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Brooklyn Nets can’t hang on vs Golden State Warriors, lose 109-106

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 25: LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 25, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Those of you who stayed up to watch our 17-win Nets play into the wee hours of the morning were rewarded with an entertaining bout, a touch of history, and somehow still, a lottery-friendly game result.

Those of you who reading this in the morning, first off, no one is blaming you. Hanging with this team in any capacity through this point in the season is more than admirable. So, we’ll do our best to deliver everything that went down anyway…

Brooklyn’s usual, and by that I mean “poor,” start tonight in no way indicated the wild ride they’d eventually take us on. They began the game 2-10 from the field and looked headed for another blowout in a hurry. With a few timely cutes and slick feeds, the Nets queued themselves up several good looks at the rim, but just couldn’t slide the turkey into the oven.

However, the Warriors, who’ve gone 7-16 since having to shelve Steph Curry with runners knee, had their own debilitating basketball vice in the opening minutes too. Golden State surrendered 10 turnovers in the first period alone. And with that grace provided by the extra possessions, Brooklyn eventually found its footing, pulled into the lead, and its shooting above 50% from the frame.

Even as the offense improved, Brooklyn’s closing minutes of the first weren’t without their mistakes…

In fairness, we’re well beyond asking for perfect, or even decent basketball from this young, hard-working, but obviously talent-deficient team. However, as the game rolled on, the former traits shined brighter than the latter, and brighter than gold.

Brooklyn continued to turn the Warriors over in the second, getting their total up to 15 less than 18 minutes into the game. The Nets also got up by a dozen around that point after Ben Saraf nailed a triple that broke a streak of 18 straight misses for him from deep. Brooklyn’s audaciousness grew so abundant in the second, that at one point, Terance Mann tried to drop a hammer on one of the best statistical rim protectors of our time…

Wisely, Golden State started slowing things down after that, getting to the line and getting 10 points there in the period. They were about to close the half on a 16-9 run until Malachi Smith, with his second 10-day contract still damp with ink, bolted past everyone for lay-in off the glass that made it a 58-50 game at the break.

Jalen Wilson and Ziaire Williams led the Nets with 11 points each at that point. Williams nabbed four steals along the way as well. The most he’d had in a game before tonight was five. He tied that mark less than three minutes into the second half and surpassed it a few minutes later. He finished with a whopping six to go with 19 points on 6-11 shooting.

One of the few other veterans available tonight, Nic Claxton, was less involved in the box score both at half and beyond. Clax picked up his fourth foul of the game with 5:27 to go and ended up with only three shot attempts in the first half. He logged just eight points in 20 minutes for the game and did not play beyond the third quarter.

In that period, Golden State looked primed to re-take the lead the after starting it on a 12-5 run. However, Drake Powell said “not so fast” with two back-to-back threes that kept his team afloat.

But while maintaining their buoyancy, the Nets eventually drifted into rough waters, and took the Warriors with them. Like a limp sailboat, both teams rocked back and forth in the latter half of the third, trading possessions and points at a rapid pace as the turnovers and shot-making both increased.

Gui Santos, who averages 8.3 points per game, added 15 points in the quarter while shooting 3-4 from deep. Brooklyn got their own “where’d that guy come from” contributions amidst the chaos as well, as Chaney Johnson added a quick six points in the frame. Williams, however, remained the guy, adding another eight before the start of the fourth.

There, the Nets started with an 86-77 lead, though Santos’ hot shooting quickly threatened the advantage again. Getting support now from Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, and Draymond Green at the defensive end, the Warriors made their first three triples to open the period and tied things up 88-88 with 8:10 remaining.

Again, Drake Powell tried to change the tide, picking off a pass and going the distance to give Brooklyn back the lead once play resumed. But the Warriors, who still feel like a force of nature for this writer whose formative years took place during their heyday, maintained the look of a strong swell midway through the fourth. Next time down the floor, De’Anthony Melton got in for an easy two before Will Richard walked into a three that gave Golden State it’s first lead since the first period.

However, Golden State couldn’t get any further, and even took a few steps back with many of the final minutes played either with the score tied again or with Brooklyn ahead by a possession or two. Smith played a large part in that, beating the shot clock, blanketing defense, and the odds odds just to be there tonight at one point…

The Warriors, on the other hand, opted to roll with Porzingis in isolation down the stretch and found mixed results. On many occasions, the Unicorn looked more like a run down horse, missing short on a variety of looks around the paint. He did, however, rise over everyone to flush in a missed layup from Santos that tied things back up. Not long after that, he drew a foul on Johnson that brought him to the line and Golden State back up two with just under a minute to go.

In game riddled with responses from both teams, Brooklyn’s next was the best by a landslide, even if it wasn’t game-deciding. Next time down the floor, Saraf put Draymond on a poster and possibly into a retirement home. Maybe it’s just getting late here, but I think he gave him a bit of a stare after too…

But while Saraf’s jam had many on the Brooklyn bench smiling from ear to ear, it was Melton who got the last laugh. On the subsequent possession, the legendary ex-Net drew a foul made the necessary free throw to give his team the lead.

With only a handful of seconds remaining after that and no timeouts, the Nets had to heave the ball across the court. Rather than another chance at redemption, Josh Minott’s pass found Melton’s hands. The clock quickly ran out, the Nets told everyone “goodnight,” and picked up their eighth loss in a row.

Alas, once could argue Nets “won” with their 17 steals tonight, the most in a game in over a decade. With the Washington Wizards mopping the floor with the Utah Jazz, they also pulled into a tie with them for the second slot in the lottery standings.

We’re a ways to go, both in seeing how much that’ll matter and getting to the point where real wins are on the table, but certainly closer now.

Final: Golden State Warriors 109, Brooklyn Nets 106

Milestone Watch

  • Ziaire Williams career-high six steals tonight in Golden State are the most by a Net since Caris LeVert’s six on 2/22/20 at Charlotte.
  • The Nets have a season-high 17 steals tonight against the Warriors, which is their most in a game since recording 19 vs. Chicago on 3/3/14.

Next Up

Nets #afterdark continues on Friday evening as Brooklyn will head out to Los Angeles for a date with the Los Angeles Lakers. For those unaware, Luka Doncic has been on an absolute tear lately at the offensive end. That should provide the night owls among you with some entertainment even as the Nets likely get beat to a pulp. This one tips off at 10:30 p.m. EST.

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Judge goes hitless on opening day for first time, Yankees top Giants 7-0 as robot umpire debuts

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Aaron Judge went hitless on opening day for the first time and struck out four times for the first time since September 2024, but the New York Yankees still produced plenty of offense and beat San Francisco 7-0 Wednesday night in the debut of Giants manager Tony Vitello as the major league season began.

José Caballero drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in a five-run second and also lost the first challenge taken to Major League Baseball’s so-called robot umpire, unsuccessfully appealing a strike by Logan Webb in the fourth.

Max Fried (1-0) allowed two hits in 6 1/3 innings to became just the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1969 with at least 6 1/3 shutout innings on opening day, joining Catfish Hunter (1977), Ron Guidry (1980), Rick Rhoden (1988) and David Cone (1996). New York won an opener with a shutout on the road for the first time since 1967.

Webb (0-1) started the fourth inning with a 90.7 mph sinker on the upper, inner corner that was called a strike by Bill Miller, a major league umpire since 1997. Caballero tapped his helmet, and the 12 Hawk-Eye cameras of the Automated Ball-Strike System upheld Miller’s decision in a graphic shown on the Oracle Park scoreboard.

Caballero singled in the second and Ryan McMahon followed with a two-run single before Austin Wells’ single prompted a mound visit for Webb. Trent Grisham hit a two-run triple and was checked by medical staff after a hard slide into third.

Judge was booed before the game and during each at-bat as he began his 11th big league season. The California native had been pursued by the Giants during free agency in 2022 but he ultimately chose the Yankees’ $360 million, nine-year contract offer.

Webb, a 15-game winner last season making his fifth start on opening day, was tagged for six earned runs — seven in all — and nine hits over five innings.

The 47-year-old Vitello made the big jump from coaching the University of Tennessee.

Up next

The teams resume the series Friday afternoon, with RHP Cam Schlittler starting for New York opposite lefty Robbie Ray.

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Nets allow 32 fourth-quarter points in 109-106 loss to Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gui Santos scored a career-high 31 points, Draymond Green made two clutch free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining and the Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-106 on Wednesday to clinch a play-in spot.

Brandin Podziemski had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Warriors (35-38), who won their first game at Chase Center since returning from a grueling 2-4 road trip.

Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and De’Anthony Melton had 14, including a pair of free throws in the final seconds, as Golden State beat Brooklyn in San Francisco for the first time since Dec. 16, 2023.

Ziaire Williams had 19 points for the Nets, who have lost nine straight. Jalen Wilson added 15 points off the bench while Ben Saraf had 14 points and seven rebounds.

The sellout at Chase Center was the 600th consecutive sellout for the Warriors, the sixth-longest streak in NBA history.

The Nets led most of the game, trailed going into the fourth then wore down over the final 12 minutes. Brooklyn shot 8 for 20 (2 for 9 behind the arc) down the stretch.

Still without injured star Stephen Curry, the Warriors committed 15 turnovers in the first two quarters and had trouble running their offense with much consistency.

The Nets also got off to a sluggish start and missed 10 of their first 15 shots before Williams warmed up. The former first-round draft pick repeatedly attacked through the paint and scored 11 points to help Brooklyn to a 58-50 halftime lead.

Golden State pulled within 63-62 midway through the third before Powell made consecutive 3-pointers to get Brooklyn on track.

Up next

Nets: Face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday.

Warriors: Host the Wizards on Friday.

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3 takeaways as the Mavericks lose a fun one, 142-135, at the Denver Nuggets

DENVER, CO - MARCH 25: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 25, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday, falling 142-135 to the Denver Nuggets (45-28) in a game that felt within reach early before completely getting away from them late. Dallas had a few solid stretches to start, showing some offensive rhythm and energy, but couldn’t sustain it as Denver’s shot-making and overall execution took over. Cooper Flagg continued his strong stretch with 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while P.J. Washington added 19 points and 15 rebounds with steady production inside. On the other side, Jamal Murray put together a dominant performance with 53 points, and Nikola Jokić orchestrated everything with 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists, as the Nuggets controlled the game from the middle quarters on.

The Mavericks hung around for stretches in the first half, but a Jamal Murray explosion ultimately tilted the game, as the Denver Nuggets took a 68-59 lead into halftime in a game that quickly started to feel like it was slipping away. Dallas opened with solid energy, getting contributions from multiple spots, as Naji Marshall scored efficiently and Cooper Flagg made his presence felt early as both a scorer and a playmaker, helping keep things within reach. Flagg had a noticeable impact in those opening minutes—knocking down pull-ups, attacking downhill, and creating looks for others—while Marshall’s shot-making kept the offense afloat during key stretches.

But every time the Mavericks made a push, Murray had an answer. He completely took over the second quarter, piling up 33 first-half points on 11-of-15 shooting and 6-of-9 from deep, hitting pull-ups, step-backs, and tough contested shots that Dallas simply couldn’t slow down. At the same time, Nikola Jokić quietly controlled everything else, finishing the half with 11 assists and 9 rebounds, consistently creating easy looks and keeping Denver’s offense flowing even without scoring much himself.

Dallas had some bright spots, though. There were moments especially in the third where Dallas strung together a few stops and got downhill, but it never turned into anything real, as missed shots, turnovers, and Denver’s instant responses kept resetting the margin.

The Mavs need a stopper

If this game didn’t make it obvious, nothing will Dallas desperately needs a guard who can defend at the point of attack. Jamal Murray didn’t just have a good night, he had complete control, getting wherever he wanted and scoring however he wanted, finishing with 53 points on 19-of-28 shooting and 9-of-14 from three. There was no real resistance at the top of the defense no one who could consistently stay in front, disrupt his rhythm, or even make him uncomfortable. Once he got downhill or into his pull-up game, it was over, and that kind of pressure completely breaks a defense before it even has a chance to rotate.

This is where roster construction starts to matter. Dallas has length and some versatility in the frontcourt, but without a guard who can actually contain the ball, none of it holds up. You can’t ask your bigs to clean everything up every possession, especially against elite shot-makers. That’s why this draft becomes so important. It’s not just about adding talen it’s about adding the right kind of player. Someone who can fight over screens, stay attached, and at least make life harder for guys like Murray at the point of attack.

Because nights like this aren’t just about one player getting hot they expose a structural issue. And until Dallas finds a guard who can defend at that level, this is going to keep happening.

Someone seeds to close, eventually

The Mavericks have played a ton of close games this season, but the results just haven’t followed, and that’s something that continues to show up late in these losses. Too often, possessions in crunch time turn into rushed shots, stalled actions, or empty trips, while a single defensive breakdown on the other end swings momentum the other way. It’s not just one game it’s been a pattern, and it speaks to a team that’s still learning how to execute when everything tightens up.

That said, context matters right now. Dallas isn’t necessarily trying to squeeze out every late-game win at this point in the season, and losses like these actually help their lottery positioning. There’s value in being competitive and getting those reps without sacrificing long-term upside, especially in a strong draft class.

But long term, this is something to watch especially with Cooper Flagg. He’s already showing flashes as a primary creator, but closing games is the next step: controlling tempo, getting to the right spots, and making the right reads under pressure. It’s okay that it’s messy right now given where the team is, but if the Mavericks want to take a real step forward next season, turning these close games into wins has to be part of that growth.

Cooper Flagg continues to shine

Cooper Flagg continues to look more and more like the centerpiece of what Dallas is building, and nights like this are a big part of why. He finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, impacting the game in just about every way despite the result. What stands out isn’t just the production it’s how he’s getting it. He’s initiating offense, pushing in transition, making reads out of drives, and consistently putting pressure on the defense as both a scorer and playmaker.

This stretch has been especially encouraging. Over the past few games, Flagg has been steadily trending upward, not just in scoring, but in overall control of the game. He’s starting to look more comfortable as the primary option, picking his spots better and showing more patience when defenses collapse. Even when shots don’t fall, he’s still influencing possessions through rebounds, assists, and defensive activity.

There are still things to clean up, especially late-game execution and shot selection in tighter moments, but that’s expected at this stage. The important part is that the flashes are becoming more consistent. For a team leaning into development, Flagg isn’t just putting up numbers he’s showing real signs of growth as a lead initiator, and that’s the biggest takeaway moving forward.

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Final Score: Warriors win 109-106 vs Nets, Santos scores career best 31

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 23, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Down eight at halftime and down nine in the fourth quarter to a Brooklyn Nets team that came into Chase Center with one of the worst records in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors looked like a squad still jet-lagged from everything the road took from them. The Dubs coughed up twenty-six turnovers and this looked like a bad loss brewing to a tanking team.

And then Gui Santos decided he didn’t care about any of that.

The 23-year-old finished with 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, a career statement carved out against a legitimately bad team, yes, but carved out nonetheless. When a young player finds that kind of rhythm, the opponent’s record becomes irrelevant. Santos was locked in.

The fourth quarter told the real story. Brooklyn tied the game 106-106 with under a minute left, Ben Saraf’s driving dunk over Draymond Green threatening to turn a sloppy Warriors performance into a loss nobody could explain away. Then De’Anthony Melton, who finished with 14 points and 9 rebounds, stepped to the line and hit the go-ahead free throw. Melton stopped Saraf on the next possession and Green, ice in his veins at the line down the stretch, sealed it at 109-106. That closing sequence was Warriors basketball at its most essential: survive the mess you made, close it with character.

Two wins in a row. First game back home after a road trip that tested this team’s identity at every stop.

Here’s the real concern the scoreboard can’t hide, though. Twenty-six turnovers against a 17-56 team is not a footnote; I see it as more of a flashing warning light. The Warriors gave up 28 points off those turnovers. Against a playoff contender, this game isn’t close at the end. That number needs to get addressed in practice, in film, in conversation, because the schedule doesn’t stay this forgiving.

But tonight, Chase Center got its team back. Santos gave them a reason to be loud. Sometimes winning ugly is exactly what a team healing from the road needs most.

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Utah Jazz vs Washington Wizards recap and final score: The tankoff of tankoffs!

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 25: Blake Hinson #2 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 25, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Utah Jazz likely had this game circled on the calendar for some time. It’s the matchup of two ultra tankers facing off, and the prize for losing was all-important playoff positioning. The Utah Jazz came out on top … I mean, as the losers 133-110.

At halftime, the Jazz were down a massive amount, way more than anyone expected.

It’s a good thing because the Jazz got an incredible boost from Blake Hinson. In 11 minutes tonight, Hinson was 4/5 from three, 6/8 from the field, and a +15 in a blowout loss. His shooting with this Jazz team has been incredible, and he’s looking like one of the big steals of the current rebuild. It’s really nice to see because it’s showing that Utah is finding players from multiple avenues that can contribute. Utah has Hinson for two seasons minimum with his two-way contract, but they may want to find a way to give him a standard contract next season. His shooting and overall feel for the game make him a valuable role player. Not bad at all for the Jazz to find a player like that from the G-League, and they didn’t have to use a single asset to make it happen.

We also need to give Ace Bailey some major credit for some of his highlight plays. Bailey had a bad shooting night tonight, but it felt like every one of his scores was a highlight dunk. This reverse dunk was unbelievable.

He’ll still have some up and down nights shooting the ball, but the ceiling for Ace Bailey continues to rise.

Finally, there needs to be huge credit given to Cody Williams, who has been asked to do things outside of his comfort zone. Overall, he’s doing a solid job. Williams had a great night with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. He’s playing under control and, most importantly, with real confidence. That confidence is great to see, as it shows Williams can be a contributor to winning basketball for the Jazz. If he continues on this trajectory, there’s no reason not to believe he can’t be a core part of a future playoff rotation.

It’s a massively important loss for the Jazz, who stay in the hunt for the #4 spot with the Kings.

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TT roundtable: 2026 Twins season preview

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 03: Byron Buxton #25 of Team USA signs autographs prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Team USA and San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Welcome one and all to Twins Opening Day! As always, we will have our game thread up this afternoon to make predictions about the rest of the season based off a single game, but for now you can read our predictions before a single game is played. All your favorite Twinkie Town writers have pitched in their thoughts. Leave yours as well!

Who will be the Twins’ best hitter in 2026?

Ben Jones: Byron Buxton this, Luke Keaschall that. How about Matt Wallner? He has major flaws but he’s also not that far away from being one of the best hitters in baseball, frankly. Wallner has his best season as pro, hits 45 dongs, and leads the team in every major offensive category including, yes, strikeouts.

Matt Monitto: Seeing a lot of buzz for a Luke Keaschall breakout, and I have to agree with it, especially if he bats leadoff ahead of Buxton: that would suggest pitchers go after him to avoid facing Buck with men on, giving him more chances to hit.

Zach Koenig: I think we may have seen the apex of Buxton in 2025. Now, slightly-regression Buxton may still be the best hitter on this squad, but I’m gonna go with Luke Keaschall. He really impressed me last year I sometimes wonder if he hadn’t gotten hurt maybe the Pohlads wouldn’t have gone scorched earth on the bit. Extremely inexperienced, I know, but that speed really plays.

James Filmore: Byron Buxton

John Foley: Byron Buxton. It’s still best to look at things for Buck on a rate basis, even after he played in 126 games last year (his most since 2017), but we shouldn’t overthink this question. Since the 2020 campaign, Buxton has solidified his place as one of the game’s premier sluggers. By isolated slugging, Buxton trails only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani over that span.

John Von Mosch (aka our good friend Imakesandwichesforaliving): Byron Buxton. He’ll carry over from last season. Maybe a 30-30 season?? 

Hans Hollander: Buxton continues to be a star with another fantastic season…this time earning top-10 MVP honors. 

Who will be the Twins’ best pitcher in 2026?

Ben Jones: This was a more fun question back when Pablo Lopez was healthy and Bailey Ober could crack 90 MPH on his fastball. Now, the only real answer is Joe Ryan. However, I’ll add a caveat that I think there’s like a 80% chance Ryan is dealt at the deadline, leaving space for someone to catch him on overall impact. In that case, 2027 All-Star Taj Bradley is on the case.

Matt Monitto: Joe Ryan for as long as he remains a Twin.

Zach Koenig: I’m going chalk here with the Joe Ryan Experience. When he’s right, he’s a top-flight MLB starter. With Pablo out, I don’t see an obvious challenger to that mantle.

James Filmore: Joe Ryan

John Foley: Joe Ryan for the first half of the season. Again, let’s not overthink it. Who will be the best pitcher in the second half is anyone’s guess because Ryan won’t be with the Twins past the trade deadline. If the outlook going into 2027 is going to be improved over this past winter, the answer needs to be Taj Bradley and Mick Abel. 

Sandwiches: Joe Ryan. I think he’s the only pitcher on the staff, isn’t he? 

Hans Hollander: Joe Ryan will lead the staff…and will stay with the Twins for the entire year! And, as a unit, the rotation is tops in the division. As for the bullpen, Taylor Rogers regains the closer title and leads the team with saves. 

Who will be their breakout star?

Ben Jones: I really think Brooks Lee puts it together this year. That doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a mid-order bat, but a .750 OPS and 20 home runs would unironically make him one the Twins’ three most important position players. With Kaelen Culpepper on his heels, he’ll feel the pressure to get back to his top-prospect status and it’s now or never.

Matt Monitto: I already said Keaschall, but I’m going to add another and say Eric Orze becomes a high-leverage option in the bullpen. My justification is that I had Orze as a solid relief options for several seasons in my Twins Out of the Park save, so I’m rooting for him.

Zach Koenig: A bit of a swerve here, but I’ll say manager Derek Shelton. I know from all accounts that Rocco seemed to be really good behind the scenes with player relationships. But to me, that never translated to fans. He never showed much emotion and, quite frankly, at times (too many times, by the end) didn’t seem to be having much fun at all. I’ve heard a few Shelton interviews and he seems to bring a new energy.

James Filmore: Taj Bradley because the Twins are due for a great young starter.

John Foley: Austin Martin in a nearly everyday super utility role. (Editor’s note: the heart yearns for 2024 All-Star Willi Castro)

Sandwiches: I have a feeling Luke Keaschall will tear it up this year. 

Hans Hollander: Austin Martin proves he belongs in the lineup, leading off more than any other Twin. 

Which top prospect will have the greatest impact in 2026?

Ben Jones: I don’t think he’s the best of the Twins’ top 100 quartet, but the answer here is probably Connor Prielipp. Minnesota’s bullpen is so vacant of impact arms that he would probably be their best reliever right now. As it stands, he’s in St. Paul working as a starter, but the Twins will likely want to lighten his load as the season wears on, giving him a chance to step in as their best reliever down the stretch.

Matt Monitto: Gabriel Gonzalez because eventually they’ll call up a right-handed-hitting outfielder.

Zach Koenig: I have to plead the fifth on this one, as I simply do not follow the minor leagues or prospects enough to have an informed opinion. As I always say, a player “becomes real” to me when he hits the majors. (Editor’s note: that makes Zach’s answer 30-year-old career minor league catcher David Bañuelos according to the TT bylaws. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.)

James Filmore: Prielipp because his name sounds kinda kinky.

John Foley: Mick Abel. His improvement in throwing strikes last year appears to have carried over into this spring. Abel has been hard to square up throughout his minor league career and generates frequent ground balls when hitters do put it in play. Avoiding free passes at a much higher rate has changed the trajectory of his outlook. 

Sandwiches: I’ll have to go with Emmanuel Rodriguez. I don’t keep tabs on the prospects well enough, but I think he’s been healthy and had a great spring. He’ll get the nod at some point and impress folks.

Hans Hollander: Culpepper ends the season as the starting shortstop, starting to make Twins fans optimistic about the position. 

Predict the Twins’ final record and whether or not they make the playoffs.

Ben Jones: Most projection systems have the Twins between 78-80 wins. Outside of the bullpen, I think that’s about where they stand as a team with the opportunity for more if some combination of Wallner, Larnach, Roden, Lewis, Lee, Martin, and Bell can turn into true mid-order bats. That’s about where you want to live as a team who is mid-rebuild (despite what Tom Pohlad will tell you). Bullpens are fickle and it’s just as likely that Cole Sands has the best year of his life that the entire thing implodes. I’ll be the positive one and say they finish 85-77 and sneak into the final Wild Card slot.

Matt Monitto: 64-98, but incredibly, they finish first in the Central after a string of tornadoes sweeps through opposing clubhouses and leaves them without uniforms for the entire sea— actually, no, they finish last.

Zach Koenig: No playoffs—I just don’t see even a Wild Card berth happening. I do think this squad still has enough talent to not be 92+ loss bad. At the same time, they have enough holes that unless everything comes up 21, I don’t see them all that competitive. I’ll go with 74-88—four games better than last year based on the fact that morale won’t be quite as low as August/September ’25. But also not enough to really move the needle.

James Filmore: 72-36 (wait for it…)

Marea Anderson: Somewhere around 65-97, and that’s being generous. I’m not blaming players at all; this is based purely on the ownership. I’m convinced they’re trying to recreate the movie Major League into a documentary, and are doing everything they can to make the fans and players hate it here so they can move to a larger or warmer climate. 

John Foley: 74-88. I think the chances they finish below the White Sox in the standings in 2026 are higher than their chances of making the postseason. 

Sandwiches: 72-90, and I sadly think I’m being optimistic. If they make the playoffs with that record, something went terribly wrong in MLB.

Hans Hollander: The Twins finish at .500 and out of the playoffs. BUT, they finish with one of the stronger Septembers in the sport and clarity on a direction for the next season. 

Give me a bold prediction for this season.

Ben Jones: I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I absolutely know that Austin Martin’s hair will cause him to make a game-losing mistake. Maybe it gets in his eyes during a crucial at-bat. Maybe his glove gets caught in it as he goes to make a leaping grab in left field. Maybe a bird takes up residence in his luscious mane, they develop an unbreakable bond, and said bird hears the high frequencies of the PitchCom device and starts whispering pitches into Martin’s ear but often gets it wrong because it’s still new to english.

There’s no way to know the specifics, but I guarantee it will happen. I can feel it my bones.

Matt Monitto: Due to a positional change forcing them to use their DH in the field, Kody Funderburk is forced to bat in a late June game and homers.

Zach Koenig: If by some chance the Twins are in contention on August 13—the Field of Dreams game—they are able to summon the ghost of Walter Johnson out of the corn. He hadn’t shown up with the 1919 bunch back in the Ray Kinsella Era because the notoriously above-board Big Train would never associate with known gamblers. Because he is, well, Walter Johnson, he immediately pitches a perfect game in Dyersville and the Twins are the new AL favorites. Because Minnesota is, well, Minnesota, he feels “a little something” in his elbow the next day and is diagnosed with a torn ACL. Because he can’t step over the chalk line of any ballpark, the surgery must be performed by Archibald “Moonlight” Graham, who of course botches it because he lived decades before Tommy John’s landmark procedure. The Twins collapse the rest of the way.

James Filmore: The Twins finish 72-36 because… the season will be canceled in August when the Twins are on the verge of clinching a #1 playoff seed, just because MLB hates YOU personally. Not Twins fans in general, just YOU. YOU know who YOU are and YOU know what YOU did.

John Foley: No fewer than five Twins finish the season with 10+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases. (They had 3 do it last year, none in 2024, and 1 in 2023).

Sandwiches: The Twims will set the record for the most innings pitched by position players in a season by a long shot, most of them by Kody Clemens, enough for him to qualify for some sort of award. Maybe best K/9 by a reliever.

Hans Hollander: T.C. Bear announces he has twin sons: Lil’ Minnie and Paulie B(ear). (Editor’s note: the notoriously litigious Disney Corporation already has a cease-and-desist in the mail, Hans. Nobody infringes upon Michael Theodore Mouse’s wife’s copyrighted name, image, or likeness. You can’t just say things like this on Al Gore’s internet!)

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Lakers find answers, confidence in defining road trip

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 25: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after a basket against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS — The Lakers’ season was not going to be defined by a late March road trip. But when the games truly start to matter, the six games LA battled through could very well serve as a reference point.

On Wednesday, the purple and gold closed out its stint away from Crypto.com Arena with a win over the Pacers that was much more comfortable than the 137-130 final score would indicate. It was the punctuation on a trip in which they went 5-1, with the only loss coming to the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed in the Detroit Pistons.

Across those six games, the Lakers faced a myriad of challenges, both on and off the court. They found solutions for nearly all of them and, as a result, head back home with a real chance to finish the regular season on a high.

“This is the thing that we’ve talked about a bunch is just play the game in front of you and win the game in front of you,” head coach JJ Redick said. “It’s not about looking ahead. It’s more, ‘What does this game present?’ And each game on this trip presented a different problem that we had to solve and a different matchup nightmare that we had to solve and our guys did a great job of executing throughout the trip.”

The problems presented themselves in a myriad of ways. In Houston, it was athleticism. In Miami, it was sleep deprivation. In Detroit, it was physicality. In Indiana, it was the speed and pace of play.

But the Lakers found answers in different ways, too. The defense stepped up in Houston. Luka Dončić had a career night in Miami — and a career stretch of games during the road trip. Luke Kennard had the big shot in Orlando.

And on Monday, it was Bronny James who provided a spark.

Mar 25, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) shoots the ball over Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

The seldom-used sophomore guard parlayed his recent success in the G League into a rare appearance with the depleted parent Lakers. And they weren’t ceremonial minutes, but important ones that included a momentum-stopping jumper late in the fourth quarter to stem the tide of a Pacers run.

“He did a great job today,” Luka said of Bronny. “A big game from him. That pull-up two [in the fourth quarter], it was a big bucket. It was probably one of the most important shots of the game. They’re coming back, he hits that one. I think he did really great in those minutes.”

While Bronny is not the solution himself, he is emblematic of the Lakers’ ability to find answers. When the playoffs came around last season, they ran out of ideas quickly, bowing out in swift fashion as a result.

This season, the Lakers are a more resilient group with an ability and willingness to problem-solve, something they proved time and time again over the last week-and-a-half.

“I think we did a great job – even the game we lost that we could have won – I think just not giving up,” Luka said. “Numerous times, teams went on a run and we didn’t give up. We just kept at it.”

By keeping at it, the Lakers have positioned themselves for a strong finish. Of their final nine games, six are at home, seven are in California and only once will they have to leave the Pacific time zone. Games against Brooklyn, Washington, Dallas and Utah will match them up against tanking teams.

Following Wednesday’s results, they sit 1.5 games up on Denver, two games up on Minnesota and 3.5 games up on Houston with tiebreakers over all three teams.

Even with a game against OKC left on the schedule, the Lakers, should they simply take care of business in the final two weeks of the regular season, are primed to lock up the No. 3 seed for a second year in a row.

But if they’re to avoid the fate that followed last year’s team after the regular season ended, it’ll likely be performances like these six road games they can turn to in order to see their ride through the postseason last a little bit longer.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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The Giants are so back (derogatory)

Logan Webb walking off the mound.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 25: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants leaves the field after delivering his 1,000th career strikeout in the fourth inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

At long, long, long last, baseball returned on Wednesday. The San Francisco Giants took the field, the fans poured through the gates, and the kayaks flooded the cove. For the first time in 178 days, Giants baseball was back.

But seriously, you couldn’t have waited 179 days? We had to do this today?

Apparently. And so the Giants returned to your screen and Aaron Judge struck out four times for the first time since 2024, and other than that, the evening was a gigantic, awful, no-good mess.

The game was a fiasco from the get-go, and it started before it even started. The Netflix baseball era began with an All-Star display of solipsistic streaming. It seemed the company’s lone goal was to convince you to sign up for a service that you already had to be signed up for to see said streaming, creating a capitalism ouroboros, with baseball nowhere to be found. Somehow, despite the day supposedly being about celebrating the return of America’s pasttime, we were forced to confront three of the people I least want to listen to when watching baseball: Bert Kreischer, Jameis Winston, and Rob Manfred. On top of all that, Netflix had all winter to prepare for this one game, and still ended up with the worst graphics in the history of organized sports.

Finally and mercifully, the game began, only 20 minutes late. And for a few glorious moments, not only was all right with the world, but the Giants were cooking. Logan Webb took the mound for his fifth consecutive Opening Day assignment, but just his second at home. He struck out Trent Grisham. Then he struck out Judge. Then he got Cody Bellinger to fly out to cap a perfect inning.

The good vibes and times would only amplify in the opening moments of the bottom half of the inning. Facing the inevitable Max Fried, Luis Arráez — who walked just 58 times across 1,257 plate appearances the last two years — began the season, and his Giants tenure, with a four-pitch walk. Naturally. After Matt Chapman narrowly legged out a potential double play, the Giants had their first moment that made you consider that the day just might be special (beyond the obvious theatrics).

Rafael Devers, fearsome as he may be, got up in the count 2-0, was handed a challenge sinker by Fried, and swung out of his boots for it. He popped it up, at a decidedly unintimidating 74 mph, high into the San Francisco wind.

But it landed in the glorious dead area where the middle infield can’t quite reach the middle outfield, try as it may. And Chapman, reading the arc of the looper so deftly that I initially thought he had mistaken the situation for having two outs, made it all the way to third on Devers’ bloop. Here, in the bottom of the first, with their ace on the mound and dealing, the Giants had a prime opportunity to strike first, and seize control.

Instead, Willy Adames struck out and Jung Hoo Lee ground out, and we went to the second inning, where the game was lost.

The Yankees, it seemed, had a plan against Webb: attack early. Ben Rice swung at the first pitch of the inning, and while he grounded out, it set the tone. Giancarlo Stanton swung at the second pitch of his at-bat, singling it into center for New York’s first baserunner. Webb got in on the action himself, hitting Jazz Chisholm Jr. with his next pitch. José Caballero showed the most patience of them all, waiting until the third pitch of his at bat to blister a ball down the third-base line for an RBI double.

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Old NL West foe Ryan McMahon also waited for the third pitch, dribbling a seeing-eye single through the middle for a two-run single. Austin Wells took the very next pitch into the outfield for a one-bagger. Grisham took the very very next pitch into the outfiield for a three-bagger. Six consecutive batters had reached base, and they’d seen a combined 11 pitches.

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It was the type of performance that left you feeling like the Yankees were better prepared than the Giants. The type of performance that made you wonder if New York was picking up on a tell with Webb’s pitches. The type of performance that leads you to overanalyze a game that represents just 0.617% of the schedule.

Webb recovered. He ended that nightmare sequence by striking out Judge again, and then Bellinger. He set down the side in order in the third. He handled the fourth easily, while handing a Judge a hat as he punched him out for a third time.

But in the fifth, the same thing happened. The Yankees, as if remembering what had worked in the second, hit the “replay” button on the strategy. Bellinger singled on the first pitch of the inning. Rice singled on the second pitch of the inning. Stanton singled on the fourth pitch of the inning. And then, because this is what happens when things aren’t going your way, Webb got what he assumed would be a double-play grounder from Chisholm, but Adames’ throw was low and Casey Schmitt couldn’t dig it out, resulting in an error that scored the second run of the inning, and the seventh and final run of the game.

That was six runs more than was necessary for the Yankees. The Giants offense, so potent in February, was nowhere to be found in the first meaningful game of the year, be it against Fried or the trio of relief arms the Yankees employed, which included Camilo Doval. When all was said and done, Devers’ bloop stood as one of just three hits off the Giants’ bats, joining mild-mannered singles by Arráez and Heliot Ramos. Arráez also had his walk, as did Chapman, while Schmitt was hit by a pitch, and those were the only Giants to earn a spot on base, though Adames also found a residence at first thanks to an error.

It was a 7-0 loss that humbled not just the Giants, but all of us who dared pretend like we know things about baseball. The talk all offseason and preseason was about the team’s revamped and exciting offense. The least concerning part about the Giants was Webb. The glaring issue and question mark was the bullpen.

And yet the offense was nonexistent, and Webb had his first five-run inning since 2023. The bullpen, meanwhile, was the only thing that went right for the Giants. Keaton Winn was downright filthy, striking out Judge and Bellinger in a powerful sixth-inning appearance.

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JT Brubaker needed just 22 pitches to handle two scoreless innings. Caleb Kilian took on the heart of the order — Judge, Bellinger, and Rice — and retired them in order, on 10 pitches in the ninth.

It’s a funny game like that. Maybe the bullpen will prove to be the star of the team. Or perhaps, as is more likely, we’ll soon be reminded that one game is just that: one game.

Today I went to the store to load up on snacks for the game. The woman checking out in front of me saw my basket and asked if I was hosting a party. I told her that no, I just like to buy ballpark foods for the first day of the baseball season. That seemed to please her greatly.

Thankfully she didn’t ask what team I was rooting for. I’d like to think she’s out there somewhere, envisioning that I had a much more enjoyable evening than I actually did.

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Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Heat – Effort is a mixed bag

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 25: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Arena on March 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t put their best foot forward to start this game. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

LOSER- Coming Out Flat

Second night of a back-to-back. Numerous key players are down due to injury. Random, meaningless game in March. I understand all of the context.

That still doesn’t mean it’s okay for the Cavs to come out as flat as they did tonight.

Miami built an early 20-point lead after pouncing all over Cleveland’s poor effort. Some of the Cavaliers’ offensive concerns can be excused due to simply missing shots (they shot 3-15 from three in the first half). But their defensive integrity was nowhere to be found. That’s especially concerning, considering Kenny Atkinson previously called them out for their poor defense against the Magic just 24 hours ago.

It’s a combination of scheme and execution. The Cavs have always rotated early and dug deep into the paint to provide help on drives. But their timing and process on this strategy have been worse as of late. They are frequently over-committing and opening themselves up to three-point onslaughts. It’s worrying that even middling offenses like the Heat can impose their will on the Cavaliers so quickly to start a game.

The Cavs proved they can ‘flip a switch’ once the second half began. The comeback was as electric as anything. With that said, I can’t blame any of the hometown fans who booed their team during the first half. That was a bad effort — and they dug themselves a hole that was ultimately too much to get out of.

WINNER – Donovan Mitchell’s Second Half Effort

Mitchell has a knack for getting the Cleveland crowd on its feet. This Cavalier team was being booed off the floor entering halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Mitchell had them in a full frenzy as his 13 points fueled a comeback and tied the game.

It was everything we’ve come to expect from Mitchell. Elite three-point shooting. Dazzling dribble moves. And a one-man heat check that brought his team (and the crowd) back to life. Mitchell hit three three-pointers in the third quarter, including back-to-back shots to swing the momentum all the way back into Cleveland’s favor.

As previously mentioned, Atkinson called out his team’s ‘compete level’ after their narrow win over Orlando. Specifically, he urged his two leaders (presumably Mitchell and James Harden) to respond. It took a full half for Mitchell to get the message, but by the end of the game, it was clear he took it to heart.

Mitchell opened the fourth quarter by diving for the ball and forcing a jumpball. That kind of scrappiness from a player who is currently on fire shooting the rock is the definition of leading by example. Mitchell’s energy sparked the run.

LOSER – Evan Mobley

Think of the things you don’t want to see from Evan Mobley. Indecisiveness. A lack of confidence. Probing aimlessly and taking shots that feel hopeless.

That’s what we saw tonight.

At one point in the first half, Mobley was working one-on-one against Bam Adebayo with the shot clock winding down. Mobley took a step-back dribble, and as he was gathering for the jumper, Bam visibly waved him off and turned around for the rebound. Mobley nearly airballed the shot.

It’s worth saying the Heat deployed a great defensive scheme. Their mixture of zone and double-coverage kept Mobley from finding an open space to operate. They sped him up and made him passive. That’s a credit to Miami.

“They mixed in a lot of zone,” said Kenny Aktinson after the game. “Those guys are tough; they’re a darn good defensive team. I think Evan’s next evolution is when they start swarming him, making those decisions.”

Later in the fourth quarter, Mobley had a deep-seal on Kel’el Ware. The Cavs dumped him the ball, and Mobley proceeded to get blocked at the rim. That sums up the night.

Every player has bad games. It’s worth noting that Mobley had been playing his best stretch of the season, and arguably one of the best of his career. But this type of performance is something we all wish we could forget.

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It's early, but Yankees' Opening Day win shows there's plenty to like about 2026 team

Maybe it’s irresponsible to extrapolate much from an opener, considering how soaked in pomp the first game of the season can be, both teams fresh out of spring camp and no one yet in midseason mode. Yeah, it’s early and the season is soooooo long.

But it’s hard not to like what the Yankees did Wednesday night in routing the Giants, 7-0, in the first game of the Major League Baseball season in San Francisco. Love, really.

The Yankees offense, tops in the majors last season, scored seven times without the benefit of its best weapon, the home run, or its best hitter. 

Aaron Judge, the game’s biggest offensive force, was 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, and the Yanks flourished, anyway. In the big pinstriped picture, Judge’s forgettable night didn’t matter a whit except to social media wiseacres shopworking jokes.

There were other glowing pluses, too, including a superlative outing from Max Fried, who threw 6.1 shutout innings, and 2.2 scoreless frames from the bullpen. After an early wobble in the first inning, Fried basked in the comfort of the five-spot the Yankees put up in the second inning off one of baseball’s best pitchers, San Francisco ace Logan Webb.

If Fried can battle like this when he’s perhaps not his sharpest and then unleash brilliance when he’s at his best, the Yankee rotation profiles as a monster, what with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón slated to return during the season. Especially if Cam Schlittler is what Yankee fans hope he is and what he showed last year.

There’s more: Judge was the only batter without at least one hit. Austin Wells and Giancarlo Stanton had two apiece. The Yankees took an aggressive approach against the Giants, getting five of their 10 hits on the first pitch of an at-bat. If you are a Yankee fan who’s been crying for their favorite team to not rely so much on the home run, maybe this game’s in your Louvre. They still struck out 12 times – no offense is perfect.

The Yankees leaned on the longballs last year, scoring 50.1 percent of their MLB-best 849 runs via the home run. Don’t get us wrong – hitting home runs is a great way to win. The Yankees had a .632 winning percentage when they hit a single homer last year and that figure ballooned to .707 when they hit two-plus longballs.

But for years, the Yanks have felt like a team that could use a little offensive diversification. That’s why it’s great they have an able basestealer like José Caballero on the roster. Caballero drove in the first run of the game and, while he made an error at shortstop, he also had a nice pickup toward the middle.

If Caballero continues to have positive moments, the chatter around shortstop will only get louder as Anthony Volpe, who struggled last year, recovers from offseason surgery. His shoulder fix might explain why he backslid last year, but Caballero doubtless made fans Wednesday night, which could bring up thorny questions for the Yanks when Volpe’s ready again.

Speaking of questions, there were plenty about bringing Trent Grisham back to play center. But Grisham on Wednesday gave doubters something to chew on, lashing a key two-run triple. It’s one game, we get it, but it was a big hit. A few more of those, and maybe skeptics won’t doubt his ability to flash numbers similar to last year.

Oh, and were you fretting about Ben Rice’s defense at first? He made several tough scoops there. Early days, yes, but something to build on. And while Jazz Chisholm Jr. might have a rep as someone who blanks on defense sometimes, he sure was paying attention in the sixth inning when Matt Chapman lashed a low, 106.7 mph liner at him. Chisholm didn’t catch it cleanly, but snagged the ball out of the air with his bare hand, a nice second-chance snare for an out.

It was only the first night and maybe we should be careful about any conclusions we draw. Early metaphors are cheap and easy, and we don’t know how long early sizzle will last. Who in their right mind would draw any lasting impression from Judge’s game, right?

Still, for one night, the Yanks didn’t mask big flaws with big homers or pummel some bad team to shine up their runs-per-game stats. They beat an ace and soundly. Maybe they have a couple of different ways to beat teams.

Lots to like. But plenty to still prove, too.

It’s early, after all.

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Rapid Recap: Trail Blazers 130, Bucks 99

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 25: Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball past Donovan Clingan #23 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Moda Center on March 25, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Down Giannis, Gary Harris, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, and Kevin Porter Jr., the Milwaukee Bucks got walloped by the Portland Trail Blazers 130-99. Ryan Rollins was the lone bright spot for the Bucks, notching a career-high 36 points, while Donovan Clingan led the Blazers with 14 points and 15 rebounds (six offensive).

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap

The Bucks got off to a rough start, giving up a 10-0 run almost immediately before Ryan Rollins halted it with a Dame-esque side-step three. The Bucks would climb back into it, luckily, with Ousmane Dieng nailing a bomb to make the deficit just two, 14-12, at the seven-minute mark. Unfortunately, Milwaukee lost the rope from there, with Portland’s lead expanding to double digits behind a Jerami Grant run. You could tell the Bucks were light on bodies when Andre Jackson Jr. and Thanasis (yes, Thanasis) got run towards the end of the period, which… went about as you’d expect. Blazers up 42-27 after one.

Old friend Jrue Holiday was licking his chops at his former side, nailing his fourth triple of the game to open the second, but was answered in kind by AJax from the top of the key. The Bucks answered a fair few Blazers’ buckets as the quarter progressed, but the home team began to run over them and push their lead to above 20 by the seven-minute mark. Donovan Clingan was murdering the Bucks’ small front line, gobbling up rebound after rebound on both ends, giving his team a boatload of second-chance opportunities. By halftime, up 71-49, the Blazers had 10 O-boards to the Bucks’ three and 12 second-chance points to the Bucks’ two.

Milwaukee’s defence did not improve in the third quarter, but its offence sure did, losing the period by just one, 33-32. Ryan Rollins was the story, scoring 17 points in the period, including going 3/5 from deep. There were also some nice moments where player development shone through, with Jericho Sims knocking down a floater after moving Donovan Clingan. But yeah, the defence was as non-existent as it had been all game; a lot of that was just because the Bucks were so small, but there were certainly tactical mistakes. Portland led 104-81 after three.

After keeping the Blazers’ lead from ballooning out much further than 20, the Bucks relented to start the fourth, allowing it to expand to 30 following Scoot Henderson’s third bomb of the night. On the plus side, Rollins recorded a new career high of 34 points after hitting his sixth three-pointer of the game, besting his previous high of 32 (which came earlier this season against the Warriors, obviously). Rollins would check out with four minutes to go after notching 36 in total, making way for Cormac Ryan to get his second chance at NBA minutes this season. All in all, another disappointing night for the Bucks.

Stat That Stood Out

The Bucks actually did OK in quarters 2-4, but gave up 42 points in the opening frame, which ultimately did them in.

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Game Preview: Knicks at Hornets, March 26, 2026

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 03: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets chat during the game at Madison Square Garden on December 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tonight, the Knicks (48*-25) visit the Hornets (38-34) at Spectrum Center. New York has won seven straight, including Tuesday’s 121-116 victory over the Pelicans. Meanwhile, Charlotte went 7-3 over their last 10 and is riding a strong home stretch with a four-game win streak on the line. Expect a spicy one tonight!

New York leads the season series 2-0. The teams last met December 3, 2025, with the Knicks winning 119-104 at Madison Square Garden. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with a 35-point, 18-rebound double-double, while the Hornets were paced by LaMelo Ball with 32 points. They’ll next meet in the final game of the season, on April 12.

Charles Lee’s Hornets boast one of the better offenses in the league, ranking 4th in offensive rating while posting a solid 12th in defensive rating. They score 116.4 points per game and allow 111.8, giving them the league’s sixth-best net rating. 

Ball (19.7 PPG, 7.1 APG) orchestrates the attack and Brandon Miller (20.3 PPG, 39% 3PT) provides scoring punch and floor spacing. Miles Bridges (17.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG) is still a bully, while rookie Kon Knueppel (probable with back soreness) adds sizzling shooting. Expected starters tonight are likely Ball, Miller, Knueppel, Bridges, and Moussa Diabaté (8.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG).

On the injury report, New York lists Miles McBride (ankle) and Landry Shamet (knee) as OUT. The Hornets have Tidjane Salaun (calf) OUT, with Pat Connaughton (illness) questionable.

Prediction

ESPN win probability sits around 51% for the Knicks. Basically a toss up. These Hornets are a tough out at home with their offensive firepower and recent momentum. They take the second-most shots from downtown and are the league’s third-best shooting team from there. Will New York’s Wingstop meet the challenge? We shall see. Expect our heroes to face early trouble from Charlotte’s spacing and longballs. It’s hard to envision the Knicks winning all four games of the regular season series, and this one certainly does look like a toss up. The fact that New York has only played two overtime games this season caught my eye, too. Something tells me this could be the third. Knicks by one in a thriller.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (48*-25) vs Charlotte Hornets (38-34)
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 7 PM ET
Place: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups scoff at record keeping.

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Player Grades: Cavs vs Heat – Streak ends in bummer fashion

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers helps up James Harden #1 during the first half against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on March 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers four-game winning streak was snapped by the Miami Heat.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

28 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 turnovers

The first half was on par with some of the defensive effort we’ve seen this week from Mitchell. The second half, though? That’s more like it.

Mitchell ramped up his ‘compete’ level and helped turn this game around. His scoring is one thing. We’ve seen him get hot in a hurry before. But when he’s diving to the floor, fighting for loose balls, and getting into the jersey of his opponent? That’s the type of stuff that gets Cleveland roaring.

Grade: B

James Harden

18 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds, 5 turnovers

This was an uncharacteristically quiet game from Harden, who had previously been in a flow state. He wasn’t overly aggressive hunting for his shot tonight, and the defense was, well, you know how the defense was.

Harden shot 3-9 from three and 1-1 from inside of two-point range. The Heat did a fine job packing the paint, and Harden wasn’t able to punish them enough with his pull-up jumper.

Grade: C-

Evan Mobley

8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Miami made a conscious effort to keep Mobley in a box. He saw multiple jerseys on every post entry and had trouble getting around Bam Adebayo. This is a tougher matchup for Mobley when Jarrett Allen isn’t on the court to put pressure on the Heat’s frontcourt. We saw the results of that tonight.

That said, Mobley has no one to blame but himself for this one. He looked uncertain of himself from the start. And as the game wore on, Miami took more and more space from him. His failed isolation attempt on Kel’el Ware was the lowlight of the night.

Grade: F

Keon Ellis

17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Ellis hasn’t been spacing the floor as we’d hope recently (1-7 from downtown tonight). He did, however, make himself available in the dunker’s spot for a handful of easy opportunities.

He also knocked the ball out of Tyler Herro’s hands three times in the same possession. That was sick.

Grade: B+

Sam Merrill

18 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists

Merrill is having his best season as a slasher. He got to the rim relentlessly against the Magic last night and replicated some of that success versus Miami. He’s been quick to catch and attack this year rather than pump fake or relocate for a three-pointer. That’s given him the advantage he needs to get into the lane and showcase his floater and layup.

“I was joking, he’s like a drive-first guy now,” Kenny Aktinson said. “Teams are running him off. He’s a hot shooter, we know what that coverage is, so he’s just running through catches… that’s called player development.”

Grade: B+

Dennis Schroder

4 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds

We might be finding out why Schroder was available at the deadline. Or rather, why the Sacramento Kings were willing to give up Keon Ellis for De’Andre Hunter simply to get Schroder off their books.

That’s not to say Schroder is a bad player, or that he can’t help the Cavs down the stretch, but his last few games haven’t been great. He shot 1-5 and wasn’t great defensively. He gets some credit for his effort on the glass and for dealing 6 assists with 0 turnovers.

Grade: D+

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

6 points, 4 rebounds

The Cavs played Tomlin out of necessity tonight. His lack of a viable jumper has made it difficult to keep him on the floor. He isn’t being guarded in the corner, and he’s mostly taking up space in the paint when he sits in the dunker’s spot. He also picked up four fouls in his first nine minutes tonight.

It’s been rough on Tomlin Island.

Grade: D–

Tyrese Proctor

0 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 2 steals

Proctor was thrown into this game during the second quarter as the wheels were falling off. These were his first meaningful minutes since February, and that matched the eye test. He wasn’t overly involved in anything — and smoked an open layup in the fourth quarter.

I’ll be lenient with his grade, considering his place in the rotations and the expectations I have for him as a young pup.

Grade: D+

Thomas Bryant

4 points, 5 rebounds

Bryant’s first half was abysmal. He went 0-4 from the floor and was a minus-17 as Miami’s athleticism left him in the dust. He turned it around gradually in the second half, even rounding out to a positive in the plus-minus before the Heat slammed the door shut in the fourth quarter.

Again, this was just one of those nights where you missed Jarrett Allen.

Grade: D+

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Spurs cruise past Grizzlies in 123-98 rout

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 25: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 25, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The night never really gave the Memphis Grizzlies a chance to breathe.

From the opening tip, the San Antonio Spurs played like a team with something to prove—sharp, connected, and relentless. The ball moved with purpose, the defense swarmed, and by the time the first quarter buzzer sounded, San Antonio had already built a cushion that felt heavier than the scoreboard suggested.

It started with rhythm. Possession after possession, the Spurs carved up Memphis’ defense, turning good looks into great ones. Devin Vassell found his stroke early, knocking down shots that kept the pressure mounting. Meanwhile, Stephon Castle quietly controlled the tempo, slipping passes through tight windows and keeping everyone involved.

And then there was Victor Wembanyama—everywhere at once.

He altered shots without always touching the ball, pulled down rebounds in traffic, and made his presence felt in ways that don’t always show up in the box score. When Memphis tried to attack the paint, Wembanyama was waiting. When they settled for jumpers, the Spurs were already pushing the other way.

By halftime, the game had shifted from a contest to a showcase.

San Antonio didn’t let up. Instead, they leaned further into their identity—unselfish offense, disciplined defense, and a pace that Memphis simply couldn’t match, especially shorthanded. Every run the Grizzlies attempted was met with a quick answer: a corner three, a fast-break finish, or a defensive stop that sucked the momentum right back out of the building.

The lead stretched. Then ballooned. Then settled into something inevitable.

Late in the fourth quarter, the urgency was gone. The Spurs bench rose with every play, the starters watched with quiet satisfaction, and the scoreboard told the full story: 123–98.

It wasn’t just a win—it was control from beginning to end.

For a young Spurs team on its way to the NBA Playoffs, this was a glimpse of what it can look like when everything clicks.

Game notes

  • With the win, San Antonio moved within two games of Oklahoma City for the top seed in the Western Conference and the league’s best record.
  • The Spurs have an easier end to the season than the Thunder, apart from two games against the Nuggets and possibly the Clippers. If the Spurs can win the games they need to, it will be a tight finish to the top.
  • De’Aaron Fox missed the game with back soreness, and Luke Kornet was also out with injury management. Good for Mitch Johnson holding out two key players to work out the kinks in their bodies before a grueling playoff run.