TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Nacho Alvarez Jr. #24 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a two-RBI double in the third inning against the New York Yankees during a Grapefruit League spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This morning, Atlanta Braves formally announce that infielder Nacho Alvarez, Jr. and reliever Hunter Stratton have been optioned to Triple-A and that non-roster invitees catcher Chadwick Tromp and reliever Javy Guerra have been reassigned to the minor league camp. Alvarez, Jr.’s option appeared on the team’s transaction page yesterday.
For Alvarez, Jr., Tromp and Guerra, this isn’t surprising as all three players will be playing in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico, Netherlands and Panama, respectively, and all three were likely to start the year in the minors baring an injury to those above them on the team’s depth chart.
Stratton, who pitched in 12 games out of the bullpen for Atlanta, also figured to start the year in Triple-A. He has pitched in parts of three seasons in the big leagues, all with the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to joining Atlanta during the 2025 season.
BRADENTON, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Manager Craig Albernaz #55 of the Baltimore Orioles hands the ball to Grant Wolfram #48 in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a Grapefruit League spring training game at LECOM Park on February 27, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2025 Orioles’ season was a demonstration in the fragility of success. GM Mike Elias took his foot off the gas pedal, banking on the roster he had already assembled in lieu of making upgrades from outside the organization. The gamble didn’t pay off; the Orioles instantly floundered as their pitching imploded and their young offense couldn’t make up the deficit. For a team which had finally returned to prominence the previous two years following such a long period of futility, the failure of 2025 was a stark reminder of how deadly complacency can become in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball.
This offseason, Baltimore bucked their recent trends, giving a large free agent contract to a veteran slugger in an effort to complement their young core. They’ve also hired a first-time MLB manager to oversee this talented group as they vie to return to the postseason. Now the question becomes, have the O’s done enough to stand out against a crowded AL East field?
Baltimore Orioles 2025 record: 75-87 (5th, AL East) 2026 FanGraphs projection: 84-78 (4th, AL East)
Obviously, the Orioles are still a team built around their cost-controlled young position players. Baltimore brings back every notable member of their homegrown assembly of hitters: Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, and Coby Mayo. Holliday and Westburg will miss the start of the season, but as we’ll get into, this is just the beginning of the laundry list. Heck, even Ryan Mountcastle is still here. You’ll notice the vast majority of these players are infielders. And y’know who else plays the infield?
Why, that would be former Mets slugger Pete Alonso, the big splash signing the Orioles made this offseason. Hilarious, right? Mike Elias finally swallows his pride to give a big contract to somebody, and it’s a power-hitting first baseman who’s already over 30. Alonso is the exact kind of player a GM like Elias ordinarily wouldn’t be caught dead offering a contract, but these are strange times we inhabit. It’s a good thing they realized that making Camden Yards the worst park for right-handed power hitters in the league was a bad idea— otherwise Alonso wouldn’t have been caught dead signing in Baltimore, either. But here we are.
In addition to bringing Alonso, the Orioles traded away oft-injured pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to acquire Taylor Ward from the Angels. Ward is a big of a strange fit with the O’s, but it’s hard to scoff at adding a guy who hit nearly as many homers as Alonso last season. Tyler O’Neill, last year’s ‘major’ signing, is another guy who can hit a ton of homers, though he regressed badly in 2025.
I would be remiss to forget Samuel Basallo, another big-time prospect who will give Rutchman little margin for error lest he be usurped as the everyday catcher. And oh yeah, Dylan Beavers and Heston Kjerstad are in the mix for playing time too. For as often as the Yankees are accused of prospect-hugging, the Orioles appear committed to holding onto all of these guys. It doesn’t feel like it could possibly work long-term, though roster logjams like those tend to work themselves out.
Now let’s work our way over to the trouble spot for Baltimore: the pitching. After the Orioles declined to re-sign Corbin Burnes last offseason, their rotation fell off a cliff in the former Cy Young winner’s absence. De facto ace Kyle Bradish spent most of the year recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the O’s were forced to rely on a gaggle of unsteady veterans, including but not limited to Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Zach Eflin.
The only major victory the O’s got out of their pitching last season was the career revival of Trevor Rogers, who posted startlingly good numbers upon returning to regular rotation duty in June. Ultimately, it was only a 109.2-inning sample, albeit a convincing one. The Orioles appear to be banking pretty heavily on what we saw from Rogers down the stretch sticking.
Rogers and Bradish are a solid top two — on paper — but the depth beyond them is questionable. Veteran Chris Bassitt has been dependable for many years, but just turned 37. Zach Eflin struggled badly but returns on a one-year deal. Rays castoff Shane Baz has looked good in camp, but has mostly existed in the realm of the hypothetical breakout for almost a decade. Additionally, their bullpen lacks a ton of high-upside guys beyond free agent signing Ryan Helsley — who struggled badly with the Mets after the trade deadline last year. Imposing closer Félix Bautista is still recovering from shoulder surgery after he tore his labrum last summer.
Lastly, the Orioles have a new manager entering this season. Craig Albernaz, who previously served as Steven Vogt’s associate manager in Cleveland, got the nod to hold this talented but young roster together. Like Aaron Boone, Albernaz is known for his ability to connect with his players, and that quality seems to be what got him the job in Baltimore. He’ll be tasked with keeping morale high over a long season in a gauntlet of a division; with the Yankees running it back, the Blue Jays reloading after their pennant win and the Red Sox still formidable in their own right, the margin for error will be slim.
Overall, the Orioles’ roster is more volatile than those aforementioned rivals. Pitching depth is rather slim, many of their best players have lengthy injury histories, and they may not be able to find enough playing time for all of their young players. But if they can get off to a good start, they’ll be one of the best-positioned teams to make midseason upgrades and raise their ceiling along the road to October.
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 05: Andrew Painter #47 of the Glendale Desert Dogs pitches during the game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch - Glendale on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Grapefruit League schedule continues on Sunday with the Yankees visiting Clearwater. But there will be considerably less star power on hand, as several prominent players like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brad Keller have departed for World Baseball Classic competition.
But the game shouldn’t lack for interest as it will feature the 2026 debut of pitcher Andrew Painter. We’ll get our first look at the righthanded prospect who is expected to open the season in the Phillies’ rotation.
The Yankees will counter with a young pitcher of their own in righthander Will Warren. As a rookie in 2025, Warren made 33 starts recording a 4.44 ERA.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 22: Khris Middleton #20 of the Dallas Mavericks jogs up court during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, but the Dallas Mavericks continue to make roster tweaks. Veteran point guard Tyus Jones was waived in a (potentially) mutually beneficial move. Jones is now free to hook up with a playoff team before Sunday’s deadline to do so while remaining playoff eligible. On the other hand, Dallas was able to convert Ryan Nembhard from his two-way deal to a standard contract, due to the roster spot Jones’ departure created.
All the while, Khris Middleton was rumored to be weighing his options as well. Earlier in the week, the Mavericks openly left it to Middleton as to whether he would remain in Dallas or seek employment on a playoff team. Now Marc Stein is reporting that Middleton has made his decision to stay in Dallas for the remainder of the season.
Khris Middleton intends to finish the season with the Mavericks, sources close to the process tell @TheSteinLine.
Middleton told me earlier this week that he would keep his options open into the weekend ahead of Sunday's buyout deadline to be playoff-eligible with a new team. pic.twitter.com/qbT0tNs8Kb
It is unclear if Middleton was unable to find a suitor to his liking, or any suitor at all. It remains entirely plausible that he simply wants to stick around in Dallas as a veteran presence in the rebuild. The Mavericks have indicated they may very well have a space for him on the roster next season, should both sides find common ground in his soon-to-be free agency this summer.
Keith Smith offers up another wrinkle that could be in play. Pointing out that a relative few teams are set to have cap space this summer (as things currently stand), Middleton’s Bird Rights could play a factor.
With very few teams having cap space this summer, and none likely to pursue him, Middleton's Bird rights could have value in a potential sign-and-trade. That's reason enough to not take a buyout. https://t.co/zyqtGwvFsL
There are certainly a number of nuances to the collective bargaining agreement, but what Smith is presumably hinting at is that Middleton’s Bird Rights may allow him to get paid well, while allowing Dallas to recoup assets for him in an offseason trade as opposed to losing him for nothing in a buyout now.
Whatever comes in the offseason, we now know Middleton intends to hang around at least until Dallas wraps up the 2025-2026 season in April. Having his veteran leadership around Cooper Flagg and the team at large, even if only for a few months, will most certainly provide benefits for the young face of the franchise once he returns from a foot sprain.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini, 51, was sentenced on Friday, Feb. 27 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his father-in-law Gary Spohr and the attempted murder of his mother-in-law Wendy Wood during a 2021 burglary at the couple's home in Lake Tahoe, California.
Serafini was convicted in July 2025, with his sentencing coming more than six months after it was originally scheduled.
Serafini has maintained his innocence throughout, motioning for multiple re-trials, which have all been denied. The former left-handed pitcher had a sour relationship with his in-laws, but his attorneys argued the lack of physical evidence should have precluded a guilt verdict. Serafini claimed he was partying with his wife the night of the shooting.
Why was Daniel Serafini found guilty?
Prosecutors argued Serafini hated his wife's parents and wanted their wealth. They also said that Serafini been heard telling his friends that he'd be willing to pay up to $20,000 to have them killed.
During the course of his six-week trial, multiple emails and text messages between Serafini and his in-laws were brought into evidence, showcasing Serafini's vitriol towards them.
Serafini's attorney argued that there was no physical evidence linking Serafini to the crime scene, and denied that his client had any motive to kill his parents despite their poor relationship.
Where will Daniel Serafini serve his sentence?
Serafini will serve his life sentence at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
When was Daniel Serafini drafted?
Serafini was drafted in the first round (26th overall) in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins, making his MLB debut in 1996 for the same team. In seven MLB seasons, he had a career 6.04 ERA while playing for the Twins, Chicago Cubs San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
The Winnipeg Jets continue their west coast road trip when they visit the San Jose Sharks this afternoon.
Kyle Connor has been on a heater since returning from the Olympics, and I’ll break down why the Winnipeg forward will find the back of the net again in my Jets vs. Sharks predictions and NHL picks for Sunday, March 1.
Jets vs Sharks prediction
Jets vs Sharks best bet: Kyle Connor to score (+120)
Kyle Connor was a monster for the Winnipeg Jets in their 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, tallying a goal and an assist while logging over 26 minutes of ice time and three shots on net.
The Jets forward has scored in three straight games and four of his last six, and he’ll extend his goal streak this afternoon vs. the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose has allowed 3.51 goals per game — the third-worst mark in the NHL — and the Sharks will have tired legs today, with this being their third game in four days.
Jets vs Sharks same-game parlay
Mark Scheifele has recorded at least one assist in five of his last seven games, and the Jets are 5-1 in their last six meetings against the Sharks.
Winnipeg should have the edge in net with Connor Hellebuyck starting, and the Jets will be the fresher team.
Jets vs Sharks SGP
Kyle Connor anytime goal
Mark Scheifele Over 0.5 assists
Jets moneyline
Jets vs Sharks odds
Moneyline: Jets -120 | Sharks +100
Puck Line: Jets -1.5 (+195) | Sharks +1.5 (-235)
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Jets vs Sharks trend
The Under is 12-4 in the last 16 meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Sharks.
How to watch Jets vs Sharks
Location
SAP Center, San Jose, CA
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Puck drop
4:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3
Jets vs Sharks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
When asked by Ron MacLean again if the Edmonton Oilers are looking at goaltending ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman responded, “No. They’ve already made their move. They’re looking at D or 3C.”
While the need for a blueliner and a depth forward isn't a surprise to anyone, that the Oilers might have thrown in the towel on a netminder might be shocking to some. Given how many goals the Oilers have conceded lately, it's hard to imagine Edmonton feels comfortable with the tandem of Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram heading into the playoffs (technically, as they push towards even cementing a spot).
Still, Friedman suggests the organization is prioritizing other needs. This is the bed they've made, and they're prepared to lie in it.
“They’ve got to move Andrew Mangiapane, but those are the two positions that Edmonton is considering shoring up," Friedman added when discussing Edmonton's specific desire to seek an upgrade on the blue line and a depth center.
First, they’re targeting a defenseman on the right side. Whether that's a right-shot or a left-shot who can play the right side, Edmonton isn't picky. What they need is someone steady, who doesn't break the bank, and won't cost them considerable assets. That need has linked them in rumors to names like Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto Maple Leafs), Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia Flyers), and Justin Faulk (St. Louis Blues).
Second, they’re aiming to add a third-line center. Friedman emphasizes that if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains on the wing, the Oilers' priority becomes finding that 3C. Names linked here include Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton (Toronto), Ryan O'Reilly (Nashville), and other less appealing options. The Oilers have Josh Samanski coming up through the system, but he's green. It's a risk to think he can handle the pressure of the postseason at this point in his development.
As Friedman noted, it's going to take moving Andrew Mangiapane in a trade. It will likely also mean placing Mattias Janmark on LTIR to free up the space needed to address both areas.
And, What About That Goaltending?
As for the goaltending, that's way down the list of to-dos. It's not that the Oilers wouldn't like to feel more confident with what they've got, but the organization is aware that they can't do everything. Given Jarry's play and his contract, there is no real path to clearing a spot, even if someone like Sergei Bobrovsky magically landed in Edmonton's lap.
As for who the starter will be between Ingram and Jarry, that's up in the air. Many thought it would be Ingram after Jarry was pulled in the third period versus the Anaheim Ducks. Jarry wasn't good, and the head coach called him out for his poor performance. Ingram came on in relief and then played a good game against the Los Angeles Kings. On Saturday, however, Ingram allowed five goals, including a botched play in which he went to fetch his stick before the Oilers were clearly out of their own zone. It led to Macklin Celebrini's goal.
Neither netminder has made the decision easy by stealing the net and showing they're capable of going on a long run.
If the Kuminga experiment was a blight, the Porzingis tenure has been a black hole, punctuated by him missing his fourth straight game Saturday because of an illness as the Warriors fell to the Lakers,129-101.
New Golden State Warriors forward Kristaps Porzingis (with towel) watches the action against the Boston Celtics from the bench during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
They sure could’ve used the 7-foot-2 big man, who draws fouls and is a silky 3-point shooter on a night when they had only nine free-throw attempts (less than half as many as the Lakers) and were outshot from beyond the arc, 46.3 percent to 27.3 percent.
Porzingis’ current illness is apparently contagious and has caused him to lose fluids. It supposedly has nothing to do with the extended illness he battled during his final season in Boston and limited him to just 17 games with Atlanta this season.
That longterm illness was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) — or so we thought.
“I read about the POTS diagnosis and called the Hawks [general manager] Onsi Saleh,” Kerr said. “He’s a good friend of mine and I said, ‘Is this POTS story real?’ He said it’s actually not POTS. That was some misinformation out there.”
When asked for clarification Saturday, Kerr essentially issued a retraction.
“It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something that I’m not qualified to talk about,” he said. “I regretted even trying to discuss the diagnosis. That was my mistake and I need to leave that to the professionals.”
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis gestures after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) AP
It’s hard to makes heads and tails of what’s going on,
But it has been that kind of a season for the Warriors, who lost Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL last month and have been without Steph Curry (runner’s knee) for 10 straight games. Now, the Warriors are just trying to keep their heads above water long enough to make the play-in tournament.
For that to happen, they need Porzingis.
When the Warriors pulled the trigger on Porzingis, it was a smart move. Things had become untenable with Kuminga, who viewed himself as a star while the team just wanted him to star in his role.
Kuminga’s relationship with Kerr degenerated. His play was inconsistent. Eventually, things became so unworkable that he played in only three games from Dec. 6 until he was traded just under two months later.
The Warriors tried to take a big swing at the trade deadline for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Milwaukee Bucks decided to hold onto their superstar. So, the Warriors pivoted to Porzingis.
Porzingis seemed like a great get.
He fills a lot of the Warriors’ holes. He mixes things up down low and has a shot that needs to be respected, which opens up the court for everyone around him. If Butler weren’t injured and Porzingis wasn’t a giant question mark, the Warriors could be really good.
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis guards Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
But the problem is that’s a lot of hypotheticals.
Porzingis has only played in one game for the Warriors so far against Boston on Feb. 19. He finished with 12 points in 17 minutes, including making two 3-pointers.
There’s a lot of upside there. But if he can’t stay on the court, it’s all for naught.
So far, the Warriors have traded a guy who was ill-fitted for a guy who can’t stay in uniform.
What’s going on? Is Porzingis actually really going to be able to play? What even is his illness?
When the Warriors acquired Porzingis, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he believed he’d be able to make an impact. “We feel good about it,” he said. Porzingis added that he was “confident” he’d be on the court.
But so far, there are more questions than answers around Porzingis.
So, without Butler, Curry and Porzingis, the Warriors allowed a Lakers team that had lost three games in a row to stop the bleeding with a blowout win.
The Warriors still believe anything could happen if they make the play-in tournament. And they’re not wrong. With Curry, anything is possible.
But without Porzingis, nothing is possible. Not without Butler, too. Curry and Draymond Green just wouldn’t have enough help.
Kristaps Porzingis and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors smile before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
So, while the Kuminga experiment was a failure, the Porzingis experiment so far is an enigma.
All we really know is he has missed seven of the team’s eight games since becoming a Warrior, leaving Green to try and lead a developing team as Curry rehabs his knee.
Looking forward, Kerr is unsure whether Porzingis will play against the Clippers on Monday.
There’s so much uncertainty around the big man.
For the Warriors, it means they went from having a Kuminga issue to a Porzingis disappearing act.
Or, in other words, they traded a headache for knots in their stomach.
Villanova men's basketball's 89-57 loss on Saturday, February 28 at No. 15 St. John’s brought back memories for Wildcats coach Kevin Willard, who previously worked under Red Storm coach Rick Pitino as an assistant.
They weren’t fond ones, either.
Following Villanova’s 32-point loss at Madison Square Garden in New York, Willard was asked what Pitino was like at practice immediately following a lopsided defeat. He didn’t hold back with his answer.
“I’m not [expletive] you — I don’t have hair because of this guy,” said Willard, who is bald. “I had a full set of hair when I started working for him. It’s the most miserable experience in life. You fear for your life every day. Everyone laughs when I say that, but you think you’re going to get fired. It’s miserable.”
Willard started his coaching career by working under Pitino as an assistant with the Boston Celtics from 1997-2001 and then at Louisville from 2001-07. Willard’s father, Ralph, was also an assistant for Pitino, with the New York Knicks from 1987-89, at Kentucky from 1989-90 and at Louisville from 2009-11.
Though the younger Willard hasn’t worked for Pitino since leaving Louisville to become the head coach at Iona in 2007, he imagines his old boss has only changed so much.
“As he’s gotten older, he’s probably become more of a cranky old [expletive] than he was when I worked for him, but you literally fear for your life,” Willard said. “He walks into the facility at 6:30 and you’ve been there since 5:30 thinking you have everything right and he comes in and asks you the one question you don’t know. He’s that intense. He always has been. He’s got the most energy of any coach I’ve ever been around. I think that’s why he’s got 900 wins and national championships because he does it better and more intense than anybody.”
Willard is in his first season at Villanova, where he has the Wildcats at 22-7 and in position to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
The 50-year-old Willard was previously the head coach at Maryland, Seton Hall and Iona. He has a career head coaching record of 357-256 and has led his teams to the NCAA Tournament in seven of the previous nine seasons in which the event was held.
So, for all the misery he endured working for Pitino, at least some of the lessons from the legendary coach apparently stayed with him.
Cody Bellinger during the Yankees' spring training game against the Braves on Feb. 26, 2026.
TAMPA — Cody Bellinger knows the deal by now.
The Yankees veteran’s back issues have become almost an annual rite of passage around this time on the calendar, which gives him assurance that he will be back on the field soon.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
For now, Bellinger is sidelined after his back tightened up on him Friday, keeping him out of games this weekend. The Yankees have an off day on Monday, but Bellinger is expecting to hit live batting practice on Tuesday and then return to game action by Wednesday or Thursday.
“It’s honestly very mild,” Bellinger said Sunday morning at Steinbrenner Field. “Just ramping up activity and it just tightened up on me a little bit. Really nothing serious. Where we’re at on the schedule and not even being March yet (when it happened), take a few days, get right and then I think by the time I get back into games, I’ll still be able to have plenty of at-bats to get ready for the season.”
Cody Bellinger during the Yankees’ spring training game against the Braves on Feb. 26, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Bellinger had played in three exhibitions before the back issues came on. It is the same thing he dealt with last April during the regular season, when he missed two games before getting back on the field.
The 30-year-old outfielder, who re-signed with the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million contract, said he knows what kind of treatment he needs to get his back right.
“Very knowledgeable of that process,” he said with a wry grin. “But even today, feeling really good.”
MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 25: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 25, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images MILWAUKEE, WI – FEBRUARY 25: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 25, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
It was close, until it wasn’t. The Brooklyn Nets hung around for about a half, but the Boston Celtics separated themselves from the Nets and cruised to a 37 point win. The streak is now at seven losses in a row.
The opponent tonight is climbing the charts in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking a bit different these days, but they keep on keeping on. The team was up three in the final seconds of regulation against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, but they fouled up three… while the Pistons threw up a heave from halfcourt. Detroit made all three free throws and he Cavs wound up losing in overtime. THAT’S WHY YOU DON’T FOUL UP THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 3:30 p.m. ET.
🤕 Injuries
Nic Claxton is questionable with a right thumb sprain. Egor Demin is out. The three two-ways remain with Long Island who plays the Westchester Knicks at 3:00 p.m. ET. (If you like, you can watch the first quarter of that game here)
The following are out:
Donovan Mitchell
Dean Wade
Max Strus
Keon Ellis
James Harden is questionable with a right thumb fracture.
🏀 The game
Cleveland won the first two meetings. This is the last meeting between the teams this season.
A lot of former Nets in the house today. Dennis Schroeder is starting for former Net Harden and the former Nets coach, Kenny Atkinson, is in the house! Scoop B caught up with Kenny a few weeks back and got to reminiscing
"I wish they were on the court!" 😂
Nets fans, look away!!!
I asked Kenny Atkinson about the Kyrie/KD era vs. his new Donovan Mitchell-James Harden duo in Cleveland.
The answer was hilariously honest—shifting from "practice court" memories in Brooklyn to "elite equilibrium"… pic.twitter.com/vM0XB2SmT0
The Nets have to avoid the one big run. When you’re at a talent deficit in the ways Brooklyn are, you can’t afford to let a team go on a big run and put you deep in a hole. Being at home should help that out, but it’s the team’s third game in four nights so who knows.
Nolan Traore will look to put another good outing together. He tied a career high with three steals on Friday night and the next two months should help his growth. He’s done a good job of finding his way throughout the year and good games like build confidence that will carry him in to next season.
Without Mitchell and Harden at less than full strength, Michael Porter Jr is the player most likely to hit for 30+ points tonight. He’s started to find his shot in recent games after a slump, and now that we are officially entering the time of year when people start to focus more on the playoff contenders, he’ll be a bit more under the radar than usual. Either way, seeing him start to figure things out again is helpful and will make the last two months of the season entertaining enough.
👀 Player to watch: Jarrett Allen
It’s always fun to watch a player to go on the run of a lifetime. Allen had the best month of his career in February as he averaged around 22 points and 11 rebounds a night on 74 percent shooting from the field. Allen has leveled up in a special way and has the coaches thinking of ways to build on his momentum.
“We just got to keep him there,“ Kenny Atkinson said after the game on Friday. ”You know, it’s our job as coaches to keep him in this great, great space. But I loved his energy tonight.”
If Allen can play anything close to this level in April and May, then the Cavs have a chance to do something really special.
Nic Claxton will look to slow JA down on the inside. A matchup against a resurgent Allen should be a great warmup for the back-to-back he’ll have against Bam Adebayo next week in Miami.
Feb 19, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Tobias Myers (32) poses for a photo during media day at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Tom Seaver demanded a new contract before reporting to camp—a signal of the tensions that would continue to linger between the two sides until their eventual divorce—on this date in 1976.
Feb 14, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. announced today that the St. Louis Cardinals and manager Oli Marmol had agreed to a two-year contract extension with an option for a third year. BDW noted that Oli is in his 20th year in the Cardinals organization and knows what the Cardinals are about. The Chairman indicated that this announcement recognizes that people need to know he is their guy. He offered that they have been building to this moment for a while.
President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom added his own thoughts, reflecting on the trusting relationship he had built with Oli beginning with his first visit into St. Louis in 2024. Bloom offered that he saw a lot of benefit in being able to build a relationship with Oli during his first two years without the burden of being POBO, allowing for a free flow of thoughts back and forth. Bloom emphasized Oli’s strong player development background and articulated a belief that the game itself is evolving to emphasize more development at the MLB level, and that the manager’s role is changing right along with that. Development doesn’t stop when you get to the MLB was his theme.
Oli himself expressed appreciation to ownership, front office and especially the many players gathered in the room for the press conference. Oli described the initial roster he inherited with guys like Wainwright, Yadi, Albert, Nolan and Goldy as a way of illuminating the stark transition this organization has undergone in the last 4 years. He drew a distinction with the roster he has in 2026 and expressed his excitement has never being higher than it is right now. He acknowledged that his role sometimes involves difficult conversations, going both ways and he appreciates the trust and openness he has been able to develop with the players and others in the organization.
Tradition and stability long have been watchwords with the Cardinals and this announcement certainly doesn’t contradict that aspect of their culture. A nuance that I sense from this press conference and other interactions is that additional terms begin to gain strong traction – alignment, development, trust. Not necessarily new terms, but perhaps ones with different emphasis. For the front office, Oliver Marmol embeds each of these attributes in a unique way that makes him their guy.
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol signed a two-year contract extension through at least the 2028 season, the Cardinals announced Sunday.
The deal includes a club option for 2029, the club said.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time, and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” Cardinals president Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow."
The 39-year-old Marmol has led the Cardinals for the past four seasons, taking them to the National League wild-card round in his first season as manager. But he has failed to return to the playoffs the last three years, and St. Louis was just 78-84 last season.
Yet the Cardinals have long considered the past couple of seasons as an opportunity to reset with Bloom taking over for longtime executive John Mozeliak and a roster in need of a refresh. So it makes sense to provide some stability with Marmol, the third-longest tenured manager in the NL behind the Dodgers' Dave Roberts and the Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo.
Marmol has been with the Cardinals since 2007, when he was still in his playing days. He spent five seasons as a manager in the minors before joining the coaching staff in 2017, and he was elevated to the St. Louis manager on October 25, 2021.
Marmol is 324-323 in four seasons with the Cardinals.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
