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Kon Knueppel sets Hornets’ season 3-point record in a 127-107 win over the Suns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miles Bridges scored 25 points, rookie Kon Knueppel set a franchise record for 3-pointers in a season and finished with 20 points as the Charlotte Hornets rolled past the Phoenix Suns 127-107 on Thursday night.

Coby White added 19 points and LaMelo Ball had 15 points and 11 assists for the Hornets, who have won seven of nine. Brandon Miller added 17 points.

Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick from Duke, made four 3s to give him 261, breaking the previous record of 260 set by Kemba Walker in the 2018-19 season. Knueppel broke the record with a corner 3 after missing two open looks earlier in the fourth quarter.

Earlier in the game, Phoenix’s Collin Gillespie set the Suns’ franchise record for 3s in a season, eclipsing the mark of 226 held by Quentin Richardson in the 2004-05 season. Gillespie finished with two 3s and six points.

Jalen Green had 25 points and Devin Booker added 22 for the Suns, who have lost six of their past seven road games.

PISTONS 113, TIMBERWOLVES 108

DETROIT (AP) — Jalen Duren had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Daniss Jenkins scored 26 points and Detroit beat Minnesota as both teams were without a superstar.

Minnesota ruled out All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, listing his right knee injury and an illness, about 90 minutes before tipoff. The Pistons announced earlier in the day that Cade Cunningham would be out at least another week to recover from a collapsed left lung.

Edwards and Cunningham will be ineligible for NBA postseason awards because they can’t reach the 65-game minimum.

The Pistons went on an 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to take control and improved to 7-2 without Cunningham since March 17.

Minnesota’s Julius Randle finished with 27 points, Ayo Dosunmu and Naz Reid scored 19 points each and Mike Conley scored all 14 of his points in the first half.

Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, the Eastern Conference defensive player of the month, had a career-high nine assists to go along with nine rebounds and seven points.

THUNDER 139, LAKERS 96

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, and Oklahoma City routed Los Angeles in a game in which NBA leading scorer Luka Doncic left due to injury.

Only six times in their storied history have the Lakers been defeated by more points. They fell six points short of their worst margin of defeat ever — a 49-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in 2017.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning league MVP, got the best of his matchup with Doncic — one of Gilgeous-Alexander’s top competitors for this season’s award. Doncic had scored at least 40 points in five of his previous seven games, but he finished with 12 points on 3-for-10 shooting from the field and 1-for-7 shooting from 3-point range against the Thunder’s suffocating defense.

Doncic left the game with a left hamstring injury in the middle of the third quarter. Lakers coach JJ Redick said he will have an MRI on Friday.

Austin Reaves scored 15 points and LeBron James added 13 for the Lakers.

CAVALIERS 118, WARRIORS 111

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 25 points and six rebounds, Max Strus’ 3-pointer with 54 seconds left helped seal it as he scored 24, and Cleveland beat Golden State.

James Harden contributed 19 points and five assists as the Cavs won for the seventh time in nine games during a stretch playing five times in eight nights.

Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski scored 25 points apiece for the Warriors, who were missing Stephen Curry for the 27th straight game but his return could come as soon as Sunday. He scrimmaged 5-on-5 for the third time in as many days to test his injured right knee that has sidelined him since Jan. 30.

Coach Steve Kerr said Curry and Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini might decide as soon as Friday based on how Curry feels a day later whether he can return to face the Rockets.

With 9:28 left, Cleveland’s Dennis Schroder made a hard foul from behind on a driving LJ Cryer and it was reviewed and ruled a Flagrant 1 for his leap and kick into the Warriors guard. Draymond Green was called for a technical on the play after he shoved Schroder while helping Cryer up from the floor.

TRAIL BLAZIERS 118, PELICANS 106

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jrue Holiday had 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, and Portland downed New Orleans.

Deni Avdija added 26 points for the Blazers, who have won three straight and eight of their last 10 games. Toumani Camara finished with 23 points.

Jeremiah Fears had 21 points off the bench for the Pelicans, who have lost 11 of their last 12 games.

After trailing at the half, the Blazers went up 106-96 on Holiday’s deep 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter. His 3 with 1:21 left made it 116-105 and all but sealed it for Portland. Holiday finished with nine assists.

The Blazers have already clinched a play-in game. The team sits a half-game back of the eighth-place Clippers. If the Blazers can move into eighth, they’d have to win one game to advance to the playoffs, whereas in ninth, they’d have to win two.

SPURS 118, CLIPPERS 99

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — De’Aaron Fox scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and San Antonio beat Los Angeles without Victor Wembanyama in the lineup to win their 11th in a row.

Wembanyama was rested on the second night of a back-to-back. He had 41 points and 18 rebounds in a 127-113 win at the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

The Spurs had six players in double figures, including Stephon Castle with 20 points and Dylan Harper with 19 off the bench.

San Antonio kept alive its hopes of catching Oklahoma City for the top spot in the West. The Spurs improved to 27-2 since Feb. 1 and 11-5 when Wembanyama doesn’t play.

Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points to lead the Clippers with his 53rd consecutive game of 20 or more points. Bennedict Mathurin added 18 points off the bench and John Collins had 15. The loss dropped them to the ninth spot for the play-in tournament with their second straight loss after winning five in a row. Portland moved into eighth after a 118-106 win.

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Lightning beat the Penguins 6-3 to move into 1st place in the Atlantic Division

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Cirelli registered his second career hat trick, Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three points, and the Tampa Bay Lightning moved into first place in the Atlantic Division after a 6-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

Zemgus Girgensons scored his 100th career goal and Brayden Point scored his second in 14 games for Tampa Bay, which improved to 7-1-2 in the past 10 games. Jake Guentzel and Gage Goncalves both had two assists while Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 21 saves.

Egor Chinakov scored twice and Rickard Rackell also scored for Pittsburgh. Sam Girard and Kris Letang both had two assists and Stuart Skinner finished with 27 saves.

The Penguins remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division, three points ahead of the New York Islanders.

Cirelli scored Tampa Bay’s first two goals and he added an empty-netter for his first hat trick since Jan. 17, 2020.

CANANDIENS 3, RANGERS 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his 48th and 49th goals of the season, and Montreal won its seventh game in a row to move closer to making the playoffs by defeating New York.

Caufield’s second was his NHL-best 12th winning goal, putting the Canadiens ahead 47 seconds after Will Cuylle tied it. He moved one back of Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in goals and in the process extended his career high with 83 points.

This winning streak is the storied organization’s longest in nearly a decade, dating to an eight-game unbeaten run from Oct. 18-Nov. 2, 2016. Montreal has separated itself from the pack in the Eastern Conference and kept pace with Buffalo and Tampa Bay in a hot Atlantic Division race.

Alex Newhook scored the Canadiens’ first goal 4 1/2 minutes into the second period on their 12th shot against Igor Shesterkin, who was the only reason they hadn’t taken a lead earlier.

Jakub Fowler made 21 saves, the biggest on a penalty kill late in the second when he turned aside Alexis Lafrenière at the side of the net.

SENATORS 4, SABRES 1

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Lars Eller broke a third-period tie and Ottawa beat Buffalo, preventing it from wrapping up a drought-breaking playoff spot.

Buffalo will have to wait to end its NHL-record 14-season postseason skid, the second-longest active futility run in North America’s four major sports behind the New York Jets and their 15-season slide.

Eller deflected defenseman Artem Zub’s shot from the point past goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at 5:55 of the third.

Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring at 8:49 of the second with a long wrist shot. Dylan Cozens tied it with 4:42 left in the second on a tip-in. He has 26 goals this season.

Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto added empty-net goals.

Linus Ullmark made 21 saves for Ottawa. The Senators — in the second wild-card spot in the East — opened a five-game homestand.

Luukkonen stopped 20 shots for Buffalo.

HURRICANES 5, BLUE JACKETS 1

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven scored two goals in the first nine minutes, and Carolina clinched a playoff berth for the eighth season in a row by beating Columbus.

Alexander Nikishin added a first-period short-handed goal and Jordan Martinook and Andrei Svechnikov also scored as the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes were on the way to winning for the third time in their last four games. Taylor Hall and Sebastian Aho each had two assists and Frederik Andersen made nine saves.

For Carolina, the 10 shots allowed matched the fewest shots against in franchise history.

The Hurricanes have qualified for the playoffs in each season under coach Rod Brind’Amour, a former team captain.

Denton Mateychuk scored for the Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last five games (0-4-1). Elvis Merzlikins stopped 16 shots.

RED WINGS 4, FLYERS 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Patrick Kane scored a pivotal goal in the same building where he scored a Stanley Cup Final winner, Alex DeBrincat scored two goals and Lucas Raymond had one to lead Detroit past Philadelphia.

The Red Wings snapped a points tie in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit has 88 points to 86 for the Flyers through 75 games. The Red Wings are now tied in points with Ottawa, but the Senators have more regulation wins if it comes to a tiebreaker.

Kane’s Game 6 overtime goal helped Chicago beat the Flyers in 2010 for the Stanley Cup. The Flyers never recovered, winning only three playoff series since and lost a swing matchup in a game that could decide if they return to the postseason.

Travis Konecny scored his 25th goal in the third to make it 3-2 and give the Flyers some needed hope at a comeback.

It just wasn’t enough.

The Flyers beat Detroit 5-3 last weekend in a game where Red Wings goalie John Gibson was pulled. Gibson was back in net for this one — his 13th straight start - and rebounded with 32 saves.

PANTHERS 2, BRUINS 1

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 15 saves in the third period and 28 overall as the Panthers defeated Boston.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers avoided elimination from the playoffs with the win.

Florida got first-period goals from Mackie Samoskevich and Sam Bennett in their second straight win.

Boston, which had won four straight, got a goal from Fraser Minten. Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves in the loss.

DEVILS 7, CAPITALS 3

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes had two goals and three assists and Dawson Mercer scored twice as New Jersey beat Washington.

Hughes scored his first goal for the Devils 9:10 into the second period on a wrist shot, assisted by Jesper Bratt and Johnathan Kovacevic. He tacked on a wrist shot 8:10 into the third, assisted by Bratt and Connor Brown. Hughes has 24 goals and 44 assists this season.

Bratt, Dougie Hamilton and Cody Glass also scored for the Devils.

Tom Wilson, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Hutson scored for the Capitals.

Jake Allen made 29 saves in the win for the Devils. Logan Thompson had 23 saves for the Capitals.

WILD 5, CANUCKS 2

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy scored his 39th and 40th goals, Kirill Kaprizov added his 40th and Minnesota wrapped up a playoff spot with a victory over Vancouver.

Third in the Western Conference and the NHL’s stacked Central Division, Minnesota secured the postseason spot in 75 games after getting in last season in the 82nd and final game before falling to Vegas in the first round.

Ryan Hartmman scored twice in the third to reach 20 goals, and Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves to help the Wild rebound from a 6-3 loss at Boston on Saturday.

Former Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes had his 67th assist. He joined the Wild in a blockbuster trade in December that sent Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick in 2026 to Vancouver.

Tom Willander and Jake DeBrusk scored for NHL-worst Vancouver, and Nikita Tolopilo stopped 32 shots. The Canucks were coming off an 8-6 victory at NHL-leading Colorado on Wednesday night.

STARS 3, JETS 0

DALLAS (AP) — Jake Oettinger made 22 saves for his third shutout of the season in a matchup of Team USA Olympic goaltenders and rookie Arttu Hyry had a goal in his first multipoint NHL game as Dallas beat Winnipeg.

Adam Erne also had a goal and an assist and Matt Duchene also scored for the Stars, who opened a five-game homestand that will close their home season. They are second in both the Central Division and the overall league standings, coming off a 1-2-1 road trip with only one regulation win in their previous 10 games.

Oettinger was an Olympic backup while Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck backstopped Team USA to the gold medal.

Oettinger has 31 wins, third in the NHL, with his first shutout since Dec. 3. In his previous five starts, he was 1-2-1 plus a no-decision when he was pulled after allowing four first-period goals.

Hellebuyck, who stopped 18 shots, is 20-21-11 after posting a career-high 47 wins last season while winning his third Vezina Trophy.

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Lakers throttled by Thunder in demoralizing loss

Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after a call against hindering a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Lakers were bludgeoned from the opening tip of Thursday’s showdown with the Thunder, falling behind by double digits minutes into the game and trailing by as many as 45 en route to a 139-96 loss.

Turnovers plagued the Lakers from the jump, allowing OKC to jump ahead early. The Thunder shooting an incredible 53.9% from the field and 45.2% from three with 17 makes certainly only made matters worse.

An injury to Luka Dončić in the third quarter only made matters worse as he left the game with a left hamstring injury and did not return.

Luka got his shot attempt blocked to start the game and on the other end,  Isaiah Hartenstein converted on an alley-oop. The Thunder went up by seven early, led by their defense. They had back-to-back steals that led to four quick points for Lu Dort. 

Luka knocked down a pair of free throws, which were the only points LA had scored so far. Dort was cooking for Oklahoma with 14 points.

Offense continued to be a massive struggle for Los Angeles as they shot an abysmal 14% from the field, while OKC shot 61%. 

Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander ended the quarter with eight points. Luka ended with five points. At the end of the first, LA was down by 23. 

The Thunder turned the ball over to start the second period, but Los Angeles missed its shot attempt. On the other end, Jared McCain converted on a layup. Things kept getting worse and worse for the Lakers, who just couldn’t find any offense or put together any kind of decent defense. 

At the 8:14 mark, LA was down by 32.

Reaves and Luka were the only two players on the Lakers in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively. LeBron James was 0-2 from the field, but did have six points from free throws. Despite the teeniest of tiny signs of life with eight points scored as the quarter wound down, Los Angeles was down by 31 at halftime. 

Oklahoma City continued its thrashing of the Lakers well into the third period. Luka still hadn’t reached 20 points, while SGA had 26 points. 

At the 7:39 mark, Luka went to the locker room with his injury, taking things from bad to worse. 

The Lakers did look livelier in this quarter, but Isaiah Joe came in and launched two straight triples that basically put the absolute finishing touches on a disastrous game for the purple and gold as OKC went into the final frame up 45 points.

The fourth quarter happened.

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 12 points, four rebounds and seven assists before exiting the game. LeBron ended with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. Reaves had 15 points with four rebounds. Deandre Ayton logged eight points.

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Mavericks on Sunday at 4:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

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Lakers' Luka Doncic leaves game after apparent hamstring injury, does not return to court

Lakers fans are hoping this is not as bad as it first looked.

In the third quarter of the Thunder blowing out the Lakers by more than 30, Luka Doncic tried to drive on Jalen Williams, pulled up sharply for what looked to be a jumper, but then instantly dropped the ball, grabbing his hamstring in pain. After being on the ground for a minute, he limped directly to the locker room under his own power, but was very emotional about the injury.

The Lakers soon confirmed Doncic would not return to the game. He will get an MRI on Friday, according to the team.

Doncic has played at an MVP-level this season — he scored 600 points in March alone and turned the Lakers into a threat in the West — but he has played in 64 games this season. If this is a hamstring strain that sidelines him until the playoffs, he would not be eligible for any postseason awards under the NBA's 65-game rule (which has already knocked Anthony Edwards out of award eligibility and will do the same to Cade Cunningham).

The NBA playoffs are 16 days away. Whether Doncic would be out that long depends on the severity of the strain, but it's not uncommon for players to be out three weeks or more with a serious strain.

Doncic has felt hamstring soreness going back to before the All-Star Game, and in February he had an MRI on his left hamstring, which did not show anything that sidelined him.

This season Doncic has averaged 33.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. The Lakers have a -1.3 net rating when he is off the court this season.

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Lakers star Luka Doncic suffers hamstring injury in reality-check loss to Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts after sustaining a left hamstring injury in the third quarter of a 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. (Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

The score wasn't the only thing that made this the Lakers’ worst loss of the season.

Even more concerning than the Lakers’ 139-96 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday was watching superstar guard Luka Doncic hobble off the court with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter.

The 27-year-old guard was held to just 12 points and seven assists, and he committed six turnovers before he pulled up on a drive with 7:39 left in the third quarter. He grabbed at the back of his left leg and limped to the baseline, where he lowered himself to the court, rolled onto his back and covered his face. Concerned teammates surrounded him. Coach JJ Redick offered one hand to pull him to his feet.

Read more:Luka Doncic matches Michael Jordan for the most magical March in NBA history

Doncic will undergo an MRI scan Friday, Redick said, before the Lakers (50-27) play Doncic’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Sunday. In a subdued locker room, the Lakers were left to wrestle with their largest margin of defeat since Nov. 27, 2023 amid the possibility of having to finish the regular season without the NBA’s leading scorer.

“At this juncture of the season, it's the last thing you want to see,” said LeBron James, who had 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. “Especially — anybody on our team — but when you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury. ... I don't know obviously what the case may be, so pray for the best for sure and a speedy recovery.”

Guard Austin Reaves shook off his own injury scare to finish with 15 points, one assist and four turnovers after grabbing at his left lower back for most of the first quarter. He said he overextended himself chasing a loose ball. He turned the ball over trying to connect with Deandre Ayton on the next possession, reaching immediately for his lower back after the pass went awry.

The Lakers had averaged just 12.6 turnovers per game since the All-Star break — the third-fewest in the NBA during that span — but committed 18 against the aggressive Thunder (61-16), who had 12 steals. The Lakers had eight turnovers in the first quarter, gifting the defending NBA champions 14 easy points and a 23-point first-quarter lead.

“That’s the game right there,” James said.

Doncic had just five points in the first quarter. He was one for six from the field. With 1:06 remaining in the second quarter, Doncic drove into the paint to fire a two-handed overhead pass to Luke Kennard for a corner three. As Kennard’s shot circled the rim and bounced out, Doncic grabbed at his left hamstring.

Doncic and Reaves were examined and treated at halftime and cleared to play, Redick said. Reaves returned with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter and grabbed his back after his first touch, but said after the game he felt “decent.”

With the Lakers (50-27) down 31 points at halftime, Redick said the plan was to give the banged-up stars about six minutes to see if they could cut into the lead.

Doncic was injured 4:21 into the third quarter. The Lakers were down 32.

“We're not going to put a player at risk,” Redick said. “Those things happen.”

Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, drives past Lakers star Luka Doncic during the first half Thursday.
Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, drives past Lakers star Luka Doncic during the first half Thursday. (Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

Doncic missed four games because of a left hamstring injury in February and played through hamstring soreness against the Brooklyn Nets on March 27 as the Lakers put together a 15-2 record in March.

One of the only teams hotter than the Lakers entering Thursday was the Thunder, who had won 15 of their last 16 games. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated in the much-anticipated matchup of most valuable player contenders with 28 points on efficient 12-for-25 shooting in less than 30 minutes, with seven assists and seven rebounds.

Doncic recently surged into the MVP conversation after scoring 600 points last month, joining Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to achieve the feat in March. He was named Western Conference player of the month Thursday, adding another line to his MVP application.

But after limping off the court, Doncic is at risk of not being eligible for the coveted award. He played in his 64th game Thursday, needing one more appearance in the Lakers’ final five games, to reach the 65-game eligibility threshold.

Read more:Lamar Odom's past is a 'cesspool of trauma,' he says: 'I don't know what made me relevant now'

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Reds’ Nick Lodolo exits injury rehab start early with blister on pitching finger

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo on the mound during a spring training game.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.

Reds lefty Nick Lodolo’s stellar rehab outing came to an abrupt end on Thursday.

Lodolo, who started this MLB season on the 15-day injured list because of a blister, exited his start with the Single-A Daytona Tortugas after throwing 40 pitches because of another sore on his index finger.

The 28-year-old retired the first eight batters in order with four strikeouts, but then called for a trainer in the middle of an at-bat during the third inning despite being expected to throw 60-65 pitches.

Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo deliver a pitch against the Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Reds confirmed Lodolo’s blister to the Cincinnati Enquirer, though it is still unclear if the issue will delay the lefty’s return to the major league club.

Lodolo, who has dealt with blister injuries throughout his MLB career, suffered the initial injury during his final spring training start on March 22.

Cincinnati skipper Terry Francona said Monday that Lodolo was slated to make his season debut for the Reds during the team’s series against the Marlins (April 6-9) in Miami, barring any setback.

“We didn’t want to have him go somewhere and not pitch,” Francona told the Enquirer. “So we thought this was the best way to do it.”

Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo delivers in the second inning during a spring training baseball game against the White Sox on Feb. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. AP

Lodolo is coming off perhaps his best MLB season in his four-year career so far, where he posted a 3.33 ERA with 156 strikeouts and two complete games through a career-high 156⅔ innings.

This also comes as the Reds are without their ace, Hunter Greene, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery that he underwent on March 11 to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow.

“I’d been dealing with discomfort for a while,” Greene told reporters following his surgery, according to MLB.com. “Over the course of a season and feeling certain things in an area, especially as an elbow … as a pitcher you think that it’s just, ‘Maybe I’m feeling a little inflammation or discomfort,’ and it’s to be expected because we’re pitchers. Obviously, it’s a lot on the body.

“The bone spurs came up as chronic so there’s no timestamp as to when it formed, but it’s been there. It’s still early [after the surgery], so I still feel it and it’s still uncomfortable and swollen. There’s already a lot of freedom in the elbow.”

Greene is expected to make his Reds return in July.

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Luka Doncic injury update: Lakers star hurts hamstring in ugly game vs Thunder

On the heels of his historic month, Los Angeles Lakers star guard Luka Dončić suffered a hamstring injury that could derail the rest of his regular season.

Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters after Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, an eventual 139-96 Lakers loss, that Dončić would undergo an MRI Friday, April 3, so that the team could diagnose the severity of the injury.

With 7:39 to play in Los Angeles’ April 2 game, Dončić was driving down the left lane when he met an OKC double-team of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Dončić stopped abruptly and immediately clutched at his left hamstring, tossing the ball aside. He started to limp before officials blew the play dead.

Dončić then hobbled over to the baseline, where he went down to the court and lay on his back while trainers rushed over to tend to him.

Dončić appeared to be instantly frustrated and spent some time on the floor before he stood up and was able to walk off on his own power. He buried his face in his jersey and went straight to the locker room.

The injury came during the height of a blowout, with the Lakers down by 32. The team officially ruled Dončić out with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter.

“It was discussed at halftime,” a visibly frustrated Redick said of potentially benching Dončić because of the blowout. “Thought we would give (the starters) about 6 minutes (to start the third quarter) and then — if we didn’t cut into the lead — we were going to pull them. Obviously, it was around that time that that happened.”

Dončić finished the game with 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting, including a sluggish 1-of-7 from 3-point range. He added 7 assists and 4 rebounds.

The left hamstring had apparently been bothering Dončić throughout the game. From the first quarter, Dončić had grabbed at it following plays when he used bursts of acceleration. That continued in the second quarter.

Dončić has been dealing with various lower body injuries throughout this season. Just last week, prior to Friday, March 27’s game against the Nets, the Lakers had listed Dončić as questionable with a hamstring issue.

The timing of the injury comes at a precarious time for Dončić and the Lakers; Los Angeles has played well recently but its grip on the No. 3 seed over the Nuggets in the Western Conference will shrink to just 1 game. And for Dončić, his eligibility for individual awards is suddenly in jeopardy. Thursday night was his 64th game, which leaves him one shy of the 65-game minimum and which means he needs to play in at least one of Los Angeles’ last five games to reach that threshold.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic injury update, status for Lakers vs Thunder

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Canucks Officially Secure Best Odds At Picking First-Overall In 2026 NHL Draft

It’s official: the Vancouver Canucks will finish the 2025–26 season dead-last in the NHL. With their 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild tonight, Vancouver officially secures the best odds at picking first-overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. 

Tonight’s result ensures that regardless of how the remaining games go, the Canucks will remain 32nd in the NHL. Vancouver was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention last week and currently hold a record of 22–45–8 with 52 points in 75 games. Ahead of them in the standings are the Calgary Flames (70 points in 74 games) and Chicago Blackhawks (68 points in 75 games), who now have too-high a point lead on the Canucks to challenge for the best draft lottery odds. 

Through their 56 years of existence, the Canucks have yet to pick first-overall in any NHL Entry Draft. They have made a total of eight selections within the top-three: Daniel Sedin (2nd, 1999), Petr Neded (2nd, 1990), Trevor Linden (2nd, 1988), Dale Tallon (2nd, 1970), Henrik Sedin (3rd, 1999), Dennis Ververgaert (3rd, 1973), Don Lever (3rd, 1972), and Jocelyn Guevremont (3rd, 1971). 

The 2026 NHL Draft lottery date is set for May 5. The 2026 NHL Entry Draft itself will take place at KeyBank Centre in Buffalo, with the first-round taking place on June 26 and round two to seven occurring on June 27. 

Jan 12, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a Vancouver Canucks logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a Vancouver Canucks logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Former Villanova star Collin Gillespie sets Suns record for three-pointers

Collin Gilllespie spent years knocking down three’s within Villanova’s offense and that has translated into the NBA.

On Thursday night, Gillespie knocked down two three-pointers to get to 227 on the year for the Phoenix Suns. This set a new franchise record for three’s made in a single-season, passing the previous mark of 226 set by Quentin Richardson in 2004-25.

Gillespie is shooting 40.7% from three-point range this season. He is now 227-for-557 on the year. Gillespie has played in 75 games, making 56 starts, for the Suns this year. He is having the best year of his young career by far, averaging 13.1 points and 4.8 assists. He is shooting 42.3% from the field and 87.1% from the free throw line.

Gillespie went undrafted in 2022 before signing a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. He spent time in the Summer League before another two-way deal in 2023. In 2024, Gillespie signed his third deal of the sort with the Phoenix Suns. Last year, Gillespie signed a one-year deal worth $2.3 million and has shown that he belongs.

At Villanova, Gillespie was part of two Final Four teams and a National Championship in 2018. He was the Big East Player of the Year twice and Third Team All-American as a senior.

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Minor League Wrap: Pelicans blast Charleston in season opener

MESA, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 01: Cole Mathis #16 of the Mesa Solar Sox at bat during an Arizona Fall League game against the Glendale Desert Dogs at Sloan Park on November 1, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We now have two teams in the system who have started their season as Myrtle Beach joins Iowa. Knoxville and South Bend take the field tomorrow.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs blinded the Louisville Bats (Reds), 11-10.

It was not a good start for Javier Assad, who got pounded for three runs in the second inning, one more in the third and four in the fourth. The final line on Assad was eight runs on eleven hits over four innings. One of the eight runs was unearned. Assad walked three and struck two. He also gave up two home runs as the wind was howling out to right at Louisville Slugger Park.

As much trouble as Assad had with the conditions, Louisville pitchers had even more as Iowa hit five home runs tonight. The first one came with two men on in the top of the first by center fielder Chas McCormick.

McCormick was 1 for 4 with a walk tonight.

Second baseman James Triantos came up after McCormick and went back-to-back to make it 4-0 before the Bats even came to bat.

Triantos had a big night, going 4 for 5 with four runs scored.

After the Bats scored three times in the bottom of the second, third baseman Pedro Ramirez got one run back with a solo home run.

Ramirez was 3 for 4 with a walk and three runs scored.

Later in the third inning, catcher Christian Bethancourt cranked a three-run home run to make it 8-3 Iowa. (Note: the post has the wrong score.)

Bethancourt his his second home run of the game and the season with a man on in the seventh inning.

Bethancourt went 2 for 5 with the two home runs and five RBI.

Charlie Barnes took over for Assad in the fifth inning and got the win. His final line was one run on three hits over 3.1 innings. Barnes walked three, hit one batter and struck out three.

Gavin Hollowell was summoned from the pen to get the final two outs of the bottom of the eighth. He did that after walking two. When Hollowell came out to pitch the ninth, he walked the first batter of the inning. Then Edwin Arroyo tripled him home to reduce the Iowa lead to 11-10 with a runner on third and no outs in the ninth. But Hollowell then buckled down and struck out the next three batters to record the save.

The final line on Hollowell was one run on one hit and three walks over 1.2 innings. He struck out five.

Shortstop Ben Cowles was also 0 for 1 with four walks and one run scored.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans neutered the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 14-0 in a game called in the middle of the eighth inning because of rain.

Cubs’ 2025 third-round pick Dominick Reid made his professional debut tonight and looked good. He pitched four scoreless innings and gave up just two hits. He struck out five and walked just one.

Jackson Brockett threw the next three innings in his professional debut and got the win because Reid didn’t go five innings. Brockett gave up three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Myrtle Beach got a run before they even put a ball in play as after shortstop Ty Southisene was hit by the first pitch of the season, the next three batters walked. In the end, the Pelicans scored 14 runs on 11 hits and 15 walks.

DH Cole Mathis hit the first home run of the year with two men on in the second inning. Mathis went 2 for 3 with three walks. He drove in four runs total (one of the walks came with the bases loaded) and he scored twice.

Southisene went 0 for 2 with three walks and the hit by pitch. He scored three times.

Right fielder Josiah Hartshorn was 1 for 2 with four walks in his pro debut. Hartshorn scored once and drove in one with a single.

Catcher Logan Poteet went 2 for 5 with a walk. He scored three times and had two RBI.

First baseman Michael Carico was 3 for 6 with a double and one run scored.

Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy finished at 1 for 4 with a two-run double and two walks. He scored twice and had three overall runs batted in.

Here are some Reid highlights.

Here is the Mathis home run.

The Lumpuy 2-run double

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Kon Knueppel breaks Hornets record, boosts NBA Rookie of the Year case

Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets continues to make his case to be the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Knueppel, who has played a key role in helping the Hornets secure a postseason spot, scored 20 points and went 4-of-9 from the 3-point line in 33 minutes as the Hornets beat the Phoenix Suns 127-107 on April 2.

The rookie also added his name to the Hornets’ history books, setting a new franchise record for the most 3-pointers made in a single season with 261.

Kemba Walker had set the record with 260 during the 2018-19 season. Knueppel’s teammate LaMelo Ball also reached the top five for the franchise, with 243 3-pointers made this season, tying Jason Richardson (2007-08).

Hornets coach Charles Lee was among those who celebrated Knueppel's latest accomplishment. Lee was seen pouring water over the rookie's head before his postgame press conference.

Knueppel has been in the conversation for the Rookie of the Year award throughout the season, alongside former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks. Knueppel has averaged 18.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 75 games played for the Hornets this season.

He has taken over as the Rookie of the Year favorite at -275 on BetMGM. Flagg is listed at +200, with Philadelphia 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe at +25000.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rookie Kon Knueppel breaks Hornets 3-point record

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Wild clinch spot in NHL playoffs with another chance to advance for 1st time since 2015

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild have clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs, giving them another chance to advance in the postseason for the first time since 2015.

The Wild earned a bid 75 games in after clinching last year in the 82nd and final game of the regular season. They beat league-worst Vancouver 5-2 on Thursday night to get in.

“We knew all we had to do was win a game and we're there,” winger Ryan Hartman said. “Happy with the result tonight.”

Minnesota was eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round last year, ending coach John Hynes’ debut season.

The Wild failed to advance in seven postseason appearances between 2016 and 2023. Their deepest run in the playoffs was a trip to the conference finals in 2003 in the franchise’s third year of existence.

The Minnesota North Stars lost in the 1981 and 1991 Stanley Cup Final. They relocated to Dallas in 1993, becoming the Stars, and hoisted the Cup in 1999.

The Wild proved their commitment to contending this season by signing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension — the richest deal in league history. The star winger has a team-high 83 points and now has Minnesota back in the postseason again.

“We make playoffs, it’s nice," Kaprizov said. “It's the best time of the year.”

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson has won twice as many games as he’s lost while giving up a little more than 2 1/2 goals per game.

“He's such a talented kid, but now you're starting to see the talent come into, I think, a mindset and a little bit of a swagger that you need to have as the main guy, and he's done a good job of that,” Hynes said. “I think the guys play hard in front of him, and he's done a good job too, I think, of earning the trust and respect of the group.”

Minnesota has the league’s longest active streak of consecutive winning seasons at 14.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

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Canucks Suffer 5-2 Loss To The Minnesota Wild In First Game Against Quinn Hughes

The Vancouver Canucks took on Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild for the first time since their trade in December, losing by a score of 5-2. Tom Willander and Jake DeBrusk scored Vancouver’s two goals of the game, while Nikita Tolopilo stopped 32 of 34 shots faced in his 14th start of the season. 

Tonight, all eyes were on the four pieces involved in Vancouver and Minnesota’s blockbuster deal. It was former Wild forward Liam Öhgren who made the biggest impression at the beginning of the game tonight, putting his trademark forecheck to work on a Vancouver penalty kill to break the puck back out into the O-zone and even drawing a penalty for his efforts. The Canucks took a 2–1 lead off the ensuing power play. 

Tolopilo has had a rough go in his most recent starts, though that was not the case tonight.  The goaltender stepped up big-time for Vancouver when Minnesota began to press during the first period. He also made a couple of grade-A saves on Quinn Hughes — one moments after Minnesota’s second goal of the game and another off a breakaway after the defenceman exited the penalty box. 

After scoring three goals and putting up an assist the night before, Brock Boeser continued his stretch of success by producing some solid scoring chances in the first period. Not only did he manage to get a chance in on Filip Gustavsson all alone off the rush, he also created a strong rebound chance from the right of the Minnesota goaltender. 

Turnovers were an issue for the Canucks tonight, as three of Minnesota’s goals came about after Vancouver’s defencemen were unable to properly get the puck off their sticks. Pierre-Olivier Joseph was unable to clear it on the first goal, while a giveaway by Zeev Buium gave Matt Boldy his second goal of the game. Defenceman Elias Pettersson’s pass ended up on Kirill Kaprizov’s stick before ultimately winding up in the back of Vancouver’s net. 

Given the fact that Vancouver played in Colorado the night before — and won, no less — their early effort in this game wasn’t bad at all. Having said that, the Canucks noticeably slowed down towards the third period, during which Minnesota took the opportunity to build on their one-goal lead. 

Post-game, Hughes spoke on what playing against his former teammates was like. 

"Definitely a little weird, but I think that you move on and I'm happy to be here right now. Probably [playing] in Vancouver would be a little bit weirder than this, but yeah, it was nice. We got the win, and we've got a big weekend coming up." 

With the loss, Vancouver officially clinches 32nd in the NHL, giving themselves the best odds at selecting first-overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Minnesota officially secures a playoff spot with the win.  

Apr 2, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek (14) is called for tripping on this play with Vancouver Canucks forward Liam Ohgren (92) during the first period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Apr 2, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek (14) is called for tripping on this play with Vancouver Canucks forward Liam Ohgren (92) during the first period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Stats and Facts: 

  • Tom Willander takes sole possession of fifth in the NHL in scoring by a rookie defenceman with his 20th point of the season 
  • Jake DeBrusk scores his third power play goal in four games  
  • Elias Pettersson extends his current point streak to four games 

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period: 

8:32 - MIN: Matt Boldy (39) from Marcus Johansson and Joel Eriksson Ek 

16:00 - VAN: Tom Willander (5) from Teddy Blueger and Max Sasson 

16:42 - VAN: Jake DeBrusk (18) from Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson (PPG) 

2nd Period: 

0:23 - MIN: Matt Boldy (40) 

6:08 - MIN: Kirill Kaprizov (40) from Mats Zuccarello 

3rd Period: 

6:03 - MIN: Ryan Hartman (19) from Mats Zuccarello and Quinn Hughes 

18:52 - MIN: Ryan Hartman (20) from Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy (ENG)

Up Next: 

The Canucks will now head back to Vancouver for another matchup against a Central Division team, this time taking on the Utah Mammoth in what will be their third-last home game of the season. Though the game will be played in Vancouver, puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Marcus Smart could return from ankle injury against Mavericks

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

One of the few things that hasn’t gone right for the Lakers during their recent winning run has been Marcus Smart’s injury.

After establishing himself as a valuable role player and starter this season, Smart has missed six straight games due to injury. In the team’s stop in Orlando, Smart injured his ankle after Goga Bitadze fell on him.

After initially being diagnosed as a day-to-day injury, Smart hasn’t played in nearly two weeks, a Lakers special this season. However, prior to Thursday’s game against the Thunder, head coach JJ Redick provided an encouraging update on Smart and a potential return date.

It’s certainly easier to take a more cautious approach to bringing a player back from injury when you are winning, which could be what the Lakers have done. At the very least, they haven’t been in a rush to bring Smart back with wins racking up.

After missing nine of the first 23 games, Smart played in all but two games from Dec. 10 through that Orlando game on March 21. Considering he came into his Lakers tenure with plenty of injury concerns from recent seasons, it was a stretch of games that was reassuring.

With the playoffs approaching, though, getting Smart back on the court to ensure the rust is knocked off will be paramount. If he does return on Sunday, that will give him a week’s worth of games, including a contest against the Thunder, before the postseason.

And with how bad things went for the Lakers against the Thunder on Thursday, any bit of good news will be helpful.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Anthony Edwards out Thursday night, with that will not be eligible for postseason awards

Anthony Edward was a lock to make his third All-NBA team in six seasons. Then the 65-game rule got in the way.

Edwards is out on Thursday due to right knee pain and, as a result, cannot play in 65 games this season. That will leave him short of the 65-game threshold to qualify for postseason awards.

(Technically, he can play in 65 games if he plays in the rest of the Timberwolves games this season, but in one of those games, he didn't play in enough minutes for it to count.)

Edwards is averaging 29.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season, shooting 40.1% from 3-point range this season.

Edwards joins Detroit's Cade Cunningham as elite players who are going to miss out on a postseason award because of the 65-game rule. They epitomize the reasons voters want the rule gone — both of those players likely would have slid to third-team All-NBA because of the games missed, but their contributions deserved to be recognized. That said, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the 65-game rule is working as intended, so it may not be going anywhere.