Sports
Spurs look to continue torrid stretch against feisty Mavericks
Apr 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images The San Antonio Spurs look to keep their momentum growing in preparation for the upcoming playoffs when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday in the penultimate game of the regular season for the Lone Star State rivals.
The Spurs (61-19) have won 13 of their past 14 games and have gone 29-3 since Feb.1, but they still couldn’t run down Oklahoma City for the best record in either the Western Conference or the league. San Antonio has been forced to settle for second in both races and will host the seventh seed (either the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers) in the first round of the playoffs next week.
“It’s an exciting time, and you can feel it,” Spurs forward Devin Vassell said of San Antonio’s first trip to playoffs since the 2018-19 campaign. “The fans are ready. The organization’s ready. We’re ready. I’m just excited for us to get it going.”
San Antonio heads into Friday’s game after a 112-101 home win over Portland on Wednesday that was produced with both Victor Wembanyama (left rib contusion) and Stephon Castle (right knee soreness) on the bench. Both players are listed as questionable to play against Dallas.
The Spurs got 25 points from De’Aaron Fox in the Portland victory, while Keldon Johnson added 20 points and Carter Bryant posted career highs with 17 points and four assists. Vassell had 14 points, Dylan Harper scored 13 and Luke Kornet hit for 10.
San Antonio’s bench players outscored Portland’s reserves 48-10. With little on the line in either Friday’s game or Sunday’s regular-season finale at home with Denver, expect the Spurs to continue to showcase their depth.
After Bryant’s career night, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson says the rookie will be a key part of his playoff rotation.
“Carter played within himself in terms of things that we’ve been talking about, and practicing and training on and the ball found him, and he shot (in) rhythm with confidence when he was open,” Johnson said. “He will play in the playoffs. Carter’s definitely grown just by the natural evolution of he had zero games under his belt before this year started.”
The Mavericks (25-55) travel south to the Alamo City after a 112-107 loss at Phoenix on Wednesday. John Poulakidas hit for a career-high 23 points and made five 3-pointers in the setback, while Marvin Bagley III had 20 points, Max Christie scored 18 and Cooper Flagg had 11 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for Dallas, strengthening his case for Rookie of the Year.
Dallas, which has dropped 10 of its past 12 contests, hung tough in the loss to the Suns in the second game of a road back-to-back despite playing without Naji Marshall (left hip contusion), P.J. Washington (left elbow sprain) and Klay Thompson (rest). Marshall and Washington are listed as doubtful for Friday’s game.
That situation gave Poulakidas, a rookie, a chance to show how he’s grown this season, and he made the most of that chance.
“I wanted to come into this game playing freely, playing aggressively, and I thought I did that,” said Poulakidas, a former March Madness hero for Yale. “When I was going through my pregame routines, I was filling a little bit of extra juice because I knew that I was going to get the opportunity. I just wanted to be ready when the ball came to me.”
The Spurs have captured all three games against Dallas this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
White Sox place LHP Chris Murphy (elbow) on 15-day injured list
Mar 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Murphy (38) throws a pitch in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox placed left-handed reliever Chris Murphy on the 15-day injured list on Thursday because of left elbow impingement syndrome.
The move is retroactive to Wednesday. In other moves, the White Sox recalled left-hander Brandon Eisert and right-hander Duncan Davitt from Triple-A Charlotte and optioned lefty Tyler Schweitzer to the affiliate.
Murphy, 27, last pitched on Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in two-thirds of an inning in a 4-2 home loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He is 1-0 with one save, a 10.50 ERA, five walks and six strikeouts in six innings over six relief appearances in his first season with Chicago.
The White Sox acquired Murphy from the Boston Red Sox on Nov. 18, 2025, for minor league catcher and designated hitter Ronny Hernandez.
Murphy was 4-2 with one save, a 4.15 ERA, 37 walks and 79 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings for the Red Sox in the 2023 and 2025 seasons. He did not play in 2024 following Tommy John surgery.
Boston selected Murphy in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego.
Eisert, 28, is a career 3-8 with two saves, a 4.36 ERA, 29 walks and 76 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings for the Toronto Blue Jays (three games in 2024) and White Sox (72 games in 2025).
Schweitzer, 25, made his major league debut on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings of relief in a 5-3 home setback to the Orioles.
Davitt, 26, has not appeared in a major league game. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round of the 2022 draft and traded on July 31, 2025, to the White Sox.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stanford star G Ebuka Okorie enters NBA draft
Mar 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) on the court in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Stanford star guard Ebuka Okorie said Thursday that he is declaring for the NBA draft after leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring as a freshman.
Okorie was overlooked by top-flight programs during the recruiting process but was a big hit with the Cardinal. He ranked eighth nationally with a 23.2 scoring average to go with 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals and was earned honorable mention All-America status.
“A year ago you guys took a chance on a kid from New Hampshire with zero high major offers, welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to be the best version of myself on and off the court,” Okorie said on Instagram. “… I’m truly blessed and humbled with this opportunity, and I’m thankful to Stanford for helping me chase my dreams.”
Okorie scored 719 points this season, third most in Stanford history. He finished behind Chasson Randle (724 in 2014-15) and leader Adam Keefe (734 in 1991-92).
Okorie recorded eight 30-point outings, surpassing the mark of Duke’s Marvin Bagley III (seven in 2017-18) for ACC freshmen.
Okorie, who shot 46.5% from the field, is rated as a first-round pick with a possibility of moving into the lottery.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Bucs adding CBs Chase Lucas, Kemon Hall
Sep 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chase Lucas (26) after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are adding to their depth at cornerback with one-year contracts for free agents Chase Lucas and Kemon Hall, according to reports on Thursday.
Lucas, 29, has agreed to join the Bucs, per NFL Network, after recording nine tackles in 15 games last season for San Francisco. He played on 53% of the 49ers’ special teams snaps (204) and 10% of the defensive snaps (98).
He has played in 33 regular-season games for the Detroit Lions (2022-23) and 49ers (2025) as well as a total of four playoff games and has 15 career tackles.
Detroit selected Lucas in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Arizona State.
Hall, 28, is signing with Tampa Bay, per an ESPN report, after playing in four games last season for the Tennessee Titans and making nine tackles. He was in on 64% of the special teams snaps (70) and 30% of the defensive snaps (66).
He has played in 28 career games for the Los Angeles Chargers (2021-22), Dallas Cowboys (2024) and Titans (2025) and has 24 career tackles and one forced fumble.
–Field Level Media
White Sox place LHP Chris Murphy (elbow) on 15-day injured list
Stanford star G Ebuka Okorie enters NBA draft
