One by one, the Boston Red Sox have arrived at spring training spouting the same, stubborn message.

From Eduardo Rodriguez -- "Don't sleep on us" -- to Chris Sale's -- "We plan on going and making some noise" -- there is optimism at the team's complex despite the 24-36 record in the pandemic-shortened season that left them last in the AL East.

"2020 did not go the way anybody wanted," said chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, who in his first year traded 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts, hired and fired a manager and dealt with the COVID-19 outbreak.

"I don't want the stain of last year to have people look past the talent that we have," Bloom said in a video call with reporters on Sunday. "This is a time for hope, for renewal. ... I know that we have just been through a long, cold winter. But it's important for us to take the time to take a breath, feel lucky that we get to do this and see all the possibilities."

Three days of pitcher and catcher workouts can't erase everything that went wrong in 2020. But Bloom said that -- so far -- everything has gone well this year, especially in comparison to last spring.

"The more uneventful, the better," he said.

After playing only 60 games last year, preparing for a full season again has introduced uncertainty to spring training. Among the questions: how best to prepare pitchers for a full load a year after they made no more than a dozen starts and threw less than 65 innings.

"Anybody who thinks they can tell you what last year means ... I don't buy it. We're all just using the best information we have, using all the information we have," Bloom said. "There's going to be some art to this, it's not just science."

Rodriguez, who missed all of 2020 due to a heart problem that stemmed from his coronavirus infection, has already thrown one bullpen session and is a "full go" to proceed.

"We've got to make sure we take care of him," Bloom said. "He's coming off something nobody has really experienced, so we've got to be mindful of that."

Sale's recovery from Tommy John surgery is also on schedule, presumably for a midseason return.

"One of the greatest sights of spring training so far has been watching Chris Sale throw a baseball. We've been waiting to do that for a long time," Bloom said, adding that the team will be cautious. "We've got to do it the right way with him."

The Red Sox are also optimistic that a more normal season will allow third baseman Rafael Devers to snap out of the defensive struggles that had him leading the majors with 14 errors in 57 games. And manager Alex Cora is betting -- $5, in fact -- that three-time All-Star J.D. Martinez will bounce back from the worst season of his career, when he batted just .213.

"J.D. got mad at me because I only bet $1 a few months ago that he's going to have a better season," Cora told reporters. "I'll raise the bet to $5 that he'll have a better season."

The team also hasn't ruled out re-signing center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who remains a free agent. Bradley batted .239 in eight seasons -- although it was up to .283 in 2020 -- but provided spectacular defense in center field.

"We love Jackie and we've stayed in touch with him throughout the winter," Bloom said. "We're going to continue to do that until it resolves."

After finishing 16 games behind Tampa Bay in the 60-game season -- and nine in back of the wild-card Yankees -- the Red Sox would need everything to go right to make a run at the playoffs. Bloom said that a World Series title remains the goal, but allowed that the season could be a success if he sees progress toward building a long-term contender.

"I would love to get to the end of this year and be able to look and see that next core that is going to be the center of a sustainable championship contender, and to see that core taking shape," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Scotland's Six Nations match in Paris on Sunday has been thrown into further doubt after five more France players tested positive for coronavirus.

Les Bleus are top of the Six Nations table after winning their opening games against Italy and Ireland.

The BBC has contacted Six Nations organisers for comment.

If the match at the Stade de France cannot go ahead, it is thought they will try and re-arrange it for the following weekend when there are no games currently scheduled.

Ollivon, Brice Dulin, Cyril Baille, Romain Taofifenua and Peato Mauvaka tested positive on Monday.

Mauvaka is the only one of the 10 players to have contracted the virus who did not feature in the matchday 23 for the round two win over Ireland.

The French Rugby Federation said two members of backroom staff were also considered "suspicious cases" after their tests.

The players and staff involved will return home to isolate and the rest of the side will return to training on Wednesday with testing taking place every 24 hours.

Star scrum-half Antoine Dupont, centre Arthur Vincent, hooker Julien Marchand, wing Gabin Villiere, and prop Mohamed Haouas are already isolating after returning positive tests last week.

Head coach Fabien Galthie and assistant William Servat also tested positive earlier this week and have been isolating.

Uncapped players Gaetan Barlot, Thierry Paiva and Cyril Cazeaux have been called up to the squad, along with Baptiste Pesenti and Thomas Ramos.

Scotland are fourth in the Six Nations table after winning their opening game against England before losing to Wales.

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has sent his condolences to former teammate and friend Ronaldinho following his mother's death.

Ronaldinho's mother, Dona Miguelina Eloi Assis dos Santos, died this weekend at the age of 71 following complications from the coronavirus.

The former Brazil international announced on Dec. 21 that his mother was in hospital with COVID-19 and asked fans to pray for her.

Messi expressed his sadness over Dona Miguelina's death and wrote on social media: "Ronnie, I have no words, I can't believe it.

O FC Barcelona envia os seus mais sinceros pêsames ao nosso eterno ídolo @10Ronaldinho pela perda da sua mãe. Descanse em paz, Dona Miguelina Elói Assis dos Santos. pic.twitter.com/waL6hZrWXf

— FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_br) February 21, 2021

"Sending you all the strength and a big hug to you and your family. I'm very sorry, may she rest in peace."

Ex-Real Madrid star and Brazil great Ronaldo Nazario also took to social media and posted a photograph of Ronaldinho and himself during their playing days after a Clasico game with the message: "My condolences. May Dona Miguelina rest in peace."

Ronaldinho's former clubs Atletico Mineiro and Barcelona, where he played from 2003 until 2008, also posted messages of condolences.

Borussia Dortmund have criticised players, including Emre Can and Erling Haaland, who took part in celebrations with fans outside their training ground after Saturday's 4-0 win at Schalke 04 and called their actions "not tolerable."

The German Football League (DFL) have demanded an explanation from Dortmund after large unorganised groups greeted the team bus with flares at their training ground after the win.

Approximately 200 fans gathered outside Dortmund's training facilities as the team returned from the resounding victory in the Revierderby.

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Footage posted on social media showed that the players did not wear masks and did not maintain social distancing as required in the DFL hygiene protocol.

Police and club stewards did not intervene as fans stopped the bus, with some of the supporters not wearing masks and the majority not maintaining social distancing.

The club said in a statement on Sunday those celebrations were "not tolerable."

They added they can "only apologise and promise to address the question how to completely prevent these scenes in the public in the future with police and all involved at short notice."

Under the DFL hygiene protocol, the German Football Association (DFB) can punish breaches of the protocol inside the stadiums and the clubs are responsible for those occurring in private situations.

Bayern Munich fined Corentin Tolisso for getting a tattoo and also when Borussia Monchengladbach fined attacker Breel Embolo for a breach of the protocol back in January.

"The DFL has instantly contacted Borussia Dortmund and asked the club for a statement at short notice," a DFL spokesperson told ESPN on Sunday.

Dortmund are set to be the first club fined for a breach of the protocol this season, sources told ESPN.

The expected fine will not be imposed on Dortmund for the behaviour of their fans, but only for the breach of the COVID-19 rules inside the team bus.

The DFL said they will announce the result of their investigations and a possible fine for Dortmund later this week.

Devon Conway is just trying to "ride the wave" of his spectacular T20 form after an innings in the series opener against Australia that those from both sides lauded as incredible.

Conway finished unbeaten on 99 in Christchurch when he struck the final ball of the innings to deep cover and was unable to make it back for the second, having hit the previous two deliveries from Kane Richardson for six and four to bring the three-digit score within touching distance.

He had already become the first New Zealand batsman to make five consecutive 50-plus scores in T20 cricket, having entered this series on the back of 50, 69*, 91* and 93* in the domestic Super Smash. He has now scored 352 T20 runs since last being dismissed and has three half-centuries in his first five T20I innings. Thta includes an impressive start to his T20I career, with promising knocks against Pakistan and West Indies earlier in the season.

"You've just got to ride that wave as long as it lasts, but [I am] pretty happy; it's a good start to the series and [we have] just got to keep the momentum going," he said at the post-match presentation. "For me, the key to my batting is just playing strong shots and running hard between the wickets. [I'm] not looking too much into it and just enjoying the moment.

"Naturally, [I am] a little disappointed [to miss the hundred] but good to get the win. Probably a little more disappointed for Ish [Sodhi] not getting his five-for but happy days. It's pretty cool."

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson lauded Conway's display which led a recovery from 19 for 3 after he had joined the fall of powerplay wickets against Daniel Sams and Jhye Richardson.

"An incredible knock [it was]," he said. "It was obviously a really tough start for us with the bat and to see those partnerships through the middle order led by Devon with an unbelievable 99 on a surface that starting on wasn't all that easy. We saw that with a bit of swing in our innings as well. An incredible knock and a great effort to get to that 180-mark."

Mitchell Marsh, who top-scored for Australia with a strong 33-ball 45, was equally fulsome in his praise of Conway, and suggested the visitors would need to do some more scouting on him ahead of the second match in Dunedin.

"It was an incredible innings," Marsh said. "He is obviously someone we'll have to make sure we do a lot of homework over the next few days. Days like that you have to take your hat off and say well done. There's no doubt all our bowling group were well planned; he just had a great day."

While New Zealand were able to recover from losing three early wickets, the game was all but decided when Australia clattered to 19 for 4 inside five overs with Tim Southee and Trent Boult finding movement under Hagley Oval's lights that were being used for the first time in international cricket.

"The way they swung the ball - they probably swung it for seven or eight overs which, in T20 cricket, is pretty rare but we know they are world-class swing bowlers," Marsh said. "They have done it for the last 10 years those two. We'll have to combat that in the next few games if it swings."

Williamson conceded he had been surprised by the amount of assistance his two leading bowlers found. "With the ball it was an outstanding effort. Dew came into play, the guys swung the ball nicely, we weren't expecting it but was nice to have that asset."

David Warner has said he may feel the effects of the groin injury that has interrupted his season for up to nine months but is hopeful that he is getting closer to a return to action.

Warner suffered the injury during the second ODI against India at the end of November and missed the final ODI, the T20Is that followed and the first two Tests. He returned to the side for the Sydney and Brisbane matches when far from fully fit after Australia had patched up their opening pair with an out-of-form Joe Burns and out-of-position Matthew Wade.

He scored 5, 13, 1 and 48 in his four innings before being named in the squad for the now-postponed tour of South Africa, a format where he believes the tempo makes the injury more manageable. It remains to be seen whether he is able to play for New South Wales over the next month before heading to the IPL to join Sunrisers Hyderabad for which he'll need an NOC from Cricket Australia.

"I am almost back to full 100% sprinting in a straight line. This next week is getting back to fielding, picking up, throwing, very difficult that was [in the] last couple of weeks, even trying to throw," Warner said during Fox Cricket's coverage of the first T20I in Christchurch.

"Now it's all about lateral, running between wickets, building that up. It's just the tendon that has got that slight tear in it now. It's going to aggravate me for the next six to nine months but I am sure the medicos will help me out there."

"I have spoken to a few people that have actually had that type of injury and they have just said it's a niggle. You have just got to teach your brain to not worry about the pain and that it's not going to happen again. It's just getting back that confidence to sidestep and run as hard as I can and dive around again. Once I get that, I will be right to go. It's just not 100% there yet."

Warner's schedule during the Australian winter remains uncertain. The side could yet qualify for the World Test Championship final, scheduled for June 18, if results in the India-England series go their way and there is a limited-overs trip to the West Indies due to take place. Trips to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for T20Is ahead of the World Cup in India are pencilled in for September and October. He has also put his name into the draft for The Hundred.

If Australia do not make the WTC final, their next Test cricket may not be until the Ashes, which could be pushed back to a December start, although the Test against Afghanistan, which was postponed from this season, may be slotted in before that series.

Warner's opening partner in the Sydney Test, Will Pucovski, has taken the opportunity of the likely lack of Test cricket to undergo shoulder reconstruction which will keep him out of action for up to six months.

It is easy to forget that Ishant Sharma, who will play his 100th Test this Wednesday, is only 32 years old. He has seen a lot of ups and downs at such a young age. Most importantly, he has kept working on his skill and fitness to turn around a career that at one point looked like one of the luckier ones. From there to leading India's attack to being one of the best Test bowlers in the world over the last four years is a testament to his commitment and stubbornness.

Test cricket is Ishant's world now, and the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) is his World Cup. When asked if he can see himself going past Kapil Dev's mark of 131 Tests - the most for an India fast bowler - Ishant said he wasn't looking beyond qualifying for the WTC final.

"There's a lot of time to 131," Ishant said. "Right now I am only thinking about how we can win the next Test. And then the next so that we can qualify for the final of World Test Championship. I have only [one] format [to play in], so the WTC is like a World Cup for me. If we reach the final and then go on to win it, it will be the same feeling as winning the ICC World Cup."

Ever since Ishant has stopped playing other formats for India though, he has been able to spend more time on his Test skills. One of the well-known improvements came about under Jason Gillespie at Sussex, where he learnt to bowl fuller without sacrificing on the pace, without floating the ball up there. Ishant acknowledged that missing other formats might have helped him, but he would have got to 100 Tests anyway.

"Obviously I want to play white-ball cricket," Ishant said. "A sportsman's only job is to play. What will he do if he doesn't play? But I don't think too much about the formats I miss. I only think about the format I am playing. How can I perform better in the format I am playing? How can I make my team win? If you think positively about a situation, it is easier to stay grateful and perform for the team.

"Maybe not playing three formats has helped me play 100 but I don't think I wouldn't have got there if I was playing other formats. I am only 32 after all, and not 42. Maybe I wouldn't have got there this early, but I am sure the amount of time I have played and the way I stay fit and look after my conditioning, I would have played 100."

"The sooner you forget things and move on in life, the better it is for you. This is the biggest lesson I have learned. If you are stuck on the past, you can't move ahead."

ISHANT SHARMA

Over the years, Ishant has also understood his body better and has learnt to train smarter. "Thirty-eight is difficult to say as of now," Ishant said when asked if he felt in his best shape and if he could continue playing as long as England's James Anderson, another one-format bowler, has. "I just go one Test at a time. I don't think too far because you never know. You just take it one game at a time. But, yes, I understand my body, what kind of training I need to do. Before also I used to train very hard but didn't use to think about the recovery. But as you grow older and you have to bowl long spells, then you need to look after yourself. So, I am looking after myself."

You can look after yourself the best possible way but you still can't control everything. In the winter before this one, Ishant was looking at playing his 100th Test in Australia, but first an injury cut short his tour of New Zealand and then another - combined with Covid-19 restrictions - resulted in his missing the Australia tour altogether.

"I'd have loved to go to Australia and complete my 100 Tests there but there are things that are not in your control," Ishant said. "Because of Covid restrictions, I couldn't have made it in time. But the sooner you forget things and move on in life, the better it is for you. This is the biggest lesson I have learned. If you are stuck on the past, you can't move ahead. The next match can also get affected by your past performance. I only keep trying to forget what has happened and focus on what lies ahead."

What lies ahead is also a slow handing of the baton over to Jasprit Bumrah, who Ishant feels, will be the next leader of the attack. "I learnt a lot from Zak [Zaheer Khan]," Ishant said. "Especially his work ethic. He always used to tell me how important fitness is for a fast bowler. That's what I kept in mind. That's what I tell everyone in the team: keep working hard on your fitness and I am sure you will play longer.

"Jasprit Bumrah has to lead the way for the youngsters after me. The way he grooms the youngsters, the way he talks to them is important. [Navdeep] Saini has pace, [Mohammed] Siraj has control. Everyone's skill is different. If you ask Saini to bowl in one area, you are not doing justice to his strength. If you ask Siraj to bowl consistently at 140, you are not backing his strength. So, it is important to understand their strengths first."

So, which captain understood Ishant's strengths the best? Ask not what your captain can do for you, ask what you can do for your captain, Ishant said. "More than the captain understanding me, it is important for me to understand what the captain wants from me," he said. "If the communication is clear, things get easy for the team. The more time you spend with a captain, the communication gets easier."

Sri Lanka quick Lahiru Kumara has tested positive for Covid-19, which rules him out of the tour of the West Indies in March, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on Monday. Suranga Lakmal is in the frame to be his replacement in the travelling party.

"Following PCR Tests carried out on the squad nominated to take part in the 'white ball' segment of the tour of West Indies, Lahiru Kumara has tested positive for Covid-19," an SLC media statement said.

Earlier this month, both head coach Mickey Arthur and top-order batsman Lahiru Thirimanne had tested positive for Covid-19, while seamers Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne were removed from the training group following positive tests last month.

While no other player tested positive in the latest round of testing, it might be a matter of concern that all members of the squad, including Kumara, had participated in a practice game the day before the latest tests were conducted.

"Immediately upon identification, Lahiru Kumara has been directed to follow the Government's health protocol laid out on Covid-19," the release said. "Sri Lanka Cricket will continue with normal operations, adhering to the stipulated Health Protocols."

The series, which will begin with the first T20I on March 4, has had to be rescheduled once - it was originally slated to start on February 20 - and Sri Lanka's limited-overs squad is due to fly out on February 23. But several players, who have to serve Covid-19 quarantines and/or are returning from injury, will link up with the rest of the squad at a later date, likely to be before the Test series that starts on March 17.

Though the Western Conference standings look like a three-team race between the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, the rising Phoenix Suns aren't far behind. Chris Paul, Devin Booker & Co. have won 11 of their past 13 games.

In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets just keep winning. After sweeping at Staples Center -- and their entire five-game West road trip -- the Nets have run their win streak to a season-best six games.

Where do the Suns and Nets check in? Let's dive into our Week 10 rankings.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Eric Woodyard, Royce Young and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

Previous rankings: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9

1. Utah Jazz
2020-21 record: 24-6
Previous ranking: 1

The Jazz, who have played a league-low 20 clutch minutes this season, considered their loss to the Clippers a valuable learning experience. "Their abilities to cause problems both offensively and defensively throughout games are what we're going to have to compete against and have to beat to get to our ultimate goal," said Mike Conley, who returned after missing six games due to hamstring tightness. "For us to play the game that we did tonight, and be able to finish the way we did and execute down the stretch against a great team like this, I think it's a great lesson." -- MacMahon

This week: CHA, LAL, @MIA, @ORL

2. LA Clippers
2020-21 record: 22-10
Previous ranking: 3

The Clippers started last week without Kawhi Leonard (leg contusion) and Paul George (swollen toe) before losing Nicolas Batum to a concussion. They finally got all three starters back on Friday and stopped a red-hot Jazz. But the Clippers continue to keep an eye on the big picture as they ease George back on a minutes restriction that kept him out of the final minutes of a tight loss to Brooklyn. At 22-10, the Clippers are still where they want to be -- they continue to build chemistry and try to stay healthy. The Clippers' defense needs to catch up to the offense and should get better as Leonard and George get back into the swing of things. -- Youngmisuk

This week: WAS, @MEM, @MEM, @MIL

3. Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21 record: 22-9
Previous ranking: 2

The defending champions look vulnerable for the first time, having lost three out of four games since Anthony Davis suffered a calf strain and aggravated tendinosis in his right leg and starting point guard Dennis Schroder was sidelined because of COVID-19 contact tracing. Nevertheless, LeBron James said he's up to the task. "We're in the winning business, and I've always been a winner," James said. "So, it's time to click into that." -- McMenamin

This week: WAS, @UTA, POR, GSW

4. Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 record: 20-12
Previous ranking: 7

Not that anyone in the league needed a message that the Nets are scary-loaded, but their long weekend trip to Los Angeles served as a potent reminder. Without Kevin Durant, the Nets took down the Lakers on Thursday (sans Anthony Davis) and the full-strength Clippers at Staples Center on Sunday. And there are at least some signs Brooklyn could be a better defensive team, with its games in L.A. as evidence. That's six straight for the Nets, with Durant coming back soon and a schedule that could run their win streak into double figures. -- Young

This week: SAC, ORL, DAL

5. Phoenix Suns
2020-21 record: 19-10
Previous ranking: 5

While the Jazz have taken the Western Conference by storm, the Suns are on quite a roll, as well. After falling to 8-8 on Jan. 27 after dropping games following a weeklong postponement of games, the Suns have won 11 of 13 games. In its past two games, Phoenix has scorched the nets from deep. Against the Pelicans on Friday, Phoenix tied a then-franchise record with 22 3-pointers. The following night against Memphis, the Suns passed that mark with 24 triples against the Grizzlies. -- Lopez

This week: POR, CHA, @CHI, @MIN

6. Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 record: 20-11
Previous ranking: 4

Philadelphia might have dropped a couple of games this week, but the real news here is the sudden arrival of an aggressive version of Ben Simmons. If the Sixers' do-it-all point guard is going to add scoring in bunches to his repertoire -- something he did without Joel Embiid on Monday in Utah (42 points) and with him Sunday in Tampa (28 points) -- it's going to make Philadelphia way more dangerous down the road. -- Bontemps

This week: @TOR, DAL, CLE

7. Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 record: 18-13
Previous ranking: 6

With a 98-85 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday, the Bucks were able to snap a five-game skid. Milwaukee built off that win two days later behind 70 combined points from Giannis Antetokounmpo (38) and Khris Middleton (32). They each had at least 30 points in the same game for the seventh time, the second-most such games by a pair of teammates in Bucks history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau research. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob Dandridge did it more times (11). -- Woodyard

This week: MIN, NOP, LAC

8. Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 record: 18-11
Previous ranking: 9

"Dame Time" doesn't have an actual statistical definition, but clutch time does. In those moments -- when the score is within five points in the final five minutes of regulation and overtime -- Damian Lillard continues to rise to the occasion. He's second in the league in clutch-time points and is doing it on an absolutely absurd 61.5% from the floor,\ and 58.8% from 3. He's 24-for-24 from the free throw line and is third in assists (15), and his team is 12-4, which tied for the most clutch-time wins in the NBA. -- Young

This week: @PHX, @DEN, @LAL

9. Denver Nuggets
2020-21 record: 16-14
Previous ranking: 8

Injuries and inconsistency continue to slow down the Nuggets. After a big win over the Lakers on Valentine's Day, the Nuggets dropped three of four road games with their only win coming on the strength of Jamal Murray's incredible, 50-point explosion against Cleveland. They lost a game they thought they should've had at Washington. JaMychal Green and Gary Harris are injured, and Nikola Jokic had to play through a thumb issue. The Nuggets hit the road for four more games before the All-Star break. -- Youngmisuk

This week: POR, WAS, @OKC

10. San Antonio Spurs
2020-21 record: 16-11
Previous ranking: 10

The Spurs have not played since Feb. 14 because of positive COVID-19 tests among the squad. The NBA said the Spurs had four players test positive and had their games postponed through Monday's scheduled contest against the Pacers. San Antonio was on a roll prior to the positive tests, having won five of its past six games. -- Lopez

This week: @OKC, NOP

11. Indiana Pacers
2020-21 record: 15-14
Previous ranking: 11

The Pacers split a pair of overtime games versus Chicago and Minnesota this week before Saturday's game in Houston was postponed. Domantas Sabonis put up 36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in Wednesday's win over the Timberwolves, becoming the first Pacers player with 30 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists since the franchise joined the NBA in 1976, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. -- Woodyard

This week: GSW, @BOS, @NYK

12. Boston Celtics
2020-21 record: 15-15
Previous ranking: 12

An ugly season in Boston got a lot worse Sunday, when the Celtics blew a 24-point lead to the Pelicans in the second half before eventually losing in overtime to fall back to .500. Their uneven performances all season, Marcus Smart's likely absence until after the All-Star break and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge's saying, "Our roster is obviously not good" in a radio interview Thursday are only going to increase speculation about a potential trade. -- Bontemps

This week: @DAL, @ATL, IND, WAS

13. Golden State Warriors
2020-21 record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 13

The Warriors' season took more roller-coaster turns than usual this week. A 19-point comeback win over the Heat on Wednesday without Draymond Green (ankle) was arguably the team's best win of the season, but back-to-back late meltdowns in Orlando and Charlotte followed. Stephen Curry missed the loss to the Hornets due to illness, but the Warriors are optimistic about getting James Wiseman (wrist) and Kevon Looney (ankle) back this week, maybe as early as Tuesday against the Knicks. -- Friedell

This week: @NYK, @IND, CHA, @LAL

14. Toronto Raptors
2020-21 record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 17

After a perfect week against fellow East rivals the 76ers and the Bucks (twice), the Raptors have officially climbed over .500 after their disastrous 2-8 start. Since then, the Raptors have gone 14-7, good for the second-best record in the East (behind Brooklyn's 15-6). Suddenly, Toronto is a team to be reckoned with in the East once again. -- Bontemps

This week: PHI, @MIA, HOU, CHI

15. New York Knicks
2020-21 record: 15-16
Previous ranking: 15

New York just keeps on winning. No, it's not pretty. No, it's not flashy. But the Knicks play hard, they play defense and they're third in the NBA in defensive rating. Tom Thibodeau has done an impressive job in his first season on the sideline at Madison Square Garden, and as a result, the Knicks currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Julius Randle, who is one of many deserving contenders for a reserve spot on this year's All-Star team, should also get plenty of credit for the Knicks remaining far above water at this point in the season. -- Bontemps

This week: GSW, SAC, IND, @DET

16. Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 record: 13-15
Previous ranking: 14

Kristaps Porzingis has found his rhythm offensively, averaging 22.8 points on .500/.423/.903 shooting splits in February. But Porzingis' defensive struggles are a major problem for the Mavs, who rely on him to protect the rim, a role he excelled in last season. He has the worst defensive rating (119.5) of any player in the league who averages at least 20 minutes per game -- and it has shot up to 128.2 this month. "He's had to play his way into shape, and it just hasn't been the same," coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's a work in progress." -- MacMahon

This week: MEM, BOS, @PHI, @BKN

17. Charlotte Hornets
2020-21 record: 14-15
Previous ranking: 16

Terry Rozier hit some clutch shots down the stretch in Saturday's comeback win over the Warriors, including the buzzer-beater that brought Charlotte all the way back. The Hornets had two games postponed because of COVID-19 protocols and now face one of their toughest stretches of the season with six straight road games to close the season's first half. -- Friedell

This week: @UTA, @PHX, @GSW, @SAC

18. Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 record: 13-13
Previous ranking: 20

Justise Winslow finally made his Grizzlies debut in Saturday night's loss, more than a year after Memphis traded for him. Winslow, who had a back injury when the trade was made and then displaced his left hip during a practice in the bubble, unsurprisingly looked rusty (nine points on 3-of-14 shooting). "This guy has a bright future with us," coach Taylor Jenkins said. "He'll be back to normal Justise very, very soon." -- MacMahon

This week: @DAL, LAC, LAC, @HOU

19. Miami Heat
2020-21 record: 13-17
Previous ranking: 19

Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn combined for 51 points as Miami pulled off a solid road win on Saturday night over the Lakers. That was the bright spot of a week that included a loss to a Clippers team playing without several starters, including Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and a loss to the Warriors that came after blowing a 19-point lead. The good news for the Heat is after Monday's game against the Thunder, they get four straight at home, including a Friday showdown with the Jazz. -- Friedell

This week: @OKC, TOR, UTA, ATL

20. Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 record: 13-17
Previous ranking: 21

Hawks point guard Trae Young had 35 points and 15 assists in Sunday's win over the Nuggets. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, it was Young's 42nd career game with at least 25 points and 10 assists, most in the NBA since his debut. Also, he tied Luka Doncic with his fifth 30-point, 15-assist game by a player age 22 or younger. Only Oscar Robertson (eight) has more. -- Lopez

This week: @CLE, BOS, @OKC, @MIA

21. New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21 record: 13-17
Previous ranking: 22

What a wild 48 hours for the Pelicans. On Friday night, they entered the fourth quarter up 11 but managed to lose to the Suns by 18. According to research by the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the largest defeat in the shot-clock era for a team entering the fourth quarter up double digits. So how did New Orleans respond? By setting the franchise record by coming back from 24 points down to defeat the Celtics on Sunday afternoon. -- Lopez

This week: @CLE, BOS, @OKC, @MIA

22. Chicago Bulls
2020-21 record: 13-16
Previous ranking: 25

Chicago won three games this week -- over Indiana, Detroit and Sacramento -- but dropped Friday's game at Philadelphia behind a 50-point performance from Joel Embiid. Zach LaVine continues to play at an elite level, scoring 38 points during Saturday's win over Sacramento. LaVine has 281 points in his past eight games; the only other Bulls player with that many points over an eight-game span is Michael Jordan. -- Woodyard

This week: @HOU, MIN, PHX, @TOR

23. Sacramento Kings
2020-21 record: 12-18
Previous ranking: 18

The good: Tyrese Haliburton had perhaps his finest game as a pro with 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. The bad: The Bucks beat the Kings in Haliburton's showcase performance, extending the Kings' losing streak to seven. -- McMenamin

This week: @BKN, @NYK, @DET, CHA

24. Orlando Magic
2020-21 record: 13-18
Previous ranking: 26

After being ravaged by injuries for most of the year, the Magic have finally stabilized and are riding a three-game winning streak into Tuesday's game with the Pistons. Nikola Vucevic's strong play continued in a comeback win Friday over the Warriors, as the big man racked up a triple-double. Evan Fournier, meanwhile, has had a huge week since returning from back spasms, combining for 76 points, 16 assists and 14 rebounds over his past three games. -- Friedell

This week: DET, @BKN, UTA

25. Houston Rockets
2020-21 record: 11-17
Previous ranking: 23

Center Christian Wood said he hopes to return from his sprained right ankle before the All-Star break. The Rockets have lost eight in a row since Wood, their leading scorer and rebounder, sprained his ankle for the second time. Houston averages 111.3 points per 100 possessions with Wood on the floor and only 103.1 when he's off it. -- MacMahon

This week: CHI, @CLE, @TOR, MEM

26. Washington Wizards
2020-21 record: 10-17
Previous ranking: 29

This past week was easily the best week of the season for the Wizards. Bradley Beal earned his first starting nod in the All-Star Game after being snubbed last year, and the Wizards have won four straight games, beating Boston, Houston, Denver and Portland. Not only are Beal and Russell Westbrook putting up the kind of numbers Washington envisioned, but Rui Hachimura has been solid and Davis Bertans finally showed some signs of busting out of his slump with 35 points against Denver. And amazingly, the Wizards are within shooting distance of the No. 8 spot in the East. -- Youngmisuk

This week: @LAL, @LAC, @DEN, MIN, @BOS

27. Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-21 record: 12-18
Previous ranking: 24

As the Thunder transition their roster, there's opportunity for young players to not just play, but experiment with roles and responsibilities. And one player who has quietly made a dramatic leap forward this season is Hamidou Diallo. The former dunk champion has played all over the floor this season but has improved across the board. He's averaging career highs basically everywhere and is making a nightly impact. As the Thunder evaluate their young talent, Diallo has the look of a player possibly just scratching the surface of his potential. -- Young

This week: MIA, SAS, ATL, DEN

28. Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21 record: 10-21
Previous ranking: 27

The Cavs' losing streak stretched to 10 games with a loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday. A silver lining: In the Thunder defeat, Jarrett Allen went 11-for-11 for the field, finishing with 26 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks. -- McMenamin

This week: ATL, HOU, @PHI

29. Detroit Pistons
2020-21 record: 8-22
Previous ranking: 28

Detroit was hit with another blow during its loss to the Grizzlies on Friday when Delon Wright suffered a Grade 2 strain on his right groin. Wright is expected to miss two weeks. One of the highlights of the week was Jerami Grant's putting up a career-best 43 points Wednesday during the Pistons' loss to the Bulls. After winning three of four, Detroit has dropped three straight. -- Woodyard

This week: @ORL, @NOP, SAC, NYK

30. Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 record: 7-24
Previous ranking: 30

The Wolves saw this season as a developmental stepping stone to prepare for a sustained run of success with a young core, but without the results and progression, they parted ways with coach Ryan Saunders on Sunday. It's a tough spot for the franchise, with Saunders a part of their fabric, but the Wolves are searching for a new direction. But at least Wolves fans have Anthony Edwards' dunk of the year contender, which probably will serve as the primary highlight of the Wolves' season. -- Young

This week: @MIL, @CHI, @WAS, PHX

Over the winter, when Fernando Tatis Jr. was not working on trying to fulfill his goal of becoming the best baseball player ever, he exhausted his free time working on his farms in the Dominican Republic. He rode horses and fed chickens and tended to the lemons and hunted duck. Tatis might be the burgeoning face of baseball -- his 14-year, $340 million contract with the San Diego Padres set to be announced today -- but he's plenty happy to soil that mug every now and again. More than once this offseason, Tatis found himself squatting in the dirt, milking cows.

If the thought of Tatis playing farmhand is utterly perplexing, well, get ready for more. He is not all swag and dreadlocks. If 2019 was the introduction and 2020 the breakout, 2021 is primed to be The Year of Tatis -- the full blossoming of a staggering talent whose appeal goes well beyond the game of baseball. No disrespect intended to Mike Trout, who still holds the title of Best Player on the Planet, or Juan Soto, who is quickly locking down Best Hitter on the Planet, or Mookie Betts, who showed the ability to make an entire month his own when he stole October.

It's just one of those moments in which everything aligns perfectly -- the player, the team, the time. There have been triumphs and there will be impediments and it's all part of the hero's journey, which, when foisted on a 22-year-old, can feel a bit premature. Might be. Probably is. But then, Tatis is here, with all of these things, because when given other challenges, other burdens, he has slayed them. And with each conquest comes something more -- this time, winning the Padres' first championship or his first MVP award or doing the sorts of things only historically great players can actualize.