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Five key takeaways from Bruins' stunning Game 1 loss vs. Sabres

Five key takeaways from Bruins' stunning Game 1 loss vs. Sabres originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins had the Buffalo Sabres in a difficult spot with less than half the third period remaining in Sunday night’s Game 1 at KeyBank Center.

The B’s led 2-0 with eight minutes on the clock. Jeremy Swayman was playing fantastic in net. Defensively, the Bruins were giving up a lot of shots, but not too many Grade A scoring chances. It was at that point in the game where the Sabres actually had a mere 5.8 percent chance of mounting a comeback and winning the game, per Evolving Hockey.

But then everything changed.

The Sabres scored four unanswered goals in a 6:46 span and won the series opener 4-3. It’s the Sabres’ first playoff victory in 15 years, and it required a feat never seen in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“I thought we were in the perfect spot,” Bruins coach Marco Sturm told reporters in his postgame press conference. “We were exactly where we wanted to play, being in that position, 5-6 minutes left in the game. You could tell they got a little bit frustrated. We made pretty much two mistakes to let them tie up the game. With the crowd behind them, all of a sudden, they’ve got some life. All of a sudden, the game is done.”

There were a few positives for the Bruins, but this was a gut-wrenching loss and a huge blown opportunity. Instead of handing a tough defeat to a young and inexperienced Sabres team, now that group has a ton of confidence and belief entering Game 2,

What led to the Bruins’ collapse, and what needs to happen for them to bounce back in the next game Tuesday night?

Check out our five key takeaways from the Bruins’ Game 1 meltdown.

Bruins played not to lose in third period

The B’s did not play with enough of a killer instinct in the third period. They seemed content to play it safe with a 2-0 lead. They had very little offensive zone time and had absolutely no answer for the Sabres’ forecheck.

Boston’s defensemen wilted under the pressure of that forecheck, and it allowed the Sabres to control possession and fire a ton of shots at Swayman. It was only a matter of time before the dam broke, and it finally happened with 7:58 remaining in the third period when Tage Thompson scored Buffalo’s first goal. Charlie McAvoy turned the puck over trying to exit the zone right before this goal.

Thompson scored again just 3:42 later, and then Mattias Samuelsson tallied the go-ahead goal 56 seconds after that. Hampus Lindholm couldn’t clear the puck in the build up to Samuelsson’s goal.

Turnovers, lost puck battles — it all added up to an avalanche of Sabres goals. Buffalo had 24 shots, 24 scoring chances and nine high-danger chances over the final two periods.

The Bruins generated just seven shots and four scoring chances in the third period. A two-goal lead is not safe against a relentless group of Sabres forwards. Getting a third goal would have been pivotal. Sabres fans were actually booing their team halfway through the third period. But the B’s could barely get possession of the puck in the final 20 minutes of regulation.

Sabres were the more physical team

Bruins head coach Marco Sturm made some interesting comments earlier this week when he said the B’s were the “bigger,” “stronger,” and “more physical team.” Did the Sabres try to prove Sturm wrong with the way they played in Game 1? It looked like it.

The Sabres outhit the B’s 53-38, and a lot of those hits were the result of the ferocious forecheck mentioned in the section above.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff made a point postgame to mention his team won the physical battle.

“We made them pay for those couple of mistakes down low,” Ruff told reporters. “They weren’t getting beat early. I think maybe some of our physicality wore them down.”

The Sabres got a huge boost from a raucous crowd that was watching their team play in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. That boost of energy allowed the Sabres to set the tone physically from the start. The Bruins have to reverse that early in Game 2.

Jeremy Swayman was the Bruins’ best player

Swayman was under constant pressure all night and stopped the first 32 shots he faced. He made seven saves on one Sabres power play in the second period and he made eight saves on nine high-danger chances overall. He ended up with 34 saves on 37 shots (.919 save percentage).

The Bruins did him no favors in the third period with a bunch of defensive mistakes. The only goal that Swayman was mostly at fault for was Thompson’s second tally. Swayman’s left pad came up off the ice and the puck slid under it.

If Swayman continues to play like he did in Game 1, the Bruins will have a good chance to win this series.

Bruins need more scoring depth

In our series preview, I wrote the Bruins will win the series if the second, third and fourth lines generate enough offense. It’s very hard to beat the Sabres with just your first line. The B’s came close in Game 1, though. The top line of Morgan Geekie, Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak played great offensively.

Geekie got the B’s on the board in the first period. Lindholm buried a rebound to double Boston’s lead in the second period. Pastrnak assisted on both of those goals, and then he scored a late power-play tally in the third period. Pastrnak also had two breakaways he didn’t score on, and Geekie passed the puck with a wide open net during a late first period power play.

No other line for the B’s did much offensively.

The second line of Viktor Arvidsson, Casey Mittelstadt and Pavel Zacha was one of the league’s top trios post-Olympic break. But this line was on the ice for two goals against in Game 1, and the Sabres had a 13-8 edge in shot attempts during this trio’s 9:09 of 5-on-5 ice time. The Arvidsson-Mittelstadt-Zacha line had an expected goals scored of 0.27 at 5-on-5, per MoneyPuck, with four shots overall. The Bruins need much more from them in Game 2.

The “Kid Line” of rookie James Hagens, Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov played OK. They had a few good offensive shifts and played with speed. They had a minus-2 shot attempt differential at 5-on-5, which wasn’t horrible by any means given how dominant the Sabres were in the final two periods.

Despite not getting much from the second, third and fourth lines, there’s no pressing need to make huge changes to this group entering Game 2. The Bruins just need to play with more pace and not sit back as much with the lead. And, honestly, there’s no player who didn’t play in Game 1 who would make a substantial impact Tuesday night. Alex Steeves and Mikey Eyssimont are not going to turn the tide for the B’s.

A more balanced scoring output and Hagens getting some power-play time in Game 2 would be a step in the right direction.

Henri Jokiharju should replace Andrew Peeke on blue line

It was a rough night for Andrew Peeke.

The veteran defenseman did not have a great game and struggled against the Sabres forecheck. Jokiharju is a better puck-mover than Peeke and he is a little more reliable getting the puck out of the defensive zone.

Swapping him in for Peeke is one minor change Sturm could potentially make for Game 2.

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Rinkside Recap: Scott Wedgewood shines in Game 1, Avs win 2-1

Apr 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) and Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) during the second period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

DENVER, CO — Ball Arena was the stage, and playoff hockey was the entertainment, and we were not disappointed in the slightest.

The arena and its patrons started in a frenzy, and as Gangsters Paradise rang out, the frenzy built into downright bedlam as the white pom poms flew.

With three Stanley Cup banners wading in the noise, the Colorado Avalanche began their journey toward hopefully adding to the collection with the LA Kings standing in their way as first-round foe.

Will the Presidents’ winning Colorado Avalanche assert their dominance, or will LA prove pesky early in round one?

The Game

From puck drop, one thing was made very clear: the Avalanche were prepared and ready to get off on the right foot.

The pressure on the Kings’ netminder, Anton Forsberg, built and built; however, the Avalanche couldn’t cash in.

The Kings created a flurry of chances of their own late in the first frame, but a bit of puck luck and mostly stellar play from Wedgewood kept things tied at one.

A no-goal first period is likely exactly what the LA Kings players and staff had in mind, so I’d count that as a win for LA in period one.

The second frame began with much of the same.

Colorado’s second power play of the night led to some great chances, including a doorstep look for Landeskog, but the puck just didn’t go in.

The Avalanche appeared to score a goal, but it was immediately waved off for goaltender interference.

Fans were understandably displeased as it appeared that Drew Doughty’s check on Jack Drury caused the contact in the crease.

Inevitably, Jared Bednar would challenge the play.

The call was upheld, and the Avalanche would have to kill a power play.

I’m of the opinion that, although the contact from Doughty was well away from the net, Drury couldn’t do much more to stay out of the blue paint.

Finally, after all of the attacks Colorado was bringing to the table, it was none other than Artturi Lehkonen who broke the scoreless tie, in typical fashion!

Lehky’s goal looked strikingly similar to his series-clincher back in 2022 against the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final, in that Artturi was there to net a rebound and give his side the 1-0 lead. The Avalanche would hold that lead heading into the third period.

Next up on the goal-scoring train was Logan O’Connor, who, a few short months ago, hadn’t played any NHL hockey this season. His goal would give Colorado a 2-0 lead in the third period.

The Kings would cut the lead to one with a power play goal from Artemi Panarin with just over two minutes to go but Colorado held on to take the first game of the series by a 2-1 score.

Takeaways

There are very few environments in hockey like Ball Arena during the playoffs. The place was rocking, and during a game where the heavy favorites didn’t tally a goal in the first period, they stayed engaged and loud beyond the first wave.

This is why the NHL playoffs are so fascinating. No matter how the 82 games before the playoffs go, it’s still about who can win 4 games first, and the Kings played like a team with nothing to lose.

It was a low-scoring affair, but Colorado did control this one from the onset. Just took time to net one.

Scott Wedgewood with a playoff win to get things started, and I’m not sure the Avalanche could ask for more on that front.

Good for Scott, who more than earned his place as the starting netminder here in Colorado.

Did the Avalanche do a good job of sheltering their tender? Absolutely, but when he was on his own, he stood tall.

Upcoming

Same place, but different time (8:00 p.m. MT) as the Colorado Avalanche and the LA Kings meet for game two at Ball Arena on Tuesday.

Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!

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The NBA just announced award finalists, and a few Celtics were snubbed

Jan 3, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) and center Neemias Queta (88) celebrate against the LA Clippers in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NBA has officially announced three finalists for all major awards, and it doesn’t look like any Celtic player will be taking home individual regular-season hardwood this season. But one pretty important Celtic is likely to come away with a trophy.

Joe Mazzulla is named a Coach of the Year finalist

Mazzulla seems pretty likely to earn his first-ever Coach of the Year award. The fourth-year Celtics head coach is one of three finalists for the NBA’s highest coaching honors, along with San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson and Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff.

What is unlikely, however, is that Mazzulla will celebrate the win.

“I don’t need it,” Mazzulla said last month. “I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. So, the players play. It’s about them. Staff works their ass off. I’m grateful to have them.”

Jaylen Brown was not named one of 3 MVP finalists

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Victor Wembenyama (San Antonio Spurs), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) were revealed as the three finalists for MVP. All three players have very strong cases.

  • SGA averaged 31.1 points on 55% shooting and 6.6 assists per game.
  • Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 9 assists per game.
  • Wemby averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. 

Jaylen Brown, who had the best season of his career, was not named a finalist. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season.

Derrick White was not named one of 3 Defensive Player of the Year finalists

The NBA’s three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year were Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson, and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembenyama.

White averaged 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game this season, both career-highs. Jaylen Brown has also stumped for him several times, saying that White has had a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season.

Neemias Queta was not named one of 3 Most Improved Player finalists

Neemias Queta had a strong case for Most Improved Player, but he was not selected as a finalist for the award. The league’s three finalists are Atlanta Hawks forward Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren.

Queta didn’t have the most conventional case, but he went from a fourth-string center to the starting center on one of the best teams in the league. He went from averaging 5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 13.9 minutes of playing time in the 2024-25 campaign to 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks this season. He also had the 5th-best net rating and 10th-best defensive rating in the NBA this year.

In a recent appearance on teammate Derrick White’s podcast “White Noise,” Queta weighed in on his case.

“I think I made a pretty good case for it,” he said. “And there’s always so much more I can get better at. I don’t get it this year, next year, it’s available again. That’s a good way to see it.”

Do you think any Celtic player deserved to be a finalist? Sound off in the comment section.

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It’s time for Playoff Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers, Game 1

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 8: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 8, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

Here we are, it’s playoff basketball, and the Spurs are 16 wins away from their sixth championship. The journey starts tonight with a matchup against Tiago Splitter’s Portland Trail Blazers, led by Deni Avdija, who can be a real problem as he combines the shot making of Luka Doncic with the foul hunting of Shai Gilgeous Alexander, but at a slightly lower level of competence. He turned those skills into a 41 point, 13 free throw performance against the Suns as they dropped the Suns to the 8th seed in their play-in game last Tuesday night.

The Spurs have had a week off, and it remains to be seen if the team will be rested and ready, or rested and rusty tonight. It’s the first playoff game for 7 players on the Spurs roster, including Victor Wembanyama, Steph Castle, Dylan Harper, and even some veterans like Keldon Johnson. The Spurs have had an awesome regular season, winning 62 games and finishing in second place in the Western Conference, but playoff basketball is different and there are no easy games. The Trail Blazers are capable of taking some games from the Spurs, and it’s the job of veterans like Harrison Barnes and De’Aaron Fox to have the team prepared for the extra intensity of playoff basketball. The Silver and Black cannot take any victory for granted for the rest or their playoff run, and if they allow the Blazers to keep the game close in the fourth quarter, they can finish strong like they did to Suns, erasing an 11 point Suns lead with a little over 6 minutes left and winning the game in the final minute.

The Spurs have the talent advantage tonight, but they cannot take their opponent for granted. Coach Splitter know the Spurs system well, so this is not a game where coach Mitch can win solely by out-strategizing the opponent. If the home team can limit mistakes and matches Portland’s commitment, it should be a Spurs win. Let’s all watch and find out. GO SPURS GO!

Game Prediction:

Deni Avdija asks Coach Splitter to sub him out when Victor enters the game late in the third quarter because he’s tired of getting his shots blocked.

San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers, First Round, Game 1
April 19, 2026 | 8:00 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: Peacock, NBC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

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Mariners Leave the Rangers Feeling Woo-zy, Win 5-2

Apr 19, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates at second base after hitting a double during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Bryan Woo came to the ballpark seemingly on a mission today: to make the Rangers’ day miserable. So far this season, despite some solid performances, Woo has failed to notch a win, with three no-decisions and two losses. Today, he stepped on the hill, and, one inning aside, he looked as sharp as he has all season. While Woo certainly has the ability to flex his power, show off with a 97 mph fastball right at the numbers, today was all about keeping everyone off balance and dominating with soft contact, jam shots, and precision control. After the game, Dan Wilson commented on Woo’s mindset today:

“I think from pitch one you could see a little more determination on his face today, and wanting to really go out this afternoon and give us a good ballgame.”

Woo echoed much of the same sentiment:

“Being in the zone consistently, throughout the game, and not fishing for punchouts, just consistency in the zone and executing. And if they’re punchouts, if they’re quick outs, whatever they are, just take them as they come.”

The mindset showed as Woo used his fastballs to extreme effectiveness today, keeping the Rangers off balance and using his sinker to elicit weak contact and befuddled swings. Woo did an excellent job of keeping the ball in the infield as well, bringing about six ground balls and three infield fly balls to go against two hits from the Rangers today. Woo was near perfect in preventing free passes as well, issuing his only walk of the game to Corey Seager in the 7th inning (thanks partially to a savvy challenge from Mitch Garver in the first that flipped Seager’s first at-bat around from a 3-0 to a 2-1 count and eventual popout). Otherwise, Woo was playing in the zone all day, keeping hitters honest and tallying six strikeouts along the way.

The Rangers began to figure Woo out around the third time through the order, as a poorly timed walk to Seager to lead off the seventh, followed by a single Wyatt Langford and an HBP to Joc Pederson, loaded the bases. Josh Jung nearly got a hold of one but drove it out to the wall for a sacrifice fly as Seager ran in to score. A double from Evan Carter would bring home Langford and give the Rangers two runs off of Woo. Josh Smith would end the inning with a soft grounder to second, but the damage had been done, and Woo’s day came to a close at 7 innings pitched, 2 ER, 1 walk, and 6 Ks.

Despite the strong six innings, Woo struggled to hide his frustration with his difficulties in the 7th. But he remained calm, limited the damage, and finished the inning. Even so, Woo was very critical of the free pass and the HBP, expressing so after the game:

“The leadoff walk, number one. Hitting Joc, stupid. But it’s just the concept of keeping teams down when they’re down, not giving them any life, not letting them have any momentum, not letting them breathe in any way, just keeping our foot on the gas. You give up the two there and then it’s like, the at-bats for Gabe the next inning are just more stressful. And there’s no need for that if I just do my job. Yeah. I’m still beating myself up over it. It’s just little things like that. It’s like, if they were to hit their way through that inning it’s one thing, but for me to give them free passes, that’s another thing.”

Despite the negative self-talk, it seems to me that Woo is as locked in as he’s ever been, consistently focused on improving and not letting small mistakes eat at him too much:

“I give myself tonight to be pissed, and then once I wake up tomorrow, it’s a new day, and we get on it again…I try to take the positive and analyze the negative. So yeah. Six good and one bad. Try to weigh it in that way too, proportionally, like, don’t be too hard on yourself but take the good and learn from the bad, and it is what it is. Yeah, I hold high standards for myself but there’s a balance there too of not being too hard on yourself.”

The Mariners’ offense also put on a mighty display today to follow up on their strong performance from last night. Rob Refsnyder got the scoring started today with his first hit as a Mariner, a lead-off homerun off the first pitch of the day from MacKenzie Gore. Having just returned from paternity leave, it seems dad power is back on the menu!

Refsnyder spoke after the game on his struggles getting started here in Seattle:

“I feel thankful for my teammates, trying to help me through. I don’t think you ever want to slump, especially early in the year, new team, new city, so I’ve definitely been hard on myself, but I’ve had a lot of help. Our mental coach, Bern [Adam Bernero] has helped me a lot…And especially as a platoon guy, it kind of stinks because you have a couple of days to sit on it, too. But the most frustrating thing is that we feel like we’re playing decent baseball, just the results as a whole haven’t been exactly where we want it to be, but it’s a good group, and we honestly believe in each other. Hopefully this series we can kind of build on that.”

Refsnyder has had a difficult start to the season but remains committed to taking advantage of the opportunities and expressed thanks for the fan support he has received so far despite his cold start:

“I really appreciate, there’s been some fans out in early batting practice, even today in the outfield, who have been really supportive. That helps. Honestly, I’m human, so we hear a lot of things. So just to have the fan support, it meant a lot, it’s pretty cool. I’ve played in some places where you get booed at home and things like that, and it definitely wears on you…[The fans said] just supportive things like you got it, we believe in you, keep going, just nice stuff like that. And it means a lot when you’re going through it, wondering who knows if I’m ever going to get another hit. So just to have that support, honestly, it genuinely meant a lot. It was nice.”

Hopefully, today marks a turnaround moment for the journeyman outfielder and the spark for a successful run for him here in Seattle.

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The Mariners wouldn’t end the scoring there, putting on a show of strength and power today in front of the hometown fans. In the second, a leadoff walk for Mitch Garver set up JP Crawford for a two-run home run of his own.

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With the swing, Crawford became the first player to get a hit off of Gore’s curveball all year and the second lefty in the league with two career homeruns off of Gore (Michael Harris II being the other).

Randy Arozarena followed that up with a two-run homer of his own in the 5th. A Julio Rodriguez single put him on first and in a 0-2 count against the curveball Randy hit it off the left field foul pole to put the Mariners up 5-0.

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The Mariners were relentless against Gore today in a way they have not been before. In the previous three games in which the Mariners faced Gore over 18 innings, they scored 1 run, struck out 25 times, and walked 3 times, a record that certainly suggests today’s game should have gone differently. Today, however, the Mariners sparked Gore for 5 runs on 7 hits over 5 innings today, a marked improvement from previous outings. On top of that, as I mentioned earlier, coming into this start, Gore had not given up a hit all year on his curveball. 4 of the Mariners’ 8 hits came on Gore’s curveball, and two of those were home runs. Whatever change was made in the clubhouse, the Mariners have finally managed to get to a guy who has seemingly had their number over the last year or so.

Muñoz came in and shut the door in typical fashion in the 9th to put the bow on one of the most complete Mariners games I’ve seen so far this season. The Mariners have struggled in various areas so far this season – the bullpen not showing up, the starter struggling through the first 5 innings, or the offense doing their best impression of a ghost – but today the Mariners really put it all together. All the ingredients were there: a dominant start from Woo, who went on a solid run, run support from the top of the order, and the bullpen came in and shut down the game without incident. Hopefully, this is a sign that the Mariners are turning it around and maintaining the strong performances we are used to seeing from last year. There is another division-winning team here; it remains to be seen if that team can show up consistently.

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Cavs vs. Raptors Game 2: How to watch, odds, and injury report

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 18, 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business in Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors. They kept Toronto from getting out in transition, forced them to play in the half-court, and then were able to out-execute them there on both sides of the court.

The Raptors desperately missed Immanuel Quickley in Game 1, who was out with a hamstring injury. His three-point shooting and quickness in the open court were things the team could’ve used. Toronto head coach Darko Rajaković mentioned before Saturday’s game that he was getting better even though he wasn’t able to go on Saturday. Quickly is once again questionable for Game 2.

The Cavs, meanwhile, have a clean injury report for the second game in a row. Thomas Bryant is the only player unavailable. He will be missing the game with a hamstring injury.

We’ll see if the Cavaliers can repeat Saturday’s success in Game 2 and grab a 2-0 series lead.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0) vs. Toronto Raptors (0-1)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Mon., April 20 at 7 PM

TV: Peacock, NBC Sports Network

Point spread: Cavs -8.5

Cavs injury report: Thomas Bryant – OUT (calf)

Raptors injury report: Immanuel Quickley – QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Raptors expected starting lineup: Jamal Shead, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl

Previous matchup: The Cavs grabbed a 1-0 lead with a 126-113 victory.

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive RatingDefensive RatingNet Rating
Cavs118.9 (8th)115 (15th)+3.9 (9th)
Raptors116.8 (13th)113.2 (7th)+3.6 (11th)
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Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Wembanyama top three for MVP as NBA awards finalists announced

It is one of the tightest, best three-way MVP races in recent memory between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama.

Which is why it's no shock that those three were the top three vote-getters and are the finalists for Most Valuable Player, as the NBA released the finalists for all its awards this season.

Here is the full list (players listed in alphabetical order).

Most Valuable Player

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)

Rookie of the Year

VJ Edgecombe (76ers)
Cooper Flagg (Mavericks)
Kon Knueppel (Hornets)

Defensive Player of the Year

Chet Holmgren (Thunder)
Ausar Thompson (Pistons)
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)

Coach of the Year

J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons)
Mitch Johnson (Spurs)
Joe Mazzulla (Celtics)

Most Improved Player

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Hawks)
Jalen Duren (Pistons)
Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers)

Sixth Man of the Year

Tim Hardaway Jr. (Nuggets)
Jamie Jaquez Jr. (Heat)
Keldon Johnson (Spurs)

Clutch Player Of the Year

Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
Jamal Murray (Nuggets)

Five of the awards will be announced this week:

MON: Defensive Player of the Year (on Peacock)
TUE: Clutch Player of the Year (on Peacock)
WED: Sixth Man Award
THU: NBA Sportsmanship Award
FRI: Most Improved Player

Nothing is shocking on these lists. Which means no Lakers fans, Luka Doncic was not snubbed. As fantastic as he was this season, and even if he had played the final handful of games, he was half a step behind the top three in terms of consistency and two-way impact. Fifth in MVP voting will be Cade Cunningham or Jaylen Brown, but expect the Pistons' All-Star to get the nod.

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Winners, losers from NBA playoffs Game 1s: Magic stun top-seeded Pistons

The first weekend of the 2026 NBA playoffs has wrapped up, with each first-round series having one game completed.

And, thus far, all but one of the higher seeds have taken care of home-court advantage, but the playoffs are a long haul and series can change on an instant.

This may be disappointing to the rest of the league, but arguably no team was as impressive as the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who dominated in their postseason opener. The top seed in the Eastern Conference cannot say the same.

So what, exactly, can be gleaned from the early games of the playoffs? Plenty.

Here are the winners and losers from the first weekend of the 2026 NBA playoffs:

WINNERS

The unlikely Magic steal one

Let’s be honest: the Pistons probably still win this series. But this is a massive game for Orlando, whose coach, Jamahl Mosley, came into the playoffs facing some pressure about his future. The Magic excelled in the paint, on both ends, despite Detroit leading the NBA this season with 57.9 points in the paint per game. On Sunday, Orlando held the Pistons to just 34 points in the paint and generated a 20-point advantage in the category.

All five Magic starters reached double-figures in scoring, and Orlando – which plays a similar style as Detroit – showed it won’t just roll over.

Jayson Tatum

What he’s doing, 11 months removed from a torn Achilles, is nothing short of spectacular. Tatum shined in his return to the playoffs, posting an all-around efficient game of 25 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. His day would’ve been even better had he not shot 1-of-7 from 3-point range, but Boston looked every part of a legitimate threat in the East in its commanding win Sunday over Sixers.

Knicks defensive versatility

Speaking of contenders in the East, the Knicks sent a message Saturday against an upstart Hawks squad that can generate offense from different sources. New York harassed the Hawks, deploying Josh Hart on Jalen Johnson, which allowed OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to fly around the perimeter and smother other weapons. Even Karl-Anthony Towns made his presence felt with a team-high 3 blocks.

The Nuggets-Timberwolves series

This is, by far, the gem of the round. They’re frequent opponents, having met in three of the last four playoffs. These are fierce, competitive teams that don’t like each other. And these teams are fairly evenly matched. The play was physical, chippy and compelling, and there’s no shortage of star power. The rest of the series should be fascinating.

Donovan Mitchell is on a mission

Although he has put up statistically impressive performances in the postseason, Donovan Mitchell often draws criticism because his teams have never gotten past the second round. Mitchell appears determined to erase that narrative; in Game 1 on Saturday, Mitchell dropped 32 points and 4 assists on the Raptors. He, James Harden and backup guard Max Strus combined to shoot 12-of-20 (60%) from beyond the arc.

So are the Oklahoma City Thunder

The defending champions looked hungry, efficient and cohesive in a 35-point blowout victory over the Suns. The defense, unsurprisingly, was oppressive, holding Phoenix to just 34.9% shooting. That, plus the 17 turnovers Oklahoma City forced, opened the path for easier transition points, with the Thunder taking an 18-2 edge on fastbreak points.

LOSERS

A stunning letdown for the Detroit Pistons

Sunday’s shocking 8 vs. 1 upset exposed some of Detroit’s issues. For one, the Pistons clearly need more shooting. Cade Cunningham posted a monster game with 39 points, five rebounds and assists, but his supporting cast let him down. All-Star center Jalen Duren was mostly a non-factor, and Tobias Harris was the only other player to reach double-figures in scoring.

Credit the Magic for their defense, but the Pistons looked flat, almost like they were the ones who had to roll through the Play-In Tournament. Detroit had the week off and entered as 8.5-point favorites. Instead, the Pistons lost their 11th consecutive home playoff game and now have to search for answers. And, to be frank, it makes it feel like Boston is the team to beat in the East.

Lower seeds

The first round of the playoffs tends to produce expected results, and this year has been no exception. Through the Thunder-Suns game, higher seeds are a combined 6-1, and the games, in many cases, have been lopsided. The combined average margin of victory so far has been 17.4 points.

The Houston Rockets

Yes, Kevin Durant was out. But their opponent, the Lakers, was missing Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), the highest-scoring duo in the NBA this season. And, yet, the Rockets, a team that tied for fifth in defensive rating (112.1), allowed the Lakers to shoot 60.6% from the field, including 52.6% from 3-point range. Houston let Luke Kennard, a solid, role-playing shooter, hit all five of his 3-pointers for a playoff career-high of 27 points.

Arguably more disappointing was Houston’s lack of offensive cohesion. Often, players appeared to be ball watching and waiting for iso opportunities. The problem, however, was that the Rockets shot just 37.6% from the floor.

The 76ers without Joel Embiid

It’s clear that Philadelphia is going to struggle without its big man. Embiid (appendectomy) finished the regular season strongly, generating 28.6 points per game over his last five games played. The issue, as it has been with Embiid, is that he has been so infrequently available.

Against the impressive defense that the Celtics bring, there’s simply no way the 76ers can compete without Embiid. According to ESPN, Embiid hasn’t even started basketball activities for his return and may miss the entire first round. The Sixers, almost certainly, will be eliminated at that point, anyway.

Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels

Risacher, the 2025 No. 1 overall selection, played just 2:29 on Saturday against the Knicks and missed badly on his three shot attempts, two of which were point blank. Though he played far more, Daniels, similarly, forced difficult shots and couldn’t settle into a rhythm. The pair combined to go 2-of-10 for 4 points, though Daniels did dish out 11 assists and haul in 9 rebounds.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners (Magic) and losers (Pistons) from NBA playoffs opening weekend

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Guardians' Austin Hedges proposes to girlfriend on field after win

Austin Hedges had the best Sunday.

Hedges scored the first run in the Cleveland Guardians' 8-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles, then saved his best score for the postgame, when he proposed to his girlfriend, Lexi Dickinson, on the field.

With a few friends and teammates present, a "Lexi, will you marry me?" message was displayed on the scoreboard at Cleveland's Progressive Field.

"Really hoping to win that game," Hedges said. "I was going to do it regardless, but I really wanted to win that game to make it extra special."

Austin Hedges and fiancée Lexi Dickinson celebrate on the field after a marriage proposal by Hedges after a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 19, 2026.

Hedges, 33-year-old, 12-year major-league veteran catcher, admitted to being nervous the entire day.

"Lots of nerves, lots of nerves," Hedges said. "A lot of nerves about – I'm always nervous for baseball games. I mean, obviously that's a good team over there and we want to win the series. And just trying to stay present, knowing that there was some activities after. But special day, special day to be able to soak it all in."

Hedges said that he's had the engagement ring since spring training and was looking for the right moment to propose to Dickinson, who he has had been dating since November 2024. After the successful proposal, Hedges' teammates joined in an on-field celebration.

Austin Hedges is congratulated by his teammates after a marriage proposal by Hedges to his fiancée Lexi Dickinson.

Hedges has played six of his 12 big-league seasons in Cleveland, and also spent time with the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers, with whom he was a member of the team's 2023 World Series winners.

USA TODAY's eNewspaper is here - your source for timely, relevant stories, updated continuously.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Hedges gets engaged after Guardians' win over Orioles

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Celtics’ Jayson Tatum puts Sixers on notice with Game 1 takeover

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

BOSTON — Six months ago, Jayson Tatum didn’t know he’d return in time for the playoffs. He wasn’t even certain he’d play at all until next season. Those thoughts of doubt followed him throughout his return from his torn right Achilles tendon, but vanished in Game 1 against the Sixers.

“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, and return to play and all those things,” Tatum said after Sunday’s 123-91 Game 1 win over Philadelphia. “There was many a days where I wasn’t sure I was gonna play this season, let alone get a chance to play today. So I’m overly just kind of grateful that I’m in this position right now.”

Tatum played in only 16 games during Boston’s regular season, with each being a stepping stone to ramp him up for the postseason. He averaged 21.8 points, led the team with 10 rebounds and shot 41.1 percent from the field through a stretch he admitted wasn’t picture-perfect. From missing his first dunk attempt on his March 6 return against the Mavericks to being open about the discomforts of returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time, Tatum rolled with the punches.

But to begin Boston’s first-round series against Philadelphia, Tatum really rediscovered the comforts of his old self.

Tatum got the Celtics going early, scoring 10 points with seven rebounds and four assists in the first quarter. He sank two fadeaway jumpers — one over Andre Drummond and the other over Tyrese Maxey — and sliced through Philadelphia’s defense to flush a vicious two-handed dunk in the final minute of the frame. With that head start, Tatum unleashed vintage JT, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, surpassing Kobe Bryant for 11th all-time in 3-pointers made in the playoffs (293).

When Tatum subbed out with over seven minutes remaining in regulation and the Celtics leading the Sixers, 108-78, fans gave him a standing ovation. It took only one appearance in the postseason for Tatum to look like himself again for a full 32:25 on the court.

To him, reaching that point began on Feb. 10, over nine weeks ago. That’s when Tatum truly felt like a return in time for a title run was within reach.

“The day that it changed or became a real thought was when I got assigned to the G-League, and we had the scrimmage,” Tatum explained. “And that was really the first time that it was like, ‘Oh, I might come back this year.’ I think just periodically having really good days of rehab that really boost my confidence — whether it’d be how I felt, me hitting certain benchmarks two weeks earlier than I was supposed to, me asking certain teammates how I looked, and the confidence they instilled in me was impactful.”

Tatum held nothing back against Philadelphia. With Joel Embiid out and the Sixers shorthanded, Tatum was on full attack mode. He hunted mismatches, abused Philadelphia’s defense whenever the opportunity rose, and kept the offensive momentum intact. Tatum assisted Sam Hauser in three of his four made 3-pointers and found Neemias Queta wide-open for a dunk-of-the-night nomination.

In his long-awaited postseason return, Tatum also inched himself closer to Larry Bird’s record for most 25-10-5 playoff performances (26) in Celtics history with his 23rd, per NBC Sports Boston’s Dick Lipe.

“Defensively, I thought he was really good,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Rebounding was great. Understanding of he changed matchups six, seven, eight times throughout the game. I thought that was great there. Offensively, just giving the game what it needs. He was in an aggressive pick-and-roll coverage. With that, you gotta be able to make the right play for yourself and others. I thought he did a great job of that — gave the game what it needed. We gotta continue to do that.”

Even though Tatum checked nearly every box possible, he remained clear about one thing: he hasn’t reached 100 percent just yet. Regardless of how it may appear or what the box score suggests, Tatum still views each day as another step toward that goal, knowing there are no shortcuts in the process.

“I’m still rehabbing,” Tatum said. “I still attack rehab every single day for when we have off-days.”

Sunday marked Tatum’s 122nd career playoff game. It was also his 17th against Philadelphia. So, while taking a moment to reflect on everything that had transpired over the last 11 months — the darkest stretch of his career — Tatum expressed sincere gratitude. The journey from a hospital bed in New York to a playoff ovation, followed by a sarcastic “We want Boston” chant at TD Garden, gave him a fresh perspective.

“A lot of things had to go right to even have the opportunity to come back and play,” Tatum said. “So obviously I thank God every day that I’m able to do — and return to do — what I love. From surgery the next day with Nick (Sang), to everything in between these last 48 weeks, has kind of been a buildup to today.”

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5 thoughts following a dominant Game 1 victory for the Celtics

Jaylen Brown rises up for a jump shot in Game 1 on Sunday. | NBAE via Getty Images

If this Celtics season has taught us anything so far, it’s that culture, tradition and collective buy-in truly matter.

Those terms aren’t just buzzwords coaches, players and executives throw around for the heck of it. They encapsulate what separates the franchise from so many others in the NBA, and this Celtics team embodies those mantras as much as a group possibly could.

They took a collective bite into the term gap year, chewed on it for a few seconds, then spit it out in disgust. They weren’t going to let the rest of the Eastern Conference off that easily. The East runs through Boston every year until further notice, and they’ve made it abundantly clear that this year is no exception.

Sunday’s dominant 123-91 Game 1 victory over the 76ers didn’t carry much drama, but it did offer fans an opportunity to think back to how far this team has already come. Many expected the Celtics to be somewhere around a 7-seed, outmatched on the road against a superior opponent trying to fend for their playoff lives.

Instead, the Celtics are the No. 2 seed, demolishing inferior opponents and fully capable of winning the whole thing. It was just one game, but this win illuminated how far they’ve come and how far they can go.

Here are five thoughts on the state of the series and the Celtics’ potential path:

1) JOYFUL JAYSON

Just like the Celtics weren’t supposed to be here, Jayson Tatum wasn’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to be watching from the bench, cheering his teammates on and desperately wishing he could be out there.

Instead, he attacked his rehab with conviction and didn’t settle for anything less than the best-possible outcome. It’s still hard to fathom how close to pre-injury Tatum he looks. He’s scoring with ease, finding his teammates, rebounding at a high level and playing lockdown defense.

Tatum finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, and he could have potentially had a triple-double if it were a closer game. When asked about his journey, Tatum made it clear he doesn’t take the experience for granted.

“I understand the magnitude of the injury and the narrative around me coming back and everything in between,” Tatum said. “I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish and return to play and all those things. There were many days where I wasn’t even sure I was going to play this season, let alone get a chance to play today.”

2) MANAGING MAXEY

The only way the 76ers have any chance in this series (they don’t have a chance, but just for kicks) is if Tyrese Maxey goes nuclear. Even if he catches fire in a game or two, the Celtics will still likely win in five or six. If he doesn’t, it could be a sweep.

The Celtics limited him to 8-of-20 shooting and 1 of 4 from distance. Maxey finished with a respectable 21 points and eight assists, but he had to work for nearly everything and often took contested, off-balance shots.

Give the Celtics a lot of credit for their defensive execution as a whole. The 76ers shot 39 percent from the floor and 17 percent from 3-point range. That’ll do it.

“We did a good job with our positioning and our activity, and some of the things that we can control,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “It kind of goes back to that focus on the stuff that we can’t control, both ends of the floor.”

3) RED PANDA-MONIUM 

Let’s take a moment, at the midway point of this article, to acknowledge the greatness of Red Panda. Tatum set the tone in the first half, Red Panda followed suit at halftime and Jaylen Brown finished the job in the second. 

She’s quite gifted, and seeing it in person adds a whole other level of appreciation. Simply the best.

People come to sporting events to watch a show, and they watched two shows Sunday afternoon.

4) BENCH MOB

Outside of Tatum’s return and Brown’s ascension, the consistency of the Celtics’ bench is the biggest story of this season.

Guys like Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez were all fringe NBA players and are now consistent contributors on one of the best teams in the league.

The coaches deserve a lot of credit for that, and the players do as well for meeting the moment. As the playoffs progress, I expect the Celtics to continue to have a clear edge when it comes to bench production. 

In every series outside of a potential Thunder matchup in the Finals, which I’d consider a wash, the Celtics should continue to win those minutes. 

Brown said his message for the newcomers logging their first significant playoff minutes was to breathe and manage their emotions.

“They might go on a run, they might not go on a run, but just stay together,” Brown said. “Win the fight. Be a hard-playing team and guard.”

5) NO COMPLACENCY

The Celtics know they’re the better team, but they also know this was just one game and anything can happen in a playoff series. 

While it’s highly likely Boston will advance, it’s important that the Celtics continue to not underestimate the 76ers. This team seems to really understand that, which goes back to the culture, tradition and collective buy-in that define the franchise.

Everything they desire is right there in front of them, but their focus is on Game 2. It’s not a gimmick; it’s a mind-set.

“They’ve got some really talented guys and guys that played hard,” Tatum said. “So you have to show them that respect and know that by the next game they’re going to make adjustments and just preparing for that.”

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Offense observes day of rest in 3-0 loss

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 19: Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants looks back at the dugout after striking out to end the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It had been a laborious weekend for the Giants bats. After two — count ‘em two — high intensity games in which they scored 17 total runs on 31 hits over 21 innings, the offense looked relatively exhausted in Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Washington. Spring’s bipolar nature abruptly swapped the tank-top heat of summer for an abrasive, chill-laced wind. Sunday was a day of indoor batting practice, of clubhouse breakfast buffets, of yawns in the dugout. They team had secured a series win and won three in a row. Didn’t they earn a day to just chill, to just zone out in the batter’s box and suck seeds on the bench with your cleats up? What does the good book advise? I say, unto thee: Pack all thou grinding and disciplined at-bats, thou situational contact, thou two-baggers and round -trippers and rallies and swipt bases into six days in order to rest on the seventh.

Obviously I don’t actually think the offense played with this level of lackadaisicalness, but it did, at time, look like they took these words to heart. Hitters truly did observe at the plate. Their swings were often hole-y as lefty opener PJ Poulin, struggling veteran Miles Mikolas, and recent Triple-A arrival Andrew Alvarez cruised through 9 shutout frames.

Mikolas, who lugged a 11.49 ERA (15.2 IP) into this game, scattered four singles across four scoreless innings while striking out 4. His four-seam fastball and its  -3.3 RV/100 earned three of his four strikeouts. Previous opponents had hit .316 and slugged .526 against the pitch… but not these opponents. Seemingly non-descript fastballs exposed out over the plate proved fatally feisty for Willy Adames and Heliot Ramos. Four of six swings elicited by the pitch came up empty. Only one of them was put into play. 

Frustratingly unproductive outs added up to an 0-for-11 day with runners in scoring position. And I joke that the offense took the day off, but the reality is some work was being done because the table was set multiple times. San Francisco out-hit Washington 8 to 7 and also got a boost from three defensive errors. 11 at-bats ain’t nothing to sneeze at. Those chances were more than enough rungs on a ladder to help the Giants climb out of their three-run hole. The difference proved to be a lack of decisiveness. A 2-run shot that echoed Ramos’s game-tying homer on Saturday, or his 3-run blast on Friday night, was glaringly absent.

Instead with a chance to bring home a run or two, the Giants batters piled up six strikeouts and also hit into a double play. They had a runner standing on second base with nobody out in the 6th, 8th, and 9th innings…and that runner managed to reach third just once. 

And to be clear, no tension or suspense was built in these at-bats with runners on. These were not gritty, 10-pitch showdowns, or spirit-filling shows of defiance and resistance. They were blink-and-you-missed-it outs. A candlelight in a windstorm. Mere whimpers. Twice Drew Gilbert and Patrick Bailey reached with two outs to set-up an RBI chance for Willy Adames, and twice Willy Adames flailed at strike three. The first time, in the 2nd, Adames was felled on three straight fastballs from Mikolas. In the 4th, he managed to see four. 

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After Casey Schmitt led off the 6th with a double, southpaw Andrew Alvarez, who had been called up from the Rochester Red Wings earlier in the day, dispatched Jung Hoo Lee with a sinker, slider, curveball. Easy as A-B-C. The hot-hand Ramos fouled off three pitches in the middle of the zone before being called out on strikes. In the 8th with a runner on third, pinch hitter Jerar Encarnacion waved helplessly at an 0-2 curveball from Alvarez to end the innings. Easy as 1-2-3. 

Just another outing of little to no run support behind a solid Robbie Ray performance. After getting beat by a pair of solo shots in Cincinnati, Ray swallowed another bitter pill in D.C., logging his second quality start of the year as well as his third loss.

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The veteran had been excellent for four innings, uncharacteristically pitching with efficiency and count leverage. The Nationals recorded three soft-contact singles in the first three innings, and Ray did well to manage the undeserved traffic.

Jacob Young led off the 2nd with a bloop single, but Ray softened the lead-off hit with back-to-back strikeouts. In the 3rd, Keibert Ruiz managed an infield single on a soft roller and advanced into scoring position after a James Wood walk. More troublesome soft contact off the bat off of Curtis Mead resulted in a heads-up defensive play by Willy Adames to expose some poor baserunning by the lead runner Ruiz. Brady House then flew out to deeeeep center field before Ray escaped the jam by inducing a routine flyout from Abrams. 

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The relief of that escape lasted one more inning before Washington broke through the scoreless deadlock in the 5th.

A bunt single from Nasim Nunez was the inconspicuous start to the Nationals 3-run rally. Nunez promptly stole second and from scoring position scored on Keibert Ruiz’s double — a “double” really in name only. Off the bat, the ball looked to be destined to be caught. It boasted an xBA of .170. It lingered in the air. Perhaps the wind pushed it further away from Ramos than expected. He initially broke back towards the wall before course correcting to the right. The ball clipped the end of his glove before finding grass. An opportunity for out missed there. But Ramos got the ball quickly into Adames in shallow left. Nunez had a late break for home, and the relay to the plate beat him by plenty, but Bailey couldn’t corral the hop before prematurely bringing his glove over for the tag. The baseball rolled freely up the line as Nunez came to a complete stop, turned around, and cheekily leaned on the plate. 

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Either end of that play could’ve produced an out. Instead the Nationals claimed the lead and then extended it. Two pitches later, Mead jumped on a first pitch change-up to plate the second and third runs of the day. 

The three earned runs allowed are so far a season high for Ray. He went on to bag two more strikeouts (7 K on the day) and complete the 6th before being relieved by scoreless appearances by Keaton Winn and JT Brubaker. All for naught though. The crooked number in the 5th proved to be a bridge too far for San Francisco’ listless lineup. Considering the looming midweek series against LA, and the arms they’ll be facing (Yamamoto, Ohtani, Glasnow), the offense might be kicking themselves for shrugging off the opportunities that presented themselves today. 

There should be no rest for a 9-13 team.  

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Husker Baseball SWEEPS #12 USC

WHAT A WEEKEND!!

Nebraska baseball sweeps USC and solidly plants itself in 2nd place in the Big Ten standings. This is the first sweep of a ranked opponent in Haymarket Park since that legendary 2015 Texas series. It also happened to be the highest attended series in the Big Ten era of Haymarket Park, and the 5th highest all time. Three straight walk-off wins, including 2 by way of the 10 run rule has the Huskers sitting at 15 in the RPI, putting them in the mix to reach their biggest goal every year, hosting a regional.

The Trojans were actually the first to score, getting to Husker starting pitcher Gavin Blachowicz right away in the top of the first. Kevin Takeuchi singled up the middle and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw. He came home a couple batters later on a Jack Basseer RBI single.

Nebraska responded right away, with DH Jeter Worthley burning the Trojan center fielder and racing all the way to third for a triple. Case Sanderson drove a ball to the wall in straight away center that bounced off the glove of the center fielder and off the wall. He strode into second with an RBI double and remained there all of 1 pitch as Dylan Carey pulled a ball down the left field line for an RBI double of his own, and the first big roar from the 7600 in attendance as the Huskers took a 2-1 lead.

Things went completely sideways for Blachowicz in the 2nd. He was squeezed early by the home plate umpire and walked 3 batters on 3-2 counts, though he was able to pick off the first one. Backed into a corner, Blachowicz grooved one right down the middle that Takeuchi hammered into the Party Porch for a 3 run home run. USC’s best home run hitter, Augie Lopez, then sky-ed a ball that not one Husker defender even moved to attempt to give chase as it cleared the USC bullpen completely. The Trojans put up a 4 spot and take a 5-2 lead.

The Huskers turned to new reliever, Ty Horn to steady the ship, and he did just that. Horn was spectacular, pitching 5 innings, scattering 6 hits and giving up 1 run on a solo home run, again by Augie Lopez in the top of the 5th. Horn struck out 4 and more importantly, walked zero.

The Husker offense went on a tear starting in the 3rd. Carey on a big day, even for him obliterated a ball that despite the 42 degree launch angle, which generally results in a pop fly, still easily cleared the left field fence into the mass of humanity occupying the outfield berm. Carey would go 4 for 5 on the day, with the aforementioned double and home run, good for 2 RBIs.

Nebraska took the lead back for good in the 4th. Rhett Stokes hit a ball hard up the middle that the short stop bobbled for an error. A perfect hit and run call (one of many by the coaching staff on the weekend) had Trey Fikes hit a ball right to where the second baseman was, but vacated to go cover second base. That put 2 on for Mac Moyer against the clearly unraveling Trojan starting pitcher. Moyer did the rare thing for him and pulled the ball and as the right fielder kept drifting back and back, the crowd again went from a murmur to an all out roar as what happened so many times on the weekend happened again, a USC outfielder couldn’t make a play at the wall, and a 3 run home run landed in the first row of the party porch.

The Trojan started remained in there and issued back to back full count walks to Worthley and Sanderson before being pulled. Carey hit a ball to shallow center, his lone out of the day, but Worthley was able to tag up at second base and slide safely into third. That would prove to be very important, as USC uncorked a wild pitch, and Worthley scampered home to put NU up 7-5.

The wild pitch would rear its ugly head for the Trojans again in the 5th, Trey Fikes bunted Josh Overbeek and Rhett Stokes to 3rd and 2nd. Then with Jeter Worthley up with 2 out, the wild pitch hit the backstop. The catcher threw it back to the pitcher covering home, but over his head as Beek slid in. Stokes had rounded third hard and upon seeing the ball by the pitcher took off for home. The first baseman grabbed the ball and tried to toss it back to the pitcher, but his toss was high, and Bolt’s Boys took a soul crushing 9-6 lead.

The onslaught continued. Sanderson led off the 6th with another walk. Carey singled to center to put runners on the corners. Jett Buck took a 1-2 pitch right to the side of the helmet, knocking it clean off. He gathered it up and sprinted to first to load the bases for Drew Grego. Grego has been red hot all series, and this was his magnum opus. The pitcher, rattled from just hitting a guy in the head, put one right down Main Street, and Grego took it for a ride. A second 400+ foot home run in as many days, this one a grand slam. The crowd exploded.

The Huskers added two more in the 6th inning to go up 15-6, but couldn’t get the 10th run differential. That is until the bottom of the 8th. Mac Moyer was hit by a pitch, but not awarded first. Bolt challenged the call and won. A passed ball allowed Moyer to take second base. The Case Sanderson poked a single down the left field line and Moyer ran home and then immediately took off with the rest of his team to catch Sanderson who by this time had run into the middle of center field. Fear not, the team has gotten good at tracking down batters after walk offs, this was their 3rd walk off of the 3 game series against USC. Those Gatorade containers made the 350 foot trek to dead center and doused the Huskers’ first baseman.

Nebraska hits the road again, traveling down to Kansas to attempt to avenge the loss two weeks ago at the hands of the Jayhawks (still the only loss at Haymarket Park all season). They then go to Illinois for the weekend, to take on the Illini who occupy 8th place in the Big Ten currently. If they continue to take care of business the rest of the way, the attendance records set this weekend will be a thing of the past.

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Carlos Mendoza, Francisco Lindor react to Mets' 11th straight loss: 'Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We've got to find a way'

It looked like the Mets were going to end their nightmare for a moment on Sunday afternoon in Chicago. But then things took another turn for the worse as Devin Williams blew the save in the ninth and the Cubs walked it off in the bottom of the tenth inning, handing New York its 11th straight loss.

After the crushing defeat, manager Carlos Mendoza discussed the "tough stretch" the team is going through.

"Yeah it's tough, it's tough, especially when you're going through it," Mendoza said. "You feel like you got to the ninth inning feeling good, but I mean when you're playing in one-run games you have to be perfect and it's hard to play like that. It's a tough stretch right now."

The Mets had opportunities to tack on to their 1-0 lead, but finished the game 1-for-9 with RISP and left six on base. Mendoza noted how New York wasn't "impacting the baseball as a team" and "didn't hit many balls hard" on Sunday, something that's become regular during their losing streak. 

When asked if it's getting late to turn things around, Mendoza said the team needs to "find a way" soon.

"11 losses, that's a lot, whether it's in April or at any point in the season," Mendoza said. "Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We've got to find a way. Off day tomorrow and back at it Tuesday."

Francisco Lindor had one of the scoring opportunities in the sixth inning after Luis Torrens hit a leadoff double, but the shortstop struck out to end the inning. He said it isn't "a good feeling" to have this long of a losing streak and took accountability for the lack of production, adding that the whole team needs to do a better job of executing in the clutch moments.

"This feeling sucks. It's not a good feeling," Lindor said. "You said it, we're professionals, and we got to find a way out of it. We got to do whatever it takes to end up on top after 27 outs and sometimes 30 outs. It's not a good feeling. But, no one here is hanging their heads, everybody has their heads held high and they're fighting for each other.

"Today, they played a good game, but I came up in situations to drive runners in and didn't do that. It came down to last two outs, I think when I get guys in scoring position, I don't drive them in, I don't help the team that way, it can come back. But what it comes down to is me executing, and all of us executing. Like you said, we are professionals and this is what we get paid to do so I got to be better."

Lindor reiterated that the Mets need to execute, knowing only they can fix the problems on the field.

"We got to bring it," Lindor said. "We got to continue to bring it day in and day out. No one's going to feel sorry for us. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We've got to bring it."

Having been in New York for six seasons now, Lindor understands the outside noise is going to continue until the team strings together some wins. He said they have to keep fighting and not let it distract them.

"Fight for each other, stick [up] for each other," Lindor said. "What Mendy has said from day one, protect the house. It's going to get loud. It's going to get very loud. And ultimately, everyone here knows it and we've just got to stick together and stay within ourselves and fight, fight."

The All-Star agreed that having an 11-game losing streak is shocking, but said they have to forget in order to improve moving forward.

"Yeah, 100 percent. We have a tremendous team. David Stearns put a good team together, but this shows that nobody really cares," Lindor said. "We've got to go out there and get it done and this past week-and-a-half, we haven't gotten it done. It's a bad feeling, but we got to turn the page. I've always said this, whether we win or lose, look at it for a little bit and then turn the page and focus on what we have in front of us."

David Peterson, who tossed 3.2 scoreless innings on Sunday, and Williams both agreed with Lindor that the losing streak is on the players, not the coaches or front office.

"It's on everyone. We're in this together," Peterson said. "Everyone has a part in this and we've got to stick together. Everyone's got to take responsibility and accountability. We all need to look in the mirror and see what we can do better to help this team move in the right direction. That's the job. Like I said, come back ready to go on Tuesday, fight like hell, and play our brand of baseball."

"It's tough to explain," Williams added. "This is one of the most talented locker rooms in the league. We just can't seem to string it together right now."

Lindor was also asked how getting star Juan Soto back from the injured list soon could help the Mets out of their slump, but again, said it's not on one player to be the savior as they all need to play better.

"I mean, like I said earlier, Soto is irreplaceable and having him back is going to help us a lot," Lindor said. "Hopefully he is back [soon]. Top three hitters in the league probably, top two? So yeah he's going to help us a ton. He's going to lengthen our lineup.

"Even when he comes, we've still got to get it done. It would be unfair to just throw everything on him. As a team we got to come together and execute, that's what it's going to come down to."

New York will have Monday off to regroup and find a way to win on Tuesday when they start a three-game series back home against the Minnesota Twins.