Sports
Pistons aim to secure East's top seed in clash vs. Sixers
Apr 2, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) in the second half t Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Detroit Pistons are one win away from accomplishing a feat they haven’t achieved in nearly 20 years.
The Pistons will aim to secure the top spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2007 when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
Detroit (56-21) needs one win — or one loss by the second-place Boston Celtics (52-25) — to clinch home-court advantage throughout the East postseason. Both the Pistons and Celtics have five regular-season games remaining.
The Pistons have played well without star guard Cade Cunningham, who will continue to recover from a collapsed lung this weekend. He has missed the last nine games, during which the team has gone 7-2, with both losses coming in overtime.
Most recently, Detroit topped the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-108 on Thursday as Daniss Jenkins scored 26 points and Jalen Duren notched 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons.
In addition to playing without Cunningham, the team got only six minutes out of Tobias Harris (knee injury), who is questionable to face his former team on Saturday.
“I give our guys credit. They just seem to figure out a way, and typically it starts with our defense,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
The Pistons held the Timberwolves to 31% 3-point shooting and forced 14 turnovers, led by Ausar Thompson, the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month in both January and March.
Thompson finished with seven points, nine rebounds, nine assists, three blocks and two steals against Minnesota.
“Throughout his career, that’s what he wants to do,” Bickerstaff said of Thompson racking up the monthly honors, “and that’s where he wants to put his impact on the game.”
Duncan Robinson chipped in with 15 points for the Pistons. He enters Saturday’s game with seven straight double-digit scoring performances, having made multiple 3-pointers in each of those contests.
“We find different ways to win,” noted reserve guard Kevin Huerter. “There are different guys (who step up). We piece it together. That’s the sign of a good team.”
Philadelphia (43-34) has won eight of its last 11 games, including a 115-103 victory over Minnesota on Friday. The Sixers are tied with the Toronto Raptors for the No. 6 seed in the East.
Paul George scored 23 points against the Timberwolves while adding six rebounds, six assists and four steals. He is averaging 27.0 points in five games since coming back from a 25-game suspension for taking a banned substance.
“His shot making has been so good that teams are … almost forcing him inside the (3-point) line, and he’s been able to take it (to the rim), which is good,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said.
Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in with 21 points, including two clutch 3-pointers down the stretch. Joel Embiid contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.
The Sixers scored 42 points in the third quarter after managing just 41 in the first half.
“I think we just started playing a little smarter offensively,” Nurse said of the second-half surge. “I think we did an excellent job of doing almost everything we wanted to in the second half, offensively, and the defense stayed just about the same.”
The Pistons have won all three matchups against the Sixers this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Feeling 'revitalization,' Dodgers eager for continued production on offense vs. Astros
May 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) celebrates with second baseman Alex Freeland (76) after the game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images After amassing only 11 runs in the previous five games and going six games without a home run, their longest drought since July 2014, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense finally broke out on Monday.
The Dodgers opened a three-game interleague series against the host Houston Astros with an 8-3 victory that featured home runs from Alex Freeland and Kyle Tucker, and three-hit games from Freeland and Will Smith.
Freddie Freeman and Tucker posted two hits and two RBIs apiece as the Dodgers feasted on the Astros’ beleaguered pitching.
“I like where our guys’ heads are at,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “There is a new sense of revitalization, walking around the clubhouse.
“(The Astros have) a pitching staff that certainly has scuffled a little bit. And if we can get into some good counts, take advantage of some hitters’ counts — yeah, it is a hitter-friendly ballpark. Hopefully, we just take some good at-bats and grind, and mix in some slug, too.”
Right-hander Shohei Ohtani (2-1, 0.60 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Ohtani sustained his first loss in his previous start, a 2-1 setback to the Miami Marlins last Tuesday, after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with nine strikeouts over six innings. Ohtani has logged exactly six innings in all five of his starts this season, with three of those outings scoreless.
Ohtani is 3-6 with a 3.89 ERA across 14 career starts against the Astros. He worked two scoreless innings against them on July 5, 2025, allowing one hit and striking out three. He did not factor into the decision of a 6-4 home loss.
Right-hander Peter Lambert (1-2, 3.52 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Tuesday.
He worked a season-low 4 1/3 innings in a 10-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Lambert will make his second home start this season and first since absorbing a 9-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on April 17.
Lambert is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Dodgers. In his previous outing against them on June 2, 2024, he worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the Colorado Rockies, allowing one hit and three walks with three strikeouts.
The Astros, ravaged by injuries to their pitching staff, used an opener for a second consecutive game on Monday, with left-hander Steven Okert working in back-to-back games and Houston using five pitchers in both contests. Among the 13 players currently on the injured list are eight pitchers, but Houston could field reinforcements in the near term.
Right-handers Tatsuya Imai and Nate Pearson are scheduled to make rehab appearances with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, with left-handed closer Josh Hader likely to do the same.
“Things are moving in the right direction,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Why LeBron James Is Unlikely To Pull off Another Upset Against Thunder
LeBron James has found a way to turn back the clock one more time, pulling off a massive upset for the Lakers in the first round over the Rockets. Not to take anything away from that achievement, but the Rockets looked like an exceedingly flawed team through most of the second half this year. Most importantly, when Kevin Durant was absent, their offense was exceedingly stagnant.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that life will be exceedingly harder for the Lakers against OKC. Luka Doncic is likely out for this series, and if not longer if Los Angeles were to advance, but they will be missing his offensive production far more severely in round two.
The Lakers have a 7% chance of advancing, according to prediction markets, and are +1400 to reach the Western Conference Finals. They are also 15.5-point underdogs in the series opener in Oklahoma City.
I gave the Lakers as an upset pick in round one, but I can’t see how they pull it off this time around. What are some things they could do in this series to continue their playoff success?
Los Angeles is one of the slower teams in the NBA, but they’ve become even slower in the playoffs. Across any sport, if teams can limit the number of possessions that occur in a game, the odds of them pulling off an upset increase drastically.
They were solid offensively when they settled into their half-court sets, but led all teams in turnovers per game in the first round. Oklahoma City was on the other end of the spectrum, but that will have to change for the Lakers against a far more cohesive Thunder core.
Austin Reaves was quiet in the two games he played in the first round and was only 2/12 from three. He has to play above his weight class and knock down threes at a rate that’s higher than his season average.
Furthermore, it sucks that we need to have this conversation in his age 41 season, but the Lakers are going to need to be carried by LeBron. He was great in round one, but he’s going to need to turn the clocks back even further this time around. That’s seriously the only way I think the Lakers pull this off. I would be an idiot to fully write off LeBron after everything he’s done in 23 seasons, but even a vintage King James appearance might not be enough to beat a Thunder team that’s one of the best we’ve ever seen.
OKC is +115 to sweep, and that’s probably the only thing I’d bet in this series. LeBron’s done crazy things in his career, but this would be bigger than anything we’ve ever seen. Even with a healthy Luka Doncic, this would be a very tough draw for the Lakers.
Sports
Fresh off rally, Mariners chase series win vs. Braves
May 4, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodríguez (44) celebrates after a game against the Atlanta Braves at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer often said that solo homers won’t beat you.
Seattle’s Logan Gilbert proved that Monday night.
Gilbert allowed four solo shots, but the Mariners came away with a 5-4 victory against the visiting Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game series.
“Four of them is not ideal, but I guess it held true tonight,” Gilbert said of the adage.
The interleague series will continue Tuesday night in Seattle.
Matt Olson hit his 300th career homer, and Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley also went deep for the Braves, giving them a 4-0 lead through 5 1/2 innings.
Atlanta rookie right-hander JR Ritchie, a native of nearby Bainbridge Island, Wash., held the Mariners scoreless until the sixth. He walked the first two batters before allowing a three-run homer to Luke Raley.
Raley, mired in a 1-for-24 slump, took the traditional walk the length of the dugout with the Mariners’ home-run trident, then sought hitting coach Edgar Martinez to give him a hug.
“He made some adjustments,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said of Raley. “Because of how hard he works and how much he cares, it’s good to see.”
The Braves brought in reliever Tyler Kinley, who walked Mitch Garver and allowed a two-run shot to J.P. Crawford that put Seattle ahead.
“Ritchie threw the ball really well … he had a tough start to the sixth with a couple of walks. Kinley has been unbelievable for us; he’s done a heck of a job and Crawford got him there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “We were trying to squeeze a few more outs out of Ritchie because we didn’t have enough available (arms) in the bullpen. We were really light, and that’s what happens.”
So to recap: Three walks and two homers beat four solo shots.
“These guys play with a lot of heart, and tonight was no exception,” Wilson said. “They fell behind and they came right back.”
The Mariners snapped a three-game skid and handed the Braves just their fourth loss in the past 19 games.
Atlanta catcher Sean Murphy made his season debut after recovering from hip surgery last September. The Braves designated Jonah Heim for assignment to clear a roster spot and traded Heim to the Athletics for cash on Monday night.
“It’s good to have Murph back; he’s been a big part of this the past few years,” Weiss said.
Tuesday’s game will feature a pair of right-handers in the Braves’ Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.88 ERA) against the Mariners’ George Kirby (4-2, 3.00).
Elder took his second straight no-decision Thursday against visiting Detroit despite allowing one earned run on six hits over six innings as the Braves lost 5-2. He is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in one previous start against Seattle.
Kirby had a streak of three consecutive victories snapped when he took a no-decision Wednesday at Minnesota in a game the Mariners won 5-3 with three runs in the top of the ninth. He gave up two runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Kirby is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two career starts vs. the Braves.
–Field Level Media
Feeling 'revitalization,' Dodgers eager for continued production on offense vs. Astros
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