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Report: Ducks Organization Recalls Stian Solberg from SHL

Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Stian Solberg is selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Farjestad BK of the SHL announced on Sunday that the Anaheim Ducks have recalled first-round pick Stian Solberg (23rd overall in 2024) to their organization.

Upper Deck 2024 Draft Spotlight: What Stian Solberg Brings to the Ducks Organization

In the 2024 NHL draft, the Ducks traded the 31st overall (originally owned by the Edmonton Oilers) and the 58th overall (originally owned by the Boston Bruins) picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the 23rd pick and the rights to select Solberg (19).

Solberg jumped from the top men’s division in Norway in 2023-24 to the SHL in 2024-25 and played 47 games for Farjestad BK, where he scored 12 points (3-9=12).

“Anaheim says they have injuries in the organization and need him with them, and there is not much we can do in the situation,” Farjestad BK general manager Rickard Wallin said (translated from Swedish). “Surprising and unfortunate and considering where we are in the season, but we can only focus on the players we have with us and the task ahead.

“So we simply have to thank Stian for his time with us. He is a very promising player who we think has taken steps forward overall during the year and he has been a popular player in the locker room so we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

When drafted, Solberg was praised for being "the most violent player in the draft," but displays a surprising amount of skill. He has some refinement to do in the details of his positioning and decision making, but shows a quality base of fundamentals.

Solberg represented Norway at the IIHF World Championship in May 2024, when he tallied three points in seven games (2-1=3) as well as the Olympic Qualifiers, where he added two assists in three games, but Norway failed to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.

Because of an agreement between the IIHF and the NHL, NHL clubs can recall their first-round picks playing internationally at any time. The injury situation seems an odd reasoning to bring Solberg to North America considering the Ducks have seven active defensemen on their roster (four left-shots), as do the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, who ran a lineup on Friday in their game against the Colorado Eagles that included 11 forwards and seven defensemen (three left shots).

The Gulls have 14 games remaining in their 2024-25 season and are seven points out of a playoff spot. The Ducks have 16 games remaining and are eight points out of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference standings. Logic would dictate Solberg will report straight to San Diego, but the situations will continue to be monitored.

Ducks Ryan Strome Speaks on Pair of Viral Incidents

Missed Opportunities Prove Costly for Ducks Down the Stretch

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Why Draymond believes Butler makes Warriors ‘real ball club'

Why Draymond believes Butler makes Warriors ‘real ball club' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s hard to adequately quantify momentum, but it’s something that can’t be ignored when a team is rolling like the Warriors are right now.

Golden State is 14-2 since acquiring All-NBA wing Jimmy Butler via trade, with confidence levels through the roof as the Warriors continue to rack up wins.

Following Saturday’s 97-94 victory over the New York Knicks, Draymond Green offered a very blunt assessment of Butler’s impact on the Warriors.

“It’s a real ball club now,” Green told ABC’s Lisa Salters. “With [Butler] on this team, whether he has 11 points or 30, it makes us a real ball club. And when we’re a real ball club, we usually win championships.”

Golden State’s gritty triumph over New York is the 12th consecutive game the Warriors have won with Butler in the lineup, improving the Dubs’ record to 14-1 overall when the six-time NBA All-Star takes the court for them.

The Warriors long have been synonymous with NBA greatness, and Butler’s presence now allows Green to enter games with a similar confidence Golden State exuded when it spent the better part of a decade at the pinnacle of the sport.

“Feels great. After getting beat up on a little bit the last few years, it feels amazing to just walk in and know that you have a chance to win,” Green told Salters. “That’s what we play for, you put a lot of work in, you want to play on the biggest stage. To put these wins together, it feels amazing.”

The Warriors (39-28) valiantly are hanging on to the Western Conference’s No. 6 playoff seed, with Butler’s presence sparking a crucial newfound energy that has allowed Golden State to keep pace in a frenetic postseason race.

While the days of Golden State’s dynastic dominance might be gone, the belief that they are capable of reaching basketball’s most prestigious mountaintop remain strong as ever.

Whether or not that comes to fruition remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain — the journey to get there will be must-see television.

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Golden Knights End Road Trip Against Red Wings In Another Early Affair

The Vegas Golden Knights came out on the losing end of yesterday's afternoon affair against the Buffalo Sabres, but seek redemption today against the Detroit Red Wings. 

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry (46) breaks up a pass attempt by Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Golden Knights were thoroughly outplayed by the Sabres. After the final buzzer and overtime, the Sabres held a 37-19 shot advantage. Despite that, the Golden Knights likely felt they should have left with a win. 

Jack Eichel scored the go-ahead goal with just over two minutes remaining before Tomas Hertl had the chance to ice the game with an empty net tally. He attempted to be unselfish and looked to pass to Eichel but the pass was broken up. The Sabres would tie the game with 14 seconds remaining, sending the game to overtime. Nothing was solved there, and in the shootout, former Golden Knight Alex Tuch would score the winner.

Now playing in the second half of a back-to-back against the Red Wings, the Golden Knights will be taking on another team trending in the wrong direction. The Eastern Conference wild card race is as fascinating as ever. The Red Wings sit four points back of the second spot but once held the position. 

A recent 3-7-0 stretch has seen them falter. With 16 games remaining, they still have time to make up the ground but every game is vital for them. Their sense of urgency should be high, and if the Golden Knights are unable to match it, they could be heading back to Vegas with just one win out of four. 

Adin Hill was stellar in goal against the Sabres and will get the day off today, allowing Ilya Samsonov to make his 27th start of the season. Cam Talbot is the expected starter for the Red Wings today. 

Puck drop is at 10:00 AM PST at Little Caesars Arena.

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

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Five NHL Players On Playoff Hopefuls Who Have Slumped Since The 4 Nations Face-Off

Brock Faber (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Last month, the 4 Nations Face-Off delivered the kind of edge-of-your-seat action that got hearts pounding for both hockey fans and NHL players — whether they were suiting up in the tournament or watching from a sunny beach vacation.

As regular-season action resumed, a bit of an early lull in intensity was understandable. But three weeks have now passed, and some players still haven’t found their ‘A’ games. 

With plenty left to be settled in terms of both playoff qualification and seeding, here are five players whose team would love to see them get back on track as soon as possible. 

Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild

At the 4 Nations, Brock Faber and Jaccob Slavin formed a tremendous top pair on the U.S. blue line. But after playing so well in his rookie season that he mounted a challenge for the Calder Trophy, Faber has had a tough time finding his form since returning to NHL play.

Before the break, Faber sat 10th in the NHL in ice time, averaging 24:55 a game. He had 22 points in 52 games and was a healthy plus-10. And while plus-minus is not a perfect stat, it shows us what we need to know when we see that Faber is minus-11 in 11 games since the break as his ice time has spiked to 27:07 a game. And he has just one goal and one assist in those 11 games.

With a record of 4-6-1 since the break, the Wild have now fallen into a wild-card spot. They should still make the playoffs, but Faber seems to be wilting under his enormous workload with his undermanned squad.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers

After a quiet start to the season, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was heating up before the break. In his first 18 games of 2025, he logged eight assists and seven goals, including a pair of game-winners.

In 11 games since the Oilers’ return to action, Nugent-Hopkins has just one goal and three assists, and is a minus-5. But he’s certainly not alone on his team. A long list of Oilers’ honorable mentions contains nearly everyone except Leon Draisaitl, including Zach Hyman (5 points), Corey Perry (2 points), Vasily Podkolzin (1 point) and Stuart Skinner (2-5-0, 3.54 GAA, .875 save percentage).

Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks’ impending free agent headed into the 4 Nations break after scoring the game-winner in Vancouver’s 2-1 home-ice win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 8, giving him 18 goals and 35 points in 48 games this year. But he hasn’t scored since, and has chipped in just three assists as Rick Tocchet has tried to find the right chemistry among his forwards in the wake of the J.T. Miller trade.

Even the Canucks’ 6-goal outburst against the Chicago Blackhawks didn’t help Boeser get back on track. His pointless streak is now at four games and counting.

Stefan Noesen, RW, New Jersey Devils

Two months into this season, Stefan Noesen was named a ‘New Guy On Fire’ thanks to 13 goals and 22 points in his first 28 games back with the New Jersey Devils. 

But Noesen started to cool off in December and the trend has continued. In 11 games since the 4 Nations break, he has tallied just one power-play goal and a couple of even-strength assists, despite being gifted quality minutes on the banged-up Devils. On Saturday, he lined up with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, but went pointless for the seventh time in nine games in New Jersey’s 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Cam Talbot, G, Detroit Red Wings

One big reason why the Red Wings had climbed into a wild-card spot at the break was the strong play of Cam Talbot. He stabilized the team’s goaltending with a .906 save percentage and a record of 16-11-2. But when play resumed, Talbot allowed 21 goals over six starts, 3.53 per game. 

That led Steve Yzerman to bring in Petr Mrazek at the trade deadline, in an attempt to keep the Wings’ playoff hopes alive.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Carolina Hurricanes Rookie Defenseman Scott Morrow Nets First Career NHL Goal

Mar 15, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Scott Morrow (56) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period at Wells Fargo Center. (Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

Last night's game was one to remember for Scott Morrow, as the Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman registered his first career NHL goal in the team's 5-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 2021 second-round pick has been playing in place of Dmitry Orlov, who's out of the lineup due to injury, and you could see his game building to this moment.

In four games, Morrow has managed to turn out a positive CF (51.97%) and xGF (55.55%) while the team has outscored opponents 6-1 at 5v5 in his ice time.

While the UMass alum struggled in his first few appearances in the NHL, he's been looking more and more comfortable and Saturday's game in Philadelphia showed just that.

With less than a minute to go in regulation, Morrow jumped in on the rush and cleaned up a rebound in front from Logan Stankoven, fluttering a backhander into the open cage.

"It was really cool," Morrow said. "I was a Flyers fan growing up — my dad was drafted here — so I wanted to get it tonight. Even though it wasn't a real important goal for the game — it was already sealed — it's still a big moment for me and my family and it's a really cool feeling."

Immediately you could see how excited his teammates were for him and Shayne Gostisbehere made the beeline for the puck so that Morrow could have it forever.

"That's special and the guys know it," Brind'Amour said. "They've all been there. Scotty's come in and done a nice job for us. Those are little, special moments that I think, as a group, they like to share together because they know how important it is."

"I think all five guys on the ice were jumping up and down, the whole bench was going nuts," said Mark Jankowski. "Anytime you can see someone get their first goal, you kind of take it back to your first goal and how excited you were so I can just imagine the feelings he's going through. Probably a million text messages on his phone right now. It's such a special time and I'm just so happy for him to be able to get that first goal out of the way."

Morrow's definitely been sheltered in terms of deployment, with nearly 65% of his starts being offensive-zone starts, but his offensive ability should definitely be causing some tough discussions to be had.

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

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3 observations after Grimes leads Sixers to win over his former team

3 observations after Grimes leads Sixers to win over his former team  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers kicked off a six-game road trip by securing a Sunday afternoon win in Dallas.

They earned a 130-125 victory over the Mavs at American Airlines Center.

Quentin Grimes tallied 28 points and six assists for the Sixers, who improved to 23-44.

Jalen Hood-Schifino scored a career-high 19 points.

P.J. Washington had a 29-point, 12-rebound day for the 33-36 Mavs. Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall recorded 21 points apiece.

Both teams were injury-ravaged. The Sixers were down 10 players: 

  • Tyrese Maxey (lower back sprain and right finger sprain)  
  • Paul George (left groin soreness) 
  • Andre Drummond (left toe sprain) 
  • Adem Bona (left ankle sprain) 
  • Kelly Oubre Jr. (right knee sprain) 
  • Lonnie Walker IV (concussion) 
  • Kyle Lowry (right hip injury) 
  • Joel Embiid (season-ending left knee injury) 
  • Jared McCain (season-ending left lateral meniscus surgery) 
  • Eric Gordon (season-ending right wrist surgery) 

The Sixers will face the Rockets on Monday night. Here are observations on their victory over the Mavs:

Dallas dominates 1st half in transition 

Facing his former team, Grimes predictably scored the Sixers’ first bucket with a driving layup. He also drained a mid-range jumper a couple of minutes later. For Dallas, Washington was the early go-to-guy. He scored the Mavs’ first six points and posted 14 in his opening stint. 

Dallas started 0 for 7 from three-point range, but the Mavs crushed the Sixers in transition. After Washington cruised in for a layup, Dallas held a 12-1 edge in fast-break points. The Mavs’ first-half advantage in that category was 23-4.

While the Mavs did sharp work running off of both turnovers and misses, the Sixers’ resistance was minimal in transition. Ball handlers often steamed forward and got all the way to the rim. That’s been the case in many games this season. 

According to Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers entered the day ranked 28th in transition defense (opponents adding 3.6 points per 100 possessions through transition play).

Sixers make do without centers 

Hood-Schifino was a bright spot in his second game as a Sixer. He swished a three-pointer on his first shot, made two more triples in the first quarter, and reached his NBA career high before halftime. 

Oshae Brissett and Chuma Okeke also played for the second time with the Sixers. 

Okeke, who signed a 10-day contract Sunday, first inked a 10-day Sixers deal last month. He ended up playing just two garbage-time minutes in the team’s Feb. 7 blowout loss to the Pistons. Okeke logged 16 minutes Sunday, threw down a put-back dunk in the first quarter, and finished with five points and four rebounds.

Brissett had 13 points, five rebounds and two steals. He played some as a small-ball center. Though Brissett has previously filled that role in the NBA, neither he nor Guerschon Yabusele are sterling rim protectors or great deterrents to opposing drivers. Alex Reese, who Sixers head coach Nick Nurse described Friday as a “stretch four,” played at center late in the second quarter. The Sixers shifted to zone defense for the final few minutes of the first half.

The team’s defensive effort was not stellar in a half where Dallas poured in 68 points, but it’s very challenging to hold up without any truly natural centers. 

Grimes stars in 2nd half

The Sixers made a surge late in the second quarter and kept rolling in the third.

Grimes was in the middle of the action. He stole the ball from Brandon Williams, pushed ahead on a fast break and dished to Ricky Council IV for a lay-in that put the Sixers up 70-68. 

Grimes did it all the third quarter — run the offense; drive hard; make tough shots through contact; defend well on the ball. His and-one layup late in the third extended the Sixers’ lead to 10 points.

As a team, the Sixers followed Grimes’ lead on both ends. They pressured the rim ruthlessly, played much better defense, and capitalized on the Mavs’ extreme lack of healthy players. The Sixers’ five-man bench scored 57 points and Dallas’ three-man second unit recorded 38.

With Grimes resting early in the fourth quarter, Hood-Schifino knocked down a key three. Okeke and Jeff Dowtin Jr. drilled timely jumpers, too.

The last minute was tense, but the Sixers never squandered their lead. Grimes, Jared Butler and Hood-Schifino all sunk clutch free throws to ensure the Sixers exited Dallas with a victory.

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Mets' Ronny Mauricio won't appear in spring training games as knee surgery recovery continues

Ronny Mauricio is one of the most tantalizing talents in the entire Mets organization, but don't expect to see him in Grapefruit League action for the remainder of this year's camp.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said on Sunday that Mauricio is continuing to "progress well," but the team is taking a conservative approach with the 23-year-old, who is recovering from multiple arthroscopic knee surgeries.

"No setbacks, nothing there. He continues to progress well, we just want to keep it that way," Mendoza explained.

"He’s getting close. When is that going to be? I’m not sure, I’ll have to talk to the trainers and get more details on it, but all I know is he continues to follow the program, continues to go through full activities, and he’s responding well."

The infielder initially tore his ACL playing Winter Ball after the 2023 season, and a second procedure was needed to remove scar tissue last August. Not long after that second surgery, Mauricio dealt with inflammation that stalled his recovery a bit, but it's been smooth sailing since, per Mendoza.

“It flared up in October or November, but after that he got to a point where everything is trending in the right direction," said the skipper. "There haven’t been more setbacks, knock on wood, so everything is good there."

The No. 8 prospect in the Mets' system according to Joe DeMayo, Mauricio got a taste of major league action at the end of the 2023 season, appearing in 26 games while slashing .248/.296/.347 with two home runs, nine RBI, and seven stolen bases.

Injuries have kept the switch-hitting infielder off the field for quite some time, but Mendoza knows what kind of talent the Mets have in Mauricio, as the team continues to take a big-picture approach to the power-hitting prospect.

"I know he can play. There’s a lot of talent there, a lot of tools," said Mendoza. "He can do a lot of different things on the baseball field. The way that he impacts a baseball is right there with some of the best in the game.

"This is an exciting player. He can do a lot of different things, and when he’s healthy he’s going to help this team win baseball games."

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Jalen Brunson reportedly still weeks away from return from sprained right ankle

The Knicks have kept their heads above water without Jalen Brunson so far, going 2-2 in the games he's missed since spraining his ankle against the Lakers earlier this month.

They are going to have to keep their heads up for a couple more weeks because it will be that long before Brunson returns to the court, Shams Charania of ESPN reported Saturday. From his comments on NBA Countdown:

"The key for the Knicks and Jalen Brunson is keeping that swelling down in that ankle, getting it lower, and then increasing the mobility in the ankle. They know they need to get him right for the playoffs. That's of the utmost importance."

The Knicks remain locked into the No. 3 seed in the East — they are six games back of No. 2 seed Boston (and not catching them), but also four games ahead of No. 4 seed Milwaukee with 16 games to play. As long as the Knicks can continue to tread water, they will be set to host a team in the first round of the playoffs.

That takes the pressure off having to race Brunson back — the Knicks are not making a hoped playoff run without Brunson at as close to 100% as anyone is at this point in the season. He is averaging 26.3 points a game, shooting 38.4% from 3 and 7.4 assists a night, and he is their best clutch player (although Mikal Bridges showed he could fill the role last week).

Brunson wants to return before the end of the season to play at least four more games, otherwise, he is ineligible for All-NBA (which he would make) and other postseason honors because he didn't make the 65-game threshold. Even an early April return easily clears that bar for Brunson.

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Defenseman Mike Reilly Returns To Islanders Lineup vs. Panthers

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Defenseman Mike Reilly will play in his first game since Nov. 1 on Sunday night when the New York Islanders host the Florida Panthers at 7:30 PM ET. 

It's been a long-time coming for the 31-year-old, who had to patiently wait to get back in after undergoing a heart procedure on Nov. 19. 

He gets back in the lineup alongside Scott Mayfield, with defenseman Adam Pelech day-to-day with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in their 2-1 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. 

“I'm so excited. It's been a long, long time,” Reilly said. “A lot of work was put into it, with the hope of coming back this season. So, I’m excited just to be back with the guys here and ready to go tonight."

Reilly said he found out Sunday morning that he was coming back in and also said some of his teammates found out on the ice during morning skate. 

“Resilient is a good choice of word,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. “It would be easy for anyone to give up and then he wants to continue to play, and he wants to do well. I’m happy for him."

Roy said he wants Reilly to keep things simple out there in his first game back. 

"He's a good puck mover. He skates well with the puck. So these are the things I want to see him to do," Roy said. "I mean, it's been a while, so might be a little rusty at the start, but I mean, sometimes, if you keep things simple and you're excited about playing, it makes up for it."

It's fitting that Reilly returns against the Panthers, the team that waived him last season before the Islanders scooped him up. 

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

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Hawks vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 16

It’s Sunday, March 16, and the Atlanta Hawks (32-35) and Brooklyn Nets (22-45) are all set to square off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Hawks are currently 15-17 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Nets have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. These teams met in the season opener and Atlanta won 120-116.

Brooklyn is 1-10 over the last 11 games and has dropped three straight games. Atlanta is 4-1 over the past five games and five of the last seven games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Hawks vs. Nets live today

  • Date: Sunday, March 16, 2025
  • Time: 2:00PM EST
  • Site: Barclays Center
  • City: Brooklyn, NY
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Hawks vs. Nets

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Hawks (-229), Nets (+189)
  • Spread:  Hawks -6
  • Over/Under: 229 points

That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 116.59, and the Nets 113.46.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Hawks vs. Nets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Hawks to cover against the Nets:

"Atlanta has been the much-better team as of late and with the Nets barely losing to the Celtics last night making a second-half push, this is a Hawks or pass spot for me."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Hawks & Nets game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Hawks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brooklyn Nets at +6.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 229.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hawks vs. Nets on Sunday

  • The Nets have lost 3 straight games as an underdog
  • The Under is 18-14 in the Nets' home games this season
  • The Nets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog
  • The Hawks have won 5 of their last 7 matchups against Eastern Conference teams

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Dray knew he would have ‘field day' vs. Valančiūnas in Warriors-Kings

Dray knew he would have ‘field day' vs. Valančiūnas in Warriors-Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green had quite the game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night at Chase Center, and the Warriors forward had a feeling that would be the case.

After leading Golden State in scoring during its 130-104 win with 23 points, including 4-of-7 shooting from deep, Green shared why his matchup with Sacramento big man Jonas Valančiūnas was instrumental to his scoring outburst.

“Definitely [feeling] more confident; the ball is moving and you’ve got several playmakers on the floor,” Green said on Saturday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.” “So whereas you may not be ready to shoot, I’m ready to shoot because I know the ball’s probably getting swung my way, and last night when I hit that first corner three, you know when you see that first one go in, you just feel better.

“And, A, they have Valančiūnas on me, which I knew — I told DeMar [DeRozan], I said, ‘Y’all got him on me very early in the game.’ I told DeMar, ‘If y’all got him on me, I’m [going to] have a field day’ because [Valančiūnas] can’t move well enough. I’m in pretty good shape right now. He can’t move well enough to keep up or guard the screen-and-roll or help in the paint, because they’re top locking Steph [Curry], right? …

“Let me just go find this corner and knock that first one down. See it go through. Feeling real good about yourself. But also, I know that [Valančiūnas] don’t have a chance once the ball’s swinging to me. He don’t have a chance to close it out. I don’t have to rush. I could just sit here and lock it in, and to see those first few go in, I found that rhythm.”

The Kings’ game plan certainly was to faceguard Curry, but that didn’t stop him from making the 4,000th 3-pointer of his illustrious NBA career — the first to ever do it — despite scoring just 11 points. And Sacramento didn’t account for Green, whose marksmanship from deep helped him lead Golden State in scoring for the first time in a game since 2016.

Green certainly did have a field day against Valančiūnas and Co., shooting 8 of 14 overall with four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.

While the Warriors and Kings won’t face off again during the 2024-25 NBA regular season, it’s possible the No. 6-seeded Golden State and the No. 9-seeded Sacramento could see each other in the playoffs — and perhaps Green will face a different matchup.

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Magic vs. Cavaliers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 16

It’s Sunday, March 16, and the Orlando Magic (31-37) and Cleveland Cavaliers (56-10) are all set to square off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

The Magic are currently 13-21 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Cavaliers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. Cleveland is 2-0 against Orlando this season with 11 and 40-point wins.

Cleveland is on an NBA-best 16-game winning streak and won nine of those 16 games by double-digits. Since the All-Star break, Orlando is 4-8 in that span and 2-2 in the final four contests.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Magic vs. Cavaliers live today

  • Date: Sunday, March 16, 2025
  • Time: 1:00PM EST
  • Site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Magic vs. Cavaliers

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Magic (+388), Cavaliers (-515)
  • Spread:  Cavaliers -10.5
  • Over/Under: 219 points

That gives the Magic an implied team point total of 108.42, and the Cavaliers 113.9.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Magic vs. Cavaliers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Cavaliers Team Total Under 116.5 points versus the Magic:

"Cleveland scored 120 and 122 points in two meetings against Orlando this season in blowout wins. This is the third and final meeting, so I tend to lean the Under here and towards Orlando. However, I think the best bet is the Cavs' Team Total Under 116.5. That's a number that stayed under in three out of the past five games and almost four of five."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Magic & Cavaliers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Orlando Magic at +10.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 219.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Magic vs. Cavaliers on Sunday

  • The Cavaliers have won their last 10 home games against teams with losing records
  • 5 of the Cavaliers' last 7 matchups against Eastern Conference teams have gone under the Total
  • The Magic have covered in 5 of their last 7 road games
  • The Cavaliers have won 10 of their last 11 home games against the Magic

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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MacKinnon or Draisaitl? Predicting Who Prevails in Tight Art Ross Trophy Race

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The NHL Awards have for the most part been handed out for sometime with odds heavily favouring someone for several months now. For example, there's not much debate around the Vezina trophy as Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck has been leaps and bounds above anyone else or around the Jack Adams award with Spencer Carbery leading the Capitals to one of their best season's in franchise history.

The tightest race left that has some remaining value in it is not surprisingly the Art Ross trophy for the league's top point producer. A trio of candidates has emerged with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov.

More NHL:Maple Leafs Present Best Betting Value in Tight Divisional Race with Panthers, Bolts

The three are all averaging just over a point and a half per game on average with MacKinnon leading the pack with 102 points after playing one more game than Draisaitl with 67 on the season. 

MacKinnon is UNSTOPPABLE ��MacKinnon is UNSTOPPABLE 😱undefined

Kucherov has played six less games than MacKinnon and has resulted in him being ten points back in the race but a lot can change with 15 games left in the season knowing Kucherov's history of explosive hot streaks.

It's hard to say who will prevail as MacKinnon and Draisaitl have the same 1.52 point per game average. MacKinnon is listed at -145 as the current leader with Draisaitl close behind at +120 odds. 

Both players will play hungry bubble teams contending for a playoff spot like the Blues and Utah Hockey Club but they will get their fair share of softball matchups against bottom ten defences like the Sharks, Blackhawks, Habs, Red Wings and Blue Jackets. Each team is also heading into a lengthy homestand before ending off the season with a series of road games. 

More NHL:Utah Hockey Club Appears Likely Dark Horse to Make Stanley Cup Playoffs
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Leon Draisaitl From His Office ��Leon Draisaitl From His Office 🤩#NHL #Hockey #shorts #NHLshorts #NHLhighlights #Oilers #EdmontonOilers

The Oilers could be looked at as having the edge as they'll play the Jets twice, who Draisaitl has dominated in the past with 43 points in 34 matchups, as well as the Golden Knights once, who he has also taken advantage of for 30 points in 25 matchups. 

Draisaitl will also get three games to put up as many points as he can against the league's worst defence in the Sharks plus two games against the Seattle Kraken, who are tied with the Sabres for the second-worst goals against average in the NHL over their last nine games. 

The German winger looks like a great value as he's been gaining ground since the start of the new year with 43 points since January 4th compared to MacKinnon's 38 through 28 games each. We can look to capitalize before it's too late and get the value before Draisaitl has big night and takes the lead. 

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Thunder vs. Bucks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 16

It’s Sunday, March 16, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (55-12) and Milwaukee Bucks (38-28) are all set to square off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

The Thunder are currently 26-7 on the road with a point differential of 12, while the Bucks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. These squads have met twice this season and each won by double-digits with both matchups coming in Oklahoma City.

Both teams are on back-to-backs entering this matchup. Milwaukee beat Indiana 126-119 last night at home, while Oklahoma City won 113-107 in Detroit.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Thunder vs. Bucks live today

  • Date: Sunday, March 16, 2025
  • Time: 9:00PM EST
  • Site: Fiserv Forum
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Thunder vs. Bucks

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Thunder (-170), Bucks (+143)
  • Spread:  Thunder -5
  • Over/Under: 231.5 points

That gives the Thunder an implied team point total of 118.26, and the Bucks 113.18.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Thunder vs. Bucks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Thunder to cover against the Bucks:

"Although Oklahoma City was a 4.5-point favorite against the Pistons last night and they get basically the same spread the following night against another playoff opponent speaks volumes to the Thunder on the road. It's Thunder or pass because, at the Bucks' tempo or the Thunder's, this time is talented enough to win by three-plus possessions."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Thunder & Bucks game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oklahoma City Thunder on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Bucks at +4.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 234.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Thunder vs. Bucks on Sunday

  • The Thunder have won 9 of their last 11 games on the road
  • 10 of the Thunder's last 11 road matchups against the Bucks have stayed under the Total
  • The Bucks have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 home games against the Thunder
  • The Thunder have won 9 of their last 11 games on the road and can go again in Milwaukee. The Bucks beat Indiana on Saturday but Oklahoma has been excellent away from home and can extend their run.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)