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Pacers seek seventh straight road win vs. red-hot Trail Blazers

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Utah JazzFeb 3, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) dunks the ball against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers are vying to match the longest road winning streak in franchise history, but Portland isn’t the ideal place to attempt this feat.

Not just because the red-hot Trail Blazers have won four straight games and eight of nine entering Tuesday’s matchup, but also because the Pacers have lost in 14 of their past 15 visits to Portland.

That lone victory during the span came on Jan. 14, 2021 when there were no fans in the stands due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So it could be a challenge for the Pacers to match the franchise record of seven straight road wins, set at the outset of the 2003-04 season when Reggie Miller’s stellar career was nearing the finish line in Indy. It was also during Rick Carlisle’s first stint as Indiana’s coach.

The Pacers are only in position to match the mark due to a frantic comeback for a 112-111 road win over the Utah Jazz on Monday.

“It’s one of the best wins of the year considering the circumstances and how we shot the ball,” Carlisle said afterward.

Indiana trailed by 12 midway through the fourth quarter before going on a 14-1 spurt en route to overtaking the Jazz on a night the Pacers were outrebounded 60-37 and were just 10 of 42 from 3-point range.

“This speaks to the maturity and growth of our group,” said Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton, “because the last couple years, we don’t make shots, we get blown out.”

Pascal Siakam scored 10 of his 22 points in the final stanza, including a dunk with 5.1 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.

And suddenly, the Pacers had an unlikely victory.

“It was just hard to get to the hump throughout the game let alone get over the hump,” Carlisle said. “… If you’re watching the game as a Pacers fan you’re saying, ‘It’s not going to happen tonight.’ But our guys kept saying let’s hang around and give ourselves a chance.”

Indiana has won four straight games and 12 of its last 14 as it again tries to solve its troubles in Portland. The Pacers haven’t won in front of Trail Blazers fans since Nov. 28, 2007.

Portland also happens to be home to one of the hottest teams in the NBA. A squad that was 15 games below .500 two-plus weeks ago has registered five double-digit wins since that time.

On Monday, Portland delivered a 121-119 overtime victory over Phoenix to finish off a two-game sweep of the Suns. The Trail Blazers routed Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the rest of the Suns 127-108 on Saturday.

Nobody was happier to beat the Suns than Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick by Phoenix in 2018. Ayton averaged 24.5 points in the two games and collected a season-high 20 rebounds on Monday. Nine were on the offensive boards.

“When the shot goes up on our end, I had the chance to really chase these boards,” Ayton said after topping 20 points for the fifth straight game. “And let us have daggers and put us in position to win.”

Ayton made five of six free throws in the final 7.8 seconds of overtime.

“I think this might have been D.A.’s best all-around game,” Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “Everything, all across the board, and being able to close it out with the clutch free throws.”

Indiana center Myles Turner (ankle) sat out against Utah and the team said he is questionable for Portland.

The Pacers beat the visiting Trail Blazers 121-114 on Nov. 27. Siakam had 29 points for Indiana and Anfernee Simons had 30 for Portland.

–Field Level Media

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Pirates use 3-run 10th to extend Brewers' losing streak

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee BrewersApr 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn (29) scores a run during the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Bryan Reynolds singled in the go-ahead run to trigger a three-run 10th inning and lift the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday, handing the Brewers their fourth consecutive loss.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa (0-2) started the 10th for Milwaukee. Pinch-hitter Marcell Ozuna drew a one-out walk. Nick Yorke ran for Ozuna and Reynolds singled to left, scoring automatic runner Henry Davis from second. Both runners advanced on a ground out. Grant Anderson relieved Zerpa, and Nick Gonzales delivered an RBI single to left, with Reynolds continuing home on a bobble by left fielder Greg Jones.

Yohan Ramirez kept the Brewers off the board in the 10th for his first save. Gregory Soto (2-0) delivered a scoreless ninth.

The Pirates snapped a 2-2 tie with a run in the sixth off starter Jacob Misiorowski. Ryan O’Hearn was hit by a pitch and Gonzales singled. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Spencer Horwitz followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.

The Brewers tied it in the bottom half on Sal Frelick’s second sacrifice fly of the game. Jake Bauers and Tyler Black opened with consecutive singles, chasing starter Mitch Keller. Isaac Mattson replaced him, and Bauers advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Frelick followed with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Pirates went in front 2-0 with two runs in the fourth. Reynolds was hit by a pitch to open the frame and O’Hearn singled. Reynolds took third on a fielder’s choice, and Horwitz followed with an RBI single. Konnor Griffin added a two-out RBI single, but the Pirates stranded runners at second and third.

Milwaukee countered with two in the bottom half. Bauers singled and continued to second on an error. Black doubled Bauers to third. Bauers scored and Black advanced to third on a ground out. Frelick tied it with a sacrifice fly to right.

Misiorowski struck out nine in six innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He also walked one, hit two batters, and had a wild pitch.

Keller allowed three runs on five hits in five-plus innings, striking out six and walking two.

–Field Level Media

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Salvador Perez, Cole Ragans help Royals club Angels

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City RoyalsApr 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) slides into home to score a run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Salvador Perez had three hits including a home run, Cole Ragans pitched six strong innings and the Kansas City Royals routed the visiting Los Angeles Angels 12-1 on Saturday night.

Nick Loftin had two hits and drove in four runs for the Royals, who go for their first series sweep of the season on Sunday. Kansas City has won three of four, scoring at least six runs in each game.

Ragans (1-4) allowed a run on five hits and struck out 11 batters without a walk. It was the third time this season Ragans went six innings and allowed one run or less.

Jo Adell homered and Vaughn Grissom had three hits for the Angels, who have lost six of seven.

Walbert Urena (0-3) lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Los Angeles pitchers issued 10 walks, including two with the bases loaded.

Perez lined a homer to left leading off the second inning. Jac Caglianone walked, went to third on a single by Michael Massey and scored on a single by Loftin to make it 2-0.

In the third, Bobby Witt, Jr. doubled and Vinnie Pasquantino walked. Perez lined a single to left, scoring Witt and Isaac Collins walked to load the bases before Loftin walked, forcing in Pasquantino.

Adell homered to center leading off the fourth to pull the Angels within 4-1.

Loftin reached on an error leading off the sixth. Kyle Isbel singled and Carter Jensen walked to load the bases. With one out, Pasquantino walked, scoring Loftin.

The Royals broke it open with a three run seventh. Caglianone led off with a walk and Collins singled. Massey lined a single to left, scoring Caglianone. Loftin smacked a grounder that got past shortstop Zach Neto. Collins scored and Massey raced for third and came home on Neto’s throwing error to make it 8-1.

Loftin and Jensen hit two-run singles to make it 12-1 in the eighth.

–Field Level Media

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Yankees score late to break open close game against Astros

MLB: New York Yankees at Houston AstrosApr 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero (72) celebrates with center fielder Trent Grisham (12) after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Austin Wells socked a leadoff home run to ignite a three-run seventh inning as the New York Yankees claimed a three-game series against the host Houston Astros with an 8-3 win on Saturday.

Wells’ second homer was the third of the game for the Yankees, who improved to 5-0 on their current nine-game road trip and have won eight straight overall. The Yankees were locked in a pitcher’s duel before Wells snapped a 2-2 tie by driving an inside fastball from Astros reliever Kai-Wei Teng (1-1) out to right field.

Teng faced only three batters before ceding the mound to left-hander Bennett Sousa, who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and made his season debut. The Yankees made it a forgettable appearance for Sousa, who issued four walks, including two with the bases loaded.

Sousa walked Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr., with Bellinger and Chisholm forcing home Grisham and Ben Rice (who had singled) in succession to up the lead to 5-2.

Rice delivered a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the eighth that plated Ryan McMahon. Rice and Jose Caballero recorded three-hit games for the Yankees, with Caballero extending the lead to 2-1 in the fifth with his third homer, a solo shot to left off Astros starter Mike Burrows.

Burrows matched his career high of eight strikeouts while working five innings. He allowed five hits and issued three walks. Burrows surrendered a solo home run to Grisham, his fourth on the season, with one out in the third inning that enabled the Yankees to erase a 1-0 deficit.

The Astros grabbed that lead in the bottom of the first. Carlos Correa roped a leadoff double to left-center and scored when Isaac Paredes added an RBI single to left two batters later. Yankees starter Ryan Weathers immediately settled down and retired 11 consecutive batters after Paredes’ run-scoring hit.

Yainer Diaz opened the fifth with a single, but Weathers didn’t allow another run until Correa led off the sixth with his second homer, a 391-foot blast to left-center that tied the game at 2-2.

Weathers surrendered two runs on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. Right-hander Fernando Cruz (2-0) earned the win in relief for the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

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