Posts

Posted on

Spring Training: A’s at Diamondbacks Game Thread

This afternoon, the Athletics will look to make it five Cactus League wins in a row as they play the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second time this spring. A week ago, the Diamondbacks defeated the A’s 3-1.

Since then, the A’s offense has woken up in full force, seemingly scoring runs at will during this winning streak. Yesterday, the A’s pounded White Sox pitching, scoring 11 runs on 16 hits. First baseman Nick Kurtz, catcher Shea Langeliers and designated hitter Brent Rooker all hit home runs, with Kurtz and Langeliers going back-to-back in the fourth inning. On the other hand, the team’s pitching continues to be a concern, as A’s starter Jeffrey Springs gave up six runs over only 2 2/3 innings.

Right-hander Luis Morales will start on the mound for the A’s today, looking to improve from his last outing against the Los Angeles Angels, in which he gave up two runs over 3 2/3 innings. That performance was much improved from his previous spring outing, a sign Morales is becoming prepared to positively contribute to the A’s success this season.

In his first 10 MLB appearances last August and September, Morales went 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA, recording 43 strikeouts over 48 innings pitched. Morales could help reverse the A’s recent trend of top international signings failing to pan out. The Cuban pitcher has the talent to pitch at the front of a rotation and could play an important role in helping the team allow fewer runs this season.

Here’s how the A’s lineup behind Morales:

With the start of the regular season just a couple of weeks away, starters are beginning to play more as teams send lower-level minor leaguers and non-roster invitees unlikely to make the roster to minor league camp.

The A’s lineup this afternoon is very close to what it will presumably look like come the regular season. The first five names are the team’s five best hitters. Max Muncy has received the most playing time at third base this spring and will presumably start there on Opening Day. Utility infielder Andy Ibanez is playing second base, a position he will likely see time at this year in addition to third.

Henry Bolte is in the lineup again. The team’s top outfield prospect is batting .414 with a home run and three RBIs in 29 Cactus League at-bats. If Bolte carries his spring success into the start of the Triple-A season, he could be rewarded with his MLB debut sometime this year.

Here’s how the Diamondbacks line up this afternoon behind starting pitcher Ryne Nelson:

Diamondbacks superstar outfielder Corbin Carroll will make his spring debut a month after breaking his right hamate bone. Additionally, first baseman Pavin Smith is off to a good start this spring, hitting .308 with two home runs and four RBIs.

Outside of those two regulars, the rest of Arizona’s starting lineup is made up of prospects and backups, which could give Morales a favorable matchup this afternoon as he continues vying for a spot in the A’s Opening Day rotation.

Should be a fun one in the desert. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Let’s go A’s!

Posted on

Bryce Miller exits bullpen session early, status for Opening Day in doubt

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 12: Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners walks to the dugout after pitching the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game one of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 12, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller, who hasn’t pitched in a game since the start of spring training with an abdomen/oblique injury, was scheduled to pitch a 25-pitch standard bullpen today as part of his rehab process. Instead, Miller’s bullpen was cut short after just a few warmup tosses, as Miller reported feeling tightness in the area while ramping up to his bullpen. The Mariners immediately opted to shut him down for the day, though not from throwing in general.

“This is rehab. This is part of that,” said Mariners GM Justin Hollander. “We told Bryce specifically…if you feel anything at all, don’t push through it. That’s not where you’re at in this process.”

Miller got through the on-ramp to his bullpen—stretching, touch-and-feel tosses, throwing around a football and warming up—fine, but felt tightness once he got on the mound and started throwing with more intent. As instructed, he immediately reported the feeling to a trainer, and the Mariners opted to cut the session short.

“We’re not going to push through this and risk actually having to take a step backwards,” said Hollander.

Miller won’t be shut down from throwing; he’ll still play catch, and in another three to four days they’ll try again with the touch and feel bullpen, similar to the one he threw a few days ago. If Miller progresses through all of that without issue, he can move to trying the standard bullpen again, about a week from today. Hollander says that’s just what the rehab process looks like.

“Some days, you feel a little tightness, and we back it down. Sometimes you feel great, and we feel like you’re ready to take the next step. He wasn’t ready to take the next step today, and smartly said, I’m not ready to take the next step today, so we’ll try again in a couple of days.”

The bullpen step is the hardest one to clear, moving from playing catch to throwing with intent and intensity, but it does delay Miller’s timeline by about a week. Hollander wouldn’t decisively rule out Miller, whose last game appearance was February 26th, for Opening Day, but the math isn’t in Miller’s favor with the regular season starting up in just two weeks. All Hollander would commit to acknowledging was that Miller is behind schedule, and that the team will make decisions as necessary.

The Mariners have built depth this spring with both minor-league signings and internal improvements. They’ve brought back Tacoma stalwarts Jhonathan Díaz and Casey Lawrence, both of whom have filled in at the big-league level. Emerson Hancock, who filled in last spring for various rotation members battling injury, has been especially impressive this spring, showcasing consistent improved velocity and an improved sweeper. Off-season acquisition Cooper Criswell has also been working as a starter this spring, and could either start himself, piggyback with Hancock, or serve as longman out of the ‘pen, all roles the Swiss army knife pitcher says he’s comfortable with. And beyond that, the Mariners could even tap into young but polished Kade Anderson, although that seems like a distant third option ahead of their longer-tenured options or Criswell, who lacks options and was looking like a lock to make the roster even before this. Who is your preferred option to fill in for Miller as he works back from his oblique injury? Let us know in the comments.

Posted on

Montreal At Ottawa: Canadiens To Start Minor League Goalie; Caufield Questionable

The weather may be nasty in the nation’s capital, but the mood on the ice figures to be just as foul on Wednesday night when the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens renew hostilities at Canadian Tire Centre with a crucial two points on the line.

Weathering the Weather

After a day that was expected to be filled with freezing rain with significant ice buildup in Ottawa, it's possible it may affect Wednesday's game being played at all, but as of mid-afternoon, it looks like business as usual. 

Due to weather conditions, they will be opening the doors at 4 p.m. to fans with tickets.

The State of Things

With a win, the Senators would move to within three points of Boston for the final wild-card spot and they'd also move five points behind the Canadiens, who currently occupy third place in the Atlantic Division.

By contrast, a Montreal victory would not only strengthen the Canadiens’ playoff chances, but it would also open up a nine-point advantage on the Sens, which would all but eliminate Ottawa’s hopes of catching them.

When the Senators began their just-completed five-game road trip, they were seven points out of a playoff spot. They went 4-0-1, but that impressive run only moved them two points closer to Boston. The Bruins, Canadiens and Blue Jackets all won Tuesday night. Detroit did not, so they stay just six points up on Ottawa. The Sens need one of the Eastern playoff teams to falter. Perhaps it will be the Red Wings.

Season Series

Montreal leads Ottawa in the season series, winning two of the three matchups, though that doesn’t mean much in Gary Bettman’s three-point world. The Canadiens won both of their games in overtime, while Ottawa’s lone victory came in regulation. As a result, the two teams have each collected four points from their first three meetings.

Probable Line Combos: Senators

Batherson – Stützle – Giroux
Tkachuk – Cozens – Greig
Cousins – Pinto – Amadio
Foegele – Eller – Zetterlund

MacDermid – Halliday

Chabot – Zub
Kleven – Spence
Matinpalo – Jensen

Ullmark
Reimer

Gardien de but

In a surprising twist, in part two of a back to back, the Canadiens recalled goaltender Jacob Fowler from AHL Laval Rocket and named him the starter for Wednesday. Before his recall, it was assumed that Sam Montembeault would start, but he has struggled of late.

After James Reimer pitched a shutout in Vancouver on Monday night, Linus Ullmark will start for the Senators. While he still runs hot and cold, Ullmark hasn’t lost in regulation (5-0-2) since December 27. That was the night he was pulled from a game in Toronto and ultimately stepped away from the team for about a month to focus on his mental health.

We're Going Streaking

Tim Stützle enters the night riding a 13-game point streak. Most players will never have a streak that long. Stützle had one just back in January. It’s the fourth-longest streak in Senators history, a mark he also shares with Drake Batherson and Marian Hossa. With a point tonight, he would reach 14 games, matching the 14-gamer he produced last season.

No MacDermid Versus Habs

It’s interesting to see Kurtis MacDermid back in healthy-scratch mode. He was acquired in October shortly after the Canadiens beat Ottawa 5-0 in a preseason game in which the Senators were literally beaten up as badly as they were on the scoreboard.

Last Thursday, on the eve of the NHL trade deadline, in a crucial game against Calgary, MacDermid suddenly made his first start of 2026. That led to speculation that Stephen Halliday was sitting out because he might be part of a trade the team was working on. Halliday didn’t go anywhere, as it turned out, and the Senators said they simply wanted MacDermid in the lineup as a deterrent because Calgary is a tough team.

Now, facing an even more important game against their heated rival, the same brawl-ready Canadiens who prompted MacDermid’s acquisition in the first place, the big guy is going to sit.

Arber Xhekaj doesn’t mind that. With Brady Tkachuk unable to fight because of his thumb brace, only the referees can hold Xhekaj accountable.

If MacDermid isn’t suited for a game like this, then why was he acquired? And why did he suddenly show up in the lineup against Calgary?

It strongly suggests Halliday may indeed have been part of trade discussions that ultimately fell through. In fairness, there’s little upside to the Senators publicly acknowledging that. A young player doesn’t need to hear that his team considered moving him, and broadcasting that you’re willing to part with someone rarely helps the value of the asset.

The Canadiens, meanwhile, are punching well above the weight class that most of the league assigned them before the season began. Like the Senators, they’re a fast, skilled team that can roll four lines and generally plays the right way. Montreal has 10 players in double digits in goals, while the Senators have 11.

Former Kings Anchor Fourth Lines

Both teams have some expensive fourth lines. Except for Lars Eller, everyone makes north of $3.5 million. The Sens round out their bottom line with newcomer Warren Foegele ($3.5 million) and Fabian Zetterlund ($4.27 million), which is a little pricey for a fourth line. But it's nothing compared to Montreal’s, with Josh Anderson ($5.5 million), Phillip Danault ($5.5 million) and Brendan Gallagher ($6.5 million). 

Last season, Danault and Foegele finished fifth and sixth in scoring for the Los Angeles Kings, both topping 40 points. This year, both have really struggled offensively, and it was hoped that their shift to the East might help. Danault has been somewhat better, with 11 points in 27 games, a 33-point pace.

After scoring in his debut in Seattle, Foegele will play his third game as a Senator and make his home debut in Ottawa on Wednesday night.

With a virus making its way through the Canadiens' locker room, the Habs might have some last minute changes before game time. Cole Caufield, for one, is a game time decision.

Probable Line Combos: Canadiens

Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
Newhook – Kapanen – Demidov
Bolduc – Evans – Dach
Anderson – Danault – Gallagher

Guhle – Hutson
Matheson – Dobson
Xhekaj – Carrier

Fowler
Dobes

Note the 7:30 pm start time (Sportsnet, RDS).

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News. Read more great Senators coverage and bookmark TheHockeyNews.com/Ottawa-Senators

Spence And Kleven Ready To Pick Up Slack In Sanderson's Absence
Senators Lose Star Defenseman Jake Sanderson To Injury
Will Warren Foegele Prove To Be Worth The Price For The Senators?
Brady Tkachuk Jokes About Being 'Under Microscope' After Olympics
Senators Stand Pat On Quiet Final Day Before NHL Trade Deadline

Posted on

Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 20 thread: Chase Dollander vs. Luis Castillo

Mar 6, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander (32) throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Hohokam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The talk of the baseball world today is Italy’s stunning upset of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The 8-6 win is the biggest for Italy in international play, and was led by Colorado Rockies’ RHP Michael Lorenzen pitching 4.2 scoreless innings and giving up only two hits to some of the best batters in the world. The result forces quite a bit of drama for the U.S. heading into the final day of group play.

Back in the Cactus League, the Rockies will look to rebound after a pair of rough blowouts to start the week, losing to the Chicago White Sox 12-3 on Monday and to the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 on Tuesday. The bats have cooled down in recent days, with a number of top contributors going “o-fer” at the plate. Taking on the Seattle Mariners, Chase Dollander gets his fourth start of the spring, going 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, five strikeouts, and three walks so far.

On Seattle’s end, Luis Castillo takes the mound, looking to break a troublesome start to camp. In two games, Castillo is 0-2 has an abysmal 27.00 ERA across 2.2 innings pitched, after giving up six hits, six runs, and a homer to the San Diego Padres, and four hits, three runs, and a homer to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies’ bats could turn the team’s week around with a juicy matchup if they can take advantage of Castillo’s NL West woes.

First Pitch: 2:10 p.m. MDT

TV: None

Radio: Seattle Sports 710AM

Lineups:

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Posted on

Utah's Nick Schmaltz signs extension; who are top remaining free agents?

Take another potential free agent off this summer's list.

Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz signed an eight-year contract extension on Wednesday, March 11 with a cap hit of $8 million. That will make him the team's third-highest player behind Logan Cooley ($10 million cap hit next season) and Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5 million).

Schmaltz, 30, ranks second on the team in goals (24), assists (35), and points (59) in 62 games. He already has passed his career best in goals and is on pace to shatter his top season in points (63 last season).

He had been No. 2 on USA TODAY Sports' most recent list of top potential free agents and is the latest player to come off what had been an impressive class. 

Kirill Kaprizov signed a record extension and has been joined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Martin Necas, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kiefer Sherwood and Schmaltz.

Here are some of the top remaining pending unrestricted free agents:

Top remaining free agents

10. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins

He has rebounded in his first year in Pittsburgh with 24 goals and 48 points. Current cap hit: $2.5 million.

9. Charlie Coyle, Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets held onto their free agents at the deadline because the team has turned things around since Rick Bowness was named coach. With 51 points, he's on pace to set a personal best. Current cap hit: $5.25 million.

8. Anders Lee, New York Islanders

He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals. He had 29 last season. Current cap hit: $7 million.

7. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is 40. He'll either re-sign with Washington or retire. He hasn't indicated his plans. Current cap hit: $9 million.

6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

The goalie has won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.

5. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

The 39-year-old has expressed an interest in playing more and he recently said the Penguins would wait until after the season to negotiate. He's averaging a point a game but has dealt with an injury and had an ill-timed five-game suspension. Current cap hit: $6.1 million.

4. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks

Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He ha 46 points in 55 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.

3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights

The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with a 50- and a 49-point season. He's at 36 points this season. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.

2. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning

The defenseman is having a breakout season with 17 goals and 58 points and filled in well while Victor Hedman was out twice with injuries. Current cap hit: $975,000.

1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He's at 28 goals this season for the surging Sabres. He wants to stay in Buffalo and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wants to keep him. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.

Which 2026 free agents have signed extensions recently?

  • Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, eight years, $136 million, a record for its total amount and $17 million cap hit
  • Edmonton's Connor McDavid, two years, $25 million. The $12.5 million cap hit equals his current one and places him second on the team behind Leon Draisaitl.
  • Edmonton's Jake Walman, seven years, $49 million
  • Winnipeg's Kyle Connor, eight years, $96 million, richest contract in team history
  • Edmonton's Mattias Ekholm, three years, $12 million
  • Vegas' Jack Eichel, eight years, $108 million
  • Colorado's Martin Necas, eight years, $92 million
  • New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom, two years, $12 million
  • Colorado's Scott Wedgewood, one year, $2.5 million
  • Los Angeles' Adrian Kempe, eight years, $85 million
  • Montreal's Mike Matheson, five years, $30 million
  • Tampa Bay's Ryan McDonagh, three years, $12.1 million
  • Los Angeles' Artemi Panarin, two years, $22 million
  • San Jose's Kiefer Sherwood, five years, $28.75 million
  • Seattle's Jordan Eberle, two years, $11 million
  • Utah's Nick Schmaltz, eight years, $64 million

What is the NHL salary cap for 2025-26 and beyond?

The 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons could have minor adjustments up or down based on revenues:

2025-26

  • Upper limit: $95.5 million
  • Lower limit: $70.6 million

2026-27

  • Upper limit: $104 million
  • Lower limit: $76.9 million

2027-28

  • Upper limit: $113.5 million
  • Lower limit: $83.9 million

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top NHL free agents after Nick Schmaltz signs extension with Mammoth

Posted on

Otega Oweh scores 23, hits late jumper, and Kentucky beats LSU 87-82 to open the SEC Tournament

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Otega Oweh scored 23 points, including a key jumper with 1:12 remaining, and Brandon Garrison added 17 points off the bench as No. 9 seed Kentucky beat 16th-seeded LSU 87-82 on Wednesday in the opening game of the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky (20-12) advances to play No. 8 seed Missouri in the second round on Thursday. The Wildcats had not played on a Wednesday at this tournament since the SEC brought the event back in 1979.

Garrison, who entered with just two made 3-pointers on the season, made back-to-back 3-pointers during an 8-0 run that gave Kentucky a 73-64 lead with 9:32 remaining.

Oweh grabbed his own miss and brought it out to the 3-point arc before sinking a jumper from the free-throw line for an 83-76 lead. After an LSU layup at 49.6, Denzel Aberdeen made two free throws for a seven-point lead.

Aberdeen finished with 16 points for Kentucky. Kam Williams, who played in a game for the first time since Jan. 21 due to a broken foot, had three points in 17 minutes.

Max Mackinnon scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half for LSU (15-17). Mike Nwoko had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Marquel Sutton and Jalen Reece each scored 11.

Mackinnon made a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, off a nice drive and pass from Reece, to pull LSU within 46-43 at the break.

Reece’s steal and fast-break layup pulled the Tigers within 79-74 with 2:53 remaining following a 6-0 run, but that's as close as they got as Oweh made a driving layup at the other end for a seven-point lead.

Up next

The Wildcats lost to Missouri 73-68 at Rupp Arena on Jan. 7.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Posted on

Mariners Spring Training 2026, Game #19

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Mariners take on the Rockies and their ace Chase Dollander today. Luis Castillo will take the ball for the Mariners.

Also scheduled to pitch for the Mariners: Casey Lawrence, José Ferrer, Matt Brash, Carlos Vargas, Yosver Zulueta

Injury news:

Bryce Miller will throw a 25-pitch bullpen today as he continues to work his way back from oblique soreness. The Mariners won’t say whether or not he’ll be ready to start the season but it doesn’t feel likely at this point; Cooper Criswell seems like a lock to make the roster at this point, and maybe both him and Emerson Hancock.

Roster moves:

Yesterday the Mariners re-assigned RHP Nick Davila to minor league camp; today they made several more cuts, optioning Blas Castaño and Domingo Gonzalez to Triple-A Tacoma and re-assigning OF Lazaro Montes, RHP Tyler Cleveland, RHP Michael Morales, OF Spencer Packard and C Nick Raposo to minor-league camp.

Game information:

Game time: 1:10 PT

TV: no

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, Seattle Sports app, Gameday, Mariners.com

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!
Posted on

Ron Harper Jr.’s breakout against the Spurs was another win for Celtics development

Mar 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. (13) shoots the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

By the time Jaylen Brown was ejected from Tuesday night’s 125-116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics teammate Ron Harper Jr. had already scored eight points. He subbed in alongside Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta as soon as Brown left the floor and made the most of the opportunity.

In the third quarter, with just over four minutes remaining, Baylor Scheierman drove and found Harper wide open in the corner. He bounced a no-look pass to Harper, who drained the 3-pointer despite 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama charging full extension to contest. That shot cut San Antonio’s lead over Boston to 85-83. It also ignited the 25-year-old’s confidence, and he ran with it.

“He’s been great,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “He’s continuing to get better on both ends of the floor. Tonight, it was the shooting, but I think his defense is just as impactful as everyone else’s. He’s just another guy that can impact winning for us.”

The fourth quarter became Harper’s canvas, and he painted his career masterpiece as a two-way player.

San Antonio entered the fourth with a 97-90 lead, but Harper stayed determined. With Brown out and Tatum struggling (just 4-of-14 from three), Harper stepped up off Boston’s bench. He led the Celtics in scoring in the final 12 minutes of regulation with 11 points, doubling his previous career-high with 22 points in just over 33 minutes.

Harper was responsible for the bulk of Boston’s bench points (34 total), converting 6-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc. His teammates trusted him as the fourth quarter progressed, and he rewarded them by keeping the Celtics within striking distance during their late-game push for a comeback.

There was no hesitation in Harper’s release. He wanted the ball, regardless of the mounting pressure that came with overcoming Brown’s unforeseen exit plus Payton Pritchard’s unavailability (neck spasms). Without Harper’s initiative to embrace the opportunity in front of him, the Celtics might have suffered a blowout that would have forced Mazzulla to empty the bench shortly after Brown headed to the locker room.

Boston’s starting lineup shot only 10-of-33 from 3-point range, making Harper’s breakout critical.

Harper’s career night was even more sentimental as he competed opposite his brother, Dylan, whom the Spurs selected second overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Rutgers.

“He played well today,” Dylan Harper said postgame, per Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express News. “Just the way he kind of inserts himself. I think that just moving forward, the more opportunities he gets, the better he’s going to look.”

During the offseason, the Celtics reunited with Harper, signing him to an Exhibit 10 contract in August before the start of preseason. In his limited 10.6 minutes across three appearances, Harper shot 40.3 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three. Boston elected to keep him, converting his contract to a two-way deal for his second stint with the organization.

Following the preseason, the Celtics assigned Harper to their G League affiliate in Maine. He continued to develop there under head coach Phil Pressey, averaging 26.9 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 30.9 minutes per game. Harper logged eight appearances, shooting 49.7 percent from the floor, including 40.2 percent from three on 10.9 attempts per game. On February 4, Boston started Harper against the Houston Rockets, giving him his first career NBA start. He scored a then-career-high 11 points with nine rebounds and three assists in a 114-93 win, taking his first major step with the team.

Five weeks later in San Antonio, Harper’s work with the Celtics’ development staff paid off once more.

Mazzulla assured everyone before the season that opportunities would be handed out — and he’s kept his word. Everyone from Jordan Walsh to Hugo González to Luka Garza, and even Josh Minott before his trade to the Brooklyn Nets, has gotten their chance. The hours logged behind the scenes in practices and pregame sessions with the coaching staff have prepared players like Harper for their moments of action — even, and especially, when those moments come unexpectedly, as was the case in San Antonio.

Harper has already surpassed his total NBA appearances over his previous three years with the Pistons and Raptors, with 19 logged this season.

Based on Harper’s rise to the occasion in San Antonio and the reputation Mazzulla’s development staff has built over the past few years, the Celtics could have their next project in the works, ready to contribute in Boston in the near future.

Posted on

Looking ahead at the Knicks’ remaining schedule

Some nice, and easy games to hopefully build confidence, rest, and get ready for what should be a long playoff run
Mar 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks back during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, Rockets, Cavaliers, Spurs, Raptors, Thunder and Lakers. Those are some of the teams the Knicks have played since February.

New York has gone against the Wizards, Pacers, Bulls, and the Bucks—all of those matchups sandwiched in between the aforementioned ones—but for the most part, the Knicks have had test after test over the last five weeks. And outside of the last two games against the two Los Angeles teams, and the two drubbings at the hands of the Pistons, the Knicks answered some questions and came out looking relatively unscathed.

They may not have made up the kind of ground they wanted to in the stands, largely due to the exceptionally strong play of the Pistons, Celtics, and even the Cavaliers. But their much-improved defense, Karl-Anthony Towns’ hot play, and the sudden emergence of Mo Diawara have ignited some hope and confidence. And the good news is, those things, as well as some other factors, should be a mainstay for the next couple of weeks.

Over the next few weeks, the Knicks’ schedule goes from incredibly tough to a cakewalk. It starts with a road game against the tanking Jazz tonight, then a matchup against a Pacers team that, to their credit, did beat the Knicks a few weeks ago. They then host the Warriors, who enter tonight under .500, and the Pacers, then play the Nets, Wizards, and the Pacers again over five days.

New York does have a tough three-game stretch against the hot Hornets, which could end up being a potential playoff preview, defending champion Thunder, and the Rockets. After that, it’s a mixed bag, as they round out the season with games against the Grizzlies, Bulls, and Hawks, before facing off against the Celtics, Raptors, and Hornets. Now, the last three games look like they could be tough on paper, but as is the case every season, it’s hard to project what games in the last week of the season could look like with teams often sitting guys as they prepare for a long and grueling playoff run.

The rest of the regular season should provide the Knicks with enough tests with games against the Hornets, Thunder, Rockets, and Celtics, but also give the Knicks plenty of games to improve heading into the playoffs.

They can use some of the aforementioned games against the worst teams in the league to either rest guys, especially Jalen Brunson, who has looked a tad bit slow, and hampered. And they can maybe look to get Mikal Bridges going again offensively. While the Knicks won’t want to punt games as the standings are still very much in flux, if they can take care of business early on in the games, it should also allow head coach Mike Brown to continue playing with the rotations, and possibly get guys like Diawara, and maybe even Tyler Kolek for some potential playoff minutes.

The last week(s) of the season will likely prove to be a big deal for the Knicks, regardless of what other teams are doing, though. As stated above, the standings may not be fully locked in until the very last day of the season, and even if they are, the Knicks have the task of trying to re-integrate a key piece in Deuce McBride. Every minute they can get him will be pivotal, as having him return to game shape and in rhythm could end up being a make-or-break factor in just how far this team can go.

Posted on

Steve Kerr reacts after Warriors lose two ‘very winnable games’ in a row

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors passes around Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Chase Center on March 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In today’s Dub Hub:

The Golden State Warriors had opportunities to pick up two much-needed wins this week. Instead, they walked away empty-handed.

Golden State dropped back-to-back games against two teams near the bottom of the standings — first a loss to the Utah Jazz (20-45) on Monday night, followed by a 130-124 overtime defeat to the Chicago Bulls (27-38) on Tuesday. Both games were within reach late, making the results even more frustrating for a Warriors team still trying to stabilize its season.

After Tuesday’s loss, head coach Steve Kerr reacted to the team’s missed opportunities.

“Both very winnable games,” Kerr said. “We had the lead late tonight — obviously, one we should have had — but this is how the NBA is, especially when you’re beaten up. You’re not going to blow anybody out. Games are going be tight. You got to finish, and we didn’t finish either of the last two nights.”

Against Chicago, the Warriors appeared to be in control late in regulation before the game slipped away, eventually being forced into overtime where the Bulls pulled ahead behind Matas Buzelis’ career-high 41 points. It was a similar story the night before against Utah, when Golden State struggled to keep up with the Jazz down the stretch, despite them benching their second-leading scorer in Keyonte George.

Kerr’s message reflects the reality of where Golden State currently stands. With multiple key players sidelined, the Warriors have been forced to lean heavily on the bottom half of their roster to take on larger roles. While the group deserves credit for keeping games competitive, it has also left the team with little margin for error — even against teams near the bottom of the standings. 

Those missed opportunities have now proven costly, dropping the Warriors below .500 at 32–33 and down to ninth place in the Western Conference standings.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, March 11th:

Warriors News:

Warriors’ back-to-back losses reveal thin margin of error, even against tanking teams | The Athletic

The Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls have a combined 83 losses this season. The Bulls made several trade-deadline deals that made their roster worse in the short term. The NBA fined the Jazz $500,000 last month for sitting healthy players late in games, describing the substitution patterns as “actions that compromise the integrity of our games.”

The Bulls pulled off the rare feat of losing all of their games in a calendar month — 11 straight in February. Some Bulls fans are upset that Chicago has won three of its last five games because the team’s draft lottery chances decrease with each victory.

The Jazz and Bulls are opponents that any team still playing for something should beat. Golden State’s back-to-back losses to them underscore how slim the margin of error is for the undermanned Warriors. Even teams incentivized to lose are still finding ways to beat Golden State.

What we learned as Warriors squander late lead in overtime loss to Bulls | NBC Sports Bay Area

Golden State’s first half was anything but warm. The defense was haphazard, the offense listless and uncoordinated. The result was the Warriors going into the locker room trailing the lowly Bulls by six, 57-51.

Chicago outhustled the Warriors on both ends, picking apart their defense (19 assists, 10 by Josh Giddey) and disrupting their offense to such degree that they shot 37.5 percent inside the arc and managed only nine assists – their lowest in a half since recording eight on Nov. 14 at San Antonio.

Kristaps Porzingis on how he feels after his third game with the Warriors: ‘I’m pretty gassed’

NBA News:

Bam Adebayo pulls off statistical shock with historic 83-point outburst | NBA

“It’s a special moment,” he said. “It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy.” 

He shot 20-for-43 from the floor. Almost half of those attempts, 22, were on 3-pointers. This was a good player on a hot night, which happens frequently in the NBA, just not to this level or anywhere close, actually. 

Before Tuesday, Adebayo averaged 4.8 free-throw attempts per game this season. He finished this game with an astounding 43 attempts, making 36 — which is rather impressive for a 77% shooter. His attempts and makes are single-game NBA records. 

Former Raptors’ coach Sam Mitchell jokes to Wizards’ Brian Keefe after Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game: ‘Thank you for taking my spot’

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Steve Kerr: Fewer games would improve the NBA

However, Kerr also acknowledges that the prospect of reducing the number of regular season games runs anathema to the league’s main goal, which is to maximize revenue.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

Posted on

Five Braves Prospects with the most to prove in 2026

MONTGOMERY, AL - JULY 03: Lucas Braun #12 of the Columbus Clingstones pitches during the game between the Columbus Clingstones and the Montgomery Biscuits at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

The life of a baseball prospect is defined primarily in small moments. Over the course of long seasons across multiple years it’s rare to feel that any stand out, or that any stretch of play is particularly pivotal in a player’s progression. However, every year there are some you can point to and see as interesting and immediate headliners for the season.

Stretches of bad play, injuries, or competition from the system around them can put the future of certain players in more immediate question. Others may simply be in a position to have a true breakthrough and put their name in the organizations headlines.

Today, we look at five players who have the most to define this season. Whether it be their roles, their projections, or their national profile, these prospects will be among the most-watched in the Atlanta Braves system this upcoming season and their stories will help shape the way the Braves approach the future.

Isaiah Drake

After a dreadful season in 2024 the sentiment towards Isaiah Drake swung rapidly red, and even following an impressive 2025 his national reputation is still trying to recover. Drake was awful in 2024, but with the combination of his age and the injuries that riddled that season it was not a huge surprise that he bounced back in 2025. He cut down his strikeout rate by nearly a third while hitting for more power throughout the middle of the season, and although he didn’t bring much pop when promoted to High-A his swing and batted ball profile still improved drastically. Drake is heading into this upcoming season at age 20 and has all of the time in the world to tap into his explosive athleticism. While the upcoming players on this list are in more of a time crunch to improve, Drake really just needs to prove that 2025 wasn’t a fluke and to earn respect similar to other players in the system that he performed on-par with or better than last season. Drake’s biggest hole is still his ability to tap into his raw power, but he’s no longer the slappy player that struggled to produce extra base hits in 2024. His ceiling on top prospect lists will be limited until he can grow into at least double-digit home run power, but the 2026 season will be Drake’s opportunity to prove wrong the people who bailed on him a year ago.

Atlanta Braves v. Boston Red Sox

Luis Guanipa

Guanipa built up a boatload of hype in the rookie leagues, but since his full-season debut late in 2024 he has looked overmatched against Single-A pitching. That is, when he is even able to play. Guanipa has battled injuries throughout his young career, and in 2025 that limited him to just 29 games with Augusta and another 6 rehabbing down in the complex league. Guanipa made some improvements from 2024 to 2025, most notably with his contact rates, but the questions around his approach and his ability to produce have popped up consistently. Guanipa produces plus bat speed and is strong for someone with his frame, but that simply is not translating to in-game pop at this moment in time. Guanipa struggles to lift the ball with any authority and produced well-below average power numbers last season, and though he has cut down on his strikeouts he hasn’t shown much discipline at the plate. He can get his bat to the ball throughout the zone, but without a major turnaround and a healthy season he may not be seen as a top prospect after this season. It’s not totally dire, as Guanipa is only 20 and the physical traits are still largely there, but without major improvement in 2026 in a third go at A-ball it’s going to be hard to project Guanipa to the upper levels.

Herick Hernandez

Hernandez was impossible in two starts following the draft in 2024, and a large reaction followed with some seeing him as a potential draft steal from the fourth round. Hernandez never really repeated the highs of those two starts in 2025, though he did still flash the potential with his plus slider. The improvement Hernandez showed with his splitter has salvaged his ability to project to a starting role in the future, but that outcome seems to grow narrower with each passing start as his consistency and command did not take any steps forward in 2025. He struggled to locate any of his four pitches, and while he will likely get another shot to start in the upcoming season the Braves are not exactly a patient team when it comes to pitchers. He needs to show significant improvement with his command and quickly in order to remain as a starter, with the likely outcome being a fairly swift move to the bullpen. Hernandez has plenty of room to grow into a major league arm even if that came to pass, but it would not be a surprise if 2026 is his last chance to prove himself even given how little professional experience has. 

Lucas Braun

Lucas Braun is coming off of a great season, but he’s now reached the trap that so many pitchers before him did. He’s going to get his first full crack of Triple-A and may even get the chance to pitch in Atlanta this season, but this is the level that the starting room suddenly starts to get crowded. The Braves have a constant rotation of pitchers competing for those spots, and even if it was only a three-game sample Braun didn’t do a whole lot to separate himself in his brief Triple-A stint. His command of all of his pitches and the depth of his arsenal were still on display, but he struggled to miss bats and relied on weak contact to get through his starts. Braun diversifying his arsenal, especially using a sinker more often, helps him in this regard, but we’ve seen multiple guys with his below-average velocity profile hit a wall at Triple-A. Opportunities come and go quickly in baseball, and Braun needs to seize his chance this season and force himself into the conversations when rotation spots open up. Otherwise, more pitchers are going to keep getting healthy and advancing through the system and the window might shut surprisingly quickly. 

Hayden Harris

Hayden Harris has performed well in spring training, which is the first step for him actually locking down a major league role this season. His first taste of Triple-A in 2024 proved that even his elite fastball wouldn’t be enough to survive high-level hitters, and he and the Braves made their necessary fixes headed into 2025. With a new sweeper and fledgling splitter Harris made mincemeat of minor league hitters last season, with an absurd 0.52 ERA and 2.07 FIP. His major league debut wasn’t all that impressive, however, and showed the next step in his progression. Harris needs to prove once and for all that his command, which fluctuates between solid and below average, can stay consistently around average or better. He especially needs to make sure he’s keeping his fastball above the hands of hitters, as the only time he really struggles is when his fastball leaks down in the zone. 2026 is his big chance to lock down a major league role and put a stamp on one of the best paths to the bigs in recent memory. 

Posted on

Sabres Keep Rolling With Win Over Sharks; Chances Of Tuch Re-Signing Are Fading

The Buffalo Sabres have become the story of the NHL season, as the club that was in last place in the Eastern Conference in early December is currently atop the Atlantic Division by four points after their 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Jack Quinn notched his first career hat trick for the Sabres, who registered their eighth win in a row coming out of the Olympic break. 

Everything seems to be going right with the Sabres, who have an incredible 29-5-2 (.833 winning percentage) record since December 9, and have revitalized a long dormant fanbase, as the club had their sixth straight sellout against the Sharks in a non-conference matchup on a weekday, something that was unheard of the last 14 years unless the club was playing arch-rivals Toronto or Montreal.

The club and their fans are content to ride the wave of positivity and victories at this point, but the news of another pending free agent falling off the board continues to make the chances of winger Alex Tuch re-signing to Buffalo longer.  

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Sabres add depth at trade deadline

Tuch scored his 28th goal of the season in the win over the Sharks and is on pace to reach the 30-goal mark for the third time in four years. After the signings of Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin before the trade deadline, the 29–year-old is projected to be the most-sought-after forward on July 1. On Wednesday, the Utah Mammoth signed another pending free agent, Nick Schmaltz, to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension. Schmaltz, 30, stepped into the #1 center role with the Mammoth after the injury to young star Logan Cooley and is on pace to set a career-high in points. 

With Schmaltz joining Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel, Martin Necas, Kempe and Panarin as potential free agents coming off the board, Tuch’s impetus to head to the open market has only increased, especially since there has been no indication that the Sabres have come off their stance of not exceeding $10 million on a new deal. 

"We've had some productive talks with (Alex), and we've expressed our desire to sign him, and we'll continue doing that." Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen said after the deadline. "I told his agent that we're not going to make our team weaker if we don't get a deal done by trade deadline. We're not trading him, and we didn't, because we want to strengthen our team and not make it weaker, and Alex is obviously a huge part of it. So now we're going to continue those talks and hopefully get a deal done before July 1."

Unless there is a change in the stance by either side, the only leverage that the Sabres have is their ability to offer an eight-year deal to Tuch, whether it be to spread the AAV out over a longer term or to enable the club to get something back for the winger, similar to what the Toronto Maple Leafs did with Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights. Otherwise, Tuch will only be able to sign a six-year deal with another club after July 1, when the new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

SF Giants scrambling for bullpen help after Reiver Sanmartin injury

BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 02: Reiver Sanmartin #22 of Team Colombia poses for a photo during the Team Colombia photo day at Pirate City on Monday, March 2, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Harrison Barden/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Last season, the San Francisco Giants defied conventional bullpen wisdom by deciding that left-handed relievers weren’t important. They went most of the season with just one lefty specialist in the bullpen, first Erik Miller and then Joey Lucchesi. Lucchesi finished 13th on the team with 38.1 innings and Miller was 15th with 30 innings in an injury-shortened season. Scott Eyre, Javy Lopez, and Alan Embree watched the 2025 Giants with tears in their eyes and when he learned about it, bullpen innovator Tony La Russa was rolling over in his car.

This season, the Giants may have no choice but to go short on left-handed short relievers. Wednesday, the club announced that bullpen hopeful Reiver Sanmartin will miss three months after his MRI revealed a severe hip flexor strain.

Sanmartin spent most of the last two seasons pitching for the Cincinnati Reds’ Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats, after having Tommy John surgery in 2023. The Giants claimed him off waivers in November. The 29-year-old has been quite good in the minor leagues but struggled to stick in a regular role with the Reds, putting up a 5.66 ERA and a 4.45 FIP while logging 62 career appearances.

He does have a minor-league option remaining, which may have been part of his appeal in the first place, and Sanmartin won’t take up a 40-man roster space while he’s on the extended injured list.

This leaves 33-year-old Matt Gage as the lone healthy left-handed short reliever in the Giants bullpen, though Miller is scheduled to return from his back injury Friday. The Giants resigned Lucchesi to a minor-league deal on Monday, perhaps anticipating the bad news about Sanmartin. There’s also Sam Hentges, who signed a one-year deal for $1.4M but has had serious surgeries on his shoulder and knee in the last 18 months and won’t be available when the season starts.

Is this an issue? Sort of! The Giants are following what’s been a league-wide trend where left-handed relievers have become more scarce. Thanks to the new rule, implemented in 2020, that relievers had to face at least three batters, the “LOOGY” (left-handed one-out guy) has disappeared. Frankly, Barry Bonds was supporting a whole division’s worth of LOOGIES for years — Chuck McElroy and Mike Myers were able to put their kids through college purely due to facing Bonds and then leaving the game before Jeff Kent hit.

Still, in a division where the Giants have to face elite left-handed hitters like Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy on the Dodgers alone, not to mention Corbin Carroll, Jackson Merrill and other lefties whose names don’t rhyme, having southpaws in the bullpen does seem important!

Maybe the signing of Lucchesi, who was fine-to-good last season, and Miller’s return to health will solve this issue. Maybe Gage will settle down and Hentges will come back refreshed.

But right now, the bullpen is short on left-handed relief help, and if it continues like this, Buster Posey is going to make Aaron Fultz and Jack Taschner cry.

Posted on

Did tanking and free-throw tactics ruin Bam Adebayo's historic 83-point game?

In making sense of Bam Adebayo’s historic night, a couple of things became clear.

For one, the exasperation and handwringing is bordering on the absurd. For another, Adam Silver may have inadvertently found the NBA’s solution for tanking.

In what has become the most unexpected individual performance in NBA history, the Miami Heat center dropped 83 points Tuesday, March 10, against the Washington Wizards. It was a singular achievement, one in which he surpassed late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant (81) for second-most points in a single game in history.

Some corners of the Internet whined that Adebayo required 43 free-throw attempts and 36 conversions — both NBA records — to make history.

Make no mistake: his night should be celebrated. You’d be hard-pressed to find many humans who can scratch 83 on their own driveways, let alone an actual NBA game.

Bam Adebayo's 83-point game is cause for celebration

On a random Tuesday in March, the entire pro basketball world was glued to a game only available on local broadcasts. Players in other arenas on the West Coast watched the final minutes on their phones or got updates as Adebayo eclipsed Bryant, one of the idols for this generation actively playing in the league.

In many ways, Adebayo’s 83-bomb defies logic. He’s a 16.1-point-per-game career scorer. His previous career high was 41, which he had surpassed by halftime. It also means he more than doubled that previous career best. There are so many other statistical oddities that make Adebayo’s performance difficult to comprehend.

This was a player chasing greatness and his coaches and teammates facilitating that pursuit. It was a joyous occasion, one that brought awareness to a team captain who prides himself on defensive effort — something often lacking in the league — and a player whose humble beginnings in a single-wide trailer in North Carolina are now being amplified to the masses.

Social media tends to suck the joy from things. The temptation is to measure Adebayo’s game against Kobe and Wilt Chamberlain, but that’s largely reductive. In a vacuum, this was simply an unprecedented display of athletic greatness. Commemorate that.

Bam Adebayo Miami Heat celebrates with teammates after a 150-129 win against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 10, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

Tanking tactics meet Bam Adebayo's historic night

And, perhaps unintentionally, Adebayo also delivered a solution to the NBA’s issue on tanking: if teams are willingly self-sabotaging and compromising their integrity, shame them into infamy.

“There was a lot of fouls called — 16 free throws in the fourth quarter,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said of Adebayo after the game. “Just trying to take the ball out of his hands. He still got some free throws 40 feet away from the rim — can’t explain those calls. That’s all I got to say on that.”

This is exactly what getting embarrassed should feel like. Washington, losers of nine consecutive games, has become a willing doormat as it plans for the future, a common practice for rebuilding teams.

But rather than bemoan officiating, Keefe should explain why the most intense defense his team has played all season came in the final minutes of the fourth, when Washington triple-teamed Adebayo and tried to deny him on inbounds passes. The Wizards, at one point, even intentionally fouled Heat forward Keshad Johnson to put him on the line instead of Adebayo.

Perhaps if the Wizards had exerted this much effort night in and night out, they wouldn’t have been in this position.

Washington is the (proud?) owner of the NBA’s worst defense, allowing 120.6 points per 100 possessions. But it’s the team’s apathy and inability to do anything but foul Adebayo that put the Wizards in this spot.

“The fourth quarter just turned into not a real basketball game,” Keefe added.

He’s not totally wrong; Miami committed an intentional foul with 1:41 left in the game while up 27, in an attempt to get Adebayo more looks. Johnson, in an effort to one-up Washington’s intentional foul on him, tried to direct the ball to Adebayo with an intentionally missed free throw. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra even challenged an Adebayo offensive foul with 2:56 left when Miami was up 25.

But what Keefe gets wrong is that the integrity of this game was compromised months ago, before a single player stepped onto the floor Tuesday night.

Washington, not-so-subtly, has been engaged in a tanking effort over the past three months, if not multiple seasons. And because the team’s 2026 first-round selection is Top-8 protected, the Wizards are doing everything they can to ensure it stays with the franchise.

Trae Young, whom the Wizards acquired Jan. 7, missed Tuesday’s game and has played for Washington just twice. Anthony Davis, acquired Feb. 4, hasn’t made a single appearance for the Wizards.

All of this begs the question: if a supremely talented player but average scorer like Adebayo could go on a heater and explode for 83 points on Washington, will other players now hunt the Wizards?

If Washington continues to self-sabotage, they might as well.

Later this month, the Wizards play the Thunder and Knicks in consecutive nights. What’s to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Brunson from trying for 85? Then, on March 30, the Wizards will travel to face the Lakers and the NBA’s leading scorer, Luka Dončić.

The thing that should endure in all of this, however, is Adebayo. As the NBA tries to compete with other sports for viewership and attention, stories like his and performances like these deserve amplification.

“Wilt, me, then Kobe,” a reflective Adebayo told reporters after the game. “It sounds crazy.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bam Adebayo's 83-point game cause for celebration despite tactics

Posted on

Rockets vs Nuggets Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for March 11

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Our NBA player prop projections are here to help make your Rockets vs. Nuggets predictions process easier.

Read on for our computer's free NBA picks for Wednesday night, featuring a five-star Tari Eason prop.

Rockets vs Nuggets computer picks for March 11

RocketsRocketsNuggets Nuggets
Eason o10.5 points 
+100		Gordon o2.5 assists 
-105
Sengun o17.5 points
-120		Hardaway Jr. o10.5 points
-112
Thompson o6.5 rebounds 
-125		Jokic u28.5 points 
-115

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Rockets computer picks

Tari Eason Over 10.5 points (+100)

Projection: 12.6 points

Our computer would be salivating if it were capable over this Tari Eason points prop. He's projected to beat this line by over two full points for a +23.6% EV.

"The Houston Rockets are expected to see an increase in possessions in this game from being pitted against the 8th-most up-tempo pace team in the NBA over the last 10 games (the Denver Nuggets). The Houston Rockets have been the best offensive rebounding offense in the NBA this year (offensive rebounds maintain possession and can therefore lead to new chances for scoring and assists)."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Eason Now at bet365!/span

Alperen Sengun Over 17.5 points (-120)

Projection: 20.0 points

Our system likes this Alperen Sengun prop for the same reasons it likes the Eason one. This four-star play checks in at a +21.5% EV.

This line is as low as it's been in a nine-game span, and now looks like the time to buy.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Sengun Now at bet365!/span

Amen Thompson Over 6.5 rebounds (-125)

Projection: 7.7 rebounds

Amen Thompson has cashed the Over on his rebounding prop in eight of his last 10 overall.

The juice takes some of the shine off this wager, but our computer believes there's still a +10.2% EV edge to be had based on the projection of 7.7 boards.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Thompson Now at bet365!/span

Nuggets computer picks

Aaron Gordon Over 2.5 assists (-105)

Projection: 2.8 assists

Aaron Gordon is on a hot streak when it comes to handing out helpers. He's cleared his assists Over in nine of his last 10 overall.

Gordon, who missed all of February due to injury, has had three assists in each of his first two games back. 

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Gordon Now at bet365!/span

Tim Hardaway Jr. Over 10.5 points (-112)

Projection: 12.4 points

Our computer notes that the Nuggets have played at the eighth-speediest pace in the NBA over the last 10 games, so it's not surprising to see Denver at second in the league in scoring. Tim Hardaway Jr. has made some contributions, clearing his point total Over in six of his last nine overall.

Our system suggests he'll beat this line by nearly two full points, good for a +16.8% EV.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hardaway Now at bet365!/span

Nikola Jokic Under 28.5 points (-115)

Projection: 26.8 points

Another night, another big point total for Nikola Jokic to clear. Unfortunately for Nuggets fans, our system sees the former MVP falling short of his prop line by nearly two points.

"Offensive rebounds maintain possession and lead to extra chances for scoring and assists, but the Nuggets rank second-worst in the NBA with the home court advantage, with just 8.5 offensive rebounds per game over the last 20 games."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Jokic Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Rockets vs Nuggets tonight

LocationBall Arena, Denver, CO
DateWednesday, March 11, 2026
Tip-off10:00 p.m. ET
TVESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

MORE NBA PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.