Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond lines up against the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC wild card playoff game on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium, preparing for a high-stakes postseason snap as Minnesota’s defensive front battles for leverage and momentum in a tightly contested playoff showdown. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Fullback C.J. Ham retired from the NFL a couple of weeks ago, shrinking the Minnesota Vikings’ list of internal free agents from an even 20 to 19. And with free agency just two weeks away, here’s a look at who the club should prioritize in ascending order.
Minnesota’s list is big, yet the real pressure sits on a few names at the top.
It’s actually a very quiet internal free agency for Minnesota compared to recent years, mainly because former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s four draft classes turned out so poorly. So, that’s a perk, right? Sarcasm.
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The Short List That Is Minnesota’s Free Agency
Counting down the Vikings’ top free agents of 2026.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Ben Sims (89) celebrates with fans along the sideline after the final whistle, sharing the moment with traveling supporters following a road matchup. On Dec 14, 2025, Sims greeted Vikings fans at AT&T Stadium after Minnesota’s contest against the Dallas Cowboys, highlighting the young tight end’s growing presence within the offense and special teams. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
Nos. 19 thru 14
19 — Matt Nelson (LT) 18 — Brett Rypien (QB) 17 — John Wolford (QB) 16 — Tavierre Thomas (CB) 15 — Carson Wentz (QB) 14 — Ben Sims (TE)
Nelson: Do you know who Matt Nelson is? Exactly.
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Rypien: This guy was the Vikings’ QB2 fix for about two months of the 2025 offseason. Now, he’s a footnote.
Wolford: Wolford served as the emergency plan behind J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer last year. He might’ve even played better than Brosmer if given a chance. Regardless, with the Vikings emphasizing a deep quarterback room in 2026, Wolford is expendable.
Wentz: The veteran passer did his damndest to keep the enterprise afloat during McCarthy’s absence, but Wentz was just too on-and-off to be considered a QB2 solution going forward. Perhaps a QB3 job title would look great on him.
Sims: If Minnesota makes all the release rumors about T.J. Hockenson come true, it will need TE depth. And that’s Sims.
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Thomas: A penalty machine at times in 2025, Thomas stabilized down the stretch of 2025.
Nos. 13 thru 9
13 — Taki Taimani (DT) 12 — Zavier Scott (RB) 11 — Jeff Okudah (CB) 10 — Ty Chandler (RB) 9 — Fabian Moreau (CB)
Taimani: The Vikings suddenly have a crowded DT room. It’s so rare in recent years for the club to employ DTs with nose tackle size. Perhaps keeping Taimani aboard for his size (6’1″ and 330 pounds) would be wise.
Scott: Minnesota gave Scott a whiff at RB2 and RB3 jobs in 2025. The man was serivceable. He should be retained on the practice squad at the very least.
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Okudah: The former third overall pick experienced a horrid year in 2025, between poor play and two concussions. As a CB4, he might be intriguing. Brian Flores seems to like him.
Chandler: This Adofo-Mensah draft pick scripted a game from heaven in 2023 at the Cincinnati Bengals. And then that was about it. Unbelievably, Chandler will turn 28 this offseason. His career is on the back nine, believe it or not.
Moreau: Moreau did not get enough credit from Vikings fans last year. He held down the fort at CB3, banking a sweet 54.2 passer-rating-against. If your phone buzzes in March and says, “The Vikings have re-signed Fabian Moreau,” you should smile. The guy can ball.
Nos. 8 thru 5
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8 — Ryan Wright (P) 7 — Bo Richter (EDGE) 6 — Justin Skule (LT) 5 — Ivan Pace Jr. (LB) 4 — Harrison Smith (S)
Wright: The Vikings’ punter was a machine as a rookie, returned to earth in 2023 and 2024, and resurged in 2025. He’ll likely be the punter again in 2026. Kicker Will Reichard also trusts him as his holder. Sign us up for more.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Ben Sims (89) interacts with fans near the stands after the game, acknowledging supporters who made the trip for a late-season road contest. On Dec 14, 2025, Sims celebrated with Minnesota followers at AT&T Stadium following the Vikings’ matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, capturing a postgame moment between players and fans after a competitive afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
Richter: Behind Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner next season, Minnesota will need an OLB4. Why not Richter to battle for the job?
Skule: Christian Darrisaw’s ACL recovery is as mysterious as it is scary. Brian O’Neill is also starting to get “up there” in age. The Vikings need dependable OT depth; Skule is accordingly a priority.
Pace Jr.: Flores benched Pace Jr. for poor tackling in 2025. Is he eternally doomed? Purple fans just watched a season where Sam Darnold felt eternally doomed for ruining the Vikings’ 2024 season with two dastardly quarterback performances. He later redeemed himself in Seattle to the tune of a Super Bowl. Like Darnold, perhaps a few poor games from Pace Jr. won’t define his career forever.
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Smith: With every day that passes and Smith has not announced his retirement, the odds climb on his return for Year No. 15. Why not come back with Flores still in the mix and use Smith as a situation safety? No one would be mad about it.
Nos. 3 thru 1
3 — Jalen Nailor (WR) 2 — Eric Wilson (LB) 1 — Jalen Redmond
Nailor: Some reports say Nailor’s next contract will fetch $5 million per season. Some reports say $12 million. The Vikings have the cash for Nailor at $5 million; they do not have the cash for Nailor at $12 million. It’s pretty simple.
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) reacts after a defensive play, celebrating with visible energy during an early-season matchup at home. On Sep 14, 2025, Wilson responded to a successful stop at U.S. Bank Stadium as Minnesota faced the Atlanta Falcons, contributing to the defensive effort while working in a rotational role within the Vikings’ linebacker group. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Wilson: Wilson will turn 32 in September. He’s not the long-term fix at ILB. But wouldn’t it be criminal to let him leave after his 2025 campaign damn near earned the man a Pro Bowl appearance? The Vikings should do both — re-sign Wilson for a year or two and draft a rookie ILB in the middle rounds of April’s draft. Flores should be able to scout the best option.
Redmond: Minnesota owns Redmond’s rights of free agency. Behind Justin Jefferson last season, Redmond was arguably the Vikings’ best player. He’ll be back, and he deserves it. He’s one of the coolest Vikings stories of the last decade. From UFL obscurity to NFL stardom.
Following his retirement, Terence Crawford has made way for new stars to take over his former divisions, with the next 18 months set to be telling as boxing discovers its new pound-for-pound contenders.
Crawford claimed the undisputed super-lightweight world title when he defeated Julius Indongo back in 2017 and replicated the feat up at welterweight six years later with a dominant triumph over Errol Spence Jr.
The Omaha operator then stepped up to super-welterweight, where he dethroned Israil Madrimov upon his 154lb debut to claim the WBA world title, before a shocking jump up to super-middleweight.
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Up at 168lbs, Crawford registered a legacy-defining triumph over then undisputed ruler Canelo Alvarez, which is sure to be spoken of for generations to come. Soon afterwards his retirement was announced, leaving the super-middleweight titles fragmented.
Now, at super-welterweight, it appears as though the champions are ready and willing to fight both the top contenders and one another, with Xander Zayas recently becoming boxing’s youngest unified world champion and then signing for a fight with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
However, on social media, Crawford highlighted the quality of a different super-welterweight world champion, believing that nobody in the division is capable of defeating WBC titleholder Sebastian Fundora.
Remarkably, despite fighting six weight divisions (including bridgerweight) below heavyweight, the appropriately nicknamed ‘Towering Inferno’ is boxing’s tallest active world champion, boasting a 6’5” frame that has proven difficult for his super-welterweight rivals to overcome.
Fundora returned to action last month, claiming a dominant stoppage victory over Keith Thurman to retain his WBC title, and it will certainly be a tough ask for anybody to defeat him. Intriguing future fights include a unification with the winner of Zayas and ‘Boots’.
The 2026 Randox Grand National Festival got underway on Thursday afternoon with an Irish 1-2 in the opening Grade One Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle.
Mange Tout (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy, 5-1) and Selma De Vary (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend, 9-4 favourite) fought out the finish if the two miles and one furlong contest, with the former prevailing by three-quarters of a length.
Successful trainer Gordon Elliott said of his filly:
“I thought he gave her a great ride. I thought winning or the losing of the race was done from the third-, fourth-last to the turn in. Jack had to ride to settle her – she was very keen at Leopardstown and he rode her to win rather than to settle her there, and it took its toll.
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“It was hard not taking her to Cheltenham, because you want as many bullets as you can have, but now Cheltenham’s over I’m glad we kept her for here. Just the flatter track would suit her and she’s just got a bit of boot. Jack said she didn’t do a stroke in front, she was very idle.
“We thought we’d have her out early in the season for Down Royal – she was very keen there, but she’s a nice mare and she’ll jump a fence as well in time. That will be her for the year now – she’s not the biggest girl in the world.”
Winning jockey Jack Kennedy told ITV Racing:
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“She was good. She can overrace a little bit, but I got a bit of cover on her today.
“She was still a bit keen but not as bad. She’s a big frame of a filly – she’s not small but she’s narrow, and I’d say bypassing Cheltenham helped.”
“She’ll definitely jump a fence and she probably has a bit of filling out to do, so she can be a nice mare.”
While trainer Grahame Begg excels in detailed strategizing, even top-tier arrangements can occasionally unravel.
Begg was confident in his choice of apprentice Logan Bates for Dirty Look aboard in the Saturday Up & Coming Stars Series Final at Caulfield.
Usually a $300,000 affair bars apprentice claims, but as a Class 3, this event welcomes them.
Bates earned a ban at Caulfield the previous Saturday, benching his 1.5kg allowance.
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Jockey availability tightened with the Sydney Autumn Carnival peaking and Adelaide Carnival ramping up.
In a stroke of luck, Begg locked in Harry Coffey to ride Dirty Look Saturday, recalling their prior victory on Nonconformist in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington back in 2023.
“I thought I had been very clever,” Begg said.
“I had Logan Bates booked to ride her, and it was a claiming race.
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“People probably didn’t take much notice of that, and she would have got in with 53-½ (kilos) on her back, but he got suspended last Saturday, so that put an end to it.”
The filly approaches Saturday’s race in her fourth appearance, up against battle-hardened foes.
Her maiden win came at Sandown on March 11, followed by second place at Sandown on March 25.
“We’re very happy with how she has progressed,” Begg said.
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“It’s the fourth start of her preparation and after she runs on Saturday, she’ll be going for a break.
“She’s done everything we have asked her to do. She ran very well at her last start on the Sandown Lakeside course, where she drew out and got back, but she hit the line very well in what was a very much leader dominated race.
“She’s been learning her craft, and she looks quite handy and we’re certainly looking forward to Saturday.”
Visit betting sites to find the keenest betting markets for the race at Caulfield.
Manchester City are locked in a title race with Arsenal and Gunners star Viktor Gyokeres isn’t ruling out further twists in the Premier League run-in.
Ross Jackson Head of Football and Tom Canton Arsenal Reporter
18:30, 10 Apr 2026
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Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres doesn’t believe any nerves in the Arsenal camp are a sign of weakness as they enter the home stretch of their title race with Manchester City, claiming such feelings could help the Gunners if used in the correct way.
Arsenal are currently nine points clear of City in the title race, though Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand and will host the league leaders next weekend. City could be 12 points adrift by the time they kick off at Chelsea on Sunday evening, with Arsenal playing in the Saturday early kick-off slot against Bournemouth. But after so long without a title, nobody is writing off a late Arsenal collapse.
The Gunners have wobbled of late, losing 2-0 to City in the Carabao Cup final and being dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship club Southampton. Asked whether there are signs of nerves in the camp, Gyokeres shrugged off the question and suggested nerves could actually help his side overcome a 22-year league title drought.
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“I think if you feel nerves, I think it means that it matters for you,” Gyokeres told sister site Football.London. “I think it’s not bad if you take it in the right way and you put that energy in the right direction.
“So to have nerves, I think it’s not a bad thing. It’s just bad if you convert it into something negative, and it depends on how you handle those emotions.”
City’s title rivals have won just one trophy since their 2017 FA Cup triumph – although Arteta would argue there have been a couple of Community Shields added to the Emirates trophy cabinet in that time – but Gyokeres was keen to stress there are “a lot of players in the team who have won trophies”.
Despite Arsenal boasting a healthy lead in the title race, Gyokeres isn’t ruling out more twists and turns in the run-in, but says he is determined to enjoy it as best he can.
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“You have to be so focused every game and take every game as seriously as you can, no matter who you play. All the points that you get count in the end,” he said.
“You have to think like that, but also not to get too frustrated if it doesn’t go your way because it’s always a long season and there’s still a lot to play for.
“Even now, when we’re in April, there’s a lot of games still to play, we just have to focus on doing our job and to enjoy it. Not think too much about what can happen or how the end result is going to be. I think the most important thing is to play football and to enjoy it on the pitch.”
Man City vs Southampton VIP and hospitality tickets
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Seat Unique offers hospitality packages for Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Southampton, including ‘premium’ seats at Wembley and complimentary food and drink.
Justin Pippen, the son of NBA legend and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame player Scottie Pippen, has committed to Ohio State, 247Sports reported on Friday. Pippen is coming off a breakout season at Cal in which he averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 32 games.
Pippen started all 32 games for the Golden Bears and was their second-leading scorer behind Dai Dai Ames. Pippen, the No. 78-ranked transfer in the 247Sports rankings, is Ohio State’s first transfer portal commit of the cycle as the program looks to replace star guard Bruce Thornton and forward Devin Royal, who entered the transfer portal earlier this week.
Last year, Pippen entered the transfer portal days after Michigan defeated Texas A&M in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Pippen entered the portal last year amid the Wolverines’ run in the NCAA Tournament because the portal opened before the season ended.
This year, the transfer portal opened after the final game of the college basketball season between Michigan and UConn.
As a freshman at Michigan, Pippen appeared in 28 games and averaged 6.6 minutes. Pippen was Dusty May’s first high school recruit when he got the job at Michigan during the 2024 offseason. Now, he will be playing for Michigan’s rival during the 2026-27 campaign.
Ohio State finished 21-13 during the 2025-26 season and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to TCU. With star guard John Mobley Jr. testing the NBA Draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility, Ohio State can build around a backcourt of Pippen and Mobley to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Koktail Divin (3/1) was the second Irish-trained Grade 1 winner on day one of the Grand National Festival at Aintree.
Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, the Henry de Bromhead-handled horse was a two and a quarter length winner over Blueking D’Oroux (22/1) in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase
The 1-2 favourite Lulamba, owned by Cork’s Joe and Marie Donnelly, unseated his rider Nico de Boinville at the 10th fence in the two and a half mile contest.
County Waterford winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said of his Grade 1 win this afternoon:
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“It’s a great start to the meeting for us, I am delighted. Darragh was brilliant on him. I thought they went a real good gallop and our lad jumps amazing. I’m delighted for the Moloneys, who are great supporters of ours. It’s so good to get one here.
“I started to get a bit worried for a second (when the second came back at him) but it looks as if he was idling and he picked up again. It was relentless the whole way and they were all jumping so well. I’m delighted for everyone and it’s great for the horse.”
The victorious jockey, Darragh O’Keeffe, racing in Barry Moloney colours, gave a good insight following the race, admitting:
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“We always felt he was up to Grade One standard, and it just took us a couple of runs to figure him out. He was very impressive at Leopardstown, we gave the Grade One at Cheltenham a go and we learned plenty about him that day. I think it was huge credit to the horse to come back today after having a grueler in the Brown Advisory. It was a good performance, and his jumping was superb again today.
“I jumped out nice and handy away and I said, wherever I am, I’m just going to get into a rhythm. I couldn’t really hear a whole lot going round, but I could just hear the commentators saying – there was gasp or something – and I knew Lulumba was disappearing from my inside. He was following Harry, so I just kept my horse in a rhythm.
“He was a bit idle even when he jumped the second last, which showed he’s still a bit raw. As soon as he heard the other horse coming to him again, I could feel him picking up. I’m delighted to get a Grade One winner here at Aintree – it’s a special meeting and it’s great for the owners, the Maloneys, and I’m very grateful to everyone.”
Jannik Sinner cruised past Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up a semi-final with Alexander Zverev in the Monte Carlo Masters.
The Italian second seed defeated his Canadian opponent 6-3 6-4 to extend his winning streak in Masters 1000 events to 20 matches – a run during which he has lifted titles at Paris, Indian Wells and Miami.
“I feel like it was a step forwards today,” said Sinner, who dropped a set at a Masters event for the first time in 186 days during his last-16 win against Tomas Machac.
“It was a very tough match. I knew I had to get better in certain areas. The serve is not there yet, where I would love it, but all things considered I’m very happy.
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“But in any case, very happy to be back in the semis.”
Nico Schlotterbeck has previously been linked with a move to Manchester United – if the Reds are still keen on the Borussia Dortmund defender, they now know his transfer fee
Manchester United will have to fork out between £43.6million and £52.3m if they want to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund. The versatile defender has previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
The Germany international appeared to be a cost-effective option for the summer, as he would have entered the final year of his deal in the summer. However, the goal posts have now moved as he has put pen-to-paper on a brand new contract at the Signal Iduna Park.
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He had been negotiating with club officials for months before finally agreeing to a new deal. However, there is understood to be a release clause within his deal.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
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According to German outlet Kicker, a fee between €50m and €60, which works out to between £43.6m and £52.3m. The left-footed defender is one of the most versatile defenders in Europe who is also known for being composed on the ball.
United’s current left-footed central defender options are Lisandro Martinez and sometimes Luke Shaw, but both players have endured numerous injury issues over the last two seasons. Schlotterbeck would provide cover for both central defence and at left-back, if he were to arrive at Old Trafford.
Last week, reports from Germany claimed Schlotterbeck could be available for as much as £26m, but this new contract has surely ended that possibility. Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with a move.
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United director of recruitment Christoph Vivell, as a result of his vast knowledge of the Bundesliga, may still be interested in signing the 26-year-old. However, it’s likely any transfer move will not be made until United announce who will be in charge of them next season.
Nevertheless, there have been some key internal moves within Old Trafford. Harry Maguire recently signed a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2027.
This means United will go into next year with Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven as their central defensive options. It’s understood Maguire took a wage cut to remain at Old Trafford.
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When the deal was signed, he said: “Representing Manchester United is the ultimate honour. It is a responsibility that makes myself and my family proud every single day.
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“I am delighted to extend my journey at this incredible club to at least eight seasons and continue to play in front of our special supporters to create more amazing moments together.
“You can feel the ambition and potential of this exciting squad. The determination throughout the whole club to fight for major trophies is clear for everyone to see and I am confident that our best moments together remain ahead of us.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
The 2026 Masters gets serious on Saturday, April 11, with the third round at Augusta National Golf Club. You can find full Masters tee times for Round 3 at the bottom of this post once they are determined Friday night.
Masters Round 3 tee times: What to know
While we don’t yet know when they’ll tee off on Saturday, we do have a good idea who the primary competitors will be. Defending champion Rory McIlroy is chief among them, hoping the win rare back-to-back green jackets.
But two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose, Jason Day and more are planning to give McIlroy a tough contest over the weekend at Augusta.
We won’t know the exact third-round tee times for this year’s Masters until the second round is complete on Friday evening. Once that happens, the cut will be made, and the surviving players will be organized into two-player pairings. The leaders will tee off last on Saturday afternoon. The players who just made the cut will open the third round Saturday morning.
We can look to the past to get a better idea of what the Masters Saturday tee times will be. On Saturday at the 2025 Masters, Rose and Bryson DeChambeau teed off in the final pairing at 2:40 p.m. ET. Tom Kim opened Round 3 at 9:50 a.m. ET. We can this Saturday’s tee times to be similar.
You can watch Saturday’s third round of the 2026 Masters on TV via CBS, with coverage scheduled for 2-7 p.m. ET. Paramount+ and Masters.com will provide early streaming coverage from 12-2 p.m. ET. You can watch other streaming coverage all day Saturday via Masters.com, the Masters app, the ESPN App, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+ and DirecTV including exclusive early action, featured group coverage and much more.
You can check out the complete Round 3 tee times for the 2026 Masters below once they are released
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2026 Masters tee times for Saturday: Round 3 (ET)
(TBD)
Kevin Cunningham
Golf.com Editor
As senior managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brand’s e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience.
Apr 08, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and forward Alex Antetokounmpo (29) after the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks will wrap up their home slate this season when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night in a rematch of a game earlier this week.
It will not be a potential final sendoff for Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, as the superstar already has been ruled out for the game because of “left knee hyperextension, bone bruise,” according to the injury report.
The NBA continues to investigate the dispute between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks (31-49) regarding his injury status, as he has voiced his desire to play despite the Bucks not medically clearing him.
“You have to make tough decisions in tough circumstances, and the lens, again, is to make the best professional judgment that we can that’s best for him and us regarding his health,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst told The Athletic.
“Of course, I care about what he feels and what he cares about. And I have his entire career. There’s no gamesmanship here. There’s no angling. We just care about doing what’s right for him and for us.”
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Antetokounmpo’s brothers, Thanasis and Alex, are on the Bucks’ active roster. Had they played in a game with Giannis, they would have become the first trio of brothers to do so in NBA history. They already have made history by being on the same active roster.
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 13th consecutive game on Wednesday. Milwaukee fell for the second straight game as the Pistons won in Detroit 137-111.
Ryan Rollins returned from injury to lead the Bucks with 23 points. Ousmane Dieng added 17 while Jericho Sims contributed a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
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“It was awesome, it was good for Jericho. In a rough season, a rough night, playing the best team in the East. I thought our guys did well,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.
Both Milwaukee and Brooklyn have been eliminated from postseason contention.
The Nets (20-60) come into Milwaukee on the second night of a back-to-back set after a 123-94 blowout loss at home Thursday to the Indiana Pacers.
The setback ended a two-game winning streak for Brooklyn, its first since early March. E.J. Liddell led the way with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, and Ben Saraf added 19 points.
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The Nets played with just a seven-man rotation, with five players playing at least 37 minutes. Thursday also marked the NBA-leading 26th game Brooklyn has scored under 100 points this season. The Bucks are second in the NBA with 16 games of less than 100 points.
“The effort and the purpose was there, we took the right shots, they just didn’t go in. I was happy with the shots that I saw,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said.
On the injury front, Milwaukee’s report outside of Antetokounmpo is still lengthy with Kevin Porter Jr. (knee surgery) out for the season and Bobby Portis (wrist), Myles Turner (ankle) and Kyle Kuzma (Achilles) each listed as out.
Brooklyn was without Nic Claxton (illness), Noah Clowney (ankle), Egor Demin (plantar fascia), Terance Mann (patella tendinosis), Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring), among a list of 10 players.
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The Nets have the chance to win the four-game season series over Milwaukee for the second consecutive season with a victory as they lead 2-1.
The Nets won a tight one over Milwaukee 96-90 on Tuesday in Brooklyn, led by 21 points from E.J. Liddell and 19 from Ben Saraf. AJ Green led Milwaukee with 20 points while Taurean Prince added 16 with 11 rebounds.
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