The Utah Jazz’s tanking effort gets a gift on Monday night, when Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz.
The Nuggets are in the midst of the chaos that is the Western Conference’s Nos. 3-7-seed range, with only 3.5 games separating the No. 3 Rockets from the No. 7 Suns. Denver sits right in the middle at No. 5, and just lost a crucial game against No. 4 Minnesota on Sunday. The Nuggets’ game against Utah will be on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Jazz are coming off back-to back home losses against the lowly New Orleans Pelicans, which did wonders for Utah’s lottery chances. The Jazz now have the fifth worst record in the league, and are a near-lock (99.4%) to keep this year’s first-round pick.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 06: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks to head coach Steve Kerr against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter at Chase Center on April 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the past two seasons, the Golden State Warriors’ postseason path has gone through the Play-In Tournament. Last year, they finished as the seventh seed and had to survive a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies in order to reach the playoffs. The year before, their season ended early with a first-round play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Entering this season, the goal was clear: avoid that path altogether.
With early momentum and a defined direction following the trade for Jimmy Butler, Golden State believed it could secure one of the Western Conference’s top six seeds. But those plans took a major hit when Butler tore his ACL, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. The situation became even more difficult once Stephen Curry began missing time with a lingering knee injury that has already sidelined him for 10 games and is expected to keep him out even longer. Together, those injuries have made a top-six push significantly harder.
NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ‼️
▪️ DET (#1 in East) wins 3rd straight ▪️ MIN rises to #4 in West, wins 3rd straight ▪️ ATL rises to #9 in East, wins 4th straight ▪️ LAC rises to #9 in West pic.twitter.com/6JJaXPWKNR
The Warriors now sit eighth in the West, five games behind the current sixth-seed Los Angeles Lakers. That gap grew larger over the weekend after Golden State suffered a 129–101 loss to LA this past Saturday. With just over 20 games remaining, head coach Steve Kerr addressed whether reaching the sixth seed is still a realistic goal.
“It’s a lot to make up with 22 games left. We don’t even talk about it. It’s not anything that is worth discussing because we just have to try to go out and win and see what happens.”
Steve Kerr after he was asked if it’s still a “realistic goal” to make it to the 6th seed and… pic.twitter.com/lgnMp2uRjs
“It’s a lot to make up with 22 games left,” Kerr said during his postgame press conference. “We don’t even talk about it. It’s not anything that is worth discussing because we just have to try to go out and win and see what happens.”
That mindset reflects where the Warriors are now. Instead of chasing a specific seed, the focus has shifted to the barebones of getting healthy and giving themselves a chance to build momentum for a potential postseason run.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, March 2nd:
Going into Sunday, the Warriors are 4.5 games back of the Lakers for the No. 6 seed. That gap can rise to five games by the end of Sunday night after the Lakers’ game in Los Angeles against the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors are three games behind the No. 7-seed Phoenix Suns, who currently are down Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. For how difficult leaping into the top six and out of the play-in tournament would be for the Warriors, it’s virtually impossible they fall out of the top 10.
The No. 10-seeded Los Angeles Clippers play the 19-win New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. They’re four games behind the Warriors in the win column going into that game, and the Clippers also are Golden State’s next opponent Monday night. More importantly, nobody below the Clippers or the No. 9-seeded Portland Trail Blazers are going to move ahead of them.
“I read about the POTS diagnosis and called the Hawks [general manager] Onsi Saleh,” Kerr said. “He’s a good friend of mine and I said ‘Is this POTS story real?’ He said it’s actually not POTS. That was some misinformation that was out there.”
Kerr walked that hypothesis and assessment back on Saturday when asked to clarify.
“It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something I’m not qualified to talk about,” Kerr said. “Even trying to discuss the diagnosis, that was a mistake. I need to leave that to professionals.”
When Gui Santos delivered the contract extension news to his parents today, he tricked them and they thought that he knocked up his fiancé with a mini Gui 😂
The Clippers have a league-high 11 games remaining against the bottom nine teams in the league. They’re also one of two teams with a league-high seven rest-advantage games remaining on their schedule, though they’re 0-5 in rest-advantage games through February.
Regardless of the question of whether Porziņģis still suffers from the effects of post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) or not — a recent controversy sparked by head coach Steve Kerr’s comments during a radio hosting — it is quite clear that Porziņģis isn’t quite 100 percent ready to see the floor for a prolonged period of time.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Nick Allen #2 (left), Ha-Seong Kim #9, Jurickson Profar #7, Michael Harris II #23, Ronald Acuña Jr. #13, and Nacho Alvarez Jr. #67 return to the dugout after winning a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before missing the postseason last year, the Atlanta Braves had made it there every year from 2018 to 2024, including a World Series win in 2021. They are, traditionally, one of the best and most competitive teams of the last 30 or 35 years, so watching them go 76-86 in 2025 and finish fourth in the NL East was unexpected, to say the least.
Make no mistake: many things happened last year that contributed to that record, mostly injuries, and their core is good enough that FanGraphs is projecting them to bounce back in their 2026 campaign with an 89-73 record and a divisional crown.
Superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. opened the season on the injured list while rehabbing from ACL surgery, returned in late May, and had another stint on the shelf in late July with a calf strain. Third baseman Austin Riley missed the last two months of the 2025 campaign with lower abdomen issues that resulted in core muscle surgery. Jurickson Profar was suspended for the first 80 games due to violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Injuries also limited Chris Sale to 20 starts, Spencer Schwellenbach to 17, Spencer Strider to 23, and Reynaldo López to one. AJ Smith-Shawver required Tommy John surgery. We can go on. It was clear from the get-go that 2025 just wasn’t the Braves’ year. The roster depth is already being tested in 2026, especially on the pitching side. We will get there in a minute.
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim and catcher Sean Murphy will be out for the foreseeable future, until May at least, but the Braves are in good shape in the position player department. Drake Baldwin (19 HR, 125 wRC+, 3.1 fWAR) has become quite the asset behind the plate, and Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Riley represent a nice infield foundation. Kim’s pending return will add some speed and defense, too.
Acuña, Michael Harris II, and Profar make for an exciting outfield, but it’s important to note that despite completing a 20-20 season, Harris did put up a disappointing 83 wRC+ in 2025. He has the talent to bounce back, but he’s no sure thing. Mike Yastrzemski will also be in the mix, as they picked him up on a two-year deal in free agency and should play even more often than the standard fourth outfielder.
The 2026 campaign will be the first without Marcell Ozuna on the roster since 2019. His decline, going from a 154 wRC+ in 2024 to 114 last year, was also one of the stories of the season for the Braves, but he is in Pittsburgh this year, Atlanta having decided to move on from the 35-year-old DH.
The Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep injuries (surgery to remove elbow bone spurs) were particularly painful for the pitching staff, and even though there is a chance they return at some point this year, the Braves must plan to be without them. Chris Sale, Strider, and López are actually a great top-three on paper, albeit extremely injury-prone. One has to wonder if Atlanta will take one last look at the free agent market or at least at the post-spring cuts.
In case they don’t make any more moves, the Braves still have talent in the backend of their rotation with Grant Holmes, Joey Wentz, and Bryce Elder. They need at least one more starter, though, if not two. For the bullpen, they added former Padres closer Robert Suárez to pair with Raisel Iglesias and a bunch of relievers who are pretty good on their best days, such as Dylan Lee, Aaron Bummer, Joel Payamps, and former Yankee Ian Hamilton.
Despite what the projections say, the Braves might not enter 2026 as the true favorites to win the NL East. There are just too many questions on the pitching staff as things stand, and formidable foes loom in Queens and in the defending division champion Phillies. That doesn’t mean they won’t be competitive, though, and we have seen them take the division when nobody expects them to.
Keep an eye on the Braves, especially if they manage to add more impact pitching.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
Back in 2022, Hayden Senger was ranked the Mets 11th top prospect by Amazin’ Avenue. For context, here are the players who ranked behind him: Robert Dominguez (25), Levi David (24), Carlos Cortes (23), Travis Blankenhorn (22), Junior Santos (21), Brian Metoyer (20), Thomas Szapucki (19), Josh Walker (18), Jose Butto (17), Dominic Hamel (16), Adam Oller (15), Jake Mangum (14), Eric Orze (13), and Calvin Ziegler (12), and here are the players that were ranked in front of him: Jaylen Palmer (10), Alex Ramirez (9), Nick Plummer (8), Khalil Lee (7), J.T. Ginn (6), Matthew Allan (5), Mark Vientos (4), Ronny Mauricio (3), Brett Baty (2), and Francisco Alvarez (1). Of those 25 players, 17 were promoted to the big leagues and saw major league playing time; Heyden Senger was one of those players.
In March 2025, Alvarez broke his left hamate during a spring training game, sidelining him for approximately 6-8 weeks. Luis Torrens, who backed up Alvarez in 2024, and Senger, who was on the 40-man roster, were suddenly competing for full-time starting duties. Torrens hit an uninspiring .239/.286/.348, while Senger hit an equally unimpressive .208/.296/.375. As the late Casey Stengel once noted, “You have to have a catcher, otherwise you will have a lot of passed balls”, and so the 2025 Mets began the season with Senger and Torres splitting catcher duties.
An article written by Anthony DiComo highlighting the hardships minor league grinders face during the off-season made Senger an early fan favorite, but unfortunately that wellspring of support did not improve his bat. A hitter whose career batting average in Double- and Triple-A barely was barely over the Mendoza line, the backstop hit .179/.207/.214 and was optioned to Syracuse at the end of the month when Francisco Alvarez was reinstated from the injured list. He bounced up and down between Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets for the rest of the season and ended up hitting .181/.221/.194 in 72 at-bats over 33 games for the Mets and .218/.268/.339 in 165 at-bats over 46 games with the Syracuse Mets. His 19 wRC+ with the Mets was 10th worst in all of Major League Baseball in 2025 among players to get at least 50 plate appearances, behind Jacob Amaya (-33), DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (-18), MJ Melendez (-14), Will Robertson (-13), Vinny Capra (-11), Jacob Stallings (-7), Jorge Barrosa (2), Jace Jung (9), and Jeimer Candelario (10).
Senger was never known as an offensive-oriented player, however. His placement on prospect lists, or simply his continued employment by the organization has always been predicated on his defensive abilities. In the 195.1 innings he played behind the dish, he was worth +5 Defensive Runs Saved and a +5 Fielding Run Value. Thanks to his defensive acumen, Senger accrued a net neutral 0.0 fWAR. That makes him more valuable than five others on that 2022 Top 25 Mets Prospects list that made it to the majors, tied with two others, and less valuable than nine.
Now 29-years-old, Senger will likely begin the season in Triple-A and will be on standby with his glove ready when and if the need for another catcher on the active roster arises. His bat? Not so much.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today the Texas Rangers welcome the Cleveland Guardians to Surprise, AZ for, wouldn’t you know it, yet another Cactus League matchup.
LHP Austin Gomber gets the nod for Texas opposite RHP Slade Cecconi for Cleveland for the second time in like a week.
Today’s Lineups
GUARDIANS
RANGERS
Angel Martinez – CF
Evan Carter – LF
CJ Kayfus – 1B
Wyatt Langford – CF
Rhys Hoskins – DH
Corey Seager – SS
Daniel Schneemann – SS
Joc Pederson – DH
Austin Hedges – C
Jake Burger – 1B
Milan Tolentino – 3B
Josh Smith – 2B
Jaison Chourio – LF
Sam Haggerty – RF
Joe Lampe – RF
Jonah Bride – 3B
Alex Mooney – 2B
Jose Herrera – C
Slade Cecconi – RHP
Austin Gomber – LHP
Your options to experience today’s game appear limited to having to follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 2:05 pm CT.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Ben McLaughlin #96 of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Been a little while since the last edition: once spring training got started, between the questions, the gameday threads and the recaps, there wasn’t a lot of room on the ‘Pit! But with the calendar having turned to March, and an off-day today, I’m going to try and get the balance of these knocked out over the next week or so. The previous entries (linked below) covered the pitchers and catchers, but we still have the infielders and outfielders to look at. We start with the former today, and therefore, without further ado…
Jacob Amaya (18)
Originally a Dodgers prospect, but let’s not hold that against him. Amaya was dealt to the Marlins for Miguel Rojas, who DFA’d him to make room for old friend Emmanuel Rivera. He since played for the Astros and White Sox – just not very much, accumulating a total of 154 PA. Not-so-fun fact. With an OPS+ of -1, Amaya is currently the non-pitcher in baseball history with most career PA and a negative OPS+. Last year, he had an OPS of .260 across 36 games. I think it’s safe to call him a glove-first player, and he has over five thousand innings of experience at the shortstop position. He also pitched a clean inning for the White Sox last year (below). Maybe he can help the bullpen.
Baker has already made an impression this spring, whacking two home-runs including one on Saturday with an exit velo of 112.5 mph. He was let go by the Dodgers this winter, after being taken on waivers from the Cardinals, and is a very large mammal. His listed weight is 285 pounds, easily most among the 40-man roster or non-roster invitees (it’s forty pounds more than the Hispanic Titanic, which tells you something!). He is a right-handed hitter, so if Carlos Santana can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag, he could be a potential platoon partner with Pavin Smith at 1B – or, probably more credibly given his defensive limitations, at DH.
LuJames Groover (91)
A top ten D-backs prospect according to both Fangraphs and Prospects 1500, he was also ranked the number six prospect at the hot corner by MLB Pipeline last month. Groover had a very solid season with Double-A Amarillo last year, and batted .309 with 12 home-runs and an .833 OPS, almost exclusively as a third-baseman. He may well start this year with the Reno Aces, and Groover could be in line to take over from Arenado when his contract is done at the end of 2027. So far, he’s had a decent spring, going 7-for-21 with a pair of doubles, though has yet to take a walk. LuJames is the man with many nicknames, as discussed in the video below.
McLaughlin (pictured, top) was a ninth-round pick by the Diamondbacks in 2024, so it’s quite impressive that he’s getting a spring training invite, barely eighteen months later. But Ben’s bat really took off after a promotion to Double-A Amarillo. He took full advantage of the hitter-friendly surroundings, batting .343 across 28 games for the Sod Poodles, with a .990 OPS. McLaughlin was part of yesterday’s cuts from the roster, but made a strong impression in limited playing time, notching four hits in nine at-bats, while also drawing three walks. Fun fact: the first baseman also pitched three times for High-A Hillsboro, notching 3.2 scoreless innings and only giving up one hit.
MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Rhys Hoskins #8 of the Cleveland Guardians bats during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on February 27, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have a mostly B-lineup today, but we do get to see Rhys Hoskins get his reps up:
CF Angel Martinez 1B CJ Kayfus DH Rhys Hoskins SS Daniel Schneemann C Austin Hedges 3B Milan Tolentino LF Jaison Chourio RF Joe Lampe 2B Alex Mooney P Slade Cecconi
Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to make his return to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup when they host the Boston Celtics tonight.
But just how much will the two-time MVP play, and will it matter against a Boston team playing great basketball?
My Celtics vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks will be fading the Greek Freak in his return to action in this East Conference clash set to tipoff at 7:30 pm ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Monday, March 2.
Celtics vs Bucks prediction
Celtics vs Bucks best bet: Celtics -2 (-110)
Giannis Antetokounmpo returns for the Milwaukee Bucks after missing more than five weeks, and his impact on the NBA odds was immediate, moving tonight’s line against the Boston Celtics from +7.5 to +4.
Then it was announced Jaylen Brown would be out, and the line dipped to Boston -2.
However, Milwaukee was struggling with Giannis, ranking 24th in net rating before his latest injury.
Boston is 10-3 ATS over the last 13 games and only trails OKC in net rating. All this line move does is make me want to bet the next-man-up Celtics even more.
Celtics vs Bucks same-game parlay
Jaylen Brown is getting a lot of the credit for the season the Celtics are having, and rightly so, but let’s not overlook Derrick White’s impact.
White is putting up 17.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. His point total for this game without Brown is 20.5, a number he’s topped twice in his last four games, and now faces a Milwaukee team that ranks 23rd in defensive rating.
The Bucks also struggle on the boards, owning the fourth-worst rebounding rate. Celtics big man Nikola Vucevic has thrived in his role, averaging 8.6 rebounds coming off the bench, and likely gets the start tonight.
Celtics vs Bucks SGP
Celtics -2
Derrick White Over 20.5 points
Nikola Vucevic Over 8.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Double delight
Giannis has a solid night on the scoresheet, but as has been the case much of the season, it won't be enough to get the win.
Celtics vs Bucks SGP
Giannis Antetokounmpo double double
Nikola Vucevic double-double
Celtics moneyline
Celtics vs Bucks odds
Spread: Celtics -2 | Bucks +2
Moneyline: Celtics -130 | Bucks +110
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Celtics vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Bucks have only covered the 1H Spread in 12 of their last 40 games at home for -20.15 Units and a -44% ROI.. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Bucks.
How to watch Celtics vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBA TV
Celtics vs Bucks latest injuries
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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers look to create a new winning streak as they face the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Monday. Ryder Ryan goes for the Dodgers while Jimmy Herget goes for Colorado.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's return for the Milwaukee Bucks appears to be imminent.
The 31-year-old Bucks star is aiming to be back in the lineup when Milwaukee begins a five-game homestand on Monday, March 2 against the Boston Celtics, according to a new report. Antetokounmpo missed more than five weeks of action due to a calf injury and the Bucks have mostly floundered without him this season. They won five of six games before a recent two-game skid, but have an 11-18 record when the two-time NBA MVP isn't available this season. They own a 15-15 mark when he does play.
Antetokounmpo's latest calf ailment occurred at an awkward juncture in the season before the NBA trade deadline, with rumors swirling about his future in Milwaukee. Now, he's planning to come back for a last-ditch postseason race in what could be his final games with the Bucks before offseason trade speculation starts anew. The team currently sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings, three games behind the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets for the final play-in tournament spot.
Here's the latest on Antetokounmpo's injury status moving forward, including his potential availability for the Bucks' game against the Boston Celtics on March 2:
It's trending in that direction. Antetokounmpo was officially upgraded to questionable on the Bucks' injury report ahead of their game against the Boston Celtics on Monday, March 2. ESPN also reported Antetokounmpo is expected to return after missing 15 consecutive games.
Antetokounmpo did not play when the Bucks lost 120-97 to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, March 1, though Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters before the game was "close" to coming back after going through a full workout on Saturday.
Giannis injury update
Antetokounmpo suffered what appeared to be a non-contact injury late during the Bucks' Jan. 23 game against the Denver Nuggets and couldn't play the final seconds of a frantic comeback effort by Milwaukee. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after the game he believed Antetokounmpo had been favoring his right leg before leaving the game in the fourth quarter.
Antetokounmpo was resigned to being out for an extended amount of action. He had already missed eight games earlier this season with a previous right calf strain and four games with an adductor injury.
"After the MRI they will tell me probably I popped something in my calf, or in my soleus or something, and probably give me protocol of 4-to-6 weeks that I'll be out," Antetokounmpo said on Jan. 23. "This is from my experience being around the NBA. "After that, I'm going to work my butt off to come back."
Five weeks later, it seems he had the timeline pegged exactly right.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 30 games during the 2025-26 NBA season. He's also shooting a career-best 64.5% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range.
The Kings season continues to be an emotional roller coaster from the play on the ice to the Artemi Panarin trade, and now the coaching change. Nobody wants to see someone lose their job, but after a dreadful return to action, it was clear that a change was need sooner rather than later.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Kings made a major move by firing Head Coach Jim Hiller after three years behind the bench. D.J. Smith will serve as Interim Head Coach, likely for the remainder of the season, while former King, Matt Greene was promoted to Assistant Coach.
Los Angeles was once thought to have a very promising young core led by the likes of Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, and Brandt Clarke. Despite them being productive players, it's not far fetched to say they have not lived up to their draft night potential. A major coaching change could prove to be beneficial to L.A.'s young guns.
The Youth Movement
The Kings are in an interesting position, they're not good enough to be contenders, while not bad enough to embrace the tank. Some would they're in no man's land, where no franchise wants to be.
Whether it is D.J. Smith or someone else, the next Head Coach of the Kings should try and embrace the youth on the roster and allow the young talent to play their game and develop into their once very high potential.
Quinton Byfield
Byfield is the most established of the Kings young core, but even he hasn't reached his 2nd overall pick potential. He is still just 23-years-old, which gives him plenty of time to improve but the clock is ticking.
Anze Kopitar will be gone next season, and although it was thought to be Byfield, the Kings do not have a true replacement for their Hall of Fame center. He currently averages 19:59 of time on ice, which is the most as a forward on the Kings but the constant line juggling and perhaps Hiller's system have made it difficult for him to gain any offensive momentum. Slotting him in at center between Panarin and Adrian Kempe is more than worth a shot as it would be the first time that Byfield has played with a 100 point scorer in his career, which may lead to some momentum moving forward.
Brandt Clarke
Of the young players on the Kings, Clarke's situation has been in the headlines the most. Whether it's about ice time, production, or defensive player, there seemed to always be something going on with Brandt Clarke during Hiller's time as bench boss.
There is no reason for Clarke to be averaging under 20 minutes as a 23-year-old with a boatload of energy. Although he's not retiring like Kopitar, Drew Doughty is on the back nine of his career, and the Kings need someone to step in a be the new number one guy.
Clarke is the obvious choice and needs to start getting treated as such. Limiting his ice time and playing him on the bottom pair at times doesn't improve his growth, and likely makes the former 8th overall pick disgruntled. Clarke needs a coach that believes in him and allows him to play his game, he was drafted that high for a reason, let him show what he can do.
As perhaps the most disappointing of the bunch, Alex Turcotte has yet to sniff his 5th overall pick potential. In 152 career games in the NHL, the now 25-year-old has scored just 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points.
It took Turcotte several years to fully break into the league after being drafted in 2019, but he's now in his third full season and has been basically buried in the Kings bottom six. Whether it's earned or not, sometimes it's worth it to take a flyer on a young player and see if he mesh's well in a top six role. The new regime should give Turcotte a chance and if he doesn't fit then they know exactly what they have in the player.
Alex Laferriere
Although he wasn't drafted in the top 10 like some of his fellow youthful teammates, Alex Laferriere has established himself as part of the young core the Kings have built. In 217 career games, 'Laf' has scored 45 goals and 47 assists for 92 points. Solid numbers for a third round pick who recently turned 24-years-old.
Hiller made the bold move of playing Laferriere at center with Kempe and Panarin. Although it hasn't worked out so far, it's not a bad move trying to get the young forward comfortable at center, but it might be too much for him to keep up with two offensive stars right away. Slot him in at center alongside two middle six wingers and go from there.
High draft picks always have the most pressure on them to perform, they need to supported and developed by their organization while also being held accountable for their mishaps and lack of production.
The Kings young core has been playing for Hiller for most, if not all of their young careers. Sometimes all it takes is a change for true potential to be seen.
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Boston, MA - March 1: Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta and guard Derrick White high five in the first quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
There is an old saying that says “basketball is a game of runs.” These runs can swing momentum of a game for one team and end the hopes of the opponent. My mind jumps to the Golden State Warriors dynasty of the late 2010’s where they used passing to find a wide open shooter on the court. These dominating runs would typically come in the third quarter and put games completely out of reach for their opponents. Any team in the NBA has the ability to go on a long scoring run but the way the Celtics have done it has just felt different.
Boston has been able two long scoring runs in their last four games. One was a 50-11 run between the 6:22 mark of the second quarter to the 1:39 mark of the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns on February 24th and the other was a 51-16 scoring run against the Brooklyn Nets on February 27th from the 7:07 mark of the third quarter to the 6:56 mark of the fourth quarter. In their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1st, the Celtics didn’t have any 50+ point runs to end the game, but instead were able to use smaller runs to control the lead win the ball game.
I asked Jaylen Brown postgame on what he thought about this phenomena and he credited Boston’s ability to move the basketball. He said: “Just making the right play and moving the basketball…I just think that our offense just has a good flow to it right now, where it’s going from side to side, it’s not sticking too much, and then when we need to take advantage of a matchup we will, but it’s not like we’re looking for that every time.”
Brown went on to praise his teammates saying, “A lot of our guys are playing well right now. So from my standpoint, no need to force anything. Just continue to just create an advantage and just play from there and trust the game after that.”
I asked Jaylen Brown what allows the Celtics offense to go on these long scoring runs though out the game
“Just making the right play, Moving the basketball. I thought we had some good ball movement and trying to play with some pace, but I just think that our offense just has a… pic.twitter.com/ydkGWRATiA
The Celtics 11-1 run to the end the game against the 76ers is a great example of this phenomena. Although most of the points ended in Neemias Queta put-backs, Boston was able to create the original shot with the side to side motion that Brown mentioned. This was most apparent with Baylor Scheierman’s dagger three where Brown got doubled on the wing and was able to make the pass to the corner for the silencer.
Going back to the 50-11 run against the Suns. This run erased an 11-point deficit, resulted in Boston outscoring Phoenix 30-11 in the third quarter, and Sam Hauser outscored the Suns by himself with 13 points in the quarter. I wanted to focus on when Hauser was able to score 8 straight points for the Celtics towards the end of the run.
This burst by Hauser is another example of Boston’s side to side motion. The first play results in a corner three off two passes around the perimeter and the other’s come off long passes from Derrick White that leave Hauser wide open.
Prior to the 51-16 run against the Nets, Boston was in front but Brooklyn cut the lead 6 points. With the Nets’ history this season of playing the Celtics tough, this could turn into a close game in a second. However, the Celtics were able to rattle off this run that basically ended chance for the Nets to even attempt a come back.
During this run, Boston used their side to side ball movement to completely disect Brooklyn’s defense. The play that defines it for me is when Derrick White cut hard to the basket to receive a pass and fire a bullet to Nikola Vucevic for a wide open three.
In this same run, we also got an example of how the Celtics ball movement scaring their opponent. After four plays in a row where Boston passed the ball around to find a wide open basket, Jaylen Brown was setting up the pick and roll with Vucevic to do it again. Instead of passing it, Brown sped up straight towards the basket for a wide open dunk. The Nets weren’t able to respond on defense quick enough since they feared another kick out pass.
The Celtics ability to move the ball around the court is a big reason why they are ranked number 2 in offensive rating as a team at 121.2. For as much as Boston likes to pass the ball around, they do it without turning the ball over, leading the league in that category at only 12.2 turnovers per game. Joe Mazzulla is one of the best basketball minds in the game and this offense has been a work of art for Boston this season. The players have done an incredible job at knowing where to be on the court at all times and continuing to put up elite offensive performances without Jayson Tatum. This offense is a true testament to how special this Boston Celtics team really is but at the end of the day, basketball is just a game of runs.
The Vancouver Canucks face the scorching-hot Dallas Stars at Rogers Arena on Monday, March 2, with the two clubs trending in complete opposite directions.
My top Stars vs. Canucks predictions and NHL picks are calling for a low-scoring result between the two tonight.
Stars vs Canucks prediction
Stars vs Canucks best bet: Under 5.5 (+110)
The Vancouver Canucks have only scored five times through three games out of the Olympic break to drop to just 2.08 goals per game during an active 3-17-4 skid.
So, with the Dallas Stars missing star Mikko Rantanen (lower body), I think the Canucks can batten down the defensive hatches and keep this a low-scoring tilt.
Of course, Dallas is also rolling along a 9-1 stretch while allowing the third-fewest goals per game (2.4), ranking fourth in Corsi For percentage and allowing the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.
Stars vs Canucks same-game parlay
The Canucks have been battling on home ice of late and covered the puck line in seven of their past eight games at Rogers Arena, and this could be a potential letdown spot for the Stars on the front end of a mini, two-game road trip.
Turning to Vancouver starter Nikita Tolopilo, he turned away at least 25 shots in each of his past seven starts and eight of nine for the season. The 25-year-old goaltender also sports a solid .908 save percentage for the campaign, and as noted, Dallas has been an excellent possession team during its highlighted 10-game heater.
Of course, the Canucks have also surrendered the seventh-most shots per game (29.8) this season.
The Vancouver Canucks have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight home games (+4.90 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Stars vs. Canucks.
How to watch Stars vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Victory+, Sportsnet Pacific
Stars vs Canucks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The St. Louis Blues have had to make roster decisions in the past week with players returning from injury.
They got Mathieu Joseph through waivers last week when Dylan Holloway was activated off injured reserve; they didn't have such luck with Robby Fabbri.
The Minnesota Wild put in a waiver claim on Fabbri on Monday, and thus his second stint in St. Louis comes to an end.
The 30-year-old, who signed a one-year, two way contract ($750,000 NHL/$300,000 AHL) on Dec. 10, played in 15 games for the Blues and had a goal ad three assists.
Fabbri became a roster casualty when Robert Thomas was activated off IR and made his return back to the lineup after missing 13 games with a right leg injury and personal reasons.
Fabbri's stint with the Blues was a good one, as the 2014 first-round pick, who spent the first three-plus seasons with St. Louis, became a hard forechecker and added some grit and physicality to his game to become more well-rounded. He should add some bite to the Wild's bottom six in Minnesota's playoff push.
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Back-line may feature one survivor from Ireland defeat
Ben Spencer, Cadan Murley and Seb Atkinson in frame
Steve Borthwick is ready to radically overhaul his misfiring England side for the Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday, with Fin Smith expected to be handed the No 10 jersey.
The Northampton fly-half sat out training on Monday because of illness but England have been quick to allay fears that his participation against Italy is in doubt. Provided he recovers, Smith is expected to start at fly-half in place of George Ford.
