🎓🏀MBB: UCLA almost forced Saturday’s Final Four game into double overtime, but ultimately fell to the top-ranked ’Zags on a heartbreaking bank shot. Still, what a game. What a season.

• Not only were Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jáquez Jr. clutch on the court, their impact on Asian-American and Mexican-American communities is immeasurable. Representation matters. 

⚾Dodgers: After dropping the season opener, the Dodgers won the last three games in their bizarre series against the Colorado Rockies. From centerfielder Cody Bellinger’s home run-turned-single to left fielder Zach McKinstry’s inside-the-park home run, there was no shortage of purr-fectly weird moments for the defending champs.

Angels: Heads up, the Angels won their series with the Chicago White Sox. Everyone was really looking forward to Shohei Ohtani both pitching and hitting in the same game last night...and he did not disappoint, throwing multiple pitches over 100 miles per hour and smashing a home run on the first pitch of his first at-bat. It’s Sho Time! 

Speaking of pitchers, Ty Buttrey released a statement that he’s leaving baseball: “money and proving people wrong are short term motivators, especially when you never actually loved the game you dedicated the last 24 years of your life to.” Wishing you the best, Ty.

⚾️Cubs: After a frigid Opening Day loss, the Cubs got hot for the rest of the weekend, taking two of three in their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Between the homers from Kris Bryant and Ian Happ and the impressive return of Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, fans are feeling hopeful for the next 159 games. Fly the W!

Sox: The White Sox won one of four in their opening series with the LA Angels this weekend. Besides the aforementioned Mercedes, fans were fired up over the Sox’s 12-run victory on Friday and 21 year-old pitcher Garrett Crochet’s perfect 2.1 innings on Saturday. S’fun. While it was a bit messy at times, for the first series on the road, we’ll take it. 

🏀Bulls: The Bulls snapped their six-game losing streak yesterday when they beat the Brooklyn Nets 115–107. It was an off day for the Nets and a great day for the Bulls, who looked like they were finally clicking with new addition Nikola Vučević. ’Bout time!

🤸‍♀️Illini: The U of I women’s gymnastics team ended their season when they failed to qualify for nationals in their regional meet this weekend. Even though regionals wasn’t their best performance, the Illini, who earlier this season scored the best overall score in program history, should still be v. proud.

⚾MLB: The biggest hole in the Phillies’ game last season was their bullpen (the teams’ roster of relief pitchers), but, thanks to offseason acquisitions, it was the most impressive part of their opening weekend: the bullpen didn’t allow any runs over three games. Damn. 

• Off the mound, shortstop Didi Gregorious was back making amazing defensive plays, catcher Andrew Knapp smashed the first homerun of the season, and fans finally returned to CBP to witness the Phanatic in all its glory. Nature is healing.

🏀NBA: Over at the Wells Fargo Center, Embiid returned to the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing 10 games due to a knee injury. He shone, scoring 24 points and bringing back the spark the Sixers have been lacking the past few weeks.

But last night, he sat out to recover from Saturday’s effort, and the rest of the team seriously struggled, losing 116–100 to the Memphis Grizzlies. If anything has been made clear this weekend, it’s just how much the Sixers need Joel Embiid. 

🎓🏀MBB: Like we mentioned, tonight’s the night: we’ve waited all season long for this Gonzaga-Baylor matchup. Cross all your fingers and toes that the ’Zags (and hometown boy Anton Watson) can bring their first-ever national championship back to Hooptown, USA. 

• Jalen Suggs’ incredible game-winning shot against UCLA will be etched in our memories forever. While late-game heroics are hopefully unnecessary tonight, count on Suggs to keep delivering in the big moments.
• And don’t overlook Drew Timme’s toughness through foul trouble and Joel Ayayi’s efficient shooting. The ’Zags are a well-oiled machine; let’s take down the Bears.

⚾️Mariners: The Mariners won their opening series against the San Francisco Giants, including earning a 4–0 shutout on Saturday night where rookie Taylor Trammell recorded his first major league hit. Welcome to the show, kid.

• The M’s face the Chicago White Sox tonight at 10:10 p.m. ET/7:10 p.m. PT. Good thing pitcher and Gonzaga alum Marco Gonzales isn’t scheduled to start tonight, so he can multitask and keep an eye on the ’Zags just like everyone else.

⚾Yankees: The Yanks left fans underwhelmed this weekend, losing their opening series 2-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays. The highlight? Catcher Gary Sánchez’s homers in back-to-back games, including his two-run bomb on Thursday. The disappointment? Pitcher Domingo Germán’s poor showing in the team’s 3–1 loss on Sunday. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. 

🏀Nets: The Nets, still without stars Kevin Durant and James Harden, lost to the lowly Chicago Bulls 115–107 yesterday. After guard Tyler Johnson’s leg injury early in the fourth quarter, the Nets just couldn’t rally enough to come back from Chicago’s lead. Hurry back, Big Three! 

🎥 What to watch: After the Mets’ opening series was postponed due to the Washington Nationals’ positive COVID-19 tests, the Kings of Queens will finally start their season against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight at 7 p.m. ET. 

If you’re more of a baller, flip over to NY’s intercity matchup, where the Knicks, who talk a big game, will square off against the Nets in the Barclays Center tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Drama.