Brooklyn Nets (15-45, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (32-29, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn will try to break its six-game road losing streak when the Nets take on Miami.
The Heat are 16-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami leads the NBA with 35.1 defensive rebounds per game led by Bam Adebayo averaging 7.8.
The Nets have gone 11-26 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference scoring averaging 107.0 points per game while shooting 44.6%.
The Heat are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 3.3 percentage points lower than the 49.6% the Nets allow to opponents. The Nets average 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than the Heat allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Heat won the last meeting 106-95 on Dec. 19. Norman Powell scored 24 points to help lead the Heat to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Andrew Wiggins is shooting 47.4% and averaging 16.1 points for the Heat. Adebayo is averaging 20.5 points over the last 10 games.
Day'Ron Sharpe is averaging 8.5 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 17.2 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.6% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 5-5, averaging 119.0 points, 51.2 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points per game.
Nets: 2-8, averaging 107.1 points, 38.4 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.8 points.
INJURIES: Heat: Nikola Jovic: day to day (back), Norman Powell: out (groin).
Nets: Nic Claxton: out (thumb), Egor Demin: out (injury management).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Phoenix Suns (34-26, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (14-48, 15th in the Western Conference)
Sacramento, California; Tuesday, 11 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento hosts Phoenix looking to stop its seven-game home losing streak.
The Kings are 2-9 in division matchups. Sacramento is at the bottom of the league shooting 33.6% from 3-point range.
The Suns are 23-18 in conference games. Phoenix ranks third in the Western Conference giving up just 111.4 points while holding opponents to 46.9% shooting.
The Kings average 110.3 points per game, 1.1 fewer points than the 111.4 the Suns allow. The Suns average 14.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Kings allow.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Suns won the last matchup 129-102 on Jan. 3. Devin Booker scored 33 points to help lead the Suns to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.2 points and four assists for the Kings. Maxime Raynaud is averaging 14.6 points over the last 10 games.
Royce O'Neale is shooting 41.7% and averaging 10.1 points for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 2-8, averaging 109.4 points, 44.5 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.8 points per game.
Suns: 4-6, averaging 103.7 points, 44.1 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 8.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points.
INJURIES: Kings: Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
Suns: Jordan Goodwin: out (calf), Devin Booker: out (hip), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Haywood Highsmith: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles plays Golden State in Western Conference action Monday.
The Warriors are 21-18 in conference games. Golden State is eighth in the Western Conference scoring 115.6 points while shooting 46.2% from the field.
The Clippers are 18-18 in conference play. Los Angeles is at the bottom of the Western Conference recording only 23.6 assists per game led by Kawhi Leonard averaging 3.7.
The Warriors are shooting 46.2% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points lower than the 46.6% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers are shooting 47.9% from the field, 0.6% higher than the 47.3% the Warriors' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Clippers won 103-102 in the last meeting on Jan. 6. Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points, and Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandin Podziemski is averaging 12.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Warriors. Moses Moody is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.
John Collins is scoring 13.8 points per game and averaging 5.2 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 4-6, averaging 110.2 points, 42.6 rebounds, 31.0 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.6 points per game.
Clippers: 5-5, averaging 109.1 points, 39.9 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points.
INJURIES: Warriors: Kristaps Porzingis: day to day (illness), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Seth Curry: out (back), Will Richard: day to day (ankle).
Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Darius Garland: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dallas Mavericks (21-39, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (30-31, 10th in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte heads into a matchup with Dallas as winners of four straight games.
The Hornets have gone 13-16 at home. Charlotte is third in the Eastern Conference with 12.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Moussa Diabate averaging 3.7.
The Mavericks are 7-20 on the road. Dallas gives up 117.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 3.8 points per game.
The Hornets average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.7 more made shots on average than the 12.2 per game the Mavericks give up. The Mavericks average 113.9 points per game, 0.9 more than the 113.0 the Hornets give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Hornets won 123-121 in the last matchup on Jan. 30.
TOP PERFORMERS: LaMelo Ball is shooting 40.1% and averaging 19.3 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 22.1 points over the last 10 games.
Klay Thompson is shooting 38.7% and averaging 11.5 points for the Mavericks. Max Christie is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 7-3, averaging 116.5 points, 47.5 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.1 points per game.
Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 114.4 points, 42.3 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.7 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: None listed.
Mavericks: Naji Marshall: out (finger), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Klay Thompson: day to day (adductor), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Cooper Flagg: out (foot), P.J. Washington: out (ankle), Marvin Bagley III: out (neck).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 1: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off of the court after the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a very long time since the Lakers had blowouts like this in consecutive games. You have to go back to mid-November to even find games with margins similar to this, but these Lakers did it in back-to-back days.
You can easily discredit it by saying this is what they should be doing against these teams, but they haven’t been and that’s kind of been the problem. After a really miserable week of games against the Celtics, Magic and Suns, the Lakers seem to have reset the vibes again over the weekend.
It comes at an important time when they are set to see their schedule pick up, but it was a welcome sight to see LA jump ahead early in these two games and have very comfortable, stress-free victories.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron has looked awfully spry and re-energized this weekend, especially considering it was a back-to-back. With LA heading into the stretch run, having this version of LeBron, particularly with his shooting from three — would be huge.
After a solid game in San Francisco, Reaves faded into the background again. That’s been a common trend since the All-Star break and an increasingly concerning one.
After missing two games due to illness, it was nice to see Rui both back on the court and looking energetic. He looked a bit rusty but still had some nice defensive plays and continues to shoot threes at a high clip.
Not to belabor a point since he’s no longer on the team, but Gabe Vincent has five made threes in his five games with the Hawks. Kennard had seven in the last two games.
LaRavia feels like one of the few players who has quiet bad games. That might be attributed to the energy he brings regardless whether his shot is falling or not, but tonight was one of the nights where it felt like he had a good game only to see him shooting 2-10.
What an impactful 14 minutes from Kleber, who had a big block at the rim, nearly fought Malik Monk and had a couple of huge dunks. Perhaps he should have replaced Hayes in the dunk contest.
Shoutout to Thiero’s huge dunk and Bronny’s three in garbage time.
JJ Redick
Another solid game from JJ, who made an interesting call by going to Kleber when Hayes got in foul trouble instead of Jarred Vanderbilt, who was a DNP-CD. Vando has struggled in recent games again, so it’s not a surprise to see him out of the rotation. If the Lakers are looking for an athletic wing to replace him, it might be worth giving Thiero some spot minutes in the next handful of games.
Grade: A-
Sunday’s DNPs: Jarred Vanderbilt
Sunday’s inactives: Chris Mañon, Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers in scoring on Sunday. (Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)
Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and the Clippers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 137-117 on Sunday night to end a three-game losing streak.
Ninth in the Western Conference, the Clippers improved to 28-31. The Pelicans are 13th in the West at 19-43.
New Orleans star Zion Williamson sat out after injuring his right ankle at Utah on Saturday night. He had played a career-high 35 straight games.
The Clippers never trailed. They led 43-32 after the first quarter and had a 76-70 advantage at the half. It was 107-94 after three, and the Clippers stretched the margin to 26 in the fourth.
Jordan Miller added 19 points for the Clippers. Derrick Jones Jr. had 17, Brook Lopez 16 and John Collins 15.
While Leonard went one of seven from three-point range, the Clippers were 17 of 36 overall. Lopez was four for six, and Jones and Kobe Sanders were each three for four.
Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans with 28 points, hitting five of six three-pointers. Derik Queen scored 19 points, Dejounte Murray had 17, and Trey Murphy III added 16 after missing five games because of a right shoulder injury.
LeBron James had 24 points against Nique Clifford and the Kings during the Lakers' win Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
The search for sustained consistency remained a focus for the Lakers on Sunday against a Sacramento Kings team with the NBA's worst record.
And it helped that the Lakers were completely healthy against the Kings, something that has eluded them nearly all season.
Behind strong efforts from Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the Lakers defeated the struggling Kings 128-104 at Crypto.com Arena in their second straight blowout win.
Doncic, one of five Lakers to score in double figures, scored 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting. He made four three-pointers and had nine assists and five rebounds.
James, who played after initially being listed as questionable because of arthritis in his left foot, scored 24 points in 27 minutes on eight-for-15 shooting. He made a trio of threes and had five assists.
Deandre Ayton and Austin Reaves both had 12 points and Luke Kennard had 11 points off the bench. Rui Hachimura played 22 minutes off the bench and had eight points and two rebounds after missing the previous two games because of illness.
Nique Clifford led the Kings (14-48) with 26 points and had seven rebounds.
The Lakers are 3-3 since the All-Star break with 28- and 24-point wins after three straight losses.
“Again, just the world is falling for us 19 times (after double-digit losses this season),” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “ It’s just part of the nature of this cycle and our guys. ... Our guys bounced back and responded well throughout the season. Tied in the lost column for fifth (with Denver in the Western Conference) and a couple games out of third with a number of these teams coming up that are right there with us. So, we just are going to keep plugging away.”
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, top, and Sacramento forward Precious Achiuwa battle for the ball during the Lakers' win Sunday. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Just as in Saturday's win at Golden State, the Lakers (36-24) benefited from strong shooting. They shot 50% from the field and 46% from three-point range.
One of the most exciting plays happened in the first quarter when Marcus Smart dived for a loose ball and, while prone on his back, passed to James. The Lakers star then passed to a hustling Austin Reaves, who took a few dribbles to get a Kings defender to commit before making an alley-oop pass to James for a two-handed, rim-hanging dunk.
The crowd was whipped into a frenzy. The Kings called a timeout, allowing the Lakers and their fans to soak in the moment.
Lakers star Luka Doncic celebrates after a three-pointer by teammate Rui Hachimura against the Kings on Sunday. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
There was another play in the third quarter in which Doncic slipped and almost fell down, losing control of the ball. But Doncic regained his balance and the ball before shooting an off-balance three-pointer that gave the Lakers a 24-point lead.
“Ah, yeah, it was on purpose,” Doncic said about falling down. “I tripped on purpose and it was, how do you say, the 'And-1 Mixtape,' that’s what they said on the bench. So, I did it on purpose.”
Doncic smiled.
It was that kind of night for the Lakers, a game full of highlights and fun that allowed Redick to empty his bench in the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, obviously it was two great wins, but we just got to go game by game,” Doncic said. “Obviously there’s a lot of noise outside, but like tonight, we can’t pay attention to that. ... I thought we played great.”
Maxi Kleber was another standout for the Lakers, making all three of his shots for six points. He also had six rebounds and a block.
His two lob dunks left his Lakers teammates celebrating from the bench.
“Every time I do something, you know, you look to the bench, everybody's celebrating,” Kleber said. “So, obviously it's a good push for me, a good push for the team.”
Grant Nelson dunks the ball during the Nets' March 1 loss.
Grant Nelson, on a 10-day contract, acquitted himself well in his home debut.
The undrafted rookie had 11 points, four rebounds and three blocks against the Cavaliers in just his second NBA game.
“It’s really been my dream my whole life. So it’s just fun to get out there, play with some of the best players in the world,” said Nelson. “It’s just really a dream. But I know the work’s not done. I still got a lot to work on.”
Nelson has logged 83 minutes over four games in four cities in five days between Brooklyn and G-League Long Island.
“The adrenaline I’ve had just playing in my first NBA games just kind of carried me through it,” said Nelson, the first player in Nets history to total 10 points, five assists and five blocks combined over his first two career games.
Nelson joined Brook Lopez as the only Net with multiple blocks in consecutive games to start a career, and Jarrett Allen as the only one with five blocks through two career games.
Grant Nelson dunks the ball during the Nets’ March 1 loss. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“He’s a very good player, high IQ, he’s got a great feel for the game, and plays extremely hard,” said Nets coach Jordi Fernández. “So, you put all those things together, and he’s played very well in the two chances.”
The three two-way roster spots are filled, but any could be converted to a standard deal and Nelson could then be inked to a two-way.
The deadline for that is Wednesday.
Danny Wolf had a career-high 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, joining Chris Morris, Mike O’Koren and Bernard King as the only Nets rookies to ever hit those figures.
Nic Claxton missed Sunday’s loss with a right thumb sprain.
Egor Dëmin was held out to rest his plantar fascia.
“[Nic] got hit in [Friday’s] game,” said Fernández. “We’ll see how he feels after [Sunday], so there’s no timetable.
“With Egor, he’s been dealing with the plantar fascia. He’s been out for back-to-backs in the past. These [past] two he’s played. But we’re going to have to see how he feels and have a plan with what’s best for him, his body. So, we’ll come up with that. But for sure, No. 1 thing is, and then he feels better.”
Donovan Mitchell was out for Cleveland.
James Harden stepped up against his old team with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
The 36-year-old was noncommittal about how much longer he wants to play.
“I know it’s coming soon. Hopefully, later than soon, but it’s a reality,” said Harden. “Everybody has to go through this at some point. Just trying to continue to keep my body in shape and play well. We’ll see what happens in the next few years. Take one game at a time and cherish the moments.”
Igor Shesterkin makes a save during the Rangers' shootout win Feb. 28.
After three Penguins failed to score on Igor Shesterkin during the shootout in the Rangers victory Saturday, the star Russian netminder’s .738 save percentage in the skills competition is the best in franchise history.
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Stopping 62 of the 84 shootout attempts he’s faced in his seven-year NHL career, Shesterkin is No. 5 in the league since making his debut during the 2019-20 season.
He trails only Juuse Saros (.806), Elvis Merzlikins (.747), Jordan Binnington (.705) and Jake Oettinger (.739).
“It’s comforting, I’m not gonna lie,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of having Shesterkin in net for a shootout. “I think he’s the best goalie in the game. Just this compete level. He’s an elite player, and so it’s comforting to have him between the pipes, whether it be in the shootout or anytime, for that matter. He has the ability to change the outcome of a game.”
Saturday was Shesterkin’s second game back in goal after a 13-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
Igor Shesterkin makes a save during the Rangers’ shootout win Feb. 28. Imagn Images
He has stopped 52 of 57 shots since returning to the crease, bringing his season save percentage to .913.
These are also Shesterkin’s first days around the Rangers without Artemi Panarin, who has been his teammate in New York since his first recall in January 2020.
“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Shesterkin said of his compatriot. “Of course, it’s pretty tough for us to lose a player of that caliber. I hope he enjoys the trade. We wish him all the best.”
Asked how much Shesterkin is going to play over these final 23 games, Sullivan insinuated it would be decided in collaboration with the 30-year-old.
“We’ll talk with Shesky, and we’ll manage it together,” the veteran coach said. “But, obviously, he feels really good right now. He feels strong. He worked hard in the return-to-play process that he went through. But as far as what his workload looks like moving forward, I don’t know that I can give you a definitive answer yet. He’s going to play, I can tell you that.”
The 76.9 faceoff win percentage the Rangers posted in Saturday’s win was the club’s highest in a game since the NHL began tracking draws in 1997-98.
It is tied for the 10th highest single-game percentage in the league, as well as the highest since the Oilers posted a 79.6 percent mark in March 2024.
The Rangers were off Sunday before facing the Blue Jackets on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
LeBron James dunks a basketball during a game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Back-to-backs in the NBA can be tricky.
With fatigue an even more significant factor than usual, it isn’t always clear the type of energy or focus a team will come with when playing on consecutive days.
But the Lakers established early on in their 128-104 win over the Kings on Sunday night that they weren’t taking the league-worst Kings lightly.
Marcus Smart made one of his signature hustle plays early, diving for a loose ball multiple times on a possession that ended with an Austin Reaves alley-oop to LeBron James to loud cheers from the crowd at Crypto.com Arena to give the Lakers an early 10-2 lead.
“Smart’s defense just totally ignited us at different points in the game,” coach JJ Redick said. “He ended up with five steals, but he was diving on the floor for loose balls. He’s starting transition plays for us. He was another igniter for us.”
LeBron James dunks against the Sacramento Kings. NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t always smooth sailing.
And the Lakers weren’t always in control.
But they once again took care of business a little over 24 hours after being the Warriors in San Francisco.
Luka Doncic led the way with 28 points, nine assists and five rebounds. LeBron James finished with 24 points and five assists.
Deandre Ayton made all six of his field goal attempts finishing with 12 points.
Luka Dončić hits a jumper while being defended by Nique Clifford of the Kings. AP
Smart finished with five steals to go with nine points and three assists.
What it means
The Lakers bounced back from their three-game losing streak with back-to-back blowout victories after beating the short-handed Warriors by 28 on Saturday night.
Yes, both were games the Lakers should’ve won.
But in the tight race among Nos. 3-7 in the Western Conference standings, winning is all that matters at this point of the season.
The Lakers improved to 36-24, including 23-7 against teams below .500.
Turning point
When Doncic hit a fadeaway 3-point to put the Lakers up 89-65 late in the third quarter after losing control of the ball.
“It was on purpose,” Doncic quipped. “I tripped on purpose and it was, how do you say, the And-1 Mixtape, that’s what they said on the bench. So, I did it on purpose.”
The Kings were feisty in the second quarter, which they won 31-28, and to start the third.
But when Doncic knocked that shot down, it was clear Sunday night was going to go in the Lakers’ favor.
MVP: Luka Doncic
When the Lakers needed a spark, their best player provided it.
“Luka did great job of getting us going,” Redick said.
Doncic scored or assisted on 16 points for the Lakers during the 21-9 run they went on after the Kings cut their lead to 70-60.
Luka Doncic drives to the basket against the Sacramento Kings. NBAE via Getty Images
And Doncic was directly involved in the Lakers scoring on a few of those plays he didn’t score or record an assist, like when Marcus Smart made a corner 3-pointer that Austin Reaves assisted him on to put the Lakers up 74-60 after the Kings trapped Doncic in the pick and roll.
Key stat of game: 18
That was the number of 3s the Lakers made, one night after making a season-high-tying 19 in the win over the Warriors.
Doncic led the team with four, while James, Smart and Luke Kennard each made three apiece.
Up next
The Lakers will face another one of the league’s worst teams on Tuesday when they host the Pelicans.
The Pelicans, who are 19-43 on the season, had their four-game winning streak ended by the Clippers on Sunday at Intuit Dome.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 12: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives against Kyshawn George #18 and Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Toyota Center on November 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets head to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Wizards tonight.
With Washington’s injury list (see below), Washington’s mascot G-Wiz might have to play some minutes for the home team. He’s still recovering from the cheap shot that Jaxson Hayes gave him earlier this season.
March is generally the month where there are a lot of wonky results. Good teams are trying to win games to better position themselves for the playoffs while bad teams are trying to tank and get the best possible odds for the lottery. But the players aren’t tanking, and there are always some wonky results in March. By April, even the tanking teams have given up the ghost and fill their teams with G-Leaguers and 10-day contracts.
The point is that the Rockets have the 17th-easiest schedule the rest of the way, which is the second-easiest among the teams pushing for the third seed in the Western Conference. This is one of Houston’s gimmes left on the schedule. They have to take care of business against the bottom of the league, or else it’ll throw Rockets fans into a panic once again.
BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Ryan Yarbrough #33 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on February 23, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sportsnet: Another Yankee is off to represent their country at the World Baseball Classic. This time, it is southpaw Ryan Yarbrough, who is joining Team USA as an injury replacement for Joe Ryan. If the US advances past the group stage, Ryan can theoretically rejoin the club. But for now, Yarbrough, the veteran left-hander, will take his place representing the United States.
New York Post | Howie Kussoy: Jasson Domínguez has had an outstanding spring training. Alas, it will almost certainly not be enough to have him on the Opening Day roster. Saturday, General Manager Brian Cashman remarked that “all he can do right now, him and [Spencer] Jones, as well as [Randal] Grichuk and anybody else, is put themselves in a position for us to take notice and we’ll evaluate what opportunities exist at the end of camp and make calls.” With Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge holding down the starting outfield spots and Giancarlo Stanton at designated hitter, even if The Martian managed to make the 26-man roster, playing time would be scant.
New York Post | Howie Kussoy: Paul Blackburn has also had a nice spring. His four shutout innings Saturday bring his scoreless spring streak to six frames. Blackburn looked much better last season after lowering his arm angle and provides the Yankees with another arm, one who can pitch in relief as well as start. For his part, Blackburn commented that the more he pitched out of the bullpen last season, the more comfortable he got. With any luck, he’ll carry this strong spring into the regular season and shore up a ‘pen that saw plenty of turnover this offseason.
After a rough outing in a 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins had a quick turnaround for a matinee matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights Sunday.
And they responded with one of their best games of the season.
The Penguins beat the Knights, 5-0, in a clinical effort both offensively and defensively. Five different players scored goals for the Penguins, while goaltender Arturs Silovs continued to stay hot with a 22-save shutout.
Vegas came out ready to play, but beyond the first five minutes of the game, the Penguins were the better team. The scoring kicked off when rookie Ben Kindel sniped one from the slot with five minutes remaining in the first for his 15th of the season, putting the Penguins up, 1-0.
Then, the floodgates were opened in the second period. After gaining come momentum on a preceding power play, Egor Chinakhov snapped home a top-shelf shot from the right circle to make it 2-0. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell followed that up with a pair of power play goals before the end of the period - and Rust's clinched his seventh-consecutive 20-goal season.
With five minutes remaining in regulation, Justin Brazeau sniped one from the right side off the rush, capping off a comfortable and dominant 5-0 victory.
Here are some notes and observations:
- Chinakhov is a good hockey player. I mean, what else can I say at this point? His release is utterly ridiculous, he's always in position to create a scoring chance, and he's always one of the first guys on the backcheck and covering for pinching defensemen.
This guy continues to amaze.
- On a similar note, Kindel was, once again, one of the game’s best players. Not even surprised anymore.
He is a future star.
- As of now, the Penguins are on pace to have six players score 20 or more goals. But they could end up with more than that.
Sidney Crosby has 27. Anthony Mantha has 21. Rust has 20. Justin Brazeau is on pace for 24. Kindel is on pace for 21. Evgeni Malkin is on pace for 20.
However, Chinakhov is pacing 19, and - at this rate - will pass 20 with flying colors. Rakell is currently on pace for 18 despite having missed 21 games and is one hot streak away from, like Rust, securing his seventh 20-goal season. Connor Dewar is pacing 18 and could also hit 20. Same with Tommy Novak, who is pacing 17 but is playing in an elevated role as the top-line center right now without Crosby.
There is a possibility that the Penguins could end the season with 10 20-goal scorers. No team has done that since the 1980-81 St. Louis Blues, and the NHL record is 11 set by the Boston Bruins in 1970-71 and 1977-78.
- Even if he wasn’t very busy, this was another outstanding performance from Arturs Silovs. He has now won six of his last seven and has a .934 save percentage in his last nine games.
Of course, aside from a few iffy starts prior to the Olympic break, Stuart Skinner has been playing very well for the Penguins, too. But Silovs is really beginning to assert himself as a legitimate starting goaltender at the NHL level. His overall season save percentage is now .902, and he's still a rookie.
I imagine, for the most part, we'll still see a split down the stretch run, especially with a hefty March schedule ahead. But Silovs is a proven performer in high-leverage situations - including the NHL and AHL playoffs as well as internationally - even in his young career.
If the playoffs started today, I'd give Silovs the first game. And if he continues this, he will be their starting netminder in the playoffs.
- The Penguins’ net-front defense has improved a great deal since the holiday break, and it was especially good against Vegas. The Penguins' blueliners are doing a better job boxing players out, winning physical battles, and getting pucks out of danger.
And they also keep making some potential game-saving plays.
In the first period, Connor Clifton was in the blue paint, and Silovs was out of his net. Clifton blocked a shot to prevent it from going in a wide-open cage. Then, later in the game, a puck got loose behind Silovs, and Parker Wotherspoon dove into the crease to get his stick in there and swat the puck out of danger.
The team continues to improve on its net-front defense game in and game out, and head coach Dan Muse says that although it's been much better, it's still a work in progress.
"I think it's an area that's gotten better over the course of the year," Muse said. "I think guys have done a good job in their positioning. Over the course of the year, it's been pretty consistent. Guys have been willing to block shots. Those deep ones are the harder ones, too, like it's a little bit easier when you're actually skating out there and when you're that deep.
"I think they've shown a willingness right from the start of the year, and just the play around the net is... there's always plenty that we'll continue to look at and say that we need to keep cleaning up and keep improving and keep adding layers, too. But, I think it's gone in the right direction, and now we need to keep that part of the game continuing to improve."
- The Penguins now own the sixth-best points percentage (.636) in the NHL. They are sixth in regulation wins (27). Only four teams own a better goal differential than their plus-30.
In case you weren't already convinced, this is a damn good hockey team.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 1: Caleb Martin #16 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 1, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks started the month of March hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder. Still without Cooper Flagg as they closed out their homestand, Dallas fell 100-87 to the league’s best team.
Let’s get to the grades!
Brandon Williams: B
14 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Williams wasn’t exactly hot on 5-for-12 shooting, but did some nice things to drive and break down the defense a bit (though some of his misses were point blank). He put up a generally solid game against a very good team.
Max Christie: B
14 PTS / 7 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 35 MIN
Christie quietly had himself a good night. He knocked in five of his 11 shots including going 4-for-8 from deep. He turned it over twice relative to zero assists, but did have two steals and did some of the little things you like to see. He didn’t get to the line at all, and it would be nice to see him driving a bit more to earn those free throws. He has been at his best this season when not exclusively camping out on the perimeter.
Caleb Martin: B+
18 PTS / 3 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 31 MIN
Martin was Dallas’ shining star, which should tell you all you need to know. That’s not intended to be a dig, as he did have himself a nice game, however Martin as your leading scorer is indicative of an odd night indeed. He was 6-for-11including a hot 3-for-5 from downtown. Oddly, his 3-for-6 on free throws were the worst aspect of his shooting.
Khris Middleton: D
4 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Middleton is significantly better than what he showed tonight. This is a “toss it away and start fresh” type of game. He was 2-for-10 shooting overall including 0-for-3 from deep and somehow committed five fouls.
Daniel Gafford: C
8 PTS / 7 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN
It’s coming to a point where maybe I have to accept what was heretofore unacceptable to me – that Gafford is not a natural rebounder. However, in exactly six more minutes, Gafford pulled in five fewer rebounds than Moussa Cisse, his backup. Shooting only 3-for-9 from the floor didn’t help things. Gafford is too big and too athletic to not be doing more with the opportunities he has.
Klay Thompson: N/A
7 PTS / 0 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 15 MIN
Thompson doesn’t qualify for a grade in only 15 minutes of play, though his shooting was likely trending toward lower marks as he was 3-for-8 from the floor and 1-for-5 from deep. The real story for Thompson tonight was an adductor contusion that caused him to check out and not return. Time will tell how long he will remain sidelined.
Moussa Cisse: B
0 PTS / 12 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 21 MIN
Cisse was a rebound machine, grabbing nine in his first nine minutes of play and ending with 12 total. In one of the most bizarre stat lines you will ever see, Cisse did one thing spectacularly well, while doing nothing else. He turned it over twice while committing a single foul and was impossibly only one of two players with a plus/minus in the black, joining Ryan Nembhard with a plus-1.
Final Thoughts
The Mavs faired much better than could reasonably have been expected against OKC, but that was largely because the Thunder played with their food rather than stepping on the gas. At any moment, the Mavs could have, and did, roll out a lineup nearly exclusively of two-way or former two-way players against the team with the best record in the league. As always, Dallas played hard, but it was ultimately for naught against a much healthier and much more seasoned and experienced defending-champion team.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Riding two emotional comeback victories since the return to NHL action after the Olympic break, the Anaheim Ducks hosted the Calgary Flames on Sunday evening at Honda Center.
The Ducks were technically undefeated in the month of February, going 4-0-0, looking to extend their winning streak to five games, and hoping for their 12th win in their last 14 games.
The Flames were playing their second game of a back-to-back, as they lost 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
With Frank Vatrano (upper body), Ryan Strome (under the weather), Troy Terry (upper body), and Mikael Granlund (upper body) still out of the lineup, this is how the Ducks’ lined up in this one:
Kreider-Carlsson-Gauthier
Viel-McTavish-Sennecke
Killorn-Poehling-Harkins
Johnston-Washe-Moore
LaCombe-Trouba
Zellweger-Gudas
Mintyukov-Helleson
Lukas Dostal got the start in net for the 10th time in the Ducks’ last 11 games. He stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced in regulation and overtime. He was opposed by Devin Cooley, who saved 34 of 36.
Game Notes
Once again, as has been a theme since the NHL’s return, the Ducks allowed a myriad of chances early, mostly due to late reactions to open seams and soft ice in the defensive zone. Dostal kept the game close early, and the remaining 45-50 minutes were dictated by Anaheim. Calgary proved pesky, diligent, and tenacious. They’re a team that is likely better than their record indicates, but their finishing ability this season has cost them games and points in the standings.
At 5v5, the Ducks finished with an even 50% of the shot attempt share, 48.98% of the shots on goal share, and 49.69% of the expected goals share.
Lukas Dostal: As mentioned, Lukas Dostal didn’t steal this game for Anaheim, but he kept the score close in the first period when the game easily could have gotten out of hand. With a lot of east/west puck motion and counterattacks, Calgary opened seam after seam early in this game, but Dostal was there to answer, making himself as big as possible in tight and making difficult saves look easy.
The standout aspects of his game when he’s performing like this are his puck tracking and anticipation skills. He can read plays through traffic and push out toward the shooter to eliminate any potential angles. The Ducks have also begun to utilize him in overtime as an extra defenseman and puck handler. When they run into trouble, especially at the offensive blueline, they’ll simply regroup 120 feet, reset, and get a change if needed.
Building Attacks: Calgary’s roster, four lines and three pairs deep, but especially the forwards, are one of the more disruptive teams without the puck in the NHL. They backcheck with good angles, read developing plays, and time their stick challenges perfectly at the lines to manufacture turnovers and attempt counters. They’re a coach’s dream, but just lack the finishing touch that would allow them to win games like this.
Chris Kreider: Kreider isn’t necessarily a play-driver or forechecking specialist, but similar to Alex Killorn and Ryan Strome, his knowledge of reading, absorbing, and manipulating pressure to open up lanes for teammates is an underrated quality. An entertaining aspect to the Ducks’ breakouts has been Kreider finding clever ways to slip passes to Leo Carlsson in full stride after receiving an outlet on the wall.
Power Play: The Ducks generated several quality looks on the power play. The coaching staff and personnel seemed to have found optimal spots for their most talented players and have devised wrinkles with player and puck motion throughout the zone.
On the top unit, after entry, Carlsson is utilized as a rover from the bumper, supporting the puck until pressure is established. Sennecke has been popping out from the net front to the bottom of the circle and corner, then replaced by Kreider. Depending on how Sennecke moves after receiving, Carlsson either finds soft ice in the bumper if Sennecke moves high, or he presents himself as an option on the left flank as an out. These sequences running through Carlsson or Sennecke can open up lanes to LaCombe at the point, Kreider backdoor, or Gauthier at the far side flank.
The Ducks will look to extend their winning streak to six games with a tall task on Tuesday, when they’ll host the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche in the rubber match between these two Western Conference foes.
