Sports
Suns lean on bigs, paint attack for matchup vs. Pistons
Jan 25, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Phoenix Suns found a way around their guard shortage in a victory over Brooklyn on Tuesday.
They went right to the paint.
Center Mark Williams scored a season-high 27 points in a late comeback win, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Suns used a similar strategy when they host the East-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Williams was 13 of 16 from the field Tuesday, also both season highs, and the Suns scored 72 points in the paint while compensating for the absence of starting guards Devin Booker and Collin Gillespie, as well as potential starter Jalen Green.
“We tried to come up with a couple more solutions,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott, whose team snapped a two-game losing streak. “I think Mark’s presence, you could feel it from the jump.
“We have to remember all his gifts and all the little stuff that he does for our group on both ends. Rebounding. Protecting the rim. He’s an incredibly skilled offensive player. He imprinted his game, his offensive game, from the jump. We have to do more, keep him going.”
Williams played 30 minutes for only the third time this season. The Suns, aware of knee injuries from his previous seasons, rested him in the second game of back-to-backs during the first two months.
“Especially tonight, knowing we had guys out, just doing what we can, guys stepping up,” Williams said. “We found a way to win. That is what really matters.”
The Pistons also found a way to win Tuesday, building an 18-point lead before holding on for a 109-107 victory at Denver in the first game of a three-game road trip that concludes Friday at Golden State.
Veteran Tobias Harris and Cade Cunningham each scored 22 points for the Pistons, who will try to sweep the season series against the Suns after earning a 108-105 victory on Jan. 15, in a game Booker also missed.
The Pistons have won six of seven and nine of 11, with four wins in that run coming by four points or less.
“It’s growth,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the Denver game. “It’s maturity. And it’s experience, right?”
“What we went through last year gave us the belief and the confidence that we could, and that’s what it takes. That’s the hardest thing in this league to do, you know, is to begin to win, because there is so much that goes into it.”
Harris reached a personal milestone at Denver when his two free throws with two seconds remaining clinched the win. Harris played in his 1,000th game, making him the 19th active player and 154th overall to reach that plateau.
“That speaks of his ability to adapt to the new game and his durability,” Bickerstaff said. “For him to have the professional game that he had, to hit the shots when they were needed most, is a compliment to him, his game and how he’s been able to survive.”
Pistons center Jalen Duren had 16 points and 18 rebounds in the first meeting with the Suns, when Williams had five points in 22 minutes.
The Suns and Nets were assessed three technical fouls apiece, and Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen received Flagrant 1 fouls when benches cleared with 1:14 left Tuesday after Egor Demin pushed Brooks into a pile under the Nets’ basket.
“We are not going to back down from physicality,” Allen said. “So wherever that line is, we are okay with it.”
Booker is not expected to play Thursday, and Gillespie (hand) and Green (hamstring) are questionable.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Bo Bichette could move to SS with injury to Ronny Mauricio
Apr 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio (0) singles during the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images New York Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio broke his left thumb Saturday, meaning starting third baseman Bo Bichette temporarily could take over at his former position.
Mauricio hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning Friday night, leading the Mets to a comeback road win against the Los Angeles Angels.
And in the seventh inning Saturday night, Mauricio broke the thumb on a headfirst slide into first base in the 4-3 loss.
The Mets are expected to put the 25-year-old Mauricio on the injured list Sunday morning before they play the finale of the three-game series in Anaheim, Calif.
Mauricio has started at shortstop for the Mets as a replacement for All-Star Francisco Lindor, who is expected to be out until at least June due to a serious left-calf strain.
Now, the Mets — the big-ticket team that has the MLB’s worst record — need a replacement for the replacement.
“I am pretty sure Bo is going to be in the conversation,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of the chance Bichette could take over at shortstop.
Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million contract in January, knowing he would move to third base with Lindor entrenched at shortstop.
With the Blue Jays (2019-25), Bichette played 716 of his 748 games at short.
“Whatever the team needs,” Bichette told reporters about a possible position switch.
Mauricio, in 10 games, is hitting .219 (7-for-32). He has one extra-base hit, a home run.
Bichette has gotten off to a slow start with his new team, hitting two home runs and driving in 14 in his first 32 games. His average of .238 is well below his career .292. Last season in Toronto, he hit .311 with 18 homers and 94 RBIs.
Mauricio joins a growing list of players on the injured list for New York — a list that includes outfielder Luis Robert Jr., infielder Jorge Polanco and right-hander Kodai Senga.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Clay Holmes to start against Angels for first time
Apr 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images National League ERA leader Clay Holmes will start against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon as the New York Mets try for just their second road series win of the season.
When Holmes takes the mound in Anaheim, Calif., it will be his first career start against the Angels.
The right-handed Holmes (3-2, 1.75 ERA) hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his six starts. He comes in off an 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday that saw him allow three hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six.
“He’s been doing it since last year,” teammate Juan Soto told the New York Post. “No surprise what he’s been doing. He’s a grinder. He’s been putting in the work every day, so I’m really happy to see that.”
Holmes is 0-0 with a 2.35 ERA in nine career relief appearances against the Angels.
New York’s only road series victory came April 2-5 when it took three of four games at San Francisco. The Mets defeated Arizona in their next game to improve to 7-4 on the season but since have lost 18 of their next 22 games.
The Mets won the series opener, 4-3, on Friday on Ronny Mauricio’s go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. They had several excellent scoring chances to win Saturday’s game and the series before losing 4-3 in 10 innings on Oswald Peraza’s walk-off bases-loaded single off reliever Austin Warren.
It was Peraza’s first career walk-off hit and snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Angels.
“It feels amazing,” Peraza said after lining an 0-2 curveball into the gap in left-center to drive in automatic runner Adam Frazier from third. “We needed that win, and thank God. I was looking for a good pitch to hit and see the ball, and I feel so happy for the win.”
It was just the second win in 13 games for the Angels, who — like the Mets — have won only three series this season.
“I guess there was no other way to do it than a walk off,” Los Angeles manager Kurt Suzuki said. “It hasn’t been easy. So really proud of them. They grinded, they battled.”
Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2-0, 3.09) gets the start for Los Angeles and will try to give the Angels their first series victory since April 10-12 at Cincinnati. That also was the last time Kochanowicz picked up a victory, allowing two hits and one run over seven innings in a 10-2 win in the series opener.
A big question going into Sunday’s finale is who will be playing shortstop for the Mets.
Mauricio, filling in for injured All-Star Francisco Lindor, broke his left thumb on a head-first slide into first base, beating out an infield single in the seventh inning of Saturday’s loss.
“He’s going on the IL,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s tough obviously. You lose your everyday shortstop and the guy that comes up that is getting the everyday opportunity here now is hurt. Somebody else is going to have an opportunity.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put RF Ronald Acuna Jr. on IL, recall P Spencer Strider
May 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Atlanta Braves star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. went on the injured list on Sunday, with right-hander Spencer Strider returning from the IL to make his season debut against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
Acuna was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. The Braves selected fellow outfielder Jose Azocar from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Acuna’s spot on the roster.
Acuna exited in the second inning after limping toward first base on a groundout in Atlanta’s 9-1 victory over Colorado.
“It didn’t look great, him coming off the field,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I am hoping it’s just some cramping and that type of thing, but he’s getting an MRI. That’s never good when you have to get an MRI.”
Acuna, 28, grabbed at his hamstring and pulled up when attempting to run out a grounder he hit in the second inning. He limped off the field under his own power after being examined by the team’s medical staff.
A five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP, Acuna is hitting .252 with two homers and nine RBIs in 34 games.
Acuna was replaced in right field by Eli White, who is hitting .196 with two homers and eight RBIs in 20 games.
Strider returned from his rehabilitation assignment and was reinstated to the roster to take the spot of fellow right-hander Hunter Stratton, who was optioned to Gwinnett following Saturday’s game.
After becoming the fastest pitcher to record 100 strikeouts (61 innings) in a season in modern MLB history in 2023, Strider made just two starts in 2024 before undergoing season-ending UCL surgery.
Last season, Strider went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA across 23 starts in his return from injury.
Strider, 27, began this season on the injured list with an oblique strain but is prepared to rejoin the sizzling Braves. They have won both games of the weekend series to expand on the best record (24-10) in the majors.
Strider, meanwhile, has dominated the Rockies in three career appearances (two starts), going 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA. He struck out 16 batters and scattered two hits over eight innings in a 3-0 win over Colorado on Sept. 1, 2022, before striking out 13 Rockies in a six-inning win last June 14.
–Field Level Media
Mets' Bo Bichette could move to SS with injury to Ronny Mauricio
Mets' Clay Holmes to start against Angels for first time
