CHICAGO -- The Bears unveiled a nearly $5 billion proposal Wednesday for an enclosed stadium next door to their current home at Soldier Field as part of a major project that would transform the city's lakefront, and they are asking for public funding to help make it happen.

The plan calls for $3.2 billion for the new stadium plus an additional $1.5 billion in infrastructure. The team and the city said the project would add green and open space while improving access to the city's Museum Campus and could also include a publicly owned hotel.

"This is not an easy project, but Chicago doesn't like it easy," Bears president Kevin Warren said.

The process, the vision and the steps that need to be taken to build a #StadiumForChicago

Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 24, 2024

The announcement at Soldier Field comes during a busy week for the Bears. They are expected to take 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the draft Thursday night and bank on the USC quarterback to solidify a position that has long been a sore spot for the founding NFL franchise.

The team said last month that it was prepared to provide more than $2 billion in funding toward a publicly owned stadium in the city.

The proposal calls for $2.025 billion from the Bears, $300 million from an NFL loan and $900 million in bonds from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The funding from the ISFA would involve extending bonds of the existing 2% hotel tax.

The Bears said the project would generate $8 billion in economic impact for the region. It would be built in three phases, and construction would take up to five years. The new stadium would be constructed on a parking lot just south of Soldier Field, the Bears' home since 1971. The team's lease at the 100-year-old stadium runs through 2033.

Mayor Brandon Johnson gave a full-throated endorsement, saying the project is in line with Daniel Burnham's "Plan of Chicago." He said there would be no tax hikes or new taxes for Chicago residents.

Renderings show the Bears' stadium would have a translucent roof and massive glass panels that would bring in sunlight and allow for views of Chicago's famed skyline. The plan is to host major concerts throughout the year as well as Super Bowls, Final Fours and Big Ten championship games.

Although Soldier Field's famed colonnades would be preserved, the spaceship-like stadium that was installed in the renovation two decades ago would be torn out and replaced by playing fields and park space. The plan calls for a pedestrian mall, food and beverage options, a promenade, and a plaza.

"My administration insisted that any new project -- especially one on public land -- must deliver strong public benefit and public use for the City of Chicago, and I am pleased today that this plan does exactly that," Johnson said.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, however, said he wasn't on board.

"I remain skeptical about this proposal, and I wonder whether it's a good deal for the taxpayers," Pritzker told reporters Wednesday at an unrelated news conference. "I'm not sure this is among the highest priorities for taxpayers."

Johnson, however, said that the financing for the project will not implement "any new taxes on the residents of the city of Chicago."

Illinois' top legislative leaders were also doubtful.

"If we were to put this issue on the board for a vote right now, it would fail and it would fail miserably," Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch said at an unrelated news conference. "There is no environment for something like this today."

However, he added that the environment in Springfield does change.

The proposal comes as two other Chicago sports teams, the White Sox and Red Stars, have expressed interest in public funding for new stadiums.

Warren, who replaced the retired Ted Phillips a year ago, played a big role in the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis through a public-private partnership when he worked in the Minnesota Vikings' front office from 2005 to 2019.

The Bears spent $197.2 million over a year ago to purchase the site of the shuttered Arlington International Racecourse from Churchill Downs Inc. They envisioned building a stadium on the 326-acre tract of land some 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field, with restaurants, retail and more on the property -- all for about $5 billion, with some taxpayer help.

The Bears had said they would pay for the stadium in Arlington Heights, with taxpayer dollars covering infrastructure costs such as roads and sewers. Those plans stalled, with the team citing a property assessment it said was too high.

By staying in Chicago, the Bears would remain tenants rather than owning a stadium in Arlington Heights. But Warren said he sees it as more of a partnership with the city rather than a landlord-tenant relationship.

"I believe in Mayor Johnson," Warren said. "I believe in his staff, his vision; I believe in this city. I don't look at it as being a renter. I look at it as being able to develop a relationship, to be able to come together. People asked that same question in Minnesota: Why would you want to be a renter?"

ESPN's Courtney Cronin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Wide receiver Rashod Bateman is staying in Baltimore, after all.

Bateman reached a two-year extension with the Ravens on Wednesday, which keeps the former first round pick in Baltimore through the 2026 season, the team announced. This surprising move was made eight days before the Ravens had to make a decision on whether to exercise Bateman's fifth-year option.

There had been speculation that Baltimore might trade Bateman during the draft like the Ravens did with wide receiver Marquise Brown two years ago. Instead, Bateman made team history, becoming the Ravens' first first-round wide receiver to sign a second contract with Baltimore.

"Congratulations to 'Bate' and his family," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. "This is a good day for the Ravens."

Bateman, 24, has had a challenging start to his career since being the No. 27 overall pick of the 2021 draft. In three seasons, he's totaled 93 catches and four touchdowns.

It was only 13 months ago when Bateman called out DeCosta on social media for the GM's comment about the team's disappointing track record for drafting pass-catchers.

In a deleted post, Bateman wrote: "How bout you play to your player's strength and stop pointing the finger at us and #8 [Lamar Jackson]." Bateman later said he spoke to DeCosta, saying, "now we're best friends."

Bateman's first two seasons were derailed by injuries. Bateman missed the first six games of his rookie season after undergoing hernia surgery and was then sidelined for the final nine games of his second season after having foot surgery.

Last season, in his first full season, Bateman didn't appear to be on the same page as quarterback Lamar Jackson at times and finished with 32 receptions for 367 yards and one touchdown. At the NFL combine last month, Ravens coach John Harbaugh predicted Bateman would take "a big step" in 2024.

"Rashod is going to get opportunities this year," Harbaugh said in March. "He ran routes really well. He worked super hard. He was healthy for the first time -- even as the year went on, he got healthier, and you could see it in his play. The ball got to him, [and] when it did, he made some great plays. The ball is going to get to him a lot more next year. He's going to be ready to go."

Bateman is projected to be the Ravens' No. 2 wide receiver behind Zay Flowers. Baltimore's other wide receivers are Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty and Sean Ryan.

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and other PGA Tour stars are about to receive massive bonuses for their loyalty.

The Telegraph reported Wednesday that Woods will receive up to $100 million in equity as part of the newly created for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises, with McIlroy getting about half that amount.

The payouts, which are set to be disclosed to the players by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on Wednesday, are a way to thank players for sticking with the PGA Tour instead of jumping to the rival LIV Golf League and huge paydays from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Nearly 200 players will receive a stake, with $750 million of it going to the top 36 players based on a formula that weighs career success and cultural popularity, according to The Telegraph. Other notable payouts include $30 million each for Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, while $75 million is targeted to go to notable retired players.

To receive the money, players would have to continue to remain loyal to the PGA Tour, with the funds vesting over the next eight years, according to The Telegraph. And going forward, the PGA Tour plans to award $100 million per year to the players.

PGA Tour Enterprises received an investment of up to $3 billion earlier this year from Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of sports team owners that includes the New York Mets' Steve Cohen and the Atlanta Falcons' Arthur Blank.

Sources also confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that McIlroy is set to return to the PGA Tour's policy board. That move is pending a board vote that could take place this week.

Field Level Media contributed to this report.

Cincinnati Bengals three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson has requested to be traded, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Hendrickson, who is due to make $15 million this season, is looking for more long-term security than Cincinnati has been willing to offer, the source said. He is under contract through the 2025 season.

Hendrickson set a career high with 17.5 sacks last season and has 39.5 sacks in his three seasons with the Bengals. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons.

Hendrickson is the second star player to have requested a trade this offseason. Wide receiver Tee Higgins, who received the franchise tag from the team, requested to be traded in March. However, he said earlier this month that he anticipated playing for the Bengals this season.

BOSTON -- Auston Matthews has been characterized as just a regular-season star -- one criticized for flaming out right when the Toronto Maple Leafs hit the playoffs.

Consider Matthews to have issued a rebuttal.

The scene: Late in Game 2 of Toronto's first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Monday. The Leafs were trying to avoid falling into a 2-0 series deficit, with the score tied 2-2 late in the third period. The rowdy crowd at TD Garden was taunting the visitors with electrified chants of "U-S-A ... U-S-A" when Matthews -- arguably the greatest American-born hockey player in the league today who happens to play for an iconic Canadian franchise -- saw his opening.

Like a running back sprinting for daylight in the open field, Matthews charged into the Bruins' zone, gloved down a pass from linemate Max Domi, juked defenseman Charlie McAvoy and bamboozled goaltender Linus Ullmark with a perfectly placed top-shelf strike.

In a blink, Matthews' eventual game winner took Toronto from the emotional brink to a soft landing en route to a 3-2 victory. The Leafs left Boston with home-ice advantage in a best-of-five series against the opponent with whom they hadn't even held a lead in their previous five meetings.

Matthews was the opposite of invisible. He was impossible to ignore. Now, more than ever, is Matthews' time to shine.

"You look at his goal [Monday] -- that was a nothing play," Bruins captain Brad Marchand said. "And he got a game-winning goal off of it. Even when you think you're tight on him, you're not tight enough. But that's the thing about the best players; they find a way. And that's what he did."

IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY for Matthews finding his way to blossom in the postseason. Prior to Monday, he'd recorded 22 goals and 44 points in 51 playoff tilts, but hadn't registered a goal in his previous six postseason appearances. And that is from a player who's won three Rocket Richard Trophies as the league's top goal-scorer, including a career-best 69-goal campaign in 2023-24.

Make no mistake -- the numbers aren't bad. But for whatever reason, Matthews hasn't translated consistently to being the same difference-making threat in the playoffs that he's been in the regular season.

Perhaps that ends now, with Matthews apparently letting go of the pressure and allowing his skill to take over.

"It's just happening so fast, you don't really have time to think," Matthews said of teeing up his game winner. "It's honestly kind of instincts, and just trying to make the right play."

It wasn't just that momentum separating Matthews from the pack. He assisted on both Leaf goals (courtesy of Domi and John Tavares on the power play), had a game-high eight shots on goal, six hits, and at one point made a potential game-saving move in the crease behind goaltender Ilya Samsonov to keep a puck out of the Leafs' cage.

Matthews is not above the fray. He'll do the dirty work. And that commitment at both ends of the spectrum -- offensively and defensively -- is what emerged most in Game 2, and caught Boston's full attention.

"What I've been impressed with him about is how tenacious he's been on pucks, how tenacious he's been on the forecheck," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "He's been relentless with his work ethic. We can't let him get in behind us. That's the most dangerous man on the ice; you have to be tighter [with him]. But he's the most dangerous man on the ice because he's earned it."

Matthews has done it the hard way, bearing the brunt of expectations. It's been the same narrative since Matthews arrived in Toronto as their No. 1 overall pick in 2016; the Leafs will go as far in the playoffs as Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Tavares take them. The Leafs' hopes live and die with their Core Four.

Matthews shoulders that burden more than ever. Toronto hasn't seen Nylander -- a 40-goal scorer -- in this series yet due to an undisclosed injury (he remains a possibility to return in Game 3). Marner has been dead-quiet, with zero points and four total shots on goal. Tavares is doing his part, but the Leafs' captain is past his scoring prime.

Matthews, meanwhile, is in the thick of his. He's the red-hot middle of Toronto's nucleus, the Leafs' highly prized, series-defining skater. And that's for better or for worse.

"He's world-class in everything he does," Tavares said of Matthews. "Having the night like he did [in Game 2] was massive for our group. The goal is one thing; it's obviously special. Not many guys in the world [have] those instincts and the hands and finishing ability. But the competitive aspect, winning battles, fighting for space, using his body -- things he does so truly well that sets the standard for us. It was a hell of a game by him and just driving our team."

THE TRICK NOW is Matthews sustaining the momentum and turning it into something tangible. The Leafs infamously went two decades without a first-round playoff series win until besting the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games last year. Matthews had five goals in the final four games to get Toronto over the line -- and then managed only two assists through five games in a second-round flop against the Florida Panthers.

It's not enough for Matthews to just light the lamp. His impact must be felt in every phase of the game. Monday's performance exemplified who Matthews can be at his most powerful. He didn't make it look easy, exactly. And the Bruins are a smart, opportunistic team that has already shown Toronto they'll throw every mistake the Leafs make into the back of their net.

Matthews found a way to break through with a goal-scoring finish and an exuberant reaction from a usually subdued Matthews. It could be bigger than a single win. It could be a sign that the best of Playoff Matthews has arrived -- and is still to come.

"Auston was all over the stat sheet and in so many regards he's affecting the game positively for us," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "But for me, the way he worked, where he competed, he was hard, physical, winning puck battles all over the ice. Really good ... it's big-time stuff the way those guys connected in the finish."

NEW YORK -- New Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez wasted no time making his feelings known about the roster -- and, specifically, the status of unrestricted free agent center Nic Claxton, who Fernandez said was a "priority" to retain in free agency.

"Nic is a quote-unquote big that has defensive versatility," Fernandez said at his introductory news conference at the team's practice facility overlooking New York Harbor on Wednesday morning. "I believe he'll be Defensive Player of the Year. For us, he's a priority in this summer, and the way we can play through him -- obviously he's great in pick-and-roll, he's quick to the rim, he puts pressure on the rim -- but also his ability to play the dribble-handoff game which, as you guys know, lately in the NBA is a style that is very efficient.

"When everybody touches the ball and everybody's involved, everybody's happier. You're harder to guard because there's more ... you're not that predictable to just play pick-and-roll. So he fits perfectly what we want to do moving forward."

Claxton, a long, athletic 6-foot-11 center, is coming off a season where he finished with averages of 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 62% from the field. The first pick of the second round in the 2019 NBA draft, Claxton -- who signed a two-year deal two summers ago -- is an early entry into unrestricted free agency, having just turned 25 a week ago.

But Fernandez, along with Nets general manager Sean Marks, made it clear that Claxton remains an important part of the team's plans.

"I think Nic is the No. 1 priority for us," Marks said. "There's no doubt about that. We hope he's a Net for a very long time. We hope we can continue to build around him and build with him and so forth.

"I think he's scratched the surface on who he could end up being one day. I love the challenge of him being Defensive Player of the Year. Nic and I have talked in the offseasons about similar accolades, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player, All-Defensive team and so forth. So, I think he has the skill set, he has the mind to be able to put himself in those positions if he continues to work and continue to develop."

Brooklyn opened last season 15-15 before infamously tanking a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 27, sitting five players completely and resting three others after the first quarter. The bottom fell out after that, with Brooklyn going a dismal 17-35 over the final 52 games to close the season with the franchise's worst record since the 2017-18 season, and snapping a streak of five consecutive playoff appearances.

Fernandez, however, said that a turnaround could happen quickly, and said flatly that he expects results to happen right away as he takes on his new role after spending the past two years working as Mike Brown's lead assistant with the Sacramento Kings, and spending several years before that working under Michael Malone with the Denver Nuggets.

He also coached Team Canada to a bronze medal in last year's FIBA World Cup, and will coach the Canadians -- one of the top medal threats outside of Team USA -- in the Paris Olympics later this year.

"We will see results right away," Fernandez said. "This industry is about getting results and getting better. So how much are you gonna get better? It's how we believe the process is important.

"We know that there's proper steps to take and we'll see improvement right away. But the most important thing to me is to believe in team success over personal success. Because as you guys know, you know, myself, I think it's a clear example, I would not be sitting here if Sacramento is not successful, if Canada is not successful, and it's not about me. It was about the organization, the players, myself. I had a job and we all have a role.

"So I believe that I had to do my job very well. And then the outcome would help every single one of us that was part of that winning team."

The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, the two 1-seeds in the 2024 NBA playoffs, both have 1-0 leads in their respective first-round series, but that's just about where the similarities end.

Boston handled its business against the Miami Heat from the jump in Game 1, winning in a 114-94 rout. Meanwhile the Thunder didn't secure their Game 1 win against the New Orleans Pelicans until CJ McCollum's last-second 3-pointer bounced off the back rim.

The two 1 vs. 8 series resume Wednesday night, and our NBA insiders took a look at the biggest storylines for each team heading into Game 2.

MORE: Complete coverage of 2024 NBA playoffs

Celtics don't want to let up

After Tuesday's practice, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla fielded a question: When you looked at tape of Game 1, what, if anything, did you realize could be done better?

"Better is doing what we [already] do with higher intensity and higher physicality," Mazzulla said.

It was a telling answer, and an honest one.

The Celtics were dominant in their series opener against No. 8 seed Miami, jumping out to a 14-point lead before the Heat even managed to score and ultimately winning by 20. After a performance like that, there really isn't a change in strategy that's necessary at the moment.

Mazzulla and the players instead spent time talking about the mentality that will be necessary to make sure they maintain this level after the breezy Game 1.

"If you don't think you're going to see a different version of Miami, you're kidding yourself," Mazzulla said.

The Heat stated the obvious during their practice, saying they'd seek to trim the vast 3-point deficit that took place in Game 1 -- Boston tied a franchise playoff high with 22 made 3s. So the Celtics vowed to be ready to take advantage of whatever good looks came their way as a result, be it from the paint or the midrange portions of the floor.

Generally speaking, though, what Boston is gearing up for is a more intense Miami club.

"They're going to be hungry [and] desperate," Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown said. "They're going to come out fast and aggressive, trying to turn us over. They're going to try to crash the glass hard and be physical, knock us to the ground. They're going to want to win the physicality battle."

Brown and guard Payton Pritchard each said forward Caleb Martin's late-game, midair collision with forward Jayson Tatum -- which caused a brief skirmish and double technical fouls -- might have been a good thing.

The incident appeared to invigorate the Celtics at a time when they had taken their foot off the pedal ever so slightly after building a 34-point advantage earlier in the contest. "I think we like that," Pritchard said. "It was a joy to see that, and what it's going to be like moving forward. We're ready for that test and that physicality." -- Chris Herring

Heat lack firepower to meet championship aspirations

The hallway wall outside of the home locker room inside Kaseya Center is decorated with a colorful montage of some of the greatest moments in Heat franchise history. There are dozens of pictures from the three championship celebrations. There's a wall-sized image of Dwyane Wade shooting a floater over Tim Duncan during the 2013 NBA Finals. There's another image of Ray Allen shooting the corner 3-pointer that tied Game 6 of the 2013 Finals.

And, in the middle of it, the word "CHAMPIONS" is emblazoned on the wall, the three years the Heat reached the pinnacle of the NBA -- 2006, 2012 and 2013 -- written out below it.

It's an ever-present reminder for those who walk through there -- be it players, coaches, media, staffers or anyone else -- that there has only been one mission statement for this franchise since the moment team president Pat Riley set foot in South Florida nearly 30 years ago.

And, despite the Heat's recent track record, it's also one this group isn't going to be able to reach.

In the weeks leading up to the playoffs, any coach, scout or executive asked about the Heat's chances wasn't ready to count them out, pointing to Miami advancing to three conference finals and two NBA Finals across the previous four years with most of this core -- specifically, forward Jimmy Butler -- in place.

But Butler isn't on the court, as an MCL sprain suffered a week ago in Miami's heartbreaking loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the play-in tournament knocked him out of the series. Shooting guard Terry Rozier, the team's top acquisition ahead of the trade deadline, is also out of the lineup with a neck issue and also seems unlikely to play.

Game 1 showed how big of a challenge it will be for Miami to make this series competitive against the team with the NBA's best record. The Celtics simply have too much firepower for the Heat to keep up with, especially down two key contributors.

Soon, the series will be over, and the questions about this team's future will resurface. With only one guaranteed year left on his contract, will Butler get an extension -- and what will happen if he doesn't? And, setting that aside, what can Miami do to boost an offense that ranked 21st in the NBA this season?

One thing is for certain: The Heat will make no excuses as this series continues, and coach Erik Spoelstra will say he has enough to compete. But without Butler and Rozier, an already uphill climb has become an impossible one. -- Tim Bontemps

Thunder's deep rotation still in flux

As the top-seeded Thunder begin what they hope will be a long playoff run, the most interesting question is how Coach of the Year finalist Mark Daigneault's rotation will shake out.

Daigneault used 11 players in Sunday's Game 1 win, the most of any team in a competitive game. That largely mirrored Daigneault's regular-season rotation, which has included six reserves after the addition of veteran forward Gordon Hayward at the trade deadline.

"Everybody that came in played their role," guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said after Game 1. "They gave good minutes. All 11 guys did their part, and that's the reason why we won tonight."

Most notable, however, was the absence of starting guard Josh Giddey at the end of Oklahoma City's 94-92 win. Giddey played just 20 minutes on a night when every other starter logged at least 32.

Giddey's inconsistent outside shooting (34% on 3-pointers this season) has always loomed as a potential playoff liability for the Thunder. Despite starting all 80 games he has played, Giddey saw his minutes per game drop from 31.1 in 2022-23 to 25.1 this season. That decline was magnified late in games, as Giddey played just 47% of what NBA Advanced Stats defines as clutch minutes (game within five points, last five minutes of regulation or overtime) -- down from 69% a year ago.

Besides Giddey's own limitations, the development of rookie guard Cason Wallace has given Daigneault an alternative down the stretch. The 20-year-old played the bulk of the last four minutes Sunday, trading off with the team's best shooter, Isaiah Joe. Wallace matched up with Pelicans guard McCollum on the game's final possession, forcing McCollum into an off-balance missed 3 at the buzzer.

As long as Oklahoma City is winning, Daigneault might not want to mess with the formula that led the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference this season. Oklahoma City's typical starting five featuring Giddey went 46-17 (.730) in the regular season -- nine more wins than any other group of starters, per Basketball-Reference.com data.

Down the road, however, replacing Giddey might be the Thunder's natural adjustment when something goes wrong. -- Kevin Pelton

Pelicans searching for more offense

New Orleans held the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference to 94 points in Game 1. As Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. pointed out Tuesday after practice, that should be enough for a team to get a victory. Unfortunately for the Pelicans, it wasn't.

Thanks in large part to the defense guard Luguentz Dort played on forward Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans forward went 5-of-17 for just 12 points Sunday night, and the Pelicans offense never seemed to get going in the two-point loss.

Nance said the team has a few tricks up its sleeve to get the offense going, but it's clear something will have to happen.

The Pelicans got 24 points off 18 offensive rebounds, going 9-of-17 off the second chances. But the team shot 28-of-79 (35.4%) on its initial shot attempts, a number that needs to improve. Oklahoma City also outscored the Pelicans 20-7 in fast-break points.

Both were points of emphasis in Tuesday's practice, according to Pelicans coach Willie Green.

"We really looked at some of our keys, keeping them out of transition defensively and making sure we finish possessions," Green said. "I thought the second half they made a better effort to go after the offensive glass. ... We had a really good practice today."

In four games since returning from a bone bruise in his left knee, Ingram has averaged 15.0 points on 43.1% shooting. He was 0-of-8 when Dort was the primary defender, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Green said the team has to play with more speed and force so that Dort can't be as physical with Ingram as he was in Game 1. The Pelicans also need to get more screens set for Ingram, Green said, to try to free him up.

New Orleans will have to continue to improve its clutch offense to have a chance to steal a game before heading home for Game 3. The Pelicans were 0-22 in the regular season entering the fourth quarter with a deficit, and their 29 games in the clutch were the fewest in the NBA this season.

In Game 1, the Pelicans were 1-of-7 with four turnovers in the final 3:09 and didn't score a bucket between the 3:34 mark and when McCollum hit a layup with 26.5 seconds left.

New Orleans will also have to adjust to how the game is being called. The Pelicans attempted nine free throws Sunday, the fewest they had attempted in any game this season. They also held the Thunder to just 13 attempts, tied for the fifth fewest for them in a game all season.

"Oh, this is basketball," Nance said. "Last game, it took me a half to figure out what are they going to call, what aren't they going to call, what are they going to let go. And in the second half it was football. And I love it." -- Andrew Lopez

The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with left hip flexor inflammation.

In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays called up their No. 6 prospect, Addison Barger. Barger, 24, is expected to be active for Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Kiermaier left Tuesday night's loss to the Royals in the sixth inning and was replaced in the lineup by Cavan Biggio. Daulton Varsho replaced Kiermaier in center field. Kiermaier was 0-for-2 with a sac bunt.

Kiermaier, who just turned 34 on Monday, is batting .193 with five runs scored. He's a career .249 hitter with 90 home runs and 128 stolen bases. He's a four-time Gold Glove winner.

Barger's first game will mark his major league debut. The Jays' sixth-round pick in 2018 is batting .314 with three HRs and 21 RBIs in 19 games at Triple-A Buffalo.

The San Francisco Giants scratched left-hander Blake Snell from his scheduled start Wednesday and placed the two-time Cy Young Award winner on the 15-day injured list with a left adductor strain.

Right-hander Landen Roupp was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento by the Giants, who tabbed right-hander Ryan Walker (2-2, 3.46 ERA) to make his first start of the season Wednesday against the visiting New York Mets.

Walker, 28, worked a scoreless inning of relief in San Francisco's 5-2 win over New York on Monday.

Snell, 31, is 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts. He has yet to recapture the form that allowed him to secure his second Cy Young Award while pitching for the San Diego Padres in 2023.

Snell owns a 71-58 record with a 3.30 ERA in 194 career games (all starts) with the Tampa Bay Rays, Padres and Giants.

Roupp, 25, has registered a 4.35 ERA without recording a decision in eight relief appearances this season with San Francisco.