Sports
Raptors fail test against Kings as DeRozan, Achiuwa burn former team
TORONTO — The downside of playing meaningful basketball in the late stage of the NBA season is that you can fail.
They hosted the Sacramento Kings, a team that is last place in the Western Conference, were losers of six of their past seven games and came into the game ranked 26th on offence and 28th on defence.
They are only a couple of years removed from winning 48 and 46 wins in the West, but have crumbled like stale chips since. Their new plan hinges on drafting a star this summer and starting over.
That might work. Their plan for this season — accumulating a collection of past-their-best-years veterans and hoping to extract some asset value at the trade deadline — decidedly didn’t work because no one else in the league wanted the players or the contracts.
Which is how former Raptors DeMar DeRozan and Precious Achiuwa were on hand for the Kings to torture their former team in a game that Sacramento would have been fine with losing and the Raptors very much needed to win.
Achiuwa is a useful player, and DeRozan will have a chance to be in the Hall of Fame when his career winds up. But in each case — at this stage of their careers — the ways they can hurt you are fairly straightforward. Achiuwa is strong, agile and quick and hard to handle when he wants to use all of those gifts. But if he’s kept off the glass, his ability to hurt you is limited.
Well, the sixth-year pro bounced around for 11 offensive rebounds — 19 overall
— and pummelled the Raptors with 28 points, a big night for him considering he was averaging 9.6 points and 6.5 rebounds on the season.
And DeRozan? He’s not the athlete he was when he was posterizing people as a Raptor, but at 36 years old, he’s still a dangerous scorer if you’re not mindful defensively, and in particular about reacting to his feints and fakes designed to draw fouls. The Raptors put him on the free throw line 12 times – he made all 12 – as he scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half.
The result was a 123-115 Kings win that improved them to 20-57 while the Raptors fell to 42-34. The Raptors’ loss, coupled with wins from Atlanta and Philadelphia, dropped Toronto to seventh place as the 76ers — in the sixth and final playoff spot — hold the tiebreaker over Toronto.
Before the tip, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was saying the team’s first run for a playoff spot together will depend on a daily focus on the small things they can hope to control, rather than spending too much energy thinking about the desired outcome.
“Really, every game comes down to are we going to play to our standard or not,” said Rajakovic. “… That’s a daily fight, that’s a daily commitment to those things, so we’re really focussing on that and enjoying the process. We’re not looking forward to the post-season and like, hey, that’s the end goal.”
All fair and reasonable. But if you’re dropping games to the Sacramento Kings at home, maybe the process needs work?
“This is a game we’re supposed to win no matter what,” said Raptors wing RJ Barrett, who had 20 points, five rebounds and six assists – but also five turnovers. “Process or no process, we can’t lose this game.”
But they did. They did it by coming out tentatively in the first quarter and falling behind early. They did by giving up an 18-3 run late in the second quarter, immediately after the Raptors themselves had put a 21-3 run on the Kings to take control of the game in the first place. Instead, it was the Kings that led at halftime.
It was like the Raptors didn’t really believe that the Kings were in it to win the game. But they miscalculated. The Kings were rested, having been in Toronto since Sunday night. And the Raptors could reasonably cite fatigue, given then had lost in Detroit the night before.
But that’s the point: the teams that reach their goals — whatever their process — are the ones that fight through the fatigue or the injuries or the inconvenience. The Pistons had beaten the Raptors the night before, having lost in overtime in Oklahoma City on Monday night. They found a way.
The Raptors found a way to lose. They missed 10 free throws, for example, this after missing 11 the night before in Detroit. The Kings were 27-of-29 at the stripe. The Raptors played from behind most of the game, and when the end of the game came, they had no margin for error and got burned.
“There were times when you felt like there was no sense of urgency, until, like, we made it close,” said Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, who had 17 points and six rebounds off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting. “And then we’d be like, ah, OK, we’re in the game. But we can’t have those slip-ups.”
There were other good performers. Jamal Shead had 16 points and seven assists in 37 minutes, and Collin Murray-Boyles had the first 20-point game of his career in 18 minutes off the bench. But Scottie Barnes took too long to assert himself offensively while playing point guard in place of the injured Immanuel Quickley. His 10 assists extended his streak of games with double-digit assists to six, but Toronto needed more than his 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting. He was also 4-of-8 from the line. Jakob Poeltl couldn’t match Achiuwa’s physicality.
The Raptors let the Kings hang around, maybe hoping they’d just hand the game to them in the end. But instead, Sacramento figured, hey, why not win one for a change?
Toronto gave up 34 points to the Kings in the fourth quarter. They hit four threes and were 11-of-11 from the free throw line.
Fittingly, it was DeRozan’s triple from the corner in front of the Raptors bench that pushed the Kings’ lead to six with 1:05 to play after Toronto had pulled the game within a single possession, and then it was Achiuwa who sealed it with a driving lay-up.
If playing meaningful basketball in March and April, the Raptors’ season to this point has been a success. But how they cope with something on the line will determine their final grade.
A home game against the Kings was supposed to be an open-book test. The Raptors flunked it.
“This one’s frustrating,” said Barrett. “We’ve been fighting hard all year, so you want the reward of making it to the playoffs and fighting for the championship, so nights like tonight, they hurt, especially when we know how much work we put in.
“Especially now after tonight, if we don’t come out and fight with everything we have got for these next couple of games… we have to play like our lives depend on it.”
He’s still a Raptor: Wednesday night’s visit with the Sacramento Kings was DeRozan’s 587th as a non-Raptor. An entire career for a lot of players. But he played nine seasons and 675 games for Toronto. He’s played 63 playoff games in his career
— a total that won’t change after a lost season with the lottery-bound Kings. But 51 of them were as a Raptor, helping the team scale its highest heights until they won the 2019 championship thanks in large part to the return — Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green — the Raptors got in the trade that sent DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs.
But playoff success has eluded him since. Failure too. He hasn’t been in the post-season at all since the Chicago Bulls lost in five games in 2021-22. He lost in the first game when he was with the Spurs in 2018-19. When I spoke with him briefly before the game, he said that his old pal Kyle Lowry is trying to get him to play 20 years, and while DeRozan is durable enough — he’s averaged 76 games his last four seasons and has only missed two so far this season — he’s not sure he’s got three more years in him. Diar — a longtime fixture on the sidelines at Raptors games (and famously cheering against the Raptors) and the oldest of four daughters with his wife, Kiara — is 13 and starting high school next year.
But at the same time, DeRozan is interested in finishing his career off with one more crack on a competitive team. He said he’d be open to a different role – DeRozan has started every game he’s played since the 2009-10 season – if necessary. “If it makes sense,” he said.
In the meantime? He’s made the most of his time with the Kings. He’s averaging 18.5 points a game on 49.5 per cent shooting and still gets to the free-throw line. Kings head coach (and former Raptor) Doug Christie gushed about his reliability and the example he provides to a young team. He passed Dominique Wilkins for 17th place on the NBA all-time scoring list Wednesday. “I mean, it’s always an honour passing the greats that came before me,” DeRozan said. “Especially people I know, you know, I’ve always had a great deal of respect for Dominique, so passing him is definitely cool.” With 26,688 points, DeRozan now trails only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden and fellow King Russel Westbrook among active scorers.
15th man watch: Wednesday night marked the end of Markelle Fultz’s 10-day contract. It’s expected that the Raptors will sign someone else on a 10-day deal on Thursday. Fultz got into five games for Toronto but didn’t really play any meaningful minutes, which was not encouraging given Quickley was out with plantar fasciitis for all of the six games the Raptors played when Fultz was with them. One name that was circulating as a possibility for a new 10-day was Tyreke Key, who played with Raptors 905 the past two seasons, was on their Summer League team last year and signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Raptors before training camp. The six-foot-two guard out of Tennessee has shot 40.1 per cent from three over 90 G-League starts the past two seasons. If the Raptors do add someone on a 10-day Thursday, they would still be able to sign one of their two-way players to a standard NBA deal on the last day of the regular season (April 12th) and have them eligible for the post-season. For the second game in a row, AJ Lawson was the first Raptors wing off the bench for Darko Rajakovic against the Kings. “He just needs to continue putting the work in. He already does a lot of great stuff that can help the team. I definitely see him as a player that belongs in the league with a full contract.”
So Precious: The former Raptors is often the forgotten man in the ‘OG Anunoby trade’ that brought Quickley and RJ Barrett to Toronto midway through the 2023-24 season. Not as forgotten as Malachi Flynn, who is now playing in Turkey, but it can be hard to stay in the spotlight playing on a Kings team that is in tank mode. But Achiuwa has put together a decent season, and he’s finishing strong. Even before his big night at Scotiabank Arena, he averaged 15.4 points and 9.5 assists on 57 per cent shooting over 14 games in March. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer and could be an intriguing depth big for a lot of teams. His market might be comparable to that of Raptors big Sandro Mamukelashvili, another depth big, albeit with a different skill set. Per league sources, Achiuwa could slot in for something in the six-to-eight-million-dollar range on a short-term deal.
NEW DELHI: Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has raised doubts over Rishabh Pant’s decision to promote himself to the top order, suggesting the Lucknow Super Giants skipper may have “gone a little too far ahead” in his batting position.Pant, who was run out for 7 off 9 balls in LSG’s IPL 2026 opener against Delhi Capitals, later indicated he intends to bat in the top order this season. However, Pietersen believes the move could backfire.
‘Too much pressure at the top’“When you look at the strength and depth of LSG’s batting, is Rishabh Pant really an opening batter?” Pietersen said on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’. “I think he might have gone a little too far ahead of where he was in the line-up compared to last year.”The former England star pointed out that Pant had earlier dropped down the order but is now looking to move up again, a shift he feels may not be ideal. “He just needs to go out and enjoy his cricket,” Pietersen added, warning that forcing himself into a top-three role could pile unnecessary pressure.“Don’t force yourself into batting at number three. Enjoy the luxury of that position. I think he puts himself under tremendous pressure by opening the batting,” he said.Rizvi earns praise after match-winning knockPietersen also heaped praise on Delhi’s young batter Sameer Rizvi, who turned the game with an unbeaten 70 after the Capitals were reduced to 26/4 in a chase of 142.“He played the situation beautifully, and I’m not surprised,” Pietersen said, recalling his time mentoring the youngster. “This kid is a proper player, and we probably need to invest in him for a period of time.”He emphasised the importance of backing young talent, adding, “When you invest in a player, you need trust that he can pay you back, and he has done exactly that.”According to Pietersen, Rizvi’s match-winning effort under pressure in a season opener carries more weight than scoring freely in a high-scoring game, underlining his temperament and potential.
NHL Highlights (April 1)
The court proceedings have begun in the case against Tiger Woods.
On Tuesday afternoon, Woods pleaded not guilty on DUI charges stemming from a rollover crash in Jupiter, Fla. on Friday afternoon, according to court documents obtained by GOLF. The 15-time major champion has also retained the services of Douglas Duncan, an attorney who served on his 2017 DUI case after Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his car and tested positive for five different substances in a toxicology report. Ultimately, two of the three misdemeanor charges against Woods were dropped in that case, and the golfer pleaded guilty only to reckless driving.
Woods, 50, has been the story of the golf world in the week preceding the Masters after crashing his car on a one-lane road in Jupiter, Fla. on Friday afternoon. The crash, which came when Woods attempted to overtake a turning truck with a trailer attached, resulted in Woods’ Range Rover flipping onto its driver side. After police responded to the scene of the crash, officers observed Woods “sweating profusely” and appearing “lethargic and slow,” according to an affidavit. After administering a field sobriety test to the 15-time major champion, an officer from the Martin County Sheriff’s Department charged him with Driving Under the Influence.
After conducting a search at the scene of the accident, officers also found two hydrocodone pills in Woods’ pocket. The well-prescribed opioid was one of several substances that arrived in Woods’ toxicology report back in 2017. On Tuesday afternoon, Woods announced his intention to seek treatment for unspecified issues.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order form e to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.”
Friday’s incident was not Woods’ first serious accident behind the wheel. In 2021, he suffered serious injuries to his right leg after a single-car accident in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. while on the way to a magazine shoot. At the time of that accident, the recorder in Woods’ car tracked him as driving at nearly two times the speed limit. The “jaws of life” were needed to extricate him from the crash, and Woods’ leg was badly mangled. In the report from Friday’s DUI, the Martin County Sheriff’s Department quotes Woods as mentioning he has had more than 20 surgeries to the leg since the injury in 2021.
Prior to Friday, the familiar swell of anticipatory energy had begun to swirl around Woods’ golf game. The 82-time PGA Tour winner had returned to competitive golf for the first time since rupturing his achilles in March of last year, competing in the finals of the TGL just two weeks out from the start of the Masters. Irrespective of his playing status, Woods was scheduled to be in attendance at Augusta for the official reopening of The Patch, a local municipal course renovated by Augusta National with help from Woods’ design firm.
Apr 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (27) delivers during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Ramon Laureano blasted a two-run homer and Nick Pivetta yielded only one hit in five shutout innings Wednesday as the San Diego Padres avoided a series sweep by the visiting San Francisco Giants with a 7-1 win.
Bouncing back from a frightful outing in an 8-2 Opening Day loss to Detroit on Thursday, Pivetta (1-1) fanned eight and walked two. Former teammate Luis Arraez accounted for San Francisco’s one hit off Pivetta, a leadoff single in the second.
San Diego used its top three relievers to handle the game’s remainder. Jeremiah Estrada pitched a scoreless sixth and Adrian Morejon handled 1 2/3 innings before Mason Miller worked the final 1 1/3 innings for his second save.
The Padres led 3-1 entering the bottom of the eighth, but Laureano provided insurance when he followed Manny Machado’s leadoff double with a two-run homer to left, his second of the year. The ball traveled an estimated 393 feet.
San Diego worked reliever Jose Butto over for two more runs in the inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. legged out an infield single to make it 6-1 as Jake Cronenworth crossed the plate and Xander Bogaerts coaxed a four-pitch bases loaded walk to close the scoring.
Adrian Houser (0-1) absorbed the loss in his first start of the year. He lasted 5 1/3 innings, permitting seven hits and three runs, one of them earned. Houser walked one and struck out four.
Poor defense victimized Houser when the Padres scored single runs in the first and fifth. After Jackson Merrill singled with two outs in the first, Machado reached on an infield single. First baseman Casey Schmitt dropped the throw from third baseman Mark Chapman and the ball rolled into right field, enabling Merrill to score.
Chapman was charged with a throwing error in the fifth on Bogaerts’ two-out bouncer that allowed Gavin Sheets to score. Sheets ripped his second double in as many innings in the sixth, plating Laureano for a 3-0 advantage. Harrison Bader’s two-out RBI single in the seventh scored Arraez with San Francisco’s only run. Arraez collected three of the Giants’ four hits and added a stolen base.
It marked the first time in six games that San Diego scored more than three runs.
–Field Level Media
The government is making efforts to involve private companies in the Khelo India mission for the promotion of sports, but there is no directive on them for job reservation of sportspersons, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Replying to a supplementary during the question hour in the Upper House, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse said providing employment for sportspersons in the private sector is entirely at the discretion of companies.
“There is no such policy at present. It is at the discretion of the private companies that if they want to absorb a sportsperson, they can employ the sportsperson,” she said.
The minister was responding to a question from BJP member Mayankkumar Nayak, who sought to know if there is job reservation for meritorious sportspersons in private sector as it is done in various government ministries, departments and PSUs.
Khadse, however, said the government is trying to involve private companies in the ‘Khelo India’ mission and promote sports through their CSR funds or other means.
The minister pointed out that under the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) guidelines, different ministries, railways and defence have different criteria for reservations for sportspersons, but “from our side (government), there is no rule imposed on private companies”.
Responding to another query from Congress member Digvijay Singh, who wanted to know the government’s efforts to provide education and sports training facilities at the same centre of development, Khadse said the Khelo India mission to develop sports at grassroots is also aligned with the school education policy.
Efforts have been made in collaboration with state governments to establish sports schools at each district where selected talented students get the opportunity to pursue sports along with education simultaneously.
The government is also working to increase activities and disciplines so that more talent identification can be done.
Kolkata Knight Riders will be eager for their spinners to rediscover form against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a clash of two batting-heavy sides on Thursday.The match begins a crucial home stretch for KKR, with three games in seven days before a long break due to assembly polls. With four away fixtures to follow, building momentum at Eden Gardens — where they have won 54 of 95 matches — is vital.
KKR’s campaign has been hampered by a weakened bowling unit. Injuries to Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, Matheesha Pathirana’s absence, and Cameron Green’s limited role have reduced their depth. However, the bigger concern is spin, with Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy struggling in the opener.SRH are in a similar spot after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite a strong top order, their bowling looks vulnerable without Pat Cummins, placing added pressure on both departments to deliver.
Five players to watch in KKR vs SRH
Abhishek Sharma (SRH)The World No. 1 batter is enduring a torrid time since the start of the T20 World Cup 2026, and it has continued in IPL 2026. Despite a triumphant campaign for India, Abhishek was heavily scrutinised for his dismal showing, even though he scored a 52 in the final. In the opening match of the new IPL season, the left-handed opener failed to fire and was out for 7 off 8 balls. SRH posted 201, but RCB chased it down in just 15.4 overs. The explosive batter will be looking to turn around his fortunes against KKR at Eden. The 25-year-old is now in his eighth season with SRH, and the team will be hoping for another 400-plus season from their star batter after achieving a similar feat in the last two seasons.Varun Chakravarthy (KKR)India’s X-factor in the T20I bowling setup, Varun Chakravarthy also had a below-par T20 World Cup despite finishing as joint highest wicket-taker with teammate Jasprit Bumrah. Most of his wickets came in the early stages of the tournament, with his performances in must-win games not up to the mark. He is now under the scanner again in IPL 2026, as the premier KKR spinner returned dismal figures of 0 for 48 in the high-scoring opener against MI at Wankhede. Varun had three consecutive good seasons for KKR, and the team will be looking to him again for crucial breakthroughs in their first home game.Ishan Kishan (SRH)Ishan Kishan has been the talk of the town in recent months. One of the stars of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, Ishan is now leading SRH in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins. Continuing his rich vein of form from the World Cup, he started IPL 2026 with a gritty 80 off 38 balls against RCB. Even though his team was beaten comprehensively, Ishan remains a force to reckon with. He will be looking for another big knock on the high-scoring Eden pitch against KKR.Aniket Verma (SRH)Young middle-order batter Aniket Verma showcased his power-hitting in SRH’s season opener against RCB. The 24-year-old smashed four sixes and three fours in his 18-ball 43 late charge to take SRH to a competitive 201/9. Even though the total proved insufficient, Aniket’s power game caught attention. After a decent debut season last year, the youngster will be aiming for another strong campaign.Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR)The young keeper-batter was in his element in KKR’s opener, smashing 51 off 29 balls against MI. KKR posted 220/4 at Wankhede, but it was chased down with ease. The 21-year-old will be looking for another good outing this time at home. In his third season with KKR, Raghuvanshi will be aiming for a breakthrough year.
Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has approached the Colombo District Court seeking legal intervention to allow him to play in the 2026 Indian Premier League. Thushara has filed a case against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), requesting that the board be ordered to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for his participation.The matter was heard in court today and is scheduled for a full hearing on April 9. In his petition, Thushara has named SLC President Shammi Silva, Secretary Bandula Dissanayake, Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda, and CEO Ashley de Silva as defendants.
Thushara, who was picked by Royal Challengers for the 2026 IPL, highlighted that he had previously played in the 2024 and 2025 editions after receiving NOCs from SLC. However, the board has refused to grant the 2026 NOC, citing that he did not meet the prescribed fitness standards.The pacer maintains that his contract with SLC ended on March 31, 2026, and that he had already informed the board of his decision not to renew it and to step away from international cricket. He argued that he had also been informed he would not be selected for national duties, making the refusal to issue an NOC on fitness grounds unreasonable.Thushara further stated that his current fitness levels are consistent with those maintained throughout his career and that similar standards had not prevented SLC from issuing NOCs in the past. He warned that failing to obtain the NOC would force him to be replaced by his IPL franchise, resulting in a loss of income and career opportunities.Through the court, Thushara is seeking a declaration confirming his entitlement to the NOC, along with interim and permanent orders directing SLC to issue the certificate, ensuring his eligibility for the IPL and other overseas leagues.The court has fixed the next hearing for April 9.
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 Senior-dominated West Virginia and freshman-led Stanford go head-to-head Thursday night when the College Basketball Crown Tournament continues in Las Vegas with its second day of quarterfinal matchups.
The second-year event pitting teams from the Southeastern Conference, Big 12, Big Ten and Big East will continue Saturday in Las Vegas with the semifinals, where the West Virginia-Stanford survivor will meet the winner of the Thursday second quarterfinal between Rutgers and Creighton.
The nationally televised finals are set for Sunday afternoon, with the winner guaranteed $300,000 in name, image and likeness money.
When last seen on March 11, West Virginia (18-14) was alternating losses and wins over its final five games, capped by a 68-48 drubbing at the hands of BYU in the Mountaineers’ opening game of the Big 12 Conference tournament.
Mountaineers coach Ross Hodge labeled the long layoff an “enjoyable experience,” especially for his five key seniors — Honor Huff, Brenen Lorient, Treysen Eaglestaff, Chance Moore and Jasper Floyd — who might otherwise have already gone their separate ways in pursuing future basketball dreams.
“Anytime you get to continue to play, it’s hard to not take advantage of those opportunities,” Hodge said this week. “When you have a group that legitimately wants to keep playing and gets opportunities to be together, I’ve always been of the mindset that you need to honor that and have an appreciation level.”
Stanford (20-12) had a four-game winning streak snapped in its most recent outing, a 64-63 loss to Pittsburgh in the opening round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament on March 10.
Accepting a bid to the Crown tournament allows Stanford fans at least one more chance to see prized freshman Ebuka Okorie, an All-ACC first-team selection who had averaged 27.3 points over the final eight games of the conference regular season before he was limited to just 14 points by Pittsburgh. Stanford coach Kyle Smith realizes his star will have options in the offseason.
“I’m prayerful,” Smith said this week. “I do think it’s going to be us or the NBA, and I support whatever Ebuka chooses.”
–Field Level Media
Following another viral knockout, Moses Itauma is being touted for a dominant reign in the heavyweight division, but Dave Allen has declared that there are still two heavyweights that he fancies to beat the youngster, with neither of those being Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
Itauma extended his professional record to 14-0 (12 KOs) with a fifth-round triumph over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night, dispatching of the durable American with a picture-perfect left uppercut followed by a right hand.
Now, the 21-year-old phenomenon could be set to challenge for the heavyweight crown before the end of the year, despite never fighting beyond six rounds, with a July date currently being planned as added preparation ahead of a potential title shot.
On his YouTube channel, fellow British heavyweight Allen recognised the quality of Itauma, but admitted that he would still make unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and undefeated German Agit Kabayel favourites in fights against the untested superstar.
“The only two men that I would confidently pick to beat him right now would be Usyk and Kabayel, they’re the only two in the entire world. I’m looking at BoxRec here, I’m looking at the top 20.
“They are the only two that I would make a favourite to beat him really.
In terms of his fellow Britons, Allen favoured Itauma against both Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, who collide in a WBO heavyweight title affair in five weeks’ time, and favoured the current face of the next generation over former divisional poster boys, Fury and Joshua.
“I don’t think Dubois would stand up to what he [Itauma] gave him, I think that he would be too fast for him. I don’t think that Wardley, defensively, could deal with what Itauma threw, but he is a very hard man and he can punch himself.
“You couldn’t rule them [Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua] out but I think that their best days have gone.”
Fury will seek to prove that he is still one of the best heavyweights in the world when he makes his comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov next Saturday, whilst Joshua is due to return to action during the second half of the calendar.
Apr 1, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) reacts following his complete game shutout win over the Chicago White Sox by catcher Liam Hicks (34) at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Sandy Alcantara pitched a three-hit shutout and Liam Hicks drove in four runs, leading the host Miami Marlins to a 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon.
Alcantara (2-0) did not walk a batter and struck out seven, throwing just 93 pitches. It was his fifth career shutout and the second time he pitched a “Maddux” — a complete-game shutout in fewer than 100 pitches.
Hicks went 3-for-4 with his third homer of the season as the Marlins improved to 5-1 while the White Sox fell to 1-5.
Chicago starter Shane Smith (0-2) allowed eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits in three innings.
Braves 5, Athletics 1
Drake Baldwin drove in four runs to support the stellar pitching effort of Chris Sale and help Atlanta defeat the visiting Athletics in the rubber game of a three-game series.
Sale (2-0) worked six innings and allowed one run on one hit. He retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced. Sale now has 2,858 strikeouts, leaving him 19 away from catching former Atlanta great Tom Glavine for 29th on the all-time list.
Shea Langeliers got the Athletics on the board in the fourth by hitting his majors-leading fifth homer. Langeliers went 2-for-4 and raised his average to .375.
Orioles 8, Rangers 2
Leody Taveras, Taylor Ward and Jeremiah Jackson drove in two runs each and Baltimore turned strong offensive production into a victory over visiting Texas to salvage the finale of a three-game series.
Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo hit solo home runs. Beavers finished with three hits and three runs. The Orioles received another strong start from Trevor Rogers (2-0), who worked six innings and allowed two runs on six hits.
Corey Seager homered for the Rangers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Josh Jung delivered his first hits of the season, after an 0-for-18 start, and finished with a pair of singles. Nathan Eovaldi (0-2) was charged with six runs on eight hits in four innings.
Pirates 8, Reds 3
Oneil Cruz homered for the second straight day and Paul Skenes bounced back from a rough season opener to lead Pittsburgh to a win over host Cincinnati.
With two runners on in the first, Cruz crushed an 81 mph curveball from Reds starter Andrew Abbott (0-1) 407 feet over the right field fence to stake the Pirates to a 3-0 lead. Skenes (1-1) backed it up by tossing five innings and allowing one run on three hits.
Abbott gave up four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run homer for the Reds.
Rockies 2, Blue Jays 1 (10 innings)
Pinch hitter Tyler Freeman singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as visiting Colorado earned a victory over Toronto.
Freeman, activated before the game, singled against Brendon Little (0-1) to score Brenton Doyle from second base as the Rockies won the decisive game of a three-game set. Jimmy Herget pitched a perfect 10th to earn his first save after Brennan Bernardino (1-0) tossed a perfect ninth.
Toronto wasted a strong start from Kevin Gausman, who went six scoreless innings while allowing two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a Davis Schneider single against Kyle Freeland but left the bases loaded.
Cardinals 2, Mets 1 (11 innings)
Masyn Winn delivered a walk-off bloop RBI single in the 11th inning for St. Louis, which edged New York in the rubber game of a three-game series.
Gordon Graceffo (1-0) earned the win by getting the final two outs of the 11th. Graceffo got Brett Baty to hit into a grounder that forced Jared Young at home before he retired Marcus Semien on a flyout. Nolan Gorman had an RBI single in the sixth for the Cardinals, who have won their first two series.
Juan Soto homered in the sixth for the Mets, who were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position as they fell to 1-2 this year in extra innings.
Cubs 6, Angels 2
Nico Hoerner went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a stolen base, a run and an RBI and Matt Shaw had two hits and two RBIs to lead Chicago to a victory over visiting Los Angeles in the decisive game of a three-game series.
Matthew Boyd (1-1) bounced back from an Opening Day loss to pick up the win. Boyd allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out 10 and walking two. Michael Busch had two hits and a run for the Cubs.
Zach Neto had two hits and a run for the Angels, who finished 3-4 on a season-opening road trip. Los Angeles managed just four hits on a windy 39-degree day,. Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) permitted five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Royals 13, Twins 9
Jonathan India belted his fifth career grand slam and Kyle Isbel also went deep among his four hits, lifting host Kansas City to a victory over Minnesota.
Maikel Garcia drove in three runs as the Royals benefited from their Nos. 6-9 hitters — India, Jac Caglianone, Isaac Collins and Isbel — combining to go 10-for-16 with eight RBIs and nine runs. Noah Cameron (1-0) won his season debut after allowing one run on four hits in five innings.
Minnesota scored eight runs over its final three innings — highlighted by Josh Bell’s three-run homer in the ninth — before Lucas Erceg retired the two batters he faced to secure his second save. Astros 6, Red Sox 4
Carlos Correa’s two-out, three-run home run in the fifth inning changed the game, helping Houston complete a three-game sweep of visiting Boston.
Correa and Christian Vazquez both went deep while Yordan Alvarez finished 2-for-3 with a double and two runs for the Astros, who have won five straight since an 0-2 start. Mike Burrows (1-1) pitched five innings of two-run ball.
Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony homered in the eighth and ninth, respectively, as the Red Sox staged a failed comeback bid. Garrett Crochet (1-1) allowed five runs (four earned) in five innings. Phillies 6, Nationals 5 (10 innings)
Edmundo Sosa had a game-tying two-run single in the ninth inning and Justin Crawford provided a game-ending single in the 10th as Philadelphia rallied for a victory over visiting Washington.
Playing in just his fifth major league game, Crawford slammed the first pitch he saw from Cole Henry (0-1) past a drawn-in infield for the victory to send his teammates storming out of the dugout. Philadelphia trailed 5-1 through seven innings but rallied to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
CJ Abrams hit a three-run homer for Washington, while Joey Wiemer continued his hot start to the season with two hits, a walk and two runs. Brewers 8, Rays 2
Christian Yelich chopped a tiebreaking two-run single in a six-run eighth inning, and host Milwaukee rallied to a win against Tampa Bay.
Yelich and Garrett Mitchell each went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Brice Turang clubbed a two-run shot as the Brewers won for the fifth time in six games to open the season. In six innings, Jacob Misiorowski yielded two runs on four hits. Aaron Ashby (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Rays’ Yandy Diaz swatted a two-run homer, and Chandler Simpson went 2-for-3 with a walk. Starter Drew Rasmussen tossed five innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits. He fanned eight, all swinging, and walked one. Diamondbacks 1, Tigers 0
Corbin Carroll became the sixth left-handed hitter to homer off Tarik Skubal, and Zac Gallen and three Arizona relievers made that stand up for a victory over Detroit in Phoenix.
Carroll drove a 97 mph fastball over the fence in left-center for his second homer of the season as the second batter in the last of the first inning. The blast enabled the Diamondbacks to complete a three-game sweep.
Two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Skubal (1-1) yielded six hits in seven innings. Gallen (1-1) allowed four hits in six scoreless innings. Guardians 4, Dodgers 1
Gavin Williams struck out 10 in seven shutout innings, Gabriel Arias and Jose Ramirez homered and Cleveland won the decisive game of a three-game series at Los Angeles.
Williams (1-1) gave up two hits and walked three as the Guardians capped a 4-3, season-opening road trip.
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. Freddie Freeman hit a home run with two outs in the ninth inning, spoiling the Guardians’ shutout bid. Yankees 5, Mariners 3
Cam Schlittler pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings as New York defeated host Seattle.
The Yankees won five of six games on their season-opening trip to San Francisco and Seattle, outscoring their opponents 24-6. Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer and Ben Rice added a solo shot for New York, which won the final two games of the series after dropping the opener.
Schlittler (2-0) allowed just two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven. David Bednar pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for his third save of the season. For Seattle, Cal Raleigh hit a two-run single and George Kirby (1-1) gave up four runs on five hits over six innings. Padres 7, Giants 1
Ramon Laureano blasted a two-run homer and Nick Pivetta yielded only one hit in five shutout innings as San Diego avoided a series sweep by visiting San Francisco.
Pivetta (1-1) fanned eight and walked two. Mason Miller worked the final 1 1/3 innings for his second save. Laureano, Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets each had two hits for the Padres.
Giants starter Adrian Houser (0-1) yielded three runs, one earned, over 5 1/3 innings in his season debut. Luis Arraez collected three of San Francisco’s four hits. –Field Level Media
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