Nov 9, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) celebrate a 122-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
There go the Houston Rockets, doing that thing where they make us hope once again that they’ve figured things out.
If you think the Rockets have had a nightmare season, look at the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks dealt with Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors in the offseason, then again during the season, then again again during the season. It’s become a further nightmare because Giannis clearly does not want to “demand” a trade and ruin his reputation in Milwaukee. However, he’s basically done just that and holding the franchise hostage hasn’t benefitted anyone. Meanwhile, Bucks fans (understandably) love him to pieces and don’t want him traded even if the return was outstanding (it will not be). Because they expected Giannis back from injury, the Bucks went full-go while he was out, but they just weren’t good enough. That means that they’re probably not drafting in the top 6 this year even though that’s where the talent seems to be.
Giannis hasn’t played since March 15 despite his best efforts. The Bucks would love nothing more than to lose every game and move into ninth in the lottery odds. Unfortunately for them, they just played fellow tankers the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs didn’t have a starter shoot better than 33%. Yes, for real. Rockets murderer Max Christie shot 1-12. I really hate when guys always go off against the Rockets but turn into pumpkins for the other 78-80 games of the year.
Speaking of tanking and the lottery, I will be doing my annual “If the lottery is rigged, who wins” post for Friday’s preview. It should be a good time.
For tonight, suffice to say that both teams are on a back-to-back, and Milwaukee had to fly in after their game. Houston needs to get out to a good start because the Bucks want to lose this one. It could be a sloppy game overall, especially since Ime Udoka left his starters (and Reed Sheppard) at or past their normal minutes level against New York to prevent another collapse against the Knickerbockers. And it worked. So it’s clear that the Rockets viewed last night’s game as worth going all-in for and tonight’s game would be more up for grabs.
Also, Dorian Finney-Smith didn’t play last night. He’s missed the last two games as DNP-CD, and the previous two games he played a combined 13 minutes and 56 seconds. Methinks if this isn’t the game for DFS, then he might get DFA’d.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 31: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 31, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks got back in the win column, 123-99, against the Dallas Mavericks last night as several familiar faces (including Khris Middleton), were back in town. The Bucks were piping hot, and the Mavs were ice cold—that’s really the main story of the contest. Sometimes, the game really is just about a bucket. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Far from the first time this season, but Ryan Rollins looked like a poised veteran star in this one. He directed the offense very well and was part of every big Bucks run. The kid’s a stud. Not much else needs to be said.
Kuzma delivered a classic Kuzma performance while still impacting the game as much as anyone. He was inefficient, missed some threes badly, and turned it over a couple times—all hallmark Kuzisms—but don’t get it twisted, he was awesome. His aggression and interior scoring were crucial in the win.
Anyone who still thinks Myles Turner should be more involved in the offense just needs to accept learned helplessness at this point. He’s not much more than a catch-and-shoot big in this Bucks system. But he played that role effectively, draining three high-arching triples. His four blocks stand out too, of course.
Alongside Kuz, Sims was the spark that got the ball rolling for the Bucks in the first quarter. He faded somewhat into the background offensively after that (which is weirdly exactly how things played out on Sunday), but he continued to crash the glass and compete on D.
He’s had an up-and-down season, but lately, Green is starting to look like a matured, more well-rounded version of himself while still bombing threes. He’s getting to the free throw line with more regularity and guarding his yard defensively. How ‘bout six boards for him as well?
Trent didn’t have another 36-point explosion, but that’s not what Milwaukee needed him to do. He was a three-point specialist last night—the good kind, not the bad kind.
Ous’ statline overstates how well he played. His decision-making, shot selection, and shot-making have all been rocky lately. He needs to be more assertive in getting all the way to the rim versus settling for floaters. The youngster can also be too jumpy on fakes defensively.
Pete, man. What a gem this guy is. What a find. This wasn’t a spectacular game in any regard, just a pretty good one, but what did shine through is how unselfish he is. Nance always plays within himself and the team’s structure. He makes the extra pass, sets screens, rolls, works hard on defense… he does it all.
Grade: B
Doc Rivers
This was a replay of the Clippers game in the sense that the Bucks really did “play the right way,” as Doc loves to say. The ball was hopping. The chemistry was tangible. Milwaukee had the fortune of facing another tanking team in the Mavericks, so the win is only worth so much credit, but a win is a win!
Grade: B
Limited Minutes: Andre Jackson Jr., Alex Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
Doc Rivers on what it would mean to him to make the Hall of Fame:
“It would mean the world to me. I’ve done a lot. The numbers are the numbers. But it’s not, I swear, you know this, it’s not why I got into this, honestly, man. It’s the relationships, it’s the people. Even from the day I’ve been nominated, the calls… it’s in the hundreds of player calls. And some of the calls have been amazing cause I thought they didn’t like me anymore. Seriously, just because you get respect, sometimes, you have falling outs with players, and you don’t even worry about it, it’s just part of it, as a coach. It’s been amazing how many people that have reached out, and it’s made me, again, feel really good about just doing what I do.”
Doc on if a player or their former team has an advantage in a revenge game:
“It’s always the player. First of all, coach can’t do anything. I can’t go out and guard Khris, nor probably I could have as a player, so it wouldn’t matter. All I know is, when I was traded the first time, I was trying to give the Hawks 50 if I could, with the ability that I could probably only score 12. I don’t care how much you love the place, when you come back to a place, you wanna go at them.”
Jason Kidd on what it’s like being reunited with the new, older, NBA champion version of Khris Middleton:
“A lot easier. Nah, it’s great. We talked about this version of Khris, we joked about the shoe’s on the other foot. I talked to him about ZaZa (Pachulia) OJ (Mayo), that group that were the vets who were trying to help the younger players, and he had a great response. He goes, ‘you know, younger players don’t want to listen to the coaches or the vets, they know it all.’ I think Khris, again, being part of his journey early, incredible talent, and at this point in his career, still has a lot to give, not just physically, but mentally, being able to share his wisdom of his journey.”
Myles Turner moved up to 40th all-time in total blocks when he rejected Moussa Cisse in the third quarter.
Alex Antetokounmpo made his NBA debut and scored his first career points! Doc said Giannis was very nervous for his brother on the bench.
Up Next
The Bucks have a quick turnaround with a matchup in Houston against the Rockets tonight. Catch that one at 7:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, but expect a blowout loss.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Tyrese Maxey #0 and Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on March 30, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, Monday didn’t go as hoped for the Sixers. With cool shooting nights from their stars, while Tyler Herro led the way with 30 points for Miami who went on a 14-0 run in the last few minutes to take control, the Sixers lost to the Heat, 119-109.
It was an underwhelming performance and frustrating result. It cost the Sixers their tie breaker with the Heat, losing the season series 2-1, and helps keep the Sixers in seventh place in a tightly packed Eastern Conference.
Now, though, going on the road to face the Wizards on Wednedsay should give the Sixers an easy chance to pick up a key win as the East standings rapidly fall into place over the final games of the season.
The recovering Johni Broome remains the only player on the injury report for Philly. Meanwhile, as the Wizards deal with some injuries and do all they can to keep tanking, all the notable players who could have been worth keeping an eye on in this matchup are sidelined.
Along with Anthony Davis who’s been out for months, Washington’s key creators are absent. Trae Young remains out with low back pain and a right quad contusion, and rising talent Kyshawn George is out with a left elbow sprain. D’Angelo Russell (not with team), rookie backup center who started on Sunday Julian Reese (G League assignment) and Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) are also out. On top of that, Tre Johnson (right foot sprain), Bilal Coulibaly (right retrocalcaneal bursitis) and Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis) are questionable.
Washington have been tanking hard for a while now, down at 14th in the East with their 17-58 record. They’ve kept it going since their big trade deadline deal too, swapping CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert for Trae Young. Their new star point guard has only appeared in five games due to injury, and they have a mere one win in their last 20 games.
In this stretch since Feb. 22., they’ve been in truly sensational tanking form with a net rating of -14.1 and rankings of 28th in both offensive and defensive rating.
As a depleted, bottom-three team at both ends of the floor, they really have no business competing with a Sixers team that finally has its Big 3 back in action and a healthy rotation.
If Joel Embiid can dominate against a smaller, weak frontcourt to improve on the 10-of-25 shooting night he had against Bam Adebayo and the Heat, and Paul George and Tyrese Maxey both warm up after going a combined 14-of-38 from the floor on Monday, that alone should make Wednesday’s game fairly light work.
Even when talented center Sarr has been active this season and showing his improving rim protection, the Wizards’ defense has still been poor. Opportunities for Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to fly downhill to the rim against a weak crop of perimeter defenders, and for Embiid to bully his way inside against backup bigs, should be plentiful.
More plays like Edgecombe’s awesome high-rise alley-oop against a scrambling Washington defense sure would be welcome to make things entertaining.
There’s clearly little left for these Wizards, but if he’s available, Sarr is at least one player to pay more attention to. He’s had a solid sophomore season, improving his efficiency and paint scoring while becoming a sharper defender and rim protector. Sarr’s numbers have climbed across the board to 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. However, he should remain no match for Embiid defensively and can’t do enough by himself as more of a play finisher to cover for all the lacking offensive creation.
There’s only seven games left for the Sixers and the packed Eastern Conference seems to be shifting daily. Let’s see if they can take care of business in one of their easiest games left (they also finish the season against the tanking Pacers then Bucks) against a Wizards squad that’s eager to lose.
And in the meantime, you can check out our Harrison Grimm’s look at the East playoff picture and who else you should be rooting for down the stretch to help secure the best possible seed for the Sixers. Right now, there’s just three wins between the fifth-seed Hawks (43-33) and 10-seed Hornets (40-36).
In the little of the regular season we have left, there’s a lot for most teams to play for.
Game Details
When: Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 PM ET Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
At this time in 2025, the Bruins were on their way to finishing with the NHL’s fifth-worst record and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in nine years. Fast forward to April 1, 2026, and the B’s have a 98.2 percent chance of reaching the postseason, per MoneyPuck.
And not only are the Bruins almost guaranteed a playoff spot at this point, they look like a team that could actually do real damage in the postseason.
The latest example came Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars.
The score was tied 2-2 entering the third period, then the B’s dominated with an aggressive attacking mentality and outscored the Stars 4-1 in the frame to earn a 6-3 victory and extend their win streak to four games. Viktor Arvidsson tallied a hat trick, David Pastrnak had three assists, and Elias Lindholm had another multi-point performance (one goal, one assist).
During this win streak, the Bruins have beaten the team with the second-best record overall (Stars), the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference (Buffalo Sabres), a top contender in the Western Conference (Minnesota Wild) and the team in the East’s second wild card spot (Columbus Blue Jackets).
”Everyone was talking about the schedule. ‘The Bruins have the toughest schedule,'” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm told reporters after Tuesday’s win. “Yeah, I believe that, too. But what I liked about it is it always seems like we play better when we’re playing against better teams.”
The Bruins came out of the Olympic break on Feb. 23 barely holding on to a playoff spot. Since then, only one team (Sabres) has collected more points in the standings than the Bruins’ 25 (11-4-3).
Based on their recent play, could the Bruins win a round (or more) if they qualify for the postseason?
Yes, and there are several reasons why.
They have a deep lineup of players who can provide offense. Last year, if David Pastrnak or Morgan Geekie didn’t score, the B’s were in trouble. This year’s roster has much more scoring depth.
Pastrnak is on pace for a fifth consecutive 100-point season, and his 66 assists are a career high. Morgan Geekie has a career-high 34 goals. Pavel Zacha has a career-high 28 goals and needs one more point to hit 60 for the first time. Arvidsson has 50 points in 63 games after tallying 27 points in 67 games for the Oilers last season.
Marat Khusnutdinov’s 15 goals are a career high. Fraser Minten’s 33 points are a career high as well. Casey Mittlestadt and Mark Kastelic have provided valuable scoring production, too. And if that wasn’t enough, top defenseman Charlie McAvoy’s 58 points are also a career-high.
The Bruins are not reliant on one or two lines. They are a four-line team on a lot of nights, with the blue line also creating scoring chances, and that’s why they’ve improved from 28th in goals scored last season to eighth in 2025-26. The Bruins also have the second-best 5-on-5 goal differential since Jan. 1, along with a much-improved power play that ranks eighth in success rate.
The mental makeup of the Bruins is strong, too. They don’t fold in pressure situations. This team doesn’t quit and keeps fighting. We saw that in the comeback wins over the Sabres and Blue Jackets during this win streak. Overall, the Bruins have scored the third-most goals in the third period this season. When the pressure increases late in games, these guys typically respond in a positive manner.
Goaltending is another strength of this team and a reason why it could win a round or two.
Jeremy Swayman ranks third among all goalies in wins above replacement and goals saved above expected. He has been a top-five goalie this season and the No. 1 reason why the Bruins are in the playoff mix. Swayman was excellent in the 2024 playoffs, and based on his play this season, we could see a repeat of that in 2026.
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The Bruins are also battle-tested. They have played one of the toughest schedules since the Olympic break and have taken points from 14 of 18 games in that span. The playoff race in the East has been super competitive all season, so the B’s have been in playoff mode for a while now.
They won’t need to make any adjustments in that regard once the playoffs actually begin.
“For us, the playoffs already started a long time ago,” Sturm said postgame Tuesday. “I think that’s a good thing about our team right now. We want to get challenged right now against really good hockey teams.”
The Bruins’ first-round matchup will be tough whoever they play. The Sabres, Lightning and Hurricanes — their three most likely opponents — are all really talented teams. But the Bruins are becoming the one team nobody in the East wants to see early in the playoffs.
This Bruins squad is peaking at the perfect time. And as a result, expectations have risen. Not only should the Bruins qualify for the playoffs, they should also be a pretty tough out for whoever stands in their way.
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is toeing the rubber against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field today, and the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner will look to make it back-to-back wins to open the season.
My top Tigers vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks are calling for just that, with Arizona countering with veteran Zac Gallen this afternoon.
Who will win Tigers vs Diamondbacks today: Tigers -1.5 (48 cents)
With Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen’sERA and xFIP climbing in each of the past three seasons before allowing four runs on five hits and a pair of walks through four frames in his first 2026 start, I’m anticipating a long season ahead for the veteran righty.
It’s just the opposite for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, with the star southpaw ranking second among qualified starters in ERA and xFIP since the beginning of the 2024 campaign.
Additionally, the Arizona offense is off to a ho-hum start with a 23rd-ranked xwOBA.
COVERS INTEL: Arizona righty Zac Gallen surrendered the 10th-highest barrel percentage among qualified starters in 2025, and he allowed three through just four innings in his 2026 debut.
Tigers vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (58 cents)
I’m anticipating Skubal doing the heavy lifting to keep this total Under the number, as he’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in 26 of 32 starts since the beginning of last year.
Additionally, even with Gallen in a clear decline, the Tigers enter with a 25th-ranked wOBA alongside a middling 15th-ranked xwOBA through five 2026 games.
2026 Transparency record
ML/RL bets: 1-0, +1.46 units
Over/Under bets: 0-1, -1.05 units
Tigers vs Diamondbacks odds
Moneyline: Detroit 61c | Arizona 40c
Run line: Detroit -1.5 (48c) | Arizona +1.5 (53c)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (45c) | Under 8.5 (61c)
Tigers vs Diamondbacks trend
The Tigers have cashed the Under in 28 of their last 43 road games for +10.15 units and a 20% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Diamondbacks.
How to watch Tigers vs Diamondbacks and game info
Location
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
First pitch
3:40 p.m. ET
TV
DSN, ARID
Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Zac Gallen (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
Tigers vs Diamondbacks latest injuries
Tigers vs Diamondbacks weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
WASHINGTON — While the Sixers’ health picture has improved considerably over the last week, it’s not quite spotless.
The Sixers ruled Joel Embiid out with an illness late Wednesday morning ahead of their matchup with the Wizards. Rookie Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) also remains sidelined.
Embiid had played in three straight games since returning from a 13-game absence with a right oblique strain. After posting 26 points on 10-for-25 shooting and seven rebounds Monday in the Sixers’ loss to the Heat, he told reporters in Miami he was sick, per Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.
Embiid’s averaged 30.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 blocks over the last three games. He’s been aggressive offensively and shot especially well from three-point range, hitting 8 of 15 long-distance attempts.
WASHINGTON — While the Sixers’ health picture has improved considerably over the last week, it’s not quite spotless.
The Sixers ruled Joel Embiid out with an illness late Wednesday morning ahead of their matchup with the Wizards. Rookie Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) also remains sidelined.
Embiid had played in three straight games since returning from a 13-game absence with a right oblique strain. After posting 26 points on 10-for-25 shooting and seven rebounds Monday in the Sixers’ loss to the Heat, he told reporters in Miami he was sick, per Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.
Embiid’s averaged 30.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 blocks over the last three games. He’s been aggressive offensively and shot especially well from three-point range, hitting 8 of 15 long-distance attempts.
The New York Yankees (4-1) close out their three-game series in Seatle Wednesday afternoon against the Mariners (3-3). Cam Schlittler is scheduled to take the mound against George Kirby.
The series is tied at one game apiece following last night’s 5-0 win for New York. Max Fried was brilliant again throwing seven shutout innings. The veteran has now tossed 13.1 scoreless innings to open the campaign. Giancarlo Stanton continued his torrid start at the plate. Every game this season, Stanton has picked up a couple hits. He is now 10-20 (.500) for the season. The Yankees stayed tied with the Jays atop the AL East with the win while the loss dropped the Mariners to 1.5 games behind the Rangers in the American League West.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees at Mariners
Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 4:10PM EST
Site: T-Mobile Park
City: Seattle, WA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, Mariners.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Mariners
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of FanDuel:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-102), Seattle Mariners (-118)
Mariners: George Kirby Season Totals: 6 IP, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 6K, 2 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees at Mariners
Aaron Judge has struck out 10 times in 20 ABs
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has just 3 hits in 19 ABs this season (.158)
Giancarlo Stanton is 10-20 (.500) on the season with 2 hits in each of the Yankees 5 games
Brendan Donovan has hits in 4 straight and 5 of Mariners’ 6 games this season (.429)
Julio Rodriguez is 2-22 on the season (.091)
Cal Raleigh has struck out 13 times in 21 ABs this season
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Mariners
The Yankees are 4-1 on the Run Line this season
Seattle is 3-3 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 3 times in Seattle’s 6 games this season (3-3)
The OVER has yet to cash this season for the Yankees through 5 games (0-4-1)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees at Mariners
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Yankees and the Mariners:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on either side on the Run Line.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 7.0.
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 31: Catcher Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers hits a three RBI home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 8, Orioles 5
And the Rangers have now won two road series to start the season.
Jacob deGrom made his belated season debut, and for the first four innings and change, things went smoothly. Seven Ks, no walks, three hits, the one run being a solo homer by Pete Alonso to lead off the fourth.
I keep having to remind myself, oh yeah, Pete Alonso plays for Baltimore now.
A blame deGrom’s undoing with two outs in the fifth on Mike Bascik. Bascik said that deGrom’s pitch count and success was such that he should be able to go six innings in this, his maiden start of the season. DeGrom then gave up a single to Blaze Alexander, an infield single to Taylor Ward, and then a hard hit double to the gap by Gunnar Henderson, which tied the game at three and chased deGrom from the game.
So a bit of a letdown at the end, but still. 79 pitches, 14 whiffs, including 10 on the slider.
I will note that deGrom, who had a below average hard hit rate in 2025, continued that trend in his 2026 debut. When the O’s made contact, they hit it hard — the lowest exit velocity deGrom allowed was on the Ward infield single in the fifth, at 90.4 mph, and his average exit velocity allowed was 97.8 mph.
Cole Winn finished off the fifth with a strikeout, and ended up earning his first major league victory, going 1.1 shutout innings. Jakob Junis and Robert Garcia each threw a scoreless inning after Winn, before Chris Martin made the ninth inning a little scarier than it needed to be, allowing a pair of runs before retiring Henderson.
Fortunately, the bats were clicking. Orioles starter Zach Eflin left the game with two outs in the fourth due to elbow issues, and he had allowed just a single run, on an Ezequiel Duran home run — Duran’s first since September of 2024 — but the bats had still generated a couple of rallies against Eflin aside from the Duran prior to Eflin’s departure, even if they came to naught.
Once Eflin left the game, however, the bats went to town on the O’s relievers. Former Ranger farmhand Grant Wolfram, who inherited a two on, two out situation in the fifth but got out of it, got teed off on to start the fifth, with the Rangers putting up a pair on a Brandon Nimmo single, a Wyatt Langford triple, and a Corey Seager single.
Langford had not gotten off to a great start, coming into the game with 2 singles and 0 walks in 19 plate appearances. So its good to see him with a two hit game on Tuesday.
Langford also now is tied for the league lead in triples, with one.
Nimmo gave the Rangers the lead in the sixth with a two out single, and Danny Jansen broke it open with a two out, two run homer in the top of the seventh, a tremendously momentum shifting play, of course.
Corey Seager finished off the scoring with a homer off of Anthony Nunez to start the ninth, giving the Rangers a bit more of a cushion, and making Chris Martin’s sweaty ninth a little less stress-inducing than it might otherwise have been.
Everybody got a hit except for Joc Pederson, though Joc did draw a walk, though he is 0 for 8 to start the season. Who gets a hit first, Joc or Josh Jung (who got the day off and is currently rocking an 0 for 17 streak), will be an exciting subplot to follow.
The Rangers, as a team, have a .259/.319/.438 slash line on the year, good for a 121 OPS+ and 121 wRC+. The pitching staff has a 3.00 ERA, good for a 153 ERA+.
This may be a controversial take, but I like it when the hitting is good and the pitching is also good.
Jacob deGrom topped out at 99.2 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.6 mph. Cole Winn hit 94.0 mph with his fastball. Jakob Junis reached 93.6 mph with his fastball. Robert Garcia’s fastball topped out at 96.6 mph. Chris Martin’s fastball maxed out at 95.5 mph.
Wyatt Langford had a 107.5 mph fielder’s choice, a 106.8 mph single, and a 106.5 mph triple. Corey Seager had a 107.5 mph single and a 101.7 mph home run. Danny Jansen had a 107.3 mph single and a 104.1 mph home run. Josh Smith had a 105.3 mph single and a 102.8 mph fly out. Ezequiel Duran had a 104.7 mph home run, a 101.0 mph fielder’s choice, and a 100.0 mph ground out. Evan Carter had a 104.5 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 103.6 mph fly out.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs are less than two weeks away, with the SoFi Play-In Tournament tipping off on April 14 and the first round officially underway on April 18. The playoff picture is rapidly taking shape, with 20 teams already locked in and the remaining seeds still up for grabs as the regular season winds down.
With just nine games remaining, every contest carries playoff implications as teams battle for position in the standings. The Atlanta Hawks face a pivotal matchup Wednesday, April 1, against the Orlando Magic, a must-win if they want to hold onto a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference and avoid the Play-In Tournament altogether.
The San Antonio Spurs travel to Golden State for their fourth meeting of the season, riding the momentum of Victor Wembanyama’s historic performance, a season-high 41 points and 16 rebounds in a win against the Chicago Bulls that marked the third-fastest double-double recorded since 1997-98. San Antonio is firmly in the hunt for the top seed in the Western Conference, and with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder sitting atop the standings, every win from here on out could prove decisive heading into the postseason.
Here is the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, and the NBA standings as of April 1:
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic
(9) Miami Heat vs. (10) Charlotte Hornets
NBA standings
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records as of Wednesday, April 1, and what each of those teams have clinched so far:
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder: 60-16
(2) San Antonio Spurs: 57-18
(3) Los Angeles Lakers: 50-26
(4) Denver Nuggets: 48-28
(5) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-29
(6) Houston Rockets: 46-29
(7) Play-In Winner
(8) Play-In Winner
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons: 55-21
(2) Boston Celtics: 50-25
(3) New York Knicks: 48-28
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers: 47-29
(5) Atlanta Hawks: 43-33
(6) Toronto Raptors: 42-33
(7) Play-In Winner
(8) Play-In Winner
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.
Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?
Tuesday night didn’t just belong to the Los Angeles Lakers. It belonged to the star-studded celebrities sitting underneath the bright lights of Crypto.com Arena, where basketball and Hollywood collided like two speeding convertibles driving down Mulholland Drive.
When you attend a Lakers game, you don’t just scan the floor, you scan the crowd for a who’s who of A-list athletes, actors and musicians. It’s a cornucopia of trend-setters and influencers.
Let’s start with the quarterbacks because a lot of them showed up to watch the Lake Show host the Cleveland Cavaliers. LA Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert sat alongside his girlfriend Madison Beer.
Justin Herbert and Madison Beer attend a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers (Credit: Getty Images) Getty Images
Nearby sat Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, and next to him was former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson who’s expected to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft this month.
Also expected to go in the first round of the draft is former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, he soaked in all the action as well.
And when you’re playing the Cavaliers, the city of Cleveland has to be represented as well. Thankfully, former Guardians baseball player Kenny Lofton was also sitting courtside.
Pro athletes from other spots sitting courtside at the Cavs vs. Lakers game tonight:
Kenny Lofton, WR Makai Lemon, and QB's Ty Simpson, Bryce Young, and Justin Herbert.
The world of music was well represented as well. In addition to Beer, the soundtrack of the game could have been performed by Halsey who stunned in a black top.
Halsey attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Getty Images) Getty Images
Donovan Mitchell’s fiancee Coco Jones was there too.
Coco Jones attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California ((hoto by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) Getty Images
Rock bands also wanted to bask in the energy of the game. Red Hot Chili Peppers trio—Anthony Kiedis, Flea, and Chad Smith—buzzed like a live amp. Weezer’s Scott Shriner and Brian Bell added their own alt-rock vibes.
Credit: Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty Images NBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty Images
And right across the court was record executive Jimmy Iovine.
Jimmy Iovine and Liberty Ross attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) Getty Images
Hollywood, naturally, didn’t miss curtain call. Vivica A. Fox and Ciarra Carter sat together.
Ciarra Carter (L) and Vivica A. Fox attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Nicholas Hoult and Damson Idris added the modern star power. Noah Centineo showed off his t-shirt, and Emmy-award winning director Ben Winston might have been looking at all of them thinking which actor he wanted to cast in his next show.
They all watched the Lakers finish off the month of March with a 127-113 win over the Cavaliers. They finished the month 15-2 and Luka Doncic scored a franchise-record 600 points over that span.
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Los Angeles, CA - March 31: Starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Cleveland Guardians in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
It took two whole seasons for Shohei Ohtani to open the season in the starting rotation, and he showed on Tuesday that he is up for the challenge to post a fully healthy two-way season.
Ohtani only went 1-3 with a pair of walks at the plate against the Cleveland Guardians in the Dodgers 4-1 win, but he had the most efficient outing from a starting pitcher on the young season. Fighting the rain and a muddy mound, Ohtani tossed 87 pitches over six shutout innings while allowing just one hit and three walks and striking out six.
After securing his first win as a pitcher since his otherworldly performance in last year’s NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about being back on the mound and battling against both Cleveland hitters and Mother Nature herself.
“I felt really good going into the game. The condition— today’s weather— wasn’t great, but it was a good thing to experience this early in the season, so I’m going to charge it to experience.”
Links
Now that the 2026 season is almost a week underway, we now have a better understanding as to not only how the ABS system works, but also how the Dodgers plan to navigate and implement it.
Will Smith, who has so far made the majority of challenges for the Dodgers, spoke with David Vassegh of AM 570 about the system and about how umpires have been more “locked in” after a full test trial in spring training.
“I think it’s good for the game. I think honestly, the best part about it is I think the umpires are more locked in just from the get-go. There were a lot less overturned calls because they were locked in. The most important thing is getting the call right, and they’re trying to do their best too.”
Tuesday was Yoshi bobblehead night, and the Dodgers had the perfect opportunity to create their own “Spiderman meme” of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the character Yoshi, and actor Donald Glover, who is set to play Yoshi in the upcoming film “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”
Dodgers players also were vying to get Yamamoto’s signature on their Yoshi bobblehead, as Sonja Chen of MLB.com writes about the high demand from players and fans alike for the bobblehead.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 29: First baseman Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on March 29, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A number of Red Sox players were hot in the World Baseball Classic. A number did well in Spring Training. But it hasn’t really carried over into the first week of the season. The Boston Red Sox are 1-4 after a full turn of the rotation and are once again looking for Garrett Crochet to play the part of the stopper.
This is the same team that made upgrades over the winter — even if those upgrades didn’t come off the wish list of players we would have come up with. This is the rotation projected by analysts around the industry to be the best in baseball. But Garrett Crochet was good. Connelly Early looked really good for his sophomore season debut and only a handful of starts last season. Sonny Gray wasn’t impressive. Ranger Suárez looked like he was still trying to catch up after missing time pitching this spring due to WBC rotation issues. And Brayan Bello had good and bad innings.
Mathematically, the first five games count as much as the last five but the impact seems even larger because there are no other games on the season record to hide a run of four poor performances. Everything at the start of the season is magnified.
But let’s step back.
Willson Contreras is a veteran. He’s a career .257/.352/.458 hitter over his 11 years in MLB. How many times over a five-game span has he gone gotten two hits or fewer? 172. That’s obviously distributing them across the season but that’s the point. And there have been variations in his playing time over the samples. As many as 22 at bats and as few as 10. At the start of 2025 he was 0-19 over the first five games. In 2018 and 2022 he had 7 hits in 25 and 18 at bats, respectively.
He’s a year older, granted, but still likely to have his typical Willson Contreras season.
Trevor Story? He’s not piling up big starts in five games all the time either. In 2016 he had six home runs in the first five games of the season. But he also had totals of 2, 1, 1, and 1 with the other six seasons being zero home runs.
Roman Anthony doesn’t have a long career to draw on and he is putting up some bad numbers for his short career. On Tuesday he struck out three times on a total of nine pitches. That’s not great. He struck out four times in a game for the first time this season and first time since July 2025. As you may recall, he turned things on quite a bit for a while as July turned into August.
And while the hitters have looked bad there’s also some amount of the struggle that isn’t in their control. Maybe they’re facing really tough pitchers?
This is likely not the only reason. The bats have been slow to warm up even as spring is in the air in Boston, a month removed from seven-foot piles of snow occupying the city.
And while the Red Sox also have, at least on paper, a good pitching staff that could be dominating opposing lineups, sometimes these things happen. Remember Bello and Lucas Giolito heading into last June? Disaster. And then both of those guys started throwing well.
No one wants to wait until June — the Sox squandered a lot of April and May wins in 2025 that might have been nice to have come September — the calendar is only just turning to April. We’re not at the Marathon game yet. Opening Day at Fenway Park hasn’t even happened. For a moment, perhaps, let’s give these guys a chance to turn things around.
Toronto Blue Jays All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero, one of baseball’s most popular stars, is hoping to make an impact off the field too, becoming the first brand ambassador for a premier youth sports experiential company.
Guerrero, 27, who signed a two-year contract, will be the face of FlexWork Sports’ baseball programming across Canada, USA and other global markets. He will host 11 youth events the next two years for youth and family, with the first two being held in Hamilton, Ontario on July 30 and Aug. 24 in Toronto.
“I was born in Canada, play in Canada, and want to give back to the kids who grew up watching me across the country and around the world,” Guerrero Jr. said in a statement. “This partnership gives me the platform to show them what’s possible.
“After hosting an incredible event with FlexWork Sports in Toronto last year, I knew I wanted to build something bigger with lasting impact.”
FlexWork Sports works with hundreds of athletes, but wanted Guerrero after seeing him work at their baseball camp a year ago and watching how the kids gravitated towards him. There were 1,200 kids who flocked to Guerrero’s double session camp a year ago in Toronto.
“Just the way all the kids lit up when he walked in," Adam Van Rees, FlexWork’s chief business offer told USA TODAY Sports in a Zoom call. “I mean, you're going to have that with most professional athletes. But it's just a different level when you bring that superstar level in, and layer that in with that personality."
Said Forrest West, founder and CEO of FlexWork Sports: “One of the reasons we choose Vladdy is that he’s kind of a big kid himself. I mean, he’s running around the kids. He’s probably more excited than a number of them. He didn’t really know what to expect, but once he got out there, he just shined. He loved it."
Really, Guerrero, 27, was the prototype athlete and personality FlexWork has been seeking all along, and they’re now hoping their relationship lasts much longer than the two-year contract. They’re hoping to have camps featuring Guerrero in Canada, the United States and in the Dominican Republic, where he lives in the offseason.
FlexWork Sports has conducted more than 2,000 youth-sports experiential events in 44 states and 18 countries, featuring about 700 athletes, including Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber and Fernando Tatis in baseball, as well as Saquon Barkley, Karl-Anthony Towns and Cameron Brink.
“I think the biggest thing is the investment we put into the quality of our events," West said. “There are other companies out there that have athletes that come out, wave to the kids, say a few things and leave. Our athletes come to the camps. They're there for the full length of the camp. They interact with all the families. We have them go through the stands to do high fives, do Q&A. We really focus on the experiential side, making sure that each kid gets to interact with that athlete.
“It's like we want our camps to be full of instruction, of sport and play, but we also wanted to have that feel of Disney where you show up and it's truly like a performance, kind of a major activation with the athlete. We want that to be reflected with the quality of athletes we work with."
FlexWork began with eight events in 2019, expanded to 24 events in 2021, which included four of the top five NFL draft picks. The company now is projected to have about 385 events this year.
“I think the right kind of momentum is the partner with the right one or two athletes across each major sport and create these ambassadors, multi-year partnerships" Van Rees said, “so we can build out some programming with them that can last well beyond even their playing days. Candidly, Vladdy's got a long time to go, but we're really excited about working with him for years to come, even extending into retirement.
“He's generational talent and personality, and we think there's one or two of those guys, maybe three, in each major sport. There's only a handful of guys that can really connect from a personality standpoint, as well as what their on-field ability is, and obviously, Vlad is at the top."
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 31: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 31, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tuesday night in Orlando was supposed to feel like something. The Phoenix Suns were getting their soul back with Dillon Brooks returning after an 18-game absence. Instead, it left you with more questions than answers, especially for a team now flirting with the idea that hosting a Play-In game is no longer a guarantee.
It started from the jump. Phoenix came out too amped, too keyed up, playing with emotion but not control. The Orlando Magic lean into physicality. They like to get under your skin, and that is a lane the Suns are comfortable in as well. But a minute and a half in, the tone was already off. Technical fouls, jawing back and forth, energy spilling over in the wrong direction.
And here was the problem. Only one team backed it up.
Phoenix put themselves in foul trouble almost immediately, handing Orlando free points and easy rhythm. From there, the night became about chasing. Possession after possession, they were trying to climb out of a hole they had dug themselves.
Then came the fourth, and that is where things really went sideways. The Orlando Magic are big, long, and physical. That is their identity, and with Oso Ighodaro sitting on five fouls, the expectation was simple. Match size with size. Give yourself a presence inside. Instead, Jordan Ott went the other direction. No added length. No adjustment to what Orlando was throwing at them. No Khaman Maluach. No Ryan Dunn.
The Suns leaned all the way into small ball, and it backfired.
The offense stalled out completely. 17 points in the fourth, 29.2% shooting from the field, 20% from deep. Possessions got tight, spacing shrank, and nothing came easy. It turned into one of those stretches where every trip down the floor felt like a grind, and nothing broke loose.
And then there was Jalen Green. It was not his night through three quarters. He was 3-of-10 from the field, 0-of-5 from three, but when the offense needed something…anything…he stayed on the bench. The reasoning was sticking with the small lineup, riding what was out there.
But that is where it gets confusing. Green fits that mold. He is one of your primary shot creators, one of the few players who can generate offense when things bog down. And at $33 million, he is not someone you hide from those moments. You give him the opportunity to play through it, to find a rhythm, to create when nothing else is working.
That never came. And as the offense sputtered possession after possession, it left you wondering what could have been different if that choice had gone the other way.
There was no size inserted, so the advantage stayed exactly where Orlando wanted it: in the paint. It has been a recurring issue for the Phoenix Suns. The inability to consistently deter penetration and protect the rim. The frustrating part is the tools are there. They are young, they are developing, but they exist. And yet, night after night, teams are getting downhill, living in the paint, and dictating terms.
And then there is the irony of the final five minutes. Devin Booker was not the focal point in the way you would expect. The ball moved, the gravity was there, he drew attention, and he created opportunities for others. It looked like the version some have been asking for: less isolation, more distribution, more trust in the group.
And the result was empty.
Shots did not fall. Looks that were clean never dropped. And when the biggest possession arrived, it was Dillon Brooks with the ball in his hands. The result? A shot that sailed over the backboard.
I’m just gonna go ahead and put my face in my hands.
That is the tradeoff. You move away from your primary option, you trust the collective, and sometimes the collective does not deliver. It does not mean the idea is wrong, but it shows how thin the margin is when your best player is not the one taking the shot when it matters most.
As the season winds down, it feels like the questions are piling up instead of clearing out. Why was that the approach? Why match small against a team built on size? Why not give Jalen Green a chance late when the offense was starving for creation? Why does Khaman Maluach never see those closing minutes, especially in games that are screaming for rim protection? And why, when things tighten, does the offense feel like it narrows into a three-point dependency instead of something more layered?
The calendar is not waiting. These are games sitting right in front of you, games you have to take. The Orlando Magic handed over 25 turnovers, 25 extra opportunities, and Phoenix still could not capitalize. 20 turnovers of their own, 26 points allowed off of them, possessions slipping through their fingers over and over again. Then come the fouls. Some you can argue, some you cannot, but the reality is they put themselves in that position and paid for it.
And this is where it starts to matter. Because if you keep playing like this at the back end of the season, if you keep letting games like this get away, the Los Angeles Clippers are going to close that gap. And suddenly, you are not hosting a Play-In game, you are flying to Los Angeles, putting yourself in a tougher environment with everything on the line.
So the Suns leave Orlando, and it is far from the happiest place on earth. And for the fan base, it does not feel much better. It feels like a team still searching for answers at a time when they should be locking them in.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
That “36 points without a free throw” thing certainly didn’t hurt Booker’s case for earning his 18th Bright Side Baller of the season. He now has earned the Baller in 31% of his games played this season.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 76 against the Magic. Here are your nominees:
COVERS INTEL: Arizona righty Zac Gallen surrendered the 10th-highest barrel percentage among qualified starters in 2025, and he allowed three through just four innings in his 2026 debut.
