ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 1: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 1, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in action on Sunday evening to face the Portland Trail Blazers. The Hawks came in on a three-game winning streak, with the Blazers being the final game of their recent homestand. As for the Blazers, this was their second game of a back-to-back after losing to the Charlotte Hornets yesterday.
The Hawks were able to get Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker back in the game after they missed the previous one against the Washington Wizards.
The Hawks started off raining three-pointers, with Onyeka Okongwu hitting a pair of them.
The defense and ball movement were on full display for the Hawks in the first, and it helped them build a double digit lead while also putting 40+ points on the board.
Jonathan Kuminga came in and lived at the free throw line, and was also a beneficiary of the ball movement.
The Hawks continued to maintain their lead as they kept making shots and getting stops on defense. Corey Kispertās hot shooting from Thursday ran over to this game.
The game was pretty much decided, but that didnāt mean the Hawks stopped competing. Okongwu was able to knock down his seventh three-pointer of the night.
The end of the bench came in after this play, and the Hawks walked away with their fourth straight win.
Okongwu finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, Kuminga finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, and McCollum finished with 19 points.
The Hawks will be back in action on Wednesday to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Mets have reached an agreement with RHP Dan Hammer on a two-year minor league deal, according to MLB.com's Anthony Dicomo.Ā
Hammer was selected by the Orioles in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft.Ā
He spent the first few years of his career in Baltimore's system before landing with the Rays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft last year.Ā
The 28-year-old made 31 appearances in relief last season for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits.Ā
Hammer has a 5.34 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and 303 strikeouts in his minor league career.Ā
Newest San Diego Padre Alex Verdugo (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the San Diego Padres and Alex Verdugo have agreed on a minor-league deal. The terms do not include an invitation to the big-league camp. Instead, Verdugo will report to the minor league facility in Peoria, Ariz.
The 29-year-old outfielder was released by the Atlanta Braves last season after appearing in just 56 games. During his brief tenure, he struggled at the plate, batting .239 with 12 RBI and no home runs. It was very disappointing for both sides, as Verdugo had a promising start to his 2025 campaign. He hit .322 over his first 14 games with the Braves.
Verdugo was drafted out of Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz. by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in September 2017. The Dodgers dealt him to the Boston Red Sox as part of the package in the Mookie Betts blockbuster trade.
Verdugo had his career-best offensive production in Boston. He hit .308 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The left-handed hitter hit a career-high 13 home runs in 2021, which he duplicated in his lone season (2024) with the New York Yankees. In 2022, Verdugo drove in 74 RBI in 152 games with the Sox.
In nine major league seasons, he has a career .270 batting average with 70 home runs and 328 RBI in 856 games. The Padres will be his fifth major league organization.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Ramon Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres gets ready in the batters box against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres scored a run in the top of the first inning in their meeting with the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Park in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Sunday, but it all went down hill after the top half of the inning.
The Giants responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning off Padres starter German Marquez who was making his first start as a member of the organization. Marquez was not bad, but he got some bad luck. A ball kicked off the glove of Ty France at third base and soft fly balls were able to find the grass just beyond the outstretched glove of a San Diego infielder or outfielder.
Marquez finished two innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks allowed. San Francisco was able to get to Marco Gonzales who allowed two runs over three innings, Ethan Routzahn who allowed a run in his one inning of work and Stephen Yeager who allowed three runs over 0.2 of inning, giving them a 9-1 win.
San Diego did not have the same success at the plate. The Padres had a hit in the first, second and fifth innings and had two hits in the sixth inning. Jose Miranda doubled in the fifth and Ramon Laureano tripled in the sixth, which were the only extra-base hits of the game. Laureano was stranded at third after France was hit by a pitch and Sung-Mun Song struck out to end the inning.
The Padres return to action against the Athletics at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday at 12:10 p.m.
Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Boris Katchouk is on the move again.
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced thatĀ they have acquired Katchouk from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Roman Schmidt.Ā
Katchouk started this season with the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing with them during this past off-season. Katchouk was then traded to the Wild back in late December in exchange for Michael Milne. Now, after spending a little over two months with the Wild organization, Katchouk is heading to Philly.Ā
Katchouk has primarily played in the AHL this season, where he has recorded five goals, eight assists, and 13 points in 29 games split between the Syracuse Crunch and Iowa Wild. He also played in three games for the Lightning this season before being traded to Minnesota, where he was held off the scoresheet.Ā
In 117 games over three seasons with the Blackhawks from 2021-22 to 2023-24, Katchouk recorded 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points, and 176 hits. He was acquired by the Blackhawks ahead of the 2022 NHL trade deadline as part of the deal that sent Brandon Hagel to the Lightning.Ā
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 1: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is introduced before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cavs are at their best when they get their bigs involved offensively, especially Jarrett Allen. Opponents know this as well and are packing the paint anytime one of Clevelandās bigs is rolling or available for a pass inside. This led to more than a few of their turnovers on Sunday afternoon.
Additionally, James Harden wasnāt as sharp as he usually is with the ball. Heās responsible for five of Clevelandās giveaways. Some of these were uncharacteristically sloppy. This could also be a byproduct of playing through a broken thumb.
Opponents know that the Cavs want to get the bigs involved and that Harden isnāt 100%. This will make them more susceptible to turnovers, even against a poor defense like Brooklynās. Cleveland will need to be better in this area if they want to avenge Fridayās loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
Speaking of things that also went wrong on Friday, the Cavs ā once again ā nearly blew this game late.
They were up seven with a minute and a half left against a bad Nets team, and then proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot. The Cavs allowed the Nets to score on four of their final five possessions, committed two turnovers, and missed two crucial free throws of their own.
The combination of poor clutch defense and not effectively closing the game out at the line is also what did them in against Detroit. Evan Mobleyās big offensive rebound after a Dennis Schrƶder missed free-throw saved them from being in the same situation they were in then.
A better team than Brooklyn mightāve taken advantage. These late situations are where they miss Donovan Mitchell ā who sat out his third straight game with a groin injury ā most.
There were still good things to take from this game, particularly how Harden opens up the offense with his passing.
Harden wasnāt perfect, but the way heās a threat to get the ball to everyone on the court unlocks the offense in a way few in the league can for their team.
Harden has the unique ability to both make every pass and see every opening as if heās watching everything unfold in slow motion above the action.
This play is a good example of that.
Iām not sure if Harden ever actually sees Sam Merrill on this pass. What he does know is that thereās two defenders on the ball, and two down low taking away the inside pass, and the opposite wing is covered up as well. By process of elimination, the corner must be open, which is where he riffles the pass too.
Merrill was actually drifting away from the corner when he caught it, but the velocity of the pass gives him enough time to set his feet and square his shoulders for the on-balance three.
This also illustrates how Harden just reads and reacts to everything so quickly. He keeps the decision tree open as long as possible, and if the defense gives a better opportunity to one of his teammates, Harden is going to get the ball to them even if heās already going up with his own shot.
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There arenāt many players who can make passes like this.
Harden contributed a team-high 22 points in the win, but did so on just nine attempts from the field. He did a great job of getting to the line, as he took 12 free throws, which ties his most in a game in a Cavs uniform. Overall, he came into this game attempting over four fewer free-throw attempts in Cleveland than he did with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Most of the fouls he drew came from attacks off-the-dribble. Thatās notable because if there were something heād be hesitant to do coming back from a broken thumb, itād be driving to the hoop.
Even though he did on Sunday, Harden hasnāt really looked to score since coming to Cleveland. With the Clippers, he was averaging 17.5 shot attempts per game. So far with Cleveland, heās only taken 17 or more shots once in the eight games heās played with the Cavs.
Throughout his career, Hardenās shot attempts have mostly reflected the context and offense he was in. In his prime with the Houston Rockets, he routinely averaged over 18 shots a game. When heās playing off another star player, heās adjusted his shot attempts down. This was most recently seen when he took under 15 shots a game alongside Joel Embiid when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Harden has mostly tried to set up his teammates in Cleveland. Thatās what the situation has called for. And heās done an excellent job of doing that so far. Itāll be interesting to see if that changes on Tuesday assuming Mitchell will still be out of the lineup.
The Cavs need Donovan Mitchell to play at a faster pace.
Hardenās deliberate style has helped the offense, but itās done so most when heās paired with Mitchellās frenetic energy.
Mitchell has been a one-man break starter this season as the Cavs have gotten out in transition 1.9% more (90th percentile) when heās on the court compared to when heās off.
The Cavs were missing this on Sunday. They played at one of their slowest paces of the year, with only 95 possessions. They werenāt able to get anything easy in the open court and mostly relied on Harden and others to create in the half-court. It was good enough to get the win, but it wasnāt their best overall offensive process.
Mitchell and Hardenās opposite styles have blended nicely. That is more apparent when only one of them is on the court.
Keon Ellis has great hands, even if he has a broken finger. He finished with five blocks and three steals in this game. Itās nearly unheard of for a guard at his size to get his hands on the ball with such frequency.
Just look at some of these blocks and steals. I donāt think Iāve seen someone with this combination of size, closing speed, and hands. And he also never gives up on a player and has seemingly endless energy. Heās a complete game-changer on that end.
In another life, Ellis wouldāve made for a great free safety.
Evan Mobley is turning the corner. He has now strung together two good games, which is encouraging given how disjointed things looked offensively for him when he first came back from the calf strain after the All-Star break.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned on Friday that it typically takes Mobley time to find his groove after he returns from an injury. I wouldnāt say heās found it yet, but the team did play its best basketball with him as they outscored Brooklyn by 24 when he was on the court.
Things are trending in the right direction.
Allen has continued his aggressive play.
He tied Mobley for the most shot attempts on the team (12), which is exactly what you want to see.
The Cavs have continually challenged Allen to be more involved offensively. He was when Harden was out for two games, and that carried over on Sunday when he returned to the floor. The offense will continue to be at its best when heās involved like this.
For the first time in a decade, the Detroit Red Wings have positioned themselves as buyers rather than sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline, which is just five days away (Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET).
Although Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is known for keeping his cards close to the vest, the club has been linked to several high-profile names, most notably Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues.
It's because of the recent trade history between the Red Wings and the Blues that a deal involving Thomas could make sense in the eyes of noted NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.
"I do think the conversations around him have intensified in the last few days," Friedman said on Sunday afternoon during a guest appearance on the NHL on TNT. "I think the Red Wings have been around there, and St Louis and Detroit have done deals before."
Earlier this week, Friedman indicated that Thomas being traded from the Blues could happen before Friday afternoon's deadline.
āI think it actually could potentially happen (before Fridayās deadline), and I have to say, Iām a bit surprised about that,ā Friedman said. āI think itās heated up around him a bit.ā
In fact, Thomas isn't the only Blues player that the Red Wings could have eyes for. Because they are reportedly in the market for another right-handed defenseman, Justin Faulk fits that bill.
The veteran blue liner, who has already tallied 11 goals with 32 points so far this season, is under contract through the end of next season and carries a $6.5 million cap hit.
Meanwhile, Thomas is signed through 2031 and has an $8.125 million cap hit. In order to facilitate a trade for either player, the Red Wings would likely request that the Blues retain a portion of their cap hits.
In recent years, Yzerman has made multiple deals with the Blues, not the least of which was the 2022 acquisition of defenseman Jake Walman, forward Oskar Sundqvist, and a 2023 second-round pick in return for Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski.
Detroit's 2019 acquisition of Robby Fabbri in exchange for checking forward Jacob de la Rose became one of their more underrated moves, as Fabbri was a regular contributor when healthy.
Additionally, Yzerman acquired goaltender Ville Husso from the Blues later that summer in return for the 73rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Armed with multiple prospects, draft capital, and ample salary-cap space, Detroit has the necessary pieces to put together a trade package for one of Thomas or Pettersson.
Given his Stanley Cup-winning experience and his knack to produce timely offense, the Red Wings will not be alone when it comes to bidding for his services.
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Recently, The Hockey News Montreal Canadiens looked at a few potential targets for the Habs from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Now, in this latest edition of the Canadiens trade targets series, let's take a look at the Winnipeg Jets.Ā
Logan Stanley
If the Canadiens want to add another potential option for their bottom pairing, Jets defenseman Logan Stanley could be worth pursuing. The 6-foot-7, 231-pound blueliner would not only provide the Canadiens with another tough defenseman, but would also give them more offense from the point. His stats this season show this, as he has set career highs with nine goals, 11 assists, and 20 points in 57 games.
Stanley's contract also adds to his appeal, as he has an affordable $1.25 million cap hit for the remainder of the season. With this, he would be a valuable player for the Canadiens to add to their defensive depth.Ā
Luke SchennĀ
Luke Schenn could be another defenseman for the Canadiens to consider if they want to improve their depth on the right side. If they added Schenn, he would give them another option to work with for their bottom pairing or seventh defenseman role. Furthermore, he would give them a good mentor for their younger players and a defenseman who has won the Stanley Cup twice.Ā
In 44 games this season with Winnipeg, Schenn has recorded one goal, seven points, and 137 hits.Ā
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 5: Brandon Williams #10 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket around Chris Youngblood #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on December 5, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-38) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (46-15) on Sunday night, finishing out a three-game home stand where theyāve yet to win. After winning two in a row, Dallas put in two commanding tank performances against the Grizzlies and Kings. The Thunder are coming off an incredible overtime win against the Denver Nuggets.
Hereās the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
WHAT: Last home game before a road trip
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The injury report is lengthy for Dallas, as has been the custom this year. Cooper Flagg remains out with this foot sprain, which is starting to get concerning (but of course, this injury must heal correctly). Marvin Bagley will miss again with the neck sprain following the injury against the Kings. PJ Washington is doubtful with the same ankle sprain but the designation suggests progress on that front. Naji Marshall is questionable with a finger injury, but I bet he plays. Caleb Martin is also questionable with lower back soreness.
The Thunder have several players out as well. Jalen Williams has a hamstring injury. Ajay Mitchell has been out for a while with a few injuries. Thomas Sorberās been out the whole year and someone named Brandon Carlson is out as well with a lower back injury.
This short homestand has been brutal, but given the state of the Dallas roster itās not shocking. Theyāre tired and you can only play hard like they do for so many months before something gives. Nothing would surprise me with regard to the Thunder game tonight (well a Dallas win would); they could keep it close or get blown out.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Letās go Mavs!
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) ā Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash, police said. He was 23.
Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla when he lost control on a curve and hit a guardrail, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The car struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment.
Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene in Boulder County. Police said a preliminary investigation āshows that speed is suspected as a factor.ā
Ponder played in two games for the Buffaloes last season, going 0-for-1 passing and carrying the ball twice for a loss of 4 yards. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Opa Locka, Florida, began his collegiate career at Bethune-Cookman before transferring.
The Buffs were slated to begin spring practice on Monday.
āGod please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,ā Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted on X. āDom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Letās pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord youāre receiving a good 1.ā
Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion reposted Sanders' statement and called Ponder a joy to be around and coach.
āGetting that call from his dad today didnāt feel real,ā Marion posted. āLove you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!ā
Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo said Ponder āepitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike.ā The athletic department said it would make counseling resources available to players and staff.
Fellow Colorado quarterback Colton Allen also paid tribute to Ponder on Instagram.
āDom, you were a blessing to so many people,ā Allen wrote. āYou had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. Iām grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. Iāll carry those with me for the rest of my life.ā
The Big 12 Conference extended its condolences in a post on X.
The USC men's basketball team is losing one of its most key players at one of the most critical points of the season.
Chad Baker-Mazara, a sixth-year graduate student, is no longer with the program, the team announced in a statement Sunday afternoon.
No further details were provided by the team, but Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times reported that "it wasnāt any one incident, but an accumulation of issues that led to Baker-Mazaraās departure."
Baker-Mazara put up 14 first-half points in USC's 82-67 loss to Nebraska on Saturday but exited the game just three minutes into the second half after he fell hard on the baseline while trying to chase down Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort. He briefly went into the locker room and did not re-enter the game.
"He said he couldnāt go," head coach Eric Musselman told reporters after the game.
USC was Baker-Mazara's fifth team in six years. He began his college career at Duquesne before transferring to San Diego State a year later and earning Mountain West sixth man of the year honors. From there, Baker-Mazara spent a year in junior college at Northwest Florida State before landing at Auburn, where he played two seasons and had a prominent role in their Final Four run in the 2024-25 season. He re-entered the portal shortly thereafter and ended up at USC.
Baker-Mazara started 22 of 26 games for the Trojans this season and has been their leading scorer after Rice went down with a season-ending right shoulder injury just six games into the season. He averaged 18.6 points on 44.4% shooting (38.3% from three), 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists ā all career-highs.
The Trojans have been one of the teams on bubble watch for March. They're currently one of the first four out in USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology, but they've lost five straight games, including a critical Quad 1 matchup against rival UCLA last Tuesday.
They'll finish out the regular season this week with a road game against Washington on Wednesday before returning home for one more clash against the Bruins on Saturday.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 1: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 1, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves gutted out an ugly win at the Intuit Dome on Thursday night before having two days off to prepare for a familiar opponent. The last time these two teams met up in a nationally televised affair was fireworks on Christmas Night between Nikola JokiÄ and Anthony Edwards duking it out in an overtime thriller where Denver came out on top.
This game could have big playoff implications as the weather warms up and teams prepare for the playoff battle ahead. Both teams head into today boasting a 37-23 record in a dead tie for the 4th seed in the Western Conference. While the Nuggets have already secured the tiebreaker, the ability to move ahead of them this late in the season is a prime opportunity to get up to the three seed.
Denver started the game out of rhythm and missing open looks, while the Timberwolves followed suit with some wobbly offense of their own. Anthony Edwards was having a tough time as Denver was committed to double-teaming him wherever he got the ball, and the rest of the offense was not able to capitalize on those advantages. A few lapses on defense, where Minnesota lost their assignments, led to JokiÄ killing them with passes on backdoor cuts. The three-time MVP scored 13 points and dished four assists in the first. Minnesota was outplayed in the frame and ended down 31-22 after the first 12 minutes.
Bones Hyland was getting Bizzy to close the first quarter and start of the second. He set fire to a Timberwolves team that needed an extra jolt in a Sunday afternoon game. He helped to tie the game early in the second, leading a 9-0 run, and finished the half with 15 points on a perfect 5/5 from the floor. Minnesota killed in the non-JokiÄ minutes and used that to go on another big 12-0 run later in the period. Nikola JokiÄ came back in to keep the game close, but the Timberwolves closed the half strong with a couple of Ayo buckets and Ant getting a runout to the rim for a layup to give the Wolves a 58-50 lead at halftime.
And just like that, this game is tied at 31. Wolves have begun the second quarter on a 9-0 run. Bones Hyland is responsible for all of those points. He's scored 7 of them and just assisted on that Ayo transition layup.
The offensive floodgates were wide open for both teams to start the third quarter. Donte used his hustle and grit and parlayed it into some flamethrower shooting. He hit four threes in the quarter to help the Timberwolves maintain their solid lead. JokiÄ kept the Nuggets afloat; he had 17 of his own in the third and kept the game from getting out of hand. After an 8-0 run late, Julius stopped the bleeding with an And-1 to help Minnesota maintain their eight-point advantage with a 90-82 score heading into the final 12 minutes.
The Timberwolves were in a prime position to grow their lead to start the fourth, with JokiÄ heading to the bench and them dominating those minutes in the first half. Naz Reid took that challenge head-on. He drilled a three and had a couple of nifty Big Jelly finishes around the hoop ā skipping for joy after the final one. Jamal Murray punched back with a high-flying dunk to get the crowd back into it, and Denver would not go away. Even with this, the Timberwolves used their defense and turned it into offense to shut down the hopes for a comeback. Anthony Edwards led the way with 21 while Jaden added 20 of his own.
ā Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 1, 2026
Donteās Hustle
Donte DiVincenzo always shows up ready to roll. In a game where the Timberwolves struggled to wake up for the early afternoon tipoff in Denver, he continued to bring it. While the shot can be streaky at times, this is something that he can and does do consistently. Whenever there was a chance for him to go make a play, he did it. You combine this grittiness with the hot shooting, and it was one special performance.
DDV drilled four threes in the third quarter while mixing in his patented hustle to give the Wolves runouts and extra possessions. Those things add up over the course of the game, none bigger than him coming from Nikola JokiÄās blind spot to take the ball from him and help Jaden get a fast break layup when the game still felt like it was in the balance during the fourth quarter. He scored 17 points and added five assists and three boards along with a pair of steals.
Donte DiVincenzo sneaky post-up steal on Nikola Jokic + Jaden McDaniels transition layup pic.twitter.com/JlME3YroJU
Early in the game, when Minnesota was struggling, part of the reason was that Denver was committed to double-teaming Anthony Edwards wherever he was on the floor. It threw Ant off his rhythm and made him have to work hard for all his opportunities early on.
The way to combat this was through getting out in transition. The Timberwolves outscored Denver in fast-break points 30-6. They utilized their strong defense to get out for easy opportunities and grease the wheels of the offense. They also outscored Denver 22-11 in points off turnovers. The age-old saying of āthe best way to beat a zone is to go before it gets set upā also applies to this defensive scheme.
The Timberwolves head back home to take on the Memphis Grizzlies, which marks the end of their three-game road trip, where Minnesota went 3-0. Tuesdayās game against Memphis will air on FanDuel Sports Network at 7 PM CT.
In a corresponding move to the Tye Kartye waiver pick-up, the New York Rangers sent Brennan Othmann down to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
In the final game leading up to the Olympic break, Othmann was scratched out of the lineup, as Mike Sullivan did not hide his feelings toward Othmannās overall readiness for the NHL.
āI think there are elements of his game that have to continue to improve in order for him to establish himself as an NHL player,ā Sullivan said of Othmann.
Despite what seemed like a golden opportunity for Othmann to carve out a role with the Rangers due to the teamās direction to retool and focus on getting younger, he finds himself back in the AHL.
The decision to send Othmann down to Hartford stems from inconsistencies in his level of play.
āI just think it has been a little bit of an inconsistent game,ā Sullivan said. āThereās been times when heās made a positive impact on the game, thereās been others when he hasnāt. Weāve talked a lot to him about attention to detail, bringing in a reliable conscientious game.
āIf youāre playing in a bottom six-role, and youāre not filling the net on the offensive side of the rink, then your contributions have to be in those areas. Those are the areas weāve worked with Otter to try to help him.ā
In 17 games this season with the Blueshirts, the 23-year-old forward has recorded one goal and one point, while averaging 9:53 minutes.
Ahead of Friday's March 6 NHL trade deadline, the Philadelphia Flyers have officially made their first move.
On Sunday night, the Flyers made their first of what is expected to be a few trades this week, sending defenseman Roman Schmidt to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Boris Katchouk.
Schmidt, 23, was acquired by the Flyers on Dec. 8 in exchange for fellow defenseman Ethan Samson, but failed to establish himself on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' blueline in the AHL.
Instead, players like Christian Kyrou, Helge Grans, Oliver Bonk, and Maxence Guenette held or earned positions ahead of the 6-foot-5 former third-round pick.
As for Katchouk, the 27-year-old is a Canadian-Russian forward and a former second-round pick with 179 games of NHL experience, scoring 15 goals, 21 assists, and 36 points.
The journeyman winger will serve as organizational depth for the Flyers, and it's worth noting that his Russian heritage should be helpful for goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov down in Allentown.
Katchouk was a player I figured the Flyers would sign specifically for that role in the 2024 offseason, though it never came to fruition in the end.
No picks were exchanged by either side in this trade, so the Flyers move a younger, out-of-favor defenseman for an older, more established forward. That's it.
It's possible the Phantoms will need the reinforcements in preparation of a future call-up, which could be winger Alex Bump. The Flyers also need a fourth-line center as things currently stand, so Karsen Dorwart or Lane Pederson could reprise their previous NHL roles, too.
We haven't gotten that far yet, but the Flyers are getting started on their trade deadline business early.
The Dodgers' Jackson Ferris delivers a first-inning pitch against the San Diego Padres last week in Peoria, Ariz. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)
The way the Dodgers have spent money in recent years, one area that often gets overlooked is their ability to draft, trade for and develop prospects.
The Dodgers boast five prospects in MLB Pipelineās Top 100 rankings, tied for third-most among teams. The group includes four outfielders ā Josue De Paula (No. 15), Zyhir Hope (No. 27), Eduardo Quintero (No. 30) and Mike Sirota (No. 60) ā in the top 60. Two of those prospects, De Paula and Quintero, were international signings, and the other two, Hope and Sirota, were acquired via trade.
Sirota came over in last yearās trade that sent Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds. A year earlier, the club acquired Hope and promising young pitcher Jackson Ferris from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Michael Busch and right-hander Yency Almonte, who recently returned to the Dodgers on a minor league contract.
Ferris, who pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings in his second Cactus League start Saturday in the Dodgersā 7-6 split-squad loss to the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium, noticed the contrast going from the Cubs to the Dodgers.
āIt was different,ā Ferris said last month at his locker at Camelback Ranch. āIt was honestly a breath of fresh air. Getting to know these coaches, they just understand exactly what they wanted for me and how they were going to go about it.
āIt was cool to see how different things were. The Cubs [are] a great organization, good minor league system and everything, it was crazy to see how different the Cubs are from the Dodgers. The Dodgers are just as good, if not better, at everything in the minor leagues and in the big leagues.ā
Ferris arrived at Cubs minor league camp in early January 2024, ready to get to work. A few days later, he was surprised when the team told him he had been traded.
āI definitely wasnāt expecting it after only throwing like 55-ish innings in my first year and doing well,ā Ferris said. āSo, I didnāt really know how to react. The Cubs coaches were talking highly of the Dodgers coaches, so then I was pretty excited.ā
Ferris credits the Dodgers for being more detail-oriented than the Cubs and helping him improve as a pitcher.
āIt was my first year of pro ball, so maybe it was just like being a high schooler, I didnāt necessarily get a whole lot of coaching,ā Ferris said of his time with the Cubs. āIād say it was more like, āGo out there and letās just see how you do in your first year.ā Whereas whenever I came here, they studied my throw, everything and it was like, āHere, we think these drills are going to help you,ā and we just kind of took off in our first year of being here.ā
That season, Ferris posted a 3.20 ERA across 34 starts between high-A Great Lakes and double-A Tulsa, earning minor league pitcher of the year honors from the organization. Last year, Ferris logged a 3.86 ERA across 26 games and 126 innings at double-A Tulsa.
This year Ferris could be knocking on the door of a big-league promotion. Heās impressed through his first two Cactus League starts, with just four baserunners and no runs over 2-2/3 innings, while working with a versatile five-pitch mix that features a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a ābullet slider,ā a straight changeup and a 12-to-6 curveball.
āI like Jackson,ā Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. āI like the player. Heās a good kid. A lot of talent. I think for me, itās just trying to harness his arsenal. Itās a good fastball. He needs to continue to get ahead, be able to put hitters away with the secondary pitches, be efficient with his pitches per inning, but I like Jackson.ā
Mookie Betts makes Cactus League debut
Shortstop Mookie Betts played in his first spring training game Sunday, reaching on a fielder's choice and grounding out in two at-bats while scoring a run in the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the Angels at Camelback Ranch.
"I know I had an 0-for-2, but I got two good swings," Betts said after he was lifted from the game. "I was prepared, I was ready to go. Couldn't ask for anything more than what I've been doing."
Left-hander Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless fourth inning, striking out the side. Vesia has struck out five of the nine batters he has faced across three appearances this spring.
