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Who won 2026 NCAA championship? Score, highlights from March Madness title game

The Michigan Wolverines are your 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament national champions.

Dusty May the No. 1-seed Wolverines defeated No. 2 seed UConn on Monday, April 6, to claim the March Madness championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The championship is the second for the Wolverines, and first for the Big Ten since 2000.

REQUIRED READING: UConn vs Michigan national championship game live updates: Score, highlights

Elliott Cadeau paced the Wolverines in the win, scoring 19 points while nabbing three rebounds and two assists to lead the Wolverines to a 69-63 victory in the championship game.

UConn, conversely, got into foul trouble early and was never able to fully recover against the size and physicality of the Wolverines, though they did an admirable job keeping it close down the stretch — certainly closer than any other team the Wolverines had faced. They were led in scoring by Alex Karaban, who finished the night with 17 points.

Here's a look at who won the 2026 national championship in the men's basketball NCAA Tournament:

Who won NCAA championship between Michigan, UConn?

Michigan won the 2026 NCAA men's basketball national championship with a 69-63 win over UConn.

Michigan won its second national championship in program history and first since 1989. With the win, the Wolverines snapped a 26-year drought for the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State won the 2000 national championship as the last Big Ten school, beating Florida.

Michigan-UConn score in NCAA championship

TEAMS1H2HF
UConn293463
Michigan333669

Michigan-UConn stats

StatsUConnMichigan
FGs (%)21-68 (31%)21-55 (38%)
3PTs (%)9-33 (27%)2-15 (13%)
FTs (%)12-16 (75%)25-28 (89%)
Rebounds4639
Assists97
Steals46
Blocks26
Turnovers1110
Points off turnovers84
Fast break points42
Points in paint2236
Fouls2213
Largest lead311

Michigan-UConn highlights

Updated March Madness bracket, scores

East Region

First Round

  • No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65
  • No. 2 UConn 82, No. 15 Furman 71
  • No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67
  • No. 4 Kansas 68, No. 13 California Baptist 60
  • No. 5 St. John's 79, No. 12 Northern Iowa 53
  • No. 6 Louisville 83, No. 11 South Florida 79
  • No. 7 UCLA 75, No. 10 Central Florida 71
  • No. 9 TCU 66, No. 8 Ohio State 64

Second round

  • No. 1 Duke 81, No. 9 TCU 58
  • No. 5 St. John's 67, No. 4 Kansas 65
  • No. 3 Michigan State 77, Louisville 69
  • No. 2 UConn 73, No. 7 UCLA 57

Sweet 16

  • No. 1 Duke 80, No. 5 St. John's 75
  • No. 2 UConn 67, No. 3 Michigan State 63

Elite Eight

Midwest Region

First Round

  • No. 1 Michigan 101, No. 16 Howard 80
  • No. 2 Iowa State 108, No. 15 Tennessee State 74
  • No. 3 Virginia 82, No. 14 Wright State 73
  • No. 4 Alabama 90, No. 13 Hofstra 70
  • No. 5 Texas Tech 91, No. 12 Howard 71
  • No. 6 Tennessee 78, No. 11 Miami (Ohio) 56
  • No. 7 Kentucky 89, No. 10 Santa Clara 84 (OT)
  • No. 9 Saint Louis 102, No. 8 Georgia 77

Second round

  • No. 1 Michigan 95, No. 9 Saint Louis 72
  • No. 4 Alabama 90, No. 5 Texas Tech 65
  • No. 6 Tennessee 79, No. 3 Virginia 72
  • No. 2 Iowa State 82, No. 7 Kentucky 63

Sweet 16

  • No. 1 Michigan 90, No. 4 Alabama 77
  • No. 6 Tennessee 76, No. 2 Iowa State 62

Elite Eight

South Region

First Round

  • No. 1 Florida 114, No. 16 Prairie View A&M 55
  • No. 2 Houston 78, No. 15 Idaho 47
  • No. 3 Illinois 105, No. 14 Penn 70
  • No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 13 Troy 47
  • No. 5 Vanderbilt 78, No. 12 McNeese 68
  • No. 11 VCU 82, No. 6 North Carolina 78
  • No. 10 Texas A&M 63, No. 7 Saint Mary's 50
  • No. 9 Iowa 67, No. 8 Clemson 61

Second round

  • No. 9 Iowa 73, No. 1 Florida 72
  • No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 5 Vanderbilt 74
  • No. 3 Illinois 76, No. 11 VCU 55
  • No. 2 Houston 88, No. 10 Texas A&M 57

Sweet 16

Elite Eight

West Region

First round

  • No. 1 Arizona 82, No. 16 Long Island 58
  • No. 2 Purdue 104, No. 15 Queens 71
  • No. 3 Gonzaga 73, No. 14 Kennesaw State 64
  • No. 4 Arkansas 97, No. 13 Hawai'i 78
  • No. 12 High Point 83, No. 5 Wisconsin 82
  • No. 11 Texas 79, No. 6 BYU 71
  • No. 9 Utah State 86, No. 8 Villanova 76
  • No. 7 Miami 80, No. 10 Missouri 66

Second round

  • No. 1 Arizona 78, No. 9 Utah State 66
  • No. 4 Arkansas 94, No. 12 High Point 88
  • No. 11 Texas 74, No. 3 Gonzaga 68
  • No. 2 Purdue 79, No. 7 Miami 69

Sweet 16

Elite Eight

Final Four

National championship game

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won 2026 NCAA championship? March Madness title game score

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Michigan takes down Connecticut to end Big Ten men's basketball national title drought

INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan beat Connecticut 69-63 in a defensive battle to complete a dominant run through the NCAA tournament and capture the program’s second national championship.

The Wolverines previously reached the championship game in 1965, 1976, 1989, 1992-93, 2013 and 2018, winning it all in 1989. Michigan is the first Big Ten team to win the title since Michigan State in 2000.

The narrower victory against the Huskies came after the Wolverines had steamrolled into Monday night, winning all five of their tournament games by an average of 21.6 points.

This is coach Dusty May’s first national title. He previously reached the Final Four with Florida Atlantic in 2023.

Playing two nights after injuring his left knee in the semifinals against Arizona, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg had 13 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Point guard Elliot Cadeau had one of the best games of his career with 19 points and just one turnover. Morez Johnson Jr. posted 12 points and 10 rebounds.

UConn was led Alex Karaban’s 17 points. Guard Braylon Mullins had 11 points on 4 of 17 shooting and guard Solo Ball had 11 points in 16 minutes. Ball was dealing with a foot injury suffered against Illinois.

With its normally explosive offense struggling, Michigan’s defense stepped up to deliver the win.

The Huskies took a 16-15 lead midway through the first half as each team began to adjust to the other’s preferred tempo: more fast-paced for Michigan, more methodical for UConn. At this point, Cadeau and Johnson had combined for all of the Wolverines’ scoring.

The Huskies were already battling foul trouble, as Ball and point guard Silas Demary Jr. both picked up two quick whistles in the first eight minutes. They meant key early playing time for backup Malachi Smith, who finished with 6 points in 20 minutes of action.

Longer offensive possessions with extensive screening and ball movement along with suffocating perimeter defense helped UConn keep the Wolverines largely in check through the end of the first half.

Michigan went into the break ahead 33-29 after making 11 of 12 attempts from the free-throw line. But the Wolverines made just 11 of 30 attempts from the field and missed all eight shots from 3-point range. This was Michigan’s first half of play this season without at least one 3-pointer. UConn hit on just 10 of 30 attempts in the first half but made 5 of 15 from deep.

With its perimeter game missing, Michigan continued to attack the basket and took its biggest lead of the game at 41-33 on a Lendeborg and-one with 15:16 to play. This came amid a run of five UConn turnovers in eight possessions.

With 12:47 remaining, Cadeau made his team’s first 3-pointer to make it 48-37, giving Michigan its first double-digit lead. But the Wolverines were unable to land a knockout blow, at one point missing seven of eight shots, and UConn was able to make it a 50-45 game on a driving Demary layup with 8:24 on the clock.

Michigan answered with a 6-0 run to go in front 56-45 on a Lendeborg 3-pointer with 5:44 to play. That came after a potentially costly UConn possession that saw Karaban miss two free throws and then Demary miss a jumper following a Reed offensive rebound.

The Huskies continued to hang around, with Mullins drilling a 3-pointer after freeing himself with a pump fake to cut Michigan’s lead to 58-51 with 4:13 remaining. After two Cadeau free throws, a Karaban 3-pointer made it 62-56 at the two-minute mark.

In a huge moment on the ensuing possession, Michigan freshman guard Trey McKenney put home a 3-pointer of his own, pushing Michigan’s lead to 65-56 with 1:49 left.

After UConn forced a turnover with 45.7 seconds left, Ball banked in an arcing 3-point attempt to make it a 67-63 game. But Michigan would not be denied.

UConn would have a chance. After guard Roddy Gayle Jr. missed two free throws with 29.9 seconds to play, Karaban freed himself for a long jumper but came up short. Michigan corralled the loose ball with 13 seconds left and Trey McKenney would make two free throws to deliver the title.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan ends Big Ten's basketball title drought with defeat of UConn

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Yankees fans to get first live look at Cam Schlittler show with next-level repertoire

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For the first time since October — when he became forever endeared to the fan base with a dominant performance in a win-or-go-home playoff game against his hometown Red Sox, then was merely OK in an AL Division Series loss to the Blue Jays — the young right-hander who is pitching like a budding ace will take the mound again in The Bronx.

Schlittler, who mowed down batters in San Francisco and Seattle to begin his season, will get the ball when the Yankees host the Athletics on Tuesday night.

On display will be a cutter that has been tweaked and is being thrown harder, which adds a third fastball type to a repertoire that already was led by upper 90s four-seamers and two-seamers.

He is throwing with more velocity than ever — his average pitch has registered 95.1 mph, which entered play Monday behind only Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (95.9) and Cincinnati’s Chase Burns (95.1) among starters who had thrown at least 100 pitches — and has carried over the command he had displayed as he rose through the Yankees’ system throwing in the low 90s.

That marriage of overpowering stuff and pinpoint control helped him strike out 15 without allowing a run or a walk against the Giants and Mariners, the first pitcher in franchise history to accomplish this in a two-game span.

Cam Schlittler throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Seattle. AP

“His calling card since he got in the organization was his ability to throw strikes with his fastball, especially,” manager Aaron Boone said recently. “And now, as he’s gone to another level from a stuff standpoint, that’s really served him well.”

The 25-year-old, who was slightly behind in spring training due to a back issue, took down 5 ¹/₃ and 6 ¹/₃ innings despite throwing just 68 and 79 pitches, respectively, in his first two games as he continues to stretch out.

He probably will not be asked to throw 100-plus pitches Tuesday, but his command has ensured he has been able to pitch deep enough into the games to log a couple of wins.

Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) is pulled from the game by New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park. Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

“Just attack the zone and do what I can to get as far as I can with limited pitches,” Schlittler said in Seattle.

Schlittler was cheered loudly when he was introduced during the home opener, and the ovations should be louder for Schlittler Day.

Ben Rice (who hit .421 with three homers, nine RBIs and a 1.645 OPS) was a runner-up for American League Player of the Week, which went to Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (.471, three homers, eight RBIs, 1.733 OPS).

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Brisk temps and colder bats hand the White Sox a 2-1 loss to the Orioles

Despite a decent outing, Erick Fedde had no run support and took the loss. | (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)

It was a cold-night mix of sharp pitching and sloppy play, and despite a ninth-inning push, the White Sox managed just four hits in an anticlimactic end to their win streak. The Orioles didn’t do much better, though, with just seven hits.

Both teams wasted the first inning, each stranding a player on second. Erick Fedde came in for the second inning to replace the opener Grant Taylor and had a quick 1-2-3 inning. Austin Hays singled in his first at-bat against his former team, yet amidst a strikeout, Adley Rutschman caught Hays stealing to end the frame.

Fedde continued to dominate in the third, and Chase Meidroth got on base again, this time via a single (first was a walk), but once again, his teammates left him on base. This is a theme that would be repeated often as the Sox went a terrible 1-for-9 with RISP.

Rutschman picked up a walk with two outs in the top of the fourth, showing Fedde is indeed a mortal after all. Tyler O’Neill singled on a fly ball and managed to get Rutschman in, but in the process, Hays left the field limping after trying to field the ball. Now with the Orioles up 1-0, Ryan Mountcastle followed up with a single, putting runners in the corners with two outs. Fedde bounced back, forcing Colton Cowser to go down swinging, and stopped any further damage. Derek Hill picked up a two-out walk and stole second in the bottom of the fourth, but Andrew Benintendi stranded him, of course.

Coby Mayo started the top of the fifth with a single, but the progress was quickly erased with a double play ball, and Munetaka Murakami snatched a foul ball to end the frame. The Sox were retired in order.

Gunnar Henderson led off the sixth with a solo home run, putting the O’s up 2-0. In the Sox half, Meidroth once again got on base, went to second on a wild throw, and then third on a throwing error from Rutschman on the pickoff attempt. But guess what happened? He was stranded. Did you predict that outcome?

Mountcastle reached first on a base hit to start the seventh. Thankfully, the only White Sox position player who decided to show up (Meidroth) saved the inning by initiating a double play. In the bottom of the frame, Hill challenged and won a strike three call, giving him a full count turned walk. Alas, Rutschman again picked him off in a strike ’em out, throw ’em out.

Lucas Sims entered the game, replacing Fedde, in the eighth, and gave up a single to right away to Jeremiah Jackson. Two quick outs followed, and Quero threw Jackson out as he was attempting to swipe second during Pete Alonso’s at-bat. The South Siders went down in order in the bottom of the inning.

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The ninth opened quietly, but the Good Guys made it interesting in the bottom half. Back-to-back walks to Murakami and Vargas put runners on first and second. A ground out by Montgomery moved both into scoring position, and Mune came home on a pinch-hit ground out by Lenyn Sosa. Benintendi kept things interesting with an in-field single, but birthday boy Edgar Quero went down on strikes, killing any momentum.

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Grizzlies match NBA record by making 29 3-pointers in loss to Cavaliers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies made 29 3-pointers Monday night against Cleveland, matching an NBA single-game record.

And it wasn't enough.

Nine Grizzlies made at least one 3 in a 142-126 loss to the Cavaliers. The Grizzlies shot 49.2% (29 for 59) from deep and 45.7% (16 for 35) from inside the arc.

The 3-point record had been shared by Milwaukee and Boston. The Bucks made 29 3s in a 144-97 victory at Miami on Dec. 29, 2020, and the Celtics equaled the record in a 132-109 win against the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024.

“I think we can be pretty proud of how we played with this group today on the court,” Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “Guys wanted to go for it in the end, and we were all for it. Unfortunately couldn't set a singular record, but tied it. Nonetheless, very proud of our group.”

The Grizzlies made 10 3s in the first quarter, three in the second, six in the third and 10 in the final period.

The Cavaliers went 12 for 32 from 3 for the game.

“Incredible shooting performance by the Grizzlies. Give them credit,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They shot the heck out of the ball.”

Memphis reserves Adama Bal and Dariq Whitehead each made six 3-pointers. Lucas Williamson went 5 for 12 from deep, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper was 4 for 5.

The Grizzlies lost for the 18th time in their last 20 games. They were averaging 13.7 made 3-pointers per game coming into the day.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Banchero scores 31, Bane adds 25 to help the Magic turn back the Pistons

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday night.

Jalen Suggs had 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins scored 18 points apiece for Detroit. Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green added 17 each for the Pistons, who had 21 turnovers.

KNICKS 108, HAWKS 105

ATLANTA (AP) — CJ McCollum’s half-court shot at the buzzer was ruled no good after a review and New York held off Atlanta.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to give New York a three-point lead. McCollum took an inbounds pass near the free-throw line and took two dribbles before launching a shot that banked in. But replays showed the ball was still in his hands as time expired.

It was the Hawks’ first home loss since early February and put an end to Atlanta’s 13-game home win streak.

Brunson led New York with 30 points and 13 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. MVP chants erupted in State Farm Arena as a 17-point fourth quarter from Brunson carried New York to its 51st win of the season.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 36 points, 20 coming in the first half to help Atlanta to a 57-53 lead at halftime.

CAVALIERS 142, GRIZZLIES 126

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and Cleveland beat Memphis despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.

Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.

Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis’s franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis’ franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.

SPURS 115, 76ERS 102

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephon Castle had 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and San Antonio held on to beat Philadelphia after Victor Wembanyama left in the first half due to a left rib contusion.

Wembanyama’s status for the final week of the regular season is unknown.

San Antonio (60-19) is is 2 1/2 games behind Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City (62-16) and assured of finishing no worse than second in the conference.

Philadelphia lost its second straight as it battles to stay out of the play-in tournament. The 76ers (43-36) are a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 points.

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Cavaliers beat Memphis 142-126 as Grizzlies match NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Memphis 142-126 on Monday night despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.

Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.

Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis's franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis' franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.

Cleveland trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before using a 31-12 run to lead 68-64 at the break. Keon Ellis scored 16 points in the first half, and Mobley and Schroder each added 12. Schroder also had eight assists.

Cleveland outscored Memphis 28-16 over the first eight-plus minutes of the third quarter to build a 96-80 lead. Sam Merrill made a baseline jumper with 0.3 seconds left in the third for a 101-90 lead.

Merrill finished with 21 points for Cleveland and Ellis scored 19. Jarrett Allen moved into eighth place for blocks in franchise history with 431. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden did not play for Cleveland in the second game of a back-to-back.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 24 points for Memphis, which finished 13-27 at home this season. Dariq Whitehead and Adama Bal each had 20 points off the bench with six 3-pointers. Lucas Williamson added five 3-pointers and 17 points.

Memphis opened the second half with its 14th 3-pointer — in just 28 attempts.

Up next

Cavaliers: Play Wednesday in the first of two games against Atlanta.

Grizzlies: Close the season with three road games, beginning in Denver on Wednesday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Player Grades: Cavs at Grizzlies – Dennis Schroder posts double-double in win

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 6: Dennis Schroder #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 6, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won three straight games.

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

NOTE: I retroactively took half a grade away from everyone tonight for the three-point defense. That’s what happens when your opponent matches the NBA record for threes made.

Jarrett Allen

13 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Allen was in his bag tonight. His behind-the-back dribble into a monster dunk was my favorite moment of the game. But he also rejected the Grizzlies at the rim and showed his usual two-way impact throughout the night.

The Cavs are getting the most out of Allen, who is visibly still working through some discomfort in his knee.

Grade: B+

Evan Mobley

24 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds

Mobley had a favorable matchup all night. The Cavs did a fine job of taking advantage of that, repeatedly dumping the ball to Mobley and playing off his gravity. The result was a game-high 24 points for Mobley on 9-11 shooting.

I’m going to ding him slightly for not revving the engines even more. This could have been a 30+ point game for Mobley with the way he was rolling.

Grade: B+

Keon Ellis

19 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal

Ellis is in a groove. He scored 16 points in the first half on 6-9 shooting and delivered an electric dunk to help Cleveland erase a 17-point deficit. His 8 assists are perhaps the most impressive part of this stat line. The Grizzlies began to overcommit, and Ellis made them pay with his playmaking.

Grade: A

Craig Porter Jr.

11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

This is back-to-back games from Porter where I felt like he was matching his impact from earlier in the season. He filled up the box score by being everywhere all at once. He’s a lot of fun to watch, especially in a league that has moved away from players like Porter in favor of more three-point specialists.

Grade: A

Sam Merrill

21 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

Merill scored about half of his points in the third quarter. This was a stage of the game where it felt like Cleveland was truly pulling away. His three-level scoring has been a surprise development, and Merrill is proving he earned every penny of his offseason extension.

Grade: A–

Nae’Qwan Tomlin

10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Similar to Porter, Tomlin just put together two of his better games of 2026. He’s rediscovered his niche by being an energizer who assaults the glass on every possession.

Grade: A-

Dennis Schroder

22 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds

Schroder looks much better when he’s free to be the lead guard. He’s not someone who can thrive as an off-ball player. We understand that Schroder isn’t consistent enough to play this role for long on a winning team — but he’s clearly capable of being a substitute when you’re in a pinch.

He shot 8-12 and dished out a game-high 11 assists. That’s a big boost when you’re missing both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

Grade: A

Larry Nance Jr

10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Nance again provided quality minutes with the bench. I’m not sure if he’s done enough to warrant any minutes in the playoffs, but it’s good to see Nance dust off his shoulders before the season ends.

Grade: B

Tyrese Proctor

10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

The rook is getting some run before the season ends, and he’s likely out of the rotation. These are valuable reps for Proctor as he prepares for an offseason of improvement. The raw potential is there, but it will be hard for him to be truly impactful when he shoots 2-8 from the floor like tonight.

Credit for getting to the line and making up for it.

Grade: C–

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Zucker scores go-ahead goal as Sabres beat Lightning

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jason Zucker tipped in Bowen Byram’s shot for the go-ahead goal 7:38 into the second period, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Monday night, further tightening the race for the Atlantic Division title.

Jack Quinn, with an assist from goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, sealed the win by scoring into an empty net with 1:54 left. Josh Norris and Alex Tuch also scored. Buffalo snapped a minor 2-3-2 slump to tie the Lightning atop the division with 102 points, and two ahead of idle Montreal entering the final 10 days of the season.

Luukkonen stopped 23 shots to improve to 10-2-1 in his past 14 appearances and strengthen his hold on the starting job.

Jake Guentzel, with a goal and assist, and Nikita Kucherov also scored, and the Lightning lost in regulation for just the third time in 14 games (9-3-2). Kucherov became the NHL’s eighth Russian-born and second Lightning player to score 400 goals, and also tied Connor McDavid for the points lead with 126.

JETS 6, KRAKEN 2

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Kyle Connor scored twice, and Jonathan Toews and Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist each to lead Winnipeg to a victory over Seattle.

Brad Lambert and Vladislav Namestnikov, into an empty net, also scored for the Jets, who have collected points in seven of their last nine games.

Mark Scheifele registered three assists, while Josh Morrissey provided a pair. Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves for the win.

Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann scored for the Kraken, who extended their losing streak to five games and have lost nine of their last 10.

SHARKS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Will Smith earned his 100th NHL point with a third-period goal, and San Jose beat Chicago.

Smith scored the winning goal on a wrist shot 3:28 into the third, assisted by Collin Graf and Macklin Celebrini, putting the Sharks on top 3-1.

William Eklund had a goal and assist and Kiefer Sherwood also scored for the Sharks.

Ryan Donato and Frank Nazar each scored for the Blackhawks.

KINGS 3, PREDATORS 2, SO

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Adrian Kempe scored the only goal of the shootout in the second round, and Los Angeles tightened the Western Conference playoff race with a win over Nashville.

Los Angeles has played extra time in seven of its last 10 games — and 32 this season.

Joel Armia opened the scoring for the Kings and Scott Laughton made it a 2-1 lead in the second period. Jared Wright has an assist in a career-best three straight games.

Steven Stamkos tied it at 1-all for the Predators and Roman Josi knotted it at 2 early in the third.

Anton Forsberg made 29 saves in the win for the Kings. Saros made 26 saves for the Predators.

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Cavs beatdown Memphis for 50th win of the season

Apr 6, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis (14) reacts during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Sam Merrill added 21, and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies 142-126 for their 50th win of the season. Jarrett Allen returned to the starting lineup after resting Sunday night against Indiana, scoring 13 points and blocking two shots. The Cavs’ bench did their part too, with four reserves scoring in double-digits.

After securing a playoff spot and with a healthy lead in the standings for the fourth seed, the Cavs opted to rest their star backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. During the game, the Cavs also locked up no worse than fourth in the conference after the Atlanta Hawks lost to the New York Knicks.

With some level of concern regarding Allen’s knee, it was good to see him getting up and down the floor with ease and making athletic plays. In one sequence in the second quarter, he swatted a dunk attempt at the rim and came right back down the court with an and-one on a tough reverse lay-in. The Cavs will be cautious with his minutes in these somewhat less essential games, but it’s important for Allen to stay sharp after his absences over the last month or so.

Mobley imposed his size and athleticism, which should be expected against a team that was playing mostly reserves and G League players. It would’ve been nothing short of concerning had Mobley put forth a bad game, especially since he sat out the night before. His 9-11 shooting from the floor was especially impressive, and some of those makes were good post moves and offensive process.

Take the starters out of the equation, and there were some definite positives for the Cavs. Seemingly every quarter, one player put themselves on display and made an impact. Nae’Qwan Tomlin had an energy-filled first quarter that helped keep the Cavs within striking distance. Keon Ellis had an excellent second quarter, punctuated by a three with just over a second left in the half. Even the venerable Larry Nance Jr. had some quality minutes, an opportunity he will likely have for the remainder of the regular season.

Craig Porter Jr. (11 points, eight rebounds, six assists) and Tyrese Proctor (10 points, three steals) played well in more expanded minutes without Mitchell or Harden, and Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists in the starting lineup. It was a very balanced effort from the Cavs overall, the kind of game that allows each player to shine for at least a little bit. And tonight, there were quite a few players who fit that.

The Cavs will get two days off before coming back home tk play the Hawks, potentially an early preview of a first-round playoff matchup. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m from Rocket Arena.

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Kyle Connor scores twice and Jets roll past Kraken 6-2

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Kyle Connor scored twice, and Jonathan Toews and Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist each to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Monday night.

Brad Lambert and Vladislav Namestnikov, into an empty net, also scored for the Jets, who have collected points in seven of their last nine games.

Mark Scheifele registered three assists, while Josh Morrissey provided a pair. Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves for the win.

Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann scored for the Kraken, who extended their losing streak to five games and have lost nine of their last 10.

Seattle starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer left the game with an undisclosed injury in the second period after allowing three goals on 18 shots. Joey Daccord entered in relief and made 10 saves.

The loss dealt a devastating blow to Seattle’s bid for a playoff spot, costing the club an opportunity to close the gap in the Western Conference wild-card race.

Scheifele registered his 900th career NHL point with his secondary assist on Connor’s second-period goal.

Up next

Kraken: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

Jets: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Padres claw back to .500 with shutout against Pirates

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Germán Márquez #33 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres needed a good start from German Marquez and he provided exactly that with five shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates to open the three-game series at PNC Park on Monday. The former Colorado Rockies ace allowed six hits and just one walk with five strikeouts. Marquez, who struggled in his first start for San Diego against the San Francisco Giants, quieted a Pittsburgh offense that came into the contest on a five-game win streak.

The Padres offense needed a few innings to catch up to Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler who was routinely throwing fastballs in triple digits. San Diego scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning when Nick Castellanos doubled to left to score Manny Machado to put the Padres ahead. 1-0.

San Diego tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Jackson Merrill hit a ground-rule double to left-center to score Ramon Laureano and Fernando Tatis Jr. moved to third on the play. Chandler was removed from the game and replaced by Yohan Ramirez. Manny Machado welcomed Ramirez with an RBI-groundout that put the Padres ahead, 3-0.

San Diego added the fourth run of the game in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-0 lead before Ron Marinaccio took over for Marquez in the bottom of the sixth inning. He worked two scoreless frames allowing one hit, one walk and recorded a strikeout.

The Padres completed the scoring in the game in the top of the eighth inning when Freddy Fermin hit a one-out single. He scored from first base when Laureano connected on a two-double to put San Diego ahead, 5-0.

David Morgan came in for the final two innings of the game and was not perfect, allowing three walks, but he limited the damage and the defense did enough to keep the shutout intact.

The Padres will try to push their three-game win streak to four against the Pirates and their ace Paul Skenes on Tuesday at 3:40 p.m.  

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Dodgers shell Bisons’ pitching staff in 14-2 Jays loss

Apr 6, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) hits a home run and celebrates with shortstop Hyeseong Kim (6) against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Dodgers 14 at Blue Jays 2

The last two games I recapped were one run, extra inning losses. Tonight was…not that. The Dodgers picked up right where they left off last fall when they were last here clubbing long balls, and it’s generally not going to be a good night when the other team has more home runs (5) than you have total bases (4) before the position players start pitching.

Frankly, the less said about this one the better, but the one potentially major takeaway before things got out of hand is the status of Max Scherzer. In contrast to the vintage form he displayed pretty much all spring, Scherzer’s stuff was off today. His fastball was only about 91-92, and his slider lacked good form. After yielding a two run home run to old friend Teoscar Hernandez in the first, he worked a scoreless second but was signaling to the dugout that was okay. Nonetheless, it was the end of his night, and given the state fo the pitching rotation one can only hope that he was just under the proverbial weather with what’s been going around the clubhouse rather than something more significant.

(Update: John Schneider said forearm tendinitis in his postgame presser, so that sounds great)

That left the Jays needing to use the recent call-ups to bridge the gap, and the Dodgers feasted on the soft underbelly of what is basically AAA pitching. Josh Fleming pitched three innings, allowing at least the first batter to reach in each inning and giving up four runs including an absolute moonshot from Freddie Freeman on “home soil”.

Joe Mantiply was next up, greeted in the 6th by Shohei Ohtani taking him yard, walking a couple who scored on a two out double. Tommy Nance had a similar rough experience, greeting by an abolsute moonshot by Dodger rookie catcher Dalton Rushing, and then three more on a string of hard hit balls. Spencer Miles gave up another home run to Rushing in the 8th for good measure. The pitching star turned out not to be pitcher at all, as Tyler Heinemann pitched a mercifully clean and quick 9th.

As bleak as that was, the bats were not much better. The Jays put one the board in the 1st after George Springer walked and Kaz Okamoto and Ernie Clement singled with two out. With the opportunity to do some real damage, they left the bases loaded and they Justin Wrobleski off the hook. From that point they managed no more than one runner in any inning until the Dodgers countered Heinemann with Miguel Rojas in the 9th. The bats are simply not getting it done.

Jays of the Day: Anyone who didn’t bother with this one (though arguably that would include most of all of the start lineup, so on second thought…). Clement has the high number at +0.08 WPA. Hat tip to Heinemann.

Boo Jays: Scherzer (-0.11) and Fleming (-0.23). The margin was too big by the time Mantiply and Nance (both -0.02) got in the game, but their lines merit inclusion as well.

The good news is, no matter how one-sided that was, the slate is always wiped clean to start the next day. Kevin Gausman will look to end the Jays five game losing streak though they’ll be in tough against Yoshinobu Yamamoto tomorrow evening.

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5-5 – Burger feeds Rangers first home win with 2-1 victory over M’s

Apr 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (21) celebrates from second base after he hits a double and drives in the go ahead run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Texas Rangers scored two runs while the Seattle Mariners scored one run.

In a battle between the league’s two best starters from Stetson University who happen to also be two of the best starters in the American League, Jacob deGrom out-dueled Logan Gilbert as the Rangers finally won a home game even if they were again embroiled in low scoring affair at The Shed.

The reigning AL West champion Mariners got on the board first when 2025 AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh worked a 12-pitch at-bat against deGrom with pitch No. 12 parked deep into the right field seats for his first home run of the year. The solo shot gave the M’s a 1-0 lead a couple of batters into the game.

With deGrom on a shorter leash in the early going, and with Raleigh kind of stinking up the joint throughout the spring months following his 60 homer campaign last year, it was a frustrating way to start the game with Texas trailing before the had even gotten the opportunity to bat.

When they did bat, however, they returned the favor to Gilbert with Wyatt Langford doubling and Corey Seager driving him in. Tied 1-1 after an inning, deGrom and Gilbert traded zeros until the bottom of the 6th when the Rangers finally broke through for a run-scoring rally.

Seager singled following two quick outs and then scampered into scoring position on a wild pitch before Jake Burger doubled over the head of Randy Arozarena to produce the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run.

Of course, with the Rangers having issues figuring out the right combination for their high leverage relief so far, and in a one run game with deGrom already out, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that Burger’s RBI would stand up.

Against one of the AL’s top contenders, a relief combo of Jalen Beeks, Tyler Alexander, Cole Winn, Robert Garcia, and Jakob Junis worked together to toss four scoreless innings and the Rangers had their first home win of the year.

It hasn’t been easy for Texas to beat the Mariners in recent seasons so it was nice to see them claim the first one of the year, even as they still await impactful production from their bats. Ah well, we all know this is a pitching org anyway.

Player of the Game: Burger and Seager did the heavy lifting at the plate but other than the Dumper at-bat, deGrom seemed untouchable for the fairly truncated amount of time he was in the game. deGrom finished allowing just the dinger to Raleigh while walking one and striking out six Mariners. Overall, the Rangers allowed just two Seattle hits on the night.

The downside to deGrom’s outing was that he was only good for five innings on 78 pitches as he continues to build up from starting slow in spring training and seeing his first start of the year delayed a few days last week.

Also, let the record show that Danny Jansen was the first Ranger to successfully challenge a ball/strike call while in the field. Before tonight, the Rangers were the only team in the league that hadn’t had an offering from their pitchers successfully reversed.

Up Next: More Rangers and Mariners with RHP Nathan Eovaldi next up for Texas opposite RHP George Kirby for Seattle.

The Tuesday evening first pitch from The Shed is set for 7:05 pm CDT and you can catch it on the Rangers Sports Network.

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San Antonio vs. Philadelphia, Final Score: Spurs lose Wemby but endure over 76ers, 115-102

Apr 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The Spurs returned home from an OT loss in Denver to close the regular season on a four-game home stand, beginning against a fully healthy Philadelphia 76ers squad. Although they lost Victor Wembanyama to a bruised rib at halftime, everyone contributed in a team effort to methodically break down the 76ers defense and make life as difficult as possible on their way to a 115-102 win.

Six Spurs score in double figures, led by a 19-point, 11-rebound, 13-assist triple-double, and Wemby had 17 points in one half, as did Dylan Harper off the bench. Joel Embiid scored 34 points, including 16-19 from the free throw line, but the Spurs held Paul George and Tyrese Maxey in check, who combined for 31 points on 11-31 shooting.

Observations

  • The Spurs seemed to be suffering a bit from “first game back” syndrome early on after playing three straight and six of seven on the road, lacking energy and being reckless with the ball while the 76ers were hot from three, especially Paul George, who had 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter. The Spurs finally woke up a bit for a 7-2 run to close the quarter and take a one-point lead, but five turnovers, including a couple during that run, held them back.
  • Every team’s last-week biggest fear occured early in the first quarter when Embiid hobbled out after tweaking his knee as Castle drove by, and Castle soon followed after appearing to bang knees with Wemby. Fortunately, Embiid returned with three minutes left in the first quarter (but was still hobbling and stretching it out when he could), and Castle was soon back on the bench after a brief visit to the locker room and re-entered to start the second quarter.
  • Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of injury scares. Early in the second quarter, Wemby headed to the locker room after colliding with George on a fast break, appearing to favor his left side. He returned midway through the quarter, although he was wincing at times (such as when he collided with Embiid on an and-one) and visited with trainer Will Sevening during breaks in play. He headed to the locker room with under a minute left in the half and did not return, diagnosed with a left rib contusion. Hopefully the Spurs simply decided there was no reason to risk anything more and are just being cautious. That being said, he did get 16 minutes in, so this counts as his second “near miss exception” towards his 65-game count, which includes the NBA Cup Final, so he just needs one more 20-minute game to meet the requirement for awards.
  • With Embiid slow to get back on defense, even when staying on his feet, the Spurs finally figured out that attacking in transition was the way to go, with 11 fast break points at the half. When their defense did get set, they simply forced Embiid to have to move on defense and slid right by him. Although he had a big second quarter with 17 of his 20 first-half points, the Spurs still added six points to the lead by taking better care of the ball and attacking the weak points in the 76ers defense.
  • The 76ers started the third quarter on a 10-3 run before the Spurs responded with a 9-0 run and led by as much as 11, but they struggled while being forced to play small lineups and keeping Embiid off the foul line. Philly got as close as two points before the Spurs closed the quarter on a quick 5-0 run, including a three from Dylan Harper just before the buzzer.
  • The Spurs continued to ride that energy and out-hustle the 76ers in the fourth quarter, grabbing tough rebounds and maintaining a double-digit lead it almost the entire time. The win gives them their first 60-win season since 2017 and 8th overall. Also, combined a Pistons loss to the Magic tonight, this means the Spurs have secured home court advantage in the Finals, although they are a long way and tough road away from even worrying about that.