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Mets Spring Training Notes: Edwin Diaz to pitch back-to-back; injury updates on Sean Manaea, Jesse Winker

Before the Mets take on the Houston Astros on Wednesday, manager Carlos Mendoza spoke briefly on a couple of topics, including what the plan is for Edwin Diaz this week and the health of some of his injured players.

Diaz to pitch back-to-back

It's been a bumpy spring so far for the Mets closer who owns a 7.71 ERA and 2.57 WHIP in 2.1 innings across three appearances so far in Grapefruit League action. In those outings, Diaz has combined to throw 64 pitches (36 strikes) while striking out four and walking three.

While those numbers seem unsightly, it's still a small sample size for a pitcher coming into the middle innings of exhibition games who is used to closing out games that actually count. And after a rough outing in his spring training debut, Diaz has pitched two scoreless innings in his last two appearances.

Less concerned about the results, the next thing Mendoza and the Mets want from Diaz is to throw on back-to-back days which he will at some point this week, Mendoza said on Wednesday. Although, it won't necessarily come in spring training action -- something New York also plans to do for some other pitchers scheduled to go back-to-back this week.

"It’s probably not gonna be back-to-back in our games," the skipper said. "So if he’s pitching today it may be the next day for a hitter in a minor league game where it’s more of a controlled environment."

As for what he's seen from his 30-year-old closer so far in camp, Mendoza isn't worried.

"The first couple [he] was inconsistent with his mechanics and we saw it with some of the walks," he said. "But I was very encouraged with his last outing in the minor leagues where he attacked better, the velo was better.

"Look it’s spring training games, these guys are so used to that getting the last three outs [with] the adrenaline. It’s different. It’s something that’s hard to replicate here in spring training, but as long as he’s feeling good and bouncing back well, there’s no issues there."

Sean Manaea and Jesse Winker injury updates

With a lot of injuries sustained before Opening Day, the Mets got some positive news on the injury front regarding Manaea and Winker.

Regarding Manaea (right oblique strain), Mendoza told reporters that the left-hander is continuing his throwing progression and is up to 90 feet. New York's ace last season, Manaea figures to be out until mid-to-late April but appears to be progressing well with his rehab.

The Mets also got good news surrounding Winker who left Monday's game with cramps in his calf, but appears to be fine.

"I talked to him today, he was feeling good," Mendoza said. "He was gonna go through his workout, I gotta talk to the trainers in a little bit to make sure he’s okay and hopefully he’s playing, whether it’s the night game with us or maybe some at-bats in the minor leagues. I’m anticipating him getting some at-bats tomorrow."

Mendoza also mentioned that Dedniel Nuñez and Jose Butto are feeling good after throwing on Tuesday.

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Devils Q&A: 5 Random Questions With Timo Meier

There is something about the month of March that brings out the best in New Jersey Devils power forward Timo Meier. 

Mar 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Timo Meier (28) celebrates with the Devils bench after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

In nine games this month, the 28-year-old has seven points, including two game-winning goals. In his last game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Meier earned his 20th goal of the season. It is a mark he has reached in four consecutive seasons. Per NHL Pr, Meier tied Kevin Fiala and Nino Niederreiter (both with seven) for the most 20-goal seasons by a Swiss-born player in NHL history.

After a recent practice, The Hockey News sat with Meier for a mini Q&A. During the interview, he spoke about his love for the game, career trajectory, and more.

The Hockey News: Lisa Kudrow has publicly spoken about how it took a few years to settle into her Friends character, Phoebe Buffay. How long did it take you to get comfortable and understand what it takes to be an NHLer, day in and day out?

Timo Meier: Probably three years. 

The first year, for me, was up and down in the AHL (American Hockey League) and kind of exploring a little bit and seeing both sides. After that, you then get a full year in (the NHL), and then after that, you know what it takes after having a full season. Going into the third year, I really knew what I had to do for the most part to have success. So, I would say the third year. 

THN: Is there a particular moment in your career that you would love to show to your younger self to say this is going to be you in the future?

Meier: I think there are many moments - not just the good ones but also the ones where you struggle, where you show strength, and come through adversity. Obviously, you dream of playing in the NHL, but facing adversity and the way you handle it is what I would say are the proud moments.

THN: Was there ever a moment in your career when you started to lose your love for the game?

Meier: Honestly, there are tough days, but I think it helps when you love the game.

When you play for a while, it is tough sometimes, but then you remind yourself of why you do this. (It is) coming back to when you were a little kid, dreaming of being in this moment. Sometimes you get caught up in all the distractions that you forget about that stuff. So it is good to remind yourself sometimes why (we do this), and then will (rediscover) that you love to do this, and it is a privilege.

THN: What has hockey given you?

Meier: So much. Just the emotions. The bonds between the teammates. You go through good times and bad times together; you build life-lasting friendships.

THN: At this point, does hockey feel like a job to you, or is it still your passion that you have had since you were a kid?

Meier: I don't think it is a job. Like I said, it is a privilege to do what we do here, playing hockey for a living. Definitely not always easy, but it is a dream come true. So, I would say it is a pretty good job. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Screen Shots: Reacting To NHL Commissioner's Comments On All-Star Game, Draft And Overtime

Gary Bettman (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wrapped up the league’s GM meetings Wednesday by updating reporters on upcoming events, collective bargaining agreement negotiations and other news. 

Regarding the CBA negotiations with the NHL Players Association, Bettman said he wants a quick, quiet and painless process, beginning with negotiations in early April. That's optimistic news in hopes of avoiding another painful lockout, which didn't happen during negotiations in 2020 but did happen three times before, most recently in 2012-13 and most notably in all of 2004-05. 

We’re reacting to other standout points in a new edition of Screen Shots, where we break down hockey news into smaller columns below. Let's get right to it.

The 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend is scheduled for February 2026 at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders. However, based on Bettman's question about whether it's still on, how the event will look seems to be up in the air.

“We’re re-evaluating how we want to do things because I think we've raised the bar about as high as you can for an All-Star Game in any sport, and so we want to make sure whatever we do is up to the standards that we've created,” Bettman said.

While it certainly feels at first glance like the NHL is shoehorning this event into their pre-Olympics schedule, the league is committing to it.

“I don’t want to start speculation. We promised the Islanders an event, and Islanders fans deserve events that we’ve promised, so we’re focused on what we need to do,” Bettman said. “I don’t want to be pinned down at this moment.”

The biggest issue is returning to an all-star format that now seems dated after the competitively dynamic 4 Nations Face-Off. The 4 Nations tournament raised the bar for what the league’s fans expect in terms of player effort, and an all-star format likely won’t please everyone in that regard.

The league and NHL Players Association must be extremely creative to put together an event that will capture the attention of consumers the way the 4 Nations Face-Off did. We’ll be watching closely to see what type of all-star-ish event they settle on as a spark for the pre-Olympics event.

Bettman said he doesn't like prolonging overtime during the regular season because of the ice conditions and the wear and tear on players. But there’s a trend the NHL can capitalize on by slightly extending the length.

There’s been a new high in the percentage of games decided in overtime before shootouts – from 68.5 percent in 2022-23 (a high at the time) to 69.9 percent last season and now to 74.2 percent this season. NHL GMs should want to keep the needle moving in that direction and get as many games settled in OT as possible.

From our perspective, extending overtime by another two minutes wouldn’t be catastrophic for players or the playing surface. Although the shootout must be in place to guarantee a winner in a relatively timely fashion during regular-season games, the more games that can be settled in some type of team format, the better. So we’re all for slightly extending OT. If there proves to be a problem with a seven-minute overtime, they can just switch it back later.

NHL Commissioner Won't Speculate On Putin And Trump's Discussion About A USA-Russia CompetitionNHL Commissioner Won't Speculate On Putin And Trump's Discussion About A USA-Russia CompetitionNHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters on Wednesday that the league was caught off guard about the conversation that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump previously had regarding a hockey competition between American and Russian players. 

Finally, Bettman said will be trying out a decentralized draft in Los Angeles this summer, but they aren't committed to it for years to come. The teams were the ones who asked for this decentralized draft format, and if it doesn’t work out as hoped, there’s clearly a way for them to go back to a centralized format. 

That flexibility is a good thing, and the league deserves kudos for (a) being willing to try something new and (b) keeping a return to the long-held format in their back pocket. It’s all about options in many, if not most, things the NHL does. And experimenting to try to improve is something the league should always be doing.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world'

Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has immeasurable respect for two-way force Draymond Green.

And on Wednesday, the 11-year coach showed his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame-bound forward even more love, in talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs.”

“I think he’s the best defender in the world, and I realize how good [Victor] Wembanyama is, how good Rudy Gobert is and others,” Kerr said of Green to Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

Kerr didn’t lie.

Green, who has made eight All-Defensive teams and is the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, needs no defensive introduction. He has spoiled opposing offensive sets throughout his entire 13-year NBA career and, as a four-time champion alongside Kerr, plays today with the same hunger on both sides of the floor as if he were ringless. 

Kerr further explained that Green has plenty of respect outside of the Bay and across the league.

“Draymond said it himself – ask the other coaches around the league who don’t they want to face,” Kerr told Willard and Dibs. “I have personally asked other coaches around the league. Trust me, there’s so much respect around the league for Draymond around the league, amongst the coaches. They see the versatility in his defense. 

“These other guys are good defenders; I don’t think any of them can do everything – protect the rim, guard pick and roll out in half court, blow up stuff from the weak side.”

Green can guard any player, from Damian Lillard to Wembanyama. As Kerr said, the same can’t be said for other top defenders.

Green brings with his defensive skill set an unmatchable passion. Kerr acknowledged that sometimes Green goes over the line, but concluded by explaining how that’s part of the deal for the game’s best defender.

“Draymond, he’s a defensive genius,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “He’s also a competitive freak of nature. Obviously, his emotion gets the best of him at times. But it’s all part of the package, and the package is incredibly disruptive to opposing teams. We are so lucky to have him. He remains an amazing player, even at this stage in his career.”

There never will be another player like Green to play for Golden State or in the NBA; Kerr understands and praises his longtime forward often.

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Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks

Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski almost hit one of the NBA’s more iconic celebrations in Golden State’s 104-93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night at Chase Center.

In talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Wednesday, the second-year Swiss Army Knife detailed his temptation to demonstrate superstar teammate Steph Curry’s “night night” celebration after knocking down a clutch 3-point shot toward the end of regulation against the Bucks.

“I was contemplating it on the second [three-point shot], but then I was like, that’s kind of [Curry and Draymond Green’s] thing, so let me just not intrude on their little celebration,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

Dub Nation probably wouldn’t have minded. Nevertheless, here’s the “second” triple Podziemski referenced:

Podziemski could’ve done any celebration he wanted Tuesday night in San Francisco.

Over 29 minutes, he finished the Golden State win with 17 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep and collected seven rebounds and one steal.

Sure, the “night night” celebration might be Curry’s trademark – and Green’s new rental – but Podziemski should have his own signature move after a game-sealing play; it’s on his mind, at least.

“I got to find some of mine that I could kind of label as mine and stick with it,” Podziemski admitted to Willard and Dibley.

Something with the hair, maybe? Podziemski said that would be “something.”

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Yankees blast four home runs in win over Phillies

The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-7, on Wednesday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla.

Here are the takeaways...

-Marcus Stroman, who now figures prominently into the Yankees rotation plans with the injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, had a nice afternoon. The right-hander allowed just one hit, and while he did put a couple of batters on with walks, he struck out three and did not allow a run over his 3.0 innings.

-The Yankees’ bats jumped all over Phillies starter Taijuan Walker. In the third, Jazz Chisholm Jr. lofted a towering two-run homer, giving the Yanks a 3-0 lead. The power display continued in the fourth, when both Pablo Reyes and Ben Rice homered off of Walker.

Walker allowed six earned runs on nine hits in just 3.2 innings.

-Jasson Dominguez had a nice day at the plate, hitting a single up the middle in his first at-bat and ripping an RBI double in the third.

Dominguez had three hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.

-Cody Bellinger looks pretty comfortable hitting in the middle of the lineup. In the top of the sixth, Bellinger hit an absolute bomb of a two-run homer, clearing everything in right field.

Bellinger had two hits on the day and now has three homers this spring.

-The Yankees jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Phillies battled back. Trailing by two runs, the Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, putting the potential winning run on base, but Cade Austin struck out Buddy Kennedy to end the game and secure the win.

Who was the game MVP?

Chisholm Jr., who drove in three runs on a pair of hits.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees have a split squad game later on Wednesday, when they face the Atlanta Braves at 6:35 p.m.

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NBA power rankings 2024-25: Celtics back on top of final rankings, Thunder, Cavaliers round out top three

This is the final NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings of the season. By this time next week we will be deep into the Play-In Tournament and talking seedings and possible upsets. It's appropriate that this final ranking comes full circle with Boston on top.

TRUE TITLE CONTENDERS

1. Boston Celtics (59-20, Last Week No. 2). It's fitting that the Celtics end the season where they started it — on top of these NBA Power Rankings and as the team to beat in the title chase. Boston is peaking at the right time, having gone 17-2 in their last 19 (best in the league), led by Jayson Tatum, who somehow almost gets taken for granted despite playing at an MVP level all-season long. The road to the Larry O'Brien Trophy runs through Boston.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (65-14, LW 1). Oklahoma City ran away with the West, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a deserving MVP. Still, in the loss last week to the Lakers, the playoff concerns with this team seemed to raise their heads again: Can Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren step up when opponents sell out to stop SGA? That's the question this team has to answer to reach the NBA Finals and possibly win it. Nobody is going to question SGA or if the Thunder defense is good enough, but a one-man offensive show doesn't get this team where it wants to be.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (63-16, LW 3). Cleveland has locked up the No. 1 seed in the East and heads into the playoffs looking like a legitimate contender and threat to Boston. Kenny Atkinson will be deservingly rewarded with the Coach of the Year award. Donovan Mitchell will be rewarded by likely being First Team All-NBA/fifth in MVP voting — but, for my money, Evan Mobley is the guy who deserves that honor, he has been the player on both ends driving the Cavaliers' improvement.

SECOND TIER CONTENDERS

4. Golden State Warriors (47-32, LW 4). What a mid-season turnaround — the Warriors enter the playoffs looking like the biggest threat to the Thunder. Since the Jimmy Butler trade, Golden State is 22-6, and the team has a top-five offense and defense since the All-Star break. If you needed more proof, wins last week over the next two teams in this ranking — the Nuggets and Lakers — cemented the Warriors as a team that can make a title run. Also, all the self-promotion aside, Draymond Green has a legitimate case for Defensive Player of the Year.

5. Los Angeles Lakers (48-31, LW 9). Nico Harrison didn't just gift the Lakers a bridge to their post-LeBron future, he gifted them a player in Luka Doncic who makes them a threat to win any playoff series starting this season. Adding Doncic has allowed LeBron James to thrive as a play finisher rather than a creator, while Austin Reaves has taken over a lot of the shot creation. J.J. Redick has proven himself as up to the job. We'll see how the Lakers' defense holds up in the playoffs, but this team is legit.

6. Denver Nuggets (47-32, LW 5). WHAT?!?!? Owner Josh Kroenke apparently had been thinking about firing Mike Malone since midseason (at least) but didn't want GM Calvin Booth to "win" the long-running battle between coach and GM, so he fired them both. With three games and less than a week left in the season. Officially, Kroenke said he hoped the firings would be a "jolt" that would inspire the team in the playoffs. In reality, this feels destabilizing and like throwing in the towel on this season. Is anybody picking Denver over the Lakers or Warriors, let alone the Thunder, in the West now?

7. Houston Rockets (52-27, LW 6). Are we all sleeping on the Rockets as a playoff threat? The conventional wisdom has been they are a promising young team but who would their No. 1 option be in a tight postseason game? They are seen as a year or two — and a move or two — away. However, that athletic and long-armed defense got the Rockets wins against the Thunder and Warriors in the past week, maybe this team is a bigger threat than we realize. Whatever happens in the playoffs will set the course the front office takes going forward.

PLAYOFFS OR BUST

8. Los Angeles Clippers (47-32, LW 7). Tyronn Lue has his team peaking at just the right time. Kawhi Leonard has scored 20+ points in his last dozen games, Ivica Zubac is a force in the paint (and had a 20-20 game this week), the Clippers are stout defensively and smart offensively. Things are unsettled in the West — with four teams tied at 47-32 as of Wednesday morning — but if the Clippers face the Nuggets, Timberwolves or Grizzlies in the first round, it would be tough to pick against them.

9. New York Knicks (50-29, LW 10). The Knicks are locked into the No. 3 seed and Jalen Brunson is back in time for the playoffs. That means it’s time for the annual concern that Tom Thibodeau has run his starters into the ground during the regular season — it’s a legitimate concern. Check out this stat from Chris Herring at ESPN: “Looking at the teams the Knicks could face in the first round of the playoffs, Bridges this season has run 37 miles more than Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, 41 miles more than Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and 66 miles more than Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, according to NBA tracking data.”

10. Indiana Pacers (48-31, LW 11). Another team peaking at the right time, the Pacers have won five in a row, 11-of-13, and they have a top-10 offense and defense over that stretch. The Pacers are on the verge of a 50-win season and will have home court in the first round of the playoffs, likely against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (Milwaukee won the season series between the teams 3-1).

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-33, LW 8). The season started with management trading away Karl-Anthony Towns, leading to rough patches as Minnesota tried to find a new identity. That identity has come around of late, with the Timberwolves going 14-4 in their last 18, but Tuesday's ugly come-from-ahead loss to Milwaukee (where Minnesota led by 24 with 10:09 left and got outscored) hurt. Huge game Thursday against Memphis, Minnesota needs that one to avoid the play-in.

12. Memphis Grizzlies (47-32, LW 13). After dropping their first three games under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies have won three straight and find themselves in the four-way tie between seeds 4-7 in the West. The Grizzlies face a critical back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Nuggets on Thursday/Friday and need wins to avoid the play-in. This summer, there are some hard questions in Memphis that need to be answered about the direction of this franchise (and who is coaching them).

13. Milwaukee Bucks (45-34, LW 14). Are we underselling Milwaukee as a playoff threat? The Bucks are peaking at the right time, having won five in a row — including an insane comeback against Minnesota — and Giannis Antetokounmpo has three straight triple-doubles. Milwaukee seems likely to land the No. 5 seed, meaning on the road against Indiana in the first round, followed likely by the Cavaliers in the second round. If the Bucks get bounced in the first round or get destroyed in the second round, it could be a very hot summer in Milwaukee.

14. Detroit Pistons (43-36, LW 12). The Pistons made a massive leap this season and are playing with house money entering the playoffs (where they likely get the Knicks in the first round). Cade Cunningham is deserving of an All-NBA nod and maybe Most Improved Player, while J.B. Bickerstaff will get votes for Coach of the Year. After some rough years, Pistons fans should savor this season, it's been fantastic.

15. Orlando Magic (39-40, LW 15). Orlando will want to clinch the No. 7 seed before facing No. 8 seed Atlanta on Sunday in the final game of the regular season, but that means beating one of two red-hot teams to close the season in Boston or Indiana (though both may not have much to play for and rest key guys). Last season Orlando pushed the Cavaliers to seven games in the playoffs, a great learning experience for Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and the rest of the team, but it's going to be tough to build on that facing Boston (if Orlando is the No. 7 seed) or Cleveland (if No. 8). Still, this is a team on the rise if it can stay healthy.

16. Miami Heat (36-43, LW 17). The Jimmy Butler III era is over in Miami, but now the hard questions come: Who is this team without Butler? Can they land another name free agent? How do the Heat take a step forward off being a bottom-tier play-in team this season? They have Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, and Kel’el Ware had a strong rookie season, but right now this is a middle-of-the-pack team, and that is not where Pat Riley likes to be.

17. Atlanta Hawks (37-42, LW 16). Is there a player more at a crossroads entering the playoffs than Trae Young? He has matured his game, become a strong playmaker and at least tries harder on defense, but the question about whether the Hawks can build a winner around him remains. If (really, when) the Hawks are bounced either in the Play-In Tournament or the first round, the Hawks need to take a hard look at this team and where they want to go. They have other talent on the roster, including Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, among others, but is it time to pivot from Young? Can they?

18. Sacramento Kings (39-40, LW 20). It's going to be a rough offseason in Sacramento. De'Aaron Fox pushed his way out the door to San Antonio and now Domantas Sabonis and others will have questions about what direction this franchise goes, or they may push to leave, also. This isn't a terrible roster with Zach LaVine on it, maybe a .500 team, but in this West, that will not get the Kings very far.

19. Chicago Bulls (36-43, LW 18). Chicago made its move towards a youth movement — then kept winning games because Coby White and Josh Giddey stepped up and played well. Giddey and White are good, but not the No. 1 option the Bulls need, and they are winning too much to draft that star. The big question this summer: How much do the Bulls want to pay Giddey? He wants starting point guard money (around $30 million a season), but do the Bulls want to tie themselves to him long term, or really go all-in on the rebuild? (If not the Bulls, who pays Giddey?)

20. Dallas Mavericks (38-41, LW 19). Dallas has its path for next season, if it can just get and stay healthy. Anthony Davis in the paint and Kyrie Irving — likely returning mid-season from his torn ACL — give the Mavericks two All-NBA level players when they are on the court. Dallas ownership needs them on the court because the bad blood from the Luka Doncic trade is only going away with wins on the court.

CAPTURE THE (COOPER) FLAGG

21. Portland Trail Blazers (35-44, LW 22). The final months of the season showed that Portland has a lot of quality on its roster: Deni Avdija took a big step forward, as did Scoot Henderson, they have Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. Look for the Trail Blazers to make a leap next season and be playing in late April (and maybe beyond). The big question this offseason, will Chauncey Billups get an extension and be back coaching, or are the two sides parting ways? A lot of buzz around the league about a split.

22. Phoenix Suns (35-44, LW 21). Celtics announcers Brian Scalabrine and Mike Gorman pretty much summed up the Suns' season when Boston and Phoenix played last week. Scalabrine: “Great practice game for us. You really want to execute your offense, just call the Phoenix Suns. It’s the best way to work on what you want to work on.” Gorman: “You are not gonna face much resistance against this team.” Yup. There are big changes coming this offseason, with Kevin Durant likely traded and league sources expecting Mike Budenholzer to be out as coach.

23. Toronto Raptors (29-50, LW 23). Rough season in Toronto, but their future is laid out: Brandon Ingram gets healthy and returns next season to play alongside Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. Toronto should move up and be a playoff team next season.

24. San Antonio Spurs (32-47, LW 24). We only got five games of Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox together this season, but next season look for them to show some chemistry and for the Spurs to make a leap in the West. The big offseason question: Who is going to coach them? Will Gregg Popovich return, and if so, for how long? Long-time Popovich right-hand man Mike Budenholzer is expected to be available, as is Taylor Jenkins (who was the right-hand to Budenholzer for a long time). And don't forget Michael Malone.

25. Brooklyn Nets (26-53, LW 25). The bright spot in Brooklyn this season was the job by rookie coach Jordi Fernandez, who kept this team competitive even as GM Sean Marks traded away talent as the team is in a full-on rebuild. It will be interesting to see what Fernandez can do with real talent in a few years.

26. New Orleans Pelicans (21-58, LW 26). Is Zion Williamson back in New Orleans next season? The Pelicans are expected to test the trade waters for him, there will be interest, but will New Orleans get the haul they hope for the former No. 1 pick? Might they just hold on to him? What happens with Zion determines where this franchise goes next year.

27. Philadelphia 76ers (23-56, LW 27). Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey need to swing by a church every day this summer and light a candle for the health of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia is locked into that core, and while they can tweak the role players around them, that core being healthy for 55+ games next season is the only way they get anywhere near the heights they expected this season.

28. Charlotte Hornets (19-60, LW 28). Two keys to the Hornets' offseason: 1) How the lottery balls bounce; 2) The answer to the question "Do they still want to build around LaMelo Ball?" Those two things could be interrelated.

29. Washington Wizards (17-62, LW 29). Rookies Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George showed promise this season, but the Wizards still need the lottery balls to bounce their way this offseason. This is not going to be a fast rebuild.

30. Utah Jazz (16-63, LW 30). While the short-term focus is on the lottery balls and the NBA Draft, the other big question for Utah is whether they trade Lauri Markkanen this summer or bring him back and try to win with him? Expect a Markkanen trade, but if the lottery gods are unkind that could change the dynamic.

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Darian DeVries faces a tall task in helping put Indiana back on the national basketball map for good

New Indiana Hoosiers coach Darian DeVries hit all the right notes Wednesday. At his introductory news conference, DeVries promised this time would be different, even at a school where lofty expectations have been the norm for decades. No, the 49-year-old DeVries wasn't quite as blunt as Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti, who started his tenure in December 2023 by challenging anyone who doubted he could win at Indiana to Google him.

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‘Focused’ Emma Raducanu swats aside Sayaka Ishii to open Miami campaign

  • Briton produces calm display in 6-2, 6-1 victory
  • Raducanu faces Emma Navarro in second round

Emma Raducanu began her time on the east coast of the US on a positive note as she produced a calm, consistent performance to reach the second round of the Miami Open for the first time with a 6-2, 6-1 win over the Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishii. Her victory sets up a second-round match against Emma Navarro, the eighth seed.

“I was just so focused on every point and trying to compete,” said Raducanu. “That was my main objective today, just trying my best every point and bringing some energy, bringing some competitiveness. I think that’s maybe been missing in the past couple of months. I’m really proud of that. It’s just nice to win in two sets and less than two and a half hours.”

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Gary Bettman Announces Start Date For The 2025-26 Regular Season, Plans For 2026 NHL All-Star Game & Details About The 2025 NHL Draft

Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman welcomes fans to the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with the media on Wednesday following the annual three-day general managers' meetings in Florida. Bettman gave a recap of the discussion from the three days, as well as provide some details on plans for the 2025-26 season. There was also an update on the 2025 NHL, which will be decentralized this year.

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Starting with the regular season, Bettman announced that next season will begin on October 7, 2025. This lines up with the schedule from the 2024-25 season, as the main kickoff date for this year's season was October 8, 2024. It was also announced earlier in the week that the NHL would be having another Global Series, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators playing in Sweden on November 14 and 16, 2025.

Bettman also discussed the 2026 NHL All-Star Game, which the New York Islanders will host. The event will happen just before the 2026 Winter Olympics, with players departing for Italy once the weekend is concluded. Thanks to the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NHL is looking at ways to improve the All-Star Game so that there is a similar level of engagement from both the players and the fans. 

Lastly, Bettman also provided some information about the 2025 NHL Draft. While the event will be held in Los Angeles, it will be decentralized, meaning all management groups will be located in their home cities. The top 50 draft picks will be invited to the event, while picks outside of first overall will be announced by celebrities or people with ties to the franchise. 

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