Hot shooting, stifling defense carry Magic over Kings
Mar 29, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) passes the ball against Sacramento Kings guard/forward DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images Caleb Houstan’s 6-of-7 3-point shooting off the bench en route to 18 points helped the Orlando Magic capitalize on a stifling defensive effort as they cruised psat the visiting Sacramento Kings 121-91 on Saturday.
Orlando (36-39), the NBA’s top defense in points allowed coming into Saturday’s matchup, delivered its 18th game holding an opponent to fewer than 100 points this season. The Magic limited the Kings to 42 percent shooting from the floor, including 7-of-28 from 3-point range.
The Orlando defense was especially effective against Zach LaVine, holding him to just 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting and forcing him into five turnovers.
The Magic came out aggressively from the start, not allowing the Kings (36-38) a made field goal until more than three minutes into the contest. By then, Orlando built a nine-point it never relinquished.
Jonathan Isaac helped cap the tone-setting first quarter with a steal of a Malik Monk pass — one of six Monk turnovers in the game — that led to a Goga Bitadze dunk in transition.
The sequence put an exclamation mark on Orlando’s 38-21 first-quarter performance.
Bitadze recorded a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Houstan knocked down three triples before halftime to help the Magic take a 15-point lead into intermission.
Sacramento cut the deficit to 11 points early in the third quarter on a DeMar DeRozan 3-pointer, the last of his team-high 21-point effort. Orlando erupted in response, going on a 26-5 run from that point.
Franz Wagner scored 10 of his 21 points during the decisive burst. Behind Wagner, Houston and Paolo Banchero, who scored a game-high 24 points, the Magic recorded their fifth-highest scoring game of the season.
Domantas Sabonis finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento, which was playing the first of six straight road games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brice Turang and Brandon Woodruff lead Brewers past Marlins
Apr 18, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Brice Turang slugged a go-ahead, two-run homer, and Brandon Woodruff pitched seven brilliant innings as the Brewers beat the host Miami Marlins 5-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Abner Uribe inherited a bases-loaded, one-out mess in the ninth. However, he got both batters he faced on only four pitches to record his second save.
Turang went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for Milwaukee, which won its season-high fourth consecutive game.
Woodruff (2-0) allowed just three hits — all singles — one walk and one run, lowering his ERA to 3.42. He fanned four Marlins.
Miami has lost four straight and seven of their past eight games.
Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (2-2) took the loss, allowing five hits and three runs in five innings. He walked a career-high six batters and struck out just one, a career low in a start of at least five innings for the nine-year veteran.
Miami opened the scoring in the second inning as Liam Hicks singled, advanced on a groundout and scored on Connor Norby’s base knock to center.
Milwaukee loaded the bases with one out in the third on three walks, but Alcantara got the slow-footed Gary Sanchez to bounce into a double play.
The Brewers tied the score in the fourth as Luis Rengifo walked and scored on Brandon Lockridge’s two-out single.
Milwaukee grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fifth as William Contreras grounded a hustle double past two middle infielders and scored on Turang’s 402-foot homer to center. He hit a first-pitch slider for his fourth long ball of the year.
The Brewers extended their lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Garrett Mitchell started the rally with a walk. He stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout by Sal Frelick. Mitchell was initially called out, but the Brewers won a challenge.
Turang then hit an RBI single to score Joey Ortiz, who had also walked.
Miami threatened in the eighth on a pair of two-out singles by Jakob Marsee and Xavier Edwards. But reliever Jake Woodford got Agustin Ramirez on a groundout, ending the inning.
In the ninth, the Marlins loaded the bases with one out, banging three singles against Woodford. Uribe got Heiberto Hernandez to ground to third base, plating Otto Lopez, then retired Javier Sanoja on a grounder to second.
Hicks and Norby had two hits apiece for Miami.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks
Apr 18, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland at the end of their round during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Another strong finish from England’s Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.
Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
“I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15.”
Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.
Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.
“It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want,” Fitzpatrick said.
Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.
Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.
Saturday’s turnaround was rewarding.
“I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it.”
He rolled in a putt from off the green — 26 feet away — the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.
Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.
“I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position,” Scheffler said. “… As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun.”
Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday’s galleries.
“We’re in America, so I wouldn’t expect any different,” Fitzpatrick said. “Yeah, they’ve got to support their guy, and that’s totally fine.”
Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.
“Just tried to keep the pedal down,” Harman said. “It’s going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions.”
Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.
“You really have to think your way around this place,” he said. “It’s not just a bomb-and-gouge. I’m not a bomber.”
The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).
“I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late,” Novak said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Giants rally from early 4-run deficit, top Nats in 12
Apr 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos (17) hits a double against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images Matt Chapman drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Nationals 7-6 Saturday in Washington, D.C.
Chapman led off the 12th against Cionel Perez (0-2) and grounded a single to left, scoring automatic runner Luis Arraez.
Caleb Kilian (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. The automatic runner did not advance in either inning and Kilian only allowed one base runner on an intentional walk.
The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the tenth, but Ryan Walker got two strikeouts and a ground out.
Heliot Ramos had three hits including his second home run in two games as San Francisco won its third straight.
Wood hit his seventh homer of the season and scored three runs for the Nationals.
With Washington trailing 6-5 in the ninth, Jorbit Vivas doubled against Walker leading off and went to third on a fly out. After Wood was walked intentionally, Curtis Mead hit a grounder and Vivas was thrown out at home. Brady House tied the game when he blooped single to center and Wood scored before Mead was thrown out at third.
Wood led off the bottom of the first and homered to give Washington a 1-0 lead.
Jung Hoo Lee singled with one out in the second and Ramos doubled, but Lee was thrown out at home. Drew Gilbert followed with a single to right, plating Ramos with the tying run.
The Nationals loaded the bases as the first batters reached in the second. Drew Millas grounded into a force at home, but Wood was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Luis Garcia, Jr. singled in two runs and Jose Tena singled in another to make it 5-1.
An error by third baseman Vivas gave the Giants runners on first and second with one out in the third and Casey Schmitt lined a two-out double to left that scored two runs, one coming across on a fielding error by Daylen Lile.
Lee singled off Parker with one out in the sixth and Ramos followed with a shot to left to tie it.
Willy Adames singled leading off the seventh and went to second on a wild pitch. Rafael Devers lined a two-out single to left, scoring Adames to give the Giants a 6-5 lead.
Giants starter Adrian Houser gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. His Nats counterpart Cade Cavalli gave up three runs (one earned) on seven hits in four innings.
–Field Level Media