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Adrian Kempe Leads The Way In Kings Win Over Canucks

An unnecessarily close game against the weakest team in the NHL ended with the Los Angeles Kings (33-26-19) pulling away in the second period for a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

The game began with LA taking control early. The early starts benefit the Kings a lot by helping them avoid blowouts or close losses, as they experienced a week ago when they struggled to score a goal in the opening period. 

The scoring came a minute into the period, with a nice play led by Brandt Clarke, skating behind the net and around to find Adrian Kempe cutting in to get the wrist shot. Kempe's goal gave him his 70th point of the season, marking his third consecutive season with 70+ points. 

The Kings were outshooting Vancouver 11-7 to end the first period, while the Canucks won just 24% of their faceoffs. Los Angeles was clearly outplaying the visiting team, but couldn't put them away, leaving the game up in the air. 

Vancouver would respond at the 5:43 mark, converting on the big one-timer shot to tie the scoreboard 1-1. Despite giving up a goal, the Kings would counter the Canucks a minute later. 

After a nice steal from Jared Wright, forcing a Vancouver turnover, Scott Laughton would remain in possession of the puck and drop an impressive pass to Joel Armia trailing from behind to score and give the Kings back the lead. 

The third line continues to stay hot with the chemistry that's developed on ice along the Armia-Laughton-Wright unit out there. Los Angeles is a very tough team to beat whenever any one of those guys in the third line gives you anything on ice, showcasing the depth LA has.

Los Angeles did what they have recently struggled to do in its last few games, getting off to hot starts and never looking back. 

The second period was a very gritty one, with both teams struggling to score after several second-chance opportunities. Both teams were looking for a breakaway, especially the Kings, because the Canucks wouldn't go away, still trailing by just one goal. 

Whoever scored it would come a long way, giving that team momentum and an insurance goal. It came down in the final 30 seconds of the period after a long shot from Joel Edmundston, the puck was redirected by Kempe, and somehow found its way inside the net. 

Kempe continues to impress with his recent performance at the right time of the season. The 29-year-old has now scored 8 of the Kings' 20 goals in the last six games, matching the last time he did it back in Jan/Feb 2023. 

Just like that, what felt like Vancouver was slowly getting back into it because the Kings couldn't take advantage of several missed opportunities, LA ended the second period leading with a two-goal cushion. 

Even with the score being 3-1 after 40 minutes, the Canucks were still playing hard and weren't letting the Kings pull away. 

The final frame was where the Kings started to take over the game. LA’s offense and defense looked more comfortable out there, and they did a good job of holding onto their commanding 3-1 lead.

Los Angeles would score its fourth goal of the game at the 10:43 mark after a nice shot by Alex Laferriere through traffic deflected off a Canucks stick and went inside the net. 

That's now 20 goals for Laferriere on the season, a new career high. Despite the Kings winning a game they're supposed to easily get, it was a good sign to see LA's depth and offense spread the wealth and look comfortable in these must-win games. 

Key Stats

Adrian Kempe scored two goals and two points, continuing his hot stretch over the last six games. Artemi Panarin had two assists and two points. Scott Laughton and Joel Armia continued to play strongly in the third line, with Armia notching a goal and a point, while his teammate Laughton recorded an assist and a point. 

Anton Forsberg got his second straight start after that impressive win against the Predators on Monday. Forsberg finished with 23 saves on 24 shots, making key saves when it was a one-goal game to lead another impressive win under the crease. 

Defensively, Brandt Clarke was also very strong today, finishing with four blocked shots and was a +3 on ice tonight. He’s the youngest player to do this since Drew Doughty back in 2010, impressive stuff from LA’s depth in the win.

The Kings win their third straight game and now have the second wild-card playoff spot after Nashville and San Jose lost. LA now has a one-point lead over the Predators and must either win out or win three of their last four games to overtake Nashville, which holds the tiebreaker. 

LA's next matchup will be against its rival, the Edmonton Oilers, on Saturday at 1:00 PM PT. 

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Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson finding offensive rhythm together as postseason approaches

Better late than never?

In the last few days of the regular season, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have played with the kind of rhythm/connection that’s been missing for most of the year. 

You saw it in New York’s win in Atlanta on Monday. And it was present again on Thursday night against the Celtics. 

With five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Brunson found Towns for a dunk and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions.

It was the kind of sequence the Knicks probably envisioned when they traded for Towns in the 2024 offseason. They didn’t see much of it in the first 78 games of this season. The narrative around the Knicks was that Towns and Brunson didn’t fit well together. 

But if the last two games are any indication, that narrative may be changing. 

“They’re getting a rhythm at the right time,” Mike Brown said after New York’s win on Thursday. “Jalen was great without the basketball. He used his ability to get open because he understands angles. He’s second to none with his ability to change directions without the basketball. 

“When we have a passer like KAT who can hand it off or pass it late to you, it makes that duo really effective because of those two guys and the characteristics they have as players. What also makes it good is KAT can shoot the three and Jalen can shoot the three and put the ball on the floor. So (Towns’) man has to be up into him. He’s big enough, long enough to protect the basketball and still making the pass,” Brown added. “Now you’re talking about there’s a lot of room that Jalen’s guy has to cover or try to cover with Jalen moving. The rhythm that those two guys have established these last few games is something they’re gonna have to take into the playoffs because it’s a really good combination, obviously.”

What’s changed between Towns and Brunson? Towns cited conversations he’s had with Brunson ahead of games. 

“Those convos are showing up in the game, especially in the last two fourth quarters,” Towns said. “In high-pressure situations, we’ve leaned on each other and trusted each other in those situations and it’s been very good for our team.”

If the Towns-Brunson pairing works as well in the postseason as it has over the past two games, the Knicks will be a different – and dangerous – team in the playoffs.

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Lakers vs. Suns Preview: Winning streak incoming?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: Jake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls a rebound against Jordan Goodwin #23 and Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 23, 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

The Lakers (51-29) will complete their final back-to-back of the season on Friday against the Phoenix Suns (44-36).

A win would greatly help them secure the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. With just a couple of games left, this playoff race will come down to the wire.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns

When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Apr 10

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

LA hasn’t had much luck against Phoenix this season. They have lost three of their four matchups against them, with Devin Booker and longtime Lakers foe Dillon Brooks doing most of the damage in those contests.

At this point in the season, the Suns are cemented as the No. 7 seed, so they don’t have the same urgency to win as the Lakers do. That could work in the Lakers’ favor.

For LA to win, it’s going to take a coalition of the willing. That means LeBron James, if he’s active, has to carry a large load once again. As the team’s best available ball handler, he has to score and set up the players on the court for good looks at the basket.

For those looks to be converted, his teammates have to knock down shots. Rui Hachimura is one of LA’s best shooters, converting on 43.6% of his 3-point attempts. Luke Kennard is another laser who can get hot from deep. Kennard’s also shown the ability to handle the ball now that Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are out.

Also, can LA get a big performance from Deandre Ayton? He’s coming off a good performance in LA’s win over Golden State, and that level of play is something he can regularly do.

If he replicates that on Friday night, the Lakers can end the game with possession of the fourth seed with just one contest remaining.

The Lakers need this game and the Suns don’t. That, along with the playoffs approaching, should be motivation enough to push through the exhaustion of the back-to-back and secure the result.

Notes and Updates

  • There is no injury report available for the Laker at this time, as they are playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) will remain out. Hopefully, Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness) and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) can return.
  • As for the Suns, Devin Booker (right ankle injury management), Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) and Jordan Goodwin (left ankle sprain) are out. Jalen Green (right knee soreness) is questionable.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Luke Weaver, Brett Baty can't come through in game-changing inning of Mets' loss to Diamondbacks

The Mets' bullpen has been extra sharp to start the season, and Luke Weaver has been a big part of that.

Entering Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks, Weaver had allowed just one hit and no walks across five scoreless innings. That would change at an inopportune time for the Mets.

After young right-hander Nolan McLean exited the game with a 1-0 lead and two runners on with one out, Weaver was called on to get out of the jam. Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno stepped into the box as a pinch-hitter and got ahead 2-1 on Weaver. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Weaver threw a changeup that was down and away from the right-handed backstop, but Moreno went down and got the barrel of the bat on the ball. 

The ball carried to right field, where Brett Baty was. However, Baty could not come up with the ball and a run scored to tie the game. A run-scoring fielder's choice, a sac fly and a triple later, and the Diamondbacks put up a four-spot in the seventh en route to a 7-1 loss for the Mets. 

Weaver would get the two outs needed to end the seventh, but the damage was done. Four runs scored -- two counted against Weaver -- on two hits.

After the game, Weaver was asked about the inning and gave credit to the team for executing against him.

"They’re a good team. Good lineup, put the ball in play," Weaver said. "At the end of the day, there’s only one way to look at it, and it’s if you do your job or you don't. Today was not one of those outcomes. They earned it, but I don’t want to be discouraged. I want to continue doing what I’m doing. Feel like I’m in a good spot. Just got to wrap it up to that."

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Weaver got in trouble after getting behind 2-0 to Moreno, but gave the Arizona catcher all the credit for putting the barrel to the ball on an executed changeup.

Interestingly enough, Weaver disagreed on whether he executed the pitch.

"There was some indecision on what I wanted to do there," Weaver explained. "Pitch clock got involved there. It was a backed-up moment and just didn’t get to the right end of what I needed to do. [Moreno] did a good job of staying on the pitch. Just on the wrong side of it."

Thursday was Weaver's first blown save of the season and it came at the expense of McLean's gem. Again, Weaver was upbeat about the situation -- all thing's considered -- and is confident he'll get the job done for McLean in the future.

"Adds more of a sting for sure," Weaver said of blowing the save for McLean. "He deserves to walk out of that with his head high. Rely on us to get the job done in crunchtime. He deserved the win there. I hated to be that guy for him, but I’ll pick him up at some point and he’ll continue to do a great job for us."

About that Baty play in the OF

The Moreno at-bat was the catalyst for the Diamondbacks' win on Thursday, but could the game-tying double have been avoided?

Including Thursday, Baty has made just five starts in right field -- facilitated by Juan Soto's IL stint -- and is an infielder by trade. Moreno's double had an exit velocity of 99.3 mph and had a hit probability of 45 percent, according to Statcast. But Baty didn't seem to have a bead on it or know where he was in relation to the right field wall. The ball wound up sailing out of the reach of Baty and bounced off the wall.

Mendoza was asked if he felt Baty could have made the play.

"I don’t think so. He was a little shallow there," Mendoza said. "Moreno got a good piece on that one. I don’t think Baty had a chance on that one there."

When asked if the play was catchable, the Mets skipper spoke confidently that Baty wouldn't have made the play.

"We’ll have to go back and look. But especially with Moreno, he uses the whole field, have to give him credit," Mendoza said. "Where [Baty] was positioned, which is the right positioning, I don’t think he’ll make that play."

One batter later, Alek Thomas hit a sharp grounder to Mark Vientos at first base. Vientos grabbed it and squared his body, but bounced the throw wide of the plate, allowing the Diamondbacks to take the lead on the fielder's choice.

Mendoza said the ball was to his left and it's a tough play for any infielder to make. He also gave credit to Jose Fernandez, the runner on third, for his execution of getting down the line quickly. 

With Soto out and Jorge Polanco potentially joining him on the IL, Baty and Vientos are asked to play positions they haven't done much of in their careers. Despite that, Mendoza has liked what he's seen from both despite them learning on the fly.

“I think they’ve been playing the positions very well,” Mendoza said. “Even today, that ball in right field, that’s a tough play. And the one at the plate with Vientos, when you execute the way they did it -- hell of a job from the runner on third base going on contact. Anytime an infielder’s got to go to his right, to his left, you’re going to have to make a really good play to get the guy at home plate. But they've been good.”

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Mets’ Francisco Lindor off to slow start but believes turnaround will come in ‘just a matter of time’

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Francisco Lindor heads back to the dugout after lining out in the seventh inning of the Mets' 7-1 blowout loss to the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026 at Citi Field

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The early numbers are, once again, not pretty for Francisco Lindor.

He snapped a skid of 11 hitless at-bats with a seventh inning single in his fourth trip to the plate in the Mets’ 7-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Thursday night at Citi Field.

He now has just eight hits all season, and just three of those have been for extra bases.

Lindor knows he’s off to another rough first few weeks to a season, but he insists it’s not because of the surgery to remove the hamate bone in his left hand in February.

He can point to the pair of hits, including a double, he had Tuesday against Arizona, with three balls over 100 mph.

Lindor noted the ball he hit off Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller on March 28, a shot that went to deep center at 106 mph, as proof that the procedure, which can rob hitters of power, is not to blame for any slow start.

“They said the power was gonna be down, and I’m hitting the ball just as hard as I have before,” Lindor said before Thursday’s game against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. “It’s just a matter of time.”

Despite his confidence that he will hit like he typically does, Lindor acknowledged he still feels the effects of the injury “here and there, but I’m good.”

Francisco Lindor heads back to the dugout after lining out in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 7-1 blowout loss to the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026 at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

“Of course you worry about not being the same,” Lindor said of his mindset early in the season. “You do grips and strength tests, and you don’t know if it’s strong enough or what it once was. But then you feel you’re hitting the ball like normal and you think you’re fine. That’s where I am.”

The results so far haven’t followed. That’s nothing new for Lindor, no stranger to shaky Aprils, which is what Carlos Mendoza called this one.

“The injury has nothing to do with it,” the manager said of the fact Lindor, who is now Thursday just 8-for-51 (.157) with three extra-base hits and no runs batted in. “He’s fine. Throughout his career, only last year were his numbers in April good. He’s hit a lot of balls hard that have gone right at people.”

But with Juan Soto sidelined with a calf injury and Jorge Polanco dealing with Achilles tendinitis, Lindor’s lack of production — along with Bo Bichette’s — is especially ill-timed.

“I’d like to contribute more to the team in this spot, but my struggles are not because of my hand,” Lindor said. “I have to put more quality at-bats together every day and the results will come.”

Asked if the absence of Soto has added more pressure, Lindor said, “No. Juan is irreplaceable. The stuff he does on the field and in the batter’s box, I can’t make up. None of us can.”

But Lindor can certainly do more than he has in the early going.

“You understand these starts are gonna happen sometimes,” Lindor said. “And at the beginning of a season, it looks worse because you don’t have numbers to make it better. It’s part of it. But you have to have a sense of urgency, which I do, to get going. You can’t just say, ‘I’ll get there.’ ”

And to Mendoza’s point, Lindor didn’t have a multi-hit game last year until the ninth game of the season, and in 2024 he was a mess at the plate well into April and slumped all the way to the middle of June.

“He’s an aggressive hitter,” Mendoza said. “He’s going to swing. He’ll get out of it and be fine.”

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Nolan McLean’s spoiled brilliance is an all too familiar result for Mets

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) reacts to getting out of the sixth inning when the New York Mets played the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. , Image 2 shows New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches in the fourth inning

They call this a deGrom in Queens.

Unrewarded brilliance.

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Nolan McLean was terrific as the Mets offense hibernated. He threw up zeroes for six innings. Then, the bullpen blew it and the lineup did nothing to get him off the hook.

The Mets suffered a series-losing, 7-1 setback to the Diamondbacks, and McLean took the loss despite a strong outing at frigid Citi Field.

“That’s part of baseball, at the end of the day. I’m sure I’ll leave guys out there and our bullpen is going to strand them for me plenty of times this year,” McLean said. “It’s already been done a couple of times. It’s part of the game. It’s a long season. I know those guys have my back.”

McLean departed with two runners on, one out in the seventh and a 1-0 lead. Luke Weaver entered, and two batters later the Mets were behind. Converted right fielder Brett Baty couldn’t get to a Gabriel Morena drive that hit the right field fence. Mark Vientos then threw wide to the plate on an Alek Thomas grounder. Arizona led and continued to add on, scoring seven times in the seventh and eighth.

Nolan McLean celebrates after getting out of the sixth inning of the Mets’ 7-1 blowout defeat to the Diamondbacks on April 9, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post

“He deserves to work out of that with his head held high and rely on us to get the job done in crunch time,” Weaver said. “He deserves the win there. I hate to be that guy for him, but I’ll pick him up at some point, and he’ll continue to do a great job for us.”

Despite the ugly ending, it was another quality outing from McLean.

The right-hander struck out eight, walked two and allowed three hits over 6 ¹/₃ innings. He threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes, and his ERA on the young season now stands at 2.70.

Nolan McLean throws a pitch in the fourth inning of the Mets’ blowout loss to the Diamondbacks. Robert Sabo for NY Post

He allowed just one hit over the first five innings. But McLean walked Geraldo Perdomo leading off the seventh, and with one out Jose Fernando singled softly to center. That was all for McLean.

McLean has made 11 career big league starts and has allowed more than two earned runs just once. The only Mets pitcher to accomplish that feat was Jim McAndrew.

“He had everything working, especially the sinker,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The sinker has been a pitch that’s been kind of off the first couple of outings. But today, the movement, the way he was just commanding that pitch, and he had pretty much everything else working. He was pretty solid.”

It is reminiscent of Jacob deGrom’s start to his career with the Mets. So was Thursday’s outing: no support from his lineup or bullpen.

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LeBron James leads Lakers to blowout win over Steph Curry-less Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Thursday night at Chase Center was what it looked like when a more-talented team that’s still playing for something meaningful but is trying to figure itself out plays a less-talented team that doesn’t have a lot at stake but has gone through its growing pains.

The Lakers, who beat the Warriors 119-103 in the first night of a back-to-back for both teams, had the talent advantage on Thursday even with regular season-ending injuries to Luka Doncic (left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (left oblique), in addition to absences from Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness). 

And the lack of continuity as the Lakers navigate this relatively new reality was apparent.

LeBron James goes up for a dunk. NBAE via Getty Images

In the lineups they played, some of which hadn’t been on the court together before Thursday. In their 19 turnovers, which helped a Warriors team in need of offense score 22 points. 

Meanwhile, the Warriors, who were without several players, including Steph Curry, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, lived life without their top star in Curry for nearly two months. And there was initially a greater comfort playing the way they needed to, helping them keep the game close. 

But in the end, talent won out, with the Lakers outscoring the Warriors 66-54 in the second half to end their losing streak. 

Bronny James rises up for a block in the paint. NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron James, who was back in the Lakers’ lineup after sitting out of Tuesday’s home loss to the Thunder, led the way with 26 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds in 32 minutes. 

Deandre Ayton added 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 5 rebounds in 31 minutes in a game all five Lakers starters scored in double digits.

Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 17 points.

Gary Payton II goes up for a layup. NBAE via Getty Images

What it means

The Lakers picked up their first win since the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, ending their three-game losing streak and improving to 51-29 on the season. 

They stayed at fourth place in the Western Conference standings with Thursday’s victory. 

The Warriors (37-43), who were already locked into 10th place in the West, hope to have a dress rehearsal before opening the play-in tournament on the road. 

Turning point

When Curry was ruled out Thursday afternoon. 

It took away the best chances of Lakers-Warriors being competitive.

But bigger picture, it also took away what could’ve been one of the final opportunities to witness Curry and James play each other in an NBA game after that didn’t happen at all this year.

LeBron James relishes his jumper while Draymond Green can only watch. AP

MVP: LeBron James

James shot 11-of-17 from the field, and racked up five of his assists early in the fourth, a stretch that gave the Lakers full control of the game. 

It was James’ second straight points-assists double-double.

Stat of the game: 37 

That’s how many assists the Lakers finished with, just one short of tying their season-best mark of 38. 

The Lakers have recorded at least 36 assists in both games James has played since the injuries to Doncic and Reaves. 

Luke Kennard had 8 assists in addition to his 14 points. 

Bronny James drives to the basket. AP

Up next

Both teams will close out their back-to-back sets on Friday night.

The Lakers will go back to Southern California to host the Suns, while the Warriors will travel to Sacramento to play against the Kings.

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LeBron James powers shorthanded Lakers to important win over Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - April 09, 2026: Forward LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles.
Lakers star LeBron James controls the ball in front of Golden State's LJ Cryer during the second quarter of the Lakers' 119-103 win Thursday. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)

Fans from New Zealand and Australia held signs toward the camera proclaiming they had traveled thousands of miles to watch Warriors star Stephen Curry play.

On one sign, “play” was crossed out and replaced with a frowning face.

LeBron James instead gave fans a glimpse at a generational star, leading the Lakers to a 119-103 win over the Warriors on Thursday with 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

After missing the Lakers’ last game, the 21-time All-NBA player returned as the guiding force amid a season threatening to fall off the rails. The Lakers (51-29) ended a three-game losing streak and kept pace with the Houston Rockets in a tight race for home-court advantage in the Western Conference.

Read more:Plaschke: Broken Lakers need to shut down the season

“We just had a sour taste in our mouths, obviously, for last week,” James said, referencing injuries to stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and the recent skid. “... And just none of us wants to continue to lose, and then we hurt for our two main guns. So, just a mindset of just trying to figure out how we can be great as a team, how we can figure out how to play well on the road and try to get a win.”

Trying to avoid their longest losing streak of the season, the Lakers relied on James to steady the ship. After the Lakers gave up a 9-0 run to start the second quarter, he hit a contested three out of a timeout to get them back on track. He fed the ball to Deandre Ayton, keeping the big man engaged for 21 points on nine-of-11 shooting with five rebounds.

Luke Kennard had 14 points and eight assists. The sharp-shooting guard has 28 assists in the last three games, adapting into the team’s emergency point guard to compensate for the loss of Doncic and Reaves.

“Talking as a group this morning like this is what we have right now, and we gotta figure it out,” Kennard said. “We're trying to win games. Worked this hard to get where we are, to be in the position that we're in right now, and we don't want to just throw it away.”

Lakers star LeBron James shoots during a win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.
Lakers star LeBron James shoots during a win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)

Losing James to a lingering left foot injury before Tuesday’s loss to the Thunder added to an emotional week for the Lakers. They lost Doncic and Reaves in a blowout loss in Oklahoma City on April 2 and had to face the NBA's best team without their Big 3. Jaxson Hayes also didn't play Tuesday and remains day-to-day after missing Thursday’s game as well.

Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted the Lakers were not prepared to compete Tuesday. He later recognized that an effort to inject some energy into his players by calling early timeouts and subbing out veterans such as Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt didn’t help, especially after a heated exchange with Vanderbilt was caught on camera.

“What I told the team today — I think this is important — is we have had a very disjointed season because of all the injuries and throughout the year, we — collectively, staff, players — we've had to figure out the best path forward with whatever group is available,” Redick said. “And that's no different right now. We have to figure out over these next three games and over next week, the best path for this team to play winning basketball.”

Read more:Inside Luka Doncic's high-stakes medical treatment and recovery plan

Through the emotional ups-and-downs, Redick checks in with Reaves and Doncic daily. Doncic, receiving treatment on his injured left hamstring in Spain, is in “relatively — relatively good spirits,” Redick said. Doncic is “attacking” his rehab, Redick said, but being away from the team has taken a toll on his psyche. Reaves, who is out with a Grade 2 left oblique strain that is expected to take four to six weeks to heal, has benefited from staying with the team.

“I think for both of those guys, there is, like, a carrot,” Redick said. “If we can get this season extended, they can come back and they can play. Those guys love playing basketball.”

Houston won its eighth straight game Thursday to stay tied with the Lakers for the No. 4 seed. Both teams have two games remaining, and the Lakers have the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The difference between finishing fourth and fifth is home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but James wouldn’t entertain any talk about planning for the playoffs.

“What the future holds, we have no idea,” James said, “and obviously the past is the past. So what we can focus on is how we continue to get better and better each and every day.”

Lakers guard Bronny James looks to pass under pressure from Golden State's LJ Cryer, left, and Charles Bassey.
Lakers guard Bronny James looks to pass under pressure from Golden State's LJ Cryer, left, and Charles Bassey during the second quarter Thursday. (David M. Barreda / Los Angeles Times)

James gave his teammates a scare in the third quarter when he hurt his right hand on a chase-down block. It appeared swollen as he went to the bench. Kennard also walked away from the play holding his left hand after attempting to slap the ball away from the Warriors’ Pat Spencer. Redick joked that the scene made him turn off his Amazon Prime broadcast microphone for several seconds.

But James returned with three minutes left in the third quarter. He wouldn’t give his team yet another reason to worry.

“His leadership all day long, in the meeting, in the walkthrough this morning, just the way he carried himself,” Redick said, “just he really set the tone for the team.”

Battling a chronic knee injury in the latter stages of the season, Curry watched from the bench. His absence in the Warriors’ last home game of the season also put a damper on what could have been another enthralling matchup of two of the NBA's biggest stars.

Between the artistry of Curry and the physicality of James, they’ve been faces of the league, Redick said. But with the 41-year-old James not under contract after this season, the generational stars may never compete against each other on an NBA court again.

Redick called the idea “dark.”

“It's been fun to watch as a fan,” Redick said of the rivalry between Curry and James, “and it's been fun to be a part of it the last couple years.”

Curry greeted James before the game. Now a sneaker free agent after his high-profile departure from longtime sponsor Under Armour, Curry honored his contemporary with a blue and yellow version of the LeBron X iD sneakers.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mike Brown names his probable Knicks rotation players for playoffs

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (0) scoring a layup against the Boston Celtics

Mike Brown identified his probable rotation for the playoffs.

The coach said the nine players used in the past two games — including Thursday’s 112-106 win over the Celtics — have the edge. The four reserves are Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson.

“Those guys are probably our top nine when you’re talking about the playoffs,” Brown said, “and it’s hard to play more than nine guys [in the playoffs].”

Jordan Clarkson scores a layup during the Knicks’ 112-106 win over Celtics on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

That alignment leaves out Jose Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek — all players who have been part of the rotation at times during the regular season.

And all of them picked up DNPs in the past two games against Boston and at Atlanta on Monday.

Alvarado is probably the biggest surprise after being acquired at the trade deadline for two second-round picks, but he was supplanted by McBride — who recently returned from sports hernia surgery — and Clarkson, who has impressed with his defense.

With a clean injury report for Monday’s 108-105 win over Atlanta, the Knicks gave heavier minutes to Jalen Brunson (39 minutes) and OG Anunoby (37). Off the bench, Robinson, Shamet and McBride all recorded at least 20 minutes apiece. Clarkson was sparsely used with nine minutes.

On Thursday against Boston, the four reserves each played at least 14 minutes.

“Trying to find a way to get those guys on the floor with the right combinations at the right times is something I’m messing around with,” Brown said. “But it’s close [to our playoff rotation]. There might be a few things I might change.”

Brown collected his 52nd victory of the season Thursday, eclipsing the highest total by Tom Thibodeau with the Knicks.

“It didn’t register that they had 51 wins [last season], or whatever, and I wasn’t trying to pass what they had last year. I was trying to get the best possible seed we could get going into the playoffs. I was trying to hopefully help the team improve going into the playoffs and then hopefully make a run at this thing,” the coach said. “I’ve said this before: Thibs is a great coach. I’m not trying to be him or replace him. I’m just trying to do the best that I can do with this team. So I don’t really think of that.

“It’d be great to get 60 [wins] and not because we had 60 last year but 60 sounds better than 52 or 54, but that’s kind of how I look at it.”

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White Sox Minor League Update: April 9, 2026

When the Dash needed a spark, Caleb Bonemer brought the fireworks with a three-run blast. | (Rob Leiter/Getty Images)

Memphis Redbirds 4, Charlotte Knights 1
Memphis wasted no time, tagging starter Douglas Nikhazy for three early runs. The 26-year-old, a spring waiver flier from the Cleveland Guardians, has been little more than a roster filler. Tonight, he went 3 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. The Redbirds tacked on one more tally for good measure off Tyler Gilbert in the sixth.

Charlotte (5-6) finally scratched out a run in the third, courtesy of LaMonte Wade Jr. He ripped the Knights’ lone highlight, an RBI double in the third, to plate Mario Camilletti. Despite smacking seven hits and working three walks, the club couldn’t get anything else going. The good news is Sam Antonacci stretched his hitting streak to 10 games, leading off the ninth with a single. His spring slash line: .342/.500/.526 with a 1.026 OPS.

Chattanooga Lookouts 6, Birmingham Barons 2
Regions Field was quiet early as both teams were held hitless through four innings. The Barons (2-4) struggled early and failed to build any momentum, exchanging quick outs with Chattanooga. It all happened fast for the Lookouts in the fifth inning, beginning with back-to-back solo shots off starter Lucas Gordon. Chattanooga took a 2-0 lead and they wouldn’t look back.

Chattanooga took advantage in the eighth inning and piled on with a series of extra-base hits, extending their lead to 6-2. Birmingham plated two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly and a force out, but the damage was done. The Barons had plenty of baserunners (nine), but couldn’t piece together enough hits to complete their comeback, falling in a game where timely hitting made all the difference.

Winston-Salem Dash 8, Frederick Keys 3
The Dash (4-2) came out swinging, slapping three doubles in the first inning— by Caleb Bonemer, George Wolkow, and Jacob Burke. Just like that, they put four runs on the board. The Keys tried to make things interesting, clawing back to 4-3, but W-S slammed the door in the seventh. Bonemer uncorked a three-run blast, DePino chipped in with a solo shot, and that was all she wrote.

Grant Umberger did his job: five innings, two hits, one earned, five punchouts, and three walks. Jake Peppers tried to keep the train rolling in the sixth but promptly derailed, allowing a run on three hits and two free passes. Dash skipper Guillermo Quiroz summoned Luke Bell to put out the fire, and he did just that. Bell and Drew Conover finished things up, holding the Keys scoreless for the rest of the game.

Hickory Crawdads 3, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 0
The game was scoreless through four, thanks to Max Banks, who’s now two starts deep and still hasn’t surrendered a run. In four innings, he gave up one hit, one walk, and had seven punchouts. The White Sox selected him in the 14th round last year (No. 406), and the 22-year-old is making pro ball look easy so far.

Jeremy González took the ball for the fifth, and that’s when it unraveled. He served up two runs in the fifth, another in the sixth, and just like that, Hickory had all they’d need. The Ballers (2-4)? Four hits, three guys in scoring position, and not a hint of a rally.

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Lakers snap losing streak with rout of Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a slow start, the Lakers finally snapped their losing streak on Thursday with a blowout win in San Francisco over the Warriors, 119-103.

LA led throughout the first quarter, but only by single digits. Golden State, who were without Steph Curry, pulled ahead early in the second before the visitors took the lead and didn’t look back.

The Lakers turned 19 Warriors turnovers into 28 points, the main catalyst behind them blowing the game open in the second half. All five starters scored in double figures for LA.

It was a solid offensive start for LA with an early seven-point lead. Deandre Ayton had five points and LeBron James was close behind him with four points. Pat Spencer was the leading scorer for the Warriors with four points. 

Golden State missed all four of its attempts from behind the arc.

Meanwhile, LeBron knocked down the first triple for the Lakers. LJ Cryer drained two 3-pointers in a row that helped give the Warriors a burst of life. At the 2:11 mark, Los Angeles was only up by three. 

A quick five-point surge from LeBron, including a dunk on the assist by Bronny James, gave the purple and gold a five-point lead at the end of the first. 

Seth Curry and Gary Payton II started the second period and helped give Golden State the lead with a 9-0 scoring run. Los Angeles suddenly played sloppily, turning the ball over three times, which helped fuel the Warriors’ surge. 

LeBron drained a triple to stop the bleeding for the Lakers.

A 7-0 scoring run put LA back in the lead. Rui Hachimura knocked down his first 3-pointer of the half. He had eight points in this quarter, a major reason why Los Angeles had regained the momentum. 

The Lakers were up by five at the 4:16 mark. 

Bronny had a productive showing, scoring four points. LA had built a big lead of nine, but the Warriors chipped away at the deficit to make it a four-point lead for Los Angeles at halftime. 

LeBron and Jake LaRavia combined for a quick five points to open the second half. Golden State turned the ball over twice, which helped the Lakers mount that sudden early surge. The Warriors were forced to call a timeout as they were now down by nine. 

Out of the break, Brandin Podziemski scored on a layup.

Ayton was now at 15 points for the night with 10 points in the quarter. Four of LA’s five starters were in double figures; Kennard had seven points. At the three-minute mark, Los Angeles was up by 14. Bronny had a productive seven points off the bench. 

A 6-0 Malevy Leons scoring run to end the third made it a nine-point game. 

The Lakers opened the final frame with their own 6-0 run of their own, led by LeBron with four points and LaRavia with a dunk. LeBron then threw down a thunderous dunk, piling on the onslaught of offense. 

Nick Smith Jr. drained a triple, his first shot attempt. 

Kennard then scored five in a row, which put him at 14 points. That officially marked all five starters for LA scoring in double figures. At the 6:05 mark, LeBron checked out with 26 points. 

The lead continued to balloon for Los Angeles, leading to the rest of the game being cardio. 

Key Player Stats

LeBron finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists and two steals. Ayton ended with 21 points and five rebounds. Hachimura pitched in with 15 points , two rebounds, two assists and three steals. 

Kennard had 14 points, two rebounds, eight assists and four steals. LaRavia notched 16 points with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Bronny logged 10 points in 21 minutes. Jarred Vanderbilt grabbed six rebounds and dished five dimes. 

Smith Jr. scored nine points in garbage time. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Phoenix Suns on Friday at 7:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

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Braves News: Guardians on deck, City Connect uniforms, and more

Aug 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) steals second as Atlanta Braves shortstop Nick Allen (2) is late with the tag during the second inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves return to Truist Park and kick off the weekend with a three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians. The Braves enter play with an 8-5 record and are coming off a series win in Anaheim, where the run column was high, and emotions even higher. The Guardians come to town with the same record after a recent series win over the Kansas City Royals. 

The series gets underway tonight at 7:15 ET, with Bryce Elder getting the nod against fellow right-hander Slade Cecconi. Game two is set for the same time Saturday night, as Martín Pérez faces Parker Messick. The series will conclude Sunday night with Chris Sale starting things off at 7:20 ET. 

The Braves haven’t dropped a series yet this season, and they’ll aim to keep that perfect streak intact this weekend.

More Braves News:

The City Connect uniforms have officially been unveiled, and here’s everything you need to know. 

BravesVision analyst Peter Moylan spoke with us earlier this week to talk about all things coaching, ABS, the big brawl, and more. 

Didier Fuentes threw a shutout and recorded eight strikeouts during Wednesday’s start. More in the minor league recap.

There are several high school prospects the Braves may explore this year, so take a look at potential selections. 

MLB News:

The Washington Nationals have yet to make an extension offer to outfielder Daylen Lile. The Nats currently have just one player on a guaranteed contract past 2026. 

From the Feed:

This week’s brawl has been the biggest Braves headline all week, and now it’s time to hear from you. Which Braves brawl do you think is most memorable?

There’s been plenty of reflection of the past this week after the City Connects were unveiled. So, let’s hear your favorite player as a kid. 

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Jorge Polanco’s Achilles issue could land him on injured list

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jorge Polanco (11) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after he flies out for the final out of the tenth inning at Citi Field, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Queens, NY. , Image 2 shows New York Mets second baseman Jorge Polanco (11) hitting an infield single

Jorge Polanco was out of the lineup Thursday against Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez with lingering left Achilles soreness, and manager Carlos Mendoza said the first baseman could end up on the IL.

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“It is a possibility that we get to a point where we need to give him a break,’’ Mendoza said before a 7-1 loss at Citi Field. “It’s fluid. We’ll see what we’ve got.”

Right now, they’ve got a major part of their offseason transformation unable to play first base since the second game of the season, when Polanco first began to feel discomfort in the area.

He’s been limited to DH duties since then and even that hasn’t helped resolve the issue.

Mendoza said Polanco felt it again Wednesday, which led to Thursday’s decision.

“We’re saying it’s day to day and there are good days and days when he feels it more,” Mendoza said. “[Wednesday] was one of those days [he felt it].”

And there’s no telling how long Polanco will be dealing with the discomfort.

“It’s hard to tell,’’ the manager said. “We’re watching it closely.”

Jorge Polanco (11) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after he flies out for the final out of the tenth inning at Citi Field, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

With Polanco sidelined versus the lefty, Mark Vientos was at first base and Francisco Alvarez was the DH.

The 32-year-old Polanco played 138 games with Seattle last season, but had IL stints due to leg injuries each of the three seasons prior — sidelined by hamstring strains in both legs, as well as left knee inflammation.

The lineup is already without Juan Soto, on the IL with a strained right calf and he hasn’t resumed running yet.

“We’re being cautious,’’ Soto told The Post of the IL decision following a 7-1 loss to Arizona. “I want to be in the right spot when I come back. We have a plan and we’ll follow it.”

Soto, expected to be out 2-3 weeks after suffering the injury in San Francisco, is doing some baseball activities while he’s out, playing catch and hitting in the cages and said he feels “pretty good.”

Mets second baseman Jorge Polanco (11) reaches on an infield single during the first inning when the New York Mets played the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post

There’s no timeline, though, for Soto to begin running, which will be the real test for when he might be able to return.

A.J. Minter, expected to be a major piece of the bullpen last year before being lost after a torn lat required season-ending surgery, returned to action Thursday with Low-A St. Lucie. The lefty tossed a scoreless inning to begin his rehab process. He’ll have to be activated by May 9.

“It was good to see him ready to go,’’ Mendoza said. “The fact he was in real competition was a good sign.”

Another veteran reliever, Craig Kimbrel, also tossed a shutout inning for St. Lucie after he had a rough spring.

While David Peterson continues to struggle and Sean Manaea can’t get his velocity back, Christian Scott had an encouraging outing Thursday for Triple-A Syracuse. The right-hander, out since 2024 Tommy John surgery, threw five scoreless innings against Buffalo.

He sat in the mid-90s and allowed just a pair of hits, a walk and whiffed seven.

Tobias Myers entered Thursday having not pitched since Saturday and hadn’t thrown more than 30 pitches since his season debut on March 26. Mendoza said Myers was still built up for “40-45” pitches, but “if we need to use him for one inning in high-leverage, we will.”

The Associated Press reported Thursday that the Mets had the highest Opening Day payroll at $352.2 million.

“There’s always pressure here in New York,’’ Mendoza said. “There are high expectations, regardless of payroll. We’ve got to go and not only get to October, but deep into October.”

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Hurricanes Defensive System Is Too Much For Blackhawks In 7-2 loss

CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the Carolina Hurricanes to the United Center on Thursday night for a late-season interconference matchup. 

This Hurricanes team clinched the Metropolitan Division with a week remaining in the regular season, so they decided to rest a handful of their top players, including Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov, Jaccob Slavin, Jalen Chatfield, Jordan Martinook, and Jordan Staal. 

With a large number of Chicago Wolves players in the lineup, the Hurricanes didn't miss a beat. They scored 19 seconds into the game to begin their scoring early and often. 

Anton Frondell tied the game shorty after with a skilled move after Louis Crevier drove the net, but the Hurricanes took over on the scoreboard from there. 

They scored four unanswered goals before the third period was half over to take the 5-1 lead. The shots were mostly even throughout, but the quality of chances favored Carolina. 

Less than one minute after scoring their fourth goal, however, Frondell scored his second of the game and third of his career. Once again, he was set up by Louis Crevier, who picked up his second assist of the match. 

At 8:12 of the third, former Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall scored Carolina's sixth goal of the game to restore their four-goal lead. For good measure, Carolina added another one, and the 7-2 score held as the final. 

The only positive from a game like that is Anton Frondell, who had his first career multi-goal game. 

"I love to score," said Frondell after the game. "It's the best feeling ever." 

This is a player who has a ton of skill, which is a great baseline to NHL success, but his drive to be elite is there, which is what will make him a top player in the game one day. Playing the correct way in all three zones is a focal point for him, which is impressive for how gifted he is offensively. 

Carolina's game, especially their defensive structure, is incredibly hard to play against. They are aggressive at even strength and on the penalty kill, which makes their unit extremely hard to create offense against. 

"I think the game was really fast out there today," Frondell said of the Hurricanes. "They play hard, they play strong, and we didn't win as many battles as we should. We didn't skate as much as they did."  

With multiple stars out of their lineup and replaced by AHL regulars, Rod Brind'Amour's system allowed them to step right in and be effective. The Chicago Wolves clearly keep their guys in shape in case they are called upon to play that high-intensity system in the NHL. 

"I think Carolina is always challenging because of how much pressure they put on you," said head coach Jeff Blashill. They play fast, they pressure you hard, and they did that tonight. They take guys out, put guys in, and they play the same way. That's why they have a lot of success year after year."

Louis Crevier admitted that when he was in Rockford, they used to study the Hurricanes when training for their own systems. It's a good group to learn from if you want to become an elite defensive team at the highest level. 

"They're really aggressive," Crevier said. "It's a team that, in the past, I've personally taken notes from. It's a hard system to play against, but we didn't give ourselves a chance."

The Hurricanes have done this to a lot of teams this season, not just the Blackhawks. There is a reason that they are yet again Metropolitan Division champions.

Anton Frondell is playing well, which is a positive, but they have three more games to get everyone else feeling good about their games going into the off-season. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks will be back in action on Saturday night. Their Hall of Fame game will take place against the St. Louis Blues in the late afternoon, with plenty of special guests in attendance. 

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Yankees news: Luis Gil returns from minors, Cade Winquest designated for assignment

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 12: Luis Gil of the New York Yankees looks on in a game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 12, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: Luis Gil, who started the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since the Yankees did not need a fifth starter, was recalled after yesterday’s game. To make room on the 40-man, the team will designate Cade Winquest for assignment. New York took Winquest in the Rule 5 Draft over the offseason, but the right-hander didn’t manage to make it into a game in his two weeks with the club. After allowing three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out six in 4.2 innings for Scranton on Sunday, Gil is scheduled to make his season debut tonight against the Rays.

The Winquest decision will likely spark debate over the Yankees’ decision to roster him but never use him across 12 games. For one perspective, check out the PSA account on BlueSky.

SNY | Alex Smith: The New York Yankees were blanked on Thursday afternoon by Jeffrey Springs and co., losing 1-0 and logging a single hit, a Ben Rice single in the seventh. They lost the series at the hands of the Athletics and haven’t scored a single run in their last 17 innings. As Matt noted in his recap for us, when the top of the order has a bad day, it just exposes the completely-punchless lower half. Ryan McMahon (2-for-29) and José Caballero (5-for-37) have horrid wRC+’s of 17 and 10, respectively, the catchers haven’t hit, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. has yet to homer. In fact, Chisholm, McMahon, Caballero, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham, and Austin Wells have combined for as many homers (2 in 304 PA) as bench bat Amed Rosario had on Tuesday alone.

Even manager Aaron Boone, known for always finding a silver lining in every tough situation, didn’t find any positives in Thursday’s game. “Look, we got shut down today,” Boone said. “The previous games where we’re struggling scoring, I feel like we’re getting the traffic and we’re having quality at-bats. Today was a day where we got beat. We just didn’t generate much, we didn’t hit a lot of balls on the screws at all, and didn’t create much traffic.”

NY Post | Dan Martin and Mark W. Sánchez: Yankees closer David Bednar, who has given up runs in three of his last four outings, has been averaging 95.6 mph with his fastball. After checking in at 97.1 mph in 2025 and 97.2 mph the year before, it’s clear his velo has been down a bit. The pitcher, however, is not concerned. “It’s early in the season and the weather [is cold],” Bednar told reporters. “It’s nothing to panic about.”

It’s also important to point out that the reliever has been throwing a lot these days due to the Yankees’ shallow bullpen, but the situation is worth monitoring even though it’s very early, and the cold does play a role. The pitching staff has at least generally done its part so far; it’s more the offense that needs to catch up.

CBS | RotoWire Staff: Yankees veteran ace Gerrit Cole keeps advancing in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. After throwing on Monday without issues, the next step is facing hitters with High-A Hudson Valley, according to Boone. The session will take place on Sunday and, if it goes well, a rehab assignment could be next.