Sports
Facing Mets, Astros' Christian Walker looks to stay healthy, make impact
Mar 27, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros first base Christian Walker (8) hits a RBI single against the New York Mets in the third inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Veteran first baseman Christian Walker was among the quartet of newcomers making their debuts with Houston on Thursday, with Walker going 1-for-4 with a run scored in the Astros’ 3-1 win over the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series.
And Walker, who signed a three-year deal as a free agent in December, hopes to keep contributing on an everyday basis — or at least close to it.
Walker, 34, was sidelined by an oblique strain during spring training, the same injury that hampered him last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Astros exercised extreme care in getting Walker up to speed, and he said he is optimistic he can move forward without any restrictions.
“I think we’re going for it,” Walker said. “I plan on playing. Each day is its own thing for sure. Got to make sure the body is responding the right way and we’re doing the right things, but we know this initial stretch too — we’ve got some off days sprinkled in — I think that helps the progression.”
Astros manager Joe Espada offered a more cautious perspective regarding how the club plans to utilize Walker during the early stages of this season.
“He feels good, but I’ve got to keep an eye on that,” Espada said. “We can’t have him aggravate that oblique again. One of the reasons why we’re carrying some of these players is because we have to make sure we ease him into the season.”
Right-hander Hunter Brown (11-9, 3.49 ERA in 2024) is the scheduled starter for the Astros in the second game of the series on Friday. Brown was winless over his final six starts last season, going 0-2 with a 2.27 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. He had a 2.31 ERA over his final 20 regular-season starts.
Brown has faced the Mets once, surrendering six runs on seven hits — including two home runs — and two walks with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in an 11-1 home loss on June 19, 2023.
Right-hander Tylor Megill (4-5, 4.04 ERA in 2024) has the starting assignment for the Mets. He finished 0-2 with a 4.24 ERA over four starts in spring training, recording 18 strikeouts in 17 innings. The Mets won his final six starts last season, with Megill going 2-0 with a 2.32 ERA.
Megill has not recorded a decision in two career starts against the Astros, logging 7 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts against seven walks and posting a 9.39 ERA.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza played Tyrone Taylor and rookie Luisangel Acuna in center field and at second base, respectively, on Thursday, with both expected to split time at their positions. Taylor and Jose Siri are slated to share center field; Brett Baty and Acuna will get reps at second base.
Mendoza made it clear that all four players can expect to see playing time this season.
“I think for the last 10 days of spring training I’ve been asking coaches, ‘Hey, Siri or Taylor?’ Mendoza said. “I think it will be fluid. Siri will play a lot, (and) Taylor will play a lot. And they both understand that.”
As for Acuna and Baty, Mendoza said: “I don’t want to call it a straight platoon. If we feel good about Baty playing against a lefty, we’ll probably do it. And the same goes with Acuna. If there’s a righty where we feel he matches up well, he’ll get the start. We’ll play it day by day.
“They’ll both get opportunities, and we’ll see how it goes.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Baylor edges UCF on last-second free throw
Feb 28, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights guard Riley Kugel (2) shoots against Baylor Bears guard Cameron Carr (43) during the first half at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Obi Agbim made a free throw with one second left Saturday night, lifting visiting Baylor to an 87-86 Big 12 Conference win over UCF in Orlando.
The Bears (15-14, 5-11 Big 12) led the entire second half until the Knights’ Jamichael Stillwell’s layup tied it at 84 with 1:08 left. After Agbim’s layup put Baylor up, UCF’s Devan Cambridge sank two foul shots with 25 seconds remaining to tie it again. UCF gave a foul with three seconds left, followed by each team using their final timeout to plot strategy.
Out of timeouts, Baylor fed Agbim for a 3-pointer and he was fouled by Riley Kugel. Agbim missed the first, made the second and missed the third but it was rebounded by teammate Cameron Carr, allowing the Bears to run out the clock.
Carr scored 26 points for Baylor, going 10 of 10 at the foul line. Dan Skillings Jr. came off the bench to add 15 points, while Isaac Williams chipped in 14 and Agbim finished with 12 to go along with seven assists.
Kugel scored 26 points to pace the Knights (20-8, 9-7), while Jordan Burks added 12 and Stillwell hit for 11. Themus Fulks managed only eight points, six under his average, but dished out a game-high 10 assists.
While UCF entered the game off a convincing win at No. 19 BYU on Tuesday night that likely sealed its at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, Baylor came in knowing it would need to win its last three regular-season games and then do damage in the Big 12 tourney to have a chance.
The Bears lit up the Knights for 56 first-half points, making 19 of 35 field goal attempts and going 8 of 15 from the 3-point line. Carr was instrumental in that effort, ringing up 20 points on just nine shot attempts. He was 4 of 6 on 3-pointers and made all six of his free throws.
UCF shot well for most of the half but went cold down the stretch. It was also outscored 10-2 in fastbreak points and went to the break trailing by 14.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Luka Doncic has happy birthday as Lakers crush Warriors
Feb 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles against Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) in the second period at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images Luka Doncic celebrated his 27th birthday with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 129-101 rout of the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in San Francisco.
Los Angeles came into the Bay Area on a three-game losing skid but rebounded emphatically. The Lakers surrendered the game’s first two points, then went on to score the next 10 en route to a lead they never relinquished.
Doncic set the pace for the Los Angeles offense, shooting 9 of 17 from the field, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range. He knocked down consecutive triples to open the second half, then connected on another pair minutes later as part of a 16-9 surge.
Doncic scored 16 points in a third quarter that effectively snuffed any hope of a Golden State rally.
The Warriors showed signs of life in the second quarter when they trimmed what had been a 23-point deficit to 12 points on the strength of a 15-2 spurt. Gary Payton II scored six of his 12 points off the bench during the run.
Twelve was as close as Golden State came the rest of the night. The Los Angeles lead steadily ballooned throughout the second half behind five Lakers scoring at least 15 points.
LeBron James shot 4 of 6 from 3-point distance and 7 of 13 from the floor overall en route to 22 points. James also flirted with a triple-double, adding a game-high nine assists and seven rebounds.
Austin Reaves scored 18 points for Los Angeles and Luke Kennard came off the bench to connect on 4-of-7 3-point attempts on his way to 16 points. Jake LaRavia dropped in 15 points in reserve duty.
Golden State, meanwhile, had just one scorer with more than 12 points: Gui Santos, who finished with 14.
Moses Moody scored all 12 of his points on 4-of-10 3-point shooting. De’Anthony Melton added 10 points and Al Horford scored eight points off the bench.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ole Miss snaps losing skid at Auburn's expense
Ole Miss Rebels guard Ilias Kamardine (6) shoots a floater as Auburn Tigers take on Ole Miss Rebels at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Ole Miss snapped its longest losing streak since 2002-03 to crush Auburn’s seemingly slim March Madness dreams with a gutsy 85-79 Southeastern Conference road win Saturday night.
The Rebels (12-17, 4-12 SEC) had dropped their last 10 games but came alive with their second-best shooting day of the season, making 31 of 58 shots from the field (53.4%).
AJ Storr and Patton Pinkins led all scorers with 26 points apiece. Storr came off the bench for the Rebels shooting 9 for 15 from the field to go along with four assists. Pinkins made 8 of his 10 shots, including 4 for 5 from 3-point range, and Malik Dia finished with 10.
Keyshawn Hall helped lead the charge for Auburn (15-14, 6-10) with 21 points, including making 9 of his 10 free throw attempts. Tahaad Pettiford chipped in 24 points, Elyjah Freeman had 15 and Kevin Overton dropped 10.
Auburn built an early second half lead, but Ole Miss responded with a 22-4 run to blow open the game and take a 67-55 lead with 7:32 left.
The Tigers brought it close, but the Rebels never let go of the lead after that.
Ole Miss iced the game with a huge alley-oop, second-chance dunk by James Scott, who had a season-high four blocks, to stretch the lead to 78-71 with 1:11 left.
With the Help of Storr, Ole Miss’ bench dominated Auburn’s, outscoring the Tigers 28-4.
Both teams came out the gates hot with the Rebels making 7 of their first 8 shots and the Tigers making 6 of their first 8. Auburn fell behind by six early but used a 14-2 run that was capped by an acrobatic layup from Filip Jovic to pull ahead 31-25 with 4:46 left in the half.
The Rebels scored the last eight points of the half, including a layup and jumper from Storr, to take a 38-37 lead into the half.
Ole Miss was lights out in the first half making 16 of 27 shots (59.3%) and 5 of 11 from 3-point range. Dia, Storr and Pinkins each got into double digits in the first half with the latter two logging 10 points and the former with 11.
Auburn made 14 of 26 shots (53.8%) in the first half with Hall leading the way with 10 points.
This was Ole Miss’ first win over Auburn, breaking a 10-game head-to-head skid, since the Rebels pulled out an 86-84 overtime win Feb. 6, 2021.
–Field Level Media
Baylor edges UCF on last-second free throw
Luka Doncic has happy birthday as Lakers crush Warriors
