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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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Ty France hits 2 homers as Padres rally past D-backs in Mexico City

MLB: Colorado Rockies at San Diego PadresApr 12, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France (25) hits a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Ty France hit two bases-empty homers, Mason Miller recorded his major league-leading 10th save, and the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 in the Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City on Saturday.

Miller has not allowed a run in 14 1/3 innings this season, and he extended his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 2/3 innings.

France hit his second and third homers of the season and Gavin Sheets had a two-run single in a four-run seventh for the Padres, who overcame an early 4-0 deficit. They have won 13 of 15.

Alec Thomas homered in a four-run second, his second homer in three games, and Nolan Arenado and Jose Fernandez had two hits for the D-Backs, who are the designated home team in the two-game series. They have lost three of four.

Arizona infielder Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 19 games, the longest active streak in the majors and the second-longest since Pablo Sandoval’s 20-gamer in 2012. Vargas has a 22-game hitting streak dating to 2025.

Padres right-hander German Marquez (3-1) gave up four runs on six hits in six innings, with two strikeouts and one walk.

Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts walked around a single by Manny Machado to open the Padres’ seventh before Taylor Clarke entered to replace Brandon Pfaadt.

Sheets hit a two-run single and shortstop Gerardo Perdomo’s fielding error re-loaded the bases. Freddy Fermin and Ramon Laureano followed with sacrifice flies for a 5-4 lead. Perdomo suffered a left ankle sprain on his error and left the game.

Pfaadt replaced Arizona starter Zac Gallen in the fourth inning. Gallen suffered a right shoulder contusion when was struck by a Fermin’s 92 mph line drive with one out in the third inning. Fermin reached on a single and Gallen got the final two outs of the inning before leaving.

Clarke (1-1) allowed all three inherited runners to score and they were charged to Pfaadt, who allowed four runs on two hits and three walks, while fanning five in three innings. The run charged to Clarke was unearned.

Vargas and Arenado singled with two outs in the second inning before Fernandez lined a double to left-center to drive in two. Thomas followed with his 400-foot homer to right, extending his hitting streak to six games.

France hit his first homer of the game in the fifth to put Arizona on the board.

–Field Level Media

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Jayson Tatum's improvement bodes well for Celtics in Game 4 vs. 76ers

NBA: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ersApr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates his three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers late in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Jayson Tatum has only been back on the court for seven-plus weeks but the Boston Celtics star is making a stellar impact.

While putting last May’s devastating ruptured right Achilles tendon further in the rearview mirror, Tatum’s comeback story is reading superbly. He will look to help Boston take a 3-1 series lead when it visits the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night in Eastern Conference first-round play.

Tatum drained five 3-pointers and recorded 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds as the Celtics notched a 108-100 road win on Friday. It was his second 25-point outing of the series.

Tatum didn’t make his season debut until March 6 but quickly displayed he would be an asset in the playoffs.

He finished the regular season with seven straight appearances of 23 or more points. He delivered one triple-double and four other double-doubles during the stretch to establish he would be a difference-maker in the postseason.

Also Friday, Tatum became the fourth player in Celtics history to top 3,000 career postseason points. Tatum (3,005) trails three legends — Kevin McHale (3,182), John Havlicek (3,776) and leader Larry Bird (3,897).

“I can’t stress it enough that the fact that I get to put my uniform on and run out with the team, it’s a win for me,” Tatum said. “Obviously, I’m not 100% yet and will not be, but expectations of what people want me to do is the last thing that has crossed my mind.

“The amount of joy I have been able to find just being back out there and being out there with my teammates is all I could think about.”

Co-star Jaylen Brown, who carried the team while Tatum was sidelined, is impressed with Tatum’s progress.

“He’s been incrementally getting better and stronger and getting more physical,” said Brown, who also scored 25 points in Game 3. “You can see he’s getting downhill at a higher level than he did when he started. But we do it as a team. We win as a team and lose as a team. So in those moments, I got nothing but trust for Jayson Tatum.”

Sunday’s contest is a big one for the 76ers as a split through four games would be significantly better than facing a possible Game 5 elimination game in Boston.

What would really help is if star center Joel Embiid is available, but the team listed the former MVP as doubtful on their Saturday injury report.

Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9. He was also listed as doubtful for Friday’s game before being ruled out.

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said that Embiid did on-court work Saturday and will be evaluated after Sunday’s shootaround.

Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (right adductor) is questionable.

Philadelphia star guard Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points in the Game 3 setback and made five 3-pointers for the second straight game. He felt the game got away from his squad.

“We always focus on what you could do better,” Maxey said. “… Got to get one (Sunday), got to protect home court and even the series.”

Maxey is averaging 27.0 points and 7.7 assists in the series.

The 76ers allowed more 3-pointers (20) than 2-point baskets (16) in Game 3, and Nurse said his team needs to make things tougher for Boston from outside the arc.

“They had five made off offensive rebounds and that’s not good, right?” Nurse said. “They made a lot of tough ones. … We’re going to have to be a lot better. It has to start with pressure.”

–Field Level Media

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Donte DiVincenzo (leg) ruled out for T-Wolves after non-contact injury

NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver NuggetsApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo was ruled out after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

DiVincenzo sustained the injury on a non-contact play. He planted his foot to go toward a loose ball, and he quickly went down as he grabbed toward the back of his right leg.

The team ruled out DiVincenzo before the end of the first quarter.

DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range during the regular season. He averaged 14.3 points in the first three games of the playoff series against the Nuggets.

-Field Level Media

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