Deadspin | NBA roundup: Rockets edge Warriors to spoil Stephen Curry’s return Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after missing the final shot of the game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco. In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference. Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament. Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee. Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points. Celtics 115, Raptors 101 Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Toronto. The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 from Derrick White. Boston’s Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger March 6 and had four points and four rebounds. Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15. Mavericks 134, Lakers 128 Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas over short-handed Los Angeles. Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scoring 13 and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg. LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Suns 120, Bulls 110 Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25 and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to help Phoenix get past host Chicago. All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards. Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points. Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108 Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana. Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points. Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108 LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis. Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte), which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench. Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game. Magic 112, Pelicans 108 Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans. Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four. Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18 and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans. Clippers 138 Kings 109 Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento. Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8. Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115 Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Memphis. The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter. Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games. Nets 121, Wizards 115 Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off visiting Washington in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York. Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1. Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Rockets #edge #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #return

Deadspin | NBA roundup: Rockets edge Warriors to spoil Stephen Curry’s return
$Deadspin | NBA roundup: Rockets edge Warriors to spoil Stephen Curry’s return Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after missing the final shot of the game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco. In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference. Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament. Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee. Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points. Celtics 115, Raptors 101 Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Toronto. The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 from Derrick White. Boston’s Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger March 6 and had four points and four rebounds. Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15. Mavericks 134, Lakers 128 Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas over short-handed Los Angeles. Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scoring 13 and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg. LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Suns 120, Bulls 110 Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25 and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to help Phoenix get past host Chicago. All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards. Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points. Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108 Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana. Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points. Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108 LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis. Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte), which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench. Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game. Magic 112, Pelicans 108 Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans. Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four. Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18 and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans. Clippers 138 Kings 109 Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento. Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8. Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115 Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Memphis. The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter. Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games. Nets 121, Wizards 115 Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off visiting Washington in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York. Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1. Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Rockets #edge #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #return$ Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after missing the final shot of the game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.

In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference.

Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament.

Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee.

Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points.

Celtics 115, Raptors 101

Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Toronto.

The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 from Derrick White. Boston’s Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger March 6 and had four points and four rebounds.

Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15.

Mavericks 134, Lakers 128

Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas over short-handed Los Angeles.

Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scoring 13 and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg.

LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

Suns 120, Bulls 110

Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25 and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to help Phoenix get past host Chicago.

All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards.

Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points.

Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108

Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana.

Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round.

Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points.

Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108

LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte), which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench.

Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game.

Magic 112, Pelicans 108

Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans.

Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four.

Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18 and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans.

Clippers 138 Kings 109

Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento.

Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams.

Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.

Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115

Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Memphis.

The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter.

Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games.

Nets 121, Wizards 115

Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off visiting Washington in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York.

Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1.

Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Rockets #edge #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #return

Sports news April 6, 2026

Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after missing the final shot of the game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.

In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference.

Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament.

Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee.

Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points.

Celtics 115, Raptors 101

Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Toronto.

The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 from Derrick White. Boston’s Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger March 6 and had four points and four rebounds.

Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15.

Mavericks 134, Lakers 128

Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas over short-handed Los Angeles.

Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scoring 13 and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg.

LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

Suns 120, Bulls 110

Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25 and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to help Phoenix get past host Chicago.

All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards.

Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points.

Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108

Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana.

Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round.

Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points.

Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108

LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte), which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench.

Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game.

Magic 112, Pelicans 108

Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans.

Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four.

Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18 and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans.

Clippers 138 Kings 109

Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento.

Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams.

Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.

Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115

Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Memphis.

The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter.

Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games.

Nets 121, Wizards 115

Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off visiting Washington in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York.

Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1.

Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Rockets #edge #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #return

NBA roundup: Houston Rockets edges Golden State Warriors to spoil Stephen Curry’s return <div id="content-body-70829757" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.</p><p>In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference.</p><p>Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the ‌10th seed in the Western play-in tournament.</p><p>Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a January 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee.</p><p>Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 ⁠for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Boston Celtics 115, Toronto Raptors 101</h4><p>Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points, and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston Celtics to a victory over visiting Toronto Raptors.</p><p>The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 ‌from Derrick White. Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger on March 6 and had four points and four rebounds for them.</p><p>Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. ‌Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Dallas Mavericks 134, Los Angeles Lakers 128</h4><p>Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, ‌nine ⁠assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas Mavericks over short-handed Los Angeles Lakers.</p><p>Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon ⁠Williams each scoring 13, and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg.</p><p>LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Phoenix Suns 120, Chicago Bulls 110</h4><p>Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25, and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch ‌to help Phoenix Suns get past host Chicago Bulls.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/basketball/lebron-james-reaction-on-luka-doncic-injured-austin-reaves-injury-update-los-angeles-la-lakers-team-news/article70828935.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">‘A shot to the heart and chest’ — LeBron James reacts to injuries of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves</a></b></p><p>All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards.</p><p>Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Cleveland cavaliers 117, Indiana Pacers 108</h4><p>Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points, and James Harden had ‌28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana Pacers.</p><p>Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round.</p><p>Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has ⁠the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Charlotte Hornets 122, Minnesota Timberwolves 108</h4><p>LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte Hornets pulled away for a win over Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.</p><p>Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte, which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench.</p><p>Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed ‌eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Orlando Magic 112, New Orleans Pelicans 108</h4><p>Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando Magic overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans Pelicans.</p><p>Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four.</p><p>Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18, and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Los Angeles Clippers 138, Sacramento Kings 109</h4><p>Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points, and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles Clippers moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento Kings.</p><p>Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the ‌Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams.</p><p>Devin Carter scored 21 points, and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Milwaukee Bucks 131, Memphis Grizzlies 115</h4><p>Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21, and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee Bucks to a ⁠victory over visiting Memphis Grizzlies.</p><p>The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second ⁠half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter.</p><p>Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Brooklyn Nets 121, ‌Washington Wizards 115</h4><p>Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn Nets held off visiting Washington Wizards in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York.</p><p>Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1.</p><p>Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 06, 2026</p></div> #NBA #roundup #Houston #Rockets #edges #Golden #State #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #return

Deadspin | Late Rockets bucket spoils Stephen Curry’s return to Warriors Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the ball next to Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco. In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference. Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament. Sengun’s four-footer from the middle of the key came after Golden State had used a 17-6 burst to overtake the visitors on a Gary Payton II layup with 19.6 seconds remaining. Golden State had a shot after the Sengun hoop, but Curry misfired under heavy pressure from 30 feet, capping a 5-for-10 effort from 3-point range. Jabari Smith Jr. had 23 points, Amen Thompson 18 and Reed Sheppard 11 for the Rockets, who won their sixth straight. Durant also found time for a team-high eight assists and eight rebounds, one shy of Smith’s nine for team honors in both categories. Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee. Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points. Up by 15 points in the third, the Rockets clung to a 109-99 advantage after a Thompson three-point play on a dunk before Curry nearly led a remarkable late comeback. He assisted a Payton layup, buried a 28-footer and, a minute later, found Payton for another layup that closed the gap to 112-109 with 1:55 left. Curry then made it a one-point game with a layup at the 1:27 mark, and once again when he countered a three-point play by Sengun with a 32-footer at the other end with 57.8 seconds to go. After a Durant miss, Payton turned a Green assist into a 116-115 Warriors lead with 19.6 seconds left, setting up Sengun’s heroics. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Late #Rockets #bucket #spoils #Stephen #Currys #return #Warriors

#Deadspin #Late #Rockets #bucket #spoils #Stephen #Currys #return #Warriors">

mwasimuddin125 0

Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the ball next to Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.

In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference.

Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament.

Sengun’s four-footer from the middle of the key came after Golden State had used a 17-6 burst to overtake the visitors on a Gary Payton II layup with 19.6 seconds remaining.

Golden State had a shot after the Sengun hoop, but Curry misfired under heavy pressure from 30 feet, capping a 5-for-10 effort from 3-point range.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 23 points, Amen Thompson 18 and Reed Sheppard 11 for the Rockets, who won their sixth straight. Durant also found time for a team-high eight assists and eight rebounds, one shy of Smith’s nine for team honors in both categories.

Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee.

Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points.

Up by 15 points in the third, the Rockets clung to a 109-99 advantage after a Thompson three-point play on a dunk before Curry nearly led a remarkable late comeback.

He assisted a Payton layup, buried a 28-footer and, a minute later, found Payton for another layup that closed the gap to 112-109 with 1:55 left.

Curry then made it a one-point game with a layup at the 1:27 mark, and once again when he countered a three-point play by Sengun with a 32-footer at the other end with 57.8 seconds to go.

After a Durant miss, Payton turned a Green assist into a 116-115 Warriors lead with 19.6 seconds left, setting up Sengun’s heroics.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Late #Rockets #bucket #spoils #Stephen #Currys #return #Warriors">Deadspin | Late Rockets bucket spoils Stephen Curry’s return to Warriors

Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the ball next to Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament.

Sengun’s four-footer from the middle of the key came after Golden State had used a 17-6 burst to overtake the visitors on a Gary Payton II layup with 19.6 seconds remaining.

Golden State had a shot after the Sengun hoop, but Curry misfired under heavy pressure from 30 feet, capping a 5-for-10 effort from 3-point range.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 23 points, Amen Thompson 18 and Reed Sheppard 11 for the Rockets, who won their sixth straight. Durant also found time for a team-high eight assists and eight rebounds, one shy of Smith’s nine for team honors in both categories.

Up by 15 points in the third, the Rockets clung to a 109-99 advantage after a Thompson three-point play on a dunk before Curry nearly led a remarkable late comeback.

He assisted a Payton layup, buried a 28-footer and, a minute later, found Payton for another layup that closed the gap to 112-109 with 1:55 left.

Curry then made it a one-point game with a layup at the 1:27 mark, and once again when he countered a three-point play by Sengun with a 32-footer at the other end with 57.8 seconds to go.

After a Durant miss, Payton turned a Green assist into a 116-115 Warriors lead with 19.6 seconds left, setting up Sengun’s heroics.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Late #Rockets #bucket #spoils #Stephen #Currys #return #Warriors

La Liga on Monday condemned threats and intimidation by Sevilla fans aimed at their own players and directors after they fell to a third straight league defeat.

Sevilla, 17th in the Spanish top flight, lost 1-0 away at bottom side Real Oviedo on Sunday, and some supporters met the team at the airport on its return to insult it , while others wearing masks were at the club training ground.

La Liga said in a statement this behaviour “unacceptably crosses the line of legitimate criticism and sporting expression”.

Earlier this season, some Sevilla fans tried to force their way into the training ground to remonstrate with the players.

ALSO READ | Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva to leave club for free at the end of the season

La Liga said it would report the incident to Spanish authorities and continue to take action in the future against similar incidents.

“Anyone who crosses the line from criticism into threats, intimidation, or harassment stops acting as a fan and starts acting as a violent individual,” added La Liga. “And against violent individuals, La Liga acts and will act.”

Sevilla, winless in five matches, is two points above the relegation zone with eight games remaining in the season.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#Liga #condemns #threats #intimidation #Sevilla #fans #team">

La Liga condemns threats, intimidation by Sevilla fans of own team La Liga on Monday condemned threats and intimidation by Sevilla fans aimed at their own players and directors after they fell to a third straight league defeat.Sevilla, 17th in the Spanish top flight, lost 1-0 away at bottom side Real Oviedo on Sunday, and some supporters met the team at the airport on its return to insult it , while others wearing masks were at the club training ground.La Liga said in a statement this behaviour “unacceptably crosses the line of legitimate criticism and sporting expression”.Earlier this season, some Sevilla fans tried to force their way into the training ground to remonstrate with the players.ALSO READ | Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva to leave club for free at the end of the seasonLa Liga said it would report the incident to Spanish authorities and continue to take action in the future against similar incidents.“Anyone who crosses the line from criticism into threats, intimidation, or harassment stops acting as a fan and starts acting as a violent individual,” added La Liga. “And against violent individuals, La Liga acts and will act.”Sevilla, winless in five matches, is two points above the relegation zone with eight games remaining in the season.Published on Apr 06, 2026 #Liga #condemns #threats #intimidation #Sevilla #fans #team

mwasimuddin125 0

La Liga on Monday condemned threats and intimidation by Sevilla fans aimed at their own players and directors after they fell to a third straight league defeat.
Sevilla, 17th in the Spanish top flight, lost 1-0 away at bottom side Real Oviedo on Sunday, and some supporters met the team at the airport on its return to insult it , while others wearing masks were at the club training ground.
La Liga said in a statement this behaviour “unacceptably crosses the line of legitimate criticism and sporting expression”.
Earlier this season, some Sevilla fans tried to force their way into the training ground to remonstrate with the players.
ALSO READ | Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva to leave club for free at the end of the season
La Liga said it would report the incident to Spanish authorities and continue to take action in the future against similar incidents.
“Anyone who crosses the line from criticism into threats, intimidation, or harassment stops acting as a fan and starts acting as a violent individual,” added La Liga. “And against violent individuals, La Liga acts and will act.”
Sevilla, winless in five matches, is two points above the relegation zone with eight games remaining in the season.
Published on Apr 06, 2026

#Liga #condemns #threats #intimidation #Sevilla #fans #team">La Liga condemns threats, intimidation by Sevilla fans of own team

La Liga on Monday condemned threats and intimidation by Sevilla fans aimed at their own players and directors after they fell to a third straight league defeat.

La Liga said in a statement this behaviour “unacceptably crosses the line of legitimate criticism and sporting expression”.

Earlier this season, some Sevilla fans tried to force their way into the training ground to remonstrate with the players.

ALSO READ | Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva to leave club for free at the end of the season

La Liga said it would report the incident to Spanish authorities and continue to take action in the future against similar incidents.

Sevilla, winless in five matches, is two points above the relegation zone with eight games remaining in the season.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#Liga #condemns #threats #intimidation #Sevilla #fans #team

Deadspin | Guardians hope bats continue to come alive vs. Royals Mar 28, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images Fresh off series wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians begin divisional play Monday when they welcome the Kansas City Royals for a three-game set. Those two series wins came after splitting four games in Seattle to start the season against the Mariners, a team many expect to contend for the AL pennant this season. “We had a tough way to start, and it doesn’t get easier,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said after his team won the tail end of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. “We have another tough week ahead of us, and I’m sure it doesn’t get easy after that. Every team in the big leagues is really good, but I couldn’t be more thrilled with where we are.” Right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-1, 4.00 ERA) is slated to get the start in the series opener. He suffered the defeat in his last start, allowing just one run but lasting only four innings in a 4-1 Dodgers win on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Bibee, 27, has fared well against the Royals. In eight career starts, Bibee is 4-0, with three of those victories coming in his last four starts against Kansas City. He has a 3.19 ERA against the Royals but has allowed 36 hits and 16 walks in 42 1/3 innings. Offensively, the Guardians hope the bats that came alive late in Sunday’s second game against the Cubs can carry that momentum into Monday. After getting just one hit in a 1-0 loss in Sunday’s first game, the Guardians had just two hits in the first five frames of the nightcap. However, they sent eight batters to the plate in both the sixth and eighth innings, allowing them to erase 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to win 6-5. CJ Kayfus, who entered Sunday 0-for-10 on the season, recorded the Guardians’ lone hit in Sunday’s opener and followed that by coming off the bench to go 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the second game. That included his first home run of the season in the eighth inning to tie the game at 4. Sunday’s action marked the first time the 24-year-old outfielder had played since last Tuesday in Los Angeles. The Royals have lost three of their last four, with Sunday’s 8-5 home loss to the Milwaukee Brewers keeping them from claiming their second series of the season. Veteran righty Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00) gets the ball for the Royals on Monday. It will be just his second start of the season as manager Matt Quatraro’s team is using a six-man rotation. Wacha threw six shutout innings on March 28 on the road against the Atlanta Braves. He allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out seven but did not get a decision. Wacha is 2-2 in eight career starts against Cleveland, with a 2.49 ERA. The Royals are hitting .251 for the season, but their best player, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., has struggled to his standards in Kansas City’s first nine games. Witt’s hitting just .242 this season. A two-time 30 home run hitter and 2024 AL batting champ who led the league in doubles last season and triples in 2023, he also has not gotten an extra-base hit this season. “He’s in one of those spots right now where it seems like he’s got two strikes every time he goes up,” Quatraro told MLB.com. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Guardians #hope #bats #continue #alive #Royals

#Deadspin #Guardians #hope #bats #continue #alive #Royals">

mwasimuddin125 0

Mar 28, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images

Fresh off series wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians begin divisional play Monday when they welcome the Kansas City Royals for a three-game set.

Those two series wins came after splitting four games in Seattle to start the season against the Mariners, a team many expect to contend for the AL pennant this season.

“We had a tough way to start, and it doesn’t get easier,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said after his team won the tail end of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. “We have another tough week ahead of us, and I’m sure it doesn’t get easy after that. Every team in the big leagues is really good, but I couldn’t be more thrilled with where we are.”

Right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-1, 4.00 ERA) is slated to get the start in the series opener. He suffered the defeat in his last start, allowing just one run but lasting only four innings in a 4-1 Dodgers win on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Bibee, 27, has fared well against the Royals. In eight career starts, Bibee is 4-0, with three of those victories coming in his last four starts against Kansas City. He has a 3.19 ERA against the Royals but has allowed 36 hits and 16 walks in 42 1/3 innings.

Offensively, the Guardians hope the bats that came alive late in Sunday’s second game against the Cubs can carry that momentum into Monday. After getting just one hit in a 1-0 loss in Sunday’s first game, the Guardians had just two hits in the first five frames of the nightcap.

However, they sent eight batters to the plate in both the sixth and eighth innings, allowing them to erase 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to win 6-5.

CJ Kayfus, who entered Sunday 0-for-10 on the season, recorded the Guardians’ lone hit in Sunday’s opener and followed that by coming off the bench to go 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the second game. That included his first home run of the season in the eighth inning to tie the game at 4.

Sunday’s action marked the first time the 24-year-old outfielder had played since last Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The Royals have lost three of their last four, with Sunday’s 8-5 home loss to the Milwaukee Brewers keeping them from claiming their second series of the season.

Veteran righty Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00) gets the ball for the Royals on Monday. It will be just his second start of the season as manager Matt Quatraro’s team is using a six-man rotation.

Wacha threw six shutout innings on March 28 on the road against the Atlanta Braves. He allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out seven but did not get a decision.

Wacha is 2-2 in eight career starts against Cleveland, with a 2.49 ERA.

The Royals are hitting .251 for the season, but their best player, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., has struggled to his standards in Kansas City’s first nine games.

Witt’s hitting just .242 this season. A two-time 30 home run hitter and 2024 AL batting champ who led the league in doubles last season and triples in 2023, he also has not gotten an extra-base hit this season.

“He’s in one of those spots right now where it seems like he’s got two strikes every time he goes up,” Quatraro told MLB.com.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Guardians #hope #bats #continue #alive #Royals">Deadspin | Guardians hope bats continue to come alive vs. Royals

Mar 28, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images

Fresh off series wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, the American League Central-leading Cleveland Guardians begin divisional play Monday when they welcome the Kansas City Royals for a three-game set.

Those two series wins came after splitting four games in Seattle to start the season against the Mariners, a team many expect to contend for the AL pennant this season.

“We had a tough way to start, and it doesn’t get easier,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said after his team won the tail end of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. “We have another tough week ahead of us, and I’m sure it doesn’t get easy after that. Every team in the big leagues is really good, but I couldn’t be more thrilled with where we are.”

Right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-1, 4.00 ERA) is slated to get the start in the series opener. He suffered the defeat in his last start, allowing just one run but lasting only four innings in a 4-1 Dodgers win on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Bibee, 27, has fared well against the Royals. In eight career starts, Bibee is 4-0, with three of those victories coming in his last four starts against Kansas City. He has a 3.19 ERA against the Royals but has allowed 36 hits and 16 walks in 42 1/3 innings.

Offensively, the Guardians hope the bats that came alive late in Sunday’s second game against the Cubs can carry that momentum into Monday. After getting just one hit in a 1-0 loss in Sunday’s first game, the Guardians had just two hits in the first five frames of the nightcap.

However, they sent eight batters to the plate in both the sixth and eighth innings, allowing them to erase 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to win 6-5.

CJ Kayfus, who entered Sunday 0-for-10 on the season, recorded the Guardians’ lone hit in Sunday’s opener and followed that by coming off the bench to go 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the second game. That included his first home run of the season in the eighth inning to tie the game at 4.

Sunday’s action marked the first time the 24-year-old outfielder had played since last Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The Royals have lost three of their last four, with Sunday’s 8-5 home loss to the Milwaukee Brewers keeping them from claiming their second series of the season.

Veteran righty Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.00) gets the ball for the Royals on Monday. It will be just his second start of the season as manager Matt Quatraro’s team is using a six-man rotation.

Wacha threw six shutout innings on March 28 on the road against the Atlanta Braves. He allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out seven but did not get a decision.

Wacha is 2-2 in eight career starts against Cleveland, with a 2.49 ERA.

The Royals are hitting .251 for the season, but their best player, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., has struggled to his standards in Kansas City’s first nine games.

Witt’s hitting just .242 this season. A two-time 30 home run hitter and 2024 AL batting champ who led the league in doubles last season and triples in 2023, he also has not gotten an extra-base hit this season.

“He’s in one of those spots right now where it seems like he’s got two strikes every time he goes up,” Quatraro told MLB.com.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Guardians #hope #bats #continue #alive #Royals

Related Posts

Post Comment Cancel reply