Curry nearly leads Warriors to shocking comeback against Rockets in return

Reed Sheppard kicking a pass by Stephen Curry while Capela watches during an NBA game.
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, left, kicks a pass by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026,...

SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry was triumphant in his long-awaited return to the court and, against all odds, nearly were the Warriors.

There was a renewed energy inside Chase Center on Sunday night, a buzz that had mostly been absent since Curry went out more than two months ago, that reached an apex in the final minute of 117-116 loss to Kevin Durant and the Rockets.

The defeat could have dealt a cold dose of reality on Curry’s big day, but instead it only emphasized what hadn’t been possible in the Warriors’ 27 games without him since Jan. 30.

Golden State trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half and was still behind by double digits with as little as 4:51 remaining. Curry scored eight of his team-best 29 points from then on.

Curry converted a driving layup to cut the Rockets’ lead to a 112-111 with 87 seconds to play, then one-upped himself by pulling up from 32 feet and draining an answer to Houston’s 3-point play on the other end. With 11 seconds left, Curry had the ball in his hands, down one.

He crossed over and pulled up from the top of the key. It wasn’t to be.

The return of Curry wasn’t enough to overcome the Warriors’ defensive deficiencies. AP
Curry scored 29 points in 26 minutes. AP

But the performance was an encouraging sign for the Warriors’ prospects, given that Curry’s scoring total in 26 minutes off the bench trailed only Durant’s 31 that required 37 minutes.

The supporting cast that had gone 9-18 without Curry over the past two months didn’t do enough to pull out their first game with their north star back on the floor.

Kristaps Porzingis fouled out with more than 10 minutes left in the game, Brandin Podziemski scored only three of his 18 points in the second half, and the Warriors’ next-leading scorer, Gui Santos, was completely shut out after putting up 15 in the first half.

What it means

Curry looked like himself and finished the game in good health. For a Warriors team locked into the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, that’s all that really mattered.

Turning point

It was a two-point game at halftime, but Durant completed a four-point play on the Rockets’ first possession of the third quarter, and the Warriors spent the rest of the second half trying to get it back to that margin.

The foul on Durant came courtesy of Kristaps Porzingis, who went on to pick up three more within the first four minutes of the second half and fouled out for good with 10:13 to play.

Not only did Porzingis’ foul trouble keep the Warriors’ second-best player off the floor for most of the second half, it robbed coach Steve Kerr of valuable time to assess his pairing with Curry.

The duo’s limited action Sunday was their first time ever sharing the court, including in practice.

Porzingis’ foul trouble robbed Coach Steve Kerr of valuable time to assess his pairing with Curry. AP

MVP: Kevin Durant

Durant finished with eight rebounds and eight assists to go with a game-high 31 points. He drained his third 3-pointer of the night immediately after De’Anthony Melton sank a 3 that cut the Rockets’ lead to 109-107.

Golden State hosts the Lakers on Thursday. Curry will reportedly be limited to around 25 minutes. AP

Stat of the game: 55/44.8/84.2

The return of Curry wasn’t enough to overcome the Warriors’ defensive deficiencies.

Golden State provided little resistance to the Rockets, who were only prevented from a vaunted 50/40/90 shooting split by missing one too many of their 19 free-throw attempts.

Up next

With four games left on the Warriors’ schedule, all that’s left to be determined is how much Curry will play leading into their No. 9/10 play-in matchup. Golden State hosts the Kings on Tuesday before LeBron James and the Lakers pay a visit Thursday for its final home contest of the regular season.


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These four Rangers making most of opportunity to carve spot early in NHL careers

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Adam Sykora #38 of the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in New York, NY. , Image 2 shows New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand (#33) defends the net against Winnipeg Jets player Kyle Connor (#81), Image 3 shows Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson #29 scores the game winning goal during the overtime. The New York Rangers defeat Boston Bruins 4-3

The Rangers’ top two 2023 draft picks made an impact almost instantly upon joining the team.

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tRY IT NOW

Gabe Perreault figures out his game with every shift, culminating in his first hat trick Saturday against the Red Wings to reach 25 points in 49 NHL games.

Pearl River native Drew Fortescue and his homecoming for his debut provided one of the more feel-good moments of this lost 2025-26 season.

In the grand scheme of this evaluation period for the organization, however, the prospects who have been longing for their moment are making up for lost time with the Blueshirts. Each day is an opportunity for Matthew Robertson, Jaroslav Chmelar, Adam Sykora and Dylan Garand to finally work on carving their path at the NHL level — and they have each treated it as such.

After years stewing in the American Hockey League, the four have made notable impressions.

Sykora may be the most recent recall from the organization’s AHL affiliate, but the 21-year-old has arguably made the most lasting impression in the shortest amount of time. The 63rd overall pick in 2022 was in the midst of his third full season in Hartford when the Rangers called.

Adam Sykora #38 of the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in New York, NY. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

He has everyone rooting for him. No one’s demeanor has been more infectious.

Scoring again in Sunday’s 8-1 win over the Capitals, Sykora now has three goals and an assist through his first seven games.

His best buddy and Hartford roommate, Chmelar, has been in Hartford since making the jump from Providence College in 2023-24. Since the 144th overall pick in 2021 earned brief recalls in November and December, the 22-year-old has adjusted to the speed of the NHL and been much more effective in his fourth-line role.

It’s allowed Chmelar to position himself in the dangerous areas of the ice more, which has led to more offense. He earned the secondary assist on Sykora’s second-period score Sunday.

Between his 6-foot-4, 226-pound frame and his commitment to finishing checks, Chmelar hasn’t looked out of place on the ice.

Robertson has been with the Rangers since opening night, but he didn’t become a serviceable every-night defenseman until mid-November. The 2019 49th overall pick spent the previous four full seasons in Hartford without a call-up until the second-to-last game last season.

Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson #29 scores the game winning goal during the overtime. The New York Rangers defeat Boston Bruins 4-3. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Now, Robertson has appeared in 59 of the last 60 games. He’s even gotten top four minutes at times, logging the fifth-most ice time among all Rangers defensemen so far this season.

There’s no question Garand earned at least one more game after his first two NHL performances. He is 1-0-1 with a .954 save percentage and a 1.44 goals-against average.

The early numbers are encouraging, but head coach Mike Sullivan said he felt completely comfortable with Garand between the pipes just based on what he was seeing from the rookie netminder.



Selected 103rd overall in 2020, Garand made his Wolf Pack debut in 2020-21 and was in the midst of his fourth full AHL season at the time of his recall last month. The Rangers have continuously maintained third-string goalies over the years — such as Louis Domingue and Keith Kinkaid — that have filled in whenever Igor Shesterkin and/or whichever backup was injured.

Even this season, the Rangers signed Spencer Martin out of the Kontinental Hockey League in November. He appeared in six games for the Rangers this season amid injuries to Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick.

But it was finally time for Garand, who expressed just how much he’s been clamoring for the opportunity after his first win on March 27.

Dylan Garand #33 of the New York Rangers defends the net during the second period when the New York Rangers played the Winnipeg Jets. Robert Sabo for NY Post

While Noah Laba could be considered among the long-awaited prospects, the 111th pick in the 2022 draft essentially jumped from college to the NHL. He played 11 games for the Wolf Pack at the end of the 2024-25 campaign before making the Rangers lineup straight out of training camp.

In Sunday’s win, Laba was a goal shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick after notching an assist on Sykora’s goal and dropping the gloves with Washington’s Hendrix Lapierre.

Laba hasn’t spent extended time in the minor leagues like Robertson, Chmelar, Sykora and Garand have.

Those four have made the extended wait worthwhile.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300: Mike Trout climbs while Gunnar Henderson, Edwin Díaz lose ground

Here's our rest-of-season Top 300. Expect this space to be updated every Monday. Players are ranked for 5x5 mixed leagues using a one-catcher format. I include the mixed-league disclaimer because I do reward upside, particularly past the top 200 or so.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason and much more.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300 overall ranks

**Updated April 20**

Apr. 20Top 300TeamPosPos RkApr. 13
1 Aaron Judge Yankees OF 1 1
2 Shohei Ohtani Dodgers DH 1 2
3 Bobby Witt Jr. Royals SS 1 3
4 Ronald Acuna Jr. Braves OF 2 4
5 Jose Ramirez Guardians 3B 1 7
6 Corbin Carroll Diamondbacks OF 3 5
7 Tarik Skubal Tigers SP 1 6
8 Juan Soto Mets OF 4 8
9 Julio Rodriguez Mariners OF 5 9
10 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays 1B 1 10
11 Kyle Tucker Dodgers OF 6 11
12 Paul Skenes Pirates SP 2 13
13 Elly De La Cruz Reds SS 2 14
14 Gunnar Henderson Orioles SS 3 12
15 Fernando Tatis Jr. Padres OF 7 15
16 Yordan Alvarez Astros OF 8 17
17 Pete Alonso Orioles 1B 2 16
18 Zach Neto Angels SS 4 18
19 Kyle Schwarber Phillies DH 2 19
20 Nick Kurtz Athletics 1B 3 20
21 Logan Gilbert Mariners SP 3 22
22 Garrett Crochet Red Sox SP 4 21
23 Trea Turner Phillies SS 5 23
24 Junior Caminero Rays 3B 2 24
25 Cristopher Sanchez Phillies SP 5 26
26 Ketel Marte Diamondbacks 2B 1 27
27 Yoshinobu Yamamoto Dodgers SP 6 28
28 James Wood Nationals OF 9 31
29 Jackson Chourio Brewers OF 10 30
30 Brice Turang Brewers 2B 2 25
31 Francisco Lindor Mets SS 6 29
32 Michael Harris II Braves OF 11 32
33 Austin Riley Braves 3B 3 33
34 Bryan Woo Mariners SP 7 34
35 Mason Miller Padres RP 1 36
36 Freddie Freeman Dodgers 1B 4 35
37 CJ Abrams Nationals SS 7 40
38 Bryce Harper Phillies 1B 5 38
39 Sal Stewart Reds 1B 6 43
40 Pete Crow-Armstrong Cubs OF 12 37
41 Jazz Chisholm Jr. Yankees 2B 3 41
42 Max Fried Yankees SP 8 42
43 Oneil Cruz Pirates OF 13 45
44 Cal Raleigh Mariners C 1 39
45 George Kirby Mariners SP 9 47
46 Maikel Garcia Royals 3B 4 44
47 Jacob deGrom Rangers SP 10 50
48 Roman Anthony Red Sox OF 14 49
49 Cody Bellinger Yankees OF 15 51
50 Manny Machado Padres 3B 5 46
51 Jackson Merrill Padres OF 16 52
52 Chris Sale Braves SP 11 53
53 Shohei Ohtani Dodgers SP 12 55
54 Jarren Duran Red Sox OF 17 48
55 Cade Smith Guardians RP 2 56
56 Wyatt Langford Rangers OF 18 54
57 Framber Valdez Tigers SP 13 58
58 Matt Olson Braves 1B 7 64
59 Aroldis Chapman Red Sox RP 3 62
60 Devin Williams Mets RP 4 57
61 Joe Ryan Twins SP 14 63
62 Ben Rice Yankees C 2 67
63 Dylan Cease Blue Jays SP 15 65
64 Luis Robert Jr. Mets OF 19 60
65 Andres Munoz Mariners RP 5 66
66 Corey Seager Rangers SS 8 70
67 George Springer Blue Jays OF 20 79
68 Jacob Misiorowski Brewers SP 16 73
69 Mike Trout Angels OF 21 92
70 Tyler Soderstrom Athletics 1B 8 72
71 Geraldo Perdomo Diamondbacks SS 9 68
72 Bo Bichette Mets SS 10 71
73 Riley Greene Tigers OF 22 74
74 Jose Altuve Astros 2B 4 75
75 Ivan Herrera Cardinals C 3 82
76 Nico Hoerner Cubs 2B 5 85
77 Seiya Suzuki Cubs OF 23 78
78 Logan Webb Giants SP 17 76
79 Bryan Reynolds Pirates OF 24 94
80 Nolan McLean Mets SP 18 93
81 Xavier Edwards Marlins SS 11 87
82 Drew Rasmussen Rays SP 19 88
83 Byron Buxton Twins OF 25 91
84 Jhoan Duran Phillies RP 6 61
85 Jeremy Pena Astros SS 12 77
86 Vinnie Pasquantino Royals 1B 9 86
87 Rafael Devers Giants 1B 10 83
88 Jesus Luzardo Phillies SP 20 96
89 Josh Naylor Mariners 1B 11 81
90 Kyle Stowers Marlins OF 26 98
91 Luke Keaschall Twins 2B 6 89
92 David Bednar Yankees RP 7 109
93 Drake Baldwin Braves C 4 101
94 Cole Ragans Royals SP 21 69
95 Shea Langeliers Athletics C 5 97
96 Edwin Diaz Dodgers RP 8 59
97 Jo Adell Angels OF 27 99
98 Andy Pages Dodgers OF 28 103
99 Kyle Bradish Orioles SP 22 108
100 Jeff Hoffman Blue Jays RP 9 80
101 Eury Perez Marlins SP 23 95
102 Alec Burleson Cardinals 1B 12 106
103 Brandon Nimmo Rangers OF 29 107
104 Sonny Gray Red Sox SP 24 84
105 Ryan Helsley Orioles RP 10 104
106 Gerrit Cole Yankees SP 25 110
107 Mookie Betts Dodgers SS 13 118
108 Zack Wheeler Phillies SP 26 100
109 Willson Contreras Red Sox 1B 13 111
110 Cam Schlittler Yankees SP 27 114
111 Blake Snell Dodgers SP 28 113
112 Kevin Gausman Blue Jays SP 29 117
113 Josh Hader Astros RP 11 102
114 Teoscar Hernandez Dodgers OF 30 115
115 Matt McLain Reds 2B 7 112
116 Brent Rooker Athletics OF 31 119
117 Konnor Griffin Pirates SS 14 122
118 William Contreras Brewers C 6 121
119 Raisel Iglesias Braves RP 12 116
120 Daylen Lile Nationals OF 32 124
121 Salvador Perez Royals C 7 105
122 Yandy Diaz Rays 1B 14 127
123 MacKenzie Gore Rangers SP 30 125
124 Freddy Peralta Mets SP 31 130
125 Kenley Jansen Tigers RP 13 131
126 Shota Imanaga Cubs SP 32 137
127 Daulton Varsho Blue Jays OF 33 123
128 Jordan Walker Cardinals OF 34 129
129 Tyler Glasnow Dodgers SP 33 135
130 Ceddanne Rafaela Red Sox 2B 8 126
131 Brandon Woodruff Brewers SP 34 132
132 Eugenio Suarez Reds 3B 6 134
133 Gavin Williams Guardians SP 35 156
134 Alex Bregman Cubs 3B 7 138
135 Jackson Holliday Orioles 2B 9 128
136 Ranger Suarez Red Sox SP 36 139
137 Daniel Palencia Cubs RP 14 90
138 Chandler Simpson Rays OF 35 140
139 Trevor Story Red Sox SS 15 154
140 Jacob Wilson Athletics SS 16 133
141 Kevin McGonigle Tigers SS 17 167
142 Tanner Bibee Guardians SP 37 143
143 Pete Fairbanks Marlins RP 15 147
144 Wilyer Abreu Red Sox OF 36 144
145 Nathan Eovaldi Rangers SP 38 145
146 Agustin Ramirez Marlins C 8 142
147 Chase Burns Reds SP 39 150
148 Michael Busch Cubs 1B 15 136
149 Ian Happ Cubs OF 37 152
150 JJ Wetherholt Cardinals SS 18 161
151 Adolis Garcia Phillies OF 38 155
152 Christian Yelich Brewers OF 39 120
153 Hunter Goodman Rockies C 9 158
154 Ezequiel Tovar Rockies SS 19 153
155 Randy Arozarena Mariners OF 40 165
156 Willy Adames Giants SS 20 159
157 Griffin Jax Rays RP 16 141
158 Otto Lopez Marlins SS 21 180
159 Taylor Ward Orioles OF 41 166
160 Hunter Brown Astros SP 40 170
161 Emilio Pagan Reds RP 17 162
162 Bryson Stott Phillies 2B 10 163
163 Bryce Miller Mariners SP 41 177
164 Caleb Durbin Red Sox 3B 8 160
165 Dansby Swanson Cubs SS 22 183
166 Jakob Marsee Marlins OF 42 157
167 Alec Bohm Phillies 3B 9 146
168 Sandy Alcantara Marlins SP 42 168
169 Abner Uribe Brewers RP 18 212
170 Munetaka Murakami White Sox 3B 10 179
171 Luis Garcia Jr. Nationals 2B 11 169
172 Tommy Edman Dodgers 2B 12 176
173 Garrett Mitchell Brewers OF 43 174
174 Shane McClanahan Rays SP 43 172
175 Riley O’Brien Cardinals RP 19 190
176 Ramon Laureano Padres OF 44 217
177 Christian Walker Astros 1B 16 186
178 Braxton Ashcraft Pirates SP 44 199
179 Brenton Doyle Rockies OF 45 171
180 Matthew Boyd Cubs SP 45 195
181 Steven Kwan Guardians OF 46 184
182 Edward Cabrera Cubs SP 46 182
183 Trey Yesavage Blue Jays SP 47 193
184 Gleyber Torres Tigers 2B 13 181
185 Jung Hoo Lee Giants OF 47 187
186 Michael King Padres SP 48 185
187 Xander Bogaerts Padres SS 23 196
188 Jonathan Aranda Rays 1B 17 188
189 Kodai Senga Mets SP 49 178
190 Nolan Schanuel Angels 1B 18 189
191 Carlos Rodon Yankees SP 50 197
192 Jorge Polanco Mets 2B 14 148
193 Brendan Donovan Mariners 2B 15 191
194 Randy Vasquez Padres SP 51 192
195 Kerry Carpenter Tigers OF 48 175
196 Cam Smith Astros OF 49 250
197 Jose Soriano Angels SP 52 270
198 Matt Chapman Giants 3B 11 198
199 Trent Grisham Yankees OF 50 202
200 Dylan Crews Nationals OF 51 201
201 Hunter Greene Reds SP 53 206
202 Colson Montgomery White Sox SS 24 200
203 Trevor Megill Brewers RP 20 151
204 Max Muncy Dodgers 3B 12 204
205 Parker Messick Guardians SP 54 229
206 Will Smith Dodgers C 10 194
207 Brandon Lowe Pirates 2B 16 210
208 Bubba Chandler Pirates SP 55 205
209 Dillon Dingler Tigers C 11 257
210 Isaac Paredes Astros 3B 13 203
211 Anthony Volpe Yankees SS 25 213
212 Luis Arraez Giants 1B 19 211
213 Addison Barger Blue Jays 3B 14 209
214 Emmet Sheehan Dodgers SP 56 207
215 Colt Keith Tigers 2B 17 214
216 Seranthony Dominguez White Sox RP 21 164
217 Nick Lodolo Reds SP 57 226
218 Josh Lowe Angels OF 52 208
219 Andres Gimenez Blue Jays 2B 18 225
220 Miguel Vargas White Sox 3B 15 220
221 Kris Bubic Royals SP 58 223
222 Spencer Torkelson Tigers 1B 20 219
223 Mickey Moniak Rockies OF 53 224
224 Josh Bell Twins 1B 21 227
225 Lawrence Butler Athletics OF 54 221
226 Spencer Schwellenbach Braves SP 59 231
227 Kazuma Okamoto Blue Jays 3B 16 218
228 Reynaldo Lopez Braves SP 60 238
229 Heliot Ramos Giants OF 55 233
230 Justin Steele Cubs SP 61 236
231 Jorge Soler Angels OF 56 230
232 Shane Bieber Blue Jays SP 62 237
233 Giancarlo Stanton Yankees OF 57 228
234 Ozzie Albies Braves 2B 19 239
235 Brett Baty Mets 2B 20 216
236 Ryan O’Hearn Pirates 1B 22 251
237 Evan Carter Rangers OF 58 248
238 Spencer Strider Braves SP 63 243
239 Jameson Taillon Cubs SP 64 234
240 Jeff McNeil Athletics 2B 21 269
241 Dennis Santana Pirates RP 22 222
242 Jake Burger Rangers 1B 23 244
243 Brandon Marsh Phillies OF 59 249
244 Josh Jung Rangers 3B 17 266
245 Nick Martinez Rays SP 65 246
246 Carlos Correa Astros SS 26 247
247 Ernie Clement Blue Jays SS 27 241
248 Jesus Sanchez Blue Jays OF 60 252
249 Jordan Westburg Orioles 3B 18 253
250 Reid Detmers Angels SP 66 242
251 Sal Frelick Brewers OF 61 259
252 Trevor Rogers Orioles SP 67 264
253 Royce Lewis Twins 3B 19 265
254 Luis Castillo Mariners SP 68 240
255 Masyn Winn Cardinals SS 28 255
256 Chase DeLauter Guardians OF 62 256
257 Taj Bradley Twins SP 69 263
258 Jordan Beck Rockies OF 63 245
259 Shane Baz Orioles SP 70 254
260 Matt Wallner Twins OF 64 235
261 Merrill Kelly Diamondbacks SP 71 260
262 Gabriel Moreno Diamondbacks C 12 277
263 Clay Holmes Mets SP 72 262
264 Spencer Steer Reds 1B 24 282
265 Lucas Erceg Royals RP 23 232
266 Caleb Kilian Giants RP 24 272
267 Marcell Ozuna Pirates DH 3 278
268 Jake Bauers Brewers 1B 25 NR
269 Francisco Alvarez Mets C 13 275
270 Dylan Beavers Orioles OF 65 280
271 Chad Patrick Brewers SP 73 283
272 Paul Sewald Diamondbacks RP 25 285
273 Sam Antonacci White Sox 2B 22 NR
274 Carson Benge Mets OF 66 274
275 Michael Wacha Royals SP 74 288
276 Andrew Painter Phillies SP 75 284
277 Willi Castro Rockies 2B 23 273
278 Robbie Ray Giants SP 76 286
279 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Diamondbacks OF 67 NR
280 Bryan Baker Rays RP 26 NR
281 Marcus Semien Mets 2B 24 271
282 Ryan Weathers Yankees SP 77 281
283 Joey Cantillo Guardians SP 78 290
284 Ryan Walker Giants RP 27 261
285 Noelvi Marte Reds 3B 20 173
286 Emerson Hancock Mariners SP 79 NR
287 Luke Raley Mariners 1B 26 NR
288 Kyle Harrison Brewers SP 80 276
289 Jac Caglianone Royals OF 68 291
290 Dominic Smith Braves 1B 27 NR
291 Justin Crawford Phillies OF 69 267
292 Joel Kuhnel Athletics RP 28 NR
293 Carmen Mlodzinski Pirates SP 81 NR
294 Will Warren Yankees SP 82 NR
295 Jordan Romano Angels RP 29 258
296 TJ Friedl Reds OF 70 279
297 Adley Rutschman Orioles C 14 NR
298 Louis Varland Blue Jays RP 30 NR
299 Seth Lugo Royals SP 83 NR
300 Cole Winn Rangers RP 31 299

April 20 Notes

Falling off: Nick Pivetta (149th), Ryan Pepiot (215th), Yainer Diaz (268th), Clayton Beeter (287th), Angel Martinez (289th), Owen Caissie (292nd), Colton Cowser (293rd), Jack Leiter (294th), Dominic Canzone (295th), Zac Gallen (296th), David Hamilton (298th), Logan Henderson (300th)

- Although he's been plenty valuable so far with his seven homers and four steals, Gunnar Henderson's start has been a little discouraging, particularly in that his strikeout rate is up to 29 percent. He was at 22 percent and 21 percent the last two years. His average bat speed is down one mph for the second straight year, and his swing has actually gotten a tad longer in the process, which could explain the weaker contract numbers. He's still very much on track to provide second-round value, but I did drop him from 12th to 14th this week.

- The injury risk is still probably off the charts, especially now that he's regularly patrolling center field again, but Mike Trout moves up 23 spots to No. 69 this week. That he's managed to turn around his strikeout rate like this is incredible. Last year, Trout fanned 32 percent of the time in his 556 plate appearances. At that rate, he could have challenged the single-season record had he stayed completely healthy (700 plate appearances with a 32 percent strikeout rate would have given him 224, one more than Mark Reynolds' MLB record of 223). Right now, he's at 18.6 percent, even though he's seeing as many pitches as ever (his walk rate is 22.5 percent). He's still hitting just .234, but he has an xBA of .289. He's tied for the MLB lead with 15 barrels, and only Yordan Alvarez has a higher xwOBA. The IL will come calling at some point, but he probably ought to be viewed as a top-30 player for now.

- That the Cubs have dropped Pete Crow-Armstrong to the eighth spot in their lineup makes me think I should lower him further here. Still, his start has been quite a bit more encouraging than his .222/.276/.309 line suggests. Both his bat speed and his exit velocity numbers are improved from last year, with the exception of his barrel rate. His average exit velocity this year has jumped 89.5 mph to 92.2 mph. His strikeout rate is up, too, but that seems like something of a fluke, as his contact numbers are improved from last season. His whiff rate is 14 percent right now, down from 16 percent each of the last two years. It seems like improved results should be on the way.

- Brandon Lowe, one of this year's top performers to date, is pretty much the opposite case from Crow-Armstrong. His bat speed is down. His hard-hit rate has dropped from 46 percent last year to 40 percent now. His strikeout rate is down, but his contact numbers don't back it up. Because he's good at pulling flyballs, he turns barrels into homers more often than most, but that still gave him 65 percent as many homers as barrels over the course of his career. This year, he's at 100 percent (seven barrels, seven homers). I haven't seen much reason to give him a big bump in the rankings, though I have moved Pirates hitters up some on the whole.

- Not really sure whether to panic about Edwin Díaz or not, but I did drop him from 59th to 96th this week. His velocity does usually get better as the year goes along, but he's starting from a lower baseline this season. If his stuff doesn't quite return to 2025 form, he could become quite homer-prone, and the ballpark switch from Citi Field to Dodger Stadium hurts him there. Most likely, he'll still be fine in the long run, but his ceiling is probably lower now, and it could be an especially bumpy ride these next few weeks. Stashing Tanner Scott seems like a pretty good idea, especially for those rostering Díaz.

- I didn't make room for him last week, but in light of Edwin Uceta's shoulder setback, Bryan Baker cracks the top 300 now, debuting at No. 280. That also kept Griffin Jax from falling further, as it looks like there isn't going to be any more competition joining the mix for saves in St. Pete for at least the next few weeks.

April 13 Notes

Falling off: Joe Musgrove (No. 186), Robert Garcia (No. 223), Cade Horton (No. 265), Will Benson (No. 267), Jonathan India (No. 269), Jake McCarthy (No. 270), Tyler O'Neill (No. 282), Mark Leiter Jr. (No. 285), Lenyn Sosa (No. 286), Bryan Abreu (No. 289), Noah Cameron (No. 292)

- I spent all week kicking myself for not having Jordan Walker on last week's list. I intended to. Then it occurred to be that I might not have actually done so. And I hadn't.

Walker was briefly on the preseason list, peaking at No. 294 before being thoroughly outperformed by prospect Joshua Báez at the beginning of the spring. I considered him putting back on at the end of the spring after Lars Nootbaar was placed on the 60-day IL but didn't find room for him then. I'm still not at all convinced that Walker is ready to settle in as the superstar it looked like he'd become a few years ago, but it's hardly beyond the realm of possibility. He's always hit the ball harder than most, but this seems different. He's No. 129 for now.

- I was higher than most on Vinnie Pasquantino prior to the season, but something very concerning is going on there at the moment. Through 16 games, he's batting .153 with one extra-base hit. Worse, his average swing speed has dropped from 72.5 mph to 69.4. Last year, he reached the 75-mph mark on 26.4% of his swings. Nearly twice per game. This year, he's done it once. Not per game. Once in 105 swings. If he doesn't get that back, it's going to be a very long year.

- In looking at the Padres’ rather oddly constructed position player roster a couple of weeks ago, I just kind of figured that Ty France was going to have to play second base if Jake Cronenworth or Xander Bogaerts needed to leave a game at some point. Nope. Fernando Tatis Jr. made his first two career starts there over the weekend, opening up the possibility that he’ll get at least five-game eligibility at some point. That would move him a couple of spots on the list.

- David Bednar's velocity was down all spring, but it seemed like it would be fine when he was back up to 96.3 mph on average with his fastball in his first two regular-season appearances. Instead, he's been below 96 mph five outings in a row and was all of the way down to 94.3 mph on Saturday. That's nearly three mph off his 2024 and '25 average. He's allowed four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings with a 22.9% strikeout rate that's well off his career mark of 29.5%. I'm concerned enough to have dropped him about 20 spots this week, though not yet so much that I added a second Yankees reliever (it'd probably be Fernando Cruz at this point) to the top 300.

- Now that he's gained catcher eligibility in five-game leagues, Iván Herrera jumps from 98th to 82nd. He's not off to a great start offensively, but I'm not seeing much reason for concern. He's my No. 3 backstop.

- If Abner Uribe looked like he did last year, Trevor Megill would probably be in some serious trouble as the Brewers' closer right now. Uribe, though, is scuffling some with his velocity down about 1.5 mph from last year. Megill's is down a tad more, and he's given up five earned runs in four innings. I'm dropping Megill about 25 spots this week, but not giving Uribe much of a bump. If Megill continues to scuffle, it might turn into a committee.

- The Rangers' Cole Winn got the final RP spot over the Rays' Bryan Baker. Of the two, Baker is the better bet for the next couple of weeks, but Wynn would seem to have the superior chance of racking up 20+ saves on the season.

Luka Doncic headed to Europe for specialized treatment on strained hamstring in hopes of faster return

Luka Doncic is headed to Europe for specialized treatment on his Grade 2 hamstring strain in hopes of a more rapid return to the court, reports Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin of ESPN. This came in consultation with the Lakers' team doctors, according to the report.

Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain against the Thunder on Thursday night, and the Lakers announced he will be out for the remainder of the regular season.

However, it's the playoffs that are the looming concern. The average time missed for a Grade 2 hamstring strain is more than a month, according to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes (who maintains a database tracking NBA injuries). The playoffs start in less than two weeks, on April 18. If Doncic were out for a month, he would likely miss the Lakers' entire first-round series. Hence the effort to find a treatment that can help him return sooner.

The Lakers' Austin Reaves is also out for 4-6 weeks with an oblique strain and will miss the first round of the playoffs.

Without their two leading scorers and shot creators, Los Angeles would be heavy underdogs in any likely first-round matchup. The Lakers currently are tied with the Nuggets for the 3/4 seed in the West and could slide as low as the No. 5 seed. That would leave them with a first-round series against a quality opponent, such as Houston or Minnesota.

Without Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday despite 30 points and 15 assists from LeBron James, who now becomes the focal point of the offense. The Lakers had no answer for rookie Cooper Flagg, who scored 45 against Los Angeles.
Doncic being out for the remainder of the season also leaves him one game short of the league's 65-game threshold to be eligible for postseason awards — and he would be a lock top-five finisher in MVP voting and be First Team All-NBA. Doncic's agent, Bill Duffy, has said he would file an "extraordinary circumstances challenge." Written into the CBA, the exception states that if "it was impractical for the player to play in one or more of the [missed] games" and the player would have reached 65 games if he had played in those games, an independent arbiter (selected by the league and player's union) can grant him an exception. Doncic missed two games in December for the birth of his child.

Nets’ Danny Wolf already working to fix his game’s Achilles’ heel after season-ending injury

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Danny Wolf of the Brooklyn Nets driving to the basket during a game against the Sacramento Kings, Image 2 shows Brooklyn Nets forward Danny Wolf grabs his ankle in pain on the court

The Nets have a staggering seven rookies — a record five of them first-round picks — and must develop every one they can to spur their rebuild.

For injured Danny Wolf, the work doesn’t end just because he’s been shut down for the season. If anything it gets more intense.

“Obviously losing sucks, and every time you ask anyone, they’re going to give you the same answer that losing is no fun.” Wolf said. “Everyone in the locker room from top to bottom thinks we could’ve had a much better season. But within that, you have to find things you can learn from, that you can gain from.”

After suffering a season-ending left ankle sprain March 22, Wolf will end his debut campaign averaging 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds.

And from the moment the tanking Nets started leaning into their rookies on Feb. 5, the big man bumped those figures up to 10.8 points, 5.6 boards and 2.7 assists.

Danny Wolf the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 22, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NBAE via Getty Images

Wolf fell to 27th in the draft due to questions about his defense and shooting. He played defense at an NBA level, but his shooting is still very much in question, at a streaky 32.2 percent from deep.

What’s beyond question is that Wolf must learn to finish better at the rim.

“Defensively, there were definitely a lot of people questioning who I’d be able to guard. I took that as a chip on my shoulder to more than prove, but be a good defender,” said Wolf.

“The shooting and the offense, it was nowhere near what I know I’m capable of doing and that upsets me. I was able to shoot well at times, and there’d be times where I felt I couldn’t make a shot. That’s a rookie season; there’s going to be ups and downs.”

Nowhere near enough ups at the rim, figuratively and literally.



While Wolf is sizable at 6-foot-11, 255 pounds, his lack of vertical explosion has limited him. His 24-inch standing vertical was tied for third worst at the NBA Draft Combine, and has led to poor finishing against more athletic foes.

“Everyone’s bigger, faster, stronger, more athletic [at this level],” said Wolf. “What is it that you need to do to be able to match that, but also be better than that?”

Nets forward Danny Wolf (2) grabs his ankle in pain during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Justine Willard-Imagn Images

Where Wolf has to be better is at the rim, where he shot just 54 percent. That’s just 12th percentile among forwards, per Cleaning The Glass. It’s an Achilles’ heel he needs to fix, offseason work that’s already begun.

“Obviously the numbers speak for themselves; I was nowhere near where I wanted to be or could have been. And finishing, I did an OK job at times getting in my spots,” Wolf said. “A lot of it is getting stronger. And the positive outlook of an injury [is] I’ve been able to really hone in on the weight room more than I would’ve been able to if I was playing.

“I have a good four or five months of weight room ahead of me and just being able to fill out my frame better. That’ll really help me, just getting stronger; and with that, more explosive. And I know my rim finishing next year, I’ll be able to look back on this year and see that it was something that really, really helped me.”

While Wolf is focused on his body, coach Jordi Fernández is counting on growth through reps and technique.

“It’s a combination of a lot of things,” said Fernández. “One is experience, right? The reps, the game slowing down. A lot of times you just rush. We tell guys, ‘Hey, just play off two feet and don’t leave your feet.’

“But he’s done a great job and he’s been able to implement a lot of stuff, power through, because you have better balance, finding a body first. This all comes with a lot of work, watching film and through the summer and then the real reps. So the process [has] already started. He’s already gotten better. We’re not concerned about his finishing. We know it has to get better, but we also know it will get better.”

Recap: Avs lose 3-2 to surging Blues

With the St. Louis Blues still working to earn a wild card position in this year’s playoffs, and the Avalanche on the cusp of a Central Division title, there was plenty to play for, and Ball Arena was the scene on Easter Sunday evening.

Colorado comes in on the second of a back-to-back, having beaten the Dallas Stars 2-0 in regulation yesterday, and the Blues just secured two points over the Anaheim Ducks and are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.

Valeri Nichushkin was listed as OUT with an upper-body injury ahead of puck drop, so the Avs would go without their best d-man and a very valuable forward.

The Game

This game started strong with both clubs making their intentions clear with a focused defensive effort. It appeared the Avalanche would take the 1-0 lead if not for a coach’s challenge that deemed the play offside.

Shortly after Colorado’s goal was called back, the top line was unable to retrieve and break out of their own, resulting in a net front scramble that eventually ended with Robert Thomas’ one-timer over the shoulder of MacKenzie Blackwood.

The Blue note would establish an early 1-0 lead.

The team in dark blue and burgundy wouldn’t let the lead last long as Parker Kelly notched his 20th of the season and tied things at 1-1.

As mentioned in previous recaps featuring a Kelly goal, Guerilla Sports’ Meghan Angley vowed to adopt a whale if Parker Kelly scored 20 goals. Well, here we are. I wonder what its name will be!

Nathan MacKinnon would earn a late power play in the first, but with too little time remaining in the frame to create. Breaking the 1-1 tie would have to wait until period number two.

The tie breaker wouldn’t come on the opening power play for the Avalanche; in fact, they didn’t have a single shot on net.

Instead, it was Brent Burns who sent a shot from the blue line toward a screening Landeskog. Hofer couldn’t fight through the Swedish distraction and was beaten on the far side by Burns’ shot from distance.

Colorado’s newly minted lead would last all of 29 seconds with Robert Thomas scoring his second of the evening on a perfectly executed two-on-one. Things were tied at 2-2.

Both Hofer and Blackwood would make some timely saves in the middle portion of the second period to keep things tied.

The same would be true for most of the third until Robert Thomas put away the game-winner and hat-trick clinching goal with 2:30 seconds left.

The Avalanche would not overcome the deficit, and winning the division will have to wait.

Blues win 3-2.

Takeaways

Parker Kelly scoring 20 goals is an incredible feat, and he should be proud. Kelly is signed through the 2030-31 season, and if he can consistently be a 20-goal scorer, his $1.7M AAV contract will look like money in the bank.

St. Louis lurking in the wild card conversation is a bit of a suprise but they have been one of the hottest hockey teams in the league since the Olympic break.

I’d presume most Avalanche fans would be okay with Jordan Binnington on St. Louis not making a playoff appearance in 2025-26.

We saw a classy and special honoring of Brent Burns’ 1,000 consecutive games played, and Colorado’s iron man was clearly appreciative but appeared a bit shy in the moment. He’s never come across as a ‘me’ guy, so that makes sense.

Upcoming

A home-and-home will travel to St. Louis for a Tuesday night game between these two clubs yet again.

Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!

Lakers’ Luka Doncic seeking treatment in Europe with hopes of expediting return

Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 27: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 27, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena...

DALLAS — Lakers star Luka Doncic will seek special medical treatment in Europe for his left hamstring strain with the hopes he’ll be able to return to the court quicker, his agency shared on Sunday night.

Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, who’s Doncic’s agent, first told ESPN the news after the Lakers’ 134-128 loss to the Mavericks, which was the Lakers’ first game since Doncic and fellow star guard Austin Reaves suffered their regular season-ending injuries during the team’s blowout loss to the Thunder on Thursday

Doncic suffered the hamstring injury during the third quarter of the loss, with an MRI on Friday revealing a Grade 2 strain,  which typically comes with a recovery timeline of 3-6 weeks. 

InStreetClothes, which is an NBA injury database run by certified athletic trainer Jeff Stotts, stated that the average time lost for the type of injury Doncic suffered is about 35 days. 

The Lakers didn’t provide a timeline for Doncic’s expected return to the court. 

Three weeks from when Doncic suffered the hamstring injury was April 23, which would be around Games 3 or 4 of the Lakers’ first-round playoff matchup.

Doncic had an MRI on Friday revealing a Grade 2 strain. NBAE via Getty Images

A timeline closer to 35 days, let alone six weeks, would likely take Doncic out of the Lakers’ entire first-round playoff series, even if it lasted seven games.

“I just know that he’s gonna do everything he can to try to be back,” coach JJ Redick said. “I talked to him Friday, I talked to him again [on Saturday], I talked to him again [Sunday] morning. He’s going to go through all the necessary things to be back at some point, and it’s our job again to extend the season so both those guys can get back.”

Redick said internal medical data didn’t show any signs of overuse for Doncic or Reaves, who’s sidelined with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, before their injuries. 

Both grabbed at their respective injured areas during the first quarter of Thursday’s game but played through the third quarter before Doncic left the matchup with his hamstring injury and Reaves was subbed out. 

“As a coach, you go on the information you have,” Redick said.

“[Reaves] was medically cleared. When Austin came back, I asked directly, I thought he was hurt. [I was told], ‘No, he’s medically cleared.’ The group wanted to go for it in the second half. Talked about it at halftime. And I think for both those guys, the nature of playing heavy minutes, that’s certainly a part of any equation when you’re trying to manage workloads.

“We also rely on the tracking data, and we’re looking at that after every game. And there have been a few times this year where it’s gone away from the standard deviation of whatever their baseline is, and we make the proper adjustments. There was nothing leading into that game that would suggest either those guys were ‘running hot’ as we call it.”


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Will Cuylle's Game Trending In The Right Direction After Recording First NHL Hat Trick

Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers scored a season-high eight goals in their 8-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday night. 

The overwhelming victory was headlined by Will Cuylle recording his first career NHL hat trick, as he reached the 20-goal benchmark for the second consecutive season. 

Cuylle went through a difficult offensive stretch for practically the entire month of March, going on a 13-game scoreless drought before finally finding the back of the net on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. 

The 24-year-old has voiced disappointment in his own play this season, and Mike Sullivan referred to Cuylle’s play as a “mixed bag,” indicating that there have been inconsistencies in Cuylle’s game.

In his first two NHL seasons, Cuylle mostly played a bottom-six role, but throughout the 2025-26 campaign, he’s been elevated into a more prominent top-six position, with his minutes increasing from 15:05 to 16:57.

Over the Rangers’ most recent stretch of games, Sullivan believes Cuylle is beginning to find his game again and play to his strengths, which is allowing him to create more offense.

“I think it was trending in the right way,” Sullivan said of Cuylle’s game. “He went through a stretch there where he hadn't scored in like 12 games, but we felt like he was getting a lot closer, just getting inside more, going to the net, getting more looks. We think that's when he's at his best. He's a great athlete, he's big, he's strong, he's fast. I think he's hard to handle.”

On Sunday night, Cuylle had his blueprint all over the game. He generated a team-high six shots on net and was also active on the physical front, specifically when he laid a big-time hit on Ryan Leonard, followed up by a fight against Jakob Chychrun. 

Cuylle recorded his first hat trick just one day after Gabe Perreault accomplished the same feat in the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. 

“I'm happy for him because I know how hard he's working, so to get rewarded with a hat trick tonight is great,” Sullivan said of Cuylle notching his first NHL hat trick. “It'll be a good boost of confidence for him and hopefully he can build on moving forward.”

Sunday night certainly marked the high point of Will Cuylle’s season. 

In a year filled with ups and downs, Cuylle expressed his excitement to be able to have this special moment in front of the home fans at Madison Square Garden.

“It's cool. First hat trick in the NHL, it's kind of a dream come true,” Cuylle said. “It's great to have it in a game like today, where we had a full 60-minute effort from everyone, everyone contributing. I'm just happy with the result.”

To close out the season, the Rangers have been playing a much more consistent brand of hockey, contrary to much of this tumultuous year.

New York has won five of its last six games, with the past two coming against two teams pushing for a playoff spot.

What is going into this sudden resurgence from the Rangers?

“I think our guys have something to play for, and that’s how they’re approaching it. We’re playing some pretty good teams that have a lot at stake,” Sullivan said. “I think we beat some pretty good teams lately. I think that’s just a testament to how hard our players are competing out there. 

From Roommates To Linemates, Jaroslav Chmelař And Adam Sýkora Are Living Out The DreamFrom Roommates To Linemates, Jaroslav Chmelař And Adam Sýkora Are Living Out The DreamYou won’t see Jaroslav Chmelař without Adam Sýkora, and you won’t see Adam Sýkora without Jaroslav Chmelař. 

“I think we’re trying to build a team game and we’re trying to stack some wins on top of each other where we can continue to define, refine what Rangers hockey looks like...I think they're embracing these challenges. I just think it speaks volumes for the character of the guys we have that they continue to compete as hard as they do and we're continuing to try to build that team game.”

It’s promising to see the Rangers string these wins while many of the team’s young players have come in and contributed, including Gabe Perreault, Drew Fortescue, Noah Laba, Jaroslav Chmelař, and Adam Sýkora. 

The games at this point are meaningless in terms of standing implications, but regardless of how it impacts their lottery odds, the Blueshirts are looking to build momentum to carry into the summer and ultimately into next season.

“There's no easy games, but obviously teams that have that sense of desperation and really something to play for, I think, shows that we haven't really gave up on the year and packed it in,” Adam Fox said. 

“Like we said, we're still trying to build on something and gain momentum and establish something here that we can take positively into the summer and build on that. It's great to see. I think the group's done a great job since the break of just being focused, trying to come out and compete and just play hard and try and build on that.”

Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm owning up to mental gaffe after Aaron Boone chat comes with caveat

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) hits a two-run RBI double during the 9th inning of the Yankees and Miami Marlins game at Yankee Stadium.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was back in the lineup Sunday after his mental gaffe at second base in Saturday’s win, when he turned a routine grounder into a single in the top of the ninth.

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Otto Lopez reached on the play and scored before David Bednar and the Yankees held on for the victory.

Boone said Sunday he spoke with Chisholm following Saturday’s game “a little bit.”

“He laid back on the ball,” Boone said. “Fundamentally, he was fine with it. He’s just got to be a little more aware of the guy getting down the line. It’s a play we’ve got to make.”

Chisholm — also slumping at the plate — came through with a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth in Sunday’s 7-6 loss to Miami.

He acknowledged his mistake from Saturday, with the caveat that plays like that are going to happen.

“We all know how I play baseball,’’ Chisholm said. “The guy caught me with my head down and [made] a good play. I do it to other teams all the time. Someone caught me. It’s no big deal.”

Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) hits a two-run RBI double during the 9th inning of the Yankees and Miami Marlins game at Yankee Stadium. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

He also was in a 4-for-31 rut before his double.

Chisholm isn’t the only infielder struggling, as José Caballero made another error at shortstop and has been invisible on offense.



“He’s swinging through some pitches,’’ Boone said, adding of his recent throwing issues: “He’s so good at getting rid of it… We trust him.”


Carlos Rodón reported some soreness Sunday after throwing a side session Saturday.

Boone called Rodón’s discomfort “to be expected” as the left-hander rehabs from offseason elbow surgery.

His comeback has been delayed a bit by right hamstring tightness he experienced last week, but it didn’t stop Rodón from throwing.

Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón #55, throwing in the outfield before the game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Boone said he’s expected to throw another side session “early in the week.”

Gerrit Cole, coming back from last spring’s Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday.


The Yankees missed on a pair of automated ball-strike system challenges again Sunday, leaving them with none during their ninth-inning rally.

Boone said he doesn’t want them to lose their aggressiveness, even as it’s cost them in recent games.

“We’re gonna trust our knowledge of it,’’ Boone said. “There are gonna be games you don’t have them at the end.” … The Yankees recorded 30 walks in their series against the Marlins, their most in a three-game series in franchise history.


After a promising start to the season, Camilo Doval has pitched poorly in his past two appearances, retiring just three batters and allowing five hits, four earned runs and a walk.

Boone noted Doval has faced some “really tough left-handed hitters” and not executed well or been able to put batters away.

That’s resulted in lefties reaching base in five of 10 plate appearances against Doval, who is expected to serve in a setup role to David Bednar.

As for the closer, Boone said he’s not comfortable working Bednar as much as he has in his past two appearances, when Bednar threw 40 and 33 pitches.

He picked up the save in both appearances.

“We don’t want him throwing 30-40 pitches [each outing],’’ Boone said.

LeBron James lets son Bronny hear it immediately after mistake during Lakers’ loss to Mavericks

LeBron James lets son Bronny hear it after on-court error

There’s nothing quite as embarrassing as getting yelled at by your parents in public. 

Try being Bronny James on Sunday night in Dallas. 

Late in the third quarter of the Lakers’ loss to the Mavericks, Bronny went to send a high chest pass to his teammate, and dad, LeBron James but had the attempt knocked out of bounds by a Dallas defender.

LeBron immediately signaled to his son that he should have given him a bounce pass, and then gave him a stern look that only a dad would give to his kid. 

“Kind of looks at his son and says, ‘give me a bounce pass,’ Mike Tirico said on the NBC broadcast. “I love that look because that look was not just LeBron the veteran. That was also LeBron the dad.” 

LeBron James gestures with his arms crossed while talking to his son, Bronny James Jr. during the Lakers game of the Mavericks on Sunday. NBC

Bronny is in his second season and played nine minutes off the bench for the Lakers in the 134-128 loss to the Mavericks in the Lone Star State. 

Bronny finished the game with five points on 2-of-3 shooting and was 1-for-2 from 3-point range, and also registered an assist. 

LeBron ended the night with a team-high 30 points on 12-for-22 shooting. 

Bronny James attempts to throw a pass to his father, LeBron James, during the Lakers’ game against the Mavericks on Sunday. NBC

The Lakers have been reeling from injuries lately with the loss of Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart. 

Dončić will be out indefinitely with a left hamstring strain and then on Saturday, the Lakers announced that Reaves was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury and would be out the rest of the season. 

“It was a shot to the heart and the chest and the mainframe with Luka,” LeBron told reporters after the game regarding the injury news about Dončić and Reaves. “I woke up from my nap and saw that [Reaves] news and was like, ‘s–t’”

The injuries will allow Bronny to get some extended playing time and make a case for a bigger role on the Lakers.

Takeaways: Penguins Pounce Panthers To Sweep Weekend Back-To-Back

In a playoff stretch where a lot of other teams - particularly the ones chasing playoff spots - are doing a whole lot of losing, the Pittsburgh Penguins just keep on winning hockey games. 

And they're not just winning them - they're winning them comfortably.

On Sunday, the Penguins beat the Florida Panthers by a score of 5-2, sweeping the weekend series between the two teams and earning their fourth win in five games. With five goals on Sunday, the Penguins have now scored 280 times this season, which is second in the NHL only to the Colorado Avalanche's 285.

The scoring depth on this team is something that continues to win them hockey games, and it's some of the best depth the Penguins have had in recent memory.

"100 percent," said Bryan Rust, who registered his 500th NHL point when he assisted on a Sidney Crosby goal in the first period. "On any given night, there's guys who are scoring goals, guys who are stepping up and bringing the offense. It's not just one line or the top-six, you see all four lines doing it, and a lot of the defensemen doing it, too.

"I think it's been a group effort this year, and I think with how good the league is and how tight everything is, that depth's going to give you a few extra wins, a few extra points that - sometimes, if you don't have that - kind of get lost."

Bryan Rust Hits Major Career Milestone On SundayBryan Rust Hits Major Career Milestone On SundayPittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust hit 500 points on Sunday.

The Penguins got the first goal in this one when Connor Dewar pressured Florida goaltender Daniil Tarasov and forced him to commit a turnover. The puck ended up right on the stick of Elmer Soderblom on the left wall, and he buried for his sixth of the season and sixth point in his last six games to put the Penguins up, 1-0.

The Panthers responded a little more than five minutes later when Cole Schwindt shot a puck square into the mask of Penguins' goaltender Arturs Silovs - starting in his second straight game due to a Stuart Skinner upper-body injury - and it trickled through his five-hold to tie the game. But then, just 35 seconds later, Crosby took a feed from Egor Chinakhov down the left wing, and he put away a shot from the left circle to restore the Penguins' lead.

With that goal, Crosby clinched his 21st consecutive NHL season at point-per-game or higher, padding his own record of 20 set last season. Rust also earned his 500th point on that play.

And they were able to add on. The Penguins got a late power play opportunity at the end of the first period, and after a beautiful passing play, Rickard Rakell - parked in the slot - one-timed a perfect pass by Crosby to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead. 

There was a bit of pushback by Florida for parts of the second period, but Silovs stood strong - and Rakell struck again. With less than two minutes remaining in the middle frame, Rakell pounced on a chip pass from Evgeni Malkin, who was parked behind the net, and chopped it past Tarasov to put Pittsburgh up, 4-1.

Rust tacked on another goal less than four minutes into the third period after Crosby fed him for a breakaway opportunity, squeaking it underneath Tarasov for his 28th of the season. Carter Verhaeghe added a goal for Florida with less than six minutes left in regulation, but the Penguins were able to cruise to a relatively comfortable 5-2 victory - one night after beating Florida, 9-4.


Here are just a few takeaways from this one:

- 21 consecutive seasons at point-per-game. That's really something else. 

When you think of "unbreakable" NHL records, there are very, very few. One thought to be unbreakable was broken last season when Alex Ovechkin broke Gretzky's goal record. Gretzky's points record probably is untouchable, especially with the amount of talent on both sides of the puck in the league right now.

Crosby's point-per-game seasons record is near-untouchable. Yes, Connor McDavid is going to be an all-time great player and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. 

But you just do not see this. Of all the greats in NHL history, Crosby is the only one ever to have been point-per-game for more than two decades. And, heck, he can build on his own record even more, depending on how long he plays.

And Penguins' head coach Dan Muse reminded everyone not to take anything for granted with Crosby.

"I really hope nobody's taking it for granted. I really do," Muse said. "The fans, media, everybody in the community, to be able to see this firsthand - like, it's amazing. Twenty-one seasons, a point-per-game, NHL record. And that's a big one."

Folks, we're witnessing all-time greatness. I'd take Muse's advice.

Sidney Crosby Clinches 21st Consecutive Point-Per-Game Season - Community PostSidney Crosby Clinches 21st Consecutive Point-Per-Game Season - Community PostA day after passing Steve Yzerman to take sole possession of seventh place, Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby padded his own record on Sunday.

- Skinner's injury - although nothing is confirmed about the nature of it other than it being designated as "upper-body" - appeared to have occurred during Saturday's game against the Panthers when he was struck with a puck on the bench.

Although it was unfortunate for Skinner, the timing of everything did lend to an unexpected call-up. With the start time for the game designated for 3:00 p.m. ET - and Skinner being designated as unavailable the same morning - the Penguins wouldn't have been able to bring one of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's goaltenders because there was no way for them to get to Pittsburgh in time.

So, instead, Penguins' assistant GM Jason Spezza called on Wheeling Nailers goaltender Taylor Gauthier, who recently signed a one-year entry-level NHL contract with the Penguins

Penguins Sign Goaltender To Entry-Level ContractPenguins Sign Goaltender To Entry-Level ContractThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> are pretty well-known at this point for the goaltending depth they possess in their system. Netminders like Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, and 2025 draftee Gabriel D'Aigle have received a fair amount of attention.&nbsp;

And Gauthier quite literally missed the call at first. 

"I had just walked into church with a bunch of my teammates for Easter service," Gauthier said. "I went to put my phone on 'do not disturb', and I had four missed calls from 'Spez'... so, I figured it was probably something pretty important."

Even though Gauthier - who went undrafted and has a .932 save percentage for Wheeling this season - didn't have a chance to appear in the game, he did dress as the backup - and getting the call to the NHL is something he will always cherish and that he wants the chance to do again. 

"It's just - it's surreal," Gauthier said. "You know, especially with the pedigree of guys that are in this room. I think I speak for every Canadian kid that grew up watching Sid play... you know, he's a hero to all of us." 

He added: "It's something that I'm really going to cherish for a long time, and I might take that jersey home and make sure I put it up in a frame, for sure."

- With Skinner's injury, Muse decided to run back Silovs, who struggled Saturday despite the win. 

Well, he bounced back in a big way and was very solid for the Penguins Sunday. 

He stopped 29 of 31 Florida shots on goal and was especially good in the second period, when Florida had a few waves of chances. There are times when Silovs looks like the goaltender that led the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup last season, and this was one of those starts. 

Sergei Murashov was in the building, but not in time for puck drop, which is why Gauthier got the call. I imagine Silovs is well aware that he is under a microscope on the stretch run to the playoffs, and he struggled before this. 

We'll see where Skinner is at this week. But, if Murashov being in Pittsburgh is any indication, it appears they might be preparing to be without Skinner for at least a few games. If that's the case, Silovs needs to perform like he did Sunday the rest of the way. Otherwise, someone else might be in the mix for a playoff job. 

- There's not much more to say about Rakell at this point. He has 10 goals in his last eight games. He has an NHL-high five-game goal-scoring streak. He scored seven goals just last week. 

What a tear he is on. He is now up to 24 goals, and he missed 21 games this season. If he continues the recent pace he has been on for the four games remaining this season, he could flirt with 30 goals.Just incredible stuff from him. 

- The Penguins now have 96 points, which puts them six points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who leapfrogged the New York Islanders for third in the Metropolitan Division. So, you do the math.

If the Penguins win one more game this season, they clinch a playoff berth. 

They have the New Jersey Devils on Thursday before playing the Washington Capitals in a home-and-home back-to-back over the weekend and, finally, the St. Louis Blues on Apr. 14. None of these teams currently sit in a playoff spot. And, should others behind them continue to lose, they may not even need to win another game. 

Things are looking good, Penguins' fans. Just enjoy the ride. 

Oh, and there's a very good chance that there could be a Penguins-Flyers first round this year. 

Takeaways: Malkin's Hat Trick, Milestones Lead Penguins' Offensive Explosion In 9-4 Over PanthersTakeaways: Malkin's Hat Trick, Milestones Lead Penguins' Offensive Explosion In 9-4 Over PanthersThe Pittsburgh Penguins stormed to another statement victory, this time over the Florida Panthers - and their two biggest stars made history in the process.

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Jared Young makes his impact felt in last-minute Mets’ starting chance

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Jared Young #29 of the New York Mets catches a fly ball hit by Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park on April 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

SAN FRANCISCO — Jared Young didn’t know for sure he would be in the Mets starting lineup Sunday, but took the approach that it was best to think in those terms.

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He knew that Brett Baty’s left thumb was barking following a dive into second base a day earlier. Baty was scheduled to start the series finale against the Giants, but Young was Plan B.

“It was kind of like, ‘Let’s come in today and prep like I’m going to play,’” Young said. “It’s always easier to wind down than it is to ramp up.”

It was Plan B the Mets exercised, going to Young for the start in left field as Baty took a day to rest his thumb.

Young’s 3-for-3 performance offensively and strong defense were a significant component in the team’s 5-2 victory at Oracle Park that gave the Mets a winning series and road trip.

Young’s running catch on Patrick Bailey’s line drive in the third stood out, along with his play off the carom on Jerar Encarnacion’s shot that hit the left field fence in the fifth. Young threw out Encarnacion attempting to stretch a single into a double.

The three-hit performance was the first of Young’s career, as was the outfield assist. Most of Young’s major league playing time has come as a first baseman.

Jared Young of the New York Mets catches a fly ball hit by Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park on April 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images


“Not only the at-bats for Jared, but his ability to play the outfield the way he’s doing it, he just adds more to it,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s not only a pinch hitter or a guy that can play first, now you feel good with him playing the outfield as well.”

Mendoza’s original lineup before Baty was scratched had Carson Benge in left field and Baty in right. The manager said the decision to move Benge from right was based on Benge’s overall familiarity playing the various outfield positions compared to Baty, who is a converted infielder.

Baty is expected to be available for starting duty Tuesday.


Mendoza indicated nothing had changed with Juan Soto, who will be reevaluated before the Mets begin their next homestand Tuesday. The All-Star outfielder is dealing with what he’s termed a “minor” right calf strain and the Mets face a decision on placing him on the injured list.


The Mets had a third straight game with at least 12 hits. The franchise record is five straight such games, established in 1976 and tied in 1990.


Luis Robert Jr. stole two bases, giving him multiple steals in a game for the first time since May 4 of last season with the White Sox.

Mets' preparation 'even before the game' for Luis Torrens pinch-hitting situation comes in clutch

Luis Torrens is in his ninth season in the league and his third with the Mets. During that time he has not been known for his offense and has played the role of backup catcher for most of his career.

Yet, on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants, with New York down 2-1 in the eighth inning but threatening, Torrens was called upon as a pinch-hitter against a left-hander.

The move was a bit surprising. Not only was Torrens replacing Jared Young who was already 3-for-3 on the day, albeit against right-hander Logan Webb, but with a thin bench the Mets could ill afford to lose their backup catcher should the game go to extra innings or anything unforeseen happening.

But according to manager Carlos Mendoza who spoke after the game, that was the exact moment the Mets were hoping to use Torrens.

“I gotta give credit to [bench coach] Kai Correa there,” Mendoza said. “...He brought it up to me way before the game started – like in a big spot, Luis Torrens against one of those lefties… Sure enough, the situation presented itself and we [used] him and he was ready to go from the very beginning and he executed it.”

Facing LHP Erik Miller with one out and runners at second and third, Torrens fell behind in the count but fouled off some pitches and was able to work the count full. On 3-2, Torrens got a changeup off the plate that would’ve been ball four, but the catcher swung at it and poked it down the right-field line for a two-run double that put New York ahead, 3-2.

The Mets scored twice more in the inning and went on to win 5-2 thanks to the four-run eighth inning, but the big hit came from Torrens who had been ready for that scenario since before the game even started.

“For me, to put the ball in play there I was prepared even before the game,” Torrens said through an interpreter. “Mendy told me there might be a situation where I come in, but for me it’s about being focused and trying to execute in a situation like that.”

Torrens continued: “I really appreciate to be told that earlier on in the game or even before the game just because I’m able to prepare myself the way that I know that I can prepare myself and with whatever situation arises in the game, I’ll be prepared and do my job.”

So, why specifically Torrens, a career .228 hitter, in that moment?

“He slows the game down, he’s got the ability to use the whole field, he’s not afraid to go the other way, he’s not afraid to work counts,” Mendoza said. “He gets to two strikes and you feel good that he’s going to put the ball in play, he’s gonna take what the pitcher is giving him.

“This is a guy that’s been in baseball for quite a bit now, a lot of winter ball. So I was happy for Luis in that situation.”

A nine-year veteran (as a catcher no less), Torrens has used all of that experience to his advantage. It’s why the Mets have loved having him around for the past three years. In fact, even though he isn’t known for his bat, the 29-year-old is now batting .352 in 54 at-bats as a pinch-hitter, one of the most difficult jobs to do in baseball.

On top of that, Torrens is and continues to be elite at stopping the running game, even throwing out a runner trying to steal second base in the bottom of the ninth inning.

It’s plays like that, his hit in the eighth and the communication between him and the coaches before the game that had Mendoza commending “the small details” New York made on Sunday that resulted in an impressive win and taking three out of four in San Francisco.

“That speaks to how we prepare as a team,” Torrens said. “I think every single one of us before the game, during the game are all preparing ourselves to do the best that we possibly can and I think that speaks volumes to the group that we have here.”

After a rough stretch offensively to start the season, the Mets have completely turned it around, scoring 24 runs over their last three games. Almost all of that has been without Juan Soto, too.

“It’s special,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got good players, up and down. Dealing with a few guys there with injuries and you still feel really good with not only the guys that are in the lineup or who are getting the opportunity to play more, but [with] what’s on the bench as well and we saw it today.

“There’s a lot of versatility. There’s a lot of things that we could do because of the flexibility. It goes to show you that it’s a deep roster and it’s fun.”

New York will look to keep the good times rolling back at Citi Field starting on Tuesday when it hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game set.

Yankees’ Ryan McMahon breaks out of slump even as concerning signs continue

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) reaches first base on an error during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Bronx, NY

The Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon last year because of his glove — not his bat.

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The third baseman’s plate production is becoming an issue.

Even after an offseason tinkering with his swing, McMahon hasn’t slowed his swing and miss and the occasional power the Yankees hoped he’d flash has mostly been absent.

Despite a high-powered top half of the lineup, McMahon is one of several players slumping at the bottom, along with José Caballero and Austin Wells.

He had a couple of hard-hit balls on the West Coast trip, as well as one in Saturday’s win over Miami, but it was on the ground.

He finally snapped an 0-for-22 skid with a single in the sixth inning of Sunday’s 7-6 loss to Miami and walked in the eighth.

Those free passes have offset some of McMahon’s struggles, but not all of them.

And most distressing has been McMahon’s strikeout rate.

Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) reaches first base on an error during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Bronx, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

McMahon whiffed 40 percent of the time heading into Sunday’s game, higher than his 32.3 percent career mark.

A year ago, his 32.3 percentage was the highest among qualified hitters.

Boone pointed to some positive signs in recent games, but acknowledged the slump.

“I like the ball he hit to left and his at-bats were better than we saw in Seattle, [when] I felt like he was in-between a lot,’’ Boone said. “I thought his intent was good on his swings on a couple of fastballs [by Eury] Pérez. … Hopefully he builds on that.”



McMahon narrowed his stance before the season to reduce his swing-and-miss rate.

It hasn’t worked, and he also seems to have lost power.

“He’s a little bit in-between,” Boone said. “He doesn’t want to chase or make bad decisions, which is great, but you’ve also got to go up there and let it rip. It’s an early-season scuffle. He’s really talented, [has] pop [and] does know the strike zone.”

Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) hits a two-run RBI single during the second inning. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

The Yankees don’t have a clear alternative at third base, since they prefer Amed Rosario to play more of a utility role — especially with Caballero playing shortstop every day due to Anthony Volpe being sidelined following offseason shoulder surgery.

But there’s also no getting around the fact that McMahon — who singled in his first plate appearance of the season Opening Day in San Francisco — didn’t have another hit until Sunday.

With the Yankees having won eight of their first nine games before Sunday’s defeat, they could live with McMahon finding his way at the plate, but that won’t last forever.

Stats Rundown: 3 numbers to know from the Mavericks’ 134-128 win over the Los Angeles Lakers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (25-53) beat the Los Angeles Lakers 134-128 on Sunday in a nationally televised game that saw Cooper Flagg continue his scorched earth campaign on the NBA to close out the 2025-26 season.

The Mavericks came out with real pace in the first quarter, but more than anything, it was Cooper Flagg that set the tone early on. He was everywhere, knocking down a pull-up 3-pointer, pushing in transition and creating easy looks for others, including kickouts to shooters. Flagg dictated possessions, made the right reads and impacted the game defensively. By the end of the quarter, the Mavericks had pushed it to a 41-30 lead, and it felt like a direct result of Flagg setting the tone as the best player on the floor.

The second quarter was when the game started to shift, even though Dallas held on to a 67-61 halftime lead. The Mavericks opened the period with great flow. Cooper Flagg knocked down another pull-up 3-ball and created for teammates to push the lead as high as 58-36. But from there, the Lakers chipped away, as LeBron James got downhill and to the free throw line, while Dallas started missing shots and turning it over. A quick stretch of scoring from James cut deep into the lead, and even when Dallas had small responses, they couldn’t fully stabilize.

The second half turned into the Cooper Flagg show, as he completely took control of the game across the third and fourth quarters and led Dallas to the finish. In the third, Flagg dictated everything offensively, creating for teammates like P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford and Marvin Bagley while also scoring with floaters, pull-ups, and cuts to the rim. Every time Los Angeles made a push through LeBron James or DeAndre Ayton, Dallas had an answer, and more often than not, it came from Flagg either as a scorer or playmaker.

In the fourth, he elevated even further, opening the quarter with a three-point play and controlling possessions with patience, getting to his spots and consistently drawing fouls. The Lakers never fully went away, but Flagg kept them at arm’s length with a mix of midrange scoring and steady trips to the line, preventing any real comeback run. Down the stretch, it became about execution, and Flagg delivered, closing the game at the free-throw line and pushing his total to 45 points. Dallas never lost control in the final minutes, and what started as a competitive game ended with a composed finish and a 134-128 win.

75: Combined scoring from Flagg and James

This game gave us one of those stats that doesn’t even feel real at first. A teenager and a 40-year-old were both on pace to score 20+ points in the same game, something that has never happened in NBA history, and it was already developing in the first half. Flagg scored a game-high 45 points for the Mavs in the win, and James answered with 30 of his own for the Lakers in the loss.

That alone tells you how strange and fascinating this game was. On one side, James is still able to control stretches of the game at 41 years old, bully his way to the rim, orchestrate offense and put up numbers like it’s routine. On the other side, you have Flagg, a teenager, matching that production possession for possession, scoring in multiple ways, and dictating the flow of the game.

What makes it even more impressive is how natural it looked. This wasn’t a “young player having a hot quarter” moment. Flagg was operating like a primary option, making reads, creating shots and carrying real offensive responsibility. To see that level of control from someone that young, in the same game where LeBron is doing LeBron things, is just wild. It’s the kind of moment that sticks with you, because you just don’t see two completely different eras collide like that very often.

1: Home win since January 22nd

Lost in everything else is just how telling this win actually is about where the Mavericks are as a team right now. This was their first home win since January 22nd, which is honestly staggering when you think about it. This isn’t a team that has been fully bottoming out with a stripped roster or sitting every capable player every night. They’ve still had real rotation guys available and enough talent to compete, yet the results have been consistently this bad. That says more about the overall level of play than anything else.

A win like this feels good in the moment, especially with how it happened, but it also comes with real implications. The Mavericks are clearly in the mix for top lottery positioning, and games like this can directly impact those odds. When you’re in that tier, every win matters in the wrong way. Sliding even a few spots in the lottery standings can significantly hurt your chances at landing the number one pick, especially in a class where that top selection carries serious value.

So while this was one of the more enjoyable nights of the season, it also highlights the balancing act Dallas is dealing with. They’ve been bad enough for long enough to be in the lottery conversation without fully committing to a complete shutdown, and that leaves them in this middle ground. Wins like this are great for development and confidence, but they also introduce risk. And as the season winds down, that tension between short-term success and long-term positioning is only going to get tighter.

2: Consecutive 45-point games for Flagg

At this point, the Rookie of the Year conversation should absolutely be a debate, but Cooper Flagg still feels like the clear choice. What he’s doing right now is on another level, especially when you factor in the responsibility he’s carrying. Back-to-back 45-plus point games and 96 points across two games aren’t just impressive for a rookie; they’re rare for anyone in the league. And it’s not coming out of nowhere — it’s the continuation of a season where he’s consistently been asked to be the engine of the offense.

Kon Knueppel has been great and deserves real consideration. He’s been efficient, steady, and impactful in his role, and there’s a strong case to be made for what he’s done over the course of the season. This shouldn’t be a one-name conversation, and his production absolutely warrants being in the discussion.

But when you zoom out, Flagg’s overall impact separates him. He’s putting up around 21 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while taking on primary creator duties, defending multiple positions, and consistently facing top defensive attention. That level of usage combined with that level of production is hard to ignore. He’s not just contributing, he’s driving everything Dallas does.

That’s what ultimately gives him the edge. Knueppel has been excellent, but Flagg has been asked to do more, and he’s delivered at a higher ceiling. When you combine the volume, the role, and now stretches like this, it’s hard to argue against him. The debate is real, but the answer still points to Cooper Flagg.