UNLV escaped with a 75-72 win against UC Irvine in the first round of the NIT. Dra Gibbs-Lawson blocked a potential game-tying 3-point attempt with eight seconds left. Kimani Hamilton led the Rebels with 14 points.
The Denver Nuggets routed the Philadelphia 76ers 124-96. Christian Braun scored 22 points, and Nikola Jokic had 14 assists for Denver. Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Milwaukee Bucks fans are being surveyed about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s health after he appeared to injure his ankle and knee. The survey asks whether the Bucks should shut him down. The poll also includes questions about the NCAA tournament and Cam Thomas.
Cruz Azul are on the verge of progressing to the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup after a dramatic comeback victory in the first leg against Monterrey. They head into the second leg with a 3–2 aggregate lead. A draw in the second leg would be enough to see them through.
Clayton Kershaw will not be on the United States roster for the World Baseball Classic semifinals. The retired pitcher is being replaced by reliever Jeff Hoffman. Kershaw will remain with the team through the tournament despite being removed from the roster.
Roman Anthony’s performance at the World Baseball Classic has been a talking point. His teammates at Red Sox camp have expressed their admiration for the 21-year-old. Anthony’s contributions have included key home runs and a strong overall batting record.
Rumours circulated about Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock potentially starting in the World Baseball Classic final. However, USA manager Mark DeRosa has denied those rumours. DeRosa stated that Nolan McLean will start the game for USA.
Team USA arrived at its World Baseball Classic championship matchup with Venezuela representing another American squad that has had recent success in international competition — Team USA hockey. The players sported game-worn USA men’s hockey sweaters from this most recent Winter Olympics. The look was coordinated through a connection between Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jack Hughes.
Williams Abreu of Venezuela hit a solo home run against the USA in the WBC. This increased Venezuela’s lead. Abreu previously hit a逆転3ラン against Japan.
Major League Baseball is set to experiment with a host of rule changes in the minor leagues in 2026. The changes, applied differently among various leagues and levels, are viewed as experimental, not inevitable. Player development departments are already educating players and staff on what to expect.
