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After taking down the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, the Utah Jazz have improved their winning streak to four games and are now 42-24 on the season, passing the Los Angeles Lakers for second place in the Western Conference.
With just 16 games left in the regular season, the Grizzlies have their eyes set on the playoffs and are now taking the necessary steps to be fully prepared.
A few key injuries have left Memphis' depth a bit lackluster, giving other guys a chance to step up and make a difference. One surprise for the Grizzlies has been 27-year-old forward Lamar Stevens, who is playing on a 10-day contract.
Stevens spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics before making his way to Memphis during the 2023-24 season. Recently, Stevens has returned to the Grizzlies on a 10-day deal and has made the most of it.
In Monday's win over the Phoenix Suns, Stevens dropped 13 points and 5 rebounds on 4-6 shooting from deep off the bench. Stevens followed it up by grabbing 6 boards in just 12 minutes of action on Wednesday against Utah.
Rightfully so, Stevens will reportedly sign a new deal with the Grizzlies to keep him in Memphis for the rest of the season after his second 10-day contract expires, per Commercial Appeal's Damichael Cole.
The Grizzlies will sign Lamar Stevens for the remainder of the season when his current 10-day contract expires, a source with direct knowledge told The Commercial Appeal.
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) March 13, 2025
Stevens is a physical wing, and Memphis likes his defensive versatility.
Story: https://t.co/TmcuSgNWq4
The 27-year-old forward has found a good home in Memphis over the past two seasons and certainly earned a new deal to keep him around.
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What the Celtics must do this season to still be a contender
The Boston Celtics were riding a high just a few months ago. After winning the 2024 NBA Championship behind Jayson Tatum’s MVP-level run and a suffocating defense, everything seemed aligned for another deep playoff run. But the 2025 postseason turned out to be brutal. Tatum suffered a torn Achilles in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and is expected to miss the entire 2025–26 season. Without him, Boston’s championship window has taken a massive hit, and the team’s front office hasn’t exactly eased the blow. Jrue Holiday was traded shortly after the Finals, Kristaps Porzingis was moved to clear cap space and Georges Niang was flipped for second-rounders. Its latest addition has been Chris Boucher on a $3.3M deal — a solid role player, but far from a needle-mover. What’s left is a roster that still features a strong backcourt, but one that feels dramatically imbalanced. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are a top-tier defensive tandem, Payton Pritchard continues to prove his worth as a spark plug off the bench and Anfernee Simons, acquired in the Holiday trade, brings serious scoring upside. On paper, it’s a solid perimeter group, but the problem is everything else. Boston’s frontcourt now lacks size, rim protection and versatility. Boucher can offer hustle and weakside shot-blocking, but he’s not a true anchor. Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta have shown flashes but can’t be trusted over long stretches, especially against elite bigs. The Celtics are trying to hold on while lowering their apron expenses, but it’s clear they’ll need some creative maneuvering to stay competitive. One option is betting on internal growth. Simons has never been a strong defender, but Boston’s culture might bring out more from him on that end. Boucher will have to punch above his contract value. Most importantly, Brown will need to become more than a secondary star — he has to be a leader. That includes improving his decision-making, his passing under pressure and consistently taking on the toughest defensive assignments. The good news is that Boston’s perimeter defense could still be elite. White and Brown are capable of locking down backcourts. Pritchard plays with energy and there’s hope that Simons can improve within a more disciplined system. But with no real interior presence, it’ll be relying heavily on rotations and help defense every night. The Celtics do have some financial flexibility after clearing Porzingis and Holiday’s contracts. They might pursue a veteran, via trade, or take a flyer on a buyout candidate later in the season. But those moves won’t bring back the impact of Tatum or Porzingis. This version of Boston doesn’t have the talent to realistically win a title — but it could still be dangerous, especially if Brown embraces his role as the focal point and some of the younger players step up. There’s also the question of what this season means long-term. Is this just a one-year setback while Tatum recovers, or is this the beginning of a transitional phase for a franchise that might need to pivot sooner than expected? For now, the Celtics have no choice but to fight. They’ve got heart, playoff experience and one of the best defensive backcourts in the league. That won’t be enough to repeat as champions, but it might keep them in the mix. If they can grind out a playoff spot and stay competitive, that alone would be a victory. Still, the margin for error is razor-thin — and if things go sideways early, Boston could find itself facing much bigger questions than just how to survive one season without Tatum.
Complete Recap Raiders vs. Seahawks: Good, Bad, Ugly
SEATTLE, Wash.—The Las Vegas Raiders returned Pete Carroll to the Pacific Northwest at beautiful Lumen Field tonight, but it wasn’t the outcome the future Hall of Fame head coach desired. The Raiders completed their first preseason game of the year with a 23-23 tie. It was a typical first preseason game for both teams in which they looked sloppy, made plenty of mistakes, but also gave their respective fan bases some things to cheer about. Pete Carroll was encouraged by his team competing to the very end. The Good Rookie quarterback Cam Miller had an impressive performance as he transitions from FCS to the NFL. Although it's worth noting that he wasn't facing the Seattle Seahawks' starting lineup, or even most of their second team, Miller completed six of seven passes for 76 yards and threw one touchdown, achieving an outstanding rating of 151.5. How big is the transition from FCS to the NFL? He mentioned in the locker room that he had never needed to use a silent snap count in college. Isaiah Pola-Mao (IPM), the emerging star, made a terrific interception early in the game against a strong group of Seahawks players. I believed that when he arrived as an undrafted free agent, he would need some time to develop, but that he had the potential to play at this level. So far, he has done nothing to change that opinion. I think he is a year away from reaching his full potential, but I expect him to become a Pro Bowl-caliber starter by 2026. Thomas Booker, a third-year defensive tackle from Stanford, delivered his best performance of the preseason tonight. He showcased impressive motor and mobility, making a strong statement on the field. He ended the game with four tackles but played a significant role in several other plays as well. The phrase "Can’t keep a good man down" perfectly describes sophomore running back Dylan Laube's journey. At the start of camp, there was speculation that if rookie Tommy Mellott could successfully transition to the role, Laube might be left behind. However, Laube has stepped up impressively, excelling on special teams and delivering a remarkable performance on offense. He recorded four rushes for 31 yards, one catch for six yards, and scored one touchdown. The Bad Wide receiver Alex Bachman has had one of the best preseasons of anyone on the team, earning a spot on the 53-man roster. However, a non-contact injury late in the first half raised concerns. During the game, he recorded two catches for 36 yards, but another impressive catch that gained significant yardage was nullified by a penalty committed by rookie offensive tackle Charles Grant. Carroll said afterward, when I asked about Bachman, that he had been hurt earlier in camp, but did return. The Ugly Aidan O’Connell, in the first half, had a challenging performance. He underthrew a deep ball intended for an open Dont’e Thornton, leading to an interception. Later, he was baited into making another poor throw, resulting in his second turnover of the game. Describing O'Connell's performance in the first half as disappointing would be an understatement; it was nothing short of ugly. He was 9/18, for 114 yards and had an abysmal rating of 30.6 to end the first half. Credit the Raiders and AOC. I didn't think they would keep AOC in to start the 2nd half. They did, and he immediately rewarded them with a TD drive, culminating in a TD pass to Dylan Laube—an enormous confidence builder for AOC. He finished the night 18/30, for 205 yards. His rating rose to 63.9. Find us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr and talk to us in 2025 about the Raiders and more. While here, check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE to discuss all Raiders content in 2025.
Paul Skenes continues home dominance in Pirates' shutout
Paul Skenes tossed six shutout innings and struck out eight to lead the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night. Despite allowing a career-high seven hits (five singles), Skenes (7-8) delivered another dominant performance to bolster his case for the National League Cy Young Award. Skenes also beat the Reds for the fourth time in four starts in his career and first time this season. Jared Triolo and Henry Davis each had two hits and two RBIs to give Skenes more than enough of a cushion to secure a win for the third time in his past four starts. It was Skenes' third consecutive start with eight or more strikeouts. It was also the Pirates' fifth shutout of the season in a Skenes start and their 14th overall shutout. It was the Reds' 10th shutout loss. Skenes lowered his major-league best ERA to 1.94 and continues to be exceptionally good at PNC Park, where he has not allowed an earned run since June 3. Bryan Reynolds, who also had two hits, homered in the first inning off Reds' starter Brady Singer (9-9), who lasted only 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits, walked four and struck out two. Reynolds' home run came with two outs. Singer proceeded to issue three consecutive walks to Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutchen and Jack Suwinski to load the bases, setting up a two-run single by Triolo, which gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead. Cruz and Spencer Horwitz each had an RBI and Davis belted a two-run home run off Reds reliever Brent Suter in the bottom of the seventh. Gavin Lux had three hits, and TJ Friedl and Matt McLain each had two hits to lead Cincinnati offensively. But the Reds went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. McLain and Elly De La Cruz hit back-to-back singles off Skenes with one out in the first. But Austin Hays grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the threat. -Field Level Media
Liverpool set to sell big-name forward to finance Alexander Isak deal
Liverpool is on the verge of offloading striker Darwin Nunez to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in a deal reportedly worth up to £56.6M, approximately $75M. The move would bring an end to Nunez’s three-year stint at Anfield, where he registered 40 goals in 143 appearances after arriving from Benfica in 2022 for an initial £64M plus add-ons. The Reds are poised to take a financial hit on the 26-year-old, marking a significant loss on their original investment. Despite flashes of promise, Nunez struggled to deliver consistent performances in a Liverpool shirt. He gradually slipped down the pecking order, drawing increasing criticism for his inefficiency in front of the goal. Al Hilal is said to be offering a fixed fee of £46.2M, with performance-related bonuses taking the potential total to £56.6 million. Nunez is expected to sign a lucrative multiyear contract. While the transfer represents a financial setback, it aligns with Liverpool’s wider strategy of refreshing its squad under new head coach Arne Slot. The club has already spent close to £275M ($350M) this summer on high-profile signings, including Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, showcasing a bold rebuild following last season’s Premier League title triumph. Funds from the Nunez sale are expected to be redirected toward Liverpool’s pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. The Reds’ initial £120M package for the Sweden international was rejected, but they are reportedly preparing a revised bid. Isak has recently been training away from Newcastle’s first team following his return from injury, and Liverpool is hopeful of capitalizing, although a deal may hinge on Newcastle securing a replacement. The Magpies are said to be wary of losing out on RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, with Manchester United attempting to hijack that move. Still, Liverpool currently faces little direct competition for Isak and views him as a key piece in its attacking plans. Moving Nunez is a critical step in freeing up both funds and squad space as Liverpool aims to land yet another marquee forward it believes can lead its frontline in the Slot era.
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