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Heat make history by reaching NBA play-offs

Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat gets a shot up against Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks
Tyler Herro led the Heat scoring once again [Getty Images]

The Miami Heat became the first 10th-seeded team to reach the NBA play-offs through the play-in tournament as they scored an overtime success against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Heat began the four-team Eastern Conference qualification tournament needing to win consecutive road games to advance.

After beating the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, they followed up with a 123-114 overtime success over the Hawks to set up a first-round meeting with conference top seeds the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in round one, with play-off games in both conferences beginning on Saturday.

Defeat marks the end of a miserable campaign for the Mavericks, which included their star Luka Doncic being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and Kyrie Irving sustaining a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Anthony Davis, who moved to Dallas as part of the Doncic trade, received medical treatment for groin and lower back injury problems throughout Friday's game but still led his side with 40 points and nine rebounds.

The Heat had bounced back from a 10-game losing streak last month to reach the post-season tournament and dominated the opening half against the Hawks, leading by 17 points at one stage before taking a 62-53 lead into the break.

However, the Hawks stormed back and were 98-92 up with five minutes and six seconds remaining.

A Tyler Herro free throw edged the Heat 106-104 up with 12 seconds left, only for Trae Young to score a late lay-up and send the game to overtime.

The Heat found their range from the perimeter in the extra period with Davion Mitchell sinking three three-pointers and Herro adding two more to secure the win.

"I loved how my team fought," said Herro, who finished on a game-high 30 points. "Every single run that they made, we answered. And I feel like this entire season has really built us up for this point."

Morant beats injury to help Grizzlies advance

In Memphis, Ja Morant shrugged off a sprained right ankle for 22 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals for the Grizzlies.

The 25-year-old two-time All-Star suffered the injury in his side's opening play-in loss to the Golden State Warriors and was only cleared to play shortly before the start of Friday's game.

"Got an MRI, ultrasound, met with different doctors, got a shot, slept, woke up, came to the gym about 5:30, went through walkthrough," Morant said.

"After that, sat for about 30 minutes until it was time to see another doctor and get an injection and start my pre-game stuff."

Asked after the game how the ankle held up, he said, with a laugh, "I couldn't feel it, that's why I was out there."

Zach Edey added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies while Scotty Pippen Jr hit 13 points.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd paid tribute to his players after their season.

"We had an incredible season when you look at the injuries that we've had, the Doncic trade, and for us to even be here playing in this game is incredible," Kidd said.

"It shows the character of that group in the locker room, the fight, and being prepared. It was an incredible season and with the change and injuries, some people were saying we shouldn't be here."

What are the NBA play-off fixtures?

Western Conference:

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) v Memphis Grizzlies (8)

Houston Rockets (2) v Golden State Warriors (7)

Los Angeles Lakers (3) v Minnesota Timberwolves (6)

Denver Nuggets (4) v LA Clippers

Eastern Conference:

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) v Miami Heat (10)

Boston Celtics (2) v Orlando Magic (7)

New York Knicks (3) v Detroit Pistons (6)

Indian Pacers (4) v Milwaukee Bucks (5)

Brackets denote seeding

Play-off rounds are decided by a best-of-seven series

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Kraken Prospects Shine as Hurricanes, Winterhawks Near WHL Finals.

Several Seattle Kraken prospects made their mark on Friday night as the Western Hockey League playoff semi-finals continued with high-stakes battles and standout performances.

Lethbridge at Calgary – Game 5 - Hurricanes Lead Series 3-2

Caden Price and the Lethbridge Hurricanes were on the verge of a clean sweep, heading into Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead over the Calgary Hitmen. But Calgary had other plans. In a thrilling overtime finish, the Hitmen edged out the Hurricanes 6-5, extending the series. Game 6 is set for Saturday, April 19th in Lethbridge, where Price and the Hurricanes will look to close it out on home ice.

Spokane at Victoria – Game 4 - Series Tied 2-2

@Caroline Anne | WHL

Spokane Chiefs captain Berkly Catton delivered a statement performance in a wild 9-6 win over the Victoria Royals. Catton notched three points with two assists and a goal—his sixth of the postseason—helping his team even the series. Game 5 shifts to Victoria on Saturday. Catton, the 8th overall pick by Seattle in 2024, is Spokane’s highest NHL draft pick since Pat Falloon went 2nd in 1991. He was also recently named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 6, 2025.

Portland at Everett – Game 5 - Winterhawks Lead Series 3-2

@Candace Kludt | Come As You Are Hockey

It was a battle of wills between the top-seeded Everett Silvertips and the red-hot Portland Winterhawks. Kaden Hammell scored his fourth playoff goal, tying the game 2-2 late in the second. Teammate Julius Miettinen followed suit with his fifth goal of the postseason, once again leveling the score at 3-3 in the third. But Portland’s Hudson Darby broke the deadlock late, securing a 4-3 win and giving the Winterhawks their third straight victory in the series. Game 6 will take place Saturday in Portland, with Everett needing a win to force a decisive Game 7.

Related

67 WHLers Featured On NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings For The 2025 NHL Entry Draft67 WHLers Featured On NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings For The 2025 NHL Entry DraftNHL Central Scouting has released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. As projected, the list features plenty of WHLers, with 67 players currently in the 'Dub listed. Below are the 67 players and their final rankings
Kraken Will Have Sixth-Best Odds In 2025 Draft LotteryKraken Will Have Sixth-Best Odds In 2025 Draft LotteryThe Seattle Kraken will have the sixth-best odds (7.5%) of landing the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News or Join the discussion with others in your hockey community on the Seattle Kraken Forum.

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What injured ankle? Ja Morant flies around court helping Grizzlies clinch West’s 8 seed

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two-time All-Star Ja Morant promised a sprained right ankle wouldn’t keep him out of Memphis’ play-in game against Dallas with the Western Conference’s last postseason berth up for grabs Friday night.

Morant did more than just play. He delivered a thrilling start that included a high-flying, one-handed slam of a dunk that had teammate Desmond Bane yelling “Showtime!” at him in celebration as Morant elevated so much his eyes were level with the rim.

The guard scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half, and Memphis never trailed in a 120-106 victory to take the No. 8 seed and a spot Sunday in Game 1 at top-seeded Oklahoma City.

“I couldn’t feel it ... so I was out there,” Morant said with a laugh.

Morant had been listed as questionable earlier Friday as the training staff worked to get him ready to play. His status was officially announced about 30 minutes before the tip.

The guard was injured in the third quarter Tuesday night at Golden State with the No. 7 seed on the line. Morant rolled the ankle coming down on Buddy Hield’s foot. Morant limped off the court and returned in the fourth quarter when he was held to four points as the Grizzlies lost 121-116.

Morant took the court late in warm-ups to test his ankle. His young daughter joined him on the court. ESPN reported during the game that Morant had a second shot for his ankle a couple hours before tipoff.

The guard occasionally limped to the free throw line, but that was about the only sign Morant was playing hurt. He finished with nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals before interim coach Tuomas Iisalo pulled his starters in the final couple minutes to some rest. Morant wound up playing 33 minutes helping the Grizzlies finish off a wire-to-wire win.

Injuries limited Morant to 50 games during this regular season. He has played 19 playoff games in Memphis’ three postseason berths with the No. 2 pick overall in the 2019 draft.

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Francisco Lindor hits leadoff homer in ninth to lift the Mets past Cardinals 5-4

NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor homered off Ryan Fernandez leading off the ninth inning, and the New York Mets survived a late blown lead to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Friday night.

Brendan Donovan had homered off Huascar Brazobán (1-0) starting the the top of the ninth, tying it at 4 with a drive off the netting of the right field foul pole.

Lindor drove a cutter on the third pitch from Fernandez (0-2) into the right field second deck for his 250th homer and his first walk-off homer with the Mets.

Torrens had tied the score with an RBI double in the eighth, his fifth hit in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

St. Louis batters struck out 15 times.

Juan Soto, in a 3-for-31 slide, capped a two-run fifth with a tying RBI single that drove in Tyrone Taylor, who had tripled in the Mets’ first run.

Nolan Arenado’s RBI single put the Cardinals back ahead 3-2 in the sixth but Vientos tied the score against Kyle Leahy when he homered for the second straight night.

Opposite-field run-scoring singles to right by Pedro Pagés and Jordan Walker had built a 2-0 lead.

Mets starter David Peterson allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas lowered his ERA from 9.00 to 7.64, giving up two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Donovan extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest in the major leagues this season.

Brandon Nimmo entered in a 1-for-15 slump, was dropped as low as sixth in the order for first time since April 5, 2021.

Key moment

Arenado, the Cardinals’ 10-time Gold Glove third baseman, made a diving tag on Luisangel Acuña for the first out of the eighth. Acuña overslid the base on Brandon Nimmo’s grounder to him.

Key stat

Pete Alonso hit his eighth career triple, his first since July 22, 2023, and was stranded in the first.

Up next

Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (1-1, 3.93) and Mets RHP Kodai Senga (2-1, 1.06) start Saturday.

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Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday, Florida Panthers will have to wait a few more days

Sergei Bobrovsky (center) shares a laugh with Seth Jones (left) and Nate Schmidt (right) after making a save during a Florida Panthers practice at the Baptist Health icePlex in Fort Lauderdale on April 18, 2025. (Florida Panthers)

The day has arrived.

Saturday is the official start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It’s a bit of a slow open, as only four of the 16 teams that qualified for the postseason will begin their respective quests for the Cup on day one.

First, the Presidents’ Trophy winning Winnipeg Jets will host the St. Louis Blues at 6 p.m. ET before the Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche at 8:30 p.m. in the nightcap.

Both games will air on TNT, with full studio coverage for pregame, intermission and postgame discussions.

Six teams will get started on Sunday, and four more on Monday before the Florida Panthers will finally get to play their playoff opener on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It’ll be the fourth time in the past five postseasons that the Cats and Bolts will face off in a best-of-7.

Tampa Bay won the first two series’ back in 2020-21 and 2021-22 while the Panthers took down the Lightning in five games last season.

This year’s series should be an extremely entertaining spectacle as both teams are loaded with talent, very well coached and full of experience.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said he expects the Panthers to have everyone on the active roster healthy and available for Game 1 on Tuesday.

Whether or not that ends up including injured forward Matthew Tkachuk remains to be seen.

That’s actually an area where Florida’s late series start could benefit them, as it gives Tkachuk more time to ramp up his workload and eventually rejoin the lineup.

The Panthers will be back on the ice Saturday. We’ll see whether Tkachuk is out there with his teammates, or whether he skates on his own.

Stay tuned.

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Three takeaways: Some Panthers earn praise after loss in Tampa, Cats ready to focus on playoffs

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'He's Grown A Ton': Ponomarev Looks To Build On Learning Experience With Penguins

Apr 13, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Vasily Ponomarev (11) and Boston Bruins center Fraser Minten (93) take a third period face-off at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

It has been a whirlwind year for Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect Vasily Ponomarev.

The 23-year-old Russian forward was brought to Pittsburgh from the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 trade deadline as part of the blockbuster Jake Guentzel trade, and it hasn't all been smooth-sailing since.

"There’s a huge difference between Carolina hockey and here," Ponomarev said. 

And he struggled with that transition a bit, especially in the earlygoing this season. Carolina's man-to-man, defense-heavy system lies in stark contrast to Pittsburgh's offense-oriented, zone-style defensive system, and it's something that even Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) assistant general manager Amanda Kessel acknowledged that Ponomarev has needed some time to fully grasp.

"I think that he's grown a ton," Kessel said. "At the beginning of the year, some of his, kind of, coming from a different organization and playing lots of man-on-man... some of the d-zone was, at times, a bit challenging.

"But, he's responded super well and come up with huge goals for us. His two-way game is really developing. He's somebody that gives it everything he has every single night."

And Ponomarev realized he needed to make some adjustments, too. Some of it involved tweaking his playing style in relation to learning the new system, and some of it involved the mental side of the game.

 “I think right now it’s much better than it was earlier in the year," Ponomarev said. "I changed my mind mentally more, and I felt like I’ve become stronger. But my game mentality became a little bit different, and I don’t want to talk about it too much. It’s very personal.

"Nothing crazy, but I just understood that I have to play a little bit different way than I did earlier in the year. And, right now, I feel perfectly on the ice when I’m at the NHL level... and I think it’s a good point to start growing up.”

'I Have No Doubt This Thing's Going To Be Turned Around Quickly': After Lost Season, Penguins Optimistic About Future'I Have No Doubt This Thing's Going To Be Turned Around Quickly': After Lost Season, Penguins Optimistic About FutureFor one final time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. - this, time, for locker cleanout day.

Ponomarev mentioned some areas of that growth in his game - and in the system - during locker cleanout day on Friday. He feels that his three NHL games at the end of the season were good ones, and he will look to build off of it as the WBS Penguins head into the Calder Cup playoffs. 

He has played a huge role on that team, registering 15 goals and 40 points in 54 games. He plays a large role on both special teams units, and he had found chemistry on a line with Avery Hayes - who recently signed his entry-level contract - and Rutger McGroarty, who will likely miss the beginning of the AHL playoffs with a lower-body injury sustained at the NHL level. 

The trio has mostly been kept intact since the Prospects Challenge in August, and a lot of that chemistry has been built because of their off-ice relationship.

“I think we found our game in the middle half of this year around December," Ponomarev said. "And those are great dudes. I love them not only on the ice... off the ice, we are huge friends. I think I’m going to be missing 'Rut' in the first round, and I hope he’s joining us in the future rounds to go help us win a Calder Cup because it’s the most important achievement in our league right now.

"And that’s what we want. I think the whole team is passionate about the Calder Cup right now.”

Nov 19, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Vasily Ponomarev (11) skates with the puck against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

And a Calder Cup run is something Ponomarev believes the team can achieve. He mentioned that the team's second half and more recent play has given them a lot of confidence heading into the playoffs, but - just like many others - the closeness of the team is perhaps the biggest factor.

 “I think one of the most important things is that we are really close as a team," Ponomarev said. "Together we are like a family inside the room and outside as well, because I know we love each other and I feel that everyone’s got the same passion."

And passion is certainly something that shows in Ponomarev's own game, too. His effort and energy are things that have earned him the respect of the coaching staff, and his contributions aren't going unnoticed.

WBS Penguins Fall 3-2 To Bruins, Slip In StandingsWBS Penguins Fall 3-2 To Bruins, Slip In StandingsThe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (39-23-7-1) played their 70th game of the season on Wednesday night, dropping a tightly contested 3-2 affair to the Providence Bruins, who broke a tie in the standings between the two clubs.

"I think he's an effort-driven guy," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think he's a guy who can bring energy and help us gain momentum. He's a conscientious player defensively, he can help us on the penalty kill with his conscientious play there... but he's a momentum guy, he's an energy guy, and I think he's one of those guys who can make us harder to play against with his tenacity."

Effort is always the biggest part of the equation for Ponomarev, who is a pending-restricted free agent this summer. While signing a new contract is his top priority, he knows he needs to be both physically and mentally prepared to take a run at an NHL roster spot if given the chance with Pittsburgh next season. 

He plans to work as hard as he ever has to make that happen. But he knows he needs to make time for some other passions, too.

"I know we’ll spend some time on our go-karts this summer," Ponomarev said. "We’ll drive every day as fast as possible.”

Which RFAs Should The Penguins Keep?Which RFAs Should The Penguins Keep?It should be quite the summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the free agent market.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

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Mets' Francisco Lindor hits 250th career home run in historic fashion: 'We’re witnessing a special player'

It was a special night at Citi Field on Friday, and Francisco Lindor made it historic with his walk-off homer that sent Mets fans home happy.

Yes, the longball catapulted the Mets to a 5-4 win after a seesaw battle with the Cardinals, but the home run was history-making in its own right. Not only was it Lindor's first walk-off homer as a member of the Mets, but it was his 250th career home run. In doing so, he became the 254th player in major league history to reach that milestone, but he was the first to accomplish the feat with a walk-off.

"That’s why he’s an elite player and a special player," manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "A moment is not too big for him. He lives for those moments and he came through for us again."

"I gave it everything I had," Lindor said of his home run before calling Friday's game a "fantastic team win," crediting everyone from starter David Peterson to the bullpen to the guys who put runs on the board (Tyrone Taylor, Juan Soto and Luis Torrens).

But while Friday showed how so many pieces helped the Mets win, the night was about Lindor.

"It’s a great number. It’s a number I never thought I was going to get to, as a little kid who just wanted to play baseball on TV so my mom and dad can watch me," Lindor said. "It's really cool. I’m blessed..a lot of good teammates that I had helped me and hitting coaches that helped me along the way. And to my dad that, who never thought I could hit. It's good, it's good."

"It takes a lot [to get to 250]. He’s been in the league for a long time, having success. It’s not easy, especially playing a premium position at an elite level," Mendoza said of the accomplishment. "On top of that, you add the offense. Not just batting average, or hitting doubles but hitting for power. Not too many shortstops in the history of the game, there are only a few of them. We’re witnessing a special player and a special career here."

Lindor is just the 19th active player to have 250-plus home runs, but to Mendoza's point, he's just the fifth shortstop EVER to reach that mark (minimum 60 percent of career games at shortstop).

Although his walk-off homer had Citi Field rocking and made history, Lindor says he didn't even see it land. He just wanted to see his teammates.

"I kept my face in the dugout, with the guys," he said. "Everyone was running wild like we’re all little kids."

That selfless and team-first attitude is why he's the unofficial captain of the Mets. And his career will be defined not just by his accomplishments on the field, but off of it.

"There’s a lot that defines him. Not only moments like this but as soon as he gets to the ballpark, he influences people in a positive way," Mendoza explains. "His presence, his interactions. The way he pushes people, encourages people. And not just players,  but coaches, support staff, everyone in this building. His presence, you can feel it every time he’s around. I’m glad I have him."

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As Vegas And Minnesota Prepare For Game 1, Here Is A Glance At THN's Top 5 All-Time Meetings Between The Wild And Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights are set to face the Minnesota Wild in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs, continuing what's been an awfully close series since Vegas entered the league in 2017.

In the 35 meetings, both in the regular season and the playoffs, Vegas has won 20 times, with a 20-14-1 mark to show for it.

This will mark the second playoff series after the teams met during the postseason of the abbreviated campaign in 2021.

<i>Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) skates with the puck as Wild center Yakov Trenin (13) defends during the second period of an NHL game at Xcel Energy Center on March 25, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</b></i>

Here is our top five all-time meetings between the Wild and Golden Knights:

5. Feb. 9, 2023: Vegas 5, Minnesota 1 - Though Marc-Andre Fleury had already faced the Golden Knights as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, this would be the first time Vegas would see its former netminder as a member of the Wild. The Knights arrived in St. Paul at the right time, as the Wild had lost two straight and five of seven. It was the start of a seven-game homestand for Minnesota, while Vegas was looking to build momentum at the end of a six-game road trip that saw them lose four of the first five. Vegas opened a 2-0 lead before Kirill Kaprizov scored a power-play goal in the second period to cut the Knights' lead in half. But Vegas would respond later in the period with three goals over a span of 2:26 to provide the final margin.

4. March 25, 2025: Vegas 5, Minnesota 1 - After the Knights struggled through a rough patch in January and early February, they muddled their way into late March, having lost 16 of 27 (11-11-5). But a three-game homestand sweep sent them on the road for three games, beginning in St. Paul. Vegas would maintain its momentum thanks to Jack Eichel's hat trick - all three coming against former Knight Marc-Andre Fleury. Just like two years earlier against Fleury, in the same arena, the Knights took a 2-0 lead before the Wild cut the deficit in half. But three late third-period goals in a span of 2:31 gave the Knights a four-goal advantage and extended their win streak to four games. Vegas would go on to win its next two on the road and return home with a six-game win streak.

3. Oct. 6, 2018: Vegas 2, Minnesota 1 - The Knights lost their first three meetings with the Wild, all in an inaugural season that saw Vegas land in the Stanley Cup Final. Minnesota was one of only two teams in the NHL that the Knights didn't beat in their first-ever season. After opening their second-ever season with a home loss to Philadelphia, the Knights started a five-game road trip in St. Paul, and the teams would end up in overtime. And after a combined five unsuccessful attempts from both teams, Erik Haula beat Devan Dubnyk in the sixth overall attempt of the shootout to give Vegas its first win of the season and first-ever victory over the Wild.

2. May 26, 2021: Minnesota 3, Vegas 0 - The Knights took a 3-1 series lead in the opening round of their seven-game series, which featured partially filled arenas due to the pandemic that shut down America a year prior. But after losing Game 5 at home, 4-2, the Knights hoped to close things out in St. Paul and avoid their third-ever Game 7. The Wild had other plans, however. Ryan Hartman, Kevin Fiala and Nick Bjugstad scored third-period goals on Fleury, while Cam Talbot would stop all 23 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the series to force a decisive Game 7.

1. May 28, 2021: Vegas 6, Minnesota 2 - After blowing their 3-1 series lead, the last thing the Knights wanted to do was lose Game 7 at home. The teams fought to a 1-1 tie after one period. Nic Hague gave the Knights a 2-1 lead just 2:05 into the second period, but Kaprizov's power-play goal at the 4:35 mark tied the game again. Unfortunately for the Wild, it would be their last goal of the season. Vegas got goals from Max Pacioretty and Zach Whitecloud to close the second, while Mattias Janmark scored two more in the third to complete the hat trick and give the Knights a 6-2 win and the series.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.  

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Juan Soto receives Citi Field ovation before game-tying single in Mets' win vs. Cardinals

Juan Soto entered Friday's matchup with the Cardinals in a bit of a slump.

The outfielder, who signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets this offseason, was hitting just .221 with an OBP of .361 and just three home runs in his first 19 games in Flushing. But it's not just the statline he hasn't been able to cash in on.

We've seen him strike out with men on base, ground into inning-ending double-plays with the bases loaded, and so forth. It hasn't always been pretty, but Mets fans showed support for their newest slugger on Friday night.

After Soto grounded out in his first two at-bats, he came up in the fifth inning with a chance to tie the game. After Tyrone Taylor's triple plated Brett Baty, Francisco Lindor flew out to shallow right, failing to get Taylor home. Soto came up next with one out and the potential to do something positive. As the slugger made his way to the batter's box, the Citi Field crowd got on its feet and gave Soto a standing ovation.

Soto took a first-pitch curveball for a ball, and then lined an 84 mph changeup from Miles Mikolas to right field to tie the game, sending the Mets faithful into a frenzy.

The RBI single snapped a 0-for-12 skid and gave the Mets new life, which they parlayed into a 5-4 win.

"That’s who we are, that’s who the Mets fans are. We feel it and the other team feels it. I’m sure Juan felt it," manager Carlos Mendoza said of the moment. "He’s a really good player. We’ve seen it so many times here, especially when they’re struggling.

"We saw it last year with Lindor and he took off. I’m not going to say that’s going to happen every time... It’s good to have that kind of support."

As Mendoza alluded to, Friday was a scene reminiscent of what the Citi Field crowd did a calendar year ago with another MVP-caliber player. Lindor was mired in one of the worst slumps of his career, batting just .098 through his first 51 at-bats of 2024.

The fans embraced their shortstop, and by the end of the year, Lindor was the NL MVP runner-up and helped lead the Mets on an improbable run into the postseason.

"The crowd is embracing Soto, and I love that," Lindor said. "He’s going to be with us for a very long time, he’s a fantastic player. I know at any point he’s going to make something happen. Every at-bat, he’s in the moment. You kind of expect it, he’s that good…I’m glad he was able to come through today.

"He picked me up. That at-bat, I popped up and he singled…RBI. It’s passing the baton. I’m happy the fans are embracing him and showing love. He deserves it."

Despite Soto's struggles, he is still getting on base and helping his team. He finished 1-for-3 with that RBI single and a walk on Friday, making it the ninth game this season where he had at least one hit and one walk. That's tied with Aaron Judge for the most such games in the majors.

While Soto isn't putting up numbers like he did a season ago when he finished third in AL MVP voting, he's still contributing and the Mets are winning. And the Mets fans know those MVP-type numbers will come -- they are willing to wait for them.

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Yankees' Carlos Rodón 'grinded his way through' encouraging six-inning gem

Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn't willing to label Carlos Rodón as a feast-or-famine pitcher. He dismissed that notion and conjecture on Friday afternoon, arguing that ample dominance from the veteran left-hander should be acknowledged more than the back-breaking pitches that have spoiled his recent outings.

The pregame message from Boone couldn't have reached Rodón prior to his first pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays, but the comments were undoubtedly validated. In spite of profuse sweat on his uniform and some slippage on the mound, Rodón delivered six shutout innings with a season-high nine strikeouts in the team's 1-0 win at Steinbrenner Field.

By no means was Rodón's performance clean. He struggled with control throughout the night due to sweat and footing issues, and received a mid-inning towel break that helped dry his left arm and hand. But the southpaw overcame inconveniences, generated enough whiffs, and buckled down for his first quality start of 2025.

"I thought it was a little bit of a grind for him, actually, tonight," Boone said of Rodón after the win. "His last two [starts] were actually better -- they just put two swings out of the ballpark. He kind of grinded his way through. His stuff was good. But I just liked how he kept moving -- next pitch, next pitch. Some command issues at times with him, but he was able to make a big pitch, it seemed like, all night long."

While the main theme of Rodón's shortcomings has been his propensity for the untimely home run, walks have also been a huge concern. He entered Friday with the fifth-highest walk percentage in the league, and his outing on Friday began with a four-pitch walk.

But he didn't allow the two-on, no-out jam in the first inning to overwhelm him. With a four-pitch mix centered around his slider and changeup, Rodón induced three straight strikeouts to escape trouble. He allowed another leadoff walk in the second and a leadoff double in the fifth, but the Rays were unable to build rallies.

It was a gutsy effort -- both physically and mentally -- from Rodón, who let out a scream after throwing his 102nd and final pitch. The 32-year-old lowered his season ERA, raised his strikeout percentage, and, for at least a week, silenced doubters questioning his reliability.

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Yoshinbou Yamamoto continues stellar start, out-dueling Jacob deGrom in Dodgers win

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a pitch to the Texas Rangers.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers during the fourth inning of a 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday. Yamamoto threw seven shutout innings. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

One of the starting pitchers Friday night has won two Cy Young Awards.

The other is making an early case to win one of his own.

For years, Jacob deGrom has (when healthy) been the gold standard of major league pitching. He has a career ERA of 2.54. He is a four-time All-Star and two-time strikeout king. In 2018 and 2019, he won back-to-back Cy Young honors.

In the Dodgers’ 3-0 win over deGrom’s Texas Rangers, however, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the best pitcher.

Read more:Anticipating birth of first child, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani goes on paternity leave

Although deGrom gave up just one run over seven strong innings, Yamamoto spun seven scoreless innings at Globe Life Field. Where deGrom struck out seven and walked a batter, Yamamoto had 10 strikeouts and no free passes.

It helped the Dodgers win this series-opening matchup between the last two World Series champions, even though they were without Shohei Ohtani, who went on the paternity list in anticipation of the birth of his first child.

And it further cemented one of the most promising early storylines of this Dodgers season — continuing to affirm Yamamoto, in just his second MLB season, as someone who could be competing for hardware this fall.

Friday presented a new challenge for Yamamoto, who entered the game with a 1.23 ERA in his first four starts. His fastball didn’t have its usual life, sitting a tick lower than normal at 95 mph. His splitter, while still wicked, was a little wilder than typical.

So, the 26-year-old Japanese star dug deeper into his bag of tricks. What he came up with kept the Rangers off balance.

A rare area of weakness for Yamamoto early this season had been his curveball. Though manager Dave Roberts last year called it one of the best he’s seen from a right-hander, opponents entered the night batting .429 against it. Yamamoto hadn’t registered a strikeout with it once.

On this night, though, Yamamoto snapped off a flurry of big-bending curves to the Rangers. It generated four whiffs on 11 swings. It accounted for two of his strikeouts, including one to Joc Pederson that stranded runners at second and third in the third. And of the seven that Texas put in play, only two fell for hits.

As Yamamoto worked deeper into the game, he also mixed in his rarely used slider, giving Rangers hitters a different look the second and third time through.

He fanned Jake Burger with one to end the fourth, stranding yet another runner at second. He used it again on his 102nd and final pitch, recording a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double-play to complete seven innings for only the third time in his MLB career.

Yamamoto’s splitter was still effective, totaling seven whiffs (four of them strikeouts) on 17 swings. And with his four-seamer playing down, he incorporated more sinkers and cutters into his arsenal.

It all served as a reminder that Yamamoto — whose 0.93 ERA is now best in the National League — is much more than a two-weapon pitcher. That, after brief flashes of brilliance last year, he is starting to put all the pieces together for a breakout sophomore season.

On the backside of his career at age 36, deGrom was almost as good in what turned into a vintage pitcher’s duel. He yielded just three hits, and retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. But back in the first inning, he threw an elevated fastball to leadoff man Tommy Edman (who was filling in for Ohtani at the top of the batting order). Edman whacked it for his NL-leading seventh home run.

It proved to be deGrom’s only real mistake.

But the way Yamamoto was dominating, it was one too many.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Tyler Herro puts up 30, Davion Mitchell dominates overtime, Heat beat Hawks to advance as No. 8 seed

NBA: Play-In-Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks

Apr 18, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) tries to get to the basket against Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks showed grit — they struggled with their shot in the first half, going 4-of-20 from 3 and trailing by 17, but fought back to lead with just more than three minutes left in the game.

It wasn't enough. There was too much Tyler Herro for the first 48 minutes, he finished with 30 points, then Davion Mitchell dominated the overtime — he outscored the Hawks by himself, 9-8.

The ultimate result was a 123-114 Miami win. With that, the Heat became the first No. 10 seed ever to advance out of the Play-In Tournament, and they will face the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night to start that series. The loss ends the Hawks' season.

The other winner out of this game: The Oklahoma City Thunder. With the win, Miami's first-round pick, at No. 15, goes to the Thunder (via a convoluted path that included the 2019 Paul George trade). OKC now has the No. 15 and No. 25 (via the Clippers) picks in the first round.

Miami came out hot on the road scoring the game's first 10 points, a lead they stretched out to 17 points midway through the second quarter. Herro led all scorers with 30 points, shooting 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, including a couple of 3-pointers in overtime to help seal the win.

Atlanta fought back behind 29 points from Trae Young and a big night from center Onyeka Okongwu, who had 28 points. It was a driving layup by Young that forced overtime.

Andrew Wiggins added 20 points for Miami, and Bam Adebayo scored 17 points plus grabbed 11 rebounds. For Atlanta, George Niang had 20 points off the bench, and Caris LeVert had 15.

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Francisco Lindor's walk-off homer lifts Mets to 5-4 win over Cardinals

Francisco Lindor hit his first Mets walk-off home run in the team's 5-4 win over the Cardinals at Citi Field on Friday night.

It was Lindor's 250th career homer.

The Mets (13-7) have now won consecutive games after losing two stright for the first time this season.

Here are the takeaways...

-Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas held the Mets' offense down for the first four innings, allowing just four baserunners in that span. However, the Mets' bats woke up in the fifth with Brett Baty's leadoff double and Tyrone Taylor's RBI triple. AfterLindor's shallow fly ball failed to bring Taylor home, the Citi Field crowd gave Juan Soto a standing ovation in hopes of urging their new star to drive in the tying run. The left-hander slugger obliged, pulling a single into right field to tie the game, 2-2.

Soto snapped an 0-for-12 skid and finished 1-for-3 with a walk on the night.

-With the Mets down 3-2 in the sixth, Mark Vientos found the seats for the second straight night with a solo shot. He turned on the eighth pitch of the at-bat -- a 95.4 mph fastball up and in -- depositing it 371 feet into the left field seats. According to MLB's Sarah Langs, Vientos’ home run came on a pitch 4.14 ft above the ground, which is the third-highest pitch a Mets player has homered on in the pitch-tracking era (2008), behind:

  • 8/27/17 Amed Rosario: 4.17 ft
  • 9/22/20 Robinson Cano: 4.16 ft

-The bottom of the eighth was a wild one. After Vientos' leadoff single, Luisangel Acuña pinch-ran and stole second. Brandon Nimmo hit a chopper to third base and the young infielder tried to get a jump to third, but Nolan Arenado hadn't thrown the ball to first yet and it created a foot race for third. Acuña initially beat the tag, but he slid off the bag and the Gold Glover put the tag on to get the first out, which was confirmed by replay.

With Nimmo on first, former Met reliever Phil Maton threw to keep the veteran outfielder on but it hit Nimmo, allowing him to get to second. Luis Torrens then made the Cardinals pay with a double down the left field line, giving the Mets their first lead of the night.

-David Peterson was effective on Friday night, but the Cardinals were able to use small ball to get to the talented lefty. Three singles, which were hit softly but not where fielders were, allowed the Cardinals to score the first run of the game in the second. They then pushed across another after Brendan Donovan took second on a passed ball. Jordan Walker then scorched a liner toward first base that Pete Alonso knocked down but trickled into the outfield.

Peterson would continue to overcome this scrappy Cardinals team and rack up the strikeouts, but St. Louis would push their third run across thanks to a leadoff double from Willson Contreras and a single by Arenado.

Carlos Mendoza pulled Peterson with one out in the sixth and called on Max Kranick to limit the damage. And as the right-hander had done for most of the season, he left ducks on the pond to keep the score 3-2.

Peterson was dominant in spurts, but the Cardinals were able to string hits together in three separate innings. The left-hander went 5.1 innings on a season-high 99 pitches, allowing three runs on seven hits with no walks and a season-high nine punchouts.

-With Edwin Diaz unavailable due to pitching consecutive games, Huascar Brazoban was called to get the final three outs, but on the second pitch, Donovan launched a game-tying homer off the netting on the right-field foul pole. Brazoban bounced back, however, striking out the next three batters to send it to the bottom of the ninth.

-Baty continued to look good at the plate, picking up his first walk of the season in his first at-bat and then swiping second for the third stolen base of his career. He doubled in his second at-bat and finished 1-for-3 with the walk and run scored.

Baty now has a five-game hitting streak.

-Nimmo hit in the No. 6 hole on Friday, his lowest place in the lineup since 2021. He looked good, too, despite his 1-for-4 night.

-After going hitless in Thursday's series-opener -- his last hitless game came on April 13 --Alonso got on the board with a first-inning triple. It was his first three-bagger since 2023. The slugger went 1-for-2 with two walks.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

In a back-and-forth affair, Lindor's walk-off sent the crowd home happy and is the logical choice.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Cardinals continue their four-game set with an afternoon tilt on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

Kodai Senga (2-1, 1.06 ERA) will take the mound against Matthew Liberatore (1-1, 3.93 ERA) of the Cardinals.