There are three MLB games tonight. Not to mention, the NHL and NBA playoffs continue. Here are the biggest North American sporting events taking place on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026.
MLB
Cincinnati Reds @ Tampa Bay Rays at 6:40 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV.
The Reds shelled the Rays yesterday for a 6-1 victory to take a 1-0 lead in this three-game set. If Cincy wins again tonight, they'll take the series. To help them win a second game, the Reds will be turning to Chase Burns, who has the best ERA on the team amongst starting pitchers (2.42). On the other side, Steven Matz gets the nod for the Rays as he looks to continue building on a promising start to the season with wins in each of his first three starts. Tampa really needs a victory tonight as they sit one game back from the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.
One question that will be answered: After being held to just one run yesterday, can the Rays reach home plate at least twice this evening?
Milwaukee Brewers @ Detroit Tigers at 6:40 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV.
Two of the better teams in the Majors kick off a three-game interleague series when the Brewers head East to take on the Tigers. Both squads have 12 wins under their belts as they look to improve their positions in their respective divisions. Detroit is just a half-game back from the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central. However, the 12-9 Brewers sit in last place of the NL Central, despite being three games above .500. A single win tonight can move the Brewers from fifth place in their division to second, so there will be a lot on the line for Milwaukee.
One question that will be answered: Since both starting pitchers have ERAs above 3.00, will these squads combine for at least six runs tonight?
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Texas Rangers at 8:05 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV.
After getting off to a 13-9 start, the Pirates are trying to keep pace with a loaded NL Central that has all five teams currently sitting above .500. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers are 11-11 and sit just a half-game back from the Athletics for first place in the AL West. Carmen Mlodzinski will be the starter for Pittsburgh as he brings his team-leading 1.77 ERA into the game. Starting opposite him for the Rangers will be Kumar Rocker, who has allowed at least two earned runs in all three of his starts this season. Considering the Pirates are second in the league in team ERA (3.22), and the Rangers are tenth (3.57), we can expect a good pitching battle between these groups.
One question that will be answered: Can the Pirates and Rangers combine for at least five runs?
NBA
Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Peacock and NBCSN.
The Celtics demolished the 76ers when these teams kicked off their playoff series on Sunday. Boston star Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists as the C's torched the Sixers 123-91. That game was basically over by the end of the first quarter after Boston started the second frame with a 15-point lead. If Philly wants to make this a competitive series, they're going to have to be better from beyond the arc since they hit only 17% of their three-point attempts. A 76ers win tonight will completely change the narrative around this series.
One question that will be answered: Will Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for at least 50 points again?
Portland Trail Blazers @ San Antonio Spurs at 8:00 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock.
The Blazers had the Spurs sweating a little bit in Game One. In fact, these teams were only separated by two points in the third quarter. However, San Antonio went on an 11-2 run to get the lead back up to 11 points, and it never looked back as they won the game 111-98. Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama was phenomenal in his first playoff game with 35 points and five made threes on six attempts. Portland's Deni Avdija also showed he wouldn't be intimidated by the Defensive Player of the Year, with 30 points on 57.1% shooting. Avdija needs more help tonight, though, since only one other teammate scored more than ten points in Game One (Scoot Henderson, 18).
One question that will be answered: Will Deni Avdija and Victor Wembanyama combine for more points than they had in Game One (65)?
Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock.
He might not have been the team's leading scorer, but LeBron James stole the show on Saturday with an incredibly efficient 19 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists. LA as a team was lights out shooting, making 61% of their field goals and 53% of their three-pointers. Though they were without Kevin Durant, the Rockets played well before falling to the Lakers, 107-98. The good news is that head coach Ime Udoka said that KD is a game-time decision, according to the New York Times. If he starts, the Rockets will probably end up playing much better offensively.
One question that will be answered: If Kevin Durant plays, will he score at least 24 points?
NHL
Montreal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN2.
The Habs were one of the few teams to pull off an upset in their first game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs when they beat the Lightning in overtime, 4-3. Former number-one overall pick Juraj Slafkovský was the hero of the day as he scored the game-winning goal less than two minutes into OT. Tampa is trying to get one back on the Canadiens before the series moves to Montreal for two games. The Lightning will need to be better at controlling the puck from the jump after losing the faceoff battle to the Habs 69% to 31%.
One question that will be answered: Can Tampa goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy hold the Canadiens to fewer than three goals?
Boston Bruins @ Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
The Sabres mounted a comeback for the ages to take Game One. After going down 2-0 in the third period on Sunday, Buffalo scored FOUR unanswered goals en route to a 4-3 victory. That was the team's first Stanley Cup Playoff win in 15 years! Sabres center Tage Thompson was fantastic in the first matchup with two goals and an assist for three points on the afternoon. Tonight's game will once again be in Buffalo, and after the remarkable comeback they mounted over the weekend, it feels like the Sabres have all the momentum heading into this evening.
One question that will be answered: Can Buffalo take the lead in the game first so that it doesn't have to mount another comeback?
Utah Mammoth @ Vegas Golden Knights at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN2.
The Mammoth squandered an excellent opportunity over the weekend. After jumping out to a 2-1 lead in the second period, Utah gave up three unanswered goals as Vegas took Game One, 4-2. The worst part about the blown lead is that the Knights’ three goals came in the third period. The Mammoth need to be more aggressive after Vegas won the battle on the boards with 20 more hits than Utah. If the Mammoth can steal game two, then they’ll be in a good position to take a series lead in Games Three and Four, which will be played in Utah.
One question that will be answered: After the starting goalies combined for a .921 save percentage in Game One, will these netminders give up at least five combined goals?
Los Angeles Kings @ Colorado Avalanche at 10:00 p.m. EDT on ESPN.
Scott Wedgewood, who has looked like the best goalie in the NHL this season, certainly played the part in Game One. The Avalanche beat the Kings 2-1 after Wedgewood recorded 24 saves on 25 shot attempts for a .960 save percentage. Hell, the only goal he allowed came on a power play opportunity with less than three minutes to go in the game. After that, though, Colorado held on for the victory. Tonight, the Avalanche will be looking for more of the same from Wedgewood as he continues to have a Vezina Trophy-worthy season.
One question that will be answered: Can Nathan McKinnon, the league's leading goal scorer (53), find the back of the net at least once tonight?
