LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Lakers guard Austin Reaves celebrates after making a three-point basket during the second half against the Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
With the Western Conference a tight-knit race yet again this season, this series will look at the standings and games to watch across the league as the Lakers look to secure home court and move up the standings.
It appears that the Lakers are peaking at the right time. They have won four straight games, doing so while beating top teams like the Wolves and opponents they are favored against, such as the Bulls.
Now, the Lakers find themselves with the third-best record in the West, a position they undoubtedly want to keep.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference: 3. Lakers — 41-25, 10.5 GB 4. Rockets — 40-25, 11 GB 5. Nuggets — 41-26, 11 GB 6. Wolves — 40-26, 11.5 GB 7. Suns — 39-27, 13 GB
LA’s next game will be a huge one as they take on Denver. If they win that contest, they’ll own the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, and considering how tight this Western Conference race is, that might matter.
Besides the Lakers winning their games, they need to keep an eye on their surrounding opponents and hope they lose as well, so they can begin building a gap between themselves and everyone else.
Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who you should be rooting for.
Friday
Pelicans at Rockets — Despite their record, New Orleans isn’t a tanking team. They’ve won three of their last four games. Can they upset the Rockets and help the Lakers before Houston takes on LA next week?
Wolves at Warriors — With Steph Curry still out, Golden State hasn’t looked like the kind of team that can compete against Minnesota. That’s bad news for the Lakers.
Suns at Raptors — Toronto has been struggling as of late, losing four of their last five games. Meanwhile, the Suns have won four straight as they try to fight their way out of the play-in.
Phoenix will be favored at home, but perhaps former Laker Brandon Ingram can have a big game and pull off the upset.
Sunday
Wolves at Thunder — No team is playing better than Oklahoma City right now. Anthony Edwards is going to have to play his best game of the season if the Wolves are going to have a shot at winning this game. Minnesota will also be on the road for this contest, making this matchup that much harder to win.
Monday
Suns at Celtics —With the Suns playing the Celtics on Monday, it’s in LA’s best interest for Boston to win and Phoenix to lose. So, yes, this is one of the rare instances that Lakers fans will be cheering for Boston to come out on top.
Mar 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) watches in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Over the last three and a half seasons, Jalen Brunson has become one of the premier players in the league. He’s a three-time All-Star who has made the All-NBA Second Team twice, is constantly heralded as one of the best scorers in the league, and he’s coming off a Clutch Player of the Year Award. But maybe the biggest reason he’s earned the respect as one of the league’s finest is his consistency.
Brunson, like every other player to ever grace a basketball court, has off games. Missed shots, bad decision-making, ugly process on the offensive end, and bad defense, even for his standards, those things all happen from time to time. But Brunson, maybe more so than any other player in the league, has also developed the reputation of bouncing back and doing so emphatically.
Whenever Brunson has the rare, and uncharacteristic stinker of a game, more often than not, the point guard and leader of the Knicks answers back by not only getting back on track, but playing some of his best basketball. But over the last few weeks, that hasn’t necessarily been the case.
Brunson has still put up very respectable numbers overall, but when compared to his usual numbers, which is a pretty high bar, he’s underperformed. Over his past 13 games, Brunson is averaging 21.7PPG while shooting 44.1% from the field, which are both noticeably lower than the 27.4PPG on 47% shooting he was averaging prior. Not only that, but his turnovers per game have also seen a slight uptick, as they have gone from 2.2 turnovers per game to 2.8. This minor but still non-insignificant difference in play and numbers has led Knicks fans to voice concern, while others have voiced outright disappointment and even condemnation.
Which begs the question: Should Knicks fans be worried? Short answer, no. And here’s why.
While Brunson has come down to earth and has looked surprisingly human over the last few weeks, Brunson’s dip in production can be explained by a change in his role/responsibilities and how opponents have defended the Knicks. This isn’t just about a player simply experiencing a decline in production due to poor play.
Now, Brunson himself would surely be the first one to tell you that he hasn’t played up to par, and that he can, and should play better. But over the last few weeks, Brunson has shifted some of his focus, which has sacrificed some of his usual scoring numbers for the betterment of the team. The point guard has upped his defensive intensity, which has coincided with the recent improvement of the team’s defense, and he’s opted, either by choice or by the way defenses are playing him, to be a bit more of a playmaker than he was to start the season.
TL turning on Brunson when he’s working on evolving into a true number one on a championship team 💔
He has to work harder to break even on defense, all while balancing being the lead playmaker and scorer and fans are mad that trajectory isn’t linear.pic.twitter.com/Wfr8CEPZSz
— OG Anunoby Addict (@PlayoffBoundNYK) March 9, 2026
Brunson started the season averaging 20.8 field goal attempts per game over his first 49 games. But over his aforementioned—and recent—13-game stretch, those numbers have gone down drastically to just 16.9 attempts per game. And his assists have gone up from 6.1APG to 8.0APG during that span as well. Some of this can be attributed to the fact that defenses, especially the very good ones, have continued to force Josh Hart to make plays, either as a scorer or a passer, and put extra pressure on Brunson to get rid of the ball. Some of it also seems like a choice by him, and or by head coach Mike Brown, as he’s shifted to getting guys involved a bit more often.
There are still some red flags to be wary of. Outside of Wednesday night’s Jazz game, in which he really only played one good half of good Brunson-like basketball, he’s lacked the IT factor that he so often provides, and we’ve seen Brunson struggle a bit more than Knicks fans are accustomed to seeing. He’s looked maybe half a step slow, a bit more hesitant on drives, still falters at times when tasked with being more of a playmaker than a scorer (often due to his height, and not inability to read the game), and it’s been close to a month since he’s scored more than 30 points in a game. Furthering that concern is the fact that, as you can see below, Brunson’s numbers have taken quite a dip since injuring his ankle in the first quarter against the Kings on January 14th.
Pre-ankle injuryPost-ankle injury
Brunson’s effective field goal percentage overall, rim field goal percentage, short midrange field goal percentage, and the aforementioned points per game have all gone down significantly. It is a smaller sample size, and Brunson and the Knicks have played some very good defensive teams over that stretch, but it’s still worth noting.
That being said, even during that span, it’s not like Brunson hasn’t had good games. He’s had a 31-point game against the 76ers, a 42-point masterpiece on 52% shooting against the Nuggets, a 31-point game on 57% shooting against the Celtics two nights before a 40-point 48% shooting game against the Pacers, and a 33-point game on 60% shooting against one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Pistons.
If fans want to be concerned, it’s more than understandable. At the end of the day, regardless of how good the Knicks look on paper, New York, especially come playoff time, only goes as far as their captain takes them. But it is admittedly somewhat odd seeing just how many fans have turned on maybe the single most important figure in the franchise’s history, especially since some of his statistical decline has come from him doing the very things those fans have wanted more of-defensive effort, and playmaking. He’s not free of flaws, and he, like Patrick Ewing, Carmelo Anthony, and all of the other Knicks legends that came before him, should be called out when underperforming. But the internet has seen a greater-than-usual place for takes about how “he needs to be traded,” “can’t lead this team in the playoffs,” and even how “he’s washed up.”
people hating on brunson lately are so weird… he’s been working on the things he was most criticized for (defense and playmaking) but that’s now a problem for y’all too?
— certified bling bling boy (@c_blingblingboy) March 8, 2026
If you turning on Brunson so quickly that means you ain’t believe in him like that in the first place. Stay on that side.
— Skip Sayless 🇹🇹🇭🇹♒️🗽 (@travbryanmusic) March 9, 2026
Overall, though, my trust in Brunson remains. While there are factors to weigh and things to keep an eye on, my worry level about Brunson has yet to reach a high level. What he’s done, and not done most recently, matters, and that shouldn’t be completely downplayed. But over his 314-game sample size as a Knick, Brunson has continued to surprise, overperform, and show up, especially when it matters most. The hope is that between now and the first round of the playoffs, Brunson can get some much-needed rest, continue to sharpen his ability to balance scoring and playmaking, while maintaining some semblance of the defensive improvements we’ve seen, and ultimately get back to the playoff Brunson we know he can be.
The world of sport appears to be softening the hardline stance it took when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Russian athletes are back competing under their own flag at the Paralympics. Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the international ban on Russian soccer teams “has not achieved anything”. And his counterpart at the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, insists all athletes should be allowed to “compete freely.”
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 7: A general view of a spring training game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 7, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First pitch against the Boston Red Sox is at 1:05 at JetBlue Park and the Red Sox will be providing radio coverage.
In head-to-head leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.
14 teams play twice this weekend, including the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Pistons, Warriors, Pacers, Clippers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Knicks, 76ers, Trail Blazers, Kings, Raptors and Jazz. Prioritize those teams if you’re looking to maximize your games played.
That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo!’s High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.
Absolute must-start: Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz
With Keyonte George (hamstring) set to miss at least two weeks (and let’s be honest, Utah shouldn’t risk further injury here, so he could be done for the year), Collier should be considered a must-roster player. As a starter this season, he has averaged 15.3 points, 8.8 assists and 1.5 steals across 16 starts.
Not only should Collier be considered a must-roster player, but he should be in for a productive weekend as well. They take on the Trail Blazers and Kings, and while Portland has been an average defense recently, Sacramento has been one of the worst for most of the year. Both teams also have played at a top-10 pace over their last 10 games, meaning extra possessions for Collier to dish out dimes.
Guards:
Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
Even when coming off the bench on Thursday, Rollins was still able to have a productive night, which featured a double-double. Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) returned, but now the Bucks play a back-to-back this weekend, meaning he could certainly sit one leg of that, allowing Rollins to start. Regardless, Rollins has been fantastic recently, and they take on the Hawks and Pacers this weekend, two fast-paced teams. Atlanta has been incredible defensively recently, but Indiana hasn’t, and there should be enough possessions for Rollins to produce regardless.
Cameron Payne, Philadelphia 76ers
Payne fell back to earth on Thursday after a historic performance on Tuesday, but he was still productive off the bench. Over his last three games, Payne has averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 assists and 4.0 triples while shooting a ridiculous 56.3 percent from the floor. This weekend, they take on Brooklyn and Portland, with the Nets boasting one of the worst defenses in the league recently.
Landry Shamet, New York Knicks
Josh Hart (knee) is questionable on Friday after missing Wednesday’s game, which was a game that Shamet started in his stead. Shamet has been solid as a reserve, but he took on extra minutes as a starter. They take on the Pacers on Friday and Warriors on Sunday, with both teams struggling on defense recently. Shamet should get the chance to get hot from deep.
Forwards:
Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
With matchups against the Jazz and 76ers this weekend, Grant is set up to keep his hot streak going. He has scored at least 20 points in eight of his last nine games and gets to take on two struggling defenses. Grant has also been able to contribute steals recently, with seven swipes over his last five games.
Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
Utah has made Bailey a priority more and more in recent weeks, and with Keyonte George (hamstring) now set to miss time, Bailey should be the focal point of the offense. On the schedule this weekend are the Trail Blazers and Kings, with Sacramento struggling mightily on defense as of late. Expect Bailey to take and make plenty of shots.
Gui Santos, Golden State Warriors
Golden State does have two tough matchups this weekend, but Santos has been too good for it to matter, and he’s still only rostered in 26 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He has averaged 18 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.0 triples over his last three outings, and while games against the Timberwolves and Knicks won’t be easy, he’ll see enough usage to make it worth it. He should be a must-roster player, especially with Stephen Curry (knee) set to miss at least another week.
Centers:
Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
Over their last 10 games, the Grizzlies and Raptors are 30th and 27th in rebounding percentage, and Detroit gets to take on both this weekend. Of course, Jalen Duren should be in for monster nights, but Stewart should also be effective off the bench. Since returning from his seven-game suspension, Stewart has averaged 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable for Friday’s game against Indiana due to bilateral knee soreness, and his absence would allow Robinson to take on more minutes. They take on the Pacers, who are 26th in rebounding percentage over their last 10 games, and the Warriors, who are 21st during the same stretch. Robinson should dominate the glass regardless, but he could really pop if KAT is sidelined against the tanking Pacers.
Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings
Raynaud has been on quite the tear recently, aside from his last game, and now he gets matchups with the Clippers and Jazz this weekend. The Clippers have been average on the glass and defensively recently, while Utah has struggled in both areas, and neither team defends the paint well. Raynaud has averaged 16.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 60.9 percent from the floor and 92.3 percent from the line over the last two weeks.
The university announced Friday, March 13 that English would not return for a fourth season as Friars coach.
"We appreciate Kim and his staff for their efforts over the past three seasons leading our men's basketball team," Providence athletic director Steve Napolillo said in a statement. "We wish him and his family all the best in the future."
English went 48-52 in three seasons at the school, including a 15-18 mark this season that put Providence ninth in the 11-team Big East.
The 37-year-old English, a former all-conference player at Missouri who was a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, was brought in to replace Ed Cooley after his contentious move from Providence to Georgetown in 2023. English had previously gone 34-29 in two seasons at George Mason before being hired by the Friars.
On March 5, with his team at 14-16 after a 22-point loss at home against Marquette, reports emerged that English wouldn’t return to Providence.
After the Friars’ 85-72 loss to St. John’s on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, English gave an impassioned response when asked about his job security and future.
"I don't want anyone's sympathy,” he said. “I don't like anyone's pity. Don't text me nothing sad, 'Hope you're OK, keep your head up.’ I’m not that guy. Kick me while I'm down. I'll get up. I've never been more proud standing in the locker room than I was after this season.”
Providence was an NCAA Tournament regular under Cooley, making the event seven times over nine seasons in which it was held from 2014-23, which was highlighted by a Sweet 16 run in 2022.
The Friars are one of three major-conference job openings in the northeast, along with Syracuse and Boston College. Candidates for the position are likely to include South Florida coach Bryan Hodgson, Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun, Merrimack coach Joe Gallo and Yale coach James Jones, among others.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Adrian Santana #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on prior to a spring training game against the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Previous Winner
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
25
Brailer Guerrero
OF
8
24
33%
14
26
Brayden Taylor
2B/3B
6
25
24%
2
27
Adrian Santana
SS
6
26
23%
N/R
Santana sneaks a win through despite three other prospects getting 5 votes in Overn, recently optioned Mesa Jr., and Valdez. Next round adds 2025’s top international signee.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Alex Cook, RHP 25 | 6’2” | 220 AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.
Tampa Bay’s top signee from the 2025 international class, Coret reported tall and young with a lot of projection. His future depends mostly on his hit tool, with prospect evaluators divided on a player that has a long way to go, but the exit velocity (111 mph) and foot speed are plus for his age. Promisingly, after he had a hot start to his professional career, Coret saw his strikeouts elevate in July, but he got them back under control in the final month. A move to the complex league in 2026 would be aggressive.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Dean Moss, OF 19 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss’s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss’s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
Each foot has two sesamoid bones that "act like pulleys inside the big-toe flexor tendon to reduce friction and increase the efficiency of push-off," according to Complete Orthopedics. Those can either become fractured or have small growths — usually in athletes and dancers because they push off and use this bone more — so the surgery removes the bone to both relieve pain and restore function.
Pippen had this surgery on his other foot in October and was out until Feb. 6. He played in just 10 games for the Grizzlies this season because of it. In the 10 games he did play, Pippen averaged 11.4 points and 4.7 assists per game.
Pippen, who has two years left on his contract after this one, will return to a Grizzlies team next season that will look very different, as it starts to undergo a rebuild.
Thursday night’s Hawks vs. Nets game was put on a brief pause after a referee was injured in a bizarre fashion.
With a little over eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter of Brooklyn’s matchup with Atlanta at State Farm Arena, Sha’Rae Mitchell ran into a camera operator and sustained a head injury.
NBA ref Sha'Rae Mitchell WENT DOWN with an injury after hitting her head on a camera operator
Mitchell was initially annoyed with the cameraman for being so close to the court in the middle of play, as lip readers noted she yelled, “Get off the court” following the incident.
But moments later, pain appeared to set in and she needed several moments to collect herself.
Sha’Rae Mitchell was initially annoyed at the camera operator after she bumped into him during a play.
The 40-year-old, who played college basketball at UC Santa Barbara and became a full-time official in 2023, walked over to the scorer’s table and sat down in an attempt to recover.
For around a minute, she held her head in her hands and looked dazed.
Fortunately, she was able to shake it off and finish out the game.
Sha’rae Mitchell needed several moments to collect herself after bumping her head on a camera during a bizarre play in the Hawks vs. Nets game.
The Hawks had the lead at the time of the delay, but the Nets ended up going on an immediate 8-3 run when play resumed.
Atlanta, though, was able to hold off Brooklyn to win, 108-97. Jalen Johnson led all Hawks scorers with 21 points. He added nine rebounds and nine assists.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 08: Jarren Duran #16 of Team Mexico celebrates his solo home run with teammate Randy Arozarena #56 in the second inning against Team Brazil during a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game at Daikin Park on March 08, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Alex Cora was right. The Red Sox should win some sort of award for getting their guys ready to play entering the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Boston’s bats hit .310 during pool play and contributed to some of the tournament’s best performances thus far. The most impactful of all entering 2026? Jarren Duran balling out for Team Mexico.
Watching Roman Anthony start every game and contribute at a high level for Team USA is super encouraging. But if the Red Sox are going to be a playoff team in 2026, Duran has to perform like an All-Star caliber offensive weapon. He’s done that so far this spring.
Here are three reasons the Red Sox should feel great about Duran with two weeks to go before Opening Day.
The Power Surge
Duran has left the yard six times so far this spring. His two most recent homers came against Matthew Boyd in Team Mexico’s pool play battle with Team USA, emphasizing the 29-year-old’s sizzling start to competitive action this season.
Duran hit 21 homers in his All-Star 2024 season, but dropped back down to 16 home runs in 2025. The left-handed bat flashed raw power as a prospect, though the ability to bring that thump consistently in the big leagues hasn’t always been there. Swing changes and approach tweaks have reshaped Duran’s offensive identity, but he can contribute to the 20+ home run club that’s become a major talking point around the Red Sox lineup.
Put it this way: the math looks great. Across 27 total spring training and WBC at-bats, Duran homered in nearly a quarter of them. Only Vinny Pasquantino joins the Red Sox outfielder with a trio of WBC long balls.
Lefties? No problem.
For the Red Sox to produce at an efficient level in 2026, their young left-handed bats have to meet the matchups against southpaws. That especially goes for Duran, Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu.
Duran felt the dropoff against lefties in 2025 with just a .211 batting average and .600 OPS. He has to be better and voiced his intention to make the right adjustments in 2026:
Jarren Duran on having better at-bats against lefties in 2026:
“I did pretty good against lefties in 2024, right? So ‘25 they adjusted. So then ‘26 I can adjust to them.” pic.twitter.com/2CWI5mV2OO
Well, he’s mashing lefties this spring. THAT is the storyline of his strong start. If Duran holds his own left-on-left, Boston’s offense could reach a completely different level.
Oh, and about that power surge we talked about above: of those six homers, four came against left-handed pitching.
Leaning into athleticism
Duran’s defense was concerning at times in 2025 (-4 OAA, 18th percentile), headlined by his inability to secure an Aaron Judge line drive that led to the Yankees taking the lead in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series.
The Red Sox outfielder already turned in a quality defensive moment for Mexico when he started a timely relay to cut down USA’s Anthony at the plate early in the pool play matchup.
This week on Sunday Night Basketball, the Golden State Warriors take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with Basketball Night in America on NBC and Peacock. See below for additional information on how to watch the Warriors vs Knicks game and keep up with all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Sunday's game marks the second and final meeting between the Knicks and Warriors this season. The last time these two teams met was on January 15, when the Warriors defeated the Knicks at Chase Center, 126-113.
The team announced on Wednesday that the two-time MVP will miss at least six more games and will be re-evaluated on March 21. Curry has been dealing with a lingering runner's knee injury. He is averaging 27.2 points this season.
The Knicks return to the Garden and look to build consistency after a five-game stretch on the road.
How to watch Golden State Warriors vs New York Knicks:
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Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) throws a pitch in the first inning against the New York Yankees during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
With 13 days to go before Opening Day, the Orioles have their starting pitcher. The team announced before Friday’s spring training game against the Phillies that the dominant star from last year, Trevor Rogers, is getting the nod for the first start of the season.
On one hand, it’s no surprise that the guy who had a 1.81 ERA across 18 starts last season, who accumulated 5.5 bWAR in only 109.2 innings, is getting lined up as the #1 starter for the season. If he had performed like that over a full season, he would have been an easy winner for the AL Cy Young award.
On the other hand, it’s at least a tiny surprise, if only because there’s also Kyle Bradish, who is longer-tenured with the team and still looked pretty ace-like in his return last year from Tommy John surgery. By starting Wednesday’s spring training game, Bradish appeared to be lined up for Opening Day on regular rest. The team has gone in another direction.
As of this writing, there has not been any official indication from manager Craig Albernaz about how he might line up his other starting pitchers. Given that there are six starting pitching candidates, he hasn’t even announced whether he will do a six-man rotation. For now, my best guess is that things will line up with Rogers followed by Bradish, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, and Dean Kremer, with Zach Eflin getting something like a two-week rehab stint at the start of the season to fully build up from last year’s back surgery.
The team has continually not indicated Eflin is behind schedule, though, so I’m starting to doubt that as the resolution. If nobody gets hurt between now and Opening Day, are they going to put Kremer in the bullpen? Send him to the minors? Though the #1 spot is resolved, many questions remain here. The Orioles probably have an idea internally what they’re going to do about these things, but they haven’t showed their cards yet.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 10: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 10, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
What’s the saying go? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us. Well, what’s four? Because we’re at that with Jalen Green.
He’s stringed together four straight 24+ point performances, all coming in Phoenix Suns wins. Last night’s victory against the Pacers was not just his best game of the win streak, but of his Suns’ tenure. The guard scored 36 points on 14-of-23 from the field and was tied for the team lead in plus/minus.
When Suns GM Brian Gregory said recently that Green and Devin Booker can be the NBA’s best backcourt, a game like last night can only further his belief in the idea. The two combined for 79 points, both going for season highs and accounting for more than 64% of the team’s points.
The key for Green is that he’s deferring to Booker. During Phoenix’s four-game win streak, the fifth-year guard is taking three fewer shots per game than Booker is, and his efficiency has been the best it’s been all season. He’s shooting 50.6% from the field, doing so by taking nearly five more shots per game than his season average.
One of the knocks on Green to start his career has been about his efficiency. No season as a Rocket did he shoot better than 42.3% from the field or 35.4% from three, low marks for an undersized guard that can be a liability on offense, takes a lot of shots, and has a thin frame.
In two of his last three seasons on the Rockets, Green led Houston in points per game, and all four years he was a member of the team, he led them in shots per game. That is not his role on the Suns. It’s a fundamentally different one than the one he played with his former team, especially when Devin Booker is playing.
When he’s sharing the court with Booker, Green is not the offensive team’s main perimeter focus. He has more room to operate, as well as put less consistent tax on his body as he recovers from his multiple hamstring injuries that could impact his energy. When Booker plays, Green shoots 44% from the field and is a +75. When he doesn’t, he shoots 29.8% from the field and is a -34. When Green is playing without Booker, he reverts back to the role he played during his time in Houston, where he was often a first option.
Amid all the injuries both have had, Booker and Green have played just 13 games together. Since Booker returned from his hip injury, the six-straight games the two have played is the longest streak they’ve gone this year playing with each other, and they’re finally hitting their stride. Both playing similar positions and sharing similar skillsets, the two have needed time to find their rhythm. Booker’s was always going to come first. He’s the team’s best player and leader. Green is starting to find his.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 10: Javonte Green #31 of the Detroit Pistons reacts during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 10, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons are handling who’s in front of them. They’ve exploded offensively after a brief four-game rut. Detroit takes on the Memphis Grizzlies tonight. You need to scroll three times to view their full injury report.
Tonight’s matchup won’t be a battle between two playoff teams, but the Pistons are finding a rhythm from deep. Some of the most important strikers are trending in the right direction as the playoffs approach.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
When: 7:30 PM
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-15.5)
Analysis
The Brooklyn Nets and last night’s Philadelphia 76ers aren’t the most stout defensive teams, but making shots can do good for a player’s mental. Duncan Robinson went 8/10 from deep in the two demolitions. That type of hot streak needs to continue against the great teams.
Robinson is shooting 35 percent from 3 against top-10 defenses, according to Cleaning The Glass. It makes sense that tougher defenses make shooters take more difficult shots, but maybe a hot stretch vs lesser opponents can trigger an overall parade from range.
Javonte Green’s shooting is always an extra. If he can make defenses pay consistently, his playoff minutes might increase. It’s no secret that teams are going to leave streaky shooters like Green to bottle up Cade Cunningham. Green was nails going 4-6 from 3 last night. This version of Green is a 3-and-D menace who seems up for the moment.
Marcus Sasser has stepped in as a shot taker and maker. He’s a sparkplug. He won’t start when Ausar Thompson eventually returns, but Sasser is another piece on the board JB Bickerstaff can play. Sasser has always shown he can get buckets, and there will be dry spots in the postseason where he could help the team.
Cade had it going from deep in three of the past four games. He only shot the ball six times last night. His off-the-bounce shooting could swing a playoff series one way or another. He has shot 36 percent on 3.5 pullup 3-point attempts for the season. Was last year more about poor pullup shooting or Cade seeing playoff defenses for the first time? I’d bet he’s better this time around.
The Grizzlies saw the playoffs last year, too, but they’re far from that type of team now. They’ve trotted out a very young roster over the last few weeks. 21-year-old GG Jackson has been one of their focal points lately. Ty Jerome has been too. He missed the last game with a calf injury.
This isn’t Jackson’s first time getting the keys over the final stretch of the year. During the last 18 games of the 2024 season, Jackson averaged 20 points. He had a 44-point bomb on the last day of the regular season.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper has been the Grizzlies’ big with Zach Edey out for the year. Prosper isn’t the force and paint beast Edey is, but he can shoot the rock. 38 percent of his shots are from 3, and he’s solid.
Javon Small, Jaylen Wells, and Rayan Rupert are other candidates who could play 30-plus minutes tonight. The Grizzlies are on a six-game losing streak with a minus-7.6 net rating in that span. They won’t win the Western Conference, but Detroit has to focus on itself. Don’t play down to your comp and continue to handle who is in front of you.
Lineups
Detroit Pistons (47-18): Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Sep 21, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) is showered with beer and champagne after the Brewers clinched the 2025 National League Central Division Championship following a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The National League Central could be the most highly volatile, wide open division of the 2026 season.
The Central was red hot in 2025, producing three of the six playoff teams in the NL. It looked like the year that the Chicago Cubs might finally dethrone the Milwaukee Brewers, but the Brew Crew rocketed up the standings from third place on June 1st to a 97 win season and a three-peat as division champs. The Cubbies finished with 92 wins and clinched the 4 seed, joined by the Cincinnati Reds who snuck in as the final Wild Card team.
The year ahead could yield wildly different results.
The PECOTA Standings are projecting major swings for three teams, predicting an 11-game improvement for the Pittsburgh Pirates, while calling for the Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals to be 16 and 11 games worse, respectively. Anchored by rising superstar Paul Skenes, the Pirates seem to be trending in the right direction and could push for a playoff spot, or escape the basement at the very least. On the other hand, the Cardinals are facing the reality that they may not be perennial contenders anymore.
It feels likely that the Central will have two representatives in the postseason. If things break right, they may get three again. But who those two or three teams could be feels very up in the air in a wide open division.
Key Additions: 3B Alex Bregman, SP Edward Cabrera, RP Hunter Harvey
Key Departures: OF Kyle Tucker, RB Brad Keller
The NL Central may be competitive and could come down to the wire like last year, but the Cubs are heavy favorites as things begin. Chicago brings back a very talented lineup on both sides of the ball, with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Ian Happ.
That core group will be bolstered by one of the splashiest offseason signings, as the team finally got their long-pursued free agency target, signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract. Bregman will hold down third base and add a strong bat and a Gold Glove, along with World Series experience and a veteran presence. The Cubs also re-signed Shota Imanaga on a qualifying offer, keeping him in the North Side for another year.
Chicago has done an excellent job of fostering a roster of both home-grown talent and smart acquisitions, which has been rewarded with slow but steady improvement since 2021. They now feel like they’re at the place to add some final big pieces to compete regularly. With a balanced attack, they hope to continue their upward trajectory and perhaps avenge last year’s NLDS result, climbing a step higher in 2026.
Key Departures: INF Gavin Lux, OF Austin Hays, 3B/OF Miguel Andujar
On the back of a strong finish and a New York Mets collapse, the Reds finished 8-3 in their last 11 games — including a four-game sweep of the Cubs — to make the playoffs with some Game 162 luck across the NL. Their success came with a slight down year for their star Elly De La Cruz, who dropped in home runs (from 25 down to 22) and stolen bases (plummeting from 67 to 37) between 2024 and 2025, despite playing all 162 games.
Cincinnati floated right under the league average in most team batting and pitching statistics last year. Despite that, the Reds didn’t tinker with the roster much in the offseason, opting for stability. Still, there will be noticeable change as their key offseason pickups, Suárez and Bleday, are projected to slot right into the starting lineup at DH and left field, respectively.
As is, they’re likely to finish right around where they did last season, so their floor is steady.
However, they bring back a pitching rotation with upside. A strong year from that group plus an offensive boost from their newcomers and a return to 2024 form for De La Cruz keeps their ceiling high. Consistency throughout the year could once again set them up for a Wild Card push if things begin to click.
Key Additions: SP Brandon Sproat, SP Kyle Harrison
Key Departures: SP Freddy Peralta, C Danny Jansen, 1B Rhys Hoskins, INF Caleb Durbin
Projections are not being kind to a team looking for a fourpeat as NL Central champs.
It feels hard to bet against a team that’s won 90+ games and finished first in four the last five seasons. That bet feels especially risky given Milwaukee’s explosion last season. The team was unstoppable after the All-Star break, including a stretch where they went 15-1 in August.
The Brew Crew is well-rounded. On the mound, they had the second best ERA, gave up the third-fewest hits, the third-fewest homers, and were top 10 in saves. Offensively, they were third in runs scored, third in hits, second in stolen bases, and fifth in strikeouts against. For the cherry on top, they were a very strong fielding team, too.
By the numbers, they’re a top team and well-worthy of last year’s NLCS appearance as the 2 seed. So why the pessimism? Milwaukee heads into the season looking to prove that they can weather a number of key departures. Most notable might be the loss of their ace, Freddy Peralta. Peralta was a source of consistency, hitting the 30 game and 200 strikeout mark in each of the last three seasons. Brandon Woodruff, coming off an injury, is set to be the team’s new ace. Harrison and Sproat will mix into the rotation alongside some younger pieces who debuted in 2025: Jacob Misiorowski and Chad Patrick.
Milwaukee may be able to patch together a lineup to withstand some of their offensive losses. The loss of a 30-game starter and a reliance on more unproven pitching assets could cost make or break the team’s season and their hold on the division.
Key Departures: DH Andrew McCutchen, SP Johan Oviedo
The upcoming season will be a defining year for the Pirates. Some expectations place them in a tier with the Reds, firmly behind the Cubs and Brewers in the division pecking order. PECOTA is much more bullish, projecting them to finish ahead of the Brewers for second in the division, with a 43.3% chance to make the playoffs. Honestly, though, both a fight for second or a fight for third would both be a welcome sight for the Bucs, who have finished in last for five of the last nine seasons (and in fourth for the remaining four).
A competitive year in the Central would show marked improvement for the young squad.
Obviously, ace Paul Skenes is a reason for a lot of the buzz around this team. The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year turned 2025 Cy Young winner has been nothing short of phenomenal. He’s added to his young legacy with a brilliant World Baseball Classic debut, driving his stock even higher. With that, he’s obviously drawing interest from every other team in the league, but is under club control through 2029 and has denied any trade rumors. That window could force the club to strike while the iron is hot, so a successful 2026 could very well lead to an exciting offseason heading into 2027.
As for 2026, a sense of realism might check expectations for a jump from fifth to second. Pittsburgh will need to not only grow but make a big leap in a number of categories to meet their projected 11-win jump. In batting, the team was 28th in hits and batting average, bottom 10 in strikeouts, and dead last in home runs and RBI. That doesn’t inspire confidence. The Pirates acquired three new starters in the offseason (Lowe at second base, O’Hearn in right field, and Ozuna at DH). The trio will help, but will certainly have their work cut out for them.
To end on a positive, Pittsburgh’s success comes from its rotation. Last year, they were third in home runs allowed, seventh in ERA, and top 10 walks, The club brought back four of its five starters and kept the bullpen mostly unchanged. More pitching magic mixed with some new bats could help the Buccos reach new heights.
It’s hard to imagine a world where the Cardinals aren’t in the playoff mix after the team’s historical success for so many decades. But playoff misses in 2023, 2024, and 2025 might have been the final three nails in the coffin for the Cards. This offseason represented a full shift into rebuild mode, following the vision of new President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom.
The team shipped out two pitchers from their starting rotation in Gray and Mikolas. They moved on from an all-star in Donovan. And they moved away from players like Arenado and Contreras, core veteran pieces that were brought in when the club felt firmly in contention. However, a few years of middle of the road finishes led the team to make those sweeping changes.
Given the commitment to the rebuild and the other strong teams in the division, the projected dip and last place finish make sense. While the Cardinals were neck and neck with the Reds at the end of July and even again in early September when they crawled within half a game of third, their dropoff from their most recent first place finish in 2022 warranted bigger changes.
They have moved to a younger roster, restocked their farm system, and added draft capital. Although they are a team who won’t be kept down for long, the growing pains and move to new talent are likely to keep them towards the bottom of the division this season.
After winning the division for three years in a row, will the Brewers really fall as far as they’re expected to? Is a Cubs crown feeling like a sure thing? Or do the Pirates have what it takes to go worst to first?
Let us know what you think the NL Central has in store!
Kurt Helin
