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Celtics vs Hornets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Charlotte Hornets host the Boston Celtics a day after having their five-game winning streak — both straight up and ATS — snapped by Philadelphia on Saturday.

Just a half game separates teams No. 8 through 10 in the Eastern Conference Play-In race, so this game will be critical for Charlotte, currently in the 10th spot.

It doesn’t seem as critical for Boston, which has a lengthy injury report heading into the showdown. That’s why my Celtics vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks look for the Hornets to cover as home dogs.

Celtics vs Hornets prediction

Celtics vs Hornets best bet: Hornets +1 (-110)

The Charlotte Hornets have stepped up against highly rated opponents this season. The Hornets are 12-8 ATS as a home dog and 27-17 ATS in all games as an underdog. The Hornets also recorded covers against No. 3 New York, No. 8 Orlando, and No. 9 Miami on their recent hot streak.

The Boston Celtics, meanwhile, enter coming off back-to-back covers, but the Celtics seem to be treating Sunday’s game as a load management day. Starting a four-game road trip, as well as this being the first night of a back-to-back, Boston has three of its top four scorers listed as questionable.

Jayson Tatum will be a game-time decision as the team manages his recovery from the major injury. All-Star Jaylen Brown (28.6 points) missed Friday’s game with Achilles tendonitis and is questionable again Sunday.

Derrick White (17.1 points) played after being questionable with a knee contusion on Friday. He has the same status as does 9.8-point scorer Neemias Queta, who also played Friday.

The short-handed Celtics could have trouble on the perimeter. Charlotte has made the most 3-pointers in the NBA and has the third-best accuracy from three. Boston’s defense is in the bottom half of the league in both categories, even when everyone is suited up and healthy.

Charlotte has covered its last three against the Top-4 seeds in the East, including a 29-point win in Boston earlier this month.

Celtics vs Hornets same-game parlay

Both teams rank in the Bottom 6 in pace of play, and their recent games have shown that they aren’t speeding up for the stretch run. Boston has gone Under in three of the last four. Charlotte is on a streak of four straight Unders and has gone Under in seven of 10.

Knueppel, a rookie of the year candidate, leads the NBA in 3-pointers made and has already set the rookie record. He’s also fifth in 3-point percentage. He should have a big day against a Boston team that struggles defending the perimeter and could be missing some wings.

Celtics vs Hornets SGP

  • Hornets +1.5
  • Under 215.5
  • Kon Knueppel Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sting like a bee!

Knueppel has made 18 threes in his last five games and 13 in his last three. Miller has made 22 in his last five and has hit at least half his 3-point attempts in three of those games. They're well-positioned to torch the Celtics on the outside.  

Meanwhile, Ball and White should be able to slash and score, with Boston likely missing at least a few of the injured wings and bigs. Ball has scored 20+ in his last six games.

White is shooting 27 percentage points better from the field and 36 points better from three since joining Charlotte at the deadline. He’s scored at least 15 in four of the last five.

Celtics vs Hornets SGP

  • LaMelo Ball Over 20.5 points
  • Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 threes
  • Brandon Miller Over 3.5 threes
  • Coby White Over 14.5 points

Celtics vs Hornets odds

  • Spread: Celtics -1 | Hornets +1
  • Moneyline: Celtics -115 | Hornets -105
  • Over/Under: Over 215.5 | Under 215.5

Celtics vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Celtics have gone Under the total in 35 of their last 50 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Hornets.

How to watch Celtics vs Hornets

LocationSpectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
DateSunday, March 29, 2026
Tip-off6:00 p.m. ET
TVNBCS-Boston, FDSN-Charlotte

Celtics vs Hornets latest injuries

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Where to watch New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Live stream, start time, TV channel for Sunday, March 29

The Oklahoma City Thunder, ranked #1 in the Western Conference, host the New York Knicks, ranked #3 in the Eastern Conference. Oklahoma City is favored with a spread of -8.5 and a moneyline of -350, indicating a 74.7% implied probability of winning, while New York's moneyline is 280.

  • New York Knicks: 48-26 (#3 in Eastern Conference)

  • Oklahoma City Thunder: 58-16 (#1 in Western Conference)

  • Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -8.5

  • Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -350 / New York Knicks +280

  • Over/Under: 224.5

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Where to watch Cleveland Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Sunday, March 29

The Cleveland Guardians, ranked #1 in the AL Central, face the Seattle Mariners, ranked #4 in the AL West. The Mariners are favored with a moneyline of -170 and a spread of -1.5. Cleveland's Slade Cecconi (ERA: 4.30) will start against Seattle's Emerson Hancock (ERA: 4.90).

  • Cleveland Guardians: 2-1 (#1 in AL Central)

  • Seattle Mariners: 1-2 (#4 in AL West)

  • Spread: Seattle Mariners -1.5

  • Moneyline: Seattle Mariners -150 / Cleveland Guardians +125

  • Over/Under: 7.5

  • Cleveland Guardians: Slade Cecconi (2025 stats: 7-7, ERA: 4.30, K: 109, WHIP: 1.19, BB: 32)

  • Seattle Mariners: Emerson Hancock (2025 stats: 4-5, ERA: 4.90, K: 64, WHIP: 1.38, BB: 31)

Weather: 44°F at first pitch

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Sunday morning Rangers things

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 28: Ronald McDonald, the McDonald's mascot throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers on March 28, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Good morning, folks…

The Texas Rangers beat the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday by a score of 5-4.

Shawn McFarland offers Five Observations from the win.

Evan Grant laments that the Rangers’ closer situation is still a problem, though Skip Schumaker says Robert Garcia and Chris Martin made their pitches and will continue to be run out there in save situations.

Jacob deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start yesterday with a stiff neck, though it is expected he will make a start in Baltimore at the beginning of the week.

The top of the Rangers’ lineup has been productive in the early going.

Schumaker explained his controversial decision to have Ezequiel Duran pinch hit for Josh Smith in the ninth inning of the opener.

The Rangers were able to keep Mark Canha around on his minor league deal by allowing him to stay in extended spring training.

The Rangers also re-signed veteran reliever Ryan Brasier to a minor league deal, after Brasier had opted out last week.

Caden Scarborough will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the minor league season as he recovers from an offseason melanoma.

In ABS news, CB Bucknor had six — SIX! — pitches overturned through the challenge system yesterday in the Boston/Cincinnati matchup that featured BoSox manager Alex Cora getting ejected.

David Laurila has his Sunday Notes column up at Fangraphs.

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Kysaiah Pickett turns Carlton inside out with his presence, power and raw talent | Jonathan Horn

Kozzy-conscious Blues left pointing fingers, shaking heads and bumping into one another as Melbourne celebrate Max Gawn’s 250th in style

Carlton games usually come with a sense of impending doom. They’ll ping the gates. They’ll crash and they’ll bang. They’ll do all the things the coach values. But their opponents know, and the Blues fans certainly know, that the key to beating Carlton is to absorb what they throw at you, to lay back on the ropes, to let them tire themselves out and to unleash.

The evidence has been there for years now – their failure to run out games, their woeful skills under fatigue, and their ongoing inability or unwillingness to adapt when the opposition gets a run on. On Sunday, in their 11.11 (77) to 15.10 (100) loss to Melbourne, you could add another factor to the mix – the presence, the power and the raw talent of Kysaiah Pickett.

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Hawks best Kings despite injuries

Mar 28, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) drives the ball towards the basket against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks have done incredibly this season, being on the outside of the playoff picture in some ways, then going all the way to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, where they currently remain.

The Hawks’ win streak was halted by the Houston Rockets recently on March 20th, but they followed that loss up with wins against the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Detroit Pistons. They lost to the Boston Celtics 109 to 102 on March 27th and faced the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

Hawks injuries

The Atlanta Hawks were without forward Jonathan Kuminga, who was dealing with a knee injury and was managing that. Guard Dyson Daniels had a left toe sprain and was questionable but did not play. Center Onyeka Okongwu was also ruled out with a finger sprain.

Game analysis

In the first half, the Hawks struggled from three quite a bit, missing 12 of 18. They also had six turnovers, but in the second quarter, they fought back from down to gain the lead and concluded the half with a score of 66 to 54. Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 14 points, going 8-for-8 on free throws.

In the second half, the Hawks got off to a great start, leading 78-66 in the third quarter with about seven minutes to go. As time went on, the Kings started to claw back into the game, being down less than 10 points in the fourth quarter. But the offensive play of Hawks guard Jalen Johnson and company, knocking down big shots from three.

Hawks win despite injuries

The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Sacramento Kings 123 to 113, despite injuries to several key players, including Dyson Daniels.

We asked Atlanta Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder how he assessed their performance even with said injuries, and he responded with, “we were gritty.” Snyder also harped on their defense defending better as the energy went up.

What’s next for the Atlanta Hawks?

The Hawks now have a record of 42-33, sixth in the Eastern Conference, and they’ll face the Boston Celtics on Monday, March 3oth at State Farm Arena.

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Mariners News: Luke Raley, Nasim Nuñez, and Mason Miller

Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley (20) hits a two-run home run during the tenth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

I’m gonna keep it real with you guys, I worked consecutive eleven hours days this weekend, so I’m actually pretty stoked about the Mariners playing on Sunday night, because I’m just not willing to commit to getting out of bed for 1:10 game at this time. The Mariners hosting the national audience has led to some pretty kooky games in the past. Other than playoffs, does anyone have any personal favorite nationally televised Mariners games from seasons past? Or seasons future if you feel like outing yourself as time traveler. If they have a cool one in 2043 I’d like to know about it. Happy Sunday everybody!

In Mariners news…

  • Ok, so in the 2026 MLB Predictions piece from Wednesday, one of my predictions that I neglected to elaborate on was that I had Luke Raley penciled in for three things; 3+ fWAR season, ALCS MVP, and a top 10 finish in doubles in the AL. Well the egg is on my face, I clearly should’ve said dingers. Sorry Luke, I should’ve known better.

Around the league…

  • The San Diego Padres and their closer Mason Miller unveiled his badass new closer entrance last night.
  • While we’re talking about the Nationals, they traded for former top prospect Curtis Mead for catcher Boston Smith. The stove is HOT!
  • Marlins first baseman Christopher Morel was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain yesterday.
  • Tough scene for reliever Nick Anderson, who exercised his upward mobility clause on Wednesday, only to go unclaimed and end up being sent to Triple-A Las Vegas yesterday. If you’re unfamiliar, an upward mobility clause allows any of the other 29 teams add a player to their 26-man roster, in which case the team either has to add them to the 26-man, or trade them.
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2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 2

The Cubs bounced back in a significant way after a disappointing Opening Day performance. Cade Horton got them on the right foot with three perfect innings to start, on his way to 6.1 innings and only two runs allowed. Offensively, the Cubs turned nine hits and six walks into 10 runs as they evened this series at a game apiece. I know we all would have loved to see an opening weekend sweep, but in the opener, the Cubs just didn’t find enough space when they did make contact. On Saturday, that wasn’t a problem. They found space early and often.

Heading into this season, I thought the two questions that mattered to the Cubs most involved Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton. Is PCA more the monster we saw in the first half or the too-aggressive player we saw down the stretch? Is Cade Horton able to sustain his excellence as he looks to throw 175-200 innings? You can always run up and down the roster and find a question or two for virtually every player. But I feel like PCA is the player that takes the offense and makes it extraordinary and that Horton does the same on the other side.

I believe, if you aren’t being argumentative and obtuse, that the Cubs roster is built to be a powerhouse in a regular season. Recognize that an awful lot about surviving the grind is depth of talent. The Cubs have that. Championships are built on elite postseason performances. Clearly, the players most likely to produce elite postseason performances are superstars, but of course, they are no way limited to superstars. The Cubs have enough to win a championship if they were to stay relatively healthy and get hot in the postseason.

To my eye, PCA and Horton are the two guys I think are offensively and pitching-wise, the most likely to produce elite results. That isn’t to knock guys like Alex Bregman or Nico Hoerner or whoever. There are guys who can produce at the highest level. And then there are the guys who are, hopefully, still ascending. I think PCA and Horton are the two most likely to take that next step. Obviously, the World Baseball Classic showed us that guys like Daniel Palencia could be the next stars. But for my money, it’s PCA and Horton. If you already think PCA etched his stardom last year, I get it.

Those are the heavy lifters I see as ascending. On Saturday, Horton led the way. PCA might not have been the key bat. But, he had a pair of hits, for the second straight day. He bunted for a hit. For the second straight day. He stole his first two bases of the year. In turn, he scored two runs. He can be a menace. Horton can be a dominant force. Together, they can anchor this team and lift it even higher. Are they the only path? Of course not. But in any world where this team becomes a championship contender, I’d be surprised if at least one of them weren’t starring and I’d expect both.

Obviously, the Nats are rebuilding. No one is spiking the football on a split of the first two games. A series win on Sunday isn’t going to change any of that. At the end of the day, none of that is fair. That’s the thing about baseball. You don’t draw conclusions in March. This team can compete. There are a lot of things that have to happen. Seasons can be derailed. But, this team is insulated from some amount of issues. No team can survive injuries after a point. This team showed how good they can look Saturday. Unfortunately, they showed how bad they could look on Thursday.

Buckle up, we’re probably in for a very long ride. But I’m pretty certain that you don’t want to miss that ride.

Let’s get to our three stars of the game.

Three Stars:

  1. Cade Horton. This wasn’t his sharpest outing (2 ER over 6.1 IP). But those three perfect innings to start really quieted things down after a rough opener. Like Ben Brown’s relief appearance in the opener, Cade pitching into the seventh minimized the work for the bullpen here in the early gong.
  2. Miguel Amaya has been so injury-plagued in his career. But he reminded us on Saturday that, when healthy, the bat plays, Two hits, two runs, two runs batted in. One homer.
  3. Pete Crow-Armstrong. Two hits and a walk. Two steals. Two runs scored. He’s batting in the middle of the lineup, in what is probably an RBI position. But he helped set the table all day long.

Game 2, March 28: Cubs 10, Nationals 2 (1-1)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

  • Superhero: Miguel Amaya (.151). 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
  • Hero: Cade Horton (.132). 6.1 IP, 5 H, BB, 2 ER, 4 K (W 1-0)
  • Sidekick: Michael Busch (.113), 1-4 BB, RR

THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat: Alex Bregman (.042). 0-5
  • Goat: Matt Shaw (-.001). 1-3, RBI
  • Kid: Dansby Swanson (.000). 0-3, BB, R

WPA Play of the Game: Michael Busch batted with runners on first and third and two outs in the second, the Cubs up two. He hit a ground ball to short and reached on an error. Two runs ended up scoring on the play. (.126)

*Nationals Play of the Game: James Wood led off the fourth inning with a solo homer, cutting a four run Cubs lead to three. (.062).

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 1 Winner: Michael Busch (249 of 267 votes)

Up Next: Shōta Imanaga versus Jake Irvin as the Cubs go for the series win.

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Where to watch Pittsburgh Pirates vs. New York Mets Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Sunday, March 29

The New York Mets (2-0), ranked #3 in the NL East, are favorites with a -180 moneyline to win against the Pittsburgh Pirates (0-2), ranked #5 in the NL Central. Nolan McLean will start for the Mets, facing Carmen Mlodzinski of the Pirates.

  • Date: Sunday, March 29

  • Time: 1:40 PM ET / 10:40 AM PT

  • Where: Citi Field, Flushing, Queens, NY

  • TV Channel: SNY, SportsNet Pittsburgh

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Pittsburgh Pirates: 0-2 (#5 in NL Central)

  • New York Mets: 2-0 (#3 in NL East)

  • Spread: New York Mets -1.5

  • Moneyline: New York Mets -180 / Pittsburgh Pirates +150

  • Over/Under: 8

  • Pittsburgh Pirates: Carmen Mlodzinski (2025 stats: 5-8, ERA: 3.55, K: 89, WHIP: 1.30, BB: 27)

  • New York Mets: Nolan McLean (2025 stats: 5-1, ERA: 2.06, K: 57, WHIP: 1.04, BB: 16)

Weather: 49°F at first pitch

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Good Morning San Diego: Padres, Craig Stammen get first wins; Randy Vasquez delivers two-hit performance

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Freddy Fermin #54 and Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres celebrate on the field after defeating the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Mason Miller faced off against Kevin McGonigle in the final plate appearance of the night between the San Diego Padres and the Detroit Tigers. 

The Padres were looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Tigers thanks in large part to the breakout performance McGonigle who was playing the third MLB game of his career. The rookie got off to a blistering start with four hits in the series opener and he followed that with another hit in the second game of the series. There was debate on Friday night about whether Miller, the Padres closer, should have been brought into the game in the top of the eighth inning with the bases loaded and the score tied 2-2. Instead, San Diego manager Craig Stammen went with Wandy Peralta for the left-on-left matchup and McGonigle delivered a two-run single on a 10-pitch at-bat that gave Detroit a 4-2 lead en route to the win.

Miller entered the game on Saturday with the Padres ahead 3-0 and quickly recorded the first two outs. He then walked Spencer Torkelson to set up the matchup with McGonigle who struck out on three pitches giving Miller his first save of the season. The win was also the first of the year for the Padres and the first of Stammen’s managerial career.

Long before Miller faced McGonigle, Randy Vasquez toed the rubber for San Diego. The right-hander delivered a dazzling performance, although it was not always the smoothest outing, with six innings of scoreless baseball. Vasquez finished the night with three walks and eight strikeouts, but the most impressive part of his outing was that he allowed just two hits.

With a performance like that the San Diego offense did not have to do much and three runs was more than enough to help the Padres avoid the sweep.

Fernando Tatis Jr. stepped to the plate in the bottom of the third inning with runners at first and second with two outs. Tatis lined a pitch on the outer half from Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty into right field, which scored Freddy Fermin from second base to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. Jake Cronenworth advanced to third base and San Diego had runners at the corners. Tatis would later steal second and the throw from Detroit catcher Jake Rogers could not be caught belt Gleyber Torres and went into shallow center field. The poor execution by the Tigers allowed Cronenworth to score to put the Padres up 2-0. 

San Diego added its third run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Flaherty allowed three consecutive walks to load the bases and Jackson Merrill grounded into a force out, which allowed Cronenworth to score to give the Padres a 3-0 lead.

San Diego is off today, but returns to action against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on Monday at 6:40 p.m.

Padres News:

The Friar Faithful came into the season with higher expectations of the Padres than many of the national pundits as was revealed in the win projections that was part of the Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball.

Matt Waldron and Jason Adam were both back on the mound in minor league appearances and both pitchers looked impressive in their performances.

The Padres still have prospects despite what the prospect rankings tell you. Dennis Lin of The Athletic provides four names of prospects to watch who could affect the big-league club on the major league level on the field or in a trade.

Baseball News:

Dominic Smith delivered a walk-off grand slam to help the Atlanta Braves get by the Kansas City Royals in Atlanta on Saturday.

Dylan Cease took the mound for the first time as a Toronto Blue Jays starter and recorded 12 strikeouts against the A’s.

The Seattle Mariners are getting hits, but to this point in the young season none of those have been singles.

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Mets Morning News: Walk-off magic symbolizes 2026 Mets are “a different group”

Mar 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) gets dosed with water as teammates mob in celebration of getting a three run walk off home run Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2) during the eleventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Meet the Mets

The Mets pulled off a thrilling, walk-off victory for their second win of the year, as Luis Robert Jr. began his Mets tenure with a bang, ending the game on a three-run homer in the bottom of the eleventh. Both offenses were held scoreless until extras on a chilly afternoon at Citi Field, as David Peterson and Mitch Keller traded zeroes. The Mets allowed the ghost runner to score in both the tenth and the eleventh, but managed to tie it in the bottom of the tenth and win it in the eleventh thanks to Robert’s heroics.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, Newsday, New York Daily News, New York Post, The Athletic

Laura Albanese of Newsday proved prophetic in a piece published yesterday in which she posited that Luis Robert Jr. could be the Mets’ X-factor in 2026 if he stays healthy.

Howie Rose did an interview with The New York Post about his retirement and his favorite memories in the Mets booth.

The Mets’ offseason retooling is already paying dividends, writes Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

But the Mets are already experiencing learning curves at both first and third base, as Jorge Polanco and Bo Bichette both had mishaps in the field yesterday.

Around the National League East

The Phillies participated in an extra-inning contest yesterday as well, coming from three runs behind to tie the Rangers in the ninth. But Texas defeated Philadelphia 5-4 in ten innings.

Jacob deGrom was scratched from this start for Texas due to neck stiffness, but Jacob Latz had a strong outing in his stead.

The Mets weren’t the only NL East team to triumph in walk-off fashion yesterday. Old friend Dominic Smith hit a walk-off grand slam in his Braves debut to propel Atlanta to a 6-2 victory over the Royals. He became the first player in baseball history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a team.

We later learned the walk-off was extra special for Smith, who lost his mother to cancer just two weeks ago.

The Nationals were shellacked by the Cubs 10-2, as Miles Mikolas’ 2026 is off to a shaky start.

The Nationals acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the White Sox in exchange for catcher Boston Smith. Mead had been designated for assignment earlier this week after failing to make Chicago’s Opening Day roster.

Owen Caissie’s go-ahead single in the eighth lifted the Marlins to a 4-3 victory over the Rockies. Eury Perez pitched seven strong innings in his season debut for Miami.

Unfortunately for Miami, they also lost a key player to injury yesterday when Cristopher Morel hit the IL with an oblique strain after he was a late scratch from the lineup on Friday after experiencing discomfort during batting practice. The Marlins plan to call up first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos to make his major league debut to replace Morel on the roster.

Around Major League Baseball

Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn becomes another victim of the broken hamate bone epidemic. He needs surgery and will miss 4-6 weeks.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider returned to his desk at the Rogers Centre to find a letter addressed to him that had been waiting for him all winter, dated the day after Toronto’s Game 7 loss in the World Series to the Dodgers. “I don’t know you,” it said, “but I felt compelled to reach out after watching your incredible leadership on display during the World Series.” The letter was from Golden State Warriors head coach and nine-time NBA champion Steve Kerr.

It was quite the day for walk-offs yesterday, as Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt followed up his home run in his big league debut with a walk-off knock in the Cardinals’ 6-5 victory over the Rays.

It has been an impressive first few games of the season for the 2026 rookie class, as Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter continued his early run of excellence with an opposite-field two-run homer that helped buoy Cleveland to a 6-5 victory over the Mariners.

Jared Greenspan of MLB.com ran down seven teams who are facing a litany of early injuries and discussed how they can overcome them.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

In a new episode of Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World Series, Brian Salvatore and Chris McShane recapped Thursday’s Opening Day victory.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 2000, Mike Hampton made his Mets debut at Japan’s Tokyo Dome in the first MLB Opening Day game ever played outside of North America.

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Nets vs. Kings preview: Sunday night hoops

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings high fives fans as he runs onto the court prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 17: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings high fives fans as he runs onto the court prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 17, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Back home. The Brooklyn Nets wrapped up their four game West Coast road trip with a late night affair against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets gave the Lakers a good fight, but not good enough to come away with a win. The losing streak is at ten.

The opponent tonight is counting the clock down as well. The Sacramento Kings are finishing up another lost season and were on the road last night to take on the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks continued their good run and beat Sacramento 123-113.

At the start of Sunday, Brooklyn is in second place in lottery odds, one game behind the Indiana Pacers while Sacramento is in fourth, two and a half back of the top spot with eight games left. Indiana plays the Heat at home at 5:00 p.m. ET. The season ends two weeks from tonight and race to the bottom is going to be unpredictable.

YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 6:00 p.m. ET.

🤕 Injuries

The following are out:

  • Egor Demin
  • Danny Wolf
  • Michael Porter Jr
  • Day’ron Sharpe

Josh Minnott is questionable. The Nets three two-ways and one 10-day are available.

The following are out:

  • Russell Westbrook
  • Domantas Sabonis
  • Zach Lavine
  • Keegan Murray
  • De’Andre Hunter
  • Drew Eubanks

🏀 The game

Sacramento won the first meeting.

Everyone’s locked in to this game for tank purposes, so it helps to start thinking of who the top prospects are. One of them who will be playing before this game starts is Cameron Boozer of Duke. Over at The Kings Herald, Akis Yerocostas wrote about Boozer and what he brings to the table:

I’ve seen some fans and analyst be wary of Boozer because of past production from Duke guys that didn’t pan out in the league like Mavin Bagley or Jahlil Okafor. Boozer is a far different player from both of those guys. He’s more polished than Bagley, and more mobile than Okafor. He’s a better playmaker than both of them, and while he’s not a shotblocker, has good defensive instincts. If you were to compare him to any former Duke big man, Paolo Banchero would be a closer comparison, but Boozer has been better in every category than Banchero was in college. I do think Boozer would need to be built around a little more differently than some of these other guys, but I think any team drafting him will end up with a #1 option they can rely on.

The Draft Lottery will be here quicker than we know it. In the meantime, we’ve got you covered.

This one could turn in to a three point bonanza. These teams are dead last in opponent’s three point percentage and one big run on either side could turn this game ugly in a hurry. The Kings are on the second leg of a back-to-back and we’ll see if they have enough energy to make it through this one.

Nic Claxton playing this game should help against Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud hit the Nets for 22 points and ten rebounds in the first meeting, and Clax’s assignment tonight will be to push him out of the paint. Raynaud has been a positive presence for Sacramento and might be a player that is part of their future going forward.

👀 Player to watch: DeMar DeRozan

You look up one day and suddenly realize that DeMar’s been in the NBA for 17 years and has scored 26,660. He’ll likely surpass Dominique Wilkins for the 17th spot all-time tonight. He only need eight. DeRozan has been a solid and steady pro for much of his time in the league and could probably play 20 seasons if he wanted to. He’s most comfortable in the midrange area and is shooting close to 50 percent in that area of the court. Great players always know how to get to their sweet spots on the court, and DeMar is able to make things happen when the moment calls for it. As Sacramento tries to get back to respectability, we’ll see if DeRozan can be a long term presence going forward.

Ziaire Williams will get the start and look to make things hard on the former All-Star. Williams has crossed the 20+ minute mark in five consecutive games and figures to do so tonight as well. He’ll be tasked with contesting all of DeRozan’s shots and forcing him into mistakes. A good showing tonight will go well in making his case for being part of the team next season. The games may not mean much across the greater NBA landscape, but every day is an opportunity to impress someone.

📺 From the Vault

Time to close out the Elite Eight in style!

More reading: The Kings Herald, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

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SB Nation Reacts results: Did the Pirates make the right call with Konnor Griffin?

BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 20: Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a photo with his signed jersey after the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This week’s question asked about Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin. After a Spring Training in which he showed off his prodigious power, but also some inconsistency at the plate, the Bucs sent Griffin back to Triple-A. He still has a chance to come up later this year, but for now, he’ll start the season in the Minors. We asked if you thought that was the right move?

A full 82 percent agree with the team’s decision. Instead of rushing Konnor, get him a little more seasoning at the Minor League level. Seems like a prudent move.

As always, thanks for voting, and don’t forget to check out the page of our Reacts sponsor FanDuel. They’re still rocking plenty of MLB betting chances, including +225 odds for the Bucs to just make the MLB Playoffs. Which is up since the Bucs lost their first two games of the season.

We’ll be back soon with more Reacts!

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Pitching staff delivers, Luis Robert Jr. plays hero in win over Pirates

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Saturday, in case you missed it...

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What Deuce McBride’s return means for the Knicks’ rotation

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 27: Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Even after Thursday night’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Knicks have remained one of the hottest teams in the league over the last couple of months. Thankfully, that has helped distract some fans from focusing too much on the absence of backup guard Deuce McBride, who has been out since January with a sports hernia injury. Thanks in large part to Jose Alvarado, Mo Diawara, and the surprising resurgence of Jordan Clarkson, New York has managed sans McBride and has not missed him quite as much as expected.

Don’t get it twisted, though, if the Knicks want to reach their ultimate goal, McBride will play a pivotal role. And reports suggest that he is nearing a return.

Ian Begley of SNY reported Saturday that McBride “remains on track to return to the court during the current road trip” and added that we could even see him make an appearance Sunday.

“Some good news for Knicks after bad loss in CHA: Miles McBride remains on track to return to the court during the current road trip, possibly as soon as Sunday. McBride was ruled out of CHA game on Friday a day before tipoff; Sunday’s game vs OKC has not yet been ruled out for him, per SNY sources. McBride is rehabbing from surgery to repair a sports hernia and has been out since Jan. 28.” — SNY’s Ian Begley

As of Sunday morning, he remains listed as questionable for today’s clash against the Thunder, but considering there was a chance he’d be out until the playoffs, this is a great sign pointing towards him having more time to re-acclimate than previously believed.

The interesting piece to this puzzle becomes the rotation. With teams shrinking their rotations during the playoffs to eight or nine players, Clarkson, Diawara, Landry Shamet, and Alvarado won’t all be in the rotation.

Diawara provides some much-needed athleticism and size on the wings, Clarkson provides experience, ball-handling, and self-creation, Shamet provides some much-needed shooting and defense, and Alvarado provides toughness and ball-handling. All of them have clear lanes to earning minutes, but most of them also have weaknesses as well.

Playing Alvarado and McBride may leave the backcourt too small against certain teams. Clarkson’s defense has been much improved lately, but he can still have his limitations on that end of the floor. Shamet has been one of the unheralded and unexpected saviors of the 2025-26 season, but he had fallen into a bit of a shooting slump prior to his recent injury. And then there’s Diawara, who has quickly turned into a fan favorite but is still prone to making rookie mistakes.

Looking at Mike Brown’s tendencies throughout the year, I’d assume it’s Clarkson and Shamet who get the first nod, with Diawara maybe getting spot minutes depending on the matchup. Brown has not shied away from changing up his second unit, though, so expect it to be a very fluid situation during the playoffs, where things can always change on a whim.