Top News:
Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
Heat shrink in 116-105 loss to Hawks, now with all-or-nothing Friday game to salvage season — MIAMI — One game, one chance, one night to salvage the season. — That is what it has come down to for the Miami Heat. — Failing to take advantage of the first of two chances to advance …
Discussion:
Mercury News, Associated Press, Bleacher Nation, The Athletic, Boston Herald and Denver Post
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Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
Winderman's view: Roster flaws hit home at worst possible time for Heat — MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night's 116-105 NBA play-in loss to the Atlanta Hawks: — All those clutch games within five points in the final five minutes?
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
ASK IRA: Are Bulls or Raptors the Heat's preferred opponent in Friday's winner-take-all game? — Q: Ira, if Toronto beats Chicago that is a tough matchup for the Heat. - Joel. — A: And if Chicago beat Toronto on Wednesday night, that's a tough matchup for the Heat.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
All eyes on Trae Young as usual in Heat-Hawks, this time in play-in game
Discussion:
The Athletic, New York Post, Boston Herald, Mercury News, FanSided and The Ringer
Julia Poe / Chicago Tribune:
Were 9-year-old Diar DeRozan's screams the Chicago Bulls' secret weapon as the Toronto Raptors missed 18 free throws? — TORONTO — As the tide turned in the favor of the Chicago Bulls during Wednesday's 109-105 play-in tournament win over the Toronto Raptors, one constant sound was like a metronome …
Discussion:
New York Post, Associated Press, Chicago Sun Times and The Athletic
RELATED:
Julia Poe / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Bulls will compete for a playoff spot Friday in Miami after erasing a 19-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-105 — TORONTO — With 28.7 seconds left in Wednesday's play-in tournament game, DeMar DeRozan delivered his final blow to the Toronto Raptors in signature style …
Discussion:
CHGO, The Athletic, Chicago Sun Times, Daily Herald and Mercury News
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Seiya Suzuki homers in Iowa Cubs game Wednesday. Is this his last before jumping back to majors? — The first pitch Seiya Suzuki saw Wednesday afternoon was a 91.4 mile per hour four-seam fastball from Omaha Storm Chasers pitcher Austin Cox that drifted over the outer part of the plate.
Discussion:
Cubs Insider and Bleacher Nation
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Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer likes MLB's balanced schedule — plus updates on Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Hendricks — A balanced schedule for Major League Baseball inherently creates some scheduling quirks. — For the Chicago Cubs, that means playing more games against the American League West …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Chicago Sun Times and Denver Post
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Salt Lake City group joins MLB expansion chase — A Salt Lake City consortium led by the former owner of the Utah Jazz plans to pursue a Major League Baseball franchise in the coming years, touting the area's population growth, strong economy and baseball history as draws for a coveted expansion slot …
Discussion:
Deseret News, AZ Snake Pit, MLB Trade Rumors, True Blue LA, Yahoo Sports, Front Office Sports, KUER and FanSided
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Mets fail to get big hit, fall to Padres — Making the final out of the Mets' 4-2 loss to the Padres on Tuesday night was the unproductive prodigy, Francisco Alvarez, who in his second game of the year — seventh of his life in the majors — struck out against Josh Hader, San Diego's combustible closer.
Discussion:
New York Daily News and Faith and Fear in Flushing
Abbey Mastracco / New York Daily News:
Slow rollers help Mets beat Padres in 1st game between teams since NL Wild Card series — Home field advantage typically refers to bigger locker rooms, shorter commutes and friendly fans, but facing the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Citi Field, the Mets received an advantage in the form of some dirt and paint.
Discussion:
Denver Post
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Abbey Mastracco / New York Daily News:
Mets Notebook: Starling Marte still out with sore neck
Discussion:
New York Post
Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets Playoff Intel: Priority No. 1 — Keep Joel Embiid off the foul line — Priority No. 1 for the Nets in their upcoming first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers is keeping MVP favorite Joel Embiid off the free throw line — and hopefully, lower on the scoreboard.
Discussion:
Mercury News, FanSided, New York Post, Boston Herald and Newsday
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Padres' Juan Soto brushes off rivalry with Dodgers: ‘They should be worrying about us’ — It's been one of the better baseball rivalries in recent years, and San Diego Padres star outfielder Juan Soto just added fuel to the fire when he was asked about their National League West division rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
