Desire to remain relevant is understandable, but a glance at his behavioural pattern casts doubt on his PGA Tour and Ryder Cup involvement
It is a scene that has become more extraordinary with the passing of time. Plenty of sportspeople have been guilty of or admitted to extramarital capers. Only Tiger Woods appeared live on television, in front of a hand‑picked audience, to deliver a 14‑minute mea culpa on his transgressions.
American golf executives in their perfectly ironed slacks stood in sombre mood as Woods laid bare his “personal sins”. The venue, hilariously, was the home of the PGA Tour. Woods had no need to go into tawdry detail about his antics; the tabloid media had done that for him. “I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply,” Woods said. Sixteen years since that speech, it is worth pondering whether much has changed.
With 51 double-doubles in 69 games, Karl-Anthony Towns has put himself in elite company this season. In fact, he leads the league in that category, just edging out Nikola Jokic (50).
The New York Knicks center is almost automatic for a double-double every night, logging 12 in his last 14 outings.
His opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, rank 23rd in rebounds allowed per game since the All-Star break (45.2) and 22nd in offensive rebounds corralled (10.2).
Towns is averaging 11.9 rpg, with 8.8 defensive boards per game, so he should dominate this matchup on the glass and register another double-double.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Peacock/NNC
Prop #2: Nikola Jokic Over 11.5 assists
+100 at bet365
Despite the Denver Nuggets’ five-game win streak, Nikola Jokic has had a bit of a sluggish run on the box score, with less than 25 points in four of those contests. However, the three-time MVP has still contributed in other ways.
Jokic has dished out Over 11.5 assists in four straight contests and nine of his last 11, while averaging a league-leading 10.8 dimes per game this season.
The Golden State Warriors are 20th in points against per game (118.4) and 23rd in field goals allowed per game (43.9) since the All-Star break.
The Nuggets will run up the score, and Jokic will dish out at least a dozen dimes.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Peacock/NBC
Prop #3: Ziaire Williams Over 12.5 points
+100 at bet365
The lowly Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of another lengthy losing streak, but on the positive side, they’re seeing some progression from Ziaire Williams.
The 24-year-old has scored 16+ points in five straight games, as well as Over 12.5 points in nine of his last 12 outings.
The Sacramento Kings are just as bad as the Nets, and even worse on the defensive end. Sacramento is allowing 122.9 ppg post All-Star break — the sixth-worst mark in the NBA.
With Michael Porter Jr. out for Brooklyn, Williams is the Nets’ go-to scorer, and he’ll lead the way again tonight vs. the Kings.
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Week 23 is the most important in fantasy basketball for many players, as it is championship week in Yahoo! default leagues. Of course, with injury management and tanking being what it has become, there are a lot of leagues that have already finished up. More than half of the NBA's 30 teams play four games in Week 23, while two are limited to two games. Let's look at the schedule breakdown and some key storylines heading into Week 23.
- The Trail Blazers have the worst Week 23 schedule.
Portland and Denver have two-game weeks, but the former's schedule setup is much worse. While the Nuggets will play on Wednesday and Saturday, the latter being the lightest game day of Week 23, the Trail Blazers are active on Tuesday and Thursday. A player like Jrue Holiday or Toumani Camara will have some value to begin the week, but they'll be of no use to fantasy managers for the final three days. Managers in leagues that allow for lineups to be set daily will need to account for this when utilizing their transactions for the week. As for those competing in leagues where lineups lock for the week after a player's first game, they may need to seek alternatives on the waiver wire or within their current squad.
- Saturday is the light game day of Week 23.
There are only three games on Saturday, with five of the six teams in action playing their final Week 23 game that day. Among those teams are Denver, San Antonio and Philadelphia, which all boast some highly impactful fantasy options. And then there's Washington, which will be active on Saturday and Sunday. Alex Sarr immediately comes to mind as a valuable fantasy option whose availability may be limited at the end of Week 23. Back-to-backs have not been an issue for Will Riley or Bub Carrington, and there could be a game where Julian Reese emerges as a viable streamer. Also, that is the second back-to-back of Week 23 that the Wizards must deal with; the first begins on the final day of Week 22.
- The Cavaliers and Magic are among the teams that have two back-to-backs to navigate.
For both of these teams, their second back-to-back carries over into Week 24, the final week of the regular season. How will that impact the availability of these teams' key players for the final day of Week 23? There aren't many leagues that run through Week 24; with availability already being incredibly unpredictable, running a league through the final week of the regular season feels unnecessary. Cleveland is getting closer to full strength, but the back-to-backs may affect the availability of Jarrett Allen or Max Strus. As for the Magic, they're still awaiting the returns of Franz Wagner and Anthony Black. Will either or both return at some point during Week 23? The answer affects Tristan da Silva, who has offered solid value as the replacement in the starting lineup.
- Fantasy managers won't have Luka Dončić to begin Week 23.
Dončić's managers, hoping to get their Week 23 off to an excellent start with the Lakers hosting the Wizards on Monday, were left disappointed when the NBA announced he would be suspended for a game after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season on Friday. As a result, he'll sit out the first of four games that the Lakers are scheduled to play in Week 23. Dončić will still have games against the Cavaliers, Thunder and Mavericks, and he's clearly capable of putting up gaudy numbers in those matchups. However, missing out on an opportunity to torch a lottery-bound team is unfortunate for those going into championship week with Dončić on their roster. That said, his absence boosts the fantasy values of Austin Reaves and LeBron James.
- Will we see Anthony Edwards or Stephen Curry during Week 23?
It appears more likely that the former will be available than the latter. Edwards was cleared for all on-court activities on Friday, and while there are still a few hurdles for him to clear, playing on Monday in Dallas is a serious possibility. The Timberwolves play four games in Week 23, three of which are scheduled over the final four days (back-to-back on Thursday and Friday in Detroit and Philadelphia). The back-to-back could leave Edwards available for three games, but that's better than nothing.
As for Curry, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged on Friday that the team is “running out of games” to get their star guard back onto the court. He still has not reached the point where he's cleared for 5-on-5 activities, something the team reportedly hoped would have already happened by now. The Warriors won't play their first Week 23 game until Wednesday against the Spurs, but that's the first of two games in as many nights.
For a team that could still win 50 games this year, there’s a surprising amount of gloom around the Houston Rockets, and it’s a “where do we go from here?” derby tonight as they visit the New Orleans Pelicans.
Houston is just 7-7 in March while New Orleans has dropped four games in a row, and my Rockets vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks signal a struggle for both offenses tonight.
Rockets vs Pelicans prediction
Rockets vs Pelicans best bet: Under 225.5 (-110)
Put simply, this isn’t likely a matchup for basketball purists who love slick offense. That makes the Under a value pick tonight. It’s 2-7 in the New Orleans Pelicans’ last nine contests, and 41-32 for the Houston Rockets this season.
The numbers tell a compelling story for a low-scoring scrap. Houston is allowing just 110.2 ppg this year, the fourth-best mark in the league, and should lock down a New Orleans offense that may be without Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III again.
The Pelicans have thrown Jeremiah Fears into a bigger role with the season fading away, and they looked toothless in Toronto on Friday, managing just 44 points in the first half.
Meanwhile, Houston's over-reliance on Kevin Durant to get buckets has been a storyline all year, and they’re still stuck in the bottom half of the NBA at 114.1 ppg. The lack of ball movement is at the root of the problem, with only four teams averaging fewer assists per game.
Equally, these squads have been a mess from beyond the arc this season. New Orleans ranks 26th in 3-pointers made and 25th in 3-pointers attempted; Houston ranks 27th and 29th, respectively, in those categories. That’s not the type of marksmanship to spark an Over.
When these teams squared off earlier this month in Houston, we got a 107-105 rock fight that put a spotlight on their offensive limitations. Tonight feels like a recipe for more of the same.
Rockets vs Pelicans same-game parlay
I like pairing the Under with a rebounding Over, and Amen Thompson is averaging 8.9 rpg in March. He’s gone past this O/U mark in six of his last eight outings, and he hauled in 12 boards against the Pelicans earlier this month.
The Rockets are 6-1 SU in the past seven meetings between these teams, and they have a defensive edge over a New Orleans squad that’s scored fewer than 110 points in four of its past five games.
Rockets vs Pelicans SGP
Under 225.5
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Rockets moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Reed all about it!
One way for Houston to unclog its offense is to bump up Reed Sheppard’s minutes. He’s coming off a 15-point effort in Memphis on Friday, and he’s up to 31.8 mpg this month. His playmaking is the biggest plus, with 28 dimes across his last four contests.
Rockets vs Pelicans SGP
Reed Sheppard Over 14.5 points
Reed Sheppard Over 4.5 assists
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Rockets -6
Rockets vs Pelicans odds
Spread: Rockets -6 | Pelicans +6
Moneyline: Rockets -240 | Pelicans +195
Over/Under: Over 225.5 | Under 225.5
Rockets vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Under is 28-18 in Houston's games against Western Conference opponents this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Rockets vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Space City Home Network, Pelicans+
Rockets vs Pelicans latest injuries
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NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - MARCH 24: Jorge Mateo #2 of the Atlanta Braves hits an RBI double in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during a Grapefruit League spring training game at CoolToday Park on March 24, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The roster has been released for today’s series finale against the Kansas City Royals. The Atlanta Braves are looking to complete the first sweep of the season on this early afternoon start, as the Royals are determined to put a stop to it.
Notice any names that stick out in today’s lineup?
Well, after reading the headline, you pretty much guessed it: shortstop Jorge Mateo is making a return to the field, but this time as a starter in the position. After scoring a run in the Braves’ late rally in the ninth inning last night, he will be returning to help the team secure its win.
Another name that’s been making headlines throughout the night is Dominic Smith, who will be returning as DH after last night’s electric finale. The rest of the lineup remains identical to yesterday’s, with Ronald Acuña Jr. batting leadoff and Mike Yastrzemski returning to left field.
Grant Holmes is taking the mound and looking to start his season appearance off on a good foot and help secure a win for the team on the defensive side.
On the Royals’ side of the field, Seth Lugo is up on the mound, with a few tweaks in today’s lineup in efforts to produce a different outcome in the finale.
Salvador Perez will be replacing Carter Jensen as the designated hitter, while Jensen will see his way to the catcher spot for the first time in the series. Jonathan India will be replaced by Nick Loftin at second base and batting in the eighth hole. And Lane Thomas will be behind Jensen, taking the place of Isaac Collins in left field.
An important ending to the series for both teams to set their season. Who will get the final word?
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: The Washington Nationals formally introduce their new Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on October 01, 2025. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Nationals have made one thing clear early in the Paul Toboni era, they will churn through a lot of players. It feels like the Nats are making some sort of roster move every other day. Whether it is small trades or waiver claims, the Nats are going to be active this season.
We saw yet another example of that yesterday when they traded for the recently DFA’d Curtis Mead. The reason why they traded for him and did not claim him is actually interesting. Mead was with the White Sox, who are obviously in the AL. For waiver claims, AL teams get first dibs on AL players. Clearly, the Nats coveted Mead, so they gave up a minor leaguer to get in front of the line.
Taking bets on players like Mead is a solid process for a rebuilding team. Curtis Mead was a top prospect just a few years ago and is still just 25. His elite hitting ability in the minors has not translated to the MLB yet, but the Nats are in a position to give him a shot. If it does not work out, they can either option Mead or just DFA him again. However, if he hits, he could stick around for a while.
What you should know about Curtis Mead: -25 years old -Former top 100 prospect, as high as 32nd on Fangraphs rankings in 2024 -76 wRC+ and 3 home runs in 90 games for TB and CHW last season -Makes hard contact, but needs a more refined plate approachpic.twitter.com/RCE2wwW5CU
Honestly, the strategy is similar to what venture capital firms do, which is what one of you said in the comments. If you take enough of these bets on players with pedigree, at least one or two of them is bound to work out. These are not moves that have much of a chance of making an impact, but the cost of these are very low. All you need for these guys is an open 40 man roster spot and sometimes a lesser known prospect.
The only one of these moves that I have not really loved is the Jorbit Vivas one. Sean Paul Linan is a flawed pitcher, but he is a real prospect. I do not love giving that up for a utility infielder with no minor league options left, especially when you already have Jose Tena. However, Toboni clearly likes Vivas’ skills at the plate, so we will see how that works out.
Spencer Nusbaum, now of the Athletic, actually predicted that the Nats will set the record for the most players rostered in a season. Right now that record is 71, which the Braves did last season. With all these minor moves Toboni is already making, the Nats are likely to at least challenge that record.
The Nationals have set their Opening Day roster. I’ve offered this bold prediction: Washington is going to break the MLB record for players rostered in a season.
Which makes this roster what, exactly? Simply the 26 players they’re taking to Chicago. https://t.co/6QDKOZLZFG
This is a departure from the Nats old ways. In the Mike Rizzo days, the Nats tended to stick with the guys they had. They would make the occasional waiver claim, and Rizzo had a couple good ones. Most notably, he claimed Hunter Harvey and Robert Garcia. However, he was not using the waiver wire at the kind of volume Toboni will. For a rebuilding team, I think Toboni’s approach makes more sense. You have room on the roster to give guys chances.
The Nats use of the waiver wire did not start just this spring though. Toboni went on a waiver claim frenzy in January and early February. He picked up guys like Joey Wiemer, Ken Waldichuk, Andre Granillo and Gus Varland, who all made the Opening Day roster. There were also guys who were only on the roster for a few days before getting DFA’d again.
Nationals have claimed LHP Richard Lovelady off waivers from Mets and DFA’d UTIL Mickey Gasper (who was only recently claimed himself). The 40-man roster merry-go-round continues.
This churn will certainly keep Nats reporters like myself on my toes. There will be a steady stream of players coming and going in DC. If just a couple of these guys hit, all of this activity will be worth it. The Nats are playing with penny stocks right now. It kind of sucks that the team is bad enough to give all these guys opportunities, but hopefully this sort of stuff will pay off in the long run.
MONTREAL, CANADA - MARCH 24: Seth Jarvis #24 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Kaiden Guhle #21 of the Montréal Canadiens battle for position during the first period at the Bell Centre on March 24, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes are back in action this afternoon with a 5:00 PM puck drop against the Montreal Canadiens at the Lenovo Center. After taking care of the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Saturday night, the Canes will look to avoid the season sweep versus the Habs this evening.
Montreal owns the season series so far, having beaten Carolina 7-5 on New Year’s Day and 5-2 just five days ago in Montreal. In both games, the Hurricanes dominated possession and outshot the Canadiens significantly, yet somehow found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
Montreal comes into Raleigh riding a four-game winning streak after beating Nashville 4-1 on Saturday. With 92 points, the Habs are third in the Atlantic Division and are fourth in the Eastern Conference.
The Canadiens remain in a battle for the playoffs, but are in a good position with 10 games remaining in the regular season. The Habs are on a four-game winning streak and are 9-4-2 since the Olympic break.
Cole Caufield is leading the way for Montreal this year. He has 45 goals this season and is chasing Nathan MacKinnon’s 48 goals for the league lead. No Canadien has led the NHL in goals since Guy Lafleur in 1977-78. Caufield is lethal from the slot and has been particularly dangerous against the Hurricanes, scoring in both meetings this year.
Juraj Slafkovský and Oliver Kapanen also scored in each of the previous two meetings between these teams.
Nick Suzuki has been outstanding as the team’s first-line center with 88 points in 72 games and has points in eight of his last nine games. He ranks ninth in the league in scoring, and his 64 assists are sixth-best in the NHL.
Sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson is having a Norris-caliber season with 71 points, and 19-year-old Ivan Demidov continues to shine in his rookie campaign with 16 goals and 40 assists.
With Jacob Flower earning the win over Nashville last night, Jakub Dobes is the likely starting goaltender. He was impressive in his first appearance against Carolina, stopping 41 of 43 shots on March 24. If he gets the start today, the Canes will be facing a goaltender who has posted a .926 save percentage over his last six starts and played great against them less than a week ago.
Montreal, under head coach Martin St. Louis, is a high-event, transition-based attack that prioritizes finishing quality over shot volume. The Canadiens rank 3rd in goals per game despite sitting just 20th with an expected-goals-for share of 48.76 percent. The Habs, fueled by Caufield’s elite 20.7 percent rate and slot-heavy offensive deployment, lead in the NHL in shooting percentage. The power play is a top-five unit at 24.5 percent, quarterbacked by Hutson at the point, and Suzuki being the playmaker. Suzuki ranks third in the league with 39 power play points.
On the flip side, the Canadiens’ kill ranks 26th in the league. The last power play goal they surrendered was a Nikolaj Ehlers tally five days ago.
Saturday’s win over the Devils showed exactly what this team is capable of when things click. The Canes scored five straight goals after falling behind 1-0, with Nikolaj Ehlers lighting the lamp on the power play and Seth Jarvis notching his 30th goal of the season on a shorthanded empty-netter. Shayne Gostisbehere returned from a three-week absence with a goal and an assist, and continues to perform during an injury-laden season.
The return of Gostisbehere is huge. His 43 points in 45 games lead all Hurricanes defensemen, and having him back as the power-play quarterback should give that unit a boost. He looked like he hadn’t missed a beat against the Devils.
Ehlers continues to be red-hot in March. He is on a three-game goal streak and has 17 points in 13 games this month.
Jarvis’s empty-netter last night made him just the sixth player in franchise history with at least three consecutive 30-goal seasons.
Jordan Staal scored yesterday against the Devils, and that marker put him in sole possession of eighth on the franchise’s all-time goal-scoring list. His next goal will put him at the 20-goal mark for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
With Brandon Bussi earning the win on Saturday, expect Frederik Andersen to get the start this afternoon. Andersen has played better since the Olympic break, earning a 6-2-0 record. However, one of those blemishes was the loss in Montreal, in which he allowed three goals on just 19 shots.
Hurricanes projected lineup
Andrei Svechnikov — Sebastian Aho — Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall — Logan Stankoven — Jackson Blake
Nikolaj Ehlers — Jordan Staal — Jordan Martinook
William Carrier — Mark Jankowski — Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin — Jalen Chatfield
K’Andre Miller — Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere — Alexander Nikishin
Frederik Andersen
Brandon Bussi
Scratched: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nicolas Deslauriers, Mike Reilly
Injured: Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body)
The Canes are wearing their red jerseys tonight and will honor veterans, active-duty personnel, Guard members, and reservists during Military Appreciation Night.
Here’s how to check out the action:
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Location: Lenovo Center – Raleigh, NC
TV: FanDuel Sports Network with Mike Maniscalco, play-by-play; Tripp Tracy, color analyst; Shane Willis, analyst; Hannah Yates, rinkside.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Eduardo Rodriguez #52 of Team Venezuela pitches against Team United States during the first inning at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just a reminder, there is no Dbacks game today.
Team News
D-backs drop series finale, look forward to home Opening Day
“We won a lot of innings of baseball over the course of this three-game series,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Yet we’re 0-3, so that’s frustrating. It’s very frustrating. This was a tough series, no doubt about it. I did not think we would be coming home 0-3, but we are. We’ve got to understand why it happened, accept why it happened, get better, and get ready for a very, very spirited Monday Opening Day. Our crowd will be waiting for us. We can’t wait to come home.” https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/diamondbacks-lose-series-finale-versus-dodgers-head-home-for-opening-day
Eduardo Rodriguez throws gem, but Dodgers come back late to sweep Diamondbacks
This may be because most species of moths do not eat at all. Some moths such as the Luna moth emerges from its cocoon and never eats. This species lives for about a week long.
Humans have just 1 bone fewer than horses.
Horses have an average of 205 bones or more while the adult human is set at 206. On average, horses will live for 25-30 years.
The guillotine was invented to create “equality in execution.” Until its widespread use, the regular methods of execution in France were rather savage. Punishment like being drawn and quartered was common. The idea to use the guillotine as the main method of execution was part of the movement for equality in France that spurred on the revolution.
Adolf Hitler helped design the Volkswagen Beetle. Between Hitler and Ferdinand Porsche, the iconic bug-like car was designed as part of a Hitler-revived German initiative to create an affordable and practical car that everyone could own.
CHICAGO — The Big Ten is the best conference in college basketball. No, the SEC deserves that honor. And what about the Big East?
College basketball fans and media have harped over conference supremacy for much of the 2025-26 men's college basketball season: The SEC got the most teams into the Men's NCAA Tournament, with 10 teams that largely performed to their seedings — excepting, of course, defending national champion and No. 1 seed Florida.
The Big Ten had the most teams left standing entering the Elite Eight play on Saturday, March 28, and could potentially field half the Final Four field should No. 1 seed beat No. 6 seed Tennessee on Sunday, March 29. The Volunteers are the last remaining hope for the SEC.
The four Big Ten teams in the Elite Eight beat the old record of three, which occurred in 2000, 2005 and 2019. However, no Big Ten team has won the national championship since 2000, when Michigan State cut down the nets in, ironically, Indianapolis. Could the quarter century-long curse end there on April 6?
But while talk shows and fans continue to banter on about conference supremacy, how much do the players — the ones actually playing in the games — care about that chatter?
It depends on who you ask.
“Not really,” Tennessee freshman Nate Ament said when asked how much he caried about being the last SEC team standing. “We’re grateful to the SEC for getting us prepared for this tournament. There are so many tough teams in the SEC. But again, it’s just how the cookie crumbles. We’re the only SEC team left, so we want to represent the SEC, but that’s not our motivation or fuel.”
The Vols knocked off No. 2 seed Iowa State in the Midwest Region semifinal at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 27. Tennessee will take on the Wolverines with a chance to advance to the Final Four for the first time in program history. The Wolverines, of course, are one of the handful of Big Ten teams remaining.
“Obviously, we’re all on social media, so we definitely see it,” Michigan guard Trey McKinney said. “But I think it just really shows the strength of the Big Ten Conference, and I think the Big Ten Conference is definitely the best conference in America.”
McKinney added that he does root for other Big Ten Conference teams when he tunes into games, but with a caveat: “We tend to root for certain Big Ten teams,” McKinney said with a laugh.
Michigan senior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. agreed with McKinney’s assessment.
“I feel like the Big Ten is just one big group,” Gayle said. “I root for the Big Ten teams, especially because I feel like it boosts the conference, it boosts the teams and brings more eyes on the conference.”
Last season, four SEC teams played in the Elite Eight — including Tennessee — with two advancing to the Final Four. Florida defeated Auburn to advance to the national championship, and took home the title after beating Houston.
This year, Tennessee is the last chance for the SEC to win its third national title since 2012.
Tennessee forward Felix Okpara said the team does not feel any added pressure to win for the SEC this season. However, Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie said the team does want to represent the SEC well.
The nine Big Ten teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament have gone a combined 17-5. That includes a perfect 4-0 against the SEC in March Madness entering play on March 29.
“We definitely want to put on for the SEC,” Gillespie said. “But I think we just go out there and play. I mean, it’s whoever is the better team tomorrow. None of the regular season matters anymore.”
Michigan, should it beat Tennessee on March 29, would play Arizona in the Final Four next weekend in Indianapolis. If the Wolverines advance to the national title game, they could play Illinois, assuming the Fighting Illini also advance.
Gayle has the same belief that many SEC, ACC and Big East teams have come out of the NCAA Tournament feeling.
“I hope we don’t have to play any of them,” Gayle said with a laugh. “They have all our scouts.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 26: Andrew McCutchen #4 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a double during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 26, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for March 29, 2026 against the Philadelphia Phillies: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Jesus Luzardo for the Phillies.
Texas will look to take the rubber game with new addition MacKenzie Gore on the mound. Evan Carter and Joc Pederson sit against the lefty, and Kyle Higashioka gets his first start of the season.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Langford — CF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
McCutchen — DH
Higashioka — C
Jung — 3B
Haggerty — LF
Duran — 2B
12:35 pm Central start time. Rangers are +135 underdogs.
Season-opening series wrap up on Sunday, as we'll see if early-season trends can hold up with the third-best starting pitcher on the mound for each team.
Young star Roman Anthony will look to continue his hot start, while fellow star on the rise Gunnar Henderson wants to break through.
The Royals will start 36-year-old innings-eater Seth Lugo, who gave up three home runs in nine spring innings. The Atlanta Braves lineup took him deep twice when they faced him last year, and Austin Riley has a career .910 OPS against Lugo with two home runs.
Riley has beaten up Kansas City pitching in the first two games, posting a 1.196 OPS. He led the Braves with five home runs in spring training, but he's still looking for his first extra-base hit of the regular season.
That will come this afternoon.
Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MLB Network
Roman Anthony (+390)
After an injury interrupted his debut season last year, Roman Anthony is ready to take a star turn. He had an OPS+ of 140 in 71 games last year and is ready to make up for lost time.
Anthony had two WBC homers for Team USA and hit .300 in spring training for Boston when not with the national team. In two games that count, he's gotten four hits.
Anthony hasn't had an extra base hit but could break through against Cincinnati’s Rhett Lowder, making his seventh career start and first since 2024 after missing all last year with injury.
Time: 1:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CINR, NESN
Gunnar Henderson (+285)
Gunnar Henderson was one of the stars for Team USA at the WBC, hitting .400 with two homers and 1.267 OPS.
He's still seeking his first hit after two games in the regular season, striking out five times in eight at-bats. New manager Craig Albernaz was supportive of him after he showed frustration on the field Saturday.
Gunnar Henderson has a home run against Twins starter Bailey Ober in his career, and Ober struggled in the spring, with a WHIP of 1.769 and less than a strikeout every two innings. Look for Henderson to break through in game three.
Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, MNMT
2026 Transparency record
HR picks: 2-2, +3.6 units
Today’s HR parlay
Austin Riley
Bet Now +12027
Roman Anthony
Gunnar Henderson
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.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 27: Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics attempts a layup against forward Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at the TD Garden on March 27, 2026 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
Sometimes it feels like you know how 80% of a Celtics game is going to go.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are going to do half of the heavy lifting. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White will cover about another third. But it’s that other 15-20% that you’re going to get from your 5th, 6th, and down to your 9th or 10th man that’s unpredictable. Those role players just might swing a game and that game might just swing a series in the playoffs.
The Celtics roster is littered with guys like that. All year, everybody from Neemias Queta to Jordan Walsh to Hugo Gonzalez to Baylor Scheierman have won the Tommy Award.
And then there’s Luka Garza.
It wasn’t that long ago that Garza was the consensus National Player of the Year in college basketball. In 2020, he averaged 24 and 10 in his junior season at Iowa and followed that up with a First Team All-American selection.
Unfortunately, the college game doesn’t necessarily translate to the NBA. Garza persevered through four seasons with the Pistons and Timberwolves and has finally carved out a spot in Joe Mazzulla’s rotation.
With Nikola Vucevic, Boston’s major pickup at the trade deadline, on the mend, Garza is back terrorizing opposing teams’ frontcourts with his relentless work ethic in the paint, savvy screening above the break, and the occasional three-pointer that harkens back to Al Horford’s catapult-ish shot from behind the arc.
And even when Vooch returns, Celtics fans have resoundingly voted to keep Garza in the fold when the playoffs start next month. Maybe it’s just a two-minute stint in a double big lineup with Queta. Maybe Vucevic gets into early foul trouble. Maybe Mazzulla just wants to shake up the energy with the Garzilla roaming the baseline. Regardless, it’s clear that Luka has found a home in Boston.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 09: Assistant coach Charles Lee (L) of the Boston Celtics speaks to head coach Joe Mazzulla during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2024 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Celtics and Hornets face off on Sunday night, it will be a match-up between two of the Eastern Conference’s hottest teams. And, in many ways, the two franchises are interconnected — both due to their personell and emerging styles of play.
Earlier this month, ESPN analyst Jay Williams drew the connection himself: “They’re like a younger version of the Boston Celtics,” he said of the Hornets. “Their games actually mirror each other.”
The parallels between the Celtics and Hornets are striking.
Both teams are heavily reliant on three-pointers — the Hornets have made the most threes in the NBA this season (1193), and the Celtics have made the third-most (1113). Both teams routinely win the margins, meaning they get up more shots than their opponents; the Celtics average the 4th-most offensive rebounds per game, the Hornets average the 7th-most.
And, both franchises have been a part of two of the most extreme midseason turnarounds the league has seen in recent years. The Hornets were 12 games below .500 on January 22nd. Since then, they’ve gone 23-7, completely turning their season around.
The Celtics underwent a similar turnaround in 2022 en route to their first Finals appearance of the Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown era. That season, they entered the All-Star break with a 20-21 record, and ended up going 31-10 the rest of the way.
What’s fueled Charlotte’s turnaround? And, why does it feel like the Celtics organization’s tentacles are all over the Hornets?
CelticsBlog caught up with Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, to dive into that question. [The conversation was part of Knueppel’s new partnership with Cheez-It; the rookie star has launched the Double Double Cheez-It Bundle, as an ode to his favorite snack flavor].
Knueppel is averaging 19 points per game and shooting 43.6% from three. He’s already set the record for most three-pointers made in a rookie season (256) and has established himself as one of the most lethal shooters in the game.
The Charlotte Hornets organization is filled with ex-Celtics
Knueppel credited Hornets head coach Charles Lee for powering the team’s success this season. Lee was Joe Mazzulla’s lead assistant during the 2024 championship, and is in his second year as Charlotte’s head coach.
“Charles has been great,” Knueppel said. “He really preaches daily improvement. So even when you know the losses were stacking up early in the season, it was really just about continuing to get better each day. And I think going into each day with that mindset, living in the present, is really good, especially for our young team.”
Lee headlines a long list of critical Hornets personnel who were previously part of the Celtics organization.
Two members of the Hornets coaching staff — Blaine Mueller and Jermaine Bucknor — also hail from that Celtics championship team. Mueller, who was the head coach of the Maine Celtics in 2023-2024, is one of Lee’s lead assistant in Charlotte.
And Bucknor, who was a player development coach in Boston, is also on the staff. Bucknor leads Hornets guard Sion James’ player development work, and oftentimes cosplays some of the NBA’s best players when the Hornets are going through scouts (Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero is an example of a player Bucknor cosplays).
“He’s a good guy to have around,” Knueppel said. “He’s still a bucket, so whenever we need a scout team, he’s in there getting buckets. He’s great.”
The connections don’t end there: last summer, the Hornets named Patrick Chasse as new vice president of Medical and Performance. Chasse had previously been the Celtics’ head athletic trainer since 2022, and began with the organization in 2020.
Knueppel said the Hornets’ midseason turnaround could primarily be attributed to guys getting healthy.
“Brandon [Miller] missed a lot of games,” Knueppel said. “He dislocated his shoulder, or separated his shoulder, in the second game of the season. So, he missed about 20 games early, and LaMelo [Ball] missed 10 games early. So having those guys out of the lineup, obviously super important players for us. And then when they come back, they’re on they’re on minutes restrictions, and they’re not playing back-to-backs. So, getting those guys back healthy, playing full-time, was really important. And then getting guys like Grant Williams and Josh Green back back healthy as well, who are big-time role players for us, was huge.”
And, the Hornets veterans include two former Celtics: Grant Williams and Xavier Tillman. Williams was traded to Charlotte in 2024, and quickly became a key locker room presence. Knueppel named him as one of the most welcoming guys on the roster. He, Williams, and Pat Connaughton use the sauna together after every home game and chat.
“He’s been really, really good for us rookies, really good to us, making us feel comfortable, taking us out to dinner, paying for dinner when he doesn’t have to, making us feel welcome,” Knueppel said. “So, he’s been phenomenal. He’s been a really good friend.”
Grant Williams has emerged as a key locker room presence in Charlotte. | Getty Images
The Hornets are now making a playoff push, and Williams has routinely drawn from his own experiences making playoff runs with the Celtics in order to advise the younger guys who haven’t been there before.
“He talks about it a lot – just the standard that we have to hold ourselves to, and how it’s going to be in the playoffs, committing to what we do, and our identity on a nightly basis is important,” Knueppel said. “He really, really talks about that a lot.”
The most recent ex-Celtics addition?
Tillman, who was traded from the Celtics to the Hornets at the trade deadline. Knueppel said Tillman has been a great veteran presence, and that the team has really enjoyed having his family around.
“He’s one of the best locker room presences you can have in the league,” Williams said of Tillman earlier this month. “I bet you everyone here in Boston would say the same.”
As they gear up to face the Celtics, on Sunday the Hornets are currently 39-35, good for the 10th-best record in the Eastern Conference. But, they’re only 2.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors for the 5th seed, with 7 games left to play.
And, they’ve become an increasingly daunting first-round opponent.
“We have a chance to get out of the play-in,” Knueppel said. “And so that’s really the goal at the end of the day – we have a couple of tie-breakers with teams in our division. So it’d be great to get into that.”
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for the second of three straight games in the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena. This game features the Boston Bruins.
Boston Bruins - 41-24-8 - 90 Points - 6-2-2 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 4th in the Atlantic
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-24-11 - 87 Points - 6-3-1 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 4th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
The Blue Jackets began a three-game homestand with a 3-2 loss to San Jose on Saturday. It snapped the club's 12-game home points streak (9-0-3), which was tied for the longest home points streak in club history (12; 9-0-3 from Feb. 11-Mar. 31, 2013). The team failed to collect points for just the second time in 18 games at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (12-2-4).
The club has earned points in 24 of its last 29 contests (20-5-4, 44 pts) to lead the league points pct. (.759) and goals against per game (2.45), and rank second in wins (tied) and points and eighth in goals-for per game (3.45) since Jan. 11.
Columbus has allowed two goals or less in eight of the last 10 games since Mar. 10 (1.90 GA/GP, 3rd in NHL).
CBJ conclude their 15th of 16 back-to-back sets (18-7-4, .690 pts pct.) today vs. Boston. The club has won five of the last six second games of a back-to-back and earned points in seven of the past eight (6-1-1; 9-4-1 overall in second games).
The Jackets lead the NHL with a franchise-record 55 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (55-131-186, 73 GP).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli collected an assist vs. San Jose and has points in eight of the last 10 games (3-7-10) and 14 of the last 18 contests (8-11-19). He has set a single-season career high in assists and points (tied) with 21-33-54 in 73 contests.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 14 of his last 16 starts since Jan. 11 (12-2-2, 2.23 GAA, .915 SV% in 16 GP), while G Elvis Merzlikins has recorded points in 10 of his past 13 starts over that span (8-3-2, 2.54 GAA in 14 GP).
Boone Jenner has registered 1-3-4 in the last six games and is slated to play in his franchise-record 800th career game (209-207-416, 799 GP) today against the Bruins.
Mathieu Olivier, who leads the club in hits (207), ranks 11th-T in the NHL in goals since Jan. 28 (11-4-15 in 22 GP).
Cole Sillinger, who notched a goal yesterday, has posted 2-5-7 in the last seven contests and has set career highs in assists and points (tied) with 8-25-33 in 72 appearances in 2025-26.
Zach Werenski has notched 21-56-77 and 25 multi-point efforts in 66 games in 2025-26 to lead NHL blueliners in points-per-game (1.17), multi-point efforts and shots on goal (229) and sit second in points and third in goals.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.9% - 18th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.9% - 24th in the NHL
Goals For - 228 - 15th in the NHL
Goals Against - 221 - 16th in the NHL
BruinsStats
Power Play - 23.3% - 9th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.7% - 27th in the NHL
Goals For - 243 - 9th in the NHL
Goals Against - 224 - 22nd in the NHL
Series History vs. TheBruins
Columbus is 17-18-10 all-time, and 10-8-5 at home vs. Boston.
CBJ have earned points in eight of the last 11 games against Boston at Nationwide Arena since Dec. 27, 2016 (6-3-2).
The home team has won three-straight games and earned points in 19 of the last 23 meetings dating back to Nov. 10, 2016 (15-4-4).
The winning team has scored four goals or more in five consecutive meetings overall and eight times in the last 10 matchups, as well as each of the past four at Nationwide Arena.
The winning team has won by multiple goals in seven-straight contests in the series and nine of the past 10 meetings, along with by three-plus in each of the past four at Columbus.
The Blue Jackets are 17-of-81 on the power play (21.0 pct.), and 58-of-68 on the penalty kill (85.3 pct.) against the Bruins in 23 all-time meetings at Nationwide Arena.
Who To Watch For The Bruins
David Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 63 assists and 92 points.
Morgan Geekie leads Boston with 34 goals.
Joonas Korpisalo is 12-9-4 with a SV% of .891.
CBJ Player Notes vsBruins
Boone Jenner 13 points in 24 career games against Boston.
Zach Werenski has 15 points against the Bruins.
Mason Marchment has 7 points in 9 games vs. Boston.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 35 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Missed 1 Game - Upper Body - Week-to-week
Dmitri Voronkov - Upper Body - Left game early against San Jose
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 182
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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The Milwaukee Bucks are getting a glimpse into a grim Giannis-less future, and a nightmare week wraps up with a visit from the Los Angeles Clippers this afternoon.
Milwaukee has lost its last three games by a combined 96 points, including a thumping against Kawhi Leonard & Co. at Intuit Dome, and my Clippers vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks explain why a similar script is brewing for this rematch, with Darius Garland continuing his hot streak.
Clippers vs Bucks prediction
Clippers vs Bucks best bet: Darius Garland Over 18.5 points (-120)
Maybe Darius Garland has just been healthier this month. Maybe there’s some extra juice after the Cavaliers gave up on him at the trade deadline. Either way, his strong March numbers have solidified the Los Angeles Clippers as a dangerous potential first-round playoff opponent — assuming they get there.
With that in mind, the Garland points prop is the standout pick for me today. He poured in 30 points for L.A. on Friday against the Pacers, making 10 of his 19 shots, including six 3-pointers, and he’s gone past this O/U number in eight of his last 10 outings.
I’m buying into the crafty point guard’s 21.8 ppg average in March, and a lackluster Milwaukee squad is an ideal opponent. Garland is shooting better than 50% from downtown as a Clipper, and, while that’s not sustainable in the long run, don’t count on him slowing down this afternoon. After all, the Bucks have allowed 120+ points in seven of their past eight contests.
The hosts’ woeful defense isn’t likely to get any better on the second day of a back-to-back set, and we saw Stephon Castle toy with Milwaukee on the way to 22 points and a triple-double yesterday. Garland is a different kind of guard, but there’s a blueprint for attacking a Milwaukee Bucks team that’s seemingly counting the days until the offseason.
This game has blowout written all over it, but the prop line is low enough that Garland can do his damage in limited minutes.
Clippers vs Bucks same-game parlay
A healthy Garland next to Kawhi gives the Clippers a new ceiling, and I’m wagering on more hot shooting from the former Cav, who’s drilled 22 threes across his last four games.
The Clippers cruised to a 129-96 victory over the Bucks on Monday, so there’s appeal for laying the points, especially with Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma on the injury report for Milwaukee. Plus, the hosts are 3-7 ATS in their past 10 contests.
Clippers vs Bucks SGP
Darius Garland Over 18.5 points
Darius Garland Over 2.5 threes
Clippers -14
Our "from downtown" SGP: A wrong Turn!
The Myles Turner contract is looking like a major blunder for the Bucks, and he’s shown very few signs of carrying Milwaukee during Antetokounmpo’s latest spell on the sidelines.
He had 15 points yesterday, but he’s averaging just 8.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg in March. The hosts could have done worse than stick with Brook Lopez, who’s scored 10+ points in four straight games.
Clippers vs Bucks SGP
Myles Turner Under 10.5 points
Myles Turner Under 4.5 rebounds
Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points
Clippers -14
Clippers vs Bucks odds
Spread: Clippers -14 | Bucks +14
Moneyline: Clippers -1000 | Bucks +650
Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5
Clippers vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Bucks are 1-5 ATS in their last six games without Giannis Antetokounmpo. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Bucks.
How to watch Clippers vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SoCal, FDSN Wisconsin
Clippers vs Bucks latest injuries
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Gunnar Henderson
