TAMPA, FL - MARCH 6: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees warms up before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 6, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spring training rolls on tonight as the Yankees host the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Yankees send Cam Schlittler to the bump for his second appearance of the spring. Schlittler was brilliant in his first outing after being delayed by back inflammation and a lat issue, striking out four batters in 2.1 innings of work. Rust, injury, or caution aside, Schlittler still hit 99 mph with his four-seamer while throwing 39 pitches. Predict Cam’s final pitch count tonight in the comments for a shoutout in the recap.
Toronto is scheduled to send left-hander Eric Lauer to the mound. Lauer went 9–2 for the Blue Jays last season, making 15 starts and appearing in 28 games. He enters tonight looking to improve his early spring numbers, which have been rough in the early going.
On the offensive side, let’s pay special attention to how Jasson Randal Grichuk handles the lefty. With so many regulars scattered across World Baseball Classic rosters, the Yankees have been able to give extended looks to younger and fringe players this spring. Those extra opportunities are starting to disappear, though, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. and José Caballero have returned to camp from their respective national teams and find themselves in the lineup tonight.
How to Watch
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL
First pitch: 6:35 p.m. EDT
TV broadcast: YES Network, Sportsnet 360, MLB Network (out-of-market)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jamichael Stillwell had 17 points and 15 rebounds, Riley Kugel added 15 points, and eighth-seeded UCF rallied to beat ninth-seeded Cincinnati 66-65 in overtime on Thursday and advance to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.
John Bol scored 13 points for the Knights (21-10), who trailed by as many as 12 in regulation, then watched as the Bearcats' Jalen Celestine missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left in overtime to earn a date with top-ranked Arizona on Thursday.
Moustapha Thiam had 18 points and 16 boards to lead the Bearcats (18-15). Day Day Thomas had all of their seven points in overtime and finished with 15, while Celestine had 11 points and Keyshuan Tillery finished with 10.
The Knights won despite going 3 of 24 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Cincinnati had taken control with about 10 minutes to go, when Thomas was fouled by Kugel about 30 feet from the basket and the shot-clock running out. His two free throws gave the Bearcats a 46-37 lead, and Stillwell immediately picked up his fourth foul at the other end, sending the Knights' best rebounder to the bench.
UCF still faced a 58-50 hole with about two minutes to go when Stillwell hit a soft jumper in the lane. Cincinnati proceeded to turn the ball over on three straight possessions, and Kugel's driving layup tied the game 58-all with a minute to go.
The Bearcats had the final shot of regulation, but Thiam didn't appear to realize the clock was about to expire. Cincinnati coach Wes Miller frantically called timeout from the bench, but there was only 0.8 seconds left — time enough for an airballed 3-point try.
Up next
The Knights lost their only game to the top-seeded Wildcats in mid-January.
Cincinnati must hope a first-round win over Utah in the Big 12 tourney will get it off the NCAA Tournament bubble on Sunday.
For as hard as it is to make the NCAA Tournament, it’s really easy to take yourself out of it.
Auburn, one of the most polarizing March Madness bubble candidates, was on the brink of kissing its chances goodbye in the opening round of the SEC tournament. The Tigers were shaken by Mississippi State in the first half with a 10-point deficit, not looking remotely close to a unit that should hear its name called on Selection Sunday.
But to their credit, Auburn recovered and played like its life was on the line. It was a night-and-day performance coming out of halftime with a dominant final 20 minutes to avoid the upset and advance.
Projected to miss the tournament in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology, It’s not a win that will drastically move the 17-15 Tigers into the field. Yet, it wouldn’t be possible without it.
Auburn is as confusing as it comes. You can argue why it should be in with some major wins and tough schedule, or shouldn’t be in with all of the losses. No matter which way you lean, everyone could agree it needs to impress in the SEC tournament. A Quad 3 loss and Auburn would’ve surely been out of consideration. Instead, there is hope.
The work is far from over since a win over the Bulldogs doesn’t move the needle much. However, what’s ahead surely will.
Auburn now has one of the biggest bubble games of the season in the second round against Tennessee. A win over the Volunteers would be monumental and could alter the projected field completely. Advancing to the quarterfinals against Vanderbilt and winning that could silence the critics.
But it has to get Step 1 done first and beat Tennessee. Auburn got a second life to keep its tournament hopes alive, and it cannot waste it as it leads the tournament watch winners and losers from Wednesday’s action.
March Madness bubble winners
NC State
A team trending in the wrong direction, NC State ended the regular season with four straight losses with a couple of ranked beatdowns and bad losses. The Wolfpack weren’t in danger of missing the tournament, but needed to show something to not fall into a possible No. 11 seed situation.
Against Pittsburgh in the ACC tournament second round, early it looked like a devastating Quad 3 loss was on the horizon. However, Will Wade’s offense kept pace and used a strong second half start to avoid the collapse.
It’s not an impressive victory, but one NC State needed to calm the waters. Now there really won’t be a worry for Selection Sunday, and it can just focus on moving up the seed line. It gets a chance against Virginia in the quarterfinals.
March Madness bubble losers
Cincinnati
The late push for Cincinnati all came crashing down with a stunning collapse that all but keeps the Bearcats out of the NCAA Tournament.
Up by eight with just over two minutes left, Cincinnati looked like it was closing in on a major victory over Central Florida. Then came the shocker. It couldn’t stop turning the ball over and it allowed UCF to tie the score and send it to overtime. The Bearcats were rattled and couldn’t regroup in the extra period, with UCF ending the last seven minutes on a 15-6 run to win.
It’s a devastating outcome as seven wins in nine games brought Cincinnati into the conversation for a bid. In the First Four out, it needed the win to keep trending up. Now the season ends in missing the tournament for the sixth straight season.
SMU
Get ready for a couple of stressful days, SMU, since it was unable to boost its resume in the ACC tournament.
After finally ending a four-game skid with an opening round victory over Syracuse on Tuesday, the Mustangs needed more and had a chance against Louisville. For the majority of the day, SMU looked like it could take down the Cardinals and get a massive victory. However, it didn’t score in the final two and a half minutes and Louisville powered through for the win.
SMU is one of the last four in, but can now only hope no other team steals bids and pushes them down the line. Had the Mustangs won, they could have secured their selection. It’s a miserable feeling being unable to do anything about it, but it’s the price to pay for having such a rough end to the season.
Federico Valverde scored one of the great Champions League hat-tricks to give Real a huge advantage going into next week’s second leg
The Atari-esque sprites of Manchester City get the ball rolling. The famous old pile might not be sold out, but it is noisy.
The teams are out! Real Madrid in their meringue whites, Manchester City in a green top with jet-set geometric squiggles all over it, and a chip embedded within the City crest that, if you were to wave a newfangled “smart electric telecommunications device” over it, unlocks a slew of bonus features for Pele’s Soccer on the Atari 2600EA Sports FC 26. This is the sort of news that will either excite you or make you feel so very old and useless. Latest score: Excited 0-1 Old & Useless.
Peoria, AZ - February 23: Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres runs to home plate during a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on February 23, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images) | K.C. Alfred
It wasn’t noticeable at the start of spring games but as the first couple weeks went on, the at-bats were adding up to a change in the hitting approach for the Friars. There has been a lot less chasing outside the zone for many of the regulars. Even the minor league depth players have had more quality at-bats.
It might surprise many to hear that catcher Freddy Fermin has more loud contact than any other regular currently on the San Diego Padres roster. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. left too early to be a significant part of this discussion, but they have both distinguished themselves with the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team, making frequent loud contact while away.
Not only are these guys hitting the ball and hitting it hard, but they are also barreling up the ball much earlier than in previous spring progressions. Fermin is hitting .421/.421/.684 with a 1.105 OPS. He’s a bit of an outlier in that he has not walked at all in his 19 at-bats, but he has only struck out twice and has eight RBI.
Jake Cronenworth, in his 21 at-bats, is hitting .375/.444/.625 with a 1.069 OPS. He has one strikeout and three walks while hitting his homer to the opposite field for the first time in his career. The numbers aren’t reliable in the spring; we all know of players that killed it in Spring Training and were never heard from again. But the thing that stands out as you look at the regular lineup players, as well as most of the bench competitors, is that there are quality at-bats all over the team.
On base skills
1B/DH Gavin Sheets has struggled so far and is only hitting .200 but his OBP is .429 with eight walks in his 20 at-bats. Of all the regulars, the lowest OBP on the team is OF Ramon Laureano, who is hitting .386 but with a .318 OBP due to only having one walk and 10 strikeouts in his 21 at-bats. The other free swinger on the team, Jackson Merrill, is hitting .296 with a .345 OBP.
If you are curious, new Padre 1B/DH/OF Nick Castellanos has more walks than strikeouts (5/4) and is hitting .280 with a .419 OBP.
Bench competition
For those competing for bench/depth positions, the lowest OBP is Mason McCoy at .241 and he is followed by Bryce Johnson at .303. The best all-around performance so far belongs to Ty France with 27 at-bats and a .370/.433/.519 line with four doubles and five RBI. He has walked twice and struck out four times.
France is closely followed by Jose Miranda, who has tattooed the ball all spring. His batting average is slightly less at .367 with a .441 OBP and .600 slug. His OPS is the best of those in competition for a bench spot with 1.041 which is second on the team to, wait for it, Cronenworth at 1.069.
The eye test
I haven’t gone deep diving into strike zone analysis for the spring at-bats, but my eyes tell me the Padres, throughout the line up, have been much more disciplined this spring in sticking to the pitches in the zone. That might not be as true for the free-swingers like Merrill, Tatis Jr. and Laureano. But even they have shown more ability to lay off pitches out of the zone.
Driving the pitches that they are swinging at is also a highlight of the spring so far. Everyone except Sheets has at least one double, Cronenworth and Laureano have a triple each. Some of the long-ball numbers can be accounted for due to conditions in Arizona, especially when the wind is blowing out, but the exit velocities show the players are hitting the ball hard and with frequency.
Exit Velocity trends
Machado and Tatis Jr. frequently have the highest EV numbers on the team, Tatis had a 110.2 mph drive before he left for the WBC. In their absence, Campusano has a 108.4 mph hit, Sheets has one at 109 mph and Fermin has a 107.6 mph missile. Lots of outs and hits register mid to high 90s and low 100s consistently.
Offensive approach is the key
The sample size is small, and it is Arizona, but I like what I am seeing with this offense in the spring. The ballparks will be bigger with different conditions once the season begins in earnest. The cold early spring air through much of the country will definitely affect the end result.
While I hate to mention it, the Padres would do well to follow the example of the evil empire to the North. They don’t chase out of the zone often. They make solid, barrel on the ball contact in the zone. If new hitting coach Steven Souza Jr. has achieved anything in this young baseball season, it seems to be that the Padres are spitting on more pitches outside the zone and concentrating on driving the ball all over the field.
The K-rates are down, and extra-base hits are up. The frequency of working at-bats into long ordeals for the pitcher, often seeing eight to 12 pitch at-bats, is really noticeable. Being pesky, fouling off borderline pitches, taking walks and barreling up pitches in the zone is the offense I have been hoping to see for this team. They have been pretty successful at it this spring. Time will tell if they can carry that over into the regular season.
Lakers superstar Luka Doncic says he has separated from his fiancée after his efforts to spend more time with their two young daughters were thwarted.
TMZ reported Tuesday that Anamaria Goltes filed a petition for child support and attorneys’ fees in California. Doncic then issued a statement to The Associated Press saying he had recently ended his engagement to Goltes because he was unable to have his daughters with him in Los Angeles more often.
“I love my daughters more than anything and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement,” Doncic said in his statement. “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness, and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”
The 27-year-old Doncic and Goltes had been dating for a decade after meeting as teenagers in Slovenia. They became engaged in July 2023.
Their oldest daughter, Gabriela, was born in November 2023. Their second daughter, Olivia, was born in December 2025, with Doncic missing two Lakers games while he traveled to Slovenia to be with Goltes.
“I don’t even know how to describe it. It was a lot,” Doncic said at the time. “I was there for the birth of my daughter, so that means everything to me. But it was definitely a roller coaster.”
Goltes deleted all of her Instagram photos of her and Doncic together last week, fueling increased speculation around Doncic’s relationship.
Doncic moved from the Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles in a stunning trade for Anthony Davis in February 2025. He agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers last summer, cementing his near future in Los Angeles.
Any tumult in Doncic’s personal life hasn’t appeared to affect him on the court with the Lakers. He is the NBA’s leading scorer this season at 32.5 points per game, and he ranks third with 8.4 assists while grabbing 7.8 rebounds.
Doncic had 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his 89th career triple-double on Tuesday night while the surging Lakers beat Minnesota 120-106 to move into fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
Injured Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors stands on the side of the court during the first half of their game against the Chicago Bulls at Chase Center on March 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Getty Images
The ailment has cost the Golden State superstar the past 15 games, and the absence will reach at least 20. The earliest the Warriors could have Curry back would be their March 21 game against the Hawks.
Despite the lengthy absence, the Warriors’ sinking position in the standings and their otherwise beleaguered roster, all indications are that Curry intends to return this season.
According to the team, Curry has started doing individual work on the court with plans to intensify. He will be re-evaluated again in 10 days, next Saturday, the Warriors said.
Golden State faces Atlanta in the fifth leg of a six-game road trip that night. The Warriors finish the trip against the Mavericks on Monday before a stretch of seven of eight at home begins March 25 against the Nets.
Since the last time Curry took the court, in a Jan. 30 loss to the Pistons, the Warriors have gone 5-10 and fallen out of the No. 7-8 play-in matchup to the No. 9-10 game, further complicating their path.
They hold a 1.5-game lead on the Trail Blazers for the No. 9 seed and the right to host the initial play-in game. Either way, they would have to win that game and beat to the 7/8 loser to advance to a potential first-round matchup with the No. 1 seed, likely to be the Thunder.
“The goal is to get into that seven-eight game,” guard Pat Spencer said after the Warriors’ 130-124 loss to the Bulls in overtime on Tuesday. “We know how important every game is now down the stretch. So hopefully we get No. 30 healthy here.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry puts up a shot over New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby during the third quarter. (Photo by Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post)
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Overall this season, Golden State is 23-16 with Curry and 9-17 without him.
“Obviously it’s a completely different team with him here,” Kristaps Porzingis added after the loss, Golden State’s second in as many nights against a team in tank mode. “Hopefully I’ll get that chance (to experience it) soon.”
The combination of size and spacing makes Porzingis the ideal fit with Curry.
The Warriors’ injuries have meant that the duo hasn’t played together since Mike Dunleavy Jr. swung the trade for the 7-foot-3 sharpshooter at the deadline.
“I want to play with Steph,” Porzingis said. “Who doesn’t?”
Golden State is already without Jimmy Butler for the remainder of the season, and it has had to be careful with Porzingis, Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton as they deal with age and health issues.
Moses Moody has missed the past four games with a sprained wrist, Will Richard just returned Tuesday from an ankle injury that cost him four games, and Seth Curry played only his third game of the season Monday.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after a three point shot in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 04, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Curry is also waiting for the chance to share the court with his brother for the first time despite Golden State signing the younger Curry in December. Seth, 35, missed the past 40 games before returning Monday night in the Warriors’ 119-116 loss to the Jazz.
In all, the Warriors find themselves in a precarious position with 17 games left to play. At best, they will have Curry for the final 12 while trying to climb out of the lower play-in matchup.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Milan Momcilovic scored 21 points, Joshua Jefferson had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and seventh-ranked Iowa State trounced turnover-prone Arizona State 91-42 on Wednesday in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Blake Buchanan added 17 points and Tamin Lipsey had 11 for the fifth-seeded Cyclones (26-6), who beat the No. 14 seed Sun Devils (17-16) for the second time in less than a week while advancing to play No. 16 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
His contract expires soon and every indication has been that the Sun Devils are ready to move on.
Iowa State was so thoroughly dominant that it had built a 45-16 lead by halftime. The decisive blow was an 18-0 run late in the first half, when the Sun Devils earned two of their three technicals on a single disastrous trip down court.
NO. 24 LOUISVILLE 62, SMU 58
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ryan Conwell hit two key shots in the final 1:17 and finished with 16 points as Louisville battled back to beat SMU and advance to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals.
Adrian Wooley added 14 points and Isaac McKneely had 10 for the Cardinals (23-9), who’ll face Miami on Thursday.
Jarron Pierre Jr. had 17 points and Jaden Toombs added 13 points and nine rebounds for SMU (20-13), which led by six in the second half before Louisville stormed back behind three inside baskets from Vangelis Zougris.
After a defensive struggle in the first half ended in a 26-all tie, SMU built its biggest lead at 41-35 on back-to-back 3s by Sam Walters and Pierre from the same spot in right corner.
The Mustangs, playing their second game in two days, appeared content to patiently work time off the shot clock, extending every possession and shortening the game.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kevin Overton scored 22 points, including 15 in the second half, as No. 12 seed Auburn rallied past No. 13 seed Mississippi State 77-61 on Wednesday in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
The win helps Auburn’s NCAA Tournament chances under first-year coach Steven Pearl. The Tigers entered the SEC Tournament on the bubble after finishing as the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament on their way to the Final Four a year ago.
Auburn (17-15) erased a 33-30 halftime deficit and dominated after the break, outscoring Mississippi State 47-28.
Overton led the charge with six 3-pointers and five assists as Auburn found its rhythm from the perimeter in the second half. KeShawn Murphy added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Keyshawn Hall finished with 14 points and Tahaad Pettiford contributed 11.
Mississippi State (13-19) saw its streak of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances come to an end.
Josh Hubbard finished with 22 points on 8-of-25 shooting for the Bulldogs. Jayden Epps added 14.
The Tigers gradually took control midway through the second half as Overton connected on consecutive 3-pointers to turn a tight game into a multi-possession lead. Auburn pushed the margin into double digits down the stretch.
Up next
Auburn faces No. 5 seed Tennessee on Thursday in the second round.
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) carries the ball as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jaden Davis (26) defends during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Happy opening day of free agency one and all.
The Arizona Cardinals heading into the 2026 Free Agency period have the following that should become official today when allowed:
OT Matt Pryor one-year deal
QB Gardner Minshew one-year deal
WR Kendrick Bourne two-year deal
G Isaac Seumalo three-year deal
RB Tyler Allgeier two-year deal
DL Roy Lopez two-year deal
Along with the moves that we know are official because they were re-signings for the team:
DT L.J. Collier one-year deal
P Blake Gillikin one-year deal
K Chad Ryland one-year deal
All of that and we are looking at the Cardinals still needing help at linebacker, offensive line, defensive line and probably the quarterback position.
However, the last one will probably not be addressed until 2027, which is fun to know that the team is looking at another tank job, the third in four seasons with Monti Ossenfort at the helm.
Let’s hope for some exciting movement today.
Arizona Cardinals bring back Bam Knight on one-year deal
CHICAGO (AP) — Zoom Diallo had 22 points and 11 assists and scored the go-ahead basket in overtime as Washington defeated USC 83-79 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.
The 12th-seeded Huskies (16-16) will take on fifth-seeded Ohio State in a quarterfinal on Thursday.
Diallo scored 15 points over the second half and overtime despite staying on the floor after picking up his fourth foul with nearly 13 minutes left in regulation. Quimari Peterson made five 3-pointers for his 15 points and Wesley Yates III also scored 15. Hannes Steinbach, who scored 24 and 22 points in Washington's two regular-season wins over the Trojans, finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Kam Woods scored 24 points with seven assists for the 14th-seeded Trojans (18-14), who lost their eighth straight. Jacob Cofie added 14 points, Jordan Marsh had 13 and Ezra Ausar and Ryan Cornish 10 each.
Diallo’s bucket with 2:18 left in overtime gave the Huskies the lead and Peterson added a 3-pointer with a minute to go. Woods completed a three-point play to get the Trojans within a point and forced a turnover by Diallo with 24.2 seconds left. But Woods missed on a drive and fouled Diallo, who made two free throws for an 82-79 lead. USC called timeout with eight seconds remaining but Marsh missed an awkward 3 and Hannes Steinbach made 1 of 2 free throws.
USC led by as many 13 in the second half then Washington went on a 20-4 run to go up 64-61 with six minutes left in regulation. The game was tied at 71 with a minute left but Diallo and Woods missed jumpers on their teams' final possessions.
Up next
Washington beat Ohio State at home 81-74 on Jan. 11.
When captain Anze Kopitar retires at the end of this season, the Los Angeles Kings will have a hole down the middle of their lineup. Kopitar has been the team's top-line center for well over a decade, and the organization will have to pivot to another middleman to fill the gap.
One of those candidates for the upcoming off-season has been crossed off Los Angeles' list of potential targets on Wednesday. That's because Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz signed a contract extension with the club, removing his UFA status for this summer.
Schmaltz inked an eight-year, $64-million deal with the Mammoth. He will be the third-highest-paid player on the roster next season, earning $8 million per season through the 2033-34 campaign. The 30-year-old will be 38 when this contract expires.
This year, Schmaltz has scored 24 goals and 59 points in 65 appearances for Utah. Last season, he recorded a career-high 63 points, but is on track to blow that personal best out of the water by the end of this regular season.
For Los Angeles, that's another UFA off the free-agent market for this summer. The options for the Kings to find an outside candidate to help with their lack of depth down the middle next season are dying out.
Potential targets remain, but only on the trade market. In terms of centers who are pending UFAs, none would be suitable candidates to play in the Kings' top six for many years.
On the trade market, there are a handful of players that could work and are available to pursue.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson could be a potential player to chase. Not long ago, he was a 89- and 103-point scorer for the Canucks. What's tricky there is that Pettersson earns $11.6 million for the next six years, and hasn't been playing up to that standard lately. Not to mention, it sounds like Vancouver won't retain some of his contract.
Nonetheless, barriers are blocking each of those potential marriages. If Holland can't make a notable addition at the center position this summer, Quinton Byfield will need to step up in a big way if the Kings want to remain in playoff contention.
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Not only did the Detroit Red Wings suffer a frustrating defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday evening for the second time within a week, but they also lost another key forward to injury.
Andrew Copp, who had taken the injured Dylan Larkin's place on the top line, was hurt after getting tangled up with Panthers forward Tomas Nosek after a face-off; Nosek fell onto his left leg, and Copp wasn't able to put any weight on it as he was assisted off the ice.
Following the game, McLellan announced that Copp was "doubtful" to play on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and that Larkin is also doubtful for the remainder of the trip.
Now, the Red Wings are calling up multiple reinforcements from the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins.
Detroit announced that John Leonard, Sheldon Dries, and Eduards Tralmaks have all been recalled under emergency conditions.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Sheldon Dries, John Leonard and Eduards Tralmaks from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. pic.twitter.com/SFLihKjvVr
Leonard is playing in his first season with the Red Wings organization after signing as a free agent during the offseason. He's already played in nine games with Detroit in the NHL, scoring twice while adding two assists.
He's tallied 27 goals in 34 games for the Griffins, who clinched a postseason spot last month.
Dries, a Metro-Detroit native, has yet to appear in a game with the Red Wings but has scored 20 goals with 17 assists in 48 games in Grand Rapids this season.
Tralmaks, who signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings last March, has scored 18 goals with 10 assists in 48 games in Grand Rapids.
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BODO, Norway (AP) — The Champions League’s Cinderella club Bodø/Glimt wrote another chapter Wednesday in its fairytale run through the competition.
The homely Norwegian club won 3-0 against Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of a round-of-16 clash at its tiny Aspmyra Stadium.
Sporting became the latest favored team to travel far north and struggle inside the Arctic Circle this year.
Manchester City and Inter Milan were each beaten 3-1 on the artificial turf field since Bodø/Glimt began the year looking sure to fall short of reaching the knockout rounds.
It is now a remarkable five straight wins in the Champions League — all during the offseason in Norway. The country's domestic league does not start until this weekend.
Bodø/Glimt led in the 32nd minute when Sondre Brunstad Fet scored with a penalty kick, deceiving Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva who dived right as the ball went low to his left.
Ole Blomberg added a second in first-half stoppage time, sliding in a low shot after the ball bounced through to him.
Center forward Kasper Høgh added a third in the 71st being strong in the goalmouth to connect with Jens Petter Hauge’s hard-driven low cross. It was Høgh's fifth goal in the five-win streak.
None of the goalscorers has even played for their national team. Fet at age 29 and the 25-year-old Blomberg are yet to be selected for Norway which is soon going to its first World Cup in a generation.
Høgh, also 25, has not been picked for Denmark, which is in a World Cup qualifying playoffs bracket this month.
The team from the Norwegian Sea fishing town would be the most unlikely Champions League quarterfinalist of recent years. APOEL from Cyprus reached the last eight in 2012 and was beaten by Real Madrid.
The winner after the return game in Lisbon next Tuesday will advance to play either Arsenal or Bayer Leverkusen who drew 1-1 Wednesday in the first leg in Germany.
The entire population of Bodø, just 55,000 people, could all fit inside Arsenal’s stadium.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 12: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics hugs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder after a game at the TD Garden on March 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jayson Tatum could miss his first game since returning from injury when the Celtics face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. Tatum is listed as questionable to play with “right Achilles repair reconditioning.” He’s appeared in three games so far for the Celtics, averaging 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
Derrick White is also questionable to play as he deals with a right knee contusion. It appears likely he suffered that injury at the end of the third quarter of Tuesday’s Celtics game against the San Antonio Spurs, though the team has yet to specify.
And, the Celtics continue to be without Nikola Vucevic, who fractured his right index finger last Friday and underwent surgery on Saturday. The Celtics said then that Vucevic would be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, meaning he’s unlikely to return with much time to spare in the regular season.
With Vucevic sidelined, Luka Garza is likely to keep seeing increased minutes. Across the three games since Vucevic’s injury, he’s averaged 6.7 points in 17.7 minutes, after falling out of the rotation since the trade deadline.
Payton Pritchard, who missed Tuesday’s game due to neck spasms, is probable.
How the Celtics, Thunder stack up
The Thunder, despite an injury-riddled 2025-2026 campaign, have been the NBA’s best team all season long. They’re 51-15, have the league’s best net rating at +10.8. The Thunder have the NBA’s best defensive rating at 106.2, and its 7th-best offensive rating at 117. They’ve won 9 of their last 10 games, and 6 straight.
The Thunder have been without Jalen Williams (hamstring), Alex Caruso (hip), and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) of late.
But different players have stepped up in their absence. For example, against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, Jaylin Williams exploded for 29 points and 12 rebounds. And guards Ajay Mitchell (a 2024 second-round pick) and Jared McCain (acquired at the trade deadline) have played key minutes off the bench.
And, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks like the MVP front-runner; he’s averaging 31.7 points and 6.6 assists per game, while shooting 55.1% from the field and 38.3% from three.
After losing to the Spurs on Tuesday, the Celtics are 43-22 and have the NBA’s second-best net rating at +7.9. The Celtics have the league’s second-best offensive rating (119.8) and fifth-best defensive rating (111.8).
The two teams have yet to face each other this season, but will meet twice this month, the second match-up coming on March 25th at TD Garden.
Last year, the Celtics went 0-2 against the Thunder.
The Celtics are set to face the Thunder on Thursday at 9pm ET at Paycom Center.
