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No. 3 Texas hosts Houston Christian

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 7: Sam Cozart #35 of the Texas Longhorns poses for a portrait on Texas baseball media day on January 7, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by The University of Texas Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)

After winning three games in the BRUCE BOLT College Classic in Houston over the weekend to remain undefeated, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns return to UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday for a matchup against the Houston Christian Huskies.

The Horns have won all 10 previous meetings between the two schools, including a 7-1 win over the Huskies in the Austin Regional last year. Houston Christian earned the automatic bid from the Southland Conference after making an unexpected tournament run.

Under third-year head coach Clay Vanderlaan, HCU is off to a 6-6 start this season, bouncing back from an 0-5 start to the season with series wins over Alcorn State and UIW and a midweek road win in extra innings over Rice in Houston. On Sunday, the Huskies notched an 11-10 walk-off win over the Cardinals after rallying from a 9-2 deficit over the final three innings.

Outfielder Jack Walker had a big week for Houston Christian, batting .500 with two home runs, four RBI, and eight runs scored to extend his hitting streak to seven games. First baseman Katcher Halligan has been hot at the plate, too, raising his average from .143 to .370 over an eight-game hitting streak. Walker and Halligan are two of the four batters hitting over .300 for the Huskies, led by catcher Levi Castilleja, an excellent contact hitter, at .409, and second baseman Anthony Avalos at .390.

The Huskies haven’t flashed much power this season with six home runs and a .425 slugging percentage, though they do have 29 doubles and a .301 team batting average.

Right-hander Kenan Elarton (0-0, 0.00 ERA), an Arizona transfer who played high school baseball with Texas junior catcher Carson Tinney at Valor Christian in the Denver metro, is expected to get the start for Houston Christian, his first of the season. Elarton has held opponents scoreless in his four innings pitched over three outings, striking out four while allowing four hits and three walks.

As a staff, the Huskies have struggled with a 7.30 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP as opponents have hit .298 with 12 home runs.

Texas is expected to give freshman right-hander Sam Cozart his second straight midweek start after two superlative outings. In relief of sophomore right-hander Jason Flores two weeks ago, the 6’6, 260-pounder allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts in four innings of the run-rule win over Lamar. Last week, in his first collegiate start, Cozart was dominant over four scoreless innings, holding UTRGV to one hit while striking out eight and walking three.

Expect Flores to see some action against Houston Christian, too.

“Need to get Jason Flores back out on the field. Jason’s really good and he threw awesome last Tuesday night,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said during his Monday appearance on the Around the Horns podcast.

Flores went one scoreless inning against the Vaqueros, working around two hits while striking out one.

At the plate, redshirt senior third baseman Temo Becerra is in the midst of the best power surge in his career. In Houston, the Stanford transfer went 4-for-8 with three home runs, seven runs scored, six RBI, 14 total bases, and a 2.365 OPS. The three home runs tied his career total entering the season.

First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. Central on SEC Network+.

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Nets vs. Heat preview: Back on the road

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 26: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A brief stop at home before getting back on the road. The Brooklyn Nets came home for an afternoon matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. The Nets put up a heck of a fight, but ultimately fell short. The losing streak is at eight.

The opponent tonight is in the all too comfortable position of the play-in tournament. The Miami Heat are firmly in the middle of the pack and hope that they do enough to get back to the postseason and go on a miracle run. They helped their cause with an impressive home win against the Houston Rockets on Saturday afternoon.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.

🤕 Injuries

Egor Demin is out. The three two-ways are still with Long Island and both Ben Saraf and Grant Nelson remain with the big club.

Norm Powell is out. Andrew Wiggins is probable. Terry Rozier… yeah he’s got a whole bigger problem to worry about.

🏀 The game

Miami won the first meeting in December.

These teams do it again on Thursday to wrap up the season. Bam does a touch of everything well on the court and that versatility allows him to fill a variety of roles for Erik Spoelstra’s club. With Nic Claxton back in action, the Nets frontcourt will get some reinforcements to contest the former All Star and Gold Medalist.

This sentiment from Bam after a Heat loss to the Utah Jazz certainly applies to the next two games:

“We’ve got to find a way to win even against teams trying to lose.”

Not that Jordi Fernandez is trying lose, but… you know.

With Demin out for the time being, Nolan Traore gets even more minutes to get comfortable. He’ll get the lion’s share of the minutes at point with Ben Saraf serving as the backup. Nolan has done well in his time as a starter while Ben is struggling off the bench.

The key to any great defense is to defend without fouling, and the Heat are one of the best in the league at it. Miami has the third lowest opponent’s free throw rate and is fourth in defensive efficiency. You can always survive with a good defense, so that gives the Heat a leg up as they try to escape the play-in vortex.

👀 Player to watch: Tyler Herro

The Heat must see something in Herro that I don’t. This is year seven for the Heat two guard and he’s… ok? Like he’s not actively bad or anything like that, but I doubt he can be the lead perimeter scorer on a team that has serious playoff aspirations. Either way, he’ll be out there tonight and looking to poke holes in the Nets defense. Brooklyn has the worst 3-point defense in the league while Herro has been a good three point shooter throughout his career. It’s a recipe for a big night if things break in Herro’s favor.

Terrance Mann figures to start once again as Demin is out with injury. Brooklyn will count on him for some playmaking, but mostly, his job will be to chase Herro around the court and limit any easy opportunities for him. A two game set is a great chance for Mann and the Nets to see what’s working against the Heat offense and adjust for the rematch on Thursday.

📺 From the Vault

My mic is sounding bugged, Bob Power you there ☝️

More reading: Hot, Hot Hoops, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

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Game Thread: Padres (4-7) at White Sox (7-5)

Sean Newcomb will square off against the Padres this afternoon in his second outing with Chicago. | (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

After a late loss yesterday to San Francisco, lefty Sean Newcomb makes his second White Sox start since signing a one-year deal in December, looking to carry over the momentum he built in the Athletics’ bullpen in 2025. Newcomb primarily began his professional career as a starter before shifting into the bullpen for 32 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2021, while still making spot starts where needed.

With the A’s last season, Newcomb found his footing in the pen and propelled himself to one of the league’s top-five relievers after dominating 51 1/3 innings in 36 games while sustaining a 1.75 ERA and efficient 1.032 WHIP. The southpaw is expected to bolster himself as a cornerstone of the bullpen if he can maintain the progress that he built up and continue to avoid injuries. For a Chicago team that struggled so much late in games on the mound and experienced way too many one-run losses, coaches and fans are hopeful that Newcomb can promote stability into the relief staff.

On the bright side for Newcomb, the South Side offense has been raking this spring. They’ve so far ranked fourth overall in batting average, fifth in slugging percentage, and sixth in OPS, while also holding the top BA and SLG % in the American League. If you’d told me this a year ago, I’d probably have assumed you were crazy. Edgar Quero was steady last year, but he’s on fire now, slashing .529/.556/.824 (1.380 OPS) in five games (17 at-bats) and starting this afternoon behind the plate in the cleanup spot.

Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas are holding down the top of the order, respectively. While Chase and Colson have had a slower start to Spring Training, this is definitely the time to work on their swings and shake off the rust before the season starts. Vargas has been solid, however, and holds the seventh-highest batting average on the team (.412) in 17 at-bats, including two doubles. LaMonte Wade Jr. will get some reps at first, while Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin, and Dru Baker round out the outfield as manager Will Venable works to determine the best mix.

Here’s how the Good Guys are lining ‘em up today:

For the Padres, righthander Nick Pivetta will be taking the mound, also making his second start of the spring. His numbers are certainly not impressive in his tiny two-inning sample (three earned runs in two innings); however, it’s already well established that Pivetta’s consistency has propelled him as one of the stronger starting pitchers in the league. In 2025, he posted a 2.87 ERA and a 0.985 WHIP in 31 starts for the Friars (181 2/3 innings) and finished in the top 15 in strikeouts.

Prospects are making up the majority of the Padres lineup; however, 2024 All-Star Jackson Merrill is holding down the two-hole, while recently added DH Nick Castellanos will swing from the four-spot as he works to make a name for himself in San Diego.

Naturally, there doesn’t appear to be a broadcast; however, if you have an MLB.TV or MLB+ subscription, you can listen in via the Padres radio broadcast. Be sure to check back here later today for the full recap! Let’s get another spring W ahead of the World Baseball Classic.

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Adam Fox Feels ‘Kind Of The Same’ Regarding Future With Rangers

Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

There was a lot of noise surrounding Adam Fox’s comments last week regarding his future with the New York Rangers. 

Upon his return to the lineup last week on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, Fox was asked if he wants to stick around with the Rangers through a retool, and his noncommittal answer raised some eyebrows. 

“I'm just trying to focus on this year right now and play each game,” Fox said. “That's really all I could do right now. That’s a conversation for when we’re done playing.”

After the Rangers’ Monday night 5-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Fox was given the opportunity to clarify his previous statement about his future. 

However, he decided to go down a similar path, answering the question vaguely while giving no reassurances about where his head is at this season. 

“Kind of the same,” Fox said of whether he had anything to add to his previous comments about his future. “We’re just trying to focus on games, myself included. Like you said, there's a lot going on, the deadline and everything. But I think all anyone can do right now is just take it day by day and try to bring a good effort, trying to bring a good attitude and obviously, go from there.”

According to Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, multiple meetings have taken place between Fox and Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury in recent weeks. 

Reasoning For Rangers Continuing To Hold Adam Edström Out Of The Lineup Reasoning For Rangers Continuing To Hold Adam Edström Out Of The Lineup Will Adam Edström return to the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a>' lineup soon?

Mercogliano reports that Fox wants to see how Drury handles the coming months and assess the state of the roster this summer before making a full-throated commitment to stick it out with the Blueshirts.

The 27-year-old defenseman holds a full no-movement clause through next season. Over the final two years of Fox’s contract, which expires in 2029, he’ll have a 16-team no-trade list. 

There has been no immediate speculation that the Rangers are looking to entertain offers for Fox before the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline. 

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A’s vs. Team Brazil Game Thread!

Unless I’m mistaken, today’s matchup against Team Brazil is the first time the ball club has ever competed against a World Baseball Classic team?? Can anyone fact check that? Google has really taken a dive and I’m having a difficult time locating any type of database that says otherwise. Although I want to say I remember there being an A’s vs Team Venezuela game back in 2017. Did I make that up? Classic case of the Mandela effect? Brent Rooker played the genie in Kazam!, right?

Making his A’s debut against Team Brazil is none other than Aaron Civale, who recently signed a one year deal worth about $6 million with the green and gold. Now I’d be lying to you if I said I was super pumped for the Civale era. Not very often does a pitcher with a 65.1 % flyball rate and a high 80s cutter get me all hot and bothered. In fact, I don’t think there’s ever been more of a turn off. That being said, his success is our success so I will gladly sit back and support.

Go Aaron!

I don’t see the righty going more than two innings today as it is his first outing. Still, it’ll be interesting to see him shake off the rust against Team Brazil’s trio of Nepo babies:

Lucas Ramirez (son of Manny Ramirez)

  • Do you think he knows that his pops is an A’s spring training legend?

Joseph Contreras (son of Jose Contreras)

Dante Bichette Jr. (I won’t patronize you fine readers)

There’s something very “Straight-to-Video” about this Team Brazil squad. But that doesn’t mean we should expect them to roll over. No, in fact Civale and the A’s should be careful as, if American Pie: Band Camp has taught us anything, it’s that sometimes greatness comes from places you’d least expect. It’s been over ten years since the last time Team Brazil punched their ticket to the WBC, and manager Daniel Yuichi Matsumoto, who was captain of that squad back then as a player, will be damned if the club doesn’t walk away from this whole affair without at least one victory. Beating the A’s could either be the feather in their cap when it’s all said and done, or the very victory that propels them towards being a cinderella team (they play Team USA on Friday btw).

It is worth noting, not a single position player on their roster has Major League experience. Literally not a single soul with a bat. With all due respect to Team Brazil, I hope the A’s put up fifteen runs. Losing isn’t the end of the world (baseball classic 😉 here but it is still embarrassing. Especially knowing that Mark Kiger has seen more action in the bigs than every one of their position players combined.

(In Robert Stack’s voice) UPDATE: I looked a bit harder and found that the A’s actually squared off against Team Colombia back in 2023 and…lost :/ Final score 3-2. Freddy Tarnok got the L. Brent Rooker did, however, go 2-2 with a walk.

I turned back the clock a little further and discovered that in 2017 and 2013, the A’s took two wins away from Team Italy, and 2009 saw them beat Team South Africa. MLB.com lists their match up against Team South Africa in 2006 as a scoreless exhibition, but according to SFGATE – – the A’s dropped thirteen runs on their heads while only giving up one.

Combing through these games made me curious to how they map out who plays who. Like why have the A’s played Team South Africa and Team Italy twice? Why is Team USA playing the Rockies and Giants this year? If anyone knows the answer to this question, please feel free to word vomit in the comments. If not, I’m sure our amazing broadcast team will hit us with a little trivia throughout the game.

Checkout the lineup below as we get ready for a fun little day of baseball!

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The Invisible Showdown: Inside baseball’s growing focus on the mental game

Baseball has always been framed as pitcher versus hitter beneath the bright lights of a full stadium. But often, the decisive showdown happens somewhere less visible and far more difficult to quantify.

“Everybody knows mechanics now. Everybody knows what a good swing looks like,” said Mariners mental performance coach Adam Bernero. “The edge isn’t in spin rate. The edge is mindset. It’s who can fully express themselves with freedom.”

Bernero pitched for five MLB teams across parts of seven seasons, largely without the mental performance resources now embedded across the sport. In his current role with Seattle, his work centers on helping players manage pressure and uncertainty by understanding their own identities.

“Identity is a big one,” said Bernero. “Once guys are really comfortable in who they are, things tend to free up. If they’re trying to impress everybody else, they can’t be free in their bodies.”

Bernero can often be seen playing catch with players and hanging out near the cage. These routine and simple interactions can lead to meaningful breakthroughs.

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Logan Gilbert is one of many players who has worked closely with Bernero. His rise into one of the game’s top pitchers has coincided with an evolution in his mental process. He came to this realization after some initial struggles as a rookie.

“I kind of used to just bang my head against the wall — mechanics, mechanics, mechanics. And then if you’re still struggling, you start realizing maybe that isn’t the problem.”

For Bernero, each relationship is different and comes with its own dynamics. There isn’t always an immediate conversation after a bad game. Instead, Bernero spends time observing players, learning their tendencies, and recognizing when behavior or emotion falls outside of their normal patterns.

“He helps you understand yourself really well,” said Gilbert. “And then there are different things like breath work and mindfulness, walking, solitude.”

While Gilbert utilizes the tools he’s learned from Bernero over the years, he still doesn’t consider himself a finished product.

“It’s nuanced and complicated. The better you get, the more questions you have. It’s kind of peeling back layers on things that needed to be worked on.”

The approach isn’t unique to Seattle. Former major league outfielder James Jones understands the pressures and struggles that players face because he lived it. After injuries curtailed his playing career, Jones moved into mental performance work with the Rangers, helping players prepare not only for competition on the field, but for the expectations and scrutiny that come with reaching the major leagues.

“It’s really about understanding their personality, understanding how they tick,” said Jones. “It’s more of an art form than anything. Instead of just giving advice, our biggest thing is coming alongside the journey with them.”

Jones points to the Rangers’ preseason leadership camp, where prospects are introduced to on-field expectations and the realities of life in the major leagues. It’s part of an effort to ensure that when players arrive, the moment feels familiar rather than overwhelming.

Jones’ experience as a former player might build some initial credibility and trust in a clubhouse, but relationships ultimately sustain the work.

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Brewers reliever Hoby Milner understands the mental side of the game through the daily uncertainty of relief pitching. For him, not knowing when he’ll pitch actually works to his advantage.

“Typically, I don’t like knowing the days I throw,” said Milner. “As a starter in the minor leagues, I would stress so much knowing, like, ‘The game rides on me today.’ When you know what’s going on, you can start spiraling some negative thoughts that way. When you don’t know, it’s easier to go with the flow. You’re always prepared, but you never know. It’s just, ‘Hey, you’re in.’ Okay, cool.”

Milner has been open about the mental challenges of the game and still navigates moments of self-doubt even as he’s found steady success over the past four seasons.

“Normally I go home after a bad outing and start talking to my wife about what I want to do after baseball. And she’s like, ‘Shut up, you’ll be fine.’ The next day I break it down — was it pitch selection, execution, stuff? — and try to get excited about making that adjustment next game.”

As Milner looks back at the winding road that brought him to the Cubs this offseason, he focuses on the value of controlling the things that he can control and not worrying about external factors.

In 2026, the pressures extend far beyond the field. Intense scrutiny comes with the territory of being an MLB player, including the perils of social media. It’s a challenge to block out the noise.

“What these guys have to go through with outside pressures is just extraordinary,” said Bernero. “I think if most fans saw what players get on their Instagram or Twitter feeds every day, they’d be shocked. And beyond that, just expectations — the season’s longer, and there’s not really much of an offseason anymore.”

Even for the best of us, social media is at times unavoidable. From Jones’ work with the Rangers, they try to find ways to help players think about coming at social media from a different perspective.

“Especially right now, social media can either be a trap or it can be an actual platform they use,” said Jones. “Once we shift the identity around social media — where they use it to actually impact the communities they’re going back to — we put a purpose to it rather than it just being a place to scroll.”

Baseball is defined by failure. Those failures are inevitable, and with it comes the pressure. The pressure to win, to earn the next contract, to keep a roster spot. The goal for Bernero is to help players understand themselves well enough to move through it.

“Success for me is joy and freedom,” Bernero said. “A lot of guys go through their careers without having any fun because they’re trying to be perfect. How can you enjoy the game you’ve played your whole life?”

With every pitch and every at-bat, the work continues. A quieter showdown unfolding beyond the traditional scouting report.

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Knicks vs Raptors Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for March 3

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Get set for a key Atlantic Division showdown with our Knicks vs. Raptors computer picks!

Our data-driven system has crunched the numbers so you don't have to, delivering six NBA picks — three NBA player prop projections for each side — for Tuesday, March 3.

If you still desire the human touch, check out Andrew Caley's Knicks vs. Raptors predictions.

Knicks vs Raptors computer picks for March 3

Knicks KnicksRaptors Raptors
Towns o17.5 points 
-115		Ingram o1.5 threes 
-105
Hart u5.5 assists 
-155		Quickley o5.5 assists 
+115
Anunoby o4.5 rebounds 
-115		Barrett o1.5 threes
-112

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Knicks computer picks

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (-115)

Projection: 19.3

Our projections are calling for Karl-Anthony Towns to beat this line by nearly two full points for a +17.49% EV edge. Our computer believes rebounding ability will give Towns the help he needs.

"Offensive rebounds continue possession and produce more chances for scoring and assists, and the New York Knicks rank 4th-best in in the league with 13.1 offensive rebounds per game this year."

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Josh Hart Under 5.5 assists (-155)

Projection: 4.5

Our system's second four-star play for the New York Knicks has Josh Hart finishing one full assist Under his current betting line. Tempo, or a lack thereof, will tell the story of this wager.

"The Knicks have played at the 6th-slowest pace-of-play in the NBA over the last 25 games. The Toronto Raptors have played at the 9th-most lethargic tempo in the league over the last 5 games in their home city, which ought to decrease possessions for the Knicks."

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OG Anunoby Over 4.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 5.2

As alluded to in the Towns bet, the Knicks are a terrific rebounding team. OG Anunoby has been helpful in that area all year long, pulling down 5.3 boards per game.

The Toronto Raptors are 12th-worst in the NBA in defensive rebound percentage.

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Raptors computer picks

Brandon Ingram Over 1.5 threes (-105)

Projection: 1.9

This is a four-star play carrying a +13.66 EV edge. Here's why our computer is calling for Brandon Ingram to hit two or more triples tonight:

"The matchup against New York is a favorable one for three-pointers; when the New York Knicks are the visiting squad, opposing starting SFs have posted the highest three percentage in the NBA this year (48.0%)."

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Immanuel Quickley Over 5.5 assists (+115)

Projection: 5.8

Not only is Immanuel Quickley averaging 6.0 assists per game this season, but you're getting plus-money for him to match or better his season average tonight.

Our system calculates a 10.09% EV edge. 

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RJ Barrett Over 1.5 threes (-112)

Projection: 1.8

Our computer is targeting another Raptors 3-pointer prop, this time with former Knick RJ Barrett. New York's defense has been vulnerable to the deep shot, surrendering an 11th-worst 13.7 per game, with shooting guards making hay, in particular.

"This year, the other team's starting SGs have shot 44.7% on threes (best in the league) vs. the New York Knicks."

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Barrett Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Knicks vs Raptors tonight

LocationScotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVMSG, Sportsnet

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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What Mitchell Robinson blames for his worsening Knicks free-throw woes as he dismisses ‘silly as hell’ idea for fix

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Knicks center Mitchell Robinson shoots free throws at practice on Jan. 6, 2026, Image 2 shows Mitchell Robinson prepares to shoot a free throw during the Knicks' game against the Cavaliers on Feb. 24, 2026

TORONTO — Mitchell Robinson isn’t going to shoot his free throws underhand. In his view, form isn’t the problem and granny style “is silly as hell.”

The issue, as Robinson laid out Tuesday, is the lack of outside shooting opportunities in practice, which negatively impacts his foul-shooting rhythm.

“I don’t get shots up like that [in practice]. I just do a lot of layups, hook shots, stuff like that,” Robinson, who is down to 39 percent from the charity stripe this season, said. “If you don’t get shots, you don’t know how it is. You’re not comfortable with it. So it’s just like — you’ve got to get some shots up. I do it in the summertime, and I’m straight. And I just get away from it.”

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson shoots free throws at practice on Jan. 6, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Robinson pointed at the proof of his rookie season, when he shot a career-best 60 percent and apparently there was more of an emphasis on his outside shot. His free-throw efficiency has been declining ever since.

“Like I said before, when I was getting up shots, rookie year, I was 60 percent,” Robinson said. “So if I get shots up, everything will be all right. Until then, it is what it is.”

To be clear, Robinson isn’t talking about practicing free throws. He does that plenty. He also slightly altered his shooting form before this season, believing that dribbling once before the shot instead of three would help with the mental aspect.

But the foul shots still aren’t falling — and Robinson believes it’s related to his offensive responsibilities being limited to rebounding, setting screens or putbacks.

The 27-year-old hasn’t attempted a field goal outside of the paint since the 2022-23 season. Almost all of his attempts are inside the restricted area. His workouts with the Knicks are geared toward that style, which isn’t the case when Robinson is training in the summer.

“If you’re not shooting shots — even if you’re not going to shoot them in the game, it’s still good to have that muscle memory like that,” Robinson said. “And also confidence [comes] with it, too. It goes hand in hand.”

Heading into Tuesday’s game against the Raptors, Robinson owned the lowest free-throw percentage, by far, among players with at least 80 attempts. Rudy Gobert was next at 50.2 percent. Robinson also spoke out in a recent Facebook post.

“If you ain’t comfortable with your shot you know what the result is gonna be,” Robinson posted recently. “When I’m not in New York in my offseason I get up shots not just layups all day. I make 10 in a row sometimes even 20 in a row but that’s after I get done running and shooting. It’s a big difference from just doing layups and also let’s face the fact usually it takes maybe 11-16 [times up and down the court] before I touch the ball. I’m not complaining about it. I expected it for what it is.”

The foul shooting became a hot-button topic in last year’s playoffs, when the Celtics and Pistons began intentionally hacking Robinson with regularity. Robinson becomes a liability if he’s not hitting his foul shots, especially in a playoff setting, so it could also limit his minutes.

Last year, as Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was deploying Hack-a-Mitch in the conference semis, Rick Barry, the Godfather of granny free throws, offered to teach Robinson his forgotten technique.

It’s not going to happen.

“Nah,” Robinson said when asked if he’s ever tried underhand free throws. “I feel like that’s silly as hell.”

Mitchell Robinson prepares to shoot a free throw during the Knicks’ game against the Cavaliers on Feb. 24, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Other than his foul-shooting woes, Robinson has been a success story this season. He’s again leading the East in offensive rebounds per game despite averaging just 19.4 minutes. That presence under the glass has changed results into victories for the Knicks, like Robinson’s strong performance Sunday over the Spurs.

“That’s like my job. That’s my job on this team. Bring energy off the bench,” Robinson said. “That’s what I try to do every night when I play. So continue to do that.”

He’s also remained healthy for the first time in three years while adhering to a load management program. Robinson doesn’t play back-to-backs, which is why the center isn’t expected to play Wednesday’s home game against the mighty Thunder after Tuesday’s contest in Toronto.

Coach Mike Brown determines which of the two back-to-back games Robinson will play.

“It wasn’t my choice,” Robinson said. “I let coaches decide which game they want me to play.”

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Report: Braves’ Jurickson Profar faces 162-game suspension for second positive drug test

NEW YORK — Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension by Major League Baseball for a possible second failed test for a performance-enhancing drug, a person familiar with the issue told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the process, first reported by ESPN, was ongoing.

Profar intends to ask the players’ association to file a grievance to appeal any discipline to baseball’s independent arbitrator, Martin F, Scheinman, a second person familiar with the process said, also on condition of anonymity, because no announcement had been made.

Because this would be Profar’s second infraction, an appeal would take place after a suspension was announced.

An All-Star in 2024, Profar was suspended for 80 games last March 31 following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that helps production of testosterone. He issued a statement then saying: “I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB’s decision.”

His agent, Dan Lozano, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Profar homered in his return from suspension on July 2 and finished with a .245 average, 14 homers, 43 RBIs and a .787 OPS in 80 games. He batted .280 in 2024, when he set career highs with 24 homers, 85 RBIs and an .839 OPS.

Profar said at the start of spring training that he had sports hernia surgery in November, requiring a six-week recovery time. He has appeared in four spring training games this year, going 3 for 10 with three RBIs.

A native of Curaçao, Profar had been set to play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.

Under the suspension, he would be ineligible for the postseason.

Profar would lose his $15 million salary for this year as part of a $42 million, three-year contract through 2027. He lost half his $12 million salary in 2025 due to the initial suspension.

He would be the seventh player suspended 162 games for a second PED infraction after New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia (July 2015), Cleveland outfielder Marlon Byrd (June 2016), free agent catcher Cody Stanley (July 2016), Houston pitcher Francis Martes (February 2020), Mets second baseman Robinson Canó (November 2020) and Milwaukee pitcher J.C. Mejia (September 2023).

Mejia received a lifetime ban in February 2016 after a third positive test, the only player to be given a permanent ban since drug testing with penalties started in 2004.

Four players have been suspended previously this year for positive tests, including free agent outfielder Max Kepler for 80 games under the major league program following a positive test for Epitrenbolone.

Following the offseason signing of left fielder Mike Yastrzemski to a $23 million, two-year deal, Profar had been targeted to be the Braves’ primary designated hitter.

When catcher Sean Murphy returns from a hip injury, perhaps in May, 2025 NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin could fill in at DH when not behind the plate.

With Yastrzemski, Michael Harris and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the outfield, Eli White could be a DH option. The Braves also are without projected starting shortstop Ha-seong Kim due to a finger injury. Mauricio Dubon, expected to serve a utility role, is scheduled to open the season as the starting shortstop.

The loss of Profar could create an opportunity for Dominic Smith, who signed a minor league deal on Feb. 17.

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Mariners Spring Training 2026, Game #11

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners swings during the game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on February 20, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a restful off-day, the Mariners are back in action today with another televised game. J.P. Crawford returns to the lineup today at DH for the first time since the opening game of spring training, while Bryan Woo makes his second start of the spring. This is also the first time the Mariners are seeing the Angels this spring, although this traveling lineup probably isn’t representative of the team they’ll see in Anaheim.

Lineups:

Scheduled to pitch behind Woo are Michael Morales, Michael Rucker, Cole Wilcox, Casey Legumina, Domingo González, and Robinson Ortiz. Wilcox, Legumina, and Ortiz are three of the pile guys I’m most interested in watching, so that should be interesting.

No Trout for the visiting Angels. George Klassen, who was part of the return from the Phillies in the Carlos Estevez trade, gets the start for the Angels.

Old friend Tayler Saucedo is scheduled to appear for the Angels.

Game information:

Game time: 12:10 PT

TV: Mariners.tv

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports (delayed); listen live on the Seattle Sports app or Gameday

Looking ahead: Cooper Criswell will start tomorrow’s game at San Francisco; Luis Castillo will start Thursday’s game against the Padres.

Also of note:

There are some WBC scrimmages going on today. Of note for Mariners fans: Team Canada vs. Toronto is currently underway, as is Colombia vs. Pittsburgh. Sadly, the Cubs – Team Italy game featuring Dominic Canzone batting cleanup isn’t available, but you can tune in right now to Team USA scrimmaging against San Francisco on ESPN, or Team Mexico vs. Arizona if you have MLB TV. At 3 PT, you can see the Dominican Republic take on Detroit, Puerto Rico vs. Boston, or Venezuela vs. Houston. We could put up a separate thread for those later games if there’s interest; otherwise, feel free to use this one to chat WBC as well as Mariners.

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World Baseball Classic preview: Cuba vs. Royals

Sep 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Bergert (38) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Is it Spring Training? Is it the World Baseball Classic? It’s both!

Today’s Royals game is an exhibition against Cuba. Which is fun! I like these contests; it’s not everyday that you get exhibitions against an entire country’s national team.

You’ll also notice who’s not in the lineup: Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jac Caglianone. That’s because they’re elsewhere, with Team USA and Team Italy.

Royals 3/3 lineup

Meanwhile, Cuba will field a roster headlined by Yoan Moncada as well as multiple other big league players.

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Knicks vs Raptors Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Toronto Raptors have taken care of business this season, winning the games they’re supposed to, positioning themselves well in the East.

However, things have been a little less smooth against tougher competition. On top of that, tonight’s opponent, the New York Knicks, has owned them.

My Knicks vs. Raptors predictions break down why it could be a tough night in The Six for the home team.

That and more NBA picks for this Eastern Conference clash, which is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Tuesday, March 3.

Knicks vs Raptors prediction

Knicks vs Raptors best bet: Knicks -2.5 (-112)

The Toronto Raptors sit in fifth place in the East, but are just 15-18 when facing teams above .500 this season. 

They’ve also made a habit of going up by double-digits against good teams before blowing the lead late in games.

The New York Knicks are a good team. Not only that, but the Knicks have owned the Raptors. New York has beaten Toronto in 11 consecutive meetings dating back to 2023, covering the spread all but once.

Both teams are Top 10 defensively, but the Raps can’t match the Knicks offensively. New York’s dominance over Toronto continues.

Knicks vs Raptors same-game parlay

The Knicks blew out the Raptors when they last met back on January 28, 119-92. 

Former Raptor OG Anunoby put up 26 points in that game, and has found his shooting rhythm again in the last two games. Take OG to burn his old team once again.

Another place the Knicks have an edge over the Raptors is on the glass. New York ranks fifth in rebounding rate, Toronto is 15th.

Take Mikal Bridges to go Over his rebounding prop of 3.5. It's a number he’s topped in eight of his last 12 games.

Knicks vs Raptors SGP

  • Knicks -2.5
  • OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
  • Mikal Brides Over 3.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Familiar faces

RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley need to have a good game against their old team at some point, right?

Jalen Brunson, averaging 26.7 ppg, is capable of going off at any time, like he did with 35 points vs. Toronto on Dec. 9 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Knicks vs Raptors SGP

  • RJ Barrett Over 17.5 points
  • Immanuel Quickley Over 17.5 points
  • OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
  • Jalen Brunson Over 25.5 points

Knicks vs Raptors odds

  • Spread: Knicks -2.5 | Raptors +2.5
  • Moneyline: Knicks -120 | Raptors +140
  • Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222

Knicks vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Knicks are 10-1 against the spread in their last 11 meetings against the Raptors. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Raptors.

How to watch Knicks vs Raptors

LocationScotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVMSG, Sportsnet

Knicks vs Raptors latest injuries

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Blackhawks Prospect Lands Big Chance After Murphy Trade

The Chicago Blackhawks made a notable move on Monday, as they traded defenseman Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a second-round pick. The Blackhawks moving Murphy was not surprising, as he was the subject of trade rumors for quite some time due to his pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) status. 

Now, with the Blackhawks trading Murphy, one of their promising young defensemen is getting another chance on the NHL roster.

The Blackhawks called up defenseman Ethan Del Mastro with Murphy being traded. Now, Del Mastro has a golden opportunity to show what he can do during his latest opportunity on the Blackhawks' roster.

After appearing in a career-high 24 NHL games last season with the Blackhawks, Del Mastro has only played in two games so far this campaign with Chicago. The Blackhawks' defensive depth made it hard for Del Mastro to crack the Blackhawks' roster this campaign, but with Murphy now gone, it has opened the door for him to get another look on Chicago's roster. 

Del Mastro has certainly earned this latest call-up from Chicago, as he is having a solid year in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. In 45 games, the 6-foot-4 defenseman has recorded two goals, 16 assists, 18 points, and a plus-1 rating. This is after he had nine assists in 47 games with Rockford last season.

Del Mastro is a solid prospect who Blackhawks fans should be excited to see back on the NHL roster. It will be fascinating to see how much of an impact he can make with Chicago, but there is no question that the 22-year-old has a great opportunity here. 

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Why Kon Knueppel deserves the NBA Rookie of the Year, but Cooper Flagg might get it anyway

DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 29: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks waits for the rebound on January 29, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The careers of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel will be inexorably linked throughout their time in the NBA. That’s bound to happen when you have two teammates who are close friends, college roommates, Top 5 picks, and both on the precipice of revolutionizing the NBA. Perception of these two players couldn’t have been more different when they were selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, but as we sit here in March it’s shaping up to be one of the the tightest NBA Rookie of the Year races in history.

Anointed for brilliance from the jump, Flagg was the most highly-touted U.S.-born prospect since LeBron James. A can’t-miss, generational talent, poised to transform a franchise, and there’s very little argument that he hasn’t lived up to the billing. The Mavericks are a mediocre team, still reeling from their disastrous Luka Doncic trade —but Flagg has been a bright spot. Dallas’ goal this season isn’t the playoffs, but rather having coach Jason Kidd throw so much usage at Flagg to get him the reps to be an even more complete player in the future.

Flagg would run away with the Rookie of the Year award without much resistance if this were any normal season, but the call is coming from inside the house. Kon Knueppel has been the NBA’s most surprising player, on the league’s most surprising team, changing the face of the Charlotte Hornets franchise in a way nobody expected. Instead of being the sidekick, a glue guy, or a plug-and-play shooter who would be additive, but not transformative, Knueppel has instead become a tone setter and culture changer for a Hornets team surging in the standings to find themselves in a play-in sport, with aspirations they could finish even higher and land a legitimate playoff series.

Kon Knueppel should be the NBA’s rookie of the year by every tangible metric. The only thing standing in his way is the weight of expectation placed on Flagg, and an unwavering belief that Flagg has to win the award as a building block of his eventual legacy. The reality is that while Flagg has been great, Kon has been better.

The raw numbers

If we remove all context from both players’ performances, it would be easy for a casual box score watcher to assume that Flagg has been ahead of Knueppel this season.

Cooper Flagg: 20.4 pts, 6.6 reb, 4.1 ast
Kon Knueppel: 19.3 pts, 5.5 reb, 3.5 ast

Its close, but Flagg’s numbers are higher, there’s no arguing that. There is a chance that Knueppel sees his overall totals rise further, but an even greater chance that Flagg pulls ahead even more — unless he’s sidelined due to injury, which is a real concern. The difference between these two players really shines when we get inside these basic numbers to contextualize each player’s performance.

What advanced stats say

It’s here that Knueppel blows Flagg out of the water, and they’re barely comparable as a result. Knueppel is shooting better in every area, with a 48.9 FG%, 44.0 3P%, and 87.8 FT% to Flagg’s 48.2/30.2/80.4 — but even more pronounced are the advanced metrics.

When it comes to true shooting percentage (TS%), which weighs threes, twos, and three throws to give an overall picture of shooting efficiency, there’s nobody like Kon Knueppel in the NBA this season. He is 14th in the NBA in TS% at 65.1. Cooper Flagg, for comparison, sits at 140th in the league at 51.5%.

In addition, Knueppel leads the NBA in 3P% among the 23 players who have attempted over 400 shots from beyond the arc this season. Only two other players in the league have shot over 40% on 400+ attempts: Collin Gillespie of the Suns (42.3%) and Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Pistons (40.3%). To put this in context Stephen Curry, the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history, has only shot above 44% from three on over 400 attempts four times in his career — Knueppel is doing it as a rookie.

The three-point shooting is a mammoth part of Knueppel’s resume, because he broke the single-season record for threes made by a rookie and did in 59 games. At this point it’s his record to stretch until the end. The trap is to assume that the shooting is all there is to Knueppel’s game, which is painfully far from the truth. Not only is he putting up elite numbers, but he’s dramatically helping the Hornets win games.

Knueppel ranks 21st in the NBA in win share with a +6.1, having a profound impact that’s almost equal to Victor Wembanyama with the Spurs (+6.2), and above Anthony Edwards (+5.8). While Flagg is still having an impactful year, his +3.2 win share ranks 111th.

You can go down the list of advanced metrics and Knueppel is lapping Flagg this season. Flagg is getting far more touches per game as the Mavericks make him the focal point of their entire offense, but Knueppel is having much more of an impact on the game with the opportunities he’s given.

PlayerTS%WSOFF +/-DEF +/-EPMEfficiency Rank
Cooper Flagg56%3.20.1-0.5-0.4198
Kon Knueppel65.20%6.13.10330

What’s the argument against Knueppel?

The core argument on putting Flagg as Rookie of the Year over Knueppel circles back to the expectations entering this season. The Mavericks are routing their entire offense through Flagg, and while that’s giving him a lot of experience being “the guy” in the NBA, it’s also hurting his efficiency. Meanwhile, Knueppel is a piece is a larger puzzle in Charlotte. On any given night he’s the second or third scoring option behind Brandon Miller, and sometimes LaMelo Ball. It’s certainly true that the biggest difference between Hornets wins and losses is having Knueppel as that ancillary offensive option, but he’s still not being asked to carry the load.

That has an impact on perception, which is impossible to ignore. It’s part of the eye test when it comes to watching both players on the court without digging into the stats. Every advanced metric might prove that Knueppel has been the better player, but turn on a game and Flagg looks like the centerpiece of a team, while Kon appears to be a piece in the puzzle.

The race for the NBA rookie of the year is coming down to the wire. A midfoot injury has sidelined Flagg and could be the difference maker in the race, but when the dust settles the arguments for rookie of the year are tantamount to bragging rights for fans, and little more. The holistic view is that both former Duke teammates could be taking over the NBA in different ways very, very soon — one as the all-encompassing, do-everything superstar, while the other is laying the groundwork for a potential run at Steph Curry’s three-point record. We can appreciate the individual brilliance of both, and just be happy we get to see two young stard shine, without trying to pit them against each other or diminish either’s accomplishments.

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ST Game 12: San Diego Padres at Chicago White Sox

Peoria, AZ - February 19: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres throws during a spring training practice on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

San Diego Padres at Chicago White Sox, March 3, 2026, 12:05 p.m. PST

Watch: None

Location: Camelback Ranch – Glendale, AZ

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!