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Player Grades: Cavs vs Heat – Max Strus goes for 29 points

Mar 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the second half against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers obliterated the Miami Heat in a bounce-back performance from their previous meeting.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

6 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals

Mitchell played the role of facilitator in this one. He used his gravity as a weapon, drawing multiple defenders and generating open looks for his teammates. Mitchell threw dimes to the bigs and sprayed it out for shooters like Sam Merrill to get rolling.

I know it’s weird to give Mitchell such a positive grade when he shot 1-10 from the floor. But trust me, he was better than the box score suggests.

Grade: B

James Harden

17 points, 14 assists, 5 rebounds

The Heat didn’t have any answers for Harden. He was a menace in isolation, making Norman Powell and Tyler Herro look like rookies. Whether he was scoring or passing, Harden was in full control tonight.

“I think James had 20 potential assists, he just finds the right solution in every situation,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.

Grade: A+

Evan Mobley

23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

Mobley scored just 8 points in his previous game against the Heat. He had more than that in the fourth quarter tonight (12 points). It wasn’t an explosive game from Mobley, but he was one part of a symphony that wreaked havoc on Miami all game long.

Grade: A

Jarrett Allen

18 points, 10 rebounds

“The guys kept asking me, when is he [JA] gonna be back? They know how important he is,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.

Well, welcome back, JA.

Allen returned to the floor for the first time since March 3rd to rousing success. He immediately made his impact felt, running the court for alley-oop dunks and impacting Miami’s attempts at the rim. Allen brought new life to a Cavs team that looked half asleep the last time they played.

Grade: A+

Max Strus

29 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist

Cavs fans are familiar with Strus catching fire. But that doesn’t mean it will ever get old. Strus hit his first four three-point attempts on his way to a 22-point first half. There was an audible excitement in Rocket Arena whenever he caught the ball today. That type of energy is infectious.

Extra credit for his aura in the post-game interview. Happy Birthday, Max.

Grade: A+++

Sam Merrill

10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds

Merrill’s enjoying the best season of his career. He’s always been a steady shooter; now he’s added a mid-range and interior game. Merrill drove by Herro for a tough finish at the rim in the first half, showcasing his growth as an all-around player.

Grade: B+

Keon Ellis

10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Ellis wasn’t bothered by Miami’s defense in either of their matchups this week. He scored 17 points in the previous game and started a perfect 3-3 from the floor tonight. His defensive activity feels much more impactful when sharing the floor with Mobley and Allen.

Grade: B+

Dennis Schroder

8 points, 5 assists, 2 steals

Schroder hasn’t totally fit in with the Cavs over the last few weeks. Tonight, he was a welcoming presence as he kept the offense churning through his playmaking in the second unit. Similar to Ellis, Schroder is able to be more impactful as a pest defensively when he has two bigs behind him to cover up any mistakes.

Grade: B

Thomas Bryant

11 points, 4 rebounds

Bryant is back to being the third big in the rotation. That’s good for everyone. He can provide helpful minutes off the bench when needed — and now, we aren’t as worried about diminishing returns.

Grade: B

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Trout, Lowe and Neto homer in Angels 6-2 win over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Mike Trout, Josh Lowe and Zach Neto hit home runs and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Friday night.

In his second game with the Angels, Lowe broke a 1-1 tie in the second when he sent a first pitch fastball from Mike Burrows into the Crawford Boxes for a three-run homer. Lowe was acquired by the Angels in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays on Jan. 16.

Trout’s fifth inning solo home run was part of a three-hit game, and it marks the first time in his 16-year major league career that he’s gone deep in his first two games of a season.

Neto added a solo shot leading off the ninth inning for his second extra base hit of the night.

The long balls were in support of an Angels staff led by Yusei Kikuchi, who allowed two runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. The bullpen quartet of Chase Silseth, Ryan Zeferjahn (1-0), Sam Bachman and Jordan Romano combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Burrows (0-1), who was making his Astros debut after he was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Dec. 19, surrendered five runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six.

Yordan Alvarez hit a home run for the Astros, while Carlos Correa went 2 for 3 with a walk.

Jeremy Peña, who missed Thursday’s season opener, had two hits, a stolen base and scored a run.

The Astros have started 0-2 for the second time in three seasons under manager Joe Espada.

Up next

Astros RHP Cristian Javier faces Angels LHP Reid Detmers when the series continues Saturday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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Iowa Cubs Wrap: Jonny Long helps sink Clippers, 5-2

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 15, 2025: Jonathon Long #17 of the Chicago Cubs bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Los Angeles Angels at Sloan Park on March 15, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Welcome to another year of the Minor League Wrap. Although for the first week, we’ll just be the Iowa Cubs wrap as they started the season this evening and the other three affiliates wait until next Friday.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs boarded and seized the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 5-2.

Javier Assad got the Opening Night start for Iowa and maybe he wasn’t as sharp as he has been, but he definitely was effective. Assad did not allow the Clippers a run over the first three innings. Assad allowed three hits and walked three, so there were a lot of baserunners, but striking out five helped keep any of them from scoring.

Charlie Barnes, who pitched the last four years with KBO’s Lotte Giants, threw the next three innings and was impressive. He got the win after giving up just one hit and no runs. He did walk three but he struck out seven.

The Clippers got two runs off of reliever Ryan Rollison in the seventh inning. But Collin Snider threw the final 1.2 innings, did not allow a baserunner and got the save. He struck out two.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when first baseman Jonathon Long singled, went to second on a ground out and scored after two wild pitches.

The I-Cubs put this game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning. First up was an RBI single for center fielder Brett Bateman. It was Bateman’s first Triple-A hit.

Next up, left fielder Justin Dean tripled home two.

Long came up to bat again and singled home Dean.

Long was 2 for 3 tonight with two walks. The four Iowa pitchers combined to strike out 17.

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Drew Fortescue gets to live his ‘dream’ and show Rangers his potential in NHL debut

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Rangers defenseman Drew Fortescue (45) during the first period when the New York Rangers played the Chicago Blackhawks Friday, March 27, 2026 at Madison Square Garden, Image 2 shows New York Rangers defenseman Drew Fortescue (45) during warmups, Image 3 shows New York Rangers defenseman Drew Fortescue (45) during the first period when the New York Rangers played the Chicago Blackhawks Friday, March 27, 2026 at Madison Square Garden
Drew Fortescue

Just under a year ago, Drew Fortescue was banging on the Madison Square Garden glass alongside his Boston College teammates as Gabe Perreault, a fellow Eagle, took his rookie lap ahead of his NHL debut. 

While watching Perreault skate under the pinwheel ceiling, Fortescue allowed himself to think — just a little bit — about how it could be him soon. 

On Friday, it was Fortescue’s turn. And, of course, some of his BC teammates made the trip to see it. 

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“That’s what you dream about,” he said while recalling those few days last April, before the 20-year-old defenseman recorded his first NHL assist in the Rangers’ 6-1 win over the Blackhawks Friday night. “It was awesome [watching Perreault debut last year]. I mean, Gabe is one of our best buddies, so we were all in a hurry to get down there and support him. Ryan Leonard played the night before up in Boston, so we got to go to his first game [with the Capitals]. Then we made the drive down the next day, and it was just a memory. 

“Being able to be there and support one of your buddies for his first game is pretty special. And I know some of them are coming down for [the game], so I’m excited to see all of them, and it’ll be pretty cool.” 

New York Rangers defenseman Drew Fortescue (45) during the first period when the New York Rangers played the Chicago Blackhawks Friday, March 27, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Fortescue skated in his first professional game in front of what he described as “a lot” of friends and family. You could hear them all when he first took the ice for his rookie lap, and again when his name was announced for his secondary assist on Jonny Brodzinski’s second of his two goals. 

Since he signed his entry-level contract last weekend, the Pearl River native has expressed how fortunate he feels to start his career so close to home. 

“Once I got to the bench after and I took a stop and kind of looked around and saw everyone,” he said after the game. “I was able to see some of my cousins and family members and my parents in the crowd, definitely was an unbelievable feeling, and a feeling that I’ll never forget.”

Asked why he felt now was the time to put Fortescue in the lineup, head coach Mike Sullivan said he wanted the Rangers rookie to get on the ice a bit with the team’s limited practice time, have some one-on-one time with defense coach David Quinn and watch some film first. 

New York Rangers defenseman Drew Fortescue (45) during the first period when the New York Rangers played the Chicago Blackhawks Friday, March 27, 2026 at Madison Square Garden Robert Sabo for NY Post

Fortescue, who was the sixth rookie to make his NHL debut this season with the Rangers, ultimately skated on the left of Matthew Robertson on the third defensive pairing. 

“I thought he was solid,” Sullivan said of Fortescue. “For the most part, he played the game with composure. He didn’t just throw pucks away. He made some outlet passes. He had good poise. I thought he had a high-panic threshold. He didn’t throw pucks away when he was under pressure, he protected it. He defended well. I think he’s got a good stick, decent mobility. There’s a lot to like about Drew’s game. For such a young kid in his first NHL game, I thought he played really well.”

The Rangers have had six rookies make their NHL debuts this season, including three in the last week alone. 

Fortescue joins Adam Sykora, Dylan Garand, Jaroslav Chmelar, Brendan Brisson and Noah Laba. Robertson is also considered a rookie, but the 25-year-old made his debut in the second-to-last game of last season and has skated in 63 of 73 games thus far in 2025-26. 

New York Rangers defenseman Drew Fortescue (45) during warmups Robert Sabo for NY Post

“We’re going to do our best to set them up for success,” Sullivan said of all the youngsters in his lineup. “We’ve got them surrounded with veteran players that we think can help them when they’re on the ice, but these guys are all good players and they bring a lot of energy to the table. A lot of enthusiasm. The mistakes they make will be mistakes of enthusiasm, and we’ll work through those. We’ll work through those. 

“We’ll help them get better at it through the experience, and they’re going to make mistakes. That’s just the reality of it. I think it’s an opportunity here for us down the stretch to get these guys some real experience. We’re just trying to do it the right way.”

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Warriors ‘running out of games’ for Steph Curry to return, Steve Kerr admits

SAN FRANCISCO — The longer Steph Curry remains sidelined, the louder the ticks on the clock grow inside the Warriors’ building.

Time is running out to get the Golden State superstar the buildup he would need to return for the play-in tournament, Steve Kerr acknowledged before Friday’s game against the Wizards.

“We need to give him a runway if this is gonna work, and we are running out of games. That’s fair to say,” the Warriors coach said, acknowledging that among the staff “it’s actually a conversation now.”

The Warriors’ Steph Curry missed his 24th consecutive game with runner’s knee. Robert Sabo for NY Post

After hosting Washington, the Warriors have eight games left in the regular season. They clinched their spot in the play-in and are on track to visit the Trail Blazers in the 9-10 matchup.

“We’re not bringing him back, like, for the play-in game,” Kerr said. “He needs to play some games.”

Curry, 38, missed his 24th consecutive game with runner’s knee, and while Kerr said the injury has “frustrated” him at times, he added that Curry was “in a good place now” and currently “encouraged.”

The Warriors provided the latest update on Curry’s status before Friday’s game, saying he was making “good progress” and was expected to participate in a 5-on-5 scrimmage “in the coming days.” 

However, Curry was supposed to take part in a scrimmage this past Sunday. That never happened, and Curry is still waiting to receive the go-ahead from Rick Celebrini, the head of their medical staff.

“The whole idea is that if he’s healthy, he’s going to play,” Kerr said. “If he’s not healthy, or if there’s any risk at all, then he won’t play.”

Kerr said Curry was still working with the mindset that he’ll return this season. However, the longer Curry’s absence draws on, the less likely it is that happens.

Warriors injury updates

Golden State has been so beaten up recently that the update on Curry came with status reports on three other injured players, including his younger brother, Seth Curry.

The two brothers have yet to share the floor this season because of their various ailments. The younger Curry has at least returned to live on-court work, according to the team, after missing his eighth straight game with a groin strain.

Al Horford, who also missed his eighth straight game with a calf strain, has started “light on-court workouts,” according to the team. The 39-year-old is set to be reevaluated in a week, ruling him out for at least three more contests

Without Horford or Quinten Post, the Warriors have been lacking size. The Dutch 7-footer is still considered day to day with right foot soreness, which left the Warriors down two big men for the third game in a row.

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Bold and fun predictions for the Athletics' 2026 season

It was Opening Day for the baseball Athletics as they enter their second season playing in West Sacramento, a temporary stay after relocating from Oakland as they await their presumed move to a state of the art ballpark in Las Vegas.

To begin what will be the 126th season for A's, the green and gold bunch opened the season on the road. The Athletics take on the Toronto Blue Jays in a season-opening three-game weekend series at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. They dropped the first game, 3-2, despite two home runs from Shea Langeliers. The Blue Jays won the game on a walk-off single by shortstop Andres Gimenez. The next game is Saturday, March 28 at 3:07 p.m. ET (12:07 p.m. PT).

Last year was kind of weird. It was the first time in 57 years that the Athletics didn't play in the Bay. The last game in Oakland was Sept. 26, 2024.

Athletics owner John Fisher wanted new facilities, fans said "sell the team" and Fisher relocated them to Vegas. Until his fancy new ballpark is ready, they moved eastward to Sacramento.

Their first go around was interesting. On the field, the Athletics weren't exactly terrible, but they weren't good. Improvement in the bullpen and there could be some hope for a team that has hitting strength that compares to some of the best in the majors behind Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler.

Last season, the Athletics ended their season with a 76-86 record. They played better on the road at 40-41. Through 81 games in Yolo County, they posted a 36-45 record despite the home circumstances they faced at Sutter Health Park, a minor-league venue with a max capacity crowd of a little more than 14,000. However, that number was rarely seen in attendance.

Here are some bold, and fun, predictions for the Athletics with 161 to go:

MORE: Bold predictions for San Francisco Giants' 2026 season

More fans will show up to games, maybe

Athletics fans are in a dilemma. They love baseball. They love their A's. They dislike Fisher.

Some go to games to support the A's, even if it means making the drive from Oakland or their Bay Area home. Some don't. Some just go for baseball to see their favorite opposing team. The average attendance during the 2025 season was 9,487.

That number could go up. Tickets are cheap and Sacramento is a baseball town after all. The city also wants a major league team and sees this as a tryout period. The first year might have been tough to get large crowds consistently, but maybe Sacramento and surrounding neighbors will catch on to the fact they have Major League Baseball right in their vicinity.

A's could surprise some folks

As predictions go, nobody really knows what's going to happen. But it's still fun to guestimate.

Although a lot goes into being successful. Staying injury-free, which probably won't happen. Momentum swings amist the long, drawn out MLB season. Teams will go on runs. Some winning, others losing.

Expect the A's to be fun, exciting. Especially with half their lineup (Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler) locked in to long-term contracts. USA TODAY experts say pitching, though, might not enable them to take the next step.

Their offensive capabilities last year proved that they can win games. It's Round 2 in Sacramento for the A's young core and veteran mix. Is it crazy to say they win 80 games? Maybe. But that's where this is going. It's still not enough, but it'll bring excitement and just maybe they'll flirt with wild-card talks, but ultimately falling short.

Plus, USA TODAY experts have the Astros and Seattle Mariners atop the AL West.

Nick Kurtz goes from Rookie of the Year to MVP candidate

Nick Kurtz is coming off of a rookie year in which he smacked 36 home runs, had 86 RBIs on a .290 batting average and 1.002 OPS.

It'd be ridiculous to think that the Baseball Writers' Association of America would even consider a MVP on a team that barely scratches the surface of 80 wins. However, if the A's are going to have any kind of success, Kurtz might have a lot to do with that.

Just flirting with a wild-card berth should put him in conversation. Not to win, just mention his name. However, if the A's somehow are a playoff team, and he's has similar success or better than the 2025 campaign, then yeah, Kurtz for MVP. Why not?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Athletics 2026 season predictions: Can they surprise?

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Caleb Foster 'had no business playing tonight.' But he did — and led Duke to Elite 8

WASHINGTON – Caleb Foster rolled out of the Duke locker room with his right foot wrapped in ice and his right knee perched atop a one-legged scooter, a bag of ice strapped and wrapped around his left calf for good measure.

Twenty days ago, Foster fractured his right foot in a win against North Carolina. In the wake of the injury, Duke coach Jon Scheyer believed Foster, a junior, had a “one-in-a-million” chance on returning this season.

On Friday night, Foster came off the bench to score 11 points, corral three rebounds and dish out a pair of assists across 19 crucial minutes to spark the No. 1 Blue Devils’ 80-75 win against No. 5 St. John’s to reach the East Region finals.

Sweet 16 scores, highlights: Who is headed to Elite 8?

“Still a little stunned with what happened, to be honest with you guys, because what this guy did, to be honest, he had no business playing tonight,” Scheyer said.

“Ninety-nine percent of guys do not come back to play under the circumstances of what's happened to him. It was incredible the way he willed us. There's no analytics. There's no stats that can measure how big this dude's heart is for what he did.”

Part Jordan flu game, part Willis Reed on one leg, Foster’s performance against the Red Storm should linger in Duke history.

“What I saw today was pretty unbelievable,” said guard Dame Sarr. “I’ve never seen something like this before. The way he played for us today, it was really unbelievable.”

Duke players found out Foster was going to play on Thursday night, though he’d come off the bench behind freshman Cayden Boozer. That fulfilled a promise he made last week: Foster told teammates he’d be back for the Sweet 16 if they were able to advance out of the opening weekend.

“He just worked his butt off every single day, every single hour,” said freshman forward Nikolas Khamenia. “Before practice, after practice, he was doing everything he could.”

Intensive rehabbing increased Foster’s odds. But even then, he rolled into the Capital One Arena for Thursday’s open practice on his scooter and didn’t take part in any 5-on-5 work. Still, there was enough improvement for Scheyer to roll the dice: Foster would play as one of the Blue Devils’ first players off the bench.

The injury against the Tar Heels and the chance that his season was over left Foster “real stunned,” he said. “I didn't know if I was going to be able to bounce back from that, but as soon as the doctor told me that it's a chance, I just took it and ran with it. That's where my mindset has been from here on out.”

That didn’t surprise the locker room, even if the same group initially believed, like Scheyer, that Foster’s return this season was the longest of long shots.

But the Blue Devils saw him work. They watched Foster constantly rehabbing his foot while they did their on-court work. They saw Foster steadily improve his mobility and flexibility. Steadily, Duke players began to believe that Foster would be back this season.

“He was just telling us he was going to be back ASAP. He was going to do everything. Literally, he did everything he possibly could,” said guard Darren Harris.

“All the players expected him to play. Just the way he was handling everything, the way he was talking to us. He was with us since the day he got hurt. So it was no surprise to us.”

And seeing Foster on the court gave the Blue Devils the mental boost they needed to combat the Red Storm’s physical play, teammates said.

“That was special,” said Harris. “The resilience he has, that he’s showed us since Day 1. That was a special moment to kind of see him will us to a win. First game back after his surgery, that was crazy.”

Said Sarr, “It does a lot. I feel like it shows how much we want it. It’s just not talk. We really want to advance, we really want to win. We’ll find a way. And that’s what we did today.”

After starting the second half on the bench, Foster entered the game with 16:42 to play and Duke trailing 50-44. Two minutes later, that deficit would grow to 55-45. Then Foster stepped up to change the complexion of a game that seemed to be slipping away.

“I wanted to come out and provide anything possible, experience, whatever the team needed,” he said. “I didn't know what we needed or what to expect, but just providing a boost out there any way I can.”

He made a second-chance layup to make it 55-47, and then drove for another layup on the next Duke possession to cut the lead to 55-49. A short jumper, a free throw and an assist on a Cameron Boozer bucket made the score 57-54 with 12 minutes remaining.

After being replaced by Cayden Boozer at the 9:39 mark, Foster returned with 4:22 remaining and the score tied 67-67. Down the stretch, he delivered two key scores to keep St. John’s at bay: Foster made a pull-up jumper to put Duke in front 75-69 with 2:14 left and then delivered on a driving layup to put the lead to 77-72 with 1:27 to play, locking down the win.

“I had full confidence in him,” Cayden Boozer said. “Obviously, what he did today was elite. For him having surgery 20 days ago and to be able come back as fast as he did and play the way he did, that’s super impressive. That’s like my older brother. I’m super proud of him.”

Beyond the key buckets and assists, Foster was the inspiration Duke needed to remain composed in the face of the Red Storm’s pressure.

“We were getting a little too low on ourselves,” Sarr said. “He was talking to us in a way that I felt secure that we were going to win. His eyes were talking. He’s special, man.”

But even playing just 19 minutes — his fewest in a complete game since logging 18 minutes against Western Carolina in the second game of the year — was almost too much for Foster, who was visibly fatigued in the second half and struggled to get lift on his shots from beyond medium range.

“Obviously, he was a little tired out there,” said Harris.

But he had fight — and so did Duke. The Blue Devils reached the Sweet 16 without Foster; on Friday night, he returned the favor.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Sarr. “I was like, ‘Let’s go.’ He’s ready? I’m going to roll for him. He’s our point guard. He’s our leader. I was ready to go with him, to fight.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caleb Foster returns from injury to lead Duke past St John's, into Elite 8

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Raptors beat the Pelicans 119-106 as Barnes has 23 points and 12 assists

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes had 23 points and 12 assists, Jakob Poeltl had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-106 on Friday night.

RJ Barrett, Sandro Mamukelashvili and J’Kobe Walter also scored 18 points apiece for the Raptors, and Brandon Ingram added 13.

Zion Williamson scored 22 points for New Orleans on 9-for-13 shooting from the field and 4 for 4 from the foul line. Saddiq Bey added 19 points.

The Raptors won for the second time in three outings to remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a full game ahead of the idle Philadelphia 76ers. The top six teams automatically make the playoffs in each conference.

The Pelicans lost their fourth in a row overall and fifth straight on the road. They were without top scorers Trey Murphy III (ankle) and Dejounte Murray (Achilles). Immanuel Quickley (Achilles) was absent from the Toronto lineup.

Barnes scored 13 of his game-high total in the third quarter. Mamukelashvilli came off the bench for his total that included three 3-pointers.

After pulling away with a 25-8 run to begin the second quarter, the Raptors took a 59-44 lead into halftime. Toronto maintained its 15-point advantage after three quarters.

The Raptors played on two days of rest after a five-game road trip that concluded in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Up next

Pelicans: Host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

Raptors: Host the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

___

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

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Lakers’ PA announcer Lawrence Tanter misses game because of ‘health matter’

When the Lakers hosted the Nets on Friday, there was an iconic deep voice missing inside of Crypto.com Arena.

Longtime franchise public address announcer Lawrence Tanter wasn’t in attendance for Friday’s game as he recovered from a health matter, the team announced.  

Longtime franchise public address announcer Lawrence Tanter wasn’t in attendance for Friday’s game as he recovered from a health matter, the team announced.   AP

Jason Barquero filled in for Tanter. 

“The entire Lakers organization is wishing Lawrence all the best in his recovery,” the Lakers said in a statement, “and we look forward to welcoming him back soon.”

Tanter, 76, has been the Lakers’ PA announcer since the 1982-83 season. 

Lakers broadcast analyst Stu Lantz also wasn’t at Friday’s game because he was under the weather, with five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher filling in for Lantz.

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Cavs extinguish the Heat 149-128

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 27: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on March 27, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It was a tale of two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the second being a lot more to their liking. Max Strus hit eight threes, Jarrett Allen had a double-double in his return to the starting lineup, and James Harden added 17 points and 10 assists as the Cavs throttled the visiting Miami Heat 149 to 128. After laying an egg Wednesday night against the very same Heat team, it was a full 180-degree turnaround in front of a raucous Cleveland crowd.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson talked about Allen’s return to the starting lineup and how much it meant, and he may have undersold it. Allen’s paint presence as a defender, ability to run to the rim off screens, and his sense as a roller of the pick-and-roll was on full display in the first half. The Cavs clearly missed him, on several levels.

Atkinson mentioned pregame how much of a difference it is having both Allen and Evan Mobley patrol the interior, and he was right. The Heat only attempted just 24% of their shots in the paint per Cleaning the Glass, almost 8% lower than their team average. That is an indicator of how much of a deterrent having two bigs is for opposing teams when facing a healthy Cleveland front court.

Despite the Cavs putting up 149 points, it was not because of Donovan Mitchell. The superstar shooting guard had a quiet scoring night, but still dished six assists and had four steals. Truthfully, there was not a need for him to carry the offense when everyone else was clicking so well.

Harden put together a 17-point 14 assist double-double, making the role of point guard look far too easy. The biggest benefactor to that was Allen, who had 18 points while being an ideal rim-running partner. His athleticism and contact on screens makes things easier, and the Cavs as a unit made things look extremely easy. Here is just one of Harden’s passes to Allen:

But the real star of the night was Max Strus, who was absolutely blistering from deep in the first half. The former Heat wing hit six three-pointers in the first half and eight overall en route a 29-point effort. Strus has been an instant-impact player for the Cavs sing returning from a foot injury, and this game was the highlight. A healthy Strus hitting shots and playing hard off the bench in the playoffs is an ideal scenario for the Cavs.

Mobley had a quiet first three quarters, but exploded out of the gate in the fourth to the tune of six straight points, and 12 for the quarter in total. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds on 10-15 shooting. The aggressiveness at the start of the fourth quarter was welcome, as the Cavs had just allowed that Heat to make up 13 points in the third. Mobley essentially iced the game, if Keon Ellis’ buzzer-beater three didn’t already do that:

The end of the game got a little chippy. Tyler Herro was assessed a technical after plowing right through Sam Merrill on a screen and arguing about the call. Then Myron Gardner fouled Tyrese Proctor hard on a layup that resulted in in a technical for him and Thomas Bryant, the latter for defending his teammate. The infractions didn’t matter, but it highlighted a frustrating night for the Heat in general, who were seemingly run off the court from the opening tip. They trailed 15-2 just a few minutes into the game and never recovered.

The Cavs managed to salvage the second end of this home-and-home series with the Heat, and get a few days off before starting a West Coast swing – beginning in Utah on Monday night. Tip-off is at 9:00 p.m. EST on FanDuel Sports Ohio.

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Dodgers get 2025 World Series rings. Here’s how they look

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Freddie Freeman, wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap and jersey, looks at his World Series ring, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki holding his World Series ring during a ceremony

The Dodgers had an idea about the grandiose nature of their 2025 World Series rings.

“It is substantial,” manager Dave Roberts joked Friday afternoon.

“I heard the ring is pretty over the top,” added now-retired pitcher Clayton Kershaw a little while later.

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani wears his jewelry during a World Series ring ceremony prior to Friday’s game against the Diamondbacks. AP

Indeed, when the club unveiled the jewelry for Friday night’s pregame ring ceremony at Dodger Stadium, there was nary a detail that went unnoticed.

For their third World Series ring in the last six years, no gem was spared.

On the face of the ring, the words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” are spelled out by 86 diamonds and 14-karat gold, while the team’s signature “LA” logo is formed by 17 blue sapphires –– representing the 17 games the team played during last year’s postseason.

The background of the display is filled with 79 more diamonds and 48 round sapphires. Another 50 diamonds glitter around the bezel, while 15 additional round sapphires are embedded along the edge of the piece between the dates of all nine years the Dodgers have won the World Series. If that wasn’t enough, 70 more round diamonds were included to frame the centerpiece.

The bling doesn’t end there.

On one side of the ring, each player’s name is etched above a row of 15 sapphires. On the other, the words “Back 2 Back” highlight another collection of 33 diamonds.

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani poses with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) and shortstop Mookie Betts during the World Series ring ceremony Friday. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Like last year, the top of the ring is also removable, with home plate dirt from Game 7 of the Fall Classic included in a glass window display.

And lastly, the exterior band shows the number 4,012,470 for the total fan attendance the Dodgers had at home games in 2025.

If you lost count, that’s more than 250 diamonds and nearly 100 sapphires.

Substantial, over the top, yet deservedly decadent indeed.

The Dodgers’ ring ceremony was equally extravagant, with actor Anthony Anderson announcing each player from an infield stage while the USC marching band performed in the outfield. 

There were raucous ovations for everyone from World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Game 3 extra-inning hero Will Klein, from Game 7 savior Miguel Rojas to Game 3’s walk-off winner Freddie Freeman, and from two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to left-handed reliever Alex Vesia (who missed the World Series following the death of his newborn baby, and tapped his chest sentimentally on Friday as he was serenaded walking onto the field).

The last player to receive his ring was Kershaw, who emerged from the dugout following the ceremony to throw out a surprise first pitch.

Freeman went behind the plate to catch his throw (a perfect strike). Then, the rest of the Dodgers joined them to hand Kershaw his third and final World Series keepsake.

Kershaw put it on, held his fist high for the crowd to see, then received a thunderous reception; closing the book on his playing career, and the Dodgers’ 2025 victory.

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Yankees’ Camilo Doval looking ‘dominant’ in strong start to solidifying setup role

New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval throwing a pitch.
Camilo Doval pitches during the Yankees-Giants game on March 27, 2026.

SAN FRANCISCO — When the Yankees traded for Camilo Doval from the Giants last year, they expected the closer to transition into a setup role as part of a deep, new-look bullpen that also added David Bednar. 

Instead, Doval was mostly a train wreck early in his Yankee tenure and clearly had a hard time getting accustomed to not finishing games. 

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He improved toward the end of the regular season, but with Devin Williams and Luke Weaver now with the Mets, the Yankees were again planning for Doval to be a primary setup reliever with Bednar closing, as he did Friday. 

Perhaps it’s the return to Oracle Park, but Doval has been effective in his first two outings of this season — particularly in Friday’s 3-0 win over the Giants. 

He struck out the side in order in the bottom of the eighth in a one-hit shutout that was closed out by Bednar. 

Aaron Boone called the outing — and Doval’s sinker — “dominant.” 

“That’s what he’s capable of,’’ the manager said. “He kind of overmatched them.” 

Doval entered with a three-run lead Friday and whiffed Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey — hardly Murderer’s Row, but something he failed to do often last season, when he had a hard time adjusting to non-save situations. 

Camilo Doval pitches during the Yankees-Giants game on March 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

He managed to finish the regular season on a strong run. Doval pitched five scoreless innings in his final six appearances after a horrid start to his Yankees tenure (10 earned runs in 13 ²/₃ innings in his first 16 games with the team). 

Doval said through an interpreter Friday he’s become “comfortable” in his new environment and role. 

“I felt really good,’’ the right-hander added of Friday’s outing. 

Doval saved 39 games for San Francisco in 2023, but looked far from that version for much of the second half of the season. 

Now, Doval will be one of the relievers Boone turns to before getting into high-leverage settings. 

Doval followed Fernando Cruz and lefty Tim Hill, as the duo pitched 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings in relief of the outstanding Cam Schlittler. 

With plenty of question marks in this year’s bullpen, as the team still has Jake Bird and Rule 5 acquisition Cade Winquest among their right-handers, Doval will look to be more of a setup man if all goes according to plan. 

There’s always the chance that young phenom Carlos Lagrange, who the Yankees want to keep as a starter for as much of the season as possible, could be brought up to The Bronx as a reliever if he logs too many innings in the minors. 

For now, though, the Yankees hope they get the Doval they thought they were acquiring from San Francisco last season.

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Avalanche Closing In On Presidents’ Trophy As Final Stretch Begins

As the 2025–26 NHL regular season enters its final stretch, the Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a commanding position atop the league standings—and in firm control of the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.

Strong Position at the Top

Colorado improved to 48-13-10 (106 points) after a playoff-esque 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets, extending their winning streak to four games. With 11 games remaining, they’ve created separation not only in the Central Division—holding a nine-point edge over the Dallas Stars—but also in the race for the league’s top overall seed.

Erik Karlsson summed it up perfectly on what it's like seeing Nathan MacKinnon charging down the ice.

A win in the rematch would only tighten their grip.

“We’re still fighting for first place, so every win’s important until they put the mark beside our standings,” head coach Jared Bednar told NHL.com. “So, we have something to play for down the stretch run here. And we’ve had a good year, but we’re not comfortable—we’re still just kind of fine-tuning our game for going into the playoffs.”

The Math

Despite their strong position, the math behind clinching the Presidents’ Trophy remains intriguing. The Avalanche’s primary challenger, the Carolina Hurricanes, also have 11 games remaining and currently sit at approximately 96 points. If Carolina were to win every game from here on out, they would earn 22 additional points, finishing with a maximum of 118 points.

That sets Colorado’s magic number at 119 points—meaning the Avalanche will likely secure the Presidents’ Trophy with roughly six to seven more wins down the stretch. In practical terms, an 8–3 finish would comfortably secure the award, while a 7–3–1 record could also be sufficient depending on Carolina’s results. However, given the parity of the modern NHL, it is unlikely the Hurricanes will win all of their remaining games, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Leading the Avalanche is Nathan MacKinnon, who scored twice on seven shots Thursday night as Colorado defeated Winnipeg 3-2 at Canada Life Centre. It marked the first time in 330 days that Colorado had beaten the Jets on the road in the regular season, and MacKinnon’s two-goal performance pushed him to 47 and 48 goals on the year, extending his lead atop the NHL goal-scoring race.

Mark Scheifele initiating the breakout from behind the net. 
Mark Scheifele initiating the breakout from behind the net. 

Jets forward Mark Scheifele, despite being on the opposing side, offered high praise for MacKinnon’s impact and consistency.

“He’s absolutely fantastic. He’s an absolute horse out there. He’s a guy that works on his game so tirelessly,” he stated. “On the other side, he’s a fun guy to watch. Makes a lot of plays, a lot of little plays, even that a lot of people don’t notice. So, he’s one of, if not the, one of the best, if not the best player in the league. And he shows it every single night. And it’s impressive to watch.”

Different Stakes, Same Intensity

While the Avalanche continue to surge, the Jets are fighting for their postseason lives. At 30-30-12 (72 points), Winnipeg sits five points back of a Western Conference wild card spot with 10 games remaining.

“Every game is huge for us, no matter the opponent,” Jets forward Cole Perfetti added. “At this stage of the year for us, we need two points every single night, so it doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”

That urgency contrasts with Colorado’s position—but not their mindset. The Avalanche are not easing into the playoffs; they are sharpening their game while chasing hardware. Contributions like Logan O'Connor’s return from injury and continued offensive dominance from their top line only reinforce their depth and readiness.

The Avalanche don’t need perfection—they just need to keep winning enough games to stay in control. The Presidents’ Trophy may not be the ultimate prize, but it remains a significant milestone. And while the Stanley Cup is the true goal, capturing both is a rare accomplishment last achieved by the 2012–13 Chicago Blackhawks.

For Colorado, the opportunity to pursue both remains very much alive—and increasingly within reach.

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Los Angeles Dodgers hold World Series ring ceremony

All the World Series memories and emotions came flooding back for the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans on March 27 at Dodger Stadium.

The remaining members of the 2025 team were individually called from the dugout and onto the stage to receive their rings before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Shortstop Mookie Betts received his fourth career World Series ring, the most of any active player.

“It's super special and this day never gets old,” Betts told Spectrum SportsNet in the moments after receiving his ring. “It shows the accomplishments we made and hope we can do it again.”

Pitcher Clayton Kershaw retired after the World Series, but was also in attendance at the stadium for a second straight night to follow up his broadcasting debut on NBC.

Kershaw was not initially announced among his former teammates, but received a thunderous ovation nonetheless.

Dodgers legend Orel Hershiser was headed to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before manager Dave Roberts got on the microphone to announce a pitching change, calling on Kershaw from the dugout.

Kershaw stood on the familiar hill to throw the ball to Freddie Freeman before the pitcher was handed his ring and embraced by his teammates, who made their way back out of the dugout.

SCARY THOUGHT FOR MLB: Dynastic Dodgers might have their best team yet

What do the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series rings look like?

Each ring includes the words "World Champions" on top of the ring with a blue "LA" featured in the middle. 

The top of the ring could be removed to reevaluate a sample of dirt enclosed in the ring and a pair of trophies inscribed with "2024" and "2025" on the respective trophies.

The side panels of the ring included the respective player's last name and number on one panel and the words "Dodgers 2025 BACK 2 BACK" inscribed on the other.

“There are a lot of diamonds, but you can open it up and there's some dirt in there,” Betts said. “A lot is going on.”

What’s next for the Dodgers?

The Dodgers won their season opener against the Diamondbacks on March 26, taking the first game of a season expected to conclude with a third straight championship.

If the Dodgers accomplish the goal, they will become the first National League team to three-peat as World Series champions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Dodgers receive their World Series rings

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Aaron Judge takes advantage of ABS before launching key Yankees homer

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants, Image 2 shows Aaron Judge celebrates during the Yankees-Giants game on March 27, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO — Aaron Judge hasn’t needed any help at the plate, having won three of the past four AL MVP awards with some of the most productive seasons in history. 

But for years, he’s been the victim of more than his fair share of called strikes that have appeared to be below the zone. 

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So the automated ball-strike system figured to be especially valuable for him. 

On Friday, Judge used it for the first time and — not surprisingly — it resulted in a home run. 

The key hit in a 3-0 win over the Giants at Oracle Park, the homer was set up after Judge got ahead of lefty Robbie Ray 1-0 in his third at-bat, and Ray followed with a slider that was called a strike by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild. 

With Paul Goldschmidt on second in a scoreless game in the top of the sixth, Judge challenged the call and it proved to be a fraction of an inch low. 

He eventually worked the count full before slamming a 405-foot homer to left to give the Yankees the lead. 

Aaron Judge hits a home run during the Yankees-Giants game on March 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I thought the call was gonna stand,” Judge said. “It was a close one.” 

But he believed the challenge was worth it, with a runner in scoring position in a tie game and Ray — along with Cam Schlittler — rolling. 

“I’m not gonna sit here and challenge every one I think is close, but in a big spot, if I’ve got a chance to flip the count, I’m gonna do it,’’ Judge said. “I’ve still got to go up there and do the job as a hitter. All it takes is one pitch — like we saw in that at-bat.” 

Aaron Judge celebrates during the Yankees-Giants game on March 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cody Bellinger knows better than most how often pitches below Judge’s knees have been called strikes, at least since last season. 

“He’s so tall, sometimes he gets rung up on that,” Bellinger said. “I see it since I hit behind him all the time. [ABS] is gonna be good for him. He knows the [strike] zone really well.” 

As Judge noted, though, simply winning the challenge was no guarantee of success in the at-bat. 

But it didn’t hurt. 

Still getting accustomed to the ABS system, Judge called it “weird” to use it for the first time in a regular-season game. 

“It’s a part of the game and you’ve got to get used to it,’’ said Judge, who went hitless and struck out four times in the opener and was 0-for-2 with another strikeout in his first two at-bats Friday. “I’m a hitter. I’ve got to focus on hitting.” 

It worked well Friday, as Judge got the fourth hit of his career against Ray, all of which have been home runs. 

And it was Judge’s fourth homer in five career games in San Francisco — against the team he grew up rooting for in nearby Linden, Calif. 

This one, of course, was different and showed how much more dangerous he may become. 

“We can use it as a weapon, but you’ve still got to play the game,’’ Judge said. “To have a challenge in your back pocket is nice in certain situations, [like] high-leverage. We’ll see how it goes.”