Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders reacts during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena on April 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York.
Patrick Roy did not hide from responsibility after Friday’s 4-1 Islanders loss to Philadelphia that felt something like capitulation.
“I’ll take part of the blame for the first period,” Roy said. “I have a job to do to make sure our team is ready to play a strong game. So we’re together in this. We called a timeout and I felt like after that we started playing more our game.”
No small part of the game was lost in the first period, in which the Islanders went down 2-0 and did not record a shot through the first 13:15.
The head coach fell on the sword right as he is coming under more scrutiny, with his team in serious danger of blowing a playoff spot that seemed like a sure thing from December through March.
While Roy’s job has been considered safe all season — his relationship with general manager Mathieu Darche is believed to be quite good despite the two never having met before Darche was hired last spring — that would be in obvious danger of changing if the Islanders fail to make the playoffs.
Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders reacts during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena on April 3, 2026 in Elmont, New York. NHLI via Getty Images
So, too, would a number of other assumptions that have underpinned the season, such as the likelihood of captain Anders Lee re-signing as an unrestricted free agent.
Roy said he felt he could have said more to his team before the game to better prepare them.
“Sometimes you just make sure, you say a few words in the room after the meeting,” Roy said. “Tonight I thought the team was ready to play a strong game, and I could have done a better job approaching the guys, say a few things.
“That was an important game for us. They’re all important games — no kidding. I just feel like I could have done a better job, period.”
Simon Holmstrom returned from the upper-body injury that kept him out of Tuesday’s match in Buffalo, with Anthony Duclair coming out of the lineup as a healthy scratch.
Tony DeAngelo skated on his own Friday morning before the Islanders held an optional skate. Roy said it was not his first time on the ice since suffering a lower-body injury.
Roy said he did not expect DeAngelo to travel to Carolina for Saturday’s match.
The killer, 36-year-old Guy Rivera, was convicted on lesser charges including aggravated manslaughter, attempted murder of Diller’s partner and weapons charges.
“We will always stand with his wife, Stephanie, their son Ryan and the entire Diller family. Detective Diller will be in our thoughts and hearts forever,” PA announcer Alex Anthony said.
There’s renewed hope among the United Kingdom’s Test hopefuls that County Championship success will translate to national selection following the recent Ashes disaster, which served as a wake-up call for the England team hierarchy.
MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20: Seiya Suzuki #27 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a home run during a Spring Training game against the Chicago White Sox at Sloan Park on February 20, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We were supposed to have our final two affiliates take the field tonight, but South Bend was rained out.
I no longer post anything on Twitter/X. I still go over there because the affiliates are there, but I don’t post any new content. You can find me posting some stuff at Bluesky at @joshftimmers.bsky.social. I’m not quite as active there as I used to be, but I still do some updates.
Everyone wins! Well, not South Bend, but they had a good excuse.
Iowa starter Will Sanders gave up a solo home run in both the first and second innings, but other than that he was quite sharp. Sanders got the win after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. Sanders struck out seven and walked two.
Iowa manager Marty Pevey then got two scoreless innings out of Collin Snider and one out of Ryan Rolison in non-save situations to close out the game.
Iowa put this one away with a five-run second inning. DH Chas McCormick led off the inning with a solo home run, his second on the season.
Chas McCormick DEMOLISHES one to left field to get the I-Cubs on the board! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/YSjhPx5AH5
After catcher Christian Bethancourt singled and center fielder Brett Bateman walked, right fielder Justin Dean singled home Bethancourt to make it 2-1.
After first baseman Jonathon Long grounded out, second baseman James Triantos crushed this three-run home run to make it 5-1. It was Triantos’ second home run of the year.
A three-run blast off the scorching hot bat of James Triantos gives the I-Cubs a 5-1 lead! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BhHm5sOj5i
McCormick finished the game 2 for 4 with the home run and this RBI double.
Chas McCormick lines one off the left field wall for his second extra base hit of the game, extending the Iowa lead to 6-2 in the seventh! 🐻 pic.twitter.com/0R6MhMeDtU
Minor League Rule 5 draftee Zane Mills made his Cubs organizational debut tonight. He pitched 3+ innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Mills walked three and struck out four.
Jace Beck relieved Mills in the fourth inning and promptly walked the first two batters and then coughed up a three-run home run to put Birmingham up 6-5. But he settled down after that and collected the win after the Smokies scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead. Beck’s final line was three runs on two hits and three walks over two innings. He struck out four.
Evan Taylor came on for the save in the ninth and he made it a nailbiter after a one-out walk and a two-out double. But with runners on second and third and two outs, Taylor got the strikeout to end the game. He struck out two in his one inning of work.
The third batter of the bottom of the first inning, shortstop Jefferson Rojas, clobbered this three-run home run.
Jefferson Rojas delivering the Smokies first 3️⃣ runs of the game and the first homer of the season! ⚾️💥 pic.twitter.com/YwBbYRAVtR
— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) April 4, 2026
Rojas went 2 for 4 with a walk. He also made this nice play on defense.
Cubs #5 prospect, Jefferson Rojas, with a diving stop sending us into Bottom 6.
— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) April 4, 2026
Seiya Suzuki played five innings in right field in a rehab appearance. He was 1 for 2 with a sacrifice fly. He also scored on the Rojas home run. Suzuki seemed to be moving fine to my eyes, but he wasn’t really tested out there.
DH Alexander Ramirez led off and was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks in his Cubs organizational debut. Ramirez scored twice and drove in one.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 3 for 5 and scored once.
Catcher Ariel Armas went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI double in the eighth inning. Armas also scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs home opener was postponed because of unplayable field conditions. A makeup date has not been scheduled.
Kane Kepley did double in kickball.
No. 6 @Cubs prospect Kane Kepley rips a backside double with an elite dodge at the end of the play. He’s 2-for-2 in his High-A (kickball) debut. 👀
Pelicans manager Yovanny Cuevas got three innings each from three pitchers. Starter Noah Edders allowed two unearned runs on two hits. He struck out five and walked no one.
Ben Johnson, a 17th-round pick in 2024 who missed all last season with an injury, finally got to make his professional debut in the fourth inning. Johnson gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Jordan Henriquez tossed the final three innings and got his first Pelicans win in his first game in Myrtle Beach. Henriquez held the RiverDogs to no runs and just two hits. He struck out four and walked no one, although he did hit one batter.
First baseman Cole Mathis hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that ended up being the difference in this game. It was Mathis’ second home run in as many games this year. He finished the game 1 for 4 with a walk.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 4, 2026
Carico was 1 for 3 with two walks.
In the seventh inning, right fielder Josiah Hartshorn crushed his first professional home run on a ball that I still don’t think has landed. It came with the bases empty.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 4, 2026
That is some serious power. If you’re down in South Carolina, I’d suggest getting to see Hartshorn this month because he may be in South Bend sooner rather than later.
Hartshorn was 2 for 4 with a walk and three runs scored.
Shortstop Ty Southisene went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy was 2 for 5 with an RBI infield single in the first inning.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks hangs off the rim after a dunk against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half at American Airlines Center on April 03, 2026 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. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks fell again at home on Friday night, losing to the Orlando Magic 138-127. Wendell Carter Jr. led a balanced Magic scoring attack with 28. Cooper Flagg put up 51 points in defeat for Dallas, becoming the first teenager to ever score over 50 in an NBA game.
The opening period in Dallas saw the Magic score early, often, and easily from the field. The team shot 65% from the floor with contributions spread evenly across the board. The Mavericks hung in largely through fantastic three-point shooting; the team hit five of 10 attempts in the opening quarter. Dallas trailed the Magic after 12 minutes, 38-31.
Klay Thompson seemed hellbent on keeping Dallas in this one, hitting his third and fourth threes of the game early in the quarter under extreme duress. The Mavericks eventually picked up Klay’s energy and Cooper Flagg and Naji took control of the game, rallying Dallas back to within three halfway through the period. But after tying the game at 53, Dallas got stuck offensively, committing a variety of turnovers paired with many missed shots. The Magic slowly pushed ahead as the Mavericks could not get out of their own way, ending the half trailing, 71-58.
As has been the pattern in the third quarter, Dallas got ground down to dust. The Magic scored at will on a Dallas defense devoid of principles in the halfcourt. Cooper Flagg at least put on a scoring binge, so that was fun, but the Mavericks entered the fourth down 111-92.
The final frame was chaotic; Jason Kidd was ejected arguing a horrible no call on a Cooper Flagg drive and Naji Marshall earned a technical as well. Despite Dallas being down 25 or more points, Dallas went on a Flagg-led run to close the lead some, forcing an Orlando timeout. This is the same team that allowed a 31-0 run from the Raptors just last month. But, despite Flagg’s performance, Dallas just couldn’t get stops to make a real dent in the lead. Watching Flagg operate was awesome though.
For Cooper Flagg, there is no ceiling
We’ve talked about Cooper all year, his shooting, his defense, his growth as a play maker. He’s a star in the making and if you’re still grinding out these Mavericks games with us, you’re going to be able to say you saw him way back when one day.
Tonight’s offensive performance from Flagg is a rallying call for those Mavs fans in your life who are checked out because the season’s been awful or who haven’t watched a game since the Luka trade. I get it, it’s not been easy. But this is special, very special and I want other people to join us here. We should have a whole post on this scoring performance at some point.
Tonight, the three point shot made the difference, as he hit six of nine attempts. That’s going to be what turns him from a good to great scorer and while it won’t happen over night, it will happen. He’s too good.
The Nets suffered a 141-107 beating at the hands of Atlanta before a sellout crowd of 17,548 at Barclays Center.
Brooklyn (18-59) remained tied for second in the lottery race, keeping pace with Indiana. The Nets are ½-game behind first-place Washington, and two clear of Sacramento pending the Kings’ tilt with the visiting Pelicans later on Friday night.
Center Nic Claxton had a team-high 16 points and five rebounds, while Malachi Smith added 15 off the bench.
Guard Trevon Scott, inked on a 10-day contract, had six points in his debut. Noah Clowney was ejected with 5:35 left in the third quarter.
Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) during the first half at Barclays Center, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
CJ McCollum had a game-high 25 points for the Hawks, who have won 19 of 22.
Brooklyn committed 20 turnovers and got outscored 35-11 on giveaways.
“Yeah, obviously [they have] high-level perimeter defenders; but poor execution on our end,” hrad coach Jordi Fernández said. “We just were not good enough, starting with the guys that bring the ball up the floor and try to get us into something organized. It was very poor. And you see it right there; the difference is 24 points of turnovers. [That’s] the big difference in a game that you should’ve had a chance to compete.”
Michael Porter Jr. and rookie Danny Wolf both went from presumably out for the season to officially ruled out by Fernández.
“Yeah, well, obviously you guys know Day’Ron [Sharpe] is out. With Mike and Danny, based on where we are right now — and based on where they’re at with their rehab, and we only have one week left — they’ll be out just from where they are,” Fernández said. “So that’s the update of those two.”
Porter hasn’t played since March 10, suffering from a strained left hamstring. He’ll end his season averaging a career-high 24.2 points on 46.3/36.3/85.9 shooting splits.
Wolf, the last of Brooklyn’s record five first-round picks, sprained his ankle March 22 and will end his rookie campaign averaging 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds. He raised that to 10.8 points and 5.6 boards in his final 22 games.
“Yeah, they both have been very positive stories for us,” Fernández said. “[Wolf] being a rookie showed he belongs, and he’s been able to do very different things. Danny, from shooting the ball to playmaking to rebounding to being that primary ballhandler, playing off the ball, different lineups, I’m very happy with him.
Nic Claxton (l.), Michael Porter Jr. (c.) and Day’ron Sharpe look on during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Obviously efficiency is important. We believe he’s a very good shooter. His playmaking efficiency has gotten better from college. And then defensively. … He surprised a lot of people. He didn’t surprise us. We felt like he could do all those things and keep bodies in front, keep guys in front of the ball and guard smaller guys. So he’s been very, very good.
“And then Michael in a new situation, being on the same team for seven years on a championship team and now having a different role, a different situation, everything has been also very positive. He’s played at an All-Star level. In my opinion, he should’ve been an All-Star. Now I want him to come back and have a chip on his shoulder, lead the team the way he’s been doing.”
Porter could be traded this summer. He’s also eligible for an extension of up to four years, $243 million, though would certainly command far less. Asked what Porter had shown the organization, Fernández said, “For that you’ve got to ask Sean [Marks, GM]. But me personally, he’s been put in a different role and he’s performed very well. He’s represented himself and the club very well.”
The Nets signed Trevon Scott to a 10-day contract. … Nic Claxton and Noah Clowney were upgraded to available against the visiting Hawks.
But after heading into the season with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt sidelined and more than a few question marks surrounding a bullpen that lost Luke Weaver and Devin Williams in the offseason, a historic start to the regular season probably wasn’t considered likely.
With another solid effort by Will Warren and a dominant effort by the bullpen, though, the Yankees’ pitching continues to be elite.
After an 8-2 win over Miami in the home opener in The Bronx, the Yankees have allowed just eight runs in seven games.
That matches the fewest runs by a team in MLB history — along with the 1993 Braves and 2002 Giants.
And the rotation has given up four runs in those games, tied for the best since 1900, matching the 2018 Red Sox and the ’93 Braves.
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after ending the first inning on April 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
In Friday’s win, Warren was backed up by Tim Hill — who escaped the two-on, one-out jam Warren left in the sixth — Jake Bird, Brent Headrick and Ryan Yarbrough, as the bullpen combined to toss 3 ¹/₃ shutout innings.
Aaron Judge noted what’s made the staff so tough overall.
“They’re dictating at-bats,’’ Judge said of his teammates. “They put pressure on guys at-bat after at-bat. We’re feeding off them.”
To Judge’s point, the Yankees didn’t issue a walk on Friday, while striking out 10.
Yankees pitcher Tim Hill (41) throws a pitch during the sixth inning. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Warren, who survived some rough outings last season, bounced back from a pair of solo homers to pitch into the sixth. After and after Hill got Liam Hicks on a soft comebacker to end the inning, Bird entered and continued his promising start to the year, as he and the lefty Headrick retired all six batters they faced before Yarbrough finished it after Ben Rice put the game away with a two-run double in the eighth.
“We’re playing great baseball,’’ Cody Bellinger said. “It’s unbelievable. Starting with the starters — all four — and the bullpen coming in every time, it makes it easier on the offense.”
Aaron Boone praised Bird and Headrick, perhaps the latest in a long line of reclamation projects the Yankees will turn into reliable bullpen pieces.
Warren seemed to speak for all the Yankee pitchers when he said his key to his results Friday was being “aggressive in the zone.”
“If we attack early, the odds are in our favor,’’ Warren said. “We’re attacking early and throwing strikes and have confidence in our stuff to put us in a position to be successful. … Our lineup is a beast. We know they’re gonna put up runs.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 31: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Fiserv Forum on March 31, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the midst of the Bucks’ Friday night contest against the Celtics, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the NBA is investigating the team for “their handling of the player participating policy and potential inconsistent statements regarding the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo.” Shams added that the Bucks and Giannis have given conflicting accounts of his health.
“Milwaukee informed the NBA that it doesn’t believe Giannis is ready and actually wants to play; Giannis informed the NBA he wants to play but the team will not medically clear him, sources said.”
Giannis addressed the situation with local reporters before the game and gave some rather revealing statements. Outside of fully endorsing the investigation and his frustrations with not playing, he gave some very candid thoughts on how things have transpired:
“You know who you are dealing with, so for somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
“I don’t know what game is being played right here, I just don’t wanna be a part of it.”
As far as how this has played out behind the scenes, according to Giannis, he had an initial conversation with head coach Doc Rivers and general manager Jon Horst. He let both of them know he wanted to play, but that was the last conversation they had, and no one has approached him since. He also slapped down any notion that he doesn’t want to play again this season, citing his wish to play with his younger brother, Alex Antetokounmpo:
“I’ve heard somebody say that, ‘Oh, he says that he wants to play, but he doesn’t really want to play. First of all, I don’t know who gives you information like that… you’d be an idiot to have an opportunity to play with your brother that you’re eight years older than him.”
“When I played my first NBA game, he was 11 years old. When my dad passed, I pretty much raised him. He’s able to be on the team and suit up and chase an opportunity to be great. And you really think that I don’t want to suit up and play with my brother? Anybody that thinks that is an idiot.”
Before anyone goes into a full-blown panic, worrying that this will push a potential divide between Giannis and the Bucks, he insisted that this latest disagreement does not necessarily mean the two sides are heading toward a divorce:
“We gotta go into couples therapy… sit down, you know, tell their side, I’m going to tell my side and find a solution. Amicably, right? That’s the word. Find a solution together.”
We’ll have to wait and see what the NBA comes up with regarding this investigation, or whether the findings will come in time for Giannis to suit up again this season, but it’s clear whatever is going on has rubbed him the wrong way:
“I’ve been here 13 years and I understand the team gets eliminated from the playoffs, be smart. Taking care of your body, being in and out, just to be careful, to prepare for the next season, prepare for the next generation and the young players to get some minutes, go out there—I get that. But that wasn’t the time that this took place. That’s what bothers me. It’s almost like you waved the white flag and I don’t do that. I am sorry. I don’t. And I never, never will.”
Juan Soto exited Friday’s 10-3 win over the Giants after the top of the first with right calf tightness and was replaced in left field by Tyrone Taylor.
Soto singled in his lone at-bat and later appeared to grimace as he went first to third on a Bo Bichette RBI single.
Juan Soto of the New York Mets hits a single against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on April 3, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images
He remained in the game before getting thrown out at home on a Brett Baty double play, but Taylor entered for defense in the bottom half of the first.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said after the victory that Soto would undergo imaging on Saturday.
Soto, one of the few Mets consistently hitting early this season, extended his hitting streak to eight games and now has a .355 average and a .928 OPS.
Taylor went 0-for-4 with a strikeout as his replacement, but the Mets had one of the best offensive outputs of the early season, scoring 10 runs on 15 hits. Francisco Alvarez hit two homers, and Marcus Semien went deep for the first time as a Met.
Defensive lineman Rakeem “Nacho” Nunez-Roches has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Buccaneers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Nunez-Roches, 32, spent the past three seasons with the Giants.
In 2025, he played only nine games due to an ankle injury. Nunez-Roches still set a career-high with three sacks and made 23 tackles.
Nunez-Roches previously spent five seasons with the Bucs, playing 68 games with 22 starts from 2018-22. He won a Super Bowl ring when the Bucs won it all in the 2020 season.
The Chiefs made Nunez-Roches a sixth-round pick in 2015. He was in Kansas City for three seasons.
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 3: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for the rebound during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 3, 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
There are a lot of different types of must-win games. Playoff games. Rivalries. Tie-breakers. Ring nights. Banner nights. Revenge games. But then there’s a must-win in the sense that your opponent is 25-51 on the season, actively tanking, and comprised of guys who may not even be in the league next year.
Tonight was the final type of those must-win scenarios. The Toronto Raptors faced the Memphis Grizzlies, able to do what they needed to to the tune of 128 to 96.
As the current 7-seed, Toronto would like nothing more than to avoid a play-in scenario. They don’t own the tie-breaker with Philly, which is part of why they’ve fallen, but given the outcome of their regular season games, their desired opponent would likely be Cleveland, meaning Toronto will have to make their way back above both the Sixers and the Hawks again for the 5-seed.
Memphis has been gutted, with the majority of their starting lineup sidelined for the much of the season. They’ve had 33 different players check in at some point this year, tied (with themselves) for the most in an NBA season. To their credit, they still played with confidence and aggression, making sure the Raptors didn’t just walk away with the win.
Cedric Coward, GG Jackson, and Javon Small, were their biggest contributors at both ends of the court. Jackson showed his physicality and athleticism to finish with 30 points and 5 rebounds. Small facilitated, ending with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Coward, their rookie, had another solid performance with 15 points.
For Toronto, bench play was one of the biggest highlights, with Jamal Shead playing solid minutes and finishing with 11 points and 6 rebounds. CMB flirted with a career best but ended with 19 points, and Mamu had solid backup minutes with 10 points and 6 rebounds. The bench will be such a big part of their playoff hopes, and getting everyone in and solid minutes out of many of them was encouraging.
Of course RJ was undoubtably the best player on the court tonight. Ending with 25-3-4, he held them together when they were floundering in the first half, cashing in long range shots when needed and defending with effort. BI put up a solid 17-7-5 performance with some fantastic shooting.
Toronto started the game on an 11-0 run, forcing turnovers, getting out and running, and even sinking long range shots. It looked like it would be all Raptors tonight, memories of the recent 31 point run against Orlando seeming like foreshadowing for what could be an even better performance.
But then three things happened.
Memphis decided they weren’t going down easy.
Toronto started to get really sloppy with the ball.
The whistle started to get on Darko’s (and everyone else’s) nerves.
Memphis went on to tie it up and then actually earn their first lead. Falling behind seemed to be the push the Raptors needed to give some effort. RJ, CMB, and Shead led the way on a run that built Toronto a 10-point lead.
Credit where it is due, the Grizzlies were relentless. Trying to get extra possessions, rebounding, and playing aggressive defense. In the fading minutes of the second quarter, Toronto was finally able to draw away and build a comfortable advantage.
The second half went in Toronto’s favour as well, slowly building a bigger and bigger lead. They settled many of the mistakes they made in the first half, drawing away to the tune of a 30-point advantage.
Throughout the contest, the bench got plenty of minutes, helping them build some confidence and rhythm going into the post season.
CMB had one of his stronger games, finding his touch around the rim and taking higher difficulty level shots without hesitation. Hi strength around the rim is one of the most fun things to watch:
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on April 02, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After hitting a single in the top of the first inning and then running from first to third, Juan Soto was removed from the Mets’ game in San Francisco before the team took the field in the bottom of the inning.
SNY showed the replay of Soto running the bases, and the 27-year-old outfielder grimaced between second and third. The team proceeded to announce that Soto left the game with right calf tightness.
The Mets’ lineup has been struggling mightily since Opening Day, and if Soto were to miss any time beyond the rest of this game, it would be a major blow to the team. Soto has been hot to start the season, as he’s hit .355/.412/.516 with a 161 wRC+.
While there weren’t any major injuries in spring training, Jorge Polanco has gone from the Mets’ starting first baseman to serving as a designated hitter because of an Achillies issue to not appearing in the team’s lineup for this game. We’ll see if he returns to the lineup tomorrow, but if he and Soto miss the same games, it’ll be that much harder for the organization to get the offense going.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 3: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 3, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It was a nail-biter, for sure. They needed all 14 available players to do it, but the Knicks (50*-28) managed to escape the Bulls (29-48) tonight. Things got hairy when their 47-point lead was chipped to 36 with four minutes left in the fourth, but the closing crew of Tyler Kolek, Jose Alvarado, Pacome Dadiet, Mohamed Diawara, and Ariel Hukporti managed to slam the lid on this one, 1,360-96.
Indeed, the entire available Knicks roster played tonight, and every man scored at least two points. That seems like a rare feat, no? There’s a no-prize waiting for the statistician who figures out how many times the Knicks have done that.
Karl-Anthony Towns rested a sore elbow tonight, so Mitchell Robinson (17 PTS, 11 RBS, 23 MIN) started at center. The big fella scored four early points as the Knicks zipped off on a 9-1 run, during which the Bulls missed four shots and committed two turnovers. The mismatch was obviously unfair from the jump. The tallest starting Bull was Matas Buzelis (11 PTS) at 6’8”, just tall enough to read Mitch’s chest tattoos.
From there, the Knicks built a huge early lead behind Robinson and Jalen Brunson (17 PTS, 10 AST), back after missing a game with ankle maintenance. Robinson owned the paint with putbacks, dunks, and rebounds, while Brunson kept the ball moving and the offense humming. OG Anunoby (31 PTS, 8 RBS) chipped in on both ends, showing the touch from deep, and the Knicks’ defense fueled the run with steals and easy transition points. Quoth SagaciousNLoquacious, “OGUA WENT NOVA.” Indeed. Anunoby had a monster night and has finally regained his shooting stroke, making 7-of-10 from deep overall and tying his career-best.
The guests couldn’t hit shots early, turned the ball over, and could barely see daylight in the lane. Collin Sexton (19 PTS) hit a couple threes, but his team was a disaster: sloppy possessions, poor shot selection (and poor options, thanks to active defense), and no answer for the Block Ness Monster.
The Knicks outshot the Bulls 56% to 29%, crushed them in the paint (18-2), and forced seven turnovers in the quarter. The lead reached 23 points before the quarter broke on a 38-16 score.
Our heroes shoveled more misery on their guests in the second period as Mikal Bridges (12 PTS) got into the action, and Robinson continued his stomp-Tokyo routine. A mid-quarter stretch made the affair an embarrassment, featuring turnovers by Josh Giddey (6 PTS, 5 AST, 4 TO) and Buzelis that turned into Knicks runouts. Miles McBride (6 PTS, 13 MIN) created steals that became easy points, Anunoby nailed a couple more from deep, and Brunson piled up assists.
For Chicago, Sexton and Tre Jones (13 PTS, 8 AST) provided scattered scoring, but the Bulls couldn’t stop shooting themselves in the sneakers. Guerschon Yabusele, who started the season with the Knicks, has expanded in Chicago, both in role and size. Either that or his uniform was a size too small. If your fly-by-night GLP1 company needs a spokesman, look no further. We mention him here because he made a three-pointer. Yabu finished the night with five points and four rebounds on 2-0f-9 shooting.
The lead reached 41 points, and the Knicks entered halftime with the biggest lead in franchise history, up 78-41. They shot better from the field (59% to 35%) and from deep (43% to 32%), destroyed in the paint (40 to 14), and totally controlled the glass (31-18). They’d committed just two turnovers versus 11 for Chicago, and the Knicks have turned those into a 20-0 edge in points off turnovers. Recording his first half-time double-double, Robinson had 15 points and 10 boards at the break. Anunoby led all scorers with 19, and, for the visitors, Sexton scored 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep.
The Bulls showed a little life coming out of halftime. Jones and Isaac Okoro (7 PTS) got downhill and scored early, almost trimming the margin to 30. Buzelis added a couple of finishes, and there was a brief stretch where Chicago forced misses and turned them into points.
Both teams would score 31 in the third quarter. The Knicks were playing with their food. Robinson kept controlling the interior with tip-ins and rebounds, while Brunson scored a bit. For Chicago, Jones and Sexton provided most of the offense, with Buzelis contributing scattered buckets. The Bulls were better than in the first half, but not nearly clean or consistent enough to change the shape of the game. When Anunoby hit a 23’ pullup—just a toenail shy of what could have been a personal-best eighth triple—the home team sat on a 108-72 lead.
Now that three quarters had passed and the differential stood at 36, Coach Mike Brown thought it safe to send in Tyler Kolek with a blend of Jose Alvarado, Jeremy Sochan, Jordan Clarkson, and Mohamed Diawara. About time he did! Under their watch, the lead would reach 47! Sure, they were outscored by 11, but, c’mon, the lead was still 36. After that, Alvarado made sure to score, completing a full house and inspiring the Garden crowd to give our heroes a well-deserved standing ovation. 50 wins for the third straight season! That deserves a clap.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Sandra Abstreiter made 39 saves her first PWHL shutout, Kaitlin Willoughby scored twice and the Montreal Victoire beat the Ottawa Charge 3-0 on Friday night to take the league lead.
Abby Roque also scored for the Victoire (14-4-2-5) in front of a crowd of 17,114 fans at Canadian Tire Centre.
Gwyneth Philips stopped 23 shots for the Charge (6-7-1-11). Ottawa returned home after playing a record six straight road games.
The Victoire have already clinched a playoff spot, while the Charge are fighting to get into the final playoff position.
Apr 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) takes a shot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Boston visited the Fiserv Forum on Good Friday to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. This one, was not a close game from the opening tip, as the Boston Celtics had a balanced scoring output from multiple C’s players. Brown, Queta, Tatum, Hauser, White and Pritchard all scored in double figures as the C’s rolled to a big 133-101 win, their 52nd win of the season.
Milwaukee came into the game with a string of injuries across the roster, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent, and Ryan Rollins all ruled out prior to the tip. Boston is basically at full strength heading toward the playoffs with Nikola Vucevic the only Celtics player sidelined with a finger injury.
The Celtics started Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. For the Bucks, they started AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Ousmane Dieng, Pete Nance, and Myles Turner.
Boston rattled off 7 quick points to start the game; Queta had 5 early points, and Hauser converted his first three-pointer of the game. An AJ Johnson triple opened the scoring for the home team, Boston up 8-3 after three minutes of action. Tatum hit his first shot of the game with a triple, Derrick White with the assist. Recent HOF nominee Doc Rivers wanted an early timeout called and was ignored; in classic Doc Rivers fashion, he let the crew officials know about it.
Sam Hauser nailed a wide-open corner triple off the JB assist; Boston was also playing stellar D to start the game, with four early blocked shots. Hauser rattled in his 3rd triple of the game off another JB dime; he had 9 points with 7 and a half minutes to go in the first quarter.
Tatum dribbled into the key and fed Queta for the mini hook shot, putting Neemias in double figures with 11 points to start the game. Boston in cruise control with a 26-10 lead. Jaylen Brown drew contact from Sims on a physical drive to the rim; he had a contact lens issue as a result of the contact. The All-NBA first-team candidate is hitting just 1-2 from the line. Brown had a step-back triple for his first field goal of the game.
Joe Mazzulla won a successful challenge on a foul call, as Jericho Sims pushed Queta from behind into the Milwaukee offensive player. Tatum hit a three-pointer on a pull-up off another Derrick White assist, with the Celtics in complete control throughout the first quarter. Tatum returned the favor, assisting on his 5th successful pass of the game, D. White converting the triple. Boston had a 17-point lead after a quarter of play, up 43-26.
Apr 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) takes a shot against Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Tatum started the second quarter alongside Luka Garza, Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, and Derrick White. Pritchard hit back-to-back buckets for five quick points to start the second quarter. Payton bounced a lovely dime to Garza for a hook in the lane. Pritchard followed that up with another triple and a lovely step through off the backboard, the feisty guard going for 10 points in just the first 4 minutes of play in the second half.
Milwaukee was shooting the ball pretty well; they were 6-13 from three, keeping the C’s scoring barrage from ballooning out to 20 points. Jaylen Brown drove past a pair of Milwaukee defenders, hitting the team’s 59th point of the game on a reverse layup, Boston up 59-41 with 5 minutes and change to go in the half. Brown hit a mid-range fadeaway over AJ Green; he then hit a three-pointer. He had 13 points and counting.
Tatum had 14 points, 5 boards, and 8 assists in the first half; Boston was a +21 with JT on the court after a half of play. The Celtics held a comfortable 20-point lead at the halftime break, 75-55, highlighted by 28 points in the paint.
It was one-way traffic as Boston raced out to a 10-1 start to the third quarter. Tatum was spearheading the C’s dominance; he had 20 points in just 23 minutes of action. Boston held a 31-point lead at the halfway mark of the third quarter, with Boston up 92-61.
Joe Mazzulla kept his foot on the gas, playing Tatum and Brown extended 3rd quarter minutes likely to rest them going into the fourth quarter. Tatum was on triple-double watch to end the third quarter; he was hunting a final assist to end the third as Pritchard missed a buzzer beater. Boston up 105-76 after three quarters.
Brown and Tatum sat to start the fourth quarter, the pair likely done for the night. Boston had Walsh, Scheierman, Queta, White, and Pritchard on to start the final stanza. Pritchard and Walsh kept the scoreboard ticking for Boston, Bassey replacing Queta to finish things out in Milwaukee. He finished a strong alley-oop pass from a Pritchard lob, his first score of the game.
Ron Harper Jr. replaced Payton Pritchard with 5 minutes to go in the game, Boston still up by 30 points, 125-95. Hugo Gonzalez joined in the action to wrap things up, Milwaukee playing the other two Antetokounmpo brothers as the game winded down.
Boston now travels home to face the Raptors on Easter Sunday in the matinee time slot of 3:30pm.
There’s nothing like facing a couple of also-rans to get a team back on track.
After a concerning three-game losing streak, the Knicks got the perfect tonic the past two games. They beat up on the Bulls with a 136-96 rout Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The win clinched the Knicks’ third straight 50-win season — the first time they’ve done that since they had four straight from 1991-95 and the third time they’ve done that in franchise history.
Amid so much discourse over slow starts, the Knicks dominated from the opening tip. They stormed out to a 20-1 lead and led by 22 after the first quarter. They shot a stellar 58.3 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point range in that first quarter as the Bulls bricked on the other end.
Guard Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives down court as forward Isaac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden on Friday, April 3, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
By 7:41 left in the second quarter, the lead was up to 28. By halftime, it was up to 37 — their largest halftime lead in franchise history. It looked like the drills in practices where players go up against assistant coaches. Even that might be generous.
The disinterested Bulls were content to jack up low-quality shots, offer minimal resistance on defense and get out of town with another loss as they play out the string of their failed season.
“Being able to lock in and be ready to go from the jump is key,” Jalen Brunson said. “It starts with our preparation. I think there’s still things we can do better defensively. Obviously, getting out to a lead helped us play comfortably for the rest of the game.”
Mitchell Robinson, starting in place of the injured Karl-Anthony Towns (right elbow impingement), helped spark the Knicks’ overpowering start with 10 points, five rebounds and two steals in the first quarter.
He finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
A balanced scoring attack, which had too often been missing in recent weeks, was led by OG Anunoby with 31 points — his second straight big-scoring night. He drilled seven threes, which tied a career-high.
Center Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks puts up a shot during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
There was much better ball movement and cohesion, rather than different stars taking turns being aggressive in looking for their shot — something that had been a growing problem recently. Brunson was more of a distributor, recording 17 points and 10 assists. Mikal Bridges added 12 points, but missed all five 3-pointers he took.
Jeremy Sochan surprisingly saw pretty extensive action off the bench — over Mohamed Diawara — in what was likely a tryout to stake a claim for the playoff rotation. He played 17 minutes, his most with the Knicks, and finished with seven points and eight rebounds.
Coach Mike Brown was able to pull his starters and empty the bench for the entirety of the fourth quarter. That’s when Jose Alvarado notably saw his first action — he did not play the first three quarters.
Neither the Bulls nor the Grizzlies, whom the Knicks beat handedly on Wednesday, are true bottom-feeders, but both are well under .500 and already eliminated from the playoff and play-in picture.
The Bulls in particular have been miserable for months after a surprisingly promising start to the season — since the start of February, they are 5-23.
And the Knicks used the two opponents to improve the vibes around the team, at least for a few days.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, at the end of the day it’s about us,” Brown said. “I thought the guys were really good with that. … I thought we played the right way, playing with a sense of urgency and then on top of that, sharing the basketball offensively and spacing the floor the right way.
Forward OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the first half. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“It was a lot of fun to watch.”
It comes after three straight losses to playoff teams in the Hornets, Thunder and Rockets. Josh Hart had sounded the alarm, challenging his teammates to play with more of a “sense of desperation” and acknowledging that they were “not going in the right direction.”
But if there’s one thing the Knicks have done recently, it’s handle low-quality opposition. Since the start of March, the Knicks are now 9-0 against teams below .500. That’s compared to just 3-6 against teams above .500 during that stretch.
And the Knicks will return to quality opposition when they face the surging Hawks along with the Celtics and Raptors their next three games. Atlanta and Toronto are both potential first-round opponents.
“You always want your team to be playing at the highest of high cylinders,” Brown said. “Do I think we’re there right now? No. Do I have belief in this team? Yes I do. I’ve seen us play really good basketball throughout the course of the year.”
Friday was much closer to that standard. Now back to the real tests.
