Projection: 9.8 rebounds
It should be a physical battle on the glass between Queta and Andre Drummond, with extra possessions proving crucial for the Sixers to stay within striking distance.
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Paul George Over 2.5 threes (-130)
Projection: 2.8 threes
When playing at home, the C's have allowed opposing starting power forwards to attempt 5.3 threes per game — fourth-most in the league — setting up a favorable matchup for Paul George from beyond the arc.
George has also cleared this line in six of his last 10 matches.
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How to watch Celtics vs 76ers Game 3
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Friday, April 24, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
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Just three days ago, during Game 2 of his team’s first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, Wembanyama suffered a concussion when he stumbled on a drive, leading to his face slamming into the court.
Wembanyama lay on the floor for a few moments and appeared to lose his balance as he tried to get up. Trainers rushed over to examine him, and Wembanyama eventually rose to his feet and jogged to the locker room. The injury happened in the second quarter, and the Spurs ruled him out for the second half.
Now, with Game 3 set to tip-off Friday, April 24 at 10:30 p.m. ET, all eyes are on San Antonio’s injury report.
Here’s everything you need to know about the status of Spurs star forward-center Victor Wembanyama.
Is Victor Wembanyama playing tonight vs. Trail Blazers?
As of Friday afternoon, it’s still unclear. The Spurs officially listed Wembanyama as questionable in the first injury report they issued Thursday night, and that designation has continued into Friday. But the center did take part in shooting drills during San Antonio's morning shootaround in Portland Friday, April 24, so there is hope for Spurs fans.
Yet, even if Wembanyama were to be cleared to return, reason dictates that San Antonio may be cautious with its franchise player. It doesn’t matter that the series is tied at one game apiece. Concussions are serious injuries and repetitive concussions can pose long-term risks, including the potential increase of neurodegenerative diseases like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, recovery time from a concussion varies from person-to-person, though “most symptoms resolve in a few days.” In certain cases, however, symptoms can persist for weeks, or even a month, so caution tends to be prudent.
At around tip-off, it will only be 72 hours since Wembanyama suffered the concussion.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, April 26 in Portland.
In order for a player who was diagnosed with a concussion to return to the floor, the following requirements must be met:
The player is without concussion-related symptoms at rest.
The player has been evaluated by a physician trained in concussion management.
The player has successfully completed the league’s return-to-participation exertion process.
The player’s team physician has had a discuss about the player’s return-to-participation process with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the director of the NBA’s concussion program. Only then, will the player’s team physician make the final determination on return to play.
Victor Wembanyama stats
In 64 games this season, Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game.
Rick Tocchet has firsthand experience with the Penguins’ big names.
He was an assistant coach for Pittsburgh when it won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. He coached Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, four players on the current Penguins team that’s staring down a 3-0 series deficit against the Flyers.
Tocchet isn’t expecting Pittsburgh to be an easy bunch to eliminate.
“They’ve been down before,” the Flyers’ head coach said Thursday. “It’s a group that you’re going to have to stick a fork in them. I’m sure they’re reading clippings of teams that have come back from 3-0. I’d be doing the same thing. It can happen.”
In the history of the NHL playoffs, it has happened four times. The most recent team to do it was the Kings in the 2014 first round. Before that, it was the Flyers in the 2010 second round.
Tocchet’s club has reeled off three wins by a combined score of 11-4 to take a stranglehold of this first-round matchup with the Penguins. The Flyers will have a chance to sweep the series Saturday when they host Game 4 (8 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
“We believe in our group, we’ve believed in our group all year long,” Sean Couturier said after the Flyers’ 5-2 win in Game 3. “A lot of people counted us out all year. We stuck to the way we want to play. It’s just the belief in that room, we play for one another. We’ve come out pretty strong, but the job’s not done. There’s still a lot of work to do.”
The last time the Flyers swept a playoff series was 1995, when they took out the Rangers in the second round.
The Flyers were off the ice Friday. On Thursday, Tocchet liked his team’s focus.
“Trust me, we had a good practice today, we had a good meeting today,” Tocchet said. “I don’t see a lot of guys celebrating, going down Broad Street for any reason. We’re not even close to that. We know we’ve got a huge game coming up Saturday.”
Despite his team shutting out Pittsburgh, 3-0, in Game 2, Tocchet felt the Flyers had to play without the puck a lot. Essentially, he wanted them to hold onto it more so they would play less defense.
He thought the Flyers had stronger possession in Game 3. The Penguins’ two goals were on the power play.
“I think analytically, you can see it did improve,” Tocchet said Friday. “I still think there’s improvement on that again. You have the puck to skate and try to find options. And the time when you don’t have time, you have to make a smart play. We were better at it, it’s something that we always talk about. We’ve got to stay out of the box, you can’t give that team five power plays. We want to play 5-on-5 hockey and see where the game goes.”
Flyers’ introduction and starters as playoff hockey returns to Philly for first time since 2018. pic.twitter.com/cpABa7UsMG
“I think, for the most part, we’ve done a good job discipline-wise and we’ve talked about that throughout this month,” Tocchet said. “I think the guys have done a nice job. Listen, I’m not a big scrum guy. That narrative that we’re trying to slow the game and all these scrums, I’m not sure I see it that way.
“You want to hold your ground, but for me, when it’s over, get out of there. The scrums and stuff like that, to me, there’s a time and place for it. But we have to control our emotions, want the puck to be dropped and play the game the right way.”
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 26: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Sean Finucane/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The AL Central Defending Champs vs. The AL Pennant Defending Champs. Here we go
The Guardians are 14-12, 18th in wRC+ at 98, 27th in baserunning runs above average at -2.4, 10th in Defense at -0.4, eighth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.45 (4.14 FIP), and 24th in bullpen ERA at 4.81 (3.22 FIP).
The Blue Jays are 10-14, 21st in wRC+ at 96, 28th in baserunning runs above average at -2.7, seventh in defense at 3.6, 17th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.12 (3.79 FIP), and 22nd in bullpen ERA at 4.87 (4.32 FIP).
Matchups:
Game One: Friday, 7:07 PM ET: Gavin Williams, RHP 2.12 ERA vs. Max Scherzer, RHP, 7.16 ERA
Game Two: Saturday, 3:07 PM ET: Joey Cantillo, LHP 3.20 ERA vs. Kevin Gausman, 2.54 ERA
Game Three: Sunday, 1:37 PM ET: Slade Cecconi, RHP 6.20 ERA vs. Dylan Cease, RHP 2.10 ERA
It’s the Kevin Gausman Can Kick Rocks Series, folks. After Gausman hit Jose intentionally in the arm/hand last July, Jose went through a three-week slump as he nursed his injury. Gausman must pay with a Guardians six-spot. So let it be written, so let it be done.
The Chicago Blackhawks finished in 31st place, but they had a great start to the season. The promising year fell apart in early December when Connor Bedard went down with an injury. He missed some time, and the Blackhawks floundered after that.
Despite missing a portion of the season, Bedard finished with 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games. That is a pace of 89 points and 35 goals over an 82-game schedule. He hit somewhat of a wall in the final ten games, which kept his numbers from being even more prolific.
Part of his development will be finding ways to be healthy for the entire season and not hitting that wall towards the end. The latter is less likely to happen if the team is good and competing for the postseason. Bedard must be one of the catalysts in that quest.
Despite having his first 30-goal and point-per-game season in the NHL, Bedard is far from satisfied. He had a great year, but he doesn't see it that way.
"There's ups and downs," Bedard said. "I don't think I was good enough. I think there is a lot of room for me to grow. I haven't scored in 10, and we kind of struggled in the last bit, so maybe [I'm] a little more negative in the moment. Once [I] break things down, there were positives for myself and the team. [I] want to get better."
Last summer, Bedard skipped going to the World Championships in order to stay home and work on his skating and skills with the puck. It was noticeable right away that he put the work in, and the results speak for themselves.
If he doesn't hurt his shoulder on a freak play in St. Louis, he probably has an even more productive season. At the time of his injury, he was a top-five NHL scorer.
Bedard believes that there is room for him to improve, which is a good thing. No elite players are ever satiated by their current results. They always want better. The organization has a responsibility to keep providing him with the necessary resources to continue the upward trend.
"I thought Connor had an excellent year, to be honest with you," said head coach Jeff Blashill. "If you look at when he got hurt, he was one of the very best players in the league. My biggest thing with Connor isn't about points. It's about what his mindset was. His mindset is 100% on playing winning hockey and building this thing into a winning team more than anything else. Once I realized that, I was really pleased with his approach on a daily basis."
Between Bedard's reputation coming into his NHL career as a "hockey-obsessed" player, the work he put in last summer, and his praise from the coach, it is clear that he will continue to work towards greater heights.
"Has he been perfect? No," Blashill said. "Is he learning like every elite scorer that comes into the league, and how to do things and play that type of winning hockey every shift? Yes. He's committed to it. As long as his mindset is in that place, which it is, he'll continue to skyrocket as a player".
Bedard is already a top-20 center in the National Hockey League, and he isn't even 21 years old yet. Before long, he will reach a level of play that has him in that next tier. He may never be satisfied until they win the Stanley Cup, but they have a long way to go. The work is being put in for him to be the type of player who can lead that kind of team.
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Celtics
76ers
