TORONTO (AP) — Dakota Joshua had a goal and an assist, Joseph Woll made 40 saves and added an assist, and the Toronto Maple Leafs topped the Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday night, eliminating New York from playoff contention.
Jake McCabe, Nick Robertson and John Tavares had the other goals for Toronto and Matias Maccelli added two assists. Woll picked up the second assist on Joshua’s goal for his first NHL point.
Mika Zibanejad scored two goals and Alexis Lafreniere had a goal and two assists for the Rangers, while Igor Shesterkin stopped 14 shots. Adam Fox chipped in two assists.
New York, which will finish below the postseason cutline for a second straight season, sits second-to-last in the overall standings. Toronto ranks 21st and is on the way to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Tavares scored his 26th goal of the season at 11:57 of the third period to make it 4-2 when he ripped a shot past Shesterkin after Toronto had built a 3-0 lead in the second.
New York's Adam Sykora made his NHL debut after being called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack. The 21-year-old winger, selected 63rd overall at the 2022 draft, had 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points across 62 games in the AHL this season.
Toronto's William Nylander is one point away from passing his father, Michael, for family bragging rights. The winger has 679 points in 741 regular-season games. The elder Nylander registered 679 points in 920 contests.
New York, which tied a dubious franchise record with just 10 shots in Monday’s 2-1 home loss to the Ottawa Senators, directed 14 attempts on target in Wednesday’s opening period. The visitors had 17 more shots on Woll in the second.
Up next
Rangers: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.
Maple Leafs: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Friday evening, as we are joined by Sean Murphy of the From Half Court Podcast to recap the Pistons’ recent stretch of games and more! Is Jalen Duren cementing himself as a legit second star? Can the Pistons continue holding up in the absence of superstar Cade Cunningham? Will the Pistons still lock down the number one seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs?
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BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is guarded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics returned to TD Garden on Wednesday night for what felt like more than just another regular season game. With the Oklahoma City Thunder riding a 12-game win streak and holding the top spot in the Western Conference, this had all the makings of a measuring stick matchup, the kind that quietly starts to feel a little like June if you let your mind wander.
Boston, meanwhile, entered the night looking to respond after a recent loss and continue finding its rhythm with a full rotation available. Against one of the league’s most complete teams on both ends of the floor, this was a good opportunity to see how their version of basketball holds up when the margin for error gets tight.
Thunder punch first, but Celtics answer
The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t take long to seize control.
Behind early threes from Luguentz Dort and the steady pace of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC jumped out in front and immediately put Boston on its heels. Gilgeous-Alexander never looked rushed, picking his spots and operating comfortably as the Celtics largely let him work one-on-one to start.
On the other end, the Celtics couldn’t buy a basket. Sam Hauser got the looks you want, but missed them all, as Boston opened the game cold and out of sync. The Thunder’s defense didn’t help matters, constantly poking at dribbles and disrupting passing lanes, turning a few sloppy possessions into easy points the other way.
There were a few brief flashes. Jayson Tatum broke the drought in transition, Payton Pritchard knocked down a three off the bench, and Luka Garza brought some needed energy with an and-one late in the quarter. But nothing stuck, and Oklahoma City stayed in control throughout, closing the first on an 11–3 run to take a 31–20 lead into the second.
The Celtics looked like a completely different team to open the second quarter — and it started with Jayson Tatum.
After Boston opened the game just 3-for-12 on two-point attempts and shot under 30% through the first nine minutes, Tatum steadied everything. A quick three to start the quarter cut into the deficit, and from there, he began to dictate the pace of the game, both as a scorer and a facilitator. He attacked Holmgren off the dribble, found Queta for easy looks inside, and started reading the Thunder’s defensive pressure instead of reacting to it.
Gradually, Boston started to take control.
Their defense tightened up, clearly the result of intentional adjustments made by Joe Mazzulla. After allowing Oklahoma City to operate comfortably in the first quarter, the Celtics began forcing turnovers, getting back in transition, and making the Thunder work deeper into the shot clock. The energy shifted from scattered to controlled, and TD Garden responded accordingly.
Tatum was at the center of all of it.
During one stretch midway through the quarter, he scored or assisted on eight points in just over a minute, turning a double-digit deficit into a one-possession game. Jaylen Brown followed with a three off a Tatum drive-and-kick, and suddenly the Celtics had real momentum, forcing Mark Daigneault to call back-to-back timeouts.
An 8–0 run capped by a Payton Pritchard three gave the Celtics their first lead of the game, a moment that felt unlikely given how the night started. But just as quickly as the Garden erupted, Oklahoma City answered. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned and immediately settled things for the Thunder, getting to his spots with ease before Cason Wallace knocked down a three to erase the lead.
The final minute swung things back slightly in Oklahoma City’s favor.
A tough offensive foul on Tatum, a failed challenge on a goaltending call, and a last-second tip-in from Dort gave the Thunder a 53–49 lead heading into halftime. Still, after falling behind by as many as 13 and looking completely out of rhythm early, the Celtics had done enough to keep the game within reach — and more importantly, had started to look like themselves again.
Boston keeps it up in the third
Oklahoma City opened the second half looking ready to create separation, which has been their pattern all season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked up right where he left off, scoring with ease and stretching the Thunder lead early, including a stretch where he hit seven of his first eight shots and knocked down three triples.
But this time, the Celtics didn’t let it get away.
Jaylen Brown set the tone with aggressive drives, getting downhill and forcing the issue after a quiet first half. Jayson Tatum continued to command attention as well, drawing multiple defenders and creating space for others, even as Oklahoma City stayed locked in on him defensively.
Boston started to find its rhythm through physicality and effort plays. Neemias Queta provided a spark inside, finishing through contact and delivering one of the loudest moments of the night with a powerful dunk over Chet Holmgren that brought TD Garden to life. Sam Hauser added a much-needed three after a prolonged cold stretch, helping stabilize the offense.
From there, the game settled into a possession-by-possession fight.
Boston leaned into its depth, with Baylor Scheierman providing an unexpected boost off the bench. He knocked down a pair of confident threes and held his own defensively, even forcing a turnover from Gilgeous-Alexander during a key stretch. Payton Pritchard followed with a deep three and a late floater, as the Celtics began to generate more consistent offense against a Thunder defense that had controlled the early stages of the game.
At the same time, the Celtics made subtle defensive adjustments. Gilgeous-Alexander still found his spots, finishing the third quarter with 26 points, but Boston began to make him work harder for them and limited easy paint touches around him.
The result was a steady shift in momentum.
After trailing for most of the night, the Celtics finally took control late in the quarter behind Brown’s continued pressure at the rim and timely shot-making from the supporting cast. Boston closed the third on a strong run, outscoring Oklahoma City 39–30 in the period to take an 88–83 lead into the fourth.
Boston carried its second-half momentum into the fourth and quickly created breathing room.
Neemias Queta made an immediate impact, extending possessions on the glass and helping push the lead to its largest of the night early in the quarter. The ball movement followed. Queta found Sam Hauser in the corner for a wide-open three, and this time the shot dropped, stretching the lead as the Celtics began to settle into a rhythm offensively.
From there, Boston leaned heavily into the Jayson Tatum–center pick-and-roll.
Whether it was Queta or Luka Garza screening, the action consistently produced good looks. Tatum controlled the tempo, drew contact, and knocked down three free throws after getting Alex Caruso in the air. A few possessions later, he hit Garza on the roll for an easy finish, continuing to exploit Oklahoma City’s coverage.
The energy plays kept coming.
Baylor Scheierman delivered one of the biggest moments of the night with a putback dunk off a Tatum miss, crashing in from the corner and finishing above the rim as the crowd erupted. Not long after, he knocked down a step-back three from a similar spot, showing confidence and giving Boston a jolt on both ends.
Jaylen Brown built on that momentum with consistent pressure at the rim. He attacked closeouts, got to the line, and converted an and-one after getting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off his feet, drawing loud MVP chants as the Celtics extended their advantage.
Even as Gilgeous-Alexander continued to produce offensively, Boston maintained control.
The Celtics forced misses, limited second chances, and got timely shot-making from Payton Pritchard, whose three pushed the lead to 14 midway through the quarter. At that point, Boston had found a steady rhythm on both ends, with its offense generating clean looks and its defense doing enough to keep Oklahoma City from stringing together stops.
The Thunder made one final push.
A quick run trimmed the lead back into single digits, fueled by perimeter shot-making and trips to the free-throw line, as Oklahoma City continued to benefit from a favorable whistle throughout the night. But Boston responded with composure, continuing to attack the paint and get to the line, with Brown staying aggressive as the game moved inside the final few minutes.
Boston closed it out, 119–109, for what stands as its biggest win of the season.
The Celtics had dropped five of their last six coming in, including three straight against Oklahoma City, adding weight to a matchup that already carried plenty of it. Against one of the league’s hottest teams, they responded to a loss against Minnesota with their most complete performance in weeks, overcoming a slow start and taking control in the second half.
They’ll look to carry that momentum into Friday night, when they host the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden at 7:30pm ET.
DETROIT (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 130-129 on Wednesday night.
Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit's four-game winning streak.
Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.
Atlanta had a 21-point lead in the first half that Detroit wiped away quickly in the third quarter. McCollum scored the Hawks' final 11 points of regulation, including a three-point play that gave them a 121-116 lead with 44 seconds remaining. But Detroit rallied again and he missed a jumper that would have won it on the final possession.
He got another chance in OT and his three-point play made it 126-123. The Pistons had a chance to win it, but Harris missed a jumper and Duren was short on a follow shot.
The Hawks scored 11 straight points to extend a six-point lead to 56-39 midway through the second quarter, then had an 11-2 spurt just before the half to make it 73-52. The Pistons then scored the first 16 points of the third quarter, trimming Atlanta's 73-55 halftime advantage to 73-71.
Atlanta avoided a four-game sweep in the season series. The Pistons had a season-high 142 points in December in the last meeting, but the Hawks are the hottest team in the East now while surging into sixth place entering play Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 25, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite the Lakers being shorthanded with Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton being out, they dominated the Pacers for most of the game. Unfortunately, they had an unserious stretch in the fourth that gave Indiana a glimmer of hope, but luckily, it didn’t cost them the result.
This contest featured LeBron James posters, Luka Dončić baskets and even a three by Jarred Vanderbilt.
LA had a stellar road trip, winning five of six games, and now they’ll return home as one of the hottest teams in the league.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron was dunking all over the place and had a complete game with nine assists and nine rebounds. If this is what the Lakers can expect from LeBron the rest of the way, then the team’s ceiling should be raised.
LaRavia got the start and was aggressive from the jump. He was forcing turnovers, scoring in the paint and fighting for rebounds.
LaRavia stayed defensively active the entire game, generating steals and deflections. One of his most impressive plays happened in the third quarter when he broke up a two-on-one fastbreak by himself, forcing a turnover.
Hayes was the Lakers’ starting big in this game and played well. He did what he usually does, which includes attacking the rim and working well with Luka in the pick-and-roll. This was his first double-double of the season, and that level of production was needed.
Kennard had some nice shots in the first half that helped the Lakers establish dominance early on. The front office trading for him has been an incredibly beneficial move.
With so many players out Vando got some extra run in this game. He took advantage, knocking down a three and being the elite defensive player he typically is. It’s unlikely this performance will convince head coach JJ Redick that Vando needs more playing time, but it’s good to know he can contribute when necessary.
Bronny had some good shifts against the Pacers. He had a nice dunk and some strong defensive plays. Similar to Vando, this won’t change his role on the team, but it was nice to see.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
Redick got the Lakers the win, and minus that poor fourth-quarter stretch, the team played relatively well. Credit to Redick for playing Vando more and even giving Bronny some run. Both players played well, and LA is back in the win column.
Wednesday’s inactives: Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Adou Thiero, Marcus Smart, Chris Mañon
Dealing with a busted bracket?
The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.
Mar 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives as Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) defends in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ slow start on both ends of the floor did them in. They erased a 21 -point deficit and grabbed a brief fourth-quarter lead, but they weren’t able to hold off the Miami Heat, resulting in a 120-103 loss. The defense — once again — was the issue.
There’s something broken with the Cavs defense right now.
Defense comes down to more than just effort. The Cavs tried on that end at the start of the game, but it just didn’t matter due to their combination of poor scheme for the opponent and their lack of personnel, with Dean Wade (ankle), Jarrett Allen (knee), Jaylon Tyson (toe), and Max Strus (injury management) all missing this game.
The Cavs have consistently overprotected the paint on drives to the basket. This led to open looks on the outside, even though the ball handler didn’t have to earn the kick-out-pass by actually blowing past their defender. As a result, the Heat went 7-16 from three (43.9%) in the first quarter.
Things got worse in the second quarter. The Heat put up 35 points by going 6-12 (50%) from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Cavs’ offense — which has been saving them in recent games — was nowhere to be found in the first half. They mustered just 19 points in the first quarter and finished the first half just 3-15 (20%) from distance. This resulted in a 17-point deficit at the break.
Cleveland’s offense turned things around in the third quarter, putting up 37 points thanks to 13 points from Donovan Mitchell, and the team shooting 7-11 (63.6%) from three.
The Cavs briefly retook the lead early in the fourth quarter, but they weren’t able to keep the offense going like they needed to on a night the defense once again let them down.
This is an offensive first team. That offense abandoned them in crunch time as they went just 5-19 (26.3%) from the floor and 2-11 (18.2%) from three in the fourth quarter. It didn’t help that Mitchell — who led the third-quarter comeback — fouled out with just over three minutes left in the game.
Even though the game was close early in the final frame, the Heat were still able to cruise to a relatively stress-free victory to snap their five-game losing streak. Registering 37 fourth-quarter points on 14-18 (77.8%) shooting from the field helped make this one anticlimactic.
Mitchell led Cleveland with 28 points on 12-22 shooting with six rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, and six fouls.
James Harden struggled to find his three-point shot and couldn’t take care of the ball. He had 18 points on 4-10 shooting, which included going 3-9 from three, to go along with nine rebounds, seven assists, and five turnovers.
Sam Merrill supplied 18 points while Keon Ellis had 17 points on 5-12 shooting.
Evan Mobley struggled to make a noticeable impact offensively. He had just eight points on 3-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds and four assists.
The Heat had eight players finish in double-figures scoring. Norman Powell led Miami with 19 points. Tyler Herro had 18. Bam Adebayo supplied 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
The Cavs will take on the Heat again on Friday. Tip-off is at 7 PM.
Citi Field / | Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images
There’s no better Mets tradition than tuning in to hear Gary, Keith, and Ron calling the team’s first game of the season. Unfortunately, Major League Baseball decided to make a deal that delays that joyous occasion until the Mets’ second game of the year, as the team’s Opening Day game against the Pirates tomorrow is going to be on NBC and Peacock.
Since we’re all stuck in this GKR-less reality until Saturday afternoon, though, here are the pertinent details.
First pitch: 1:15 PM EDT on Thursday, March 26, 2026 TV: NBC or Peacock Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
Considering this is Howie Rose’s final season as the radio voice of the Mets, you might want to sync up the radio broadcast with your video feed. Speaking from personal experience, applications like Audio Hijack, which is exclusive to macOS and requires a paid license, are capable of pausing and time-shifting audio from any app, making it possible to sync in that direction.
If you’re not looking to make the effort to sync, though, you should know that former Mets players Al Leiter and Neil walker will be in the NBC/Peacock booth alongside Matt Vasgersian, who’s on play-by-play duties. And Adam Ottavino will be doing analysis on the pregame show.
Munetaka Murakami slots into the heart of the lineup on Opening Day, carrying both the upside, and the questions, with him. | (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The White Sox made it official ahead of Opening Day: the 26-man roster is set, the last cuts are in, and the 40-man has already taken a couple of hits before a single meaningful pitch is thrown.
Brooks Baldwin and Kyle Teel land on the 10-day IL, while Prelander Berroa and Drew Thorpe continue their Tommy John recoveries on the 15-day IL. Mike Vasil also heads to the 15-day, but he will soon enough hit the 60-day for his TJS. While none of this is really breaking news, seeing all these names lined up is a nice reminder that depth is already being tested before the season even starts.
We knew the DFA for Korey Lee was coming, but it still doesn’t make much more sense now than it did two days ago. Curtis Mead also heads to the chopping block despite having a solid showing in the WBC.
Roster-wise, it’s not quite a standard build with 13 pitchers, two catchers, five infielders, and a notable SIX outfielders. That extra guy on the grass stands out, especially with a thinner infield group, suggesting this roster is leaning more toward flexibility and ongoing evaluation. With several players capable of moving around (and a few still trying to prove they belong), the Sox are clearly keeping their options open rather than locking into a traditional structure this early.
And then we have the Opening Day lineup.
White Sox opening day lineup
Meidroth 2B Montgomery SS Vargas 3B Benintendi DH Hays LF Murakami 1B Pereira RF Quero C Acuña CF
Chase Meidroth leading off isn’t just a Spring Training reward — it’s a statement. Pairing him with Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas at the top gives the Sox a young, table-setting trio, and if that works, it could quietly reshape how this lineup functions. If it doesn’t, well, the beauty of 162 is that there’s always tomorrow to pretend it never happened.
The middle is a mix of “we know what this is” and “we’d really like to find out.” Andrew Benintendi slides into the cleanup spot at DH — which is a choice — while Austin Hays and Munetaka Murakami bring some power potential. Murakami, especially, is one of the biggest wild cards on the roster with the kind of bat that could change the tone of the lineup if it clicks, or leave a noticeable hole if it doesn’t.
The bottom third leans fully into volatility, specifically with Everson Pereira and Luisangel Acuña Jr. The Sox aren’t pretending this is a finished product, and they’re running these guys out there to see what sticks.
And honestly, that might be the most notable takeaway from the roster as a whole. This isn’t a group built to hide its questions. It’s built to answer them.
Opening Day won’t solve much, but it will start to show which of these bets might actually pay off and which ones are going to need a quicker pivot than anyone hoped.
Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a fly ball against the Brewers during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on March 20, 2026. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Introduction
In previous weeks we looked at the offseason moves of the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and the San Francisco Giants. Today we’ll wrap up our tour of the NL West with a review of the Arizona Diamondbacks offseason, along with my predictions for the 2026 season.
2025 Season Overview/Recap
The D-backs 2025 season was a disaster, largely as a result of the pitching staff being decimated by injuries. The biggest acquisition of the 2025 offseason, Corbin Burnes, who signed a 6 year $210 million contract, had his season end early when he hit the injury list in early June with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He wasn’t even the only pitcher who needed their elbow surgically repaired, as young flame-throwing reliever Justin Martinez would also go under the knife for Tommy John surgery, along with AJ Puk who needed internal brace surgery on top of having a flexor strain that initially put him on the injured list. Before being traded to the Rangers, starter Merrill Kelly would also spend time on the IL with a back injury.
The D-backs were well on their way to a losing record by the trade deadline, so GM Mike Hazen shipped out almost all of the pending free agents aside from Zac Gallen, trading away the aforementioned Merrill Kelly, first baseman Josh Naylor, third baseman Eugenio Suarez, and outfielder Randall Grichuk. The D-backs then proceeded to go on a winning streak that allowed them to stay in the mix for the last Wild Card seed up until mid September, though the N.Y. Mets were in the middle of their annual late season collapse, per tradition. The Diamondbacks ultimately finished in fourth place with an 80-82 record.
If you were closely following the D-backs offseason, you probably weren’t a fan of the moves Gm Mike Hazen made, especially as they happened. Now that the winter and spring training are over, we have the benefit of looking at the overall picture of what their offseason looks like.
Bringing back starting pitcher Merrill Kelly was a no-brainer after he was shipped off to the Texas Rangers at the deadline. Zac Gallen returning is more of a result of him having a terrible 2025 season along with the fact that any other team who signed him would lose a draft pick. With a bounce back season and no qualifying offer, I’d think Gallen should be able to land a multi year deal next offseason. (Yes, I’m completely ignoring the impending labor stoppage that’s possible next offseason).
The other big move of the winter was acquiring Nolan Arenado from the Cardinals at a discount. Arenado is definitely in the decline phase of his career, but the move back to the NL West could allow for an offensive bounceback in 2026. Considering the Cardinals and Rockies are both picking up a majority of his contract, I’m not too concerned about the worst case scenario of the team having to eat the rest of the contract if he doesn’t bounce back.
Shipping out the fan favorite, but also frustratingly inconsistent OF Jake McCarthy to the Rockies, along with promising young infielder Blaze Alexander to the Orioles, probably upset a few D-backs fans, but I think it was time for the team to move on from the former, and I actually like the return for Alexander. What IS more of a concern for me is Kade Strowd looking bad enough with the D-backs that he didn’t even make the team out of spring training. I actually like the bargain bin pitcher signings Hazen made over the offseason, I see a ton of upside, but if the team is making promising young pitchers like Strowd worse with their training and coaching staff that doesn’t bode well for the future. If you’d like to see my thoughts on all those signings, check out the article I did earlier this winter.
I am not at all a fan of the Carlos Santana, Paul Sewald, or Michael Soroka signings. Carlos Santana will likely be platooned with Pavin Smith, but he has fallen off so hard the last few seasons that I’d be shocked if he provides positive value even as a platoon bat. Paul Sewald wasn’t quite washed up the last time around with the Dbacks in 2024, but a 4.31 ERA and the many blown saves sure made it feel like it. While he wasn’t dramatically worse with the Guardians or Tigers, his ERA did rise further to 4.78 ERA, and he was limited to just under 20 innings between the two teams. I hate the Michael Soroka signing at that cost, and with the intention of using him as a starting pitcher. I think he could be a serviceable reliever in 2026, but I don’t think he’ll be both healthy and effective for any real length of time if used as a starter.
I am a fan of bringing back catcher James McCann, who was a key part of the the little success the D-backs did have in 2026. Even if his bat isn’t quite as good in 2026, that’s a small price to pay if he’s making the pitchers he catches better pitchers, which I’d say he did in 2025. The new ABS Challenge system will definitely make any framing skills less valuable, but that’s not something I’m worrying about with any catcher in MLB right now since it applies to everyone.
I am also a big fan of bringing back Taylor Clarke now that he’s a reliever. Having interviewed and gotten to know him when he was coming up the D-backs Farm system, I think he’s a solid clubhouse addition at minimum, but I think he should be able to provide quality innings out of the bullpen. A lot of these moves do feel more like they were made to provide some Veteran Presence, especially the additions of Arenado and Santana. Overall, while I don’t hate the bigger picture view of D-backs offseason moves, I don’t exactly love any of them, except claiming reliever Grant Holman off waivers. (See the previously linked article for more detail) The Padres and Dodgers are the top of the class as far as the NL West goes, and I don’t think there were realistically any combination of signings that would’ve made the D’Backs a clear favorite over either of those two teams. I like their winter better than the Giants, but that’s only because I think the Dbacks are a better team on paper with their additions. The Rockies are perennial basement dwellers who desperately needed to make organizational changes for years, which they did make, but their actual moves weren’t all that impressive. My offseason grade for the D-backs is a C-. I would have given them a solid C+ prior to finding out that they will enter the season with zero left handed pitchers in their bullpen, but that’s a big enough black mark to knock the grade down.
2026Predictions
I can’t say I am confident in any specific outcome for the season. On one hand it is a very flawed team, but om the other hand I do not think this team is as bad as their sub-.500 record from last season. My expectation is for anywhere between 80 and 90 wins, but I can see the team greatly outperforming expectations and winning 90+ games, just as must as I can see them underperformed and finishing with less than 80 wins.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts from the bench against the Atlanta Hawks during first quarter at State Farm Arena on March 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are finally back at home tonight, as they host the Brooklyn Nets in their first Chase Center game since March 13. Things are going very poorly for the Dubs. Despite winning their last game, an overtime contest against Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors have lost 10 of their last 13 games. The season is slipping away from them quickly, and it feels like a new player gets injured every game.
As such, they’re missing a lot of players tonight. Here’s the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Steph Curry (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
The Warriors were openly hoping that Curry could get back to practicing this week, but that hasn’t happened. Not yet, at least. This will be his 23rd consecutive game on the sidelines.
Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)
This one still hurts. Moody returned on Monday after a lengthy absence, and suffered a gruesome non-contact knee injury. It ended his season, and will likely cost him much of next season as well.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery)
Unfortunately, Moody is no the only Warriors player to suffer a season-ending knee injury this year that carries a recovery time of about a year.
Out — Al Horford (right soleus strain)
With the Warriors season falling apart every day, it wouldn’t surprise me if Horford is shut down.
Out — Quinten Post (right foot injury management)
Post, like the team as a whole, is limping to the finish line.
Out — Malevy Leons (illness)
I always hate seeing the young players who don’t get a lot of opportunities missing games where they would likely get big minutes.
Out — Seth Curry (left adductor strain)
It wouldn’t surprise me if the younger Curry doesn’t play again this year. He’s played just four times.
Nets
Out — Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain)
MPJ has had an absolute breakout year, but suffered a hamstring strain about a week ago. With the Nets already eliminated, his season might be over.
Out — Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain)
Clowney is also having a breakout season of sorts, and has also been out for about a week.
Out — Nolan Traore (rest)
Are the Nets tanking? Look no further.
Out — Egor Dëmin (left plantar fascia injury management)
Dëmin had a very strong rookie season as one of Brooklyn’s many first-year players. He averaged 10.3 points per game, but is out for the year.
Out — Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb surgery)
Sharpe had arguably the best season of his five-year career. He also is out for the year.
Out — Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain)
Wolf, another one of Brooklyn’s rookies, is having a strong year, with 20.8 minutes and 8.9 points per game. He isn’t expected to miss the rest of the year.
We don't get this every year (or even many years): Some of the highest-projected picks in June's NBA Draft are still playing in the Sweet 16.
We've got it this year, and it has set up some great matchups and plenty of players to watch. Here are just some of the things we will have our eyes on this week, starting with two really great matchups.
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas) vs. Brayden Burries (Arizona)
Darius Acuff Jr. has helped his stock in this draft and maybe moved himself into the top five because starting with the SEC Tournament and through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, he has averaged 30.2 points and 7.2 assists through five games. Plus, he's just fun to watch — Allen Iverson wrote on Instagram Acuff was the "next him." The other comps his supporters like to use are Damian Lillard or Stephon Marbury.
DARIUS ACUFF IS LIKE THAT
Acuff finished with 36 points as Arkansas knocked off High Point to advance to the Sweet 16 pic.twitter.com/KtIYgPaySI
What do all of those guys have in common? They are undersized point guards who are poor defenders — and Acuff is those things too (he is officially 6'3", but most expect him to measure a couple of inches shorter at the NBA Draft Combine). It is increasingly hard to thrive in the NBA as a small point guard who doesn't defend. That's why most teams don't have Acuff higher than fifth on their draft boards, something NBC’s Grant Liffman reported on NBA Showtime, and it echoes what I have heard as well.
Acuff can help his case going up against a very good, No. 1 seed Arizona team led by another first-round point guard in Brayden Burries. This is just a great contrast of styles. Burries isn't flashy, he is more old school, but he does a lot of things well and is efficient. He's the kind of guy you can see stepping in and helping an NBA team immediately as a rotation guard because he can play on and off the ball, knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers, and get downhill off screens, but also has a midrange pull-up game. He could have a big day against Acuff and help his draft stock, too.
Keaton Wagler (Illinois) vs. Kingston Flemings (Houston)
There is a group of guards that are going to go in the top 10 in the draft — Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville, he missed the tournament with an injury). This game has two of them going head-to-head and will draw a lot of scouts' attention.
Wagler has been one of the great stories of the college basketball season, an unheralded 6'6" guard/wing who led Illinois to the best offense in the nation (126.1 offensive rating) and pushed himself into the lottery, averaging 17.7 points per game while dishing out 4.3 assists a game and shooting 41% from 3-point range.
However, Wagler has struggled at times against pressure defenses. Now he goes up against Flemings and a Kelvin Sampson-coached Houston team that does high-pressure defense better than any team in the land. What scouts and GMs want to see in the NCAA Tournament is how players handle high-pressure situations. This game is exactly that for Wagler, and a lot of people will be watching.
Flemings has a lot of fans in NBA front offices. He's a 6'4" point guard with an explosive first step and the ability to get around people and to the rim. He's used that and a steady jumper to average 16.5 points and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 37.6% from 3-point range. Can he keep that up as the lights get brighter?
Cameron Boozer, Duke
It's not like Boozer played poorly the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament: 20.5 points and 12 rebounds per game, shooting 52.4%, and he had some steals and blocks while leading his team to the Sweet 16. But Siena and TCU — and Virginia in the ACC Tournament — seemed to slow the projected top-three pick down, make things difficult for him. NBA personnel noticed, and not everyone is as high on him because of concerns about his level of athleticism (the analytics guys tend to be bigger fans). Boozer is a high-IQ player who does so many things well, but he's not an explosive athlete by NBA standards, and that has seemed to show.
Now he and the Blue Devils face a St. John's team that can throw a very athletic defender at him in Dillon Mitchell, and you can bet Rick Pitino is going to dial up the pressure. How does Boozer handle that? Can he show another gear we have not seen so far in the tournament?
That said, Boozer is a lock to be a top-four pick in June because he is so good and rock solid, his floor is just so high that he's not going to be a bad pick. The question is, how high is his ceiling?
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Stirtz is the kind of point guard coaches love because he just knows how to play the game. The 22-year-old, 6'4" point guard is averaging 20 points and 4.5 assists a game, shooting 37.6% from 3-point range, and he's doing it with one of the slowest-paced, most deliberate offenses in basketball. Stirtz fits the mold of the kind of player teams take a long look at in the second half of the first round: A high-IQ player who can plug-and-play as guard depth off the bench.
What to watch in the Sweet 16 is how he handles pressure — he and slow-it-down Iowa are taking on a Nebraska team that wants to shoot 3s and play fast. Stirtz handled the pressure well against Florida in upsetting the No. 1 seed (he scored 13 and had the assist on the game-winner). Can he do it again?
Dailyn Swain, Texas
Swain is exactly the kind of player who can most help his draft stock in the tournament. The 6'8" wing is projected to go in the mid-20s and could become a two-way rotation player in the league (comps often used are Jared McCain or Naji Marshall, although that would be his high-end outcome). He averaged 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Longhorns this season and showed he could get downhill and to the rim, but there are questions about his jump shot. Teams are watching him in this tournament to see how he performs under pressure. The bigger question is, will he stay in the NBA Draft or go back to college for his senior season?
Mar 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) brings the ball up the floor against the Orlando Magic during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Pistons have the Hawks’ number so far this season, but with a healthy squad and no Cade Cunningham available, Atlanta had a chance for some get back tonight.
Both teams were blazing red hot to begin the game, including these warmup shots for Onyeka Okongwu:
Atlanta got out in transition and poured it on there, too.
It was an avalanche against the second-rated defense in the NBA with the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker absolutely engulfed in flames the entire first quarter to the tune of 14 points:
Johnson was completely unstoppable in the second quarter, and with Cunningham out he was easily the best talent on the court in the first half. His 15 points helped the Hawks push their lead up to as much as 21 points.
The Hawks went into halftime with their heads high leading 73-55. But things can turn on a dime quickly in the NBA. The team needed to come out focused and ready to close out the game in a second half.
And like clockwork, the Hawks gave up an immediate 19-0 run to the Pistons (22-0 if you span halftime). The Hawks couldn’t buy a bucket — nor could they handle Jalen Duren down low.
The Hawks gave the lead up entirely, but they managed to recover and string together some good possessions later in the quarter. Alexander-Walker helped quiet the storm:
After three quarters, the Hawks suddenly found themselves in a close one, 98-95.
Detroit continued to feast on Atlanta’s mistakes, jumping in front of lazy halfcourt passes for a pair of ‘pick-2’ scores.
It was a scrappy affair for the first portion of the fourth quarter, and that helped the Hawks get into the bonus early. But they still couldn’t handle Duren down low, including him drawing a sixth and final foul on Okongwu.
But CJ McCollum put the team on his back, registering eight straight points for the Hawks all by himself. He even hit this circus one-legged shot with the shot clock all the way down:
The Hawks grabbed ahold of a 118-116 lead with less than two minutes remaining despite their numerous turnovers to this point. And after a long possession with multiple offensive rebounds, McCollum hit another tough two plus the harm:
But a Duncan Robinson triple and a Pistons stop gave Detroit a chance down two with around 13 seconds left in the contest.
And Tobias Harris answered the call with a turnaround jumper off a sideline inbounds pass. Tie game with 9.5 seconds left.
McCollum created for himself a decent look, but his stepback jumper didn’t fall. The teams headed to overtime.
Atlanta’s offense ran like a well-oiled machine for the first few minutes of overtime. But Detroit had an answer for every time the Hawks jumped out to a multiple possession lead.
Detroit found themselves down just one, 130-129, with a chance to win with 8.2 seconds on the clock. After a foul to give, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren both had shots to win the game but failed:
The Yanks shortstop entered the history books by simply tapping his head after taking a first-pitch strike in his second at-bat of the season.
With New York up 5-0 after a five-run second, the history-making moment occurred with the first pitch of the top of the fourth inning when San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb tossed a91 mph sinker that was up-and-in and called a strike by home plate umpire Bill Miller.
"I wanted to go for it," Caballero said after the game.
The umpire got the call right as the pitch clipped the inside corner and the top of the strike zone, as confirmed by the quick review.
"It was really close. I didn't have an issue with that one," manager Aaron Boone said of the challenge after the game.
Caballero said he was a "little bit" surprised he didn't get the overturn. "I thought it was a little higher than what it showed, but at least it was close."
Despite the strike call on the challenge being upheld, Miller was far from perfect on the night. The very next pitch was a sinker that was well off the inside corner and called a strike. Caballero clearly looked perturbed, but didn't challenge. Had he lost it – he wouldn't have – that would have been it for the Yankees for the rest of the game.
Caballero, who knocked in the first run of the season with an RBI double to left, would ground out on the next pitch.
On the ABS system, Caballero said he thinks it will be good as it will "keep everyone accountable."
"It gives us a chance to really see if we are good with the zone or not," he said after his 1-for-4 day.
Of course, it was "cool" to make baseball history, but Caballero said he just wishes "it was the other way around."
Jose Caballero loses the first ABS challenge in Yankees and MLB history
The shortstop was the first to take the leap, but there were a few chances earlier in the game.
To name a few, on the second batter of the game, the first pitch from Webb to Aaron Judge was high, but called a strike. The third pitch of the at-bat was called a ball, but caught the bottom of the zone, so Miller’s two early missteps evened out. Judge would strike out swinging on a pitch off the inside corner on a 3-2 count.
In the second inning, Judge took a 1-0 fastball above the zone for a called strike that shouldn't have been. He later struck out as he started the day going down on strikes in his first four times up.
Giants third baseman Matt Chapman took a first-pitch cutter above the zone in the top of the first inning from Max Fried that was above the zone. Chpman would ground into a fielder's choice to short, with the Yanks getting an out at second base.
San Francisco catcher Patrick Bailey missed the biggest chance in the home half of the second with one out and a runner on first base when he was called out on strikes by Miller on a Fried fastball that was well off the inside corner.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb works against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SAN FRANCISCO — Baseball’s new reality has arrived.
Giants starter Logan Webb dotted the upper outside corner to the first Yankee to bat in the top of the fourth inning Wednesday night, and home plate umpire Bill Miller ruled the pitch a strike.
Logan Webb dotted the upper outside corner to the first Yankee to bat in the top of the fourth inning. AP
The batter, Jose Caballero, tapped the top of his helmet. He wanted to challenge the call that put him down 0-2 in the count.
The process was over in a matter of seconds. Call confirmed.
The result was about the only thing that went in the Giants favor early on in the opening game of the MLB season. Caballero doubled home a pair of runs as the Yankees opened a 5-0 lead in the second inning.
In his second trip to the plate, Caballero was a part of history.
New to MLB this season, each team has the ability to challenge at least two ball-strike calls per game. While umpires continue to make the majority of the calls, the Automated Ball-Strike system can be used to confirm or overturn those rulings when initiated by the batter, pitcher or catcher.
Even with Bailey’s prowess, the Giants weren’t aggressive in deploying their challenges.
In his first at-bat, Bailey was called out on a pitch that was off the plate inside. He opted to walk back to the dugout rather than risk a challenge.
While teams start with two challenges, they only lose them when they are unsuccessful. Catchers were more likely to issue challenges than hitters or pitchers in spring.
DraftKings has been using “March Madness” and other familiar terms to refer to the NCAA Tournament for more than five years and has the legal right to do so, the sportsbook said in a court filing Wednesday in response to a complaint filed by the NCAA last week.
The NCAA is seeking an emergency temporary restraining order to stop DraftKings from using registered trademarks associated with its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
The complaint for trademark infringement, filed in the Southern District of Indiana, requests that DraftKings stop using “March Madness,” “Final Four,” “Elite Eight” and “Sweet Sixteen” and variations of those terms to promote its business.
In its response, DraftKings described those terms as “the universally recognized names for the tournaments and their rounds, used by millions of college basketball fans, journalists, and participants in the sports-betting ecosystem. They are the same words used by other online sportsbooks, who have not been singled out by the NCAA’s fevered complaint.”
DraftKings said the NCAA had asked for the restraining order “based on a contrived and manufactured ‘emergency,’” and it noted that the NCAA has a commercial agreement with a company whose business is providing in-game data to sportsbooks.
The NCAA said it actively avoids any appearance of affiliation with gambling and said in the complaint that DraftKings’ use of the terms confuses customers by making it appear the NCAA is on board.
DraftKings said its use of the terms is protected under the First Amendment, arguing the NCAA's trademark claim would fail on the merits.
“No trademark gives any organization the right to monopolize the language fans, players, journalists, and sportsbooks use every day to accurately refer to college basketball tournaments,” the company said in a statement.
