Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 15, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Raptors will still be without their starting point guard for their first-round matchup against the Cavaliers.
Immanuel Quickley aggravated his already strained right hamstring while working his way back from injury and will be unavailable for the remainder of the series, the Raptors announced Friday.
Quickley, 26, has already missed the first three games of the playoffs due to the injury, which he suffered during Toronto’s regular season finale against the Nets after missing multiple games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 15, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NBAE via Getty Images
After injuries plagued Quickley’s 2024-25 season with the Raptors, he established himself as Toronto’s starting point guard this season, averaging 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 44.3 percent in 70 games.
Second-year NBA guard Jamal Shead is starting in Quickley’s place against Cleveland, averaging 7.3 points and 2.3 steals in the series thus far.
“We missed Quickley big time with the way he gets us organized and his shooting helps our team out,” Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters following the Raptors’ 126-113 Game 1 loss to Cleveland, according to the Associated Press. “I like Jamal’s defense and what we need on the court.
“We wanted to have multiple ball handlers on the floor with Jamal.”
Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NBAE via Getty Images
Toronto’s 126-104 victory over the Cavaliers on Thursday snapped a 12-game playoff losing streak against the club — which dates back to LeBron James’ tenure with Cleveland — and cut the series deficit to 2-1.
Two-time All-Star forward Scottie Barnes led the way for Toronto on Thursday, setting career playoff highs in both points (33) and assists (11), while shooting 11-of-17 from the field.
“We knew we needed everybody for this win and you’ve seen some big performances from everybody,” Barnes told reporters following the game. “It just goes to show how resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do whatever it took.”
Rajakovic lauded Barnes’ Game 3 performance, saying that he “did everything for us tonight.”
Giants General Manager Joe Schoen strongly denied a report concerning trade talks involving edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
A report shortly before the start of the the second round of the draft indicated that the Giants were talking to the Saints and others about a trade that would move Thibodeaux off of the Giants' roster. Schoen said on Friday night that there was no validity to that report.
"We have not had any conversations about Kayvon Thibodeaux today," Schoen said, via multiple reporters. "That's not true."
Thibodeaux is heading into the final year of his contract and Thursday night's addition of Arvell Reese gives the Giants a lot of options off the edge, so a Thibodeaux trade seemed like a possible way to address other needs. It does not look like such a move is on the horizon, however.
STREAKING: The Cubs’ nine-game winning streak is their longest since they won 11 in a row July 31-Aug. 12, 2016. They had won nine in a row Aug. 6-15, 2015, then lost the 10th game. This is their 35th streak of at least nine games since 1901. They won the 10th in 23 of them. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WINNING THE ONES YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO WIN: Until tonight, the Cubs have not faced an opponent with a winning record in 11 consecutive games, during which they went 10-1. The Cubs’ last such game was on April 12, when they stormed from behind to walk off the Pirates, 7-6. The Cubs are 3-4 in games this year vs. teams with more wins than losses. The two earlier wins were at home vs. the Nationals, in the second game of the season, and at Cleveland, in their eight game. The losses were to Cleveland, in their seventh and ninth games, and at home vs. the Pirates in their 13th and 14th.
WINNING WHEN SCORING LOTS OF RUNS: The Cubs are 14-4 when they have scored at least four runs, including 12-1 with six or more. They are 11-2 when they have allowed three of fewer; 5-7 with at least four.
THE BUSCH LEAGUE:Michael Busch, career at Dodger Stadium: .317/.379/.633 (19-for-60) with seven doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI. Busch batted .235/.333/.412, 8-for-34 with three doubles and a home run at Dodger Stadium while with the Dodgers in 2023. As a Cub in L.A.: .423/.444/.923 (11-for-26) with four doubles, three home runs and nine runs scored.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Jameson Taillon’s numbers are just about at his career averages. His K rate and BB rate are both up a bit from last year, and he’s already served up six home run balls in just 22.2 innings. His last start, last Saturday against the Mets, was pretty good.
Jamo has not faced the Dodgers in more than three years. The last time was April 15, 2023 at Dodger Stadium, so long ago that Jason Heyward started for L.A. in that game.
Current Dodgers are batting .260 (21-for-79) against Taillon. Kyle Tucker has homered off him and Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez have both gone deep twice. Advice: Keep the ball in the yard tonight please.
This will be Emmet Sheehan’s first full year in the Dodgers rotation, as he missed all of 2024 and part of last year after Tommy John surgery. He got hit pretty hard in his first two starts this year, the last two have been better.
He has never faced the Cubs, and among current Cubs, only Alex Bregman (1-for-4) and Michael Conforto (0-for-3) have faced him.
Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Former New Zealand and Essex all-rounder Doug Bracewell has been given a two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine during an English County Championship match last year.
HOUSTON — There’s a moment in every great player’s career when the noise around them gets loud enough and the world decides it knows what the ending should be before the final chapter has been written.
For LeBron James, that moment came in early March.
The Lakers’ LeBron James has shown he is comfortable filling any role the team needs. NBAE via Getty Images
James missed three games between March 6-10, and the Lakers were 3-0 without him. In their dominant victories over the Pacers, Timberwolves and Knicks, the team appeared to play freer without him. They looked younger, faster and even better on defense.
Fans and analysts alike pointed to James’ absence and said the Lakers would be better without him. Some even suggested he come off the bench. The audacity. The lazy analysis. James heard it all.
“But it sells papers a lot easier … if you say their team is better off without LeBron,” he said. “They’re absolutely wrong.”
So, LeBron didn’t just go out and say it. He proved it on the court.
Before we explain further, let’s rewind to the beginning of the NBA season.
James missed training camp and the first month of the season with sciatica. The Lakers went 10-4 without him, powered by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
When James returned, he was rusty and still not in game shape. Still, they went 6-1 in his first seven games back. Then injuries stalled things. Reaves went down with a calf strain and missed the next two months. The team drifted without him, 10-10 over a 20-game stretch that felt a lot longer than it actually was.
James missed training camp and the first month of the season with sciatica. The Lakers went 10-4 without him, powered by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. NBAE via Getty Images
All three were healthy after the All-Star break, but the fit wasn’t seamless. They went 4-4 over their next eight games before James missed those three consecutive in early March.
Most superstars would push back on the narrative that the team is better off without them.
Instead, James leaned in.
He watched. Studied. Adjusted. And then, quietly, he stepped aside.
He told Doncic and Reaves to keep playing free. To not worry about feeding him the ball on offense. He was happy playing the third fiddle if that meant the team would continue winning. That’s not a small concession for a player who has spent over two decades being the system instead of learning to play inside of one.
But its credit to James and his evolution. His decision to be the third scoring option behind Doncic and Reaves changed everything.
James has been the engine that drives the Lakers since injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers ripped through March with a 16-2 record in an 18-game span. Not because James was dominating the ball but because he was dominating in other areas of the game. Defense. Rebounding. Pace of play. He became the connective tissue of the Lakers’ new identity instead of its centerpiece.
But then came April 2. Doncic and Reaves went down with injuries. With just five games left in the regular season, the Lakers were on the brink.
This is typically where the fairytale ends. Everyone wrote off the Lakers.
He went back to being the engine that drives the Lakers. The primary scorer, ball handler and playmaker. Not out of ego but out of necessity. And now, the Lakers have a lead in their first-round playoff series against the Rockets, who were heavy favorites before the series began.
“LeBron is making it very known to not get too comfortable,” Lakers center Deandre Ayton told reporters at practice Thursday. “This is the playoffs. Anything can happen.”
Even at 41 years old, James is averaging 39 minutes, 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds per game in the playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
Even at 41 years old, James is averaging 39 minutes, 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds per game in the playoffs. Those numbers would be impressive for a player in his prime, let alone someone who has already lapped the league’s timeline twice over.
LeBron’s production in this series forces the only question that now matters for the Lakers: How can you walk away from this after the season inevitably ends?
Yes, the future of the Lakers’ franchise belongs to Doncic. Yes, Reaves will become a free agent and deserves to get paid. Yes, the cap sheet is tight, and the CBA is unforgiving. Every dollar matters.
But so does context.
James has already shown he can adjust his role. He has already taken less to help the roster. And now he’s shown — again — that when everything breaks, he can still carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
That’s not a luxury. That’s a safety net you don’t discard and do everything in your power to keep it in Los Angeles.
If LeBron wants to play a 24th season, then the Lakers can’t get cute. They can’t overthink it. They don’t chase financial flexibility over tangible greatness.
Bring him back.
For James, that likely requires a pay cut. But that’s the reality regardless of which team he signs with if he wants to compete for a championship. The market will correct that conversation quickly.
So if the dollars flatten out across the league, why leave?
His son, Bronny, is under contract with the Lakers next season. His life and family are rooted in Los Angeles. His legacy is already intertwined with the franchise’s history. And more importantly, basketball is still being played at a high level.
The blueprint of this season can be the blueprint for next season.
The Lakers don’t need LeBron to be who he was.
They just need him to be exactly who he’s become.
And over the past two months, including the playoffs, he’s reminded everyone that version might be just as valuable.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart reacts after making a basket during overtime of the win over the Rockets on Friday night in Houston. (Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images)
Marcus Smart had not been in the playoffs since 2023, having languished with Memphis and Washington, two teams unlike a Lakers franchise that views the playoffs as a birthright.
Now that Smart is back in the postseason with the Lakers, he has made up for that lost time, playing with zest, smarts and energy.
Smart’s eight points in overtime was part of his overall game of 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocked shots plus his usual outstanding defense that helped the Lakers pull out a 112-108 win in overtime over the Houston Rockets Friday night at Toyota Center.
Along with LeBron James collecting 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists and Rui Hachimura scoring 22 points, the Lakers have a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Lakers can close out the first-round Western Conference series by winning Game 4 here Sunday night.
Smart drilled a three-pointer in the overtime for a 104-101 Lakers lead. After a missed shot, Smart crashed the boards and was fouled.
Rockets guard Amen Thompson protects the ball as he dribbles while Lakers guard Marcus Smart reaches for a steal. (Michael Wyke / Associated Press)
He made two free throws for a 109-105 lead and then made three of his next four free throws for what turned out to be the final points of the game.
The Lakers opened a 15-point lead in the first half, but saw the Rockets crawl back to tie the score at 87-87 with six minutes and 22 seconds left.
It was game-on now.
When Reed Sheppard drilled a three-pointer with 4:49 left, it gave the Rockets a 92-91 lead, their first since the first quarter.
The Lakers called a timeout to regroup.
But Jaxson Hayes missed twice, one of his shots getting blocked by Alperen Sengun.
Amen Thompson made one of two free throws and Sengun scored for a 95-91 Rockets lead that made the Lakers play catch-up from that point on.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes dunks the ball over Rockets center Clint Capela during the first half in Game 3 on Friday night. (Michael Wyke / Associated Press)
After Sengun stole a pass from James and dunked for a 101-95 Rockets lead with 40.6 seconds left, the Lakers looked completely done.
But Smart stole the ball and got fouled shooting a three-pointer. He made all three of his free throws to pull the Lakers to within 101-98 with 25.4 seconds left.
The Lakers needed a stop on defense.
They got it when James tipped the ball away from Sheppard from behind. Smart got the ball. It eventually ended up back in the hands of James, who drilled a three-pointer to tie the score at 101-101 with 13.1 seconds left.
The Lakers got another impressive defensive stop when Hayes forced Sengun into a bad shot that missed. James got the rebound and called a timeout with 1.2 seconds left.
James took the last shot for the Lakers, the ball rimming out as time expired in the fourth quarter, the score tied at 101-101, sending the game into overtime.
The night began with Austin Reaves being listed as questionable for the game, then with him warming up and eventually being downgraded to out because of his left oblique muscle strain. Reaves has missed all three playoff games and the last five regular-season games, the same as teammate Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain).
The night began for the Rockets with Kevin Durant working out in an attempt to play in the game, but he too was ruled out with a left ankle sprain suffered in Game 2 in Los Angeles. Durant was already dealing with a right knee contusion that forced him to miss Game 1.
This essentially meant both teams had to play on, to find a way even if they were missing key parts.
For the Lakers, the door opened for Hachimura, who stepped through it with aplomb in the first quarter. He didn’t miss any of his field goals, shooting six for six from the field and three for three from three-point range, scoring 16 points. He played all 12 minutes in helping the Lakers open a 39-32 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was a career-high for points in a quarter for Hachimura, regular season or playoffs.
Even Bronny James showed he was ready for the moment when the Lakers called on the second-year guard. He drilled a three-pointer in the second quarter and then scored on a reverse layup off a lob pass from his father. Both plays drew cheers from the fans inside the arena.
Along with a defense that held the Rockets to 37.2% shooting in the first half, the Lakers lead 63-52 at the half.
But, just like the first two games of the series, McCollum toyed with him.
Josh Hart was the only Knick to slow down CJ McCollum in the Knicks’ Game 3 loss, but head coach Mike Brown did not put him on McCollum in the Hawks’ final possession, and it proved costly. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado each got stints trying to slow McCollum down in the second quarter, but the results were the same.
It wasn’t until the Knicks had Josh Hart guard McCollum in the second half that anything changed. McCollum was just 2-for-5 when guarded by Hart, per the league’s official tracking stats.
Needing just one stop to all but secure their comeback, though, the Knicks went back to McBride. And it backfired.
With 16.4 seconds left, the Knicks led by one and the Hawks had a side out-of-bounds in the frontcourt. Coach Mike Brown went with a small lineup, without Karl-Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson on the floor.
That meant OG Anunoby guarded Onyeka Okongwu, Mikal Bridges guarded Nickeil-Alexander-Walker and Landry Shamet guarded Jonathan Kuminga. As a result, Hart was on the inbounds passer — Jalen Johnson — and McBride was on McCollum.
McBride quickly fell a step behind McCollum, who curled as he caught the inbounds pass.
McBride eventually caught up, but it was too late — McCollum comfortably pulled up for a midrange jumper. McBride got a hand up, but his lack of size compared to Hart meant it didn’t affect McCollum, who easily buried the shot that ended up being the game-winner.
“I knew they had to go quick,” McBride said Friday. “Main thing is, he’s a really good player. I’m not happy with my contest. He made the shot. I feel like if I maybe had bumped him earlier, but trying to get a feel for how the game was being called. I don’t want to put him at the free throw line in a sense like that.
“Maybe just be more aggressive and make it tougher.”
The Knicks have made McCollum — who has never been an All-Star — look like a superstar this series. Their inability to contain him has been among the biggest problems this series.
Hart stopped the bleeding for a period of time. “Just tried to make it tough for him,” is how he described it.
But he didn’t get a chance to finish the job.
When it mattered most, McCollum again had the last laugh. And, as McBride said on Friday, the Knicks are now “playing for our lives.”
With their lives on the line, who Brown has guarding McCollum is at the top of his most critical decisions.
Apr 12, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals return home for a short 3-game homestand as the visiting Seattle Mariners come to town. Unfortunately, former Cardinal Brendan Donovan will not see action as he’s on the injured list. Here’s hoping there will be an opportunity for fans to show their appreciate to Brendan at some point. Andre Pallante is scheduled to get the start for the Cardinals while George Kirby will be on the mound for Seattle. First pitch scheduled for 7:15pm central time.
Apr 18, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby (68) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Texar Rangers at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
The Mariners had a fairly underwhelming homestand, going just 3-3 against a pair of division rivals in the Rangers and A’s, but a walkoff from Josh Naylor on Wednesday salvaged much of the vibes. After an off day yesterday, Seattle embarks on its first Midwest road trip of the year, kicking things off with a rare three-game set at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The last time the M’s squared off against the Cardinals on their turf, they took two out of three in September 2024, and I know I would happily take that this time around.
Lineups:
Hotshot prospect JJ Wetherholt will lead things off for the Cards, and Jordan Walker appears to have finally unlocked his full potential with a monster start to 2026. St. Louis will be sending out a ground-ball-happy righty in Andre Pallante, and with a sensational defensive shortstop in Masyn Winn playing behind him, it would be prudent for the Mariners’ lineup to get the ball in the air. George Kirby will look to build off a strong outing against Texas, and Seattle will be rolling out its usual lineup against right-handed pitching, with Leo Rivas once again at the hot corner while Brendan Donovan is on the mend.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 03: Will Warren #98 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 03, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fresh off a three-game sweep of Boston at Fenway Park, the Yankees begin the second series of this nine-game road trip. The opponent? Another rival club that is off to a rough start to 2026: the Houston Astros. Devastated by injuries to their pitching staff, the ‘Stros come into the series with a 10-16 record. If you’re wondering how it’s going for Houston on the mound, peep the 5.81 team ERA and collective 1.630 WHIP.
Will Warren takes the ball for New York, coming off one of the finest outings of his career (by Game Score, the second-best) against Kansas City. Warren struck out 11 over seven innings of two-run ball. The 26-year-old is off to a solid start in 2026, with a 2.45 ERA through 25.1 frames. Warren has relied heavily on his heat, throwing his four-seamer and sinker a combined 68 percent of the time. He augments those with his sweeper. And against lefties, he adds a curve and a change into the mix.
Meanwhile, Lance McCullers, Jr., one of the few healthy Astros starting pitchers, makes the start for Houston. One of the scant Astros remaining from the controversial 2017 team that knocked the Yankees out of the ALCS during Aaron Judge’s phenomenal rookie year, McCullers’ career has been absolutely derailed by injury, as he’s missed three entire seasons, including 2023 and 2024. This will be his fifth start of the season. His last two outings have been particularly rough, with McCullers allowing a combined 10 runs in 9.1 innings. Walks have been an issue, with five free passes in those 9.1 innings.
With the Yanks facing a right-handed pitcher for the first time in what seems like months, the lefty boppers are in the lineup. Trent Grisham leads off, and Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice sit behind Judge. Austin Wells gets the night off, so J.C. Escarra dons the tools of ignorance. With all the time McCullers has missed, not many Yankees have experience against him. Judge has faced him 11 times, the most for any Yankee. Giancarlo Stanton is the only Bronx Bomber who’s taken McCullers deep.
Let’s keep this whole “immiserate our enemies” thing going. The Yanks kicked Boston while they were down. Here’s hoping they can do it to the H.
How to Watch:
Location: Daikin Park — Houston, TX
First Pitch: 8:10 pm EDT
TV broadcast: YES / Space City Home Network
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 / KTRH 740 AM/99.1 FM HD-2, KTLN-TUDN 102.9 FM
he Houston Astros (10-16) will play the first of a three-game series with their heated interdivision rival New York Yankkes (16-9), tonight at Daikin Park.
RHP Lance McCullers Jr (1-1, 6.20 ERA) will make his fifth regular season appearance for the Astros tonight opposite the Yankees and starter RHP Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Lance McCullers is making his fifth start of the season as he tries to right the ship after three consecutive lackluster starts.
This season, McCullers opened the season with a brilliant seven inning outing, but has since struggled to get through the fifth inning. He did make it through five innings the last time out, but did give up four tuns in the process taking another loss.
HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the first game of a brief three game home stand against the Yankees. Even though the team is 10-16 overall, seven of those wins have come at home this season as the team is a respectable 7-6 at home coming into tonight’s game.
VS. THE YANKEES: This series revives a major rivalry between two stalwart American League franchises including three different playoff tilts since 2015. In spite of the dominance in the playoffs, the Yankees hold a 52-36 record all-time. The two teams split the season series last year at three games a piece.
TODAY’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY: The Astros clubhouse will be open to approved media from 3-3:50 p.m….Astros Manager Joe Espada will be available in the Astros dugout at approx. 3:50 p.m.
STALKING THE PUMA: LF Yordan Alvarez has matched the Astros franchise record with 11 home runs in the club’s first 26 games of a season, also reached one other time, by OF Lance Berkman in 2002…should Alvarez homer tonight, he would be the first player in franchise history to hit 12 homers within the club’s first 27 games.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 6:05 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM & 99.1 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
ATLANTA — The biggest hole on the Knicks roster has become more and more noticeable.
It’s allowed the Hawks to stymie Jalen Brunson.
One of coach Mike Brown’s biggest goals this season was to have Brunson play off the ball and allow others to more often facilitate the offense. The idea was to take some of that burden away from Brunson and create easier shots for him, while also keeping his supporting cast more involved.
But in the first three games of this first-round series, which the Knicks trail 2-1 and are “playing for our lives,” as Miles McBride said, that element of the offense has largely been absent.
“We called it a few times, you gotta give Atlanta credit,” Brown said Friday. “They did a nice job of defending it the few times we called it. But we gotta keep trying to implement it, whether it’s play call or within the flow of what we’re trying to do conceptually on the offensive end of the floor.”
The problem is that outside of Brunson, they lack ball handlers who are capable of creating and orchestrating the offense. Josh Hart can, but it’s not his ideal role. OG Anunoby is best as a spot-up shooter. Karl-Anthony Towns is a good passer, but he’s not someone who can break down a defense by himself. Mikal Bridges, despite Brown saying before the year he’d be the top candidate for the role, has floundered as a ball handler, particularly in Game 3 when he had four turnovers and was benched for the majority of the second half.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) goes up for a shot as Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) gives chase during the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
There are no true backup point guards in the rotation either. McBride and Landry Shamet play there at times, but neither is a natural. Jose Alvarado is, but his limited offensive ability has meant he’s on the fringe of the rotation. Tyler Kolek is completely out of the rotation.
So it’s all falling on Brunson again. And that means less movement on offense as a whole. As the four other players on the court stand and wait for Brunson to create everything, it makes it easier for the Hawks to blitz him, send double-teams and make it difficult for him to take high-quality shots. Usually, it’s Dyson Daniels or Nickeil Alexander-Walker guarding him, with help from a second defender.
In Game 3, Brunson shot 3-for-11 — and 0-for-3 from 3-point range — when guarded by Daniels or Alexander-Walker, per the league’s official tracking stats.
“They both are great defenders,” Brunson said. “You have to be smart, you have to be kind of tactical in what you do. Just being able to not really focus on what they’re doing but focus on your shot and doing the things that I need to do to make sure I’m comfortable shooting the shots I want to shoot and be in positions I want to be in. But you gotta give them credit. They make things very difficult.”
Jalen Brunson (11) goes up for a shot as Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) fouls during the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Nobody has had the ball in his hands more than Brunson during these playoffs across the league. He’s having to work incredibly hard for his shots — almost none of which are open.
The Knicks barely have anyone who can even bring the ball up the court, which would allow Brunson to collect it in the halfcourt and remove some wear and tear on him. Daniels and Alexander-Walker are picking him up full court, so by the time Brunson finally gets the ball into the halfcourt, he’s expended significant energy.
It was a little better when McBride was on the floor with Brunson in place of Bridges. There were a few possessions in the third quarter — during an 11-0 Knicks run — when McBride was able to bring the ball up the floor. When Bridges tried that, it was an utter failure.
“We all have to be aggressive, not just to shoot the ball, but be aggressive to touch the paint [on drives],” Brown said. “And if you don’t have anything in the paint, you gotta spray it. We haven’t gone anywhere near our sprays that we’ve wanted to in these first three games.”
Brunson is also getting pummeled on the other end trying to guard CJ McCollum, who has torched him this series. So much so that the Knicks have been forced to change their coverage and have Hart guard him.
Overreliance on offense and getting bullied on defense equals a player who is getting worn out.
Devin Williams’ Mets tenure hasn’t quite started as planned.
The righty has struggled mightily after starting the season with five straight scoreless outings, as he’s been knocked around and has given up runs each of his last four times out.
The latest came on Thursday, when Williams again ran into trouble, giving up three hits and a run before recording the final two outs in a victory over the Twins.
His outs were a pair of strikeouts, but not before bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.
The former All-Star closer is now up to an ugly 10.29 ERA and 2.86 WHIP with six walks and 13 strikeouts over his first nine appearances in orange and blue.
David Stearns broke down what he’s seen of late prior to Friday’s series opener with the Rockies.
“His changeup hasn’t been where he wants it yet -- there hasn’t been that level of consistency he’s used to,” he said. “He’s gone through stretches like this in his career before and we're confident he will get through this.”
One of those stretches came last season when Williams struggled to find his footing for the majority of his lone campaign pitching on the other side of town with the Yankees.
He did find more success after the team bumped him to a set-up role in front of Luke Weaver, but that isn't something that the Mets have considered with the two to this point.
“That’s not something [Carlos Mendoza] and I have really talked about,” Stearns said. “I think we’re focused on getting Devin right, regardless of what inning he happens to be pitching in.”
The San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers meet in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The teams split the first two games with Portland rallying from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win Game 2. Victor Wembanyama left Game 2 in the second quarter with a concussion and is questionable to play in Game 3.
How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Moneyline: Portland Trail Blazers +118 (43.7%) / San Antonio Spurs -145 (56.3%)
Over/Under: 220.5
Series schedule
Game 1:Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98 Game 2:Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103 Game 3: San Antonio at Portland on Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: San Antonio at Portland on Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN) *Game 5: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28 (time and network TBD) *Game 6: San Antonio at Portland on Thursday, April 30 (time and network TBD) *Game 7: Portland at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2 (time and network TBD)
The Lakers’ Austin Reaves won’t play Friday against the host Rockets in Game 3. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Reaves has been sidelined since suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain, an injury that typically comes with a four-to-six-week recovery timeline.
Coach JJ Redick said pregame, before Reaves was ruled out, that Reaves had progressed “well” and had played in stay-ready games ahead of Friday.
The fifth-year guard, along with fellow star guard Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain), suffered the regular-season-ending injury during the April 2 loss to the Thunder.
He and Doncic missed the final five games of the regular season with their respective injuries.
Reaves had been seen shooting after practices over the last week, including after Thursday’s practice at the team’s practice facility before the team left for Houston.
Doncic was also seen going through shooting drills Thursday, with no timetable for his return.
Reaves averaged a career-high 23.3 points to go with 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in a career-low 51 regular-season games after also missing significant time in December and January because of a calf strain.
He has a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 that he’s expected to decline, making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason with the expectation of a significant pay raise.
The Lakers entered Friday up 2-0 in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Rockets.
