Another game, another win for the Sixers. Ho hum.

After first crushing the Nets, Philly’s win-streak is now at 12 games with a follow-up 115-108 win over the Pistons, eliminating Stan Van Gundy and Detroit from the playoff race in the process. The Sixers also swept the season series.

JJ Redick continued to shoot the lights out with a game-high 25 points on a 5-7 three point mark, while Marco Belinelli had another big night off the bench with 19 points on 4-7 three point shooting. Robert Covington scored 12 but also continued his excellent run on defense with two blocks and three steals, one of which came on the first Piston possession. Amir Johnson was a point short of a double-double go to with 10 rebounds.

Also of note, Markelle Fultz shot from three. It wasn’t bad, but it needs some work.

With four games left, the Sixers are tied with Cleveland for third in the East and have a two game lead on Indiana for fourth. Both teams play tough games tonight, with the Pacers hosting Golden State and the Cavs hosting Washington. Ty Lue is also expected to coach for the Cavs tonight.

As the playoffs quickly approach, probable Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons wants to improve on his free-throw shooting:

“Coming into the playoffs, free throws. I need to make my free throws. I think that’s one of the main things. … If I’m getting to the line, making free throws, it’s going to be hard sending me there.”

Philly’s back in action tomorrow night as they host the Cavs in what should be an early taste of a postseason atmosphere at 7 PM.

The Roundup:


Speaking of ho hum, the Phillies lost again!

After a 1:40 rain delay which we saw John Kruk entertain those on Facebook, the Phillies and Aaron Nola were tied with the Mets at two before Gabe Kapler pulled the ace after 87 pitches in five innings. Right move, unlike his Opening Day blunder.

Then Drew Hutchison pitched 2/3 innings in the sixth and gave up the deciding two runs on a triple. Tough luck right? Well…

I forgot how losing without controversy feels.

Maybe it changes today, as the Phillies play at home for the first time this season at 3:05 PM on NBC 10 against the Miami Marlins. Nick Pivetta will take the mound. The big question is whether or not Gabe Kapler will get booed. We’ll see.


The Eagles continued their eventual run to a second straight Super Bowl by signing former Packers tight end Richard Rodgers to a one-year deal. He’ll look to restart his career as a backup veteran tight end to go along with Zach Ertz. I still think the Birds draft a TE in three weeks.

New linebacker Paul Worrilow is happy to be close to home:

“For me, Philly was the place I wanted to get to,’’ he said after signing a one-year deal with the Eagles.

“I let my agent handle it, but he knew where I wanted to end up. This is it for me. I used to drive by the stadium as a kid all the time. You look out and see the Linc. That’s where I wanted to play. It’s nice to be home. Nice to be around my family.’’

Donnie Jones is unretiring and won’t return to the Eagles:

Another player that won’t return is Najee Goode, who is headed to the Colts.

Expect ticket prices for next season to increase.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thinks the gap between Dallas and Philadelphia is close:

“I think that if the gap is defined as them winning the Super Bowl and [us] not even getting in the playoffs, then we’ve got to close the gap,” Jones said. “I think that we should’ve been in the playoffs. We weren’t. But I don’t believe that us not being in the playoffs this past year is the size of the gap.”

Lolz.

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay went different routes in their latest mock drafts.

The Eagles’ social media team are nominated for a Webby.

Gorgeous:


The Flyers are back in action tonight as they host the Carolina Hurricanes in a huge game in their hunt towards the playoffs.

No word on who the starter is, but Brian Elliott could be the man between the pipes.

Goalie Brian Elliott, who is recovering from core-muscle surgery and hasn’t played since Feb. 10, did not rule out the possibility of returning Thursday. He called recovery an “ongoing process, and you keep evaluating it every day. It’s a process.”

“He’s got a lot of experience and he’s been in all situations before, so it’ll be good to get him back,” Laughton said. “I think the boys are looking forward to it, too.”

Coach Dave Hakstol would not reveal Thursday’s starter.

Asked about playing against the Hurricanes, Elliott said “nothing is ruled out right now. That’s a good thing to be talking like that. You’ve got to be happy how things have progressed.”

Jeremy Roenick is a big fan of Dave Hakstol.

Roenick feels Hakstol has done a quality job with a fairly young team and unreliable goaltending while redefining Sean Couturier’s game and resurrecting Claude Giroux’s. Both Couturier and Giroux have career highs in goals, assists, and points—and Giroux is in the MVP discussion with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.

“Hakstol has done a really good job, and he’s been patient,” Roenick said. “Hakstol has been patient and supportive, and that’s everything a player wants. I like Hakstol. Just as what he’s done with Giroux, who’s having the best season of his career, as is Couturier. The Flyers are playing as a team and playing for each and with each other. That’s the difference you see this year.

“When they struggle, not that they don’t work, but they work separately. They don’t work in unison, and that’s when they have problems. When they have worked within the system that the coach has worked out for them, things have worked out. They play defensively and they play more efficient. We saw that against Boston. I don’t think they worry too much about their goaltending. Now that may sound strange, but I think it’s a case of we may have a great goaltender tonight, we might not have a great goaltender tonight. We have to play great in front of the goaltender.”

Check out Anthony’s recap of the team’s loss to the Islanders from Tuesday.

Tonight, Florida plays host to Boston in Roberto Luongo’s 1,000th NHL game, New Jersey takes on Toronto, and Pittsburgh travels to Columbus.


Villanova has their championship parade in Center City beginning at 11 AM. Get your shirts while you’re at it.

Jalen Rose is an idiot. That’s why I stopped watching “Get Up” after one day.


In other sports news, happy Masters weekend. The first round is already underway, with Tiger Woods starting at 10:42 AM, defending champion Sergio Garcia at 10:53 AM, and the trio of Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson, and Jason Day at 11:04 AM.

Yesterday’s Par 3 contest produced two great moments. The first being Tony Finau chipping a hole in one and dislocating his ankle, before popping it back in place:

The second was Jack Nicklaus’ grandson hitting an ace on the final hole:

There will be an amateur women’s championship next year, with the final round at Augusta National.

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman may have stopped a potential school shooting thanks to an Instagram DM.

Mitch Kupchak is expected to be the new GM of the Charlotte Hornets.

The Titans got new uniforms and they’re…ugly?


In the news, the Tacony-Palmyra bridge is back open after a ship hit the bridge overnight.

President Trump has authorized the National Guard to go protect the Mexican border.