Top News:
Stefan Bondy / New York Daily News:
Knicks blow 21-point lead in loss; Nets still control play-in destiny — Another game against the Nets, another collapse from the Knicks at MSG. — After leading by as many as 21 in the second half, the Knicks' offense completely deteriorated down the stretch and the Nets maintained control …
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NetsDaily
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Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets' resilience makes them contenders despite odds — The Nets play their best basketball with their backs against the wall. That's why their championship hopes are still alive in what looks like a lost season. — The Nets trailed by 17 points at the half and faced a deficit as large …
Discussion:
New York Post and Newsday
Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Kyrie Irving pours in 42 in much-needed win vs. Rockets
Discussion:
The Athletic and New York Post
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Buck Showalter, all business, not ready to reflect on emotions of Opening Day just yet — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Buck Showalter on Thursday managed a game for the first time since Sept. 30, 2018. A lot has changed in the 1,285 days between his last time in a major-league dugout …
Discussion:
Boston Herald
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Max Scherzer ready to go for Mets debut in ‘crazy, wild atmosphere’ against Nationals — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Max Scherzer anticipated that his hamstring tightness would take just a few days to clear up, and this is Mets fans' first lesson that they should have no reason to doubt him.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and MLB Baseball News …
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. acknowledges rift with former teammate Freddie Freeman — MLB, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers — ATLANTA — Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. acknowledged an internal rift with former teammate Freddie Freeman during an interview late Wednesday …
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Joon Lee / ESPN:
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox remain at odds over contract ahead of season opener — NEW YORK — With shortstop Xander Bogaerts set to opt out of his contract after 2022, the question of whether he will be back with the Boston Red Sox next year looms over the team's season.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Union-News, CBS Boston and Boston.com
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: All-Star 3B Jose Ramirez agrees to 5-year, $124M extension with Cleveland Guardians — All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a five-year, $124 million contract extension, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.
Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
The inside story of how Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon became ‘The Mechanic’ — MIAMI — The most remarkable part of how Dewayne Dedmon became “The Mechanic” might not be the way a social-media account created a nickname that went viral to the degree of formally being adopted by the Miami Heat.
Discussion:
Orange County Register
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Kyle Hendricks remains the link between where the Chicago Cubs were — and where they're trying to get back to — MESA, ARIZ. — As the names and faces in the clubhouse change, Kyle Hendricks has tethered the ups and downs of Chicago Cubs baseball over the last 10 years.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
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ESPN:
Sources: Minnesota Twins to acquire Chris Paddack in deal with San Diego Padres — MLB, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres — The Minnesota Twins have agreed to acquire right-handers Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan in a trade with the San Diego Padres, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Thursday.
Discussion:
New York Post, Sports Illustrated, Gaslamp Ball, DraftKings Nation and Call to the Pen
ESPN:
Pittsburgh Pirates, 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes reportedly agree to eight-year, $70 million deal — The Pittsburgh Pirates are building around third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. — The Pirates and Hayes, 25, have come to terms on a new eight-year, $70 million deal pending Hayes passing a physical, according to multiple reports.
Christina Hager / CBS Boston:
Milk Cartons Contaminated With Sanitizer Sent To Boston Public Schools — BOSTON (CBS) — Milk cartons sent to Boston Public Schools from Garelick Farms in Franklin were contaminated with sanitizer, WBZ-TV has learned. — The tainted milk was distributed to at least three schools in Boston …
Discussion:
Union-News, Boston.com and Boston Herald
Alan Solomon / Chicago Tribune:
April 4, 1989: With bases loaded, Chicago Cubs reliever Mitch Williams strikes out the side to preserve a win — This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on April 5, 1989. — The guy giggling the most, it turns out, wasn't Mitch Williams. It wasn't Don Zimmer. — It was another pitcher, Paul Kilgus.
Discussion:
Denver Post
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Made to play villain all winter, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is ‘thrilled’ to get 2022 started — Watch Video: Is MLB Opening Day still special? — NEW YORK — He was vilified and mocked from coast to coast. — Major League Baseball players openly chastised him. Frustrated fans solely blamed him.
Julia Poe / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Bulls clinch 1st playoff berth since 2017. Now there's 3 games left to settle their seed in the East— 5th or 6th. — Even 40 points from DeMar DeRozan wasn't enough for the Chicago Bulls to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in their final meeting of the regular season.
Discussion:
Mercury News
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