Sports
Hawks hurting on defense ahead of tilt with Kings
Oct 25, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) plays defense against Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Two teams trending in different directions will square off in Atlanta on Friday, when the Hawks host the Sacramento Kings.
Atlanta won its first two games to start the year, but a slew of early-season injuries has decimated the Hawks, who have dropped three in a row.
A season ago, the team allowed 120.5 points per game, tied for second-most in the NBA. Similar defensive issues have reappeared five games into this season, as Atlanta has surrendered 123.6 points per contest, third to the Wizards and Raptors (124).
The injury bug certainly hasn’t helped the cause, as key defenders Dyson Daniels and De’Andre Hunter have combined to miss four games. Daniels, whom the Hawks received from New Orleans in a trade for Dejounte Murray in the offseason, is second in the NBA with 2.8 steals per game.
Although Hunter (knee) and Daniels (hip) aren’t expected to miss extended time, the news wasn’t as fortunate for another pair of Atlanta contributors. Bogdan Bogdanovic, who scored a career-high 16.9 points per game last season, underwent a non-surgical procedure on his hamstring and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. The team also announced its 2023 first-round pick Kobe Bufkin will also be re-evaluated in four weeks due to a shoulder subluxation.
The injuries have reared their head for Atlanta, which fell to Washington 133-120 Wednesday, its second loss to the Wizards in as many games. The Hawks held an eight-point halftime lead, but allowed Washington to score 76 second-half points in the defeat.
“What we need to be mindful of are the things that we have more control over, like getting back on defense,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “Those are consistent themes for us that we care about and we’re working on. When (Washington) made runs, us not getting stops and not converting the other way, that’s a collective thing.”
Atlanta is led in scoring by Trae Young’s 28.2 points per game, followed by Hunter’s 18. Atlanta is led in scoring by Trae Young’s 28.2 points per game, followed by Hunter’s 18. Hunter and Daniels have been ruled out for Friday’s game.
Sacramento enters the game winners of two straight following an 0-2 start. It’s been a three-headed attack for the Kings’ offense, as Domantas Sabonis leads the team with 24.3 points per game, followed by DeMar DeRozan’s 23 and De’Aaron Fox’s 21.5.
The Kings are coming off a 113-96 road victory over the Utah Jazz, in which Sabonis recorded 28 points and 11 rebounds with an efficient 13-for-18 shooting mark from the field.
“(Domantas) is just a monster in there,” Kings head coach Mike Brown said. “He wears his hard hat every single game and he was fantastic (against Utah).”
Brown admits that the group looked out of whack following an 0-5 preseason rut that extended into the first two games of the year. For a Sacramento team that wants to string together three straight winning seasons for the first time in 19 years, Brown’s expectations are as high as ever.
“We were all in a little bit of a funk in the preseason, and I’ll take most of the blame for that,” Brown said. “I put these guys in a box, because I needed to see what we had and we still have a ways to go. The neat part about this is we figured out how to win our last two, and our ceiling is still high. We have a lot of room to grow on both sides of the floor.”
Brown and Sacramento swept the two-game season series with Atlanta last year.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
