PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 04: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s always easier to predict a split back-to-back than actually go through it.
The Sixers fell 116-93 to the Detroit Pistons Saturday night, completing the season series sweep.
They are now 43-35 and will drop back a half game behind the Toronto Raptors for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Maxey steadily put up 23 points and two assists going 8-of-17 from the field. Paul George opened the game on fire, going for 20 points and five rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting.
VJ Edgecombe fought his way to 19 points shooting 7-of-18 from the field along with six rebounds. Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 19.
Joel Embiid (oblique injury management) and Johni Broome (meniscus tear) were out for Philadelphia while the Pistons were missing Cade Cunningham (lung) and Isaiah Stewart (calf strain).
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
A much different offensive start than the night before, but again it was George leading the way with his aggression. He got to the basket and drew a foul to get the Sixers their first points of the night before hitting three jumpers. Detroit made their first eight shots of the game. Harris was drawing boos on every touch. He got on the board at the line as well before cutting for a dunk and knocking down a jumper.
Paul George still looking DAMN good since returning, starts this one off with nine points in the first four minutes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OoEX6VAV0p
Even when the Pistons finally missed a shot, they were able to tip back the offensive rebound. It was at the 6:03 mark of the quarter that the Sixers got their first proper stop of the game. The decision to start Andre Drummond hadn’t paid off defensively, but at least he had a couple offensive rebounds and a putback early himself. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pistons took 57% of their shots at the rim — the league average is just 31.4%.
Some calls were definitely debatable, but the Sixers didn’t do a great job of defending without fouling. They put the Pistons on the line 12 times in the quarter. Maxey, for example, hitting the forearm of Daniss Jenkins shooting a three was one the Sixers really couldn’t afford. Even with Maxey putting up 14 points in the first, the Sixers trailed by 10.
Second Quarter
It took a couple of possessions, but the Sixers finally got their hands in some passing lanes and were able to get stops. Detroit wasn’t just walking into wide open baskets. George was able to deflect and steal a pass, leading to an Adem Bona basket that capped off a 7-0 Sixers’ run.
Another big reason for the run was George continued to be a microwave scorer. Edgecombe had some aggressive drives for the first time all night, but George’s inability to miss a jumper was the Sixers’ engine. He got his 18 in the first half having only missed one shot.
Just a really nice sequence from the Sixers here to pull within two of the Pistons. Another PG three, a steal, and Adem Bona with a great move for a bucket. pic.twitter.com/uKxnnmeXia
Unfortunately the Sixers’ bench took a hit as they were fighting back in this game. Cam Payne pulled something in his leg trying to chase down a loose ball. He immediately subbed out and was ruled out later in the night with a hamstring strain.
Playing most of the first quarter meant the Sixers had to play most of the closing stretch without George. The drop off was again more noticeable on the defensive end. The Pistons were able to create some space. Old friend Bball Paul took Drummond off the dribble before Duncan Robinson made his first two threes of the night, helping the Pistons push their lead back up to 11.
Third Quarter
The Sixers continued to have solid offense coming out of the half. Edgecombe set up Drummond wide open in the dunker spot and Maxey got himself a couple of baskets. Detroit’s size continued to overwhelm them on the other end though. Once Ausar Thomspon got open on a roll the Sixers couldn’t do anything to stop his lobs. Thompson to this point was also leading the Pistons in offensive rebounding as they were pulling down half of their misses.
The game started to get out of hand for the Sixers when their offense went cold. They went scoreless for over four minutes. George was finally unable to make every jumper while the Pistons defense keyed in on Maxey. Nick Nurse angrily called a timeout as the Pistons took their largest lead of the game at 19.
The Sixers started to string stops together coming out of that timeout, but not before a trip to the line for Jalen Duren and a three from Harris. Maxey and Edgecombe continued to attack but the Sixers’ offense was extremely top heavy in this one. The only baskets in the third not scored by those two or George was the dump off to Drummond and a putback by Bona. After eating into the lead a bit, a jumper by Ron Holland kept the Pistons up by 14.
Fourth Quarter
With Kelly Oubre Jr. back in the starting lineup and Payne going down with an injury, the only hope for bench scoring was Quentin Grimes, who unfortunately, didn’t have it. Not only was he scoreless, but his turnover directly led to the Pistons first basket of the fourth after they had been kept off the board for a couple of minutes.
The Sixers used their last gasp of this game to try a small lineup with Dominick Barlow as the five so that they could switch everything. They blew a switch on the first inbound coming out of the timeout, immediately giving up a wide open layup. Less than two minutes later and the white flag was raised. This wasn’t an easy game to stomach, but one more affordable to drop after their win over the Timberwolves.
Illinois men's basketball entered the 2026 Final Four with the most statistically decorated offense in the country, an explosive and dynamic group that regularly blitzed past opponents.
In the national semifinals, though, the Fighting Illini ran into a team that's quickly starting to become their kryptonite.
In a 71-62 loss to UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, coach Brad Underwood's team shot just 33.9% from the field and 23.1% from 3-point range, making only six of its 26 shots from beyond the arc.
The fact that the underwhelming performance came against Dan Hurley and the Huskies shouldn't come as a surprise.
The 62 points were the Illini's third-fewest in a game the past three seasons, according to research from ESPN. The only games ahead of it on that list both came against UConn, as well — a 52-point effort in a blowout loss in the Elite Eight in 2024 and 61 points in a Nov. 28 loss to the Huskies in Madison Square Garden earlier in the 2025-26 season.
WILD stat from ESPN Research ..
Illinois' fewest points in a game over the last three seasons:
52 points: 2024 Elite Eight vs. UConn 61 points: Nov. 28, 2025 vs. UConn 62 points: 2026 Final Four vs. UConn
Even after April 4's disappointing outing, Illinois is still No. 2 in Division I in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Much of the Illini's production came from two players — freshman superstar Keaton Wagler and big man Tomislav Ivisic, who had 20 and 16 points, respectively. Outside of that duo, Illinois made just eight of its 29 field-goal attempts (27.6%).
With the win, UConn advanced to the national championship game, where it will play on Monday, April 6 against either Michigan or Arizona.
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 15: The NC State Wolfpack bench celebrates the double during the college baseball game between the Boston College Eagles and the NC State Wolfpack on March 15, 2026 at Doak Field at Dail Park in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for NC State baseball, as you may have noticed. Some close games go the wrong way, you get a bit of a slump at the plate, and next thing you know it’s panic, panic everywhere. Such is baseball season. Fortunately, it’s the first week of April.
NC State put a seven-game losing streak to bed with a 7-3 win over Notre Dame on Thursday night thanks to strong work from Ryan Marohn and Anderson Nance. The Pack clinched the series the next time out with another 7-3 win, this one highlighted by Ryder Garino and Cooper Consiglio out of the pen—they struck out 10, walked just one, and gave up one run in 4-1/3 IP.
Saturday was Dude Day, and he was excellent, throwing 7-2/3 of one-run ball. NC State took a 5-1 lead into the ninth inning, and then promptly gave up five runs because this is just how baseball works sometimes, and then scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the game, because this is just how baseball works sometimes.
— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) April 4, 2026
Scientists have been trying for centuries to explain how baseball works*, but no one can do it. It simply can’t be done. What can you say about this? It’s another result in the middle of a long, grueling season, no more or less definitive than the one that came prior to it. It’s nice to get even in league play, though.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 29: Emerson Hancock #26 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park on March 29, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s something I never thought I’d say: I am excited to watch Emerson Hancock pitch tonight.
The Mariners look to win their first series of the season Saturday against the Angels. They won Friday’s opener 4-0 in a long, frustrating, 10-inning game that didn’t really get going until the end. The bats did eventually come alive, just in time to ruin the Angels’ home opener.
Hancock will take the mound looking to make it two in a row for the Mariners and for himself. Hancock threw six no-hit innings last week against the Guardians, striking out nine in the process. He seemed to pick right up where he left off after switching to the bullpen at the end of last year, with improved velocity capable of generating a competitive number of whiffs.
One change he made in that first start was lowering his arm slot even further, continuing his trend from his brief days as a reliever. The improved Stuff+ numbers held in his first start of 2026. With three kinds of fastballs, a changeup, and a sweeper — all thrown from a low arm slot — Hancock now has all the makingss of a contemporary starter, even if “just OK” velocity limits him to a mid-rotation arm. There’s still a lot more to prove, of course, but the lack of depth in the Mariners’ rotation last year is what kept them from a more impressive win total. Hancock pitching anywhere above replacement level would be a crucial development early in 2026.
The Mariners will face Angels’ righty Jack Kochanowicz, who Jake Mailhot covered in our series preview. Brendan Donovan is out of the lineup after exiting Friday’s game with a leg injury after stepping awkwardly on first base while trying to leg out a grounder. Leo Rivas takes his place at third, and Luke Raley moves up to the leadoff spot.
Lineups
News
Brendan Donovan has been announced as day-to-day with a groin injury. He got imaging yesterday and the team will review before offering an update. He is not in tonight’s lineup.
Brennen Davis (hamstring) and Victor Labrada (oblique) have been activated in Tacoma. Both are expected to play tonight.
Game Info
First pitch: 6:38 PM PDT TV: Mariners TV. For how to watch, Kate’s got the details. Radio: Seattle Sports (710 AM)
The 33-year-old Betts could be bound for the injured list only eight games into the season, and that should renew concerns of what could happen to this team.
Because if the upcoming months don’t unfold as the Dodgers envision, age will be the main reason why.
The 33-year-old Betts could be bound for the injured list only eight games into the season. Getty Images
Just when the Dodgers looked as if they were off and running, and they literally were, Betts’ premature departure offered an unpleasant reminder of how Project Three-Peat could unravel.
With Kyle Tucker in front of him at second base, Betts was on first in the top of the first inning when Freddie Freeman lined a ball into the right-center field gap. Tucker scored, and so did Betts, who upon returning to the bench was complimented by manager Dave Roberts for the walk he drew. Roberts was later informed there was a problem.
“He felt it as he was running,” Roberts said.
Roberts described the injury as “certainly more moderate than significant” but said Betts is “unlikely” to play in the series finale against the Nationals on Sunday. The manager also acknowledged how this could be a setback for Betts.
“Any time you miss, it’s going to take some time to kind of get your footing,” Roberts said.
Roberts described the injury as “certainly more moderate than significant” but said Betts is “unlikely” to play in the series finale against the Nationals on Sunday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That’s less than ideal for Betts, who was coming off a down year.
What was particularly striking about Betts’ back problem was how it seemed to come out of nowhere. Ignore his .179 batting average. Betts was back.
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He looked as if he regained whatever muscle mass he lost when he contracted norovirus early last season, particularly in his upper body.
He displayed his old power, homering the opposite way at Dodger Stadium and sending a ball into the visiting bullpen at Nationals Park. His play at shortstop was better than it had ever been, enough to where an uninformed observer probably wouldn’t guess he was a converted outfielder.
“Disappointed for him because we were sort of starting to get going a little bit, and the way he’s playing defense, and he’s a big part of what we do,” Roberts said.
He looked as if he regained whatever muscle mass he lost when he contracted norovirus early last season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But as much as Betts prepared himself for this marathon of a season, he encountered a formidable obstacle in a 270-foot sprint
Age does that to a player, and Betts isn’t the only important player on the team who is closer to the end of his career than the start.
The Dodgers made concerted efforts to turn back the clock, the front office instructing players to focus on recovering in the offseason and the players ensuring they reported to camp in better shape.
Teoscar Hernandez, 33, is lighter than he was last year, the benefits of which were shown on Friday when he legged out a couple of infield singles. Max Muncy, 35, also lost weight and looks to be moving better.
Freddie Freeman, 36, has hit into some bad luck, which is why he’s batting only .242. But he’s back to hitting line drives and his defense at first base is at the level it was when he first signed with the Dodgers. Miguel Rojas, 37, looks as if he’s prepared to take over as the team’s primary shortstop while Betts is sidelined.
But what happened to Betts is a reminder of how quickly any of that can change, underscoring the importance of Roberts’ practice of giving his veterans occasional days off. On Saturday, that veteran was Hernandez, who was replaced in the lineup by Alex Call.
The Dodgers have the best player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani. They have the most powerful offense in the major leagues. They have a rotation that includes four Cy Young-caliber starters.
But they also have several key players who are old, and the question regarding them isn’t if they will eventually fall apart but when. The World Series is in six-plus months. As much as they have worked to ensure they will hold up between now and then, one man is already down.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 4, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final road game of the season wasn’t supposed to end like this. For three quarters, the San Antonio Spurs looked like a team that had already figured it out: poised, confident, and in control inside a hostile Ball Arena against a championship contender, the Denver Nuggets.
They ran. They shared the ball. They scored 43 points in the opening quarter like it was nothing more than a rhythm exercise. Every possession felt intentional. Every shot felt like it belonged. And at the center of it all was Victor Wembanyama, gliding across the floor, protecting the rim, stretching the defense, doing everything at once; the kind of performance that makes you forget how young he really is.
Even when foul trouble saw him go to the bench, the Spurs didn’t flinch. They have built something that went beyond one player. The lead held. The energy stayed. The belief never dipped.
But across the floor stood Nikola Jokić, and he doesn’t let games drift away. It didn’t happen all at once and there wasn’t a single moment where everything broke. Instead, it crept in little by little. A bucket here. A stop there. A possession that didn’t quite go San Antonio’s way. Jokić, patient as ever, began pulling the strings: a pass to the corner, a soft touch in the paint, a rhythm that slowly tilted the floor back toward Denver.
By the fourth quarter, what once felt comfortable began to feel fragile. The Spurs still led. They still had control, technically, but the air had changed. Midway through the fourth, San Antonio was up seven. Close enough to feel the finish line, far enough to still need execution. That’s when the game tightened its grip.
“It was an extremely competitive game that felt there were a lot of high stakes,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “It was fun game to be a part of and there so many good things that we did and so many things that we can take away to be better at.”
Jamal Murray found space. Aaron Gordon attacked the rim. And Jokić, always Jokić, kept the pressure constant, never rushed, never forced, just inevitable. The lead vanished piece by piece each time the Nuggets had the ball, the Spurs unable to get the stop they needed.
Then came the moment.
De’Aaron Fox fouled Cam Johnson on the three point line. The ball went in and Denver converted the four-point play. And just like that, everything the Spurs had built was hanging by a thread. Still, they had one last chance to hold on, but confusion on the next play saw Aaron Gordon get a wide open dunk to tie the game at 124 and force overtime.
In overtime, things felt different. The Spurs fought. They always do. A three-pointer from Julian Champagnie briefly pushed them ahead again, a flicker of the control they once had. But every answer required perfection now.
And Denver didn’t miss.
Jokić delivered the final blows the way he always does: steady, precise, unavoidable. A bucket in the closing seconds sealed it, a quiet exclamation point on a 40-point masterpiece.
“My conclusion of this game is that it was good for us,” Wembanyama said. “It’s a real test against a team that’s actually playing for something right now. It had some playoff vibes.”
It was just a two-point loss. But it felt heavier than that. Wembanyama had been brilliant with 34 points, 18 rebounds, a presence that shaped the entire night. The Spurs had done so much right. For long stretches, they had been the better team. And still, they walked off without it. Because against a team like Denver, being better for most of the night isn’t enough.
You have to be better at the end.
And for one more game — one final road lesson before the postseason — the Spurs learned exactly how thin that line really is.
“There is no better outcome from this game than to learn,” Wembanyama added. “It is a very good experience.”
Game Notes
For those clamoring about the Spurs not having playoff experience, this game was as close to the playoffs as they are going to get. And this just proves they are ready. Yes, they have things to work on, but they are ready.
De’Aaron Fox had 14 points, but was 0-for-6 from three-point range. A 33% shooter from beyond the arc this season, he shot two consecutive air balls that fueled Denver’s growing momentum. In the postseason, I hope to see Fox pulling up from midrange or driving to the rim more.
Dylan Harper had 12 points off the bench, shooting 71% in 20 minutes. Now, he won’t always shoot the ball that well, but if this is the version of Harper we’re going to get come playoff time — watch out.
Stephon Castle had 20 points and was aggressive all night long against Denver’s interior defense. So great to see as the playoffs are just two weeks away.
The Los Angeles Lakers produced a strong effort following the NBA All-Star Game to reach the third seed in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers were looking like a true playoff contender, having won 13 of their last 15 games. The only two losses during that stretch came against the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams are the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
While LeBron James began to settle in as the No. 3 option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, it could be up to the 22-time All-Star to serve as the leading man for Los Angeles during the first round of the playoffs.
Coach JJ Redick felt confident throughout the season that his team would all come together at the right time for a strong finish.
The Lakers’ roster dealt with various injuries early in the season, making it hard to put out a lineup featuring its top three stars.
The four-time NBA MVP did not play until mid-November, leaving the guards to lead the way early.
Reaves and James are already ineligible for awards, and Doncic will have to appeal for an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge if he doesn’t play in one of the final five games of the season.
What Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injuries mean for Lakers?
Redick will have to piece together an effective lineup built around James.
Marcus Smart would be an option to fill the role of either guard, but he’s also dealing with his own injuries.
Smart has an ankle injury that will keep him out against the Dallas Mavericks on April 5. He has not played since March 21, when he played 31 minutes against the Orlando Magic.
Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard may move into the starting lineup.
Hachimura is having one of the best seasons of his career from the three-point line, shooting .430 on the season. He's also started 36 of the 63 games he's played.
Kennard, a former sixth-man of the year candidate, made his debut with the Lakers on Feb. 7.
Lakers' remaining regular-season schedule
The Lakers have five games remaining in the regular season. It could prove to be beneficial for Redick and his staff to try different lineups and rotations before the postseason.
at Dallas Mavericks (Sunday, April 5, 4:30 p.m. PT)
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Tuesday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. PT)
at Golden State Warriors (Thursday, April 9, 7 p.m. PT)
vs. Phoenix Suns (Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. PT)
vs. Utah Jazz (Sunday, April 12, 5:30 p.m. PT)
Lakers’ playoff matchup scenarios
The Lakers are currently the third seed in the Western Conference standings with a 50-27 record. If the season ended on April 4, the Lakers would play the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers must continue to stay afloat without their guards to remain the third seed. The Denver Nuggets are just half a game behind the Lakers and the Houston Rockets are two games back.
If the Nuggets move ahead of the Lakers, Los Angeles could be matched up with the Rockets in the West’s 4 vs. 5 matchup.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on July 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a very good series opener on Thursday, and a very bad follow-up on Friday, the San Francisco Giants will look to take the lead in their four-game set with the New York Mets this evening.
Taking the mound for the Giants is right-hander Landen Roupp, who will look to reprise his phenomenal season debut last week. Against the San Diego Padres, Roupp pitched six shutout innings, while allowing just four baserunners and striking out seven. Last year, in 22 starts, the 27-year old went 7-7 with a 3.80 ERA, a 3.91 FIP, and 102 strikeouts against 45 walks in 106.2 innings.
For the Mets, it’s righty Clay Holmes, a 33-year old veteran who is also making his second start of the year. In his season debut, Holmes gave up seven baserunners and two earned runs against the St. Louis Cardinals, while striking out five batters in 5.2 innings. He made 31 starts last year (plus two relief appearances), and went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA, a 4.11 FIP, and 129 strikeouts against 66 walks in 165.2 innings.
Enjoy the game, everyone. Go Giants!
Game #9
Who: San Francisco Giants (3-5) vs. New York Mets (4-4)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 27: Max Strus #1, Sam Merrill #5 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 27, 2025 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be starting the first round of the playoffs in two weeks. There isn’t much left to prove in the regular season. Their number one focus is making sure they’re healthy for the playoffs. As a result, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they will be without multiple key players for their game against the Indiana Pacers on Easter.
Cleveland will be missing starting center Jarrett Allen for what the injury report labels as right knee injury management. Allen hurt his knee during the Cavs’ March 3 victory over the Detroit Pistons. This caused him to miss 10 games after the injury.
Allen has performed well after returning to the lineup for the team’s March 27 win over the Miami Heat. However, he is still paying through pain. Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor reported last week that Allen is still in pain and not quite 100%.
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Additionally, Evan Mobley will also be out due to left calf injury management. Being without both starting bigs will likely force Thomas Bryant into the lineup. It could also allow two-way forwards, Olivier Sarr and Riley Minix, some playing time with the team after the Cleveland Charge’s season concluded this past week.
The Cavaliers also won’t have the services of Sam Merrill. He’s been dealing with and playing through various injuries throughout the season. Merrill is being held out on Sunday with the designation of left hamstring injury management.
The Cavs will still be without Dean Wade (ankle) and Jaylon Tyson (toe). The team hasn’t released an update on those injuries since saying they both would be missing the team’s recent three-game road trip that wrapped up on Friday. We’ll likely get some sort of update from head coach Kenny Atkinson on their injuries before Sunday’s game.
The Pacers, meanwhile, will be down several key players. They will be without Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), Pascal Siakam (ankle), Johnny Furphy (ACL), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (back), Aaron Nesmith (neck), and Ivica Zubac (rib).
INDIANAPOLIS — Tarris Reed Jr. posted his third double-double of the NCAA Tournament and Connecticut beat Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four to advance to Monday night’s national championship game.
The No. 3 Huskies will meet the winner of the second national semifinal between No. 1 seeds Arizona and Michigan.
Reed had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Braylon Mullins had 15 points on 5 of 14 shooting and guard Silas Demary Jr. had 5 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Illinois guard Keaton Wagler posted a game-high 20 points with 8 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Tomislav Ivicic’s 16 points.
The Huskies went into halftime leading 37-29 behind the two-man game of Reed and Mullins, who posted a combined 23 points on 9 of 16 shooting. After making his only 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the Elite Eight win against Duke, Mullins went 3 of 5 from deep in the first half.
Illinois was led by Wagler, who had 10 points and 6 rebounds at the break. Wagler also committed the only two turnovers of the opening half by either team. UConn and Illinois shot a combined 24 of 63 at the break and were 10 of 32 from 3-point range.
The Huskies’ lead would grow to 13 points at 49-36 on a pair of Alex Karaban free throws five minutes into the second half. The Illini would get back within single digits at 49-40 with 12:56 to play but UConn answered with an 8-3 run capped by a Jaylin Stewart corner 3 to go in front 57-43 with 9:24 left.
Illinois would have another response. With UConn in foul trouble after picking up its 10th team foul with 8:03 remaining, the Illini made it 57-51 a minute later on a pair of Ivicic free throws and then 57-53 on an Andrej Stojakovic layup with five minutes to play.
After Wagler scored on a driving layup with 1:39 left to make it 63-59, Mullins would make a crucial 3 from the wing to put the Huskies in from 66-59 with 52 seconds to play. They’d make five of six from the line in the final 37 seconds to seal the win.
UConn is chasing its seventh national championship and third in four years after going back-to-back in 2023-24. A seventh title would break a tie with Duke and bump the Huskies into third in NCAA history behind UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight).
Another day, and it's yet another milestone evening for Pittsburgh Penguins' longtime captain Sidney Crosby.
And, with this one, he has managed to climb even further up the NHL's all-time scoring list.
With an assist on Evgeni Malkin's second-period power play goal - his 1,400th NHL point, making him the 23rd player to hit the mark - against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Crosby surpassed Detroit Red Wings great Steve Yzerman to take sole possession of seventh place on the NHL's all-time scoring list at 1,756. He tied Yzerman with a primary assist on Erik Karlsson's first-period power play goal.
Crosby, 38, has 28 goals and 69 points in 65 games so far this season.
Next up for Crosby is Marcel Dionne in sixth place, and he needs 15 points to tie him at 1,771. In addition, Crosby needs just one more point to clinch his 21st consecutive NHL season at point-per-game or higher to pad his own NHL record of 20. and he needs just two more points by the end of the 2025-26 regular season to clinch his NHL-record 21st consecutive point-per-game season.
Mar 30, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Mets Lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS
Bo Bichette – 3B
Jorge Polanco – DH
Brett Baty – RF
Mark Vientos – 1B
Jared Young – LF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Carson Benge – CF
Luis Torrens – C
Clay Holmes – RHP
Giants Lineup
Willy Adames – SS
Rafael Devers – DH
Heliot Ramos – LF
Luis Arraez – 2B
Matt Chapman – 3B
Jung Hoo Lee – RF
Harrison Bader – CF
Patrick Bailey – C
Jerar Encarnacion – 1B
Landen Roupp – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 9:05pm EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Darren Raddysh broke a tie with 5:31 left and Tampa Bay beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Saturday night, hours after the Lightning secured a playoff spot.
The Atlantic Division-leading Lightning wrapped up the Eastern Conference postseason position with Detroit's 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers in the afternoon. Boston holds the first wild-card spot in the East.
After assisting on defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous' tying goal at 2:13 of the third, Raddysh put the Lightning ahead with a sharp-angle shot past goalie Jeremy Swayman from the right side on a break.
Nikita Kucherov added his 42nd goal of the season into an empty net, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 21 saves to help the Lightning finish a seven-game homestand 5-1-1.
Casey Mittelstadt scored for Boston in the second. Swayman stopped 20 shots as the Bruins lost their second straight on a four-game trip. They lost 2-1 at Florida on Thursday night.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Manager Mark Kotsay #7 of the Athletics takes the ball from pitcher Luis Morales #19 taking Morales during a pitching change against the Houston Astros in the top of the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 04, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics’ second home game of 2026 was exactly the opposite of its first game. After the A’s blew out the Houston Astros 11-4 in yesterday’s series-opener, the Astros responded with a blowout win of their own, taking advantage of porous A’s pitching and defense to win 11-0.
Playing in front of a crowd full of A’s fans clad in the team’s new Sacramento jerseys, the hosts looked to make it two wins in a row.
Yet, from the first pitch, it became apparent that today was not the A’s day.
A’s starting pitcher Luis Morales hoped to bounce back from a rough first start against the Toronto Blue Jays. That did not happen as he actually pitched worse this afternoon. The visitors scored two runs in the top of the first to seize the early lead. Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai proceeded to get through his first inning unscathed. The inning ended on a double play combination with Imai striking out Tyler Soderstrom and catcher Christian Vázquez throwing out Nick Kurtz trying to steal second base.
Morales escaped a bases-loaded jam unscathed the next inning. Unfortunately, he was not as lucky in the third. Astros first baseman Christian Walker led off with a solo home run to left field. Later that inning, the A’s defense came back to bite them. Third baseman Max Muncy let a grounder off the bat of an Astros player get by him into left field for the second straight inning. Then, left fielder Soderstrom lost a fly ball in the sun; the baseball found grass for an RBI double rather than his mitt for the third out. Both looked like errors but were ruled base hits.
Tyler Soderstrom lost the inning-ending fly ball in the Sacramento sun. Ruled a double and a run comes into score. Pretty brutal. #Athleticspic.twitter.com/lhI2h08Det
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay finally removed Morales after he walked the first batter of the fourth inning. He allowed five runs on eight hits and walked six while recording zero strikeouts, an outing that should earn Morales a demotion to the bullpen or Triple-A Las Vegas to work on throwing strikes and limiting hard contact.
The A’s relievers who succeeded Morales did not fare much better. Right-hander Elvis Alvarado, who replaced Morales in the fourth inning, allowed the Astros to score three more runs that frame. He pitched a scoreless second inning before left-hander Hogan Harris gave up three runs on four hits in the sixth inning.
Looking at the A’s team pitching stats, one would think that this was a Cactus League or minor league game. A’s pitchers allowed 11 runs, 18 hits and 13 walks, the latter the most since they walked 17 batters in a 2023 game against the New York Mets. Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez drew walks his first four plate appearances. The Astros finished seven-for-22 with runners in scoring position, left 17 runners on base and would have scored more had they not grounded into four double plays.
While the Astros enjoyed endless base runners and scoring chances, the Athletics offense went silent, a stark contrast to what happened last night. Imai showcased the ability that made him a multi-time All-Star in Japan, recording nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
The A’s ended the game with the same number of strikeouts on offense as walks allowed by their pitchers. Muncy had two of the A’s five hits, all of them singles. The A’s had limited scoring opportunities. Looking for an immediate answer after going down four, the team had two on with two out in the bottom of the third inning, but Imai struck out catcher Shea Langeliers to end that threat. In the sixth inning, Astros reliever Kai-Wei Teng got A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson to ground out to end the inning and strand two runners in scoring position.
Now that each team has blown out the other, tomorrow afternoon’s Easter Sunday contest will be the rubber-game with the victor winning the weekend series between these two division rivals. Left-hander Jacob Lopez will toe the rubber for the A’s, looking to pitch a bit more efficiently and further into the game in his second start of the season. He will be opposed by longtime Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball in his first start of the season.
It should be a good matchup tomorrow. Hopefully the Athletics can emerge victorious to win their first series of the season!
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 31: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns controls the ball during the second half of the game against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on March 31, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Suns 115 to 111. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The clock is bleeding out, each second slipping through your fingers like sand you swore you had a grip on a moment ago. The arena hums with that low, anxious energy that lives somewhere between hope and dread. Under 30 seconds with the score tight, down by three points or less, and every possession suddenly feels like it carries the weight of a season. Maybe more.
You can feel it in your chest now. That tightening, that anticipation. The kind that makes every dribble echo a little louder, every pass hang in the air a fraction too long. This is where everything slows down and speeds up at the same time. Where the noise fades and somehow gets louder, where thousands of eyes lock onto one simple question that refuses to blink.
Who takes the shot?
Who do you hand the moment to, knowing it might define the night, the week, the narrative that follows this team around like a shadow? Who do you trust to step into that space? Who can absorb all of it — the pressure, the doubt, the expectations — and turn it into something clean, something decisive, something that snaps the net and silences everything for a heartbeat?
This is the currency of greatness. It’s the place where reputations are built possession by possession. It’s where stars start to feel different, heavier, and more permanent. Because anyone can play when the game is loose, and this is where it suffocates. This is where you find out who wants it, who demands it, who takes that final dribble, rises, and doesn’t flinch.
For the Phoenix Suns, it’s Devin Booker. That’s the reality. That’s the investment. That’s the expectation. You are paying him $53.1 million to be the guy in those moments. And for me, despite the noise and the recent misses, he is still the one I trust with the ball in his hands on this roster.
Because he has been there. Because he has delivered before. Because he understands the weight of those possessions.
When you zoom out and look at the numbers, it tells part of the story. In situations where Phoenix is trailing by three or fewer in the final 30 seconds this season, Booker has taken that shot nine times this season. He is 3-of-9 from the field, 1-of-5 from deep, and has not turned the ball over once.
It is not perfect. It is not dominant. But it is controlled and composed. It’s like Colonel Nathan R. Jessup says, “You want me on that wall. You need me on that wall”. Booker has no issue being on that wall for the Suns. When the game tightens, when the possession matters most, the Suns know exactly where they are going. And Book is willing to take shots that not everyone can or should.
Yeah, Devin Booker has struggled in the clutch over the past couple of months, and that mirrors what the Phoenix Suns have been as a whole. Devin Booker is the engine that drives everything they do. When it stalls, the whole thing feels it. So you look for answers, you run through the numbers, you try to make sense of what you’re seeing in real time.
And sometimes, you don’t like what you find.
Devin Booker in the clutch since February 1:
❄️1-8 record ❄️25 FG% ❄️-45 +/- ❄️0.6 AST:TO Ratio ❄️-53 Net Rating ❄️22.6 TO% 😲34.6 Usage % pic.twitter.com/gGQL3m5pi2
So it got me thinking about something I always come back to. ‘Price for value paid’. What are you paying for, and what are you getting in return when the moments matter most? That led me down a path with Devin Booker and how he stacks up against the top-paid players in the league in these exact situations. Not only this season, but across their careers. Because nobody earns $53.1 million based on one season. You earn it through years of production, through moments, through a body of work that tells you who a player is when the game tightens.
So I started digging. Looking at the top 15 players by salary this season and asking a simple question: What have they done in the final 30 seconds of games when their team is down three or fewer? Not in a vacuum, not based on a few recent misses, but across the entirety of their careers.
Because perspective matters.
We live inside the Phoenix Suns bubble. I know what it feels like when Booker takes that shot because I have seen it over and over again. But I do not watch every Kawhi Leonard game. I am not tracking every late-game possession for Jimmy Butler. I cannot sit here and tell you off the top of my head how Joel Embiid has performed in that exact scenario throughout his career.
So the question becomes, is what we are feeling in Phoenix unique? Or is it something that exists across the league, something that only feels different because we are living inside it every night?
That is what this exercise is about. Stepping outside the emotion, stepping outside the moment, and trying to find where Booker actually sits when you stack him up against his peers in the situations that define reputations.
Who takes those shots? How often? And how often do they actually come through?
#
PLAYER
SALARY
FG%
3PT%
1
Stephen Curry
$59,606,817
34.1%
26.5%
2
Joel Embiid
$55,224,526
23.9%
16.7%
3
Nikola Jokic
$55,224,526
41.6%
16.7%
4
Kevin Durant
$54,708,609
31.3%
31.6%
5
Giannis Antetokounmpo
$54,126,450
38.6%
20.0%
6
Jimmy Butler
$54,126,450
25.9%
16.7%
7
Anthony Davis
$54,126,450
47.8%
9.1%
8
Jayson Tatum
$54,126,450
42.1%
33.3%
9
Devin Booker
$53,142,264
30.4%
17.9%
10
Jaylen Brown
$53,142,264
42.9%
35.7%
11
Karl-Anthony Towns
$53,142,264
27.3%
21.4%
12
LeBron James
$52,627,153
33.4%
12.3%
13
Paul George
$51,666,090
21.9%
18.8%
14
Kawhi Leonard
$50,000,000
32.8%
11.1%
15
Zach LaVine
$47,499,660
30.5%
32.0%
A couple of things pop right away. Players like Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic tend to thrive in these spots, and a lot of that comes down to how they get their looks. They live inside. They operate closer to the rim. Their shots are naturally at a higher percentage because of where they are coming from.
Davis is a perfect example. He is sitting at 47.8% from the field in these situations, which leads the group, but he is near the bottom in three-point percentage. Why? Because he is not living out there. Over the course of his career, he has taken very few threes in those moments. He’s 1-of-11 from deep, so when he does launch late three-balls, they are often late clock situations, broken plays, or end-of-possession heaves rather than something designed. That is the difference. It is not always about who is clutch and who is not. It is about where the shots come from, how they are created, and what kind of looks each player is able to generate when everything tightens.
But I know where your eyes went. They went straight to Devin Booker, the ninth-highest-paid player in the league, and what he has done in those moments across his career. Let’s expand the Booker numbers through his career, knowing that he did not have any experience in these situations during his rookie season.
Year
Age
GP
W
L
Min
PTS
FGM
FGA
FG%
3PM
3PA
3P%
FTM
FTA
FT%
OREB
DREB
REB
AST
TOV
STL
BLK
PF
+/-
2015-16
19
13
3
10
3.7
5
2
5
40
0
0
0
1
2
50
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
3
-10
2016-17
20
19
6
13
10.4
11
4
12
33.3
1
6
16.7
2
3
66.7
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
-1
2017-18
21
10
2
8
3.9
6
1
4
25
1
1
100
3
3
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
-6
2018-19
22
16
5
11
8
12
4
10
40
0
5
0
4
5
80
1
0
1
1
1
2
0
1
7
2019-20
23
13
3
10
5.3
7
2
6
33.3
1
4
25
2
2
100
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
-8
2020-21
24
15
6
9
7.4
10
2
11
18.2
1
6
16.7
5
5
100
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
3
-5
2021-22
25
5
1
4
2.7
5
2
6
33.3
1
4
25
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
-2
2022-23
26
9
2
7
4.7
2
1
7
14.3
0
2
0
0
1
0
2
0
2
0
1
0
0
1
-6
2023-24
27
14
5
9
5.7
7
2
5
40
1
4
25
2
2
100
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
2
-2
2024-25
28
11
4
7
4.6
5
1
4
25
0
2
0
3
4
75
1
0
1
2
0
0
0
1
1
2025-26
29
15
2
13
7
10
3
9
33.3
1
5
20
3
4
75
2
1
3
1
0
0
0
1
-12
TOTAL
140
39
101
63.4
80
24
79
0.304
7
39
0.179
25
31
746.7
8
3
11
7
4
2
0
18
-44
The numbers are what they are. 30.4% from the field, 19.7% from deep, 24-of-79 overall, 7-of-39 from three. That is not dominant. That is not elite efficiency. But there is context inside those numbers that matters. Over an 11-year career in those exact situations, he has only four turnovers. That tells you something. Despite recent narratives, in these specific situations, there is control and composure. He is getting shots up, not giving possessions away.
So, where does that place him? Around the middle of the pack relative to his peers. Not at the top, not at the bottom, right in that range where most players live when the pressure is at its highest.
And that is where the perspective shifts. Because these shots are hard. They are contested, predictable, and heavily scouted. Everyone in the building knows who is taking it. If you are converting around 30% of the time in those spots, you are not failing; you are operating within the reality of what those moments are.
Look at Dillon Brooks this season. Five attempts, one make, 20%, with two turnovers mixed in. That is the other side of it. That is what it can look like when you move away from your primary option.
And even when you expand it to this season across the league, Booker is still right there.
Book is tied for seventh in makes in those situations alongside Kevin Durant. Durant has three makes as well, but on 12 attempts, 25%, with a turnover. Go back to his time in Phoenix, and Durant was 7-of-18, 38.9%, 4-of-10 from three. Booker sat at 3-of-9, right where he is now.
So what does it all mean? It means the frustration is real, but the expectation might be off. These are not high percentage shots. They are not supposed to be. And when you stack Booker against the rest of the league in these moments, he does not stand out as a problem. He looks like most stars do when the game tightens and everything gets harder.
So what is the takeaway here? For me, it is an exercise in relativity.
Because we live inside the Phoenix Suns experience. We watch Devin Booker every night, we feel every miss, and we react to every outcome. When he does not deliver in those moments, the question immediately becomes whether the price matches the production. Based on what the numbers say, and more importantly, how they compare across the league, the answer is “yes”. He is properly compensated for what he is in this specific scenario. He is the guy you want taking that shot. And he is not alone in the reality that those shots do not always fall.
There are outliers. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been exceptional in those moments. Nikola Jokic sits in a different space entirely, a +82 in plus/minus in those situations across his career. That is what a true superstar looks like when the game tightens.
Booker is not that. He is not a superstar. He is a star. And that distinction matters, even if it is uncomfortable to say out loud. There is a ceiling there, both for him and potentially for what this team can ultimately become with him as the centerpiece. But being a star still places you among the top-tier players in the league. It still makes you the best option your team has when everything is on the line.
The frustration is real, and it likely comes from the belief that he can live in that superstar tier consistently, something he touched in 2022. The reality is that very few players sustain that level year after year. Five, maybe seven across the entire league. That means more than 20 teams are operating without one, and trying to figure it out the same way Phoenix is. That is not a Suns problem. That is an NBA reality.
So you take the data, you take the context, and you understand where things actually sit. Not where emotion tells you they are, but where they truly fall when you stack them against the rest of the league.
Sometimes it is worth diving into the numbers on a Saturday and letting them tell part of the story. That story is that in the moments that tighten everything, you are not chasing perfection. You are choosing who carries the weight. Devin Booker carries it. Not flawlessly, not always successfully, but willingly, repeatedly, and with control. That is the job. That is the value. And that is why the ball still finds him.
