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TORONTO — Raptors fans and guard Kyle Lowry finally got to enjoy their long-awaited reunion Sunday.

The six-time All-Star guard returned to Toronto for the first time in more than two years, his first trip back north of the border since an offseason trade to the Miami Heat.

“I missed everything about the city, the country, the organization,” Lowry said in a pregame news conference. “It’s a lot to miss.”

A key part of Toronto’s NBA championship in 2019, Lowry spent nine seasons with the Raptors. He remains the franchise leader in assists (4,277), steals (873), 3-pointers (1,518) and triple-doubles (16).

“It’s a place I called home for a long time,” Lowry said of his emotions about returning to his old arena. “I won a lot of basketball games here, set a lot of records here. I’ve got a banner hanging up in there. It’s just a special place.

“It’s not my home building anymore, but it’s a place I’ll always call home.”

After a video tribute spanning his Raptors career, Lowry was introduced as a visitor the same way he once was as a local star, with the words “From North Philly to your city.”

With a full house of cheering fans on their feet, Lowry led his two young sons to center court, holding his hands aloft in gratitude but managing to contain his emotions. He’d previously suggested he might cry but pledged before the game to try and hold it in.

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“I know if I cry, DeMar’s going to make fun of me and it’s going to go viral and all that stuff,” Lowry said, referring to longtime teammate DeMar DeRozan. “I’m looking forward to just being in the moment.”

Lowry last played in Toronto on Feb. 28, 2020, when the defending champion Raptors lost to Charlotte.

“I’m going to be honest, I don’t even remember who we played,” Lowry said.

Less than two weeks later, the NBA season was shut down by the coronavirus pandemic, eventually resuming at Walt Disney World, where Toronto’s title defense ended in a seven-game loss to Boston in the second round.

With the Canadian border still closed by COVID-19, the Raptors were forced to relocate to Tampa, Florida, for Lowry’s final season with the team in 2020-21, depriving Toronto fans of a proper goodbye.

Struggling to win in their temporary home after the team was hit by a coronavirus outbreak, Toronto nearly traded Lowry at the deadline last season. Instead, they moved him to Miami in the summer, landing guard Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa in exchange.

“It was just time,” Lowry said of his amicable Toronto exit. “It was like naturally a good phaseout. It was time for the next phase.”

Lowry found the perfect accessory for the stylish blue suit he wore to his pregame news conference: his massive, diamond-studded ring from Toronto’s 2019 championship.

“It’s special to me and the city, and the country, and the organization, so why not wear it?” Lowry said.

Earlier, Toronto Mayor John Tory officially proclaimed Sunday “Kyle Lowry Day” in the city to mark the star guard’s return. In a video posted to Twitter, the mayor praised Lowry for both his play and his off-court charitable work.

“We love him, we will always love him,” Tory said.

Lowry didn’t play between Jan. 15 and Feb. 3 because of personal reasons, missing all three previous meetings between the Heat and Raptors. Those games included Miami’s Feb. 1 visit to Toronto, which was played before just a few hundred fans because of Ontario government restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those restrictions have since been lifted, and a large crowd arrived early to welcome Lowry back to Toronto, cheering when he came out for warmups.

While Raptors fans were delighted to see Lowry back in town, coach Nick Nurse wasn’t laying out the welcome mat for his former star.

“I hope to God we ruin his night,” Nurse joked.

Lowry insisted he was up to meeting Nurse’s challenge.

“As a competitor, I know the competitiveness is going to come out, so I’m going to try to win it,” he said, “but I’m going to enjoy this moment and enjoy being here.”

With Heat coach Erik Spoelstra entering the health and safety protocols Sunday, assistant Chris Quinn led the Heat in Lowry’s emotional return. Quinn said Lowry has made a big impact on Miami since his arrival.

“A guy with his stature, his leadership qualities, he’s brought our team to another level,” Quinn said. “We certainly enjoy being around him and learning from him.”

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago White Sox acquired Reese McGuire from the Toronto Blue Jays for Zack Collins on Sunday in a trade of reserve catchers.

McGuire was selected by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2013 amateur draft. He batted .253 with a homer and 10 RBIs in a career-high 78 games last year.

The 27-year-old McGuire made his big league debut in 2018. He is a .248 hitter with nine homers and 26 RBIs in 141 career games, all with the Blue Jays.

Collins, 27, set career highs with a .210 batting average, four homers and 26 RBIs in 78 games for the American League Central champions last year.

Collins was drafted by Chicago with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 amateur draft. He is a .195 hitter with seven homers and 38 RBIs in 114 career games, all with the White Sox.

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As the NBA’s 2021-22 regular season draws to a conclusion on April 10, teams near the middle of the standings are battling for postseason seeding with a special focus on the league’s play-in tournament.

Held before the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs, the play-in tournament adds an exciting wrinkle to the end of the regular season. Teams were already less incentivized to tank games down the stretch because of the flattened lottery odds instituted in 2019. Now that the top 10 teams in the standings will finish the regular season with at least a chance to make the playoffs, more franchises will stay in the mix for longer.

The play-in tournament will be held April 12-15.

Here’s everything you need to know about the setup this season.

MORE: Current NBA standings

How the 2022 play-in race is shaping up

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Entering Sunday, here’s how the play-in standings look in the East:

5. Toronto Raptors: 45-32, 2.5 games ahead of 7th
6. Chicago Bulls: 45-33, 2 GA
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7. Cleveland Cavaliers: 43-35, 2 games ahead of 8th
8. Atlanta Hawks, 41-37, 2 GB
9. Charlotte Hornets: 40-38, 3 GB
10. Brooklyn Nets, 40-38, 3 GB

All the teams below Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference (Washington, New York, Indiana, Detroit, Orlando) have officially been eliminated from play-in contention. Additionally, Charlotte and Brooklyn have been eliminated from contention for sixth place, meaning the Hornets and Nets will be in the play-in round. The Cavs and Hawks can get up to sixth and avoid the play-in round.

Here’s how the play-in games would look if the season ended today:

No. 8 Hawks at No. 7 Cavaliers

No. 10 Nets at No. 9 Hornets

Here are the games Sunday with the potential to impact the play-in standings:

76ers at Cavaliers, 6 p.m. ET

Heat at Raptors, 7 p.m. ET

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Entering Sunday, here’s how the play-in standings look in the West:

5. Utah Jazz: 46-32, 2 games ahead of 7th
6. Denver Nuggets: 46-32, 2 GA
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7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 44-34, 6 games ahead of 8th
8. LA Clippers: 38-40, 3.5 games ahead of 9th
9. New Orleans Pelicans: 34-43, 3 games ahead of 11th
10. San Antonio Spurs: 32-45, 1 game ahead of 11th
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11. Los Angeles Lakers: 31-46, 1 GB
12. Sacramento Kings: 29-49, 3.5 GB

The three teams below Sacramento in the standings (Portland, Oklahoma City, Houston) have been eliminated from play-in contention. The Timberwolves can finish no worse than seventh. The Clippers need one more win to clinch the eighth seed. The Kings would be eliminated with two more losses, two more wins by the Spurs or a combination of one of each. The Kings hold the tiebreaker over the Spurs. The Spurs hold the tiebreaker over the Lakers, meaning Los Angeles must finish ahead of San Antonio to make the play-in tournament.

Here’s how the play-in games would look if the season ended today:

No. 8 Clippers at No. 7 Timberwolves

No. 10 Spurs at No. 9 Pelicans

Here are the games Sunday with the potential to impact the play-in standings:

Nuggets at Lakers, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC

Timberwolves at Rockets, 7 p.m. ET

Trail Blazers at Spurs, 7 p.m. ET

Warriors at Kings, 9 p.m. ET

Pelicans at Clippers, 9:30 p.m. ET

MORE: Full NBA schedule

How does the NBA play-in tournament work?

There will be six total games involving eight teams as part of the play-in tournament, split up between the two conferences.

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The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots, while team Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the play-in. Any team that finishes worse than No. 10 will be in the lottery.

Here’s how the games will work:

Game 1: The No. 7 team in the standings by winning percentage will host the No. 8 team, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losing team gets another chance in Game 3.

Game 2: The No. 9 team will host the No. 10 team, with the winner moving on to Game 3. The loser is eliminated and enters the NBA draft lottery.

Game 3: The loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup will host the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup, with the victor grabbing the No. 8 seed in the postseason. The loser of Game 3 also enters the lottery.

This means that the teams with the seventh-highest and eighth-highest winning percentages will have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot, while the teams with the ninth-highest and 10th-highest winning percentages need to win two straight games to advance.

What’s next after the play-in?

Once the play-in winners, seeded No. 7 and No. 8 from each conference advance, the 2022 NBA playoffs will begin on April 16. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is June 2.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox right-hander Lance Lynn was pulled from his final spring training start Saturday night with right knee discomfort.

Lynn limped off the field after a pitch during the fourth inning against Arizona. The 34-year-old had issues with the same knee last season and went on the injured list for 10 days. He also spent almost a month after the season resting and rehabbing the knee.

Lynn’s injury comes hours after Chicago announced that left-handed reliever Garrett Crochet will need season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Lynn went 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA in 28 starts last season and finished third in AL Cy Young Award balloting behind winner Robbie Ray of Toronto and Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.

The 22-year-old Crochet had a 2.82 ERA over 54 appearances last year, going 3-5 with 65 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings.

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The Chicago White Sox might not be done making trades before Opening Day. The White Sox traded Craig Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for outfielder A.J. Pollock.

Pollock is a good hitter with a history of injuries as he has averaged playing 90 games over 10 seasons. If he can stay healthy, he can be an upgrade in right field (even though he has played six career games in right).

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Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham will enter the NBA draft, but will maintain his college eligibility, he told ESPN on Friday.

“I will be testing the draft waters while keeping my college eligibility intact,” Branham said. “I want to find the best situation and the right fit for me. I am staying in the draft if I’m in the first round because I believe if someone gives me four years to prove myself, I have no doubt that they will love what they’re getting.”

Branham was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30 minutes per game for Ohio State. The 18-year-old, who is ranked No. 16 in the ESPN 100 among NBA draft prospects, was also voted third-team all-conference.

“The season was exciting, we had our ups and downs, but we battled all year,” Branham said. “We stayed together throughout and did our best. To receive Big Ten Freshman of the Year was definitely an honor, it showed me that the work was worth it. Advancing in the NCAA tourney was fun. I just wanted to make sure I did my part to help the team. I wish we could’ve been playing at the Final Four this weekend, but I know that we fought and gave it all we had. I think NBA teams were able to learn that I don’t quit and I’m going to work. The beginning of the season wasn’t ideal for me and my standards, but the work is what got me through.”

Branham started off the season slowly, coming off the bench initially for Ohio State and reaching double-figure scoring just once in the first ten games. He eventually exploded in Big Ten play, posting 35 points against Nebraska in December and averaging a highly efficient 20 points per game over the final ten contests, including an impressive 23 point outing in a NCAA tournament loss to eventual Final Four participants Villanova.

A product of St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio, where LeBron James attended high school, Branham emerged as a surprise one-and-done candidate as a four-star recruit who wasn’t firmly on NBA radars when the season started. As the year moved on, Ohio State increasingly leaned on him for scoring production, allowing him to demonstrate progressively polished shot-creation, playmaking and shot-making prowess both beyond the arc and in the mid-range.

“I was absolutely expecting this type of Big Ten campaign,” Branham said. “I know what I’m capable of and I work hard at it. I attribute it to me being able to settle in and see the game. As you go up in levels, the speed of the game changes and I was able to slow things down with the help of my coaches and teammates. Breaking down film with coaches and gaining a better understanding of making the right reads, offensively and defensively, allowed me to excel even more in the second half of the season. I believe NBA teams will learn that I’ll be a sponge, no matter how things are going for me I’m willing to learn and take the time to be better. As I do those things, I can then apply what I’ve gained in understanding.”

A 6-foot-5 guard, Branham’s combination of size, frame, length, scoring instincts and shot-making prowess off the dribble (44% FG%) and with his feet set (43%) looks seamlessly translatable for what the NBA is looking for at his position. He plays with a unique combination of aggressiveness and poise for a player who won’t turn 19 until May, and the fact that he has made such impressive strides as the season moved on, especially facilitating for others and showing competitiveness defensively one-on-one, could put him in lottery conversations with a strong pre-draft process considering how high his ceiling is as a prospect.

The NBA draft combine will be held May 16-22 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 23 in Brooklyn, New York.

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Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham will enter the NBA draft, but will maintain his college eligibility, he told ESPN on Friday.

“I will be testing the draft waters while keeping my college eligibility intact,” Branham said. “I want to find the best situation and the right fit for me. I am staying in the draft if I’m in the first round because I believe if someone gives me four years to prove myself, I have no doubt that they will love what they’re getting.”

Branham was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30 minutes per game for Ohio State. The 18-year-old, who is ranked No. 16 in the ESPN 100 among NBA draft prospects, was also voted third-team all-conference.

“The season was exciting, we had our ups and downs, but we battled all year,” Branham said. “We stayed together throughout and did our best. To receive Big Ten Freshman of the Year was definitely an honor, it showed me that the work was worth it. Advancing in the NCAA tourney was fun. I just wanted to make sure I did my part to help the team. I wish we could’ve been playing at the Final Four this weekend, but I know that we fought and gave it all we had. I think NBA teams were able to learn that I don’t quit and I’m going to work. The beginning of the season wasn’t ideal for me and my standards, but the work is what got me through.”

Branham started off the season slowly, coming off the bench initially for Ohio State and reaching double-figure scoring just once in the first ten games. He eventually exploded in Big Ten play, posting 35 points against Nebraska in December and averaging a highly efficient 20 points per game over the final ten contests, including an impressive 23 point outing in a NCAA tournament loss to eventual Final Four participants Villanova.

A product of St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio, where LeBron James attended high school, Branham emerged as a surprise one-and-done candidate as a four-star recruit who wasn’t firmly on NBA radars when the season started. As the year moved on, Ohio State increasingly leaned on him for scoring production, allowing him to demonstrate progressively polished shot-creation, playmaking and shot-making prowess both beyond the arc and in the mid-range.

“I was absolutely expecting this type of Big Ten campaign,” Branham said. “I know what I’m capable of and I work hard at it. I attribute it to me being able to settle in and see the game. As you go up in levels, the speed of the game changes and I was able to slow things down with the help of my coaches and teammates. Breaking down film with coaches and gaining a better understanding of making the right reads, offensively and defensively, allowed me to excel even more in the second half of the season. I believe NBA teams will learn that I’ll be a sponge, no matter how things are going for me I’m willing to learn and take the time to be better. As I do those things, I can then apply what I’ve gained in understanding.”

A 6-foot-5 guard, Branham’s combination of size, frame, length, scoring instincts and shot-making prowess off the dribble (44% FG%) and with his feet set (43%) looks seamlessly translatable for what the NBA is looking for at his position. He plays with a unique combination of aggressiveness and poise for a player who won’t turn 19 until May, and the fact that he has made such impressive strides as the season moved on, especially facilitating for others and showing competitiveness defensively one-on-one, could put him in lottery conversations with a strong pre-draft process considering how high his ceiling is as a prospect.

The NBA draft combine will be held May 16-22 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 23 in Brooklyn, New York.

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The Chicago White Sox traded closer Craig Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers in return for outfield A.J. Pollock. This is not an April Fool’s Day joke Chicago White Sox fans.

With one trade, Rick Hahn has turned around the frustrations fans were feeling about the Chicago White Sox’s less than thrilling offseason. He was able to shed Kimbrel’s one-year 16 million dollar salary for possibly two years of Pollock’s services at 10 million per season.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox swapped veteran outfielder AJ Pollock and veteran closer Craig Kimbrel on Friday, a rare one-for-one trade — with no money exchanged — that cleared up uncertainties for two championship contenders.

From the Dodgers’ perspective, the deal frees up more playing time for the young, promising Gavin Lux, who was left without a defined role in the wake of the Freddie Freeman signing. Kimbrel, meanwhile, would slot in as the closer, allowing Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to be more flexible with his usage of Blake Treinen.

The White Sox had been looking to trade Kimbrel ever since exercising their $16 million option on him for 2022, given that Liam Hendriks is entrenched as their closer. Their bullpen depth — featuring Aaron Bummer, Garrett Crochet and veteran additions Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly — allowed them to use Kimbrel in an effort to plug a hole in their outfield.

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Pollock, who will make $10 million in 2022 and carries a $10 million player option for 2023, will likely slide in as the White Sox right fielder, prompting Eloy Jimenez to remain in left and Andrew Vaughn to slot in as the designated hitter, further solidifying what was already a potent lineup. The left-handed-hitting Gavin Sheets also figures to be in the mix, with Chicago possibly rotating all four of those players through three spots.

The Dodgers checked in on Kimbrel before last summer’s trade deadline but were hesitant to acquire him given the presence of Kenley Jansen. Kimbrel now fills the ninth-inning void that was left when Jansen signed with the Atlanta Braves, allowing the rest of their relievers to move back a spot. Ahead of Kimbrel, the Dodgers can deploy Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Alex Vesia and Victor Gonzalez, with the likes of Tommy Kahnle, Phil Bickford and Dustin May slated to become available at various points throughout the season.

Kimbrel, 33, has been among the best closers in the sport for the better part of a decade, compiling 371 saves and a 2.24 ERA. After struggling with the Chicago Cubs from 2019 to 2020, Kimbrel dominated through the first four months of 2021, allowing only two earned runs and striking out 64 batters in 36 2/3 innings. In a non-closing role with the White Sox, however, Kimbrel’s ERA ballooned to 5.09 in 24 regular-season appearances.

Pollock, 34, batted .282/.337/.519 with 52 home runs and 150 RBIs in 258 games for the Dodgers from 2019 to 2021. The former All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner caught a lot of criticism for his early struggles, but he turned that around with a .933 OPS in October 2021.

In a separate move, the White Sox agreed to terms on a one-year, $7.45 million contract with right-hander Lucas Giolito, avoiding arbitration. Giolito, 26, went 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts last season, his fifth with Chicago.

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Nikola Jokic remains the consensus odds-on favorite to win the regular-season MVP award at sportsbooks, but a big week from Giannis Antetokounmpo has put the Milwaukee Bucks big man back in the mix.

Antetokounmpo’s MVP odds have improved from 12-1 to 5-1 this week, making him the third choice behind Jokic (-200) and Joel Embiid (+200) at Caesars Sportsbook. No other player has MVP odds better than 60-1 (Phoenix guard Devin Booker) at Caesars Sportsbook.

At 12-1 entering the week, Antetokounmpo’s MVP odds were as long as they’ve been all season. That would change after back-to-back big performances against the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets. He scored 44 points, including a late 3-pointer to force overtime, and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Bucks’ 120-119 win over the Nets on Thursday. He had 40 points and 14 rebounds in a win over the 76ers on Tuesday.

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A spokesperson for Caesars Sportsbook said while Antetokounmpo has attracted the second-most MVP bets behind Booker and the second-most money wagered behind Jokic over the last seven days, the odds movement from 12-1 to 5-1 was caused primarily by performance rather than any increase in betting interest.

Antetokounmpo and LeBron James are each averaging a league-best 30.1 points per game, with Embiid at 30.0 points per game. Jokic, who won last season’s MVP, is ninth in the league in scoring at 26.5 points per game but also is second in rebounds and leads all big men with eight assists per game.

Antetokounmpo won MVP in 2019 and 2029. Embiid has yet to win the award.

Entering April, and with two weeks until the playoffs begin, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley is the favorite for rookie of the year at -250 at Caesars Sportsbook. Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is the favorite to win defensive player of the year at +110, and Memphis guard Ja Morant is the favorite for most improved player at -550.

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