CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a three-point basket made by Harden during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
James Harden and Donovan Mitchell combined for 68 points, Evan Mobley posted a balanced night with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers downed the visiting Orlando Magic 136-131 to inch one step closer to clinching a spot in the playoffs. Paolo Banchero paced the Magic with 36 points and Tristan Da Silva added 18 points and six rebounds.
The Cavs surrendered 39 points in the first quarter to an Orlando team that can only be regarded as pedestrian on that end of the floor. The Magic are 15th in points per game (115.4), 20th in field goal percentage (46.3), and 27th in three-point percentage (34.4). At the halfway point, the Magic were on pace for 136 points and were shooting 52% overall and 42% from deep, and they kept that going all the way to the finish. Cleveland’s defense left a lot to be desired, especially on close-outs and simply losing defenders off switches. There is some level of simply allowing open shots, and even a team like the Magic will make a team pay.
Orlando played the way they wanted to, and the Cavs did not impede them on that path all too much. They shot the ball beyond what they have all season and were able to play a physical brand of basketball that is meant to shake opposing teams out of their comfort zone. A lesser Cavs team would have crumbled under the pressure, but a better one probably would not have allowed themselves to be in this place from the start. Nevertheless, Cleveland pulled it together at the end
Mobley started off the game aggressively, plowing through defenders and seemingly making a concerted effort to maintain a level of momentum from the last few games. That fizzled out rather quickly, but his stat line was still respectable. It remains a work in progress, especially against a physical team like Orlando. He remained looking more like a big man, cleaning up shots and getting baby hooks to fall, instead of being a focal point. Which, in this case, when both guards were playing exceptionally well, is not as glaring.
Speaking of those guards, Mitchell and Harden carried the offensive workload all night. Mitchell led all scorers with 42 points and shot a blistering 63% from the floor. But his cold-blooded floater with 13.7 seconds left is what sealed the deal for the Cavs, using his body to generate just a window of daylight. For good measure, he then iced the game with two free throws.
Harden exhibited some of that legendary offensive superiority, demonstrating his ability to bend a defense at will. His passing is always a weapon seemingly everywhere on the floor, as he hit another touchdown pass to Dean Wade in the first quarter. But Harden also stayed in attack mode the whole night, something he did not do initially when traded to Cleveland. Several times he initiated a switch to get onto Goga Bitadze and, instead of trying to find a pocket, just attacked him head on. That lead to layups, fouls, or at least the defense had to respond by sending an extra defender.
The Cavs allowed the Magic to make it closer than it needed to be, but the result is the same: a key win in a close fight in the middle of the Eastern Conference.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Cavs, who will get Miami tomorrow night on the second half of a back-to-back. Tip is at 7:30 pm.
Mar 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) and Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) chat during the third inning of a spring training game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Dodgers failed to score a run in the final game of the Freeway Series against the Angels on Tuesday night, but Ohtani’s 11-strikeout performance provided reassurance that he is ready for regular season work out of the Dodgers rotation.
On the eve of MLB opening day, the Dodgers started the first frame strong with two strikeouts by Ohtani and a spinning throw from shortstop Mookie Betts to retire Nolan Schanuel.
Jack Kochanowicz was having a great game himself against the Dodgers offense. The right-hander struck out four through three scoreless innings.
Shohei reached double digits in strikeouts before the end of the fourth inning.
The Dodgers were hitless against Kochanowicz. Ohtani’s lead-off single in the bottom of the fourth against Nick Sandlin was the first base hit for the Dodgers on the night.
The Angels were the first to get on the board. Josh Lowe, Travis d’Arnaud, and Oswald Peraza hit three consecutive singles and drove in a run against Ohtani in the top of the fifth.
Ohtani allowed one run on four hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks on 86 pitches. Pitcher Ohani and hitter Ohtani both looked locked in.
Pitcher Ohtani struck out six straight Angels during one stretch of the game. This start felt quite different from his spring training debut on March 18 when Shohei Ohtani described his early outings as an “extension of a live BP (batting practice) situation.”
Ohtani looked season ready on the mound and at the plate, but the rest of Dave Roberts’ final spring game lineup for the didn’t convert a run all night.
Antoine Kelly took over for Ohtani and his two bases-loaded walks gave the Angels a 3-0 lead.
The Dodgers didn’t collect their second hit of the game until Max Muncy’s two-out double in the bottom half of the fifth. They stranded another two runners in the seventh.
Justin Wrobleski pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts in his final exhibition relief appearance.
The Cactus League champions wrap-up their spring schedule with a record of 20-9.
UP NEXT
Real baseball starts Thursday for the Dodgers when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks for the celebratory first series of the season. The opening game of the three-game series against the Snakes starts at 5:30 p.m. PT on NBC. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes on fellow right-hander Zac Gallen in the Dodgers home opener.
Dave Roberts offered only the slightest of hedges on Tuesday afternoon.
As he’s done all spring, the Dodgers manager reiterated that the team will be cautious with Shohei Ohtani’s workload in his return to full-time two-way duties this year.
On occasion, the club could look to give the four-time MVP extra days off between pitching outings or shorten his leash if it appears he is tiring during a start.
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani struck out 11 Tuesday in his final spring tune-up. AP
However, with Ohtani now two years removed from his second career Tommy John surgery, the hope is that the 31-year-old right-hander will be able to go wire-to-wire as a pitcher this year.
And if he does, Roberts has no doubts he will be a Cy Young candidate.
“Oh, yeah,” Roberts said. “Because of just talent, ability, will. If he does that, he’ll be in the conversation, absolutely. I have no doubt.”
Roberts only had to wait a few hours to have his faith further confirmed.
In Ohtani’s last tune-up of the spring, the one-of-a-kind superstar once again looked superb.
Though Ohtani’s final line was four-plus innings and three runs allowed, it belied the dominance he displayed for most of the night.
In Ohtani’s last tune-up of the spring, the one-of-a-kind superstar once again looked superb. AP
Against the Angels’ likely Opening Day lineup, he struck out 11 batters and allowed only one hit before the fifth. Of the 35 swings the Angels took against him, 17 resulted in whiffs and only one netted a hard-hit ball of at least 95 mph.
All those K’s ballooned Ohtani’s pitch count, forcing him from the game at 86 pitches after three straight singles to lead off the fifth. Entering the night, Roberts said the goal was to get Ohtani into the sixth.
Still, when he walked off the rubber, the Angels had managed only one run against him, and a sparse Chavez Ravine crowd was giving him a standing ovation.
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“He’s ready to go,” Roberts said. “The intensity was there. The focus was there. And the execution and all that stuff was there.”
Ohtani will next take the rubber for his regular-season pitching debut next Tuesday against the Guardians.
It will be the start of what he hopes is his first complete season as a pitcher since joining the Dodgers –– and perhaps a run at the one piece of hardware he has yet to win in his decorated career.
Ohtani will next take the rubber for his regular-season pitching debut next Tuesday against the Guardians. AP
Here are four other takeaways from the Dodgers’ spring finale:
Cactus champs: Even with a 3-0 loss to the Angels on Tuesday night, the Dodgers clinched the best spring record among Cactus League teams with a 20-9-2 mark –– not that it means much to the two-time defending World Series champions. “Not at all,” Roberts joked this week when asked if he cared about his team’s spring title. “Unless it’s a correlation to winning the World Series.”
Wrobo relief: Justin Wrobleski will start the season as a bulk reliever who will likely piggyback with Ohtani (or Roki Sasaki if he struggles to pitch deep into games). On Tuesday, he looked perfectly comfortable in the role, coming out of the bullpen to retire all 12 batters he faced over four perfect innings with five strikeouts. Wrobleski can also serve as the Dodgers’ sixth starter when needed.
Caught my eye: A big reason Santiago Espinal made the Opening Day roster was because of his strong and versatile defense. On Tuesday, he put it on display by making two impressive plays on ground balls: one at second base and another after later moving to third.
Up next: The Dodgers are off Wednesday before kicking off their 2026 campaign with Thursday’s Opening Day game against the Diamondbacks.
There's no bait to be taken by the Nashville Predators from the Sharks as they picked up their 14th straight win over San Jose, 6-3, on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.
Wild Card Standings Update
WC1: Utah - 80 PTS (vs. Edmonton)
WC2: Nashville - 77 PTS (vs. San Jose, W 6-3)
1. Los Angeles - 74 PTS (at Calgary, L/SO 3-2)
2. Seattle - 72 PTS (at Florida, L/SO 5-4)
3. Winnipeg - 72 PTS (vs. Vegas, W 4-1)
4. San Jose - 70 PTS (at Nashville, L 6-3)
Red hot start
One of the most criticized aspects of the Predators' season has been their starts, as they've either been outshot or given up the first goal in the majority of their matchups.
That was not the case against the Sharks as the Predators netted five goals in the first 20 minutes of the game, tying a franchise record for most goals scored in the first period.
The record was originally set in an 8-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 28, 2009.
"I really liked our mindset in the 1st period," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "We got off on the right foot. We've had so many of these conversations in this room about not starting right. We started on time, and we got to our game pretty quickly."
Filip Forsberg was a massive part of that effort, recording a goal and an assist in that first period. He'd add a primary assist on a Steven Stamkos power play goal in the second period for three points on the night.
Forsberg now has 12 points (5 goals and seven assists) in five games and was named the NHL's 2nd Star of the Week on Monday. With 11 games left, he's eyeing a third straight 70-plus point season, recording 62 so far.
"Everyone came ready to play," Forsberg said. "Obviously, we're getting rewarded, which is nice. We did a lot of the right things, got on their defensemen and got pucks back. It set the tone for the rest of the time."
Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista and Brady Skjei all got involved in the scoring as well in the first frame. Skjei scored just his second goal of the season and first since Dec. 9.
"I've had some looks and just haven't gone in this year," Skjei said on his scoring. "We're just talking about hopefully, the floodgates will open a little bit here at the end of the season."
A push from Marchy
Jonathan Marchessault's production has risen as of late, after inconsistent play throughout the season.
The 35-year-old forward has 25 points in 51 games, but eight of them have come in just March alone. Against the Sharks, he had three assists and now has seven points in the last five games.
"I'm playing better hockey and part of a team that's trying to make a push for a playoff spot," Marchessault said. "Everybody has a great mentality and is in a great spot in the lineup. We're playing good hockey right now."
A lot of credit for Marchessault's production spike goes to a new line centered by Wood and Forsberg, opposite Marchessault on the wing. The trio has generated five goals over the last five games.
"It makes a big difference," Marchessault said. Fil (Forsberg) is an amazing world-class player, but Woody is the one who facilitates a little bit of everything for Fil and me. He's low and slow in the middle, always available, and we have a lot more possession in the pocket."
Staying in the race
Mar 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Nashville jumps to 77 points after winning its fourth straight game, now eyeing a first Wild Card spot, within three points of the Utah Mammoth.
While the Predators are in a very different place than they were at the beginning of the year, Brunette still references last season and how the team's mindset has not changed since then.
Nearing the playoffs, the Predators are not so much viewing themselves as underdogs as a squad out to prove they are finally living up to the potential promised last season.
"Our mindset from the end of last year to today has been the same," Brunette said. "You can always get the results, but we were out to prove that last year was a little bit of an apparition, that we're better than what we showed. Full credit to the group when the waters got a little rough there early. We dug in even deeper, and we stayed with it, and we didn't abandon ship."
In a game with major postseason stakes against a shorthanded opponent, the Detroit Red Wings fell short of rising to the occasion on home ice.
The Ottawa Senators, who entered the contest trailing Detroit by a single point in the standings, leapfrogged them with a 3-2 victory at Little Caesars Arena.
The Senators, who are 8-2 in their last 10 games, now have 85 points on the season compared to Detroit's 84.
The Red Wings entered the contest on the outside looking in at the postseason, with a 51 percent chance of advancing at puck drop. A regulation win would have raised those odds to 66 percent, but the loss dropped them to 37 percent.
Making the setback even more difficult to stomach for the Red Wings, who welcomed back team captain Dylan Larkin after a seven-game absence, the Senators had played the night before in Manhattan, and were also missing top defensemen Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot.
Instead, it was a rookie by the name of Carter Yakemchuk who made his NHL debut a memorable one.
Yakemchuk picked up his first NHL point by assisting on Brady Tkachuk's power-play goal, giving the Senators a 1-0 lead in the first period just minutes after the Red Wings had a would-be power-play goal of their own disallowed after replays showed they were offside.
Yakemchuk then tallied his first NHL goal early in the second period, beating goaltender John Gibson through a screen after the Red Wings failed to clear the puck.
Not long after that, veteran Lars Eller increased Ottawa's lead to 3-0, beating Gibson glove side from in close. At that point, boos began to rain down from the increasingly restless sellout crowd of Red Wings fans.
They soon had a reason to cheer, as Dominik Shine redirected a pass from Simon Edvinsson past Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark, giving them a spark of hope.
Larkin buried a power-play goal early in the third period, bringing Detroit back to within a goal and bringing the energy back into the venue.
Unfortunately, it's as close as they would get. Not only did Detroit fail to convert on a critical power-play opportunity late in regulation, but they also had three prime scoring chances denied by Ullmark in the waning moments.
Detroit struggled to gain the zone on the ensuing power play, which came after Ridley Greig leveled rookie Emmitt Finnie along the half-wall. Finnie remained down on the ice for several moments and needed assistance from trainer Piet VanZant to get off; he was subsequently placed in concussion protocol.
There are still 11 games remaining in the regular season for the Red Wings, who now head on the road for a fourth straight divisional matchup, this time against the first-place Buffalo Sabres, the NHL's hottest team and biggest surprise story since mid-December.
While there is still a path for the Red Wings to break their playoff drought, their margin of error continues to shrink by the day.
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The Winnipeg Jets have found another win. Thanks to goals from Kyle Connor, Alex Iafallo, Cole Perfetti and Mark Scheifele, the Jets took care of the visiting Vegas Golden Knights thanks in large part to a strong performance from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
“We always say as a team, bend, don't break," Perfetti said post-game.
"So other teams are going to get chances. They're going to get sustained o-zone time. But as long as we don't break and stay within our system and everyone's still pulling in the same direction, we're going to get out of it and we'll be fine. And I think tonight was a good example of that.”
The Jets needed a full 10 minutes to find their first shot on goal of the game, falling behind Vegas 9-0 in the early stages.
Photo by Danny Truong
But somehow it took until the 17-minute mark for either team to actually find the twine. And believe it or not, despite being heavily outshot in the frame, it was Winnipeg that got on the board first.
Connor blasted home his 32nd of the season following a strong offensive play on the blueline from defenceman Josh Morrissey. After shaking his defender, Morrissey found Connor all alone, cross-ice, who one-timed the puck past Adin Hill for the 1-0 marker.
The Jets did trail the visitors on the shot chart after 20 minutes, but hung onto the late goal to remain ahead where it mattered most.
The middle stanza saw an offensive explosion from Winnipeg, which got two more goals in the frame.
The first came off the stick of Iafallo, who capitalized on a brutal Shea Theodore turnover, putting the puck past Hill, top corner 2:08 in.
Then, just 1:58 later, it was Perfetti who tapped home a perfect saucer pass from linemate Gabe Vilardi on a two-on-one. This time it was Vilardi who flicked the puck over the sprawling Theodore, making it 3-0 Winnipeg just 4:06 into the second period.
With Iafallo in the box for removing the helmet of Jeremy Lauzon, the Vegas power play finally got on the board. Colton Sissons was the last Golden Knight to touch the puck before it trickled past Hellebuyck, cutting Winnipeg's lead to two goals.
Late in the period, Scheifele took exception to a hit by Oakbank's Brett Howden on linemate Kyle Connor. He dropped the gloves in defence of his teammate for just the 10th time of his career.
“Obviously, you don't want a guy like Scheif fighting very often," Perfetti said of his teammate.
"But when the opportunity presents itself like that, Howden takes a pretty good run at KC and Scheif’s right there. I mean, he's obviously not afraid to jump in and that shows a lot about him and our team and our culture. And we're all in this together. We're sticking with it. We're a team. We're a family in here. No matter the score, the outcome, where we are in the standings, whatever it is, we're going to be in this fight together. And I think when one of your best players does that, it really shows that.”
The Golden Knights remained ahead 21-16 in shots entering the third period.
Brad Lambert had the best chance of the first half of the third period, to which his strong net drive resulted in a heavy collision with Hill and the puck rattling off the crossbar and out of harm's way, keeping the teams stuck at the two-goal differential.
With Dylan Samberg in the box for high sticking, the Golden Knights pulled Hill for the extra attacker, but the Jets managed to hold off the six-on-four disadvantage, with Connor finding Scheifele for the empty-net marker as time ticked down on the clock, sealing the deal for Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck turned aside 26 of the 27 pucks sent his way by Vegas, while Adin Hill made 17 stops on 20 Winnipeg shots on goal.
Next up for Winnipeg is the first of two-straight games against the league leading Colorado Avalanche in the Thursday night home test.
OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns were having bigger nights scoring-wise at the time, but with the game in the balance, the Knicks went to old reliable Jalen Brunson.
And he delivered a late-game takeover. How often have we seen this script?
Brunson scored 10 straight Knicks points — and 15 of their last 18 — late in the fourth quarter, carrying the Knicks in crunch time en route to a 121-116 win over the Pelicans on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. It marked the Knicks’ seventh straight win — tying their second-longest win streak of the season.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 21 points, goes up for a shot as Zion Williamson defends during the Knicks’ 121-116 win over the Pelicans on March 24, 2026 at the Garden. Jason Szenes for New York Post
“Just trying to be myself,” Brunson said. “Stick to my habits, focus on my work ethic, what’s gotten me here. And keep it that way.”
Brunson assisted a Josh Hart layup during that stretch as well, meaning he had a hand in 17 of the Knicks’ final 18 points. Brunson finished with a game-high 32 points and seven assists.
“That’s the position that I know he likes to be in,” Hart said. “We want him in that position. You learn, when you watch this game and you play this game, the last three or four minutes of a game is winning time. That’s when your players, your superstars, your main guys go out there and show why they’re at that level.
“That’s what he did.”
It also helped that the Knicks hit 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter and 20 of 22 overall.
They also had a 14-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Jalen Brunson, who scored 32 points, celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during the first quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Pelicans at the Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
After entering just a half-game behind the Celtics in the standings for the No. 2 seed in the East, the win creates a virtual tie, though the Knicks’ winning percentage (.658) is a few points lower than the Celtics’ (.662). If the Celtics lose Wednesday to the Thunder, the Knicks would jump ahead of them.
Coach Mike Brown had warned of the Pelicans’ ability to play fast before the game, and it certainly came to fruition. A fast-paced first half saw the Knicks struggle defensively before they were able to slow it down a bit in the second half.
Zion Williamson, who torched the Knicks for 32 points the last time the teams met, had 22 points on an efficient 8-for-10 from the field. But he didn’t take over the game.
Towns and Anunoby spent plenty of time on him, but Anunoby was particularly effective — he both blocked and stripped him during the fourth quarter.
It’s fitting that seven players scored in double digits for the Knicks’ seventh straight win. Anunoby and Towns each finished with 21 points, though Anunoby only had three in the second half.
Mitchell Robinson made an impact off the bench with 10 points and eight rebounds — four of them offensive.
Mikal Bridges added 14 points — just three in the second half — and Hart and Jordan Clarkson each had 10.
As a whole, the Knicks shot an impressive 51.8 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from 3-point range.
“It was a funky game,” Brown said. “Both teams offensively were really good, nobody could really get a stop.”
Josh Hart, who scored 10 points and added eight rebounds, drives pass Zion Williamson during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Pelicans at the Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
But the balanced scoring attack became a Brunson scoring attack when it mattered most.
“Great players,” Brown said, “when it counts the most, when the pressure is the highest, they make the game easier for everyone else.”
Though they’re pretty low in the standings, the Pelicans are not nearly as sorry as the bottom feeders — comprised of G-Leaguers — that the Knicks had largely faced during the first six games of their winning streak.
The Pelicans entered having won five of their prior seven games and Williamson, when healthy and available, is still a top-level talent. And without a first-round pick this year, they have no incentive to tank.
Trailing by one roughly nine minutes into the game, the Knicks ripped off a 15-0 run to end the first quarter and take a 14-point lead into the second quarter.
But the Pelicans began the period on an 18-2 run and took the lead. The Knicks then stabilized and by halftime led by six.
They were outscored by five in the third quarter and took a one-point lead into the fourth. When Brunson checked back in with 7:25 left in the game, as so often happens, it became his show.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 29: Dillon Brooks #3, Devin Booker #1 and Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns pressure Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 29, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mar 24, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) reacts after scoring. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
As the road trip continues, the Colorado Avalanche made a stop in Pittsburgh to get revenge on the Penguins for the ugly 7-2 loss from a week ago. This game was neatly the exact opposite of that game as the Avalanche scored early and often to take a 6-2 win in Pittsburgh.
Prior to the contest it was a day of roster movement as both Ross Colton and Logan O’Connor entered the lineup in return from injury, with the latter making his 2025-26 season debut. Because the infirmary is always a revolving door, Nicolas Roy was a surprise late scratch with an upper-body injury.
A fast start is what the Avalanche needed and received as Nathan MacKinnon completely undressed Parker Wortherspoon on the blueline and deposited a breakaway goal over Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs. That lead didn’t last long, however, as Samuel Girard setup Egor Chinakhov for Pittsburgh on a long shot that Brent Burns tipped snuck by Scott Wedgewood.
Any thought that this game would be hotly contested soon evaporated as the Avalanche scored three goals in the last five minutes of the first period. First, Sam Malinski broke his 38-game scoreless drought to give Colorado the lead. Then Martin Nečas co to Jed his power play prowess with a one-timer goal from his new spot at the left circle. Finally, with Nazem Kadri centering the third line and in a hard-working shift Parker Kelly scored the fourth and final Avalanche goal of the period 35 second later. A 4-1 lead at the first intermission made quite the statement.
In the second period it appeared there was a sign of life for Pittsburgh when Justin Brazeau scored but Devon Toews collided with a Penguin right into the crease and disturbed Wedgewood. Jared Bednar challenged for goaltender interference and actually won, taking the goal off the board.
The second period was actually very low-event with only 11 shots generated between the two teams. One of Colorado’s six shots, though, was Martin Nečas continuing his tear and netting his second goal of the night just before the second intermission to put Colorado up 5-1.
Someone said the third period still had to be played, which it did. Colorado killed a 5-on-3 for over a minute. Pittsburgh did get their second goal late in the period from Rickard Rakell when the puck took a big bounce behind the net and then Cale Makar helped sent it out to the net front and Rakell pounced on the loose puck. That momentum was short-lived as Ross Colton found the empty net to make it a 6-2 final for Colorado.
Takeaways
Surprisingly Logan O’Connor didn’t get eased back into action as he played just over 15 minutes in this contest. It was nice having him available for the penalty kill and he picked up an assist on Parker Kelly’s goal but it will be worth monitoring how O’Connor holds up over the next several games.
Upcoming
One final game on the road, back to visit the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday March 26th at 6 p.m. MT.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 09: Michael Busch #29 of the Chicago Cubs hits a home run in the eighth inning of Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good evening from all of us here at BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re all getting excited around here as the season is about to start. Come on in and sit with us for a while. We’ll waive the cover charge. We’ve got a patio set up in case you want to sit outside. We still have a few tables inside if you want. The hostess will seat you now. Come have a drink with us, but it’s bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night I asked you who should get the most time in right field until Seiya Suzuki returns from injury. Thirty-five percent of you would put Michael Conforto out there and 31 percent said Dylan Carlson. Another 20 percent said Kevin Alcántara should get a shot and just 13 percent said Matt Shaw.
On Tuesday nights/Wednesday mornings, I don’t normally do a movie essay. However, last night I posted our regular BCB After Dark just 20 minutes before the news on Pete Crow-Armstrong came out. So I think it may have gotten overlooked, so if you’d like to take a look at what I wrote about Man with a Movie Camera, I’d appreciate it. But in any case, it’s time to break for jazz, so if you skip that, we’ll catch you on the other end.
Last night we featured the Jazz Crusaders playing The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby.” So I heard from some of you—like you over in the corner—who said “The Rolling Stones were better.” OK. That may have been just the voices in my head, but the point still stands.
So tonight we’re featuring vocalist Lisa Fischer singing “Gimme Shelter” with the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018. That’s the Georgia that has a Tbilisi in it, not the one with an Atlanta.
Fischer has toured extensively with the Stones and regularly sings the Merry Clayton part of this song live opposite Mick, so she knows this tune well.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music.
Michael Busch is one of the best-hitting first basemen in the majors. Last year, he hit .272/.356/.554 with 30 home runs in 497 plate appearances. That’s pretty close to what Freddie Freeman did last year. Freeman put up a line of .295/.367/.502 with just 24 home runs over 627 plate appearances.
Except that I cheated there. Did you catch it? I compared Busch’s line against right-handed pitching to Freeman’s overall line. But the point is that against right-handers, Busch has more power and almost as much on-base skills as Freeman, whom I would argue is still the best first baseman in the National League. That’s true even if you look at just Freeman’s line against right-handers. (.299/.374/.500)
Cubs manager Craig Counsell didn’t give Busch much of a chance against left-handed pitching last year. He rarely started against lefties and most of the time faced left-handed middle relievers whom he only got one look at. Busch didn’t do too well when he did face a lefty, hitting just .207/.274/.368 with four home runs in 175 plate appearances.
But the Cubs are clearly preparing for Plan B if Busch fails to get better against left-handers. They signed first baseman Tyler Austin over the winter in what looked to be a clear option against left-handers at first base. Unfortunately for the Cubs and for Austin, he’s going to miss at least half the season after knee surgery.
But there are other options for first base if Busch falters. Miguel Amaya has experience in the minor leagues at first base at least in the minor leagues. So does Moisés Ballesteros, although he’s also a left-handed hitter. Ian Happ has played a few games at first. And while neither Michael Conforto nor Dylan Carlson have any real experience at first, I’m sure they could learn to play there. First base is not that hard. Tell ‘em Wash.
So my question tonight is not whether Busch should be platooned. We can’t possibly know that until the Cubs give him a bigger opportunity to hit left-handers. But what I am asking you is how optimistic are you that he’ll be able to adjust and stay there all season. Do you think come August, will Busch still be starting regularly against lefties? Or will the Cubs be forced to look for other options because he just won’t improve enough to keep putting him out there.
By “everyday,” I don’t mean that Counsell might not give him a day off against Chris Sale. But I am meaning that he’ll get the strong majority of starts against lefties throughout the season.
Thanks for stopping by tonight. Please get home safely. We wouldn’t want you to miss Opening Day. Clean up around your table. Don’t forget anything. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Phil Horton scored 18 points, Jailen Anderson added 16 and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) beat Langston (Okla.) 76-71 on Tuesday night for its second NAIA championship in three seasons.
Top-seeded Freed-Hardeman (35-1) won its 32nd straight game to secure the program's first Red Banner since 2024 — also against Langston.
Horton gave Freed-Hardeman a 71-61 lead with 2:37 left before Langston battled back.
Langston freshman Jaden Williams converted a three-point play, following an offensive rebound, with 14.5 seconds left to pull within 74-71. After a timeout, Freed-Hardeman ran off some time before Lane Lauderbaugh was fouled and made two free throws to seal it.
DJ McIntyre had 14 points for Freed-Hardeman. Anderson scored 10 of his points at the free-throw line to help Freed-Hardeman go 23 for 26.
Orlando Thomas scored 20 points and Antonio Lewis added 10 for No. 4 seed Langston (29-8), which was battling for the Red Banner for the second time in three years. The Lions shot 51% from the field despite going 4 of 14 from 3-point range.
Rico Sain made a putback shot just before the halftime buzzer to give Freed-Hardeman a 33-30 lead at the break. Horton led his team with 10 first-half points.
Tajahri Cave gave Langston its last lead at 53-52 with 9:54 left.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks receives the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 24, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Two teams with palindromic records squared off at Madison Square Garden tonight. One team sits three slots down from the top of their conference, while the other is five up from the bottom of theirs. The distance between the clubs is misleading, though. With Zion Williamson sporting the physique of a Marvel hero, Dejounte Murray finally back from injury, and Jordan Poole riding the pine, the Pelicans (25-48) are a much more dangerous team than their statistics suggest. After the home team piled on a 14-point first-half lead, tonight’s contest swung back and forth and stayed close until late in the final frame. Thanks to Captain Clutch dropping 15 in the fourth, the Knicks (48*-25) escaped the Birds, 121-116, and extended their win streak to seven. Good times in Gotham!
With two Knicks turnovers in the first three minutes, the game got off to a choppy start. The Pels took an early lead. Zion Williamson (22 PTS) drew multiple defenders on the offensive end and did a good job of harassing Jalen Brunson (32 PTS, 7 AST) on at least one possession. Dejounte Murray (7 PTS, 12 AST), playing just his 11th game back since returning from a torn Achilles tendon, did an adequate job guarding Brunson, too. NOLA might have the league’s 24th-ranked defense, but they’re ninth for steals, and the Knicks seemed surprised by their aggression.
Early on, OG Anunoby (21 PTS, 3 STL, 5-13 3PT) drove New York’s offense with an array of scores (a threeball, a dunk, free throws). New Orleans did a slightly better job of spreading the love, though, with Saddiq Bey (18 PTS) and Herbert Jones (13 PTS, 6 AST) combining for 11 of their 16-14 lead midway through the frame.
Around the 5:30 mark, coach Mike Brown subbed in Jordan Clarkson (10 PTS, 5 AST) and Mitchell Robinson (11 PTS, 8 RBS) for Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns (your NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for February). In a little over a minute, the trusty reserves connected for an alley-oop and grabbed three boards between them, helping to give New York its first lead of the game. Soon after, Clarkson jumped the passing lane for a pick-six, then tossed another alley-oop to Mitch. With three pointers from Brunson and Anunoby, the Knicks completed a 20-point turnaround to take a 42-28 lead into the second quarter.
This Knicks offense is firing on ALL CYCLINDERS. 🔥
Brunson shakes. OG dish to the paint. Clarkson throws it up… Mitch SLAMS it.
Our heroes fell prey to overconfidence, missing seven shots and turning the ball over thrice while rookie Jeremiah Fears (21 PTS, 2 STL, 20 MIN) sparked a 21-6 run for the Birds. Jones and Karlo Matković (12 PTS) helped, too. New York didn’t get a bucket until Mikal Bridges (14 PTS, 7 AST) hit an 11-footer at the 6:41 mark. The Knicks fell behind but reclaimed a slim lead when Anunoby drilled his fourth three-pointer of the half with five minutes to go.
Bridges stepped out of the shadows for a pair of big buckets and an assist to lead a rally that gave the Knicks a seven-point lead with 40 seconds left. Then Murray grabbed a Towns (21 PTS, 14 RBS) miss and dished an alley-oop to Trey Murphy that cut the half-time score to 66-60.
Despite their awful start to Q2, the Knicks were in control at intermission because they’d been cleaner, more efficient, and better on the glass. They shot 57% overall and 53% (10-of-19) from downtown, and had a 21-15 rebounding edge. Their defense could have been better, as evidenced by New Orleans making 51% from the field and 47% from yard and committing just four turnovers. Anunoby led the first-half scoring with 18, and Jones logged 11 for the guests.
James Borrego’s club came out of halftime with a mandate to better incorporate Williamson and Murphy. Leading a rally that reclaimed the lead, Zion was a bull with frequent drives and trips to the line. Trey added eight points in the period, including a pair of deep threes, and Murray steered the ship, distributing dimes and initiating action.
For the Knicks, Towns kept things steady inside, scoring (putback dunk, hook shot, layup, free throw) and cleaning the glass. Anunoby and Mikal Bridges hit big threes, and Brunson was active but inefficient with several misses. Josh Hart (10 PTS, 8 RBS) did his usual dirty work (rebounds, a mid-range jumper). But if the Knicks planned to win, the battles would be fought at the rim. Fittingly, an alley-oop toss from Brunson to Robinson gave our heroes a one-point lead at the quarter’s conclusion.
Perhaps sensing that more length was needed, Coach Brown fielded Mohamed Diawara to start the fourth quarter. His driving finger-roll past three defenders was the first bucket of the period, and the rookie found Towns on the next possession for a three-pointer. I cannot wait to watch this kid develop.
With the Knicks holding onto a four-point lead, rookie Derik Queen violated Hart’s landing space on a three-point shot. Josh missed it, but the foul preserved his streak of nine-straight makes, and he canned the three freebies. No lead was safe tonight, though. Back-to-back buckets by Jones and Fears cut the differential to three with plenty of time remaining. Fears, an Oklahoma alum and the seventh pick in the draft, showed a lot of promise off the bench. NOLA might have something there.
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 25, 2026
One strategy change was to have Bridges bring the ball up the court and let Brunson conserve some energy. The coach’s adjustment yielded dividends, with Brunson scoring the Knicks next six points. Still, they had no answer for the 19-year-old Fears, as the young dynamo scored five points, stole the ball from Bridges, and fired an assist to Bey on a breakaway. Two-point game with four-and-a-half left.
After Captain Clutch added two more buckets, Bey hit free throws, and Hart and Zion cancelled each other out, the score was 115-111 with 1:41 to go. With every point counting, Jones mouthed off to the ref over a foul on Brunson and gifted the Knicks a technical. Brunson cashed in the three-bies for a seven-point advantage.
A Zion and-one, a missed Hart free-throw, and a Murphy layup made it a three-point game with 17 seconds left. Borrego’s bunch stopped the clock with a take foul on Brunson. He made both to seal the win.
Quoth foiegrastyle, “Mitch and Zion talkin food I know it.” I can only imagine the sundy and sordid topics about which those two cowboys might have been conversing. Someone please pitch Hula a Zion-Mitch reality show that follows them on cross-country excursions. That’s an Emmy-award-winning idea, right there.
Up Next
New York has nine games left before the playoffs. They visit Charlotte (yeah, yeah, I double-checked) on Thursday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
MESA, Ariz. — The time on the baseball calendar when the Yankees are truly judged is still seven months away.
But under mounting pressure and expectations with another season gone by without a trip to the Canyon of Heroes, the Yankees will once again take what they hope is their first step toward that Wednesday with Opening Day against the Giants.
Entering the franchise’s 17th season since it last won a championship, the Yankees feel as good about this roster — and the depth behind it, especially with significant pieces nearing returns from the injured list — as they have in years.
Of course, Aaron Boone felt that way about the group he took into the postseason last year and that October run only made it to Game 4 of the ALDS, when they took a final punch from the Blue Jays.
Now they begin again, searching for a different ending, with 162 games to play to buy their ticket back to the dance.
“October is a long way away,” Boone said Tuesday morning at Sloan Park before the Yankees wrapped up their spring schedule against the Cubs. “Obviously, we want to get there and play in it and be the last team, but there’s just so many things you got to go through as a team to give yourself a chance to be in that position.
“It’s San Francisco Giants right now and opening on the West Coast and trying to get off to a good start in the overreaction week of the season, whether we start off good, bad [or] indifferent.”
There is pressure on Boone, entering his ninth season on the job, to finally have something to show for all the winning the Yankees have done in the regular season under his watch.
A smiling Aaron Boone looks on during the Yankees’ 8-3 win over the Cubs in their spring training finale on March 24, 2026. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
There is pressure on Aaron Judge, the back-to-back AL MVP who has accomplished just about everything in this game besides capturing the one thing that defines the Yankees’ greats: championships.
And there is pressure on Brian Cashman, entering his 29th season as general manager (and again the final year of his contract), to concoct the right mix of talent to add another World Series title to his resume.
There is little they can do about those legacies right now. But at least entering the regular season, the Yankees have put themselves in a strong position to take another swing.
“Look, I caution that it’s only camp, but we’ve had a hell of a camp,” Boone said. “We’ve had a lot of the answers we were hoping to get, knock on wood a lot of really good health and a lot of guys that are on their way back, trending in a really good direction with their rehab. I feel like the young players that are going to be future cores of this, maybe sooner rather than later, really showed well. And I feel like we’re going to have competition brewing for opportunities throughout the year because of our depth right now.
“But that’s camp, nobody cares about camp 10 days from now into the season and rolling. It’s about the 162 now and we’re excited to get after it.”
One of the ultimate wild cards that could change the fortunes of the Yankees’ season — and alter the run-it-back narrative that followed them throughout the offseason — took the mound again Tuesday at Sloan Park, taking the next step toward a potential May return.
Aaron Judge is all smiles during the Yankees spring training loss to the Cubs on March 23, 2026. AP
Gerrit Cole, after that 26-pitch outing, was asked about his club entering the season and immediately reached for a bat in the bag next to him so he could knock on the wooden barrel.
“Remarkably healthy spring,” said Cole, who has looked sharp in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. “That’s really encouraging. I think the balance of the roster is good. I liked it last year. The depth of the roster is good, especially starting pitching, especially position player depth. I’m sure some of the length guys, the bridge guys bolstering the bullpen at some point. All-around looks really promising.
“At the same time, every year, it’s so early, whatever’s on paper, you put yourself in a good position to have championship aspirations. That’s the blessing of playing for the Yankees, but at the end of the day, you got to play. You got to execute. So we’ll see where it takes us. But as far as what we can do right now, everybody’s healthy, everybody’s feeling good, and that’s a great place to start.”
The Chicago Blackhawks had a lot of hype and excitement surrounding their Tuesday night matchup against the New York Islanders. The reason for that was the pending NHL debut of their top prospect, Anton Frondell.
Due to the morning skate, we knew that Frondell would start on the first line and top power play unit. His play in the SHL (and World Junior Championships) earned him a reputation that warrants that type of respect.
Head coach Jeff Blashill started that top line against the Islanders, and Connor Bedard let Anton Frondell take the opening face-off. His NHL career was officially underway from that moment on.
The first shift of the game didn't go as anyone wanted, however, as the Islanders scored right away. Matthew Schaefer, who went first overall two picks before Frondell in the 2025 NHL Draft, took a shot that was deflected in by Anders Lee.
New York's lead lasted for just over half a period, however, and that was it. Nick Lardis tied it at 12:46 of the first. After Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi failed to convert a 2-0 breakaway, the former found Lardis in the slot for the goal.
At 18:06, a special hockey moment took place, as Anton Frondell earned his first career NHL point with an assist on an Ilya Mikheyev goal. Frondell made a solid defensive play, used Connor Bedard as a decoy, and sprung Mikheyev, who didn't miss his chance.
Bedard grabbed that puck and kept it for Frondell to keep as a memory forever. It's a moment that he'll never forget, but it also put his incredible skills that he has on display.
Before the period ended, Tyler Bertuzzi scored his 29th of the season to give the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead. He did what he does best and made good work of his net-front presence to jam the puck home.
That score held through the first period, and the Blackhawks scored the only goal of the second period. Nick Lardis, who was already working on a two-point night, won a puck battle on a strong forecheck, fed Frank Nazar, and watched the puck go in the net.
This play probably should have been icing on the Blackhawks, but Lardis's hustle forced the linesman to make a bad non-call. He made his own luck on the play with his effort, and Nazar was the beneficiary. Putting them together on the second line appears to be a Jeff Blashill masterclass.
With a 4-1 lead for the Blackhawks entering the final frame, things got a little scary for them. The Islanders scored twice to make it 4-3, and they had a power play with under two minutes left and the goalie on the bench.
Arvid Soderblom stood tall in the final moments of the match, and he was incredible again all game. After facing 49 shots in the loss on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche, he faced 47 on this night against the Islanders. He made 44 saves on those 47 shots to preserve the win.
Hanging onto late leads has been a sore spot for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, but they prevailed in this one. This young group will have opportunities to play spoiler as the season winds down, and they did that to the Islanders, who are trying to lock down a postseason berth.
More On Anton Frondell
In addition to his first career NHL point, Frondell had two blocks, two shots, one hit, and 0 giveaways in 15:43 of ice time. He broke up plays, generated offense, and improved the overall makeup of the forward group right away. It won't be long before he is one of the most impactful forwards on the entire team.
The Chicago Blackhawks will be back in action again on Thursday night when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers in game two of their four-game road trip. Anton Frondell made his NHL debut in Tuesday night's game, and Sacha Boisvert will make his in Thursday night's game.
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