The last time that the Detroit Red Wings took on the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena, things didn't work out so well for the host Red Wings.
By the time the first period was over, the Red Wings had not only surrendered multiple odd-man rushes but allowed Montreal to score three times en route to what was an eventual 5-1 victory.
The good news is that Detroit was able to figure Montreal out in their next matchup in Quebec, a 4-0 Red Wings win on January 10.
But their third and final matchup of the season takes place at a most critical time for the Red Wings, who trail the Canadiens by two points in the standings in the ultra-tight Atlantic Division standings.
For the Red Wings, their season-opening setback against the Canadiens serves as a blueprint for avoiding a similar fate.
"We've gotta stay above them," said Alex DeBrincat on how to counter Montreal's quick and active forwards. "I think that first game of the year, we made a lot of mistakes, and it was kind of maybe a good thing that we learned from early. I thought we played better when we went into their building, so hopefully we can play more of that game than our first game."
"They're a fast, skilled team," he continued. "We know they want to get behind us, and they can make plays on that, so I think for the most part, staying above their forwards and making them go through five guys will be tough on them."
The Red Wings didn’t receive any help from around the NHL on Tuesday night.
Not only did the Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the Metropolitan Division–leading Carolina Hurricanes, but both the Canadiens and the Boston Bruins also picked up a point in Montreal’s overtime victory.
Detroit currently occupies the second and final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference, tied in points with the Bruins and two points behind Montreal, currently in third place in the Atlantic Division.
"Every point is big now, the whole East is pretty close right now," DeBrincat continued. "We need to find a way to try and win some games and pull away a little bit, and hopefully we can play some good games at home here and go on from there."
While the Red Wings will remain shorthanded without team captain Dylan Larkin, head coach Todd McLellan said there's no choice but to continue with the players available and apply the standard that helped make them successful.
"All the work we've put in this year puts us in a spot where we have to continue to apply our game," McLellan said. "We've had to make adjustments due to injuries, but throw our best game out there night after night, and we're in control."
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Once you're inside the final month of the NHL regular season, which we are, it's generally desperation time.
Either you're facing desperate teams fighting for a playoff spot or better positioning, or you're facing an also-ran filled with players desperate to stay in the league next season.
Desperation is a fine label for the Ottawa Senators' latest biggest game of the year on Wednesday night when they face the Capitals in Washington.
The Senators' desperation is well-documented. By his own admission, GM Steve Staios says he felt like the Senators "pissed away a lot of points early on." Now they're paying for that, forced to make a late-season charge.
They're winning a lot these days, rocking an 11-2-2 mark since January 25. With the out-of-town scoreboard so consistently working against them, it may be feel like they've been sprinting on a treadmill on the standings.
But when they started this run, they were seven teams and nine points out of the playoffs. Now they're two teams and five points out, with two games in hand on both of the wild card holders, Boston and Detroit.
The Blue Jackets are wedged into the mix, too, just one point out of a wild card.
One of the teams the Senators have managed to put behind them in the standings is the Washington Capitals, who will host them on Wednesday night (7;30pm SN, TVAS).
The Capitals are not only eight points out of a playoff spot, but they have to climb over four teams to get there, one of them being the Senators. So any slim hope of a comeback will all but evaporate if they don't get two points on Wednesday.
In the face of all that desperation, Sens head coach Travis Green isn't tinkering with anything, same lineup, same starting goalie.
"Our approach isn't really changing," Green told the media. "We're gonna play a desperate team (on Wednesday night), so our desperation level needs to be high as well."
The Senators will again be without Jake Sanderson and Nick Jensen. Sanderson is expected to start skating within the week, while Jensen is out for at least six weeks with a knee injury.
For Washington, Cole Hutson, brother of Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson, will make his NHL debut. He's expected to play alongside. Matt Roy and on the second power-play unit.
The Capitals figure he's mentally and physically ready to jump right into a near must-win NHL game for the Capitals.
Hutson was chosen 36 picks after Carter Yakemchuk in the 2024 NHL Draft. Despite the Senators recently losing two defensemen to injury, Yakemchuk, the reigning AHL player of the week, remains in Belleville, still waiting to make his NHL debut.
Here are Wednesday's line combinations and pairings, as per NHL.com.
Senators projected lineup
Drake Batherson -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk -- Dylan Cozens -- Ridly Greig
Nick Cousins -- Shane Pinto -- Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele -- Lars Eller -- Fabian Zetterlund
Thomas Chabot -- Artem Zub
Tyler Kleven -- Jordan Spence
Dennis Gilbert -- Nikolas Matinpalo
Linus Ullmark
James Reimer
Scratched: Stephen Halliday, Kurtis MacDermid, Lassi Thomson
Injured: Jake Sanderson (upper body), Nick Jensen (lower body)
Capitals projected lineup
Anthony Beauvillier -- Dylan Strome -- Alex Ovechkin
Aleksei Protas -- Hendrix Lapierre -- Tom Wilson
Connor McMichael -- Pierre-Luc Dubois -- Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime -- Justin Sourdif -- Ethen Frank
Martin Fehervary -- Rasmus Sandin
Jakub Chychrun -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Cole Hutson -- Matt Roy
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
Scratched: David Kampf, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Timothy Liljegren, Declan Chisholm, Dylan McIlrath
Millions around the nation are placing their predictions, and some bets, on who they believe is going to advance, and win the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament. Former President Barack Obama is also in on the fun.
If you haven't already filled out your brackets for this year's March Madness, you might want to get yours finished. All the fun begins Thursday when the first round of games is set to begin.
It's friendly competition amongst friends, family, co-workers or even the holy grail of a group chat. Each year, there has been a presidential bracket submitted out of the millions of predictions.
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America and an avid sports fan, has his picks set as he makes his prediction for how he thinks the 2026 NCAA Tournament will play out.
Barack Obama March Madness bracket picks
Obama typically fills out a bracket for both men and women, and 2026 is no different.
.@BarackObama's bracket is set. What do you think of his picks?
He has carried the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference. He leads the league in points (32.9 ppg). He’s third in assists (8.5). And he’s tied with MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for individual plus/minus at +8.1.
The Lakers’ Luka Doncic (77) has had three triple-doubles, including a 51-point performance, in his last five games. Getty Images
Most recently, he has led the Lakers to win nine of their last 10 contests, including six straight. In his last five games, he has had three triple-doubles, a 51-point performance against the Bulls and a game-winner over the Nuggets in overtime.
His revenge season is in full swing after the most shocking NBA trade of all time sent him from the Mavericks to the Lakers ahead of last season’s trade deadline.
Yet Doncic is fourth on the NBA’s MVP ladder. He has the fifth-best odds of winning the award, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. And ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins said he wouldn’t even give him first-team All-NBA honors in an appearance on “First Take.”
It would be a wild snub if he were omitted for first-team All-NBA.
There’s stiff competition for individual awards this season.
The league’s other front-runners, Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama are all deserving of the league’s highest honors.
The Thunder’s Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player on the best team in the league. Cunningham has stunningly led the Pistons to the top seed in the East. Jokic is arguably the most dominant player in the world.
Brown stunned the NBA world by carrying the Celtics to second place in the East despite Jayson Taytum being sidelined the first 62 games of the season because of a torn Achilles. And Wembanyama is considered “not even human” by Brown and an “alien” by LeBron James because of his two-way skills.
So, what gives?
That’s a hard question to answer. But there’s no way Doncic doesn’t deserve to make that elusive team. He’s the most prolific scorer in the league and has carried a Lakers team with LeBron James and Austin Reaves in and out of the lineup to only trail the Thunder and Spurs in the West.
Luka Doncic is being overlooked as an NBA MVP candidate, Lakers coach JJ Redick said. Getty Images
Lakers coach JJ Redick believes what Doncic is doing is being overlooked.
“He’s playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now,” Redick said after the March 12 win over the Bulls. “… It’s probably not being talked about enough. So I’m going to talk about it.”
Two nights later, after Doncic made an 18-foot step-back jumper with 0.5 seconds left to lead the Lakers to a 127-125 overtime win over the Nuggets, James called Doncic a “generational player.”
What happens over the next month could ultimately determine whether Doncic makes the cut for first-team All-NBA.
Doncic opened the season playing MVP-caliber basketball, leading the Lakers to a 15-4 start. After a rough patch extending from December through the first few weeks following the All-Star break, the Lakers and Doncic are turning heads.
If Doncic continues to play at his recent level, it would be hard to imagine him not being a first-team All-NBA player this season.
The Lakers are in the midst of a tough six-game road trip, with big tests coming against the Rockets, Heat, Magic and Pistons.
If Doncic can help the Lakers secure the third seed, creating more separation between them and the Rockets, Nuggets and Timberwolves, who are only 1 ½ games behind LA, the conversation around Doncic will need to shift.
Or else?
Perhaps it’s fair to wonder if Redick is onto something and Doncic’s feats need to be celebrated more.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 16: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks during the third quarter against the Orlando Magic at State Farm Arena on March 16, 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks (37-31) forge ahead for their 11th straight win against the banged up Dallas Mavericks (23-46).
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Start Time: 8:30 PM EDT
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: ESPN+, FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
Wednesday was a very hot afternoon in the Phoenix area. The temperature reached 101 degrees, breaking the record for the month:
Sky Harbor Airport reached 101° at 2:59 pm MST. This sets a new record high temperature for the month of March. Stay tuned for the official high temperature post. #azwxpic.twitter.com/m2PKA9A39c
“Hot” also described the Cubs bats, at least early in the game. The D-backs came back, though, hitting Edward Cabrera hard, and won the game 16-8.
The D-backs scored first, off Cabrera in the first inning. The run was unearned. Corbin Carroll reached on an error by Matt Shaw, who was playing right field. Carroll then stole second and scored on a single by Geraldo Perdomo.
Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone during a BP session earlier in camp and this was just his fourth Spring Training game. Perdomo had been off at the WBC playing for the Dominican Republic and this was his first game back. So the D-backs took advantage of a couple of their good players being back in the lineup.
The Cubs took the lead in the third, when the teams combined for 11 runs. Shaw led off with a double and scored on a Miguel Amaya single. After Michael Conforto hit into a double play, the Cubs loaded the bases on a single by Kevin Alcántara and walks to Jonathon Long and BJ Murray.
Jefferson Rojas followed with a grand slam, his third homer of the spring. This kid is going to be a really good player.
The D-backs flipped the script in bottom of the third. First, on a two-run homer by Alek Thomas, another player back from the WBC. Then Cabrera walked Nolan Arenado and he was replaced by minor leaguer Grayson Moore, who gave up a single and two more walks, making it 5-4. A wild pitch tied the game and then Moore gave up a two-run double to give Arizona a 7-5 lead.
Cabrera re-entered the game in the fourth and well, maybe he shouldn’t have. He served up another homer, this one to Carroll, then D-backs hitters continued to tee off on him until the score was 10-5 Arizona. Then minor leaguer Dawson Netz, who had relieved Moore in the third, entered to relieve Cabrera. At this point you are forgiven if you think the heat has gotten to all of these men. The D-backs just kept scoring. One run was charged to Cabrera, but Arizona wound up with an eight-run inning and led 14-5 at the end of the fourth.
After all the minor leaguers were done relieving Cabrera and each other, Gavin Hollowell shut the D-backs down 1-2-3 in the fifth. Hollowell has thrown well this spring and might have an Opening Day bullpen spot.
Ben Brown entered to throw the sixth, against mostly D-backs minor leaguers. He loaded the bases on three singles, but got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts, both swinging.
Alcántara smacked a two-run homer in the eighth, his first of the spring, and one of three hits he had on the afternoon. Long followed with another long ball, also his first home run of the spring. Alcántara’s homer went a long way [VIDEO]
Manager Craig Counsell’s son Brady, playing for the Diamondbacks, went 1-for-2 in this game and scored twice.
The Cubs have Thursday off, and then will play their only split-squad game of Spring Training 2026 on Friday. Both games were originally scheduled for Friday afternoon and both have been moved to Friday evening because of a forecast high of 106 degrees.
Against the Reds at Sloan Park Friday, Matthew Boyd will face Brandon Williamson. That game will begin at 8:05 p.m. CT. No TV for the Sloan Park game, there will be a radio broadcast on the Reds flagship station WLW 700.
Against the A’s at Hohokam Stadium Friday, Jameson Taillon will go for the Cubs. At the time of this recap the A’s didn’t have a starter listed. That game will begin at 8:10 p.m. CT and be televised on Marquee Sports Network and NBC Sports California. There will be a radio broadcast with the A’s announcers on ATH Audio.
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton returned to the lineup on Wednesday night after being sidelined for four games because of a lower left leg contusion.
Coach Billy Donovan said Sexton was available for the team's game against Toronto. Sexton got hurt during a 126-110 loss at Sacramento on March 8.
Fellow guard Isaac Okoro was ruled out against the Raptors because of right knee pain. He missed his fifth consecutive game.
“I'd say he's probably a little bit longer than day to day,” Donovan said. “Just dealing with the knee soreness there. I think he's still feeling it. ... He's on the court doing some stuff, but it's pretty limited right now.”
Okoro, 25, was acquired in a trade with Cleveland. He is averaging 9.0 points in 55 games in his first season with Chicago.
“He's incredibly unselfish, in terms of he's not like trying to hunt shots, trying to hunt points,” Donovan said. “Everything, when you talk to him, it's never about him. It's always about the team.”
The 27-year-old Sexton was acquired in a February trade with Charlotte. He is averaging 16.2 points in 12 games with Chicago going into the matchup with Toronto.
HOUSTON — The Lakers have been honest about having a “playoff mentality” during the final stretch of the regular season — evident in their play during the six-game winning streak they entered Wednesday’s matchup against the Rockets.
The last few weeks, with the team having a healthy roster in most of their games since the All-Star break, have also made it clear who’ll be in the rotation once the playoffs start.
Luka Doncic has the Lakers in third place in the Western Conference standings a month before the NBA postseason begins. Getty Images
Here’s a projection of the Lakers’ 2026 postseason rotation:
Starters
Luka Doncic
Austin Reaves
Marcus Smart
LeBron James
Deandre Ayton
This has been the Lakers’ first unit since getting fully healthy, and there’s no reason for it to change before the playoffs.
This starting group has the third-best net rating (plus-9.9) among Lakers lineups that’ve played at least 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass, and is among the most balanced units the team can deploy.
Doncic, Reaves and James all averaged at least 39 minutes during last season’s five-game first-round loss to the Timberwolves.
Even if the Lakers make it out of the first round, or at least extend their opening series to beyond five games, expect Doncic and Reaves to hover around 40 minutes per game and James to come in at the highs 30s.
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton is the biggest wild card among the starters from a playing-time perspective once the postseason begins. NBAE via Getty Images
Smart can be penciled in around 32-34 minutes.
Among the starters, Ayton is the biggest wild card from a playing-time perspective — he could play anywhere from 25-35 minutes depending on the matchup and his individual performance. Putting him at 28 minutes is in line with his playing time during the regular season.
Bench players
Rui Hachimura: Hachimura has been the Lakers’ sixth man in 2026, sometimes averaging more minutes than Ayton off the bench during stretches of the season.
Along with Luke Kennard, Hachimura has been one of the Lakers’ best 3-point shooters. And at 6-foot-8, he can credibly defend multiple frontcourt positions.
Expect for Hachimura to play the most among Lakers bench players and don’t be surprised if he closes games depending on the matchup and Ayton’s performance.
Luke Kennard: As the player with the best 3-point shooting percentage in the league, Kennard has provided a significant boost to the offense.
Statistically, he raises the ceiling of the team’s offense more than any other player on the roster.
But the team struggles defensively just as much as it thrives offensively while Kennard is on the floor.
During the games he’s knocking down shots, Kennard could play as many as 24-26 minutes in the playoffs. But during the games he isn’t, he could also come in around 14-16 minutes and be a two-shift player.
Jaxson Hayes: The 7-foot Hayes has been a consistent part of the bench since the start of the season, playing at least 10 minutes in every game he’s finished healthy.
If Ayton isn’t producing at the level he’s capable of, or the small-ball lineups aren’t as viable depending on the matchup, Hayes has shown he can scale up his play with more minutes.
Jake LaRavia: LaRavia and Hayes have comfortably been the Lakers’ eighth and ninth players in the rotation since the break. LaRavia’s best chances of playing more would come if the Lakers rely on more center-less lineups or his 3-point shot is falling.
Lakers star LeBron James figures to be part of the team’s closing lineup during the NBA playoffs. Getty Images
Closing lineup
Doncic
Reaves
Smart
James
Ayton
Ayton has been established as the team’s X-factor.
If he’s playing at the level he’s expected to, he brings a combination of physical tools and skill that nobody else on the roster has.
But if he’s not, don’t be surprised if the Lakers close games with a center-less group that swaps Ayton for Hachimura. Hayes would be third in line as a closer if the Lakers need a big man on the floor.
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: River Ryan #77 of the Los Angeles Dodgers smiles on the field prior to a Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers continued sorting out their roster on Wednesday, sending both pitcher River Ryan and utility man Ryan Fitzgerald to minor league camp.
Ryan has been quite impressive this spring, returning after Tommy John surgery and missing all of last season. In his four appearances and 9 2/3 innings, Ryan had a 1.86 ERA with four walks and 12 strikeouts, fanning a third of his batters faced. But the Dodgers are taking the conservative route with his return, as we’ve seen in past years with Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, and others in returning from surgery.
After Hurt and Ryan were optioned, only 16 healthy non-Ohtani pitchers remain in camp, which means only three more cuts to go to finalize the pitching side of the opening day roster.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is starting opening day. Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, and Roki Sasaki are rotation locks, the latter reiterated by manager Dave Roberts on Wednesday morning despite Sasaki struggling all spring. Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski are still vying for rotation spots. Both could claim them should the Dodger use a six-man rotation out of the gate, but also one of them could make the team as a reliever, too.
The Dodgers have four off days in the first 22 days of the regular season, including three Thursday off days in a row before a more taxing schedule kicks in.
Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, and Jack Dreyer are roster locks. Ben Casparius, Will Klein, and Edgardo Henriquez are in the mix for bullpen spots as well.
The other three still active in camp are starter Landon Knack plus non-roster relievers Chris Campos and Antoine Kelly.
Fitzgerald played in 18 games this spring, mixing time between second base, third base, and shortstop, with 17 of those games coming in reserve. Fitzgerald hit .333/.412/.533 with four doubles, a triple, and four walks, with eight runs scored and seven driven in.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Luke Raley #20 of the Seattle Mariners runs back to first base during the Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Emerson Hancock had 70ish pitches to work with today and made them last for 3.2 innings – not as efficient as one would hope. He had to dance around some trouble right away, loading the bases in the first on three singles, but was able to work out of the trouble by striking out Reese McGuire, who chased after a high-and-away fastball at 96.5 mph, and getting Brock Wilken to ground into a forceout.
Brendan Donovan gave Hancock a little breathing room in the bottom of the inning with his first homer of the spring, ambushing a first-pitch fastball, poorly located, from Brewers starter Carlos Rodriguez:
But Hancock gave that run right back in the second, giving up a hard-hit single followed by a double; the runner then scored on a sacrifice fly. Hancock’s velocity was slowly climbing in the inning, working up from 94 to 95 to 96 on both his four-seamer and sinker, and he polished off the inning by dismantling Brandon Lockridge on four pitches: three straight sweepers before getting him swinging after a four-seamer away.
The Mariners built a lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a Luke Raley three-run homer that scored Brendan Donovan, who had walked, and Josh Naylor, who had singled, although some of the credit for Raley’s blast belongs to Naylor, who was an absolute pest at first base, urging Donovan into a double steal and just generally wreaking havoc with the pitcher. Rodriguez then delivered Raley a 94.5 mph fastball right in the middle of the plate and Raley, having a good spring now that he’s finally healthy and enjoying frequent playing time with so many outfielders away for the WBC…did not miss it.
Hancock was on his way to a shutdown inning in the fourth, opening with back-to-back strikeouts, but then left a 94 mph fastball on the plate for Cooper Pratt, who singled and then promptly stole second. Another single on a slider that wound up in the middle of the plate moved him to third, and then both runners scored on a Tyler Black triple to shave the Mariners’ lead down to 4-3 and end Hancock’s day. It’s a shame because the triple was actually on a well-located sweeper at the bottom of the zone that Black just flicked into the wind and floated into the deepest corner of Peoria Stadium, and Hancock had made several good pitches in the at-bat, obviously emptying the tank with some 98 mph fastballs. Baseball! Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkmen, who has one of my favorite nicknames (“The Law Firm”) came in and got a groundout to end the threat there.
In the bottom of the fifth, it was Luke Raley again, this time with an RBI double as he ambushed a first pitch from former Mariner Easton McGee. He then scored on Randy Arozarena’s first homer of the spring, making the game 7-3 and helping deliver the Mariners another Cactus League win.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, throws against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in...
The morning belonged to cameras, photoshoots, and cover stories.
By the afternoon, it belonged to the mound.
Shohei Ohtani was revealed as the April cover of Sports Illustrated–posed beside Aaron Judge, both men dressed like baseball’s answer to royalty in suits underneath the headline: “Super Powered.”
Shohei Ohtani was revealed as the April cover of Sports Illustrated–posed beside Aaron Judge.
Hours later at Camelback Ranch, the illusion gave way to reality. The tailored suits were gone. The spotlight remained.
Ohtani made his 2026 Cactus League pitching debut against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. He dominated his rivals with 4 and 1 third scoreless innings on 61 pitches.
Ohtani made his 2026 Cactus League pitching debut against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. AP
Shohei Ohtani is back on the mound for the Dodgers, starting their Cactus League game against the rival Giants. Here’s the first out of the game. pic.twitter.com/FX9O7tGAFT
Ohtani did not hit in the game, but will be the DH in Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lineup on Friday.
Inside the cover story by Tom Verducci, Ohtani and Judge are leading a “new golden era of baseball.” That might be selling it short.
Ohtani and Judge have seven MVPs between them and the former can dominate you twice in the same night like he did in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Roberts said Ohtani is expected to pitch again in the Freeway Series, setting up his 2026 regular season debut at Dodger Stadium against the Cleveland Guardians somewhere between March 30 and April 1st.
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of Wednesday's game. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
A sparse crowd braved the heat, which was approaching 100 degrees when Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani walked off the mound at Camelback Ranch. But those who did were treated to a dominant pitching performance from the four-time MVP in his first start of spring training.
They repaid the favor with a standing ovation.
"I've learned that you don't ever underestimate or try to make predictions on what Shohei's going to do,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He's always going to deliver. Yeah, I thought he would be a little bit more rusty than he was today. The breaking ball was good, got some swing and miss. The fastball command, he was working ahead in the count today. So across the board, really good."
Ohtani limited the San Francisco Giants to one hit and overshot the innings goal Roberts laid out Wednesday morning by pitching to one batter in the fifth inning. Ohtani didn’t give up a run in those 4 ⅓ innings, and the only other blemishes on the performance were a pair of walks and a hit batter.
“I was pretty happy with the pitch count today,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “In terms of the next outing, I do want to be better at executing in two-strike counts. I just didn’t finish off hitters as much as I wanted to.”
Ohtani is scheduled to make a start in the Freeway Series against the Angels before his first start of the season. If the rest of spring training goes smoothly, Roberts said he expects Ohtani to be ready to throw about five innings in his first regular-season start.
At that length, the Dodgers won’t need to designate long relievers to piggyback Ohtani's starts. But Roberts stressed the importance of still carrying relievers who can throw multiple innings as the starters continue to build up early in the season.
“Once the season starts you’ve got to see how he’s feeling, how his stuff looks, how he’s throwing the baseball,” Roberts said after the Dodgers' 5-1 win that was stopped after the eighth inning due to the heat.
Most of Ohtani’s build-up has taken place outside of competition, as he balanced playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan as a position player, and addressing pitching on the side. By last week, he’d ramped up to a four-inning live batting practice session against his teammates on the national team in Miami.
“It actually didn’t feel like it was my first spring training outing,” Ohtani said. “I do see this as more of an extension of a live BP situation. So it didn't feel too bad going into this game.”
Ohtani didn’t hit on Wednesday. With the heat and his unique spring, the team wanted to let him focus on pitching. He’s expected to be the designated hitter in Cactus League play Friday.
“In terms of the hitting, it did help that I played in an atmosphere that was pretty intense and competitive,” Ohtani said. “So the fact that I had to get things going earlier in the offseason maybe was the only thing that really affected my preparation. But I think it helped me more so than it hurt me, as I played through these meaningful games in the World Baseball Classic.”
Ohtani used a wide range of his arsenal Friday, landing an especially effective curveball for a called third strike against Heliot Ramos in the fourth inning.
“Never really surprised with him,” catcher Dalton Rushing said. “Everyone knows what he's capable of. Everyone knows his main goal when he goes out there. He expects perfection every single time. And I think he was very, very close to it today.”
Roki Sasaki erratic in latest Cactus League start
Right-hander Roki Sasaki’s command issues, a theme this spring, returned in his start Tuesday evening against the Royals. But Roberts doubled down Wednesday morning on the team’s plan for Sasaki.
“He’s going to be one of our starters,” Roberts said. “I’ve been very consistent in the sense of, we don’t solely evaluate spring training in its entirety alone. So with that, he’s obviously got things to prove — consistency of getting guys out, consistency of strike-throwing. But he’s going to get that opportunity to start the season and we’ll see where we go from there.”
Sasaki pitched in parts of five innings Tuesday, for a total of 3 ⅓ innings of work. Along with the four hits and three runs he surrendered, Sasaki issued four walks. Three consecutive free passes in the third inning prompted Roberts to temporarily pull Sasaki from the game.
"The first two innings I actually felt pretty good, intensity-wise,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “It was OK. But the third inning I threw a lot of two-seamers that kind of threw my mechanics a little off."
Roberts also used a mound visit in the fourth inning when Sasaki said his calves were close to cramping up.
Roster moves
The Dodgers officially selected the contract of utility player Santiago Espinal, as expected. They also optioned right-hander Kyle Hurt, after he recorded a 3.68 ERA in seven Cactus League appearances this spring.
“He’s had a great spring,” Roberts said. “But I think for Kyle it’s the thought of, he hasn’t pitched a whole lot the last couple years. We realize how talented he is. But to get him to get a foundation this year — be able to go back-to-back, pitch two innings in a night then see how he is on the third day to go out and pitch and see how he responds. Those are things that are just kind of getting some tread, some wear on his tires for an analogy. That’s what he needs to do.”
Hurt was sidelined for much of the 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and finished with triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers also optioned right-handed pitcher River Ryan and reassigned infielder Ryan Fitzgerald to minor league camp.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 17: Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 17, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards take on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons for the second time in a row on Thursday at Capital One Arena.
Game info
When: Thursday, Mar. 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly (heel) and Alex Sarr (toe) are questionable, while Trae Young (quad), Kyshawn George (elbow), Leaky Black (ankle), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham (back) and Isaiah Stewart (calf) are out.
What to watch for
The Wizards host the Pistons again after the two teams tussled on Tuesday in a 130-117 contest that went Detroit’s way. The Pistons will be without Cade Cunningham, who left the previous game early with back spasms.
Bub Carrington is coming off arguably the best offensive outing of his career. The second-year guard went off for 30 points on 12-of-16 shooting to go along with six triples. He did not record a single free throw or turnover in the contest. With Detroit likely to have Carrington atop its scouting report this time around, Bub gets a chance to prove that the performance was no fluke.
Tre Johnson has been in quite the shooting funk of late. Over his last four games, the Wizards rookie has shot 12-of-48 from the field with a 20.8 percent clip from beyond the arc. Expect him to try to get back on track against the Pistons.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 16: Jordan Poole #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots a three point basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 16, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies are well out of the play-in race and have their sights set on the loaded 2026 NBA Draft. As of this post, the three teams are separated by one game, with Memphis (23-44) having two fewer losses than Dallas (23-46) and New Orleans (23-46). As the season comes to a close, which teams are determined to scratch out a few wins, and which want to drop as far as possible? Here’s a look at where each team stands, how the draft affects them, and what the plan should be for the remainder of the season.
The NBA season has less than a month remaining, finishing on April 12. And it can’t come soon enough for the Mavericks, Pelicans, and Grizzlies. By then, the team with the worst record will have the sixth-best odds in landing a top-four draft pick (34.8%), including an 8.3% chance of landing the number one overall pick. Seventh has odds of 34.4% for a top-four pick and 8.2% for the number one overall. Eighth drops to 26.3% for a top-four pick and 6.0% for number one.
The Mavericks (23-46)
Dallas is hoping to stay on the magic carpet ride from last year’s draft, which landed them Cooper Flagg, the consensus number one overall pick. The 2026 draft is the last time the Mavericks will own their own pick until 2031. After the failed Anthony Davis experiment that shipped him off to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline, Dallas shifted priorities to the upcoming draft. Since the deadline, the Mavericks are 4-15 and have dealt with a plethora of injuries. Shortly following Davis’s departure, the Mavericks made the decision to shut Kyrie Irving down for the rest of the year, hoping he comes back fully healthy next season.
With so many things going wrong this season for Dallas, they are hoping the one thing they can do right is get lucky with the ping pong balls again. Cooper Flagg is putting together a phenomenal rookie campaign, and his play is more than enough justification to keep watching the Mavs, but they should be losing (and losing a lot). The best way to fast-track the rebuild is to land a star for the second draft in a row. The remaining schedule for Dallas.
vs: ATL, LAC, GS, MIN, ORL, LAL, CHI
at: DEN, POR, MIL, LAC, PHX, SA
Of those 13 games, 9 are against teams with a .500 record or above. If the goal is to finish 6th in the tank race, this schedule should help, as it’s the third-hardest remaining schedule in the NBA. The goal for the Mavericks should be simple. Let Cooper Flagg be Cooper Flagg and lose organically. The best path forward for the Mavericks is to find a co-star (a real point guard) for Flagg.
The Pelicans (23-46)
New Orleans is a different story. The Atlanta Hawks own the Pelicans’ pick in this draft, so Zion and company have no incentive to be bad (they just are). But the Pelicans have been playing better basketball as of late. Since its historically bad 8-31 start, New Orleans has righted the ship, going 15-15 in their past 30 games. It’s clear the team wants to win, and with a good young core, it makes sense. That young core includes Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears, Yves Missi, Derik Queen, and Zion Williamson, all of whom are 25 or younger. The Pelicans also have additional vets who help the team squeeze out wins: Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, Dejounte Murray, and Herb Jones.
The Pelicans have had their own wave of injuries, most notably to Dejounte Murray, who returned in February after tearing his Achilles tendon in February 2025. Since his return, New Orleans has had some semblance of a decent basketball team, and with so much young talent, it’s no surprise the Pelicans are playing better than their record. Here is how the remaining schedule looks for New Orleans.
vs: LAC, LAC, CLE, HOU, ORL, UTA
at: NYK, DET, TOR, POR, SAC, BOS, MIN
Of the 13 remaining games for the Pelicans, 10 are against teams .500 or above, the fourth hardest remaining schedule in the NBA. If New Orleans wants to make sure Atlanta doesn’t land a top talent in this draft, it’ll need to keep winning. With a fresh start next year and up-and-coming talent, the Pelicans will be poised to get out of the NBA’s basement
The Grizzlies (23-44)
Memphis, like Dallas and New Orleans, hasn’t caught many good breaks. After their ascension to the second seed in the West in 2023, it’s been a major fall from grace for the Grizzlies. Much of their downward spiral has been due to the off-court issues of superstar Ja Morant, who has seen more time off the court than on. Memphis tried to change paths at this year’s trade deadline, holding several discussions with teams on Ja Morant, but couldn’t find a suitor. They did move former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz at the deadline, signaling the unofficial rebuild.
The Grizzlies have also had numerous injuries. Santi Aldama, Scotty Pippen Jr., Zach Edey, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have all suffered season-ending injuries. Morant has a nagging elbow injury that could also sideline him for the rest of the season. With not much to work with and the Grizzlies owning their own pick, it makes sense for them to optimize their draft position. Morant could have played his last minutes as a Grizzly. Jackson Jr. is gone. Desmond Bane was traded in the 2025 offseason. The core is broken, and it’s time to develop a new one.
Memphis has young talent, but lacks a true number one. But if your roster has pieces like Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, Cedrick Coward, GG Jackson, and Taylor Hendricks, all of whom are 23 or younger, you’re off to a good start. Here’s a peek at Memphis’s remaining schedule.
vs: DEN, BOS, SA, HOU, CHI, PHX, NYK, TOR, CLE
at: CHA, ATL, MIL, DEN, UTA, HOU
Of the 15 remaining games for the Grizzlies, 12 are against teams .500 or above. This is the NBA’s toughest remaining schedule. With the rebuild all but fully underway, the Grizzlies have a chance to add a top-tier talent to a solid, young core. And being a small market, you typically have to draft your talent. Not many superstars have Memphis, Tennessee at the top of their destinations list.
A photo finish
Given the motivations of the teams, the Pelicans will likely end up with the 8th spot in the draft, winning the most out of these three teams down the stretch. The Mavericks and Grizzlies both have difficult schedules to end the season and are incentivized to tank to optimize draft position. Although the Grizzlies have the toughest remaining schedule, most of the games are at home, whereas the Mavs will be spending more of their time of the road.
It’s impossible to tell who ends up with the 6th and 7th spots in the draft, but as Dallas learned in 2025, even the smallest percentage of margin matters. But in either spot, both teams are looking to turn the page and rebuild to contention with an absolutely stacked 2026 draft.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a layup against Nikola Vucevic #9 and Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on December 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ road trip through the Central Time Zone continues as they travel to Illinois to take on the Chicago Bulls.
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TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Not yet set
Cavs injury report: Jarrett Allen – OUT (knee), Craig Porter Jr. – OUT (groin), Tyrese Proctor – OUT (quad), Olivier Sarr – OUT (G League)
Bulls injury report for Wednesday’s game vs. TOR: Isaac Okoro – DOUBTFUL (right patellofemoral), Collin Sexton – QUESTIONABLE (knee), Zach Collins – OUT (toe), Noa Essengue – OUT (shoulder), Jaden Ivey – OUT (left patellofemoral), Mac McClung – OUT (G League), Anfernee Simons – OUT – (left ulnar styloid)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Keon Ellis, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley
Bulls expected starting lineup: Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, Matas Buzelis, Leonard Miller, Jalen Smith
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory!
"It's Huge": Todd McLellan Praises 'Swagger' Of Goaltender John Gibson Thanks to another strong performance in net by goaltender John Gibson, the Detroit Red Wings picked up two huge points in the standings on Monday evening. 
