Category: Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cricket, which ranks as the world’s second most popular sport, hasn’t been featured in Olympic competition for 126 years. That lengthy absence will end when the 2028 Games arrive.

Construction workers broke ground Wednesday in Pomona, located on the eastern side of Los Angeles County, beginning work on a major cricket facility with seating for more than 10,000 spectators. The venue will host both men’s and women’s Olympic competition.

The facility is being constructed within the Fairplex fairgrounds and will become the headquarters for the Los Angeles Knight Riders, a Major League Cricket franchise owned by Knight Riders Sports, based in Mumbai. Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan serves as co-leader of the organization.

The ceremonial start featured a “bhumi pujan,” a traditional Hindu ceremony typically performed when construction begins, designed to request divine approval and forgiveness for disrupting the earth.

Cricket has become deeply embedded within America’s immigrant communities worldwide, especially those from South Asia, where the sport commands passionate devotion. Across the United States, cricket enthusiasts, instructors and athletes consider having a purpose-built cricket facility in a significant sports market like Southern California to be a major achievement.

Financial backers anticipate that excitement from professional cricket matches in the area will build momentum leading up to the Olympics, introducing the sport to mainstream American sports fans. Many believe this increased exposure will create valuable opportunities for American-born cricket players to develop their skills.

Venky Mysore, who leads Knight Riders Sports as CEO, explained that creating the Knight Riders Cricket Field represents only the initial phase of attracting typical American sports fans. Mysore expressed confidence in cricket’s business prospects.

“People who watch the Olympics are not necessarily cricket fans,” Mysore explained. “When cricket becomes an Olympic sport, that takes interest and awareness to the next level.”

Knight Riders Sports manages several franchises across the globe — throughout India, the Caribbean region and the United Arab Emirates. However, the Pomona facility marks their first ground-up stadium construction project, according to Mysore. Currently, just three international-standard cricket venues exist in America — located in Texas, Florida and North Carolina. The sport also takes place at various multi-use facilities including the Oakland Coliseum.

Peter Della Penna, who has reported on American cricket for twenty years, notes this marks the first occasion an international cricket competition in America will feature a purpose-built facility. During 2024, organizers constructed a high-capacity temporary stadium specifically for the T20 World Cup in New York, though it was removed following the tournament.

However, hosting cricket matches elsewhere during the LA Olympics would be less than optimal, he explained.

“Cricket players would want to be in the Olympic Village, walk shoulder to shoulder with U.S. track and field athletes, swimmers and basketball players,” he explained. “Cricketers in America have not had such prominence and U.S. cricket really needs that.”

Cricket boasts an extensive and fascinating American heritage. The inaugural international cricket contest occurred between America and Canada in 1844 at Manhattan’s St. George’s Cricket Club in New York. Canada defeated America by a narrow margin before thousands of onlookers, with substantial betting surrounding the match.

Debjit Lahiri, a cricket scholar from Wisconsin, noted that Olympic cricket last appeared in 1900 in Paris, where the Summer Olympics served as a disorganized supplement to the World’s Fair, including competitions like live pigeon shooting. Cricket failed to appear in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis.

Los Angeles cricket started around 1900 through local organizations. It achieved recognition during the 1930s when British expatriate actors established the Hollywood Cricket Club, attracting celebrities including Errol Flynn, Laurence Olivier, Cary Grant and Boris Karloff. The organization’s initial location at Griffith Park was demolished to construct an equestrian facility for the 1984 Olympics. It relocated to Woodley Park in the San Fernando Valley, where numerous ambitious cricketers developed their skills, including Ayan Desai, a 22-year-old emerging talent hoping to represent Team USA in 2028.

Desai, whose family operates a motel close to the upcoming Knight Riders facility, expressed excitement about having a world-class cricket venue practically next door.

“To play the Olympics is special, but to do it in front of your home crowd, in your home city, that would be amazing,” he stated.

Desai, who bowls left-arm fast deliveries, competes for the Seattle Orcas professional team and has participated in four international matches representing the American national squad.

“This is what we’ve needed to grow cricket in Los Angeles,” he stated.

Reggie Benjamin, originally from Antigua and a former American cricketer who now coaches in Los Angeles, maintains doubts about the sport’s prospects.

“I’m happy to see cricket get an opportunity to showcase itself here,” he stated. “But if you can’t get average Americans to come to a game and sit in the stands for three hours, or if you can’t get American kids to play cricket, the game is not going to grow.”

Benjamin expressed frustration seeing domestic talent and community-level programs overlooked while international players are recruited for professional teams and the national squad. He also highlighted management problems that have plagued American cricket and created uncertainty about cricket’s Olympic inclusion in 2028.

These issues reached a crisis point last year when USA Cricket, the nonprofit responsible for developing American cricket, sought federal bankruptcy protection after terminating its agreement with American Cricket Enterprises, the organization behind Major League Cricket. Subsequently, the International Cricket Council, cricket’s global governing body, has temporarily managed the American national cricket team. ACE has also filed legal action claiming improper contract termination.

Nevertheless, major investors like Mysore remain hopeful that USA Cricket and Major League Cricket can establish a collaborative partnership. The organizations benefit each other, he noted. National team selectors frequently recruit from professional league rosters.

“A strong national team is important because it keeps interest alive in the sport,” he stated.

Walter Marquez, who serves as Fairplex CEO, believes cricket has a bright future. As a devoted baseball enthusiast, Marquez has recently been studying cricket extensively. He now understands terminology like “yorker” and recognizes genuine potential for the sport’s expansion.

“For those who don’t know cricket, given an opportunity, they will learn what an exciting game it is, especially the T20 format,” stated Marquez, referencing the shortened version that will be used in the 2028 Olympics.

“We like home runs. We love the long ball. Cricket has a lot of those. American sports fans just don’t know they’re cricket fans yet.”

The New York Mets finally broke through their nightmare losing streak Wednesday night, defeating the Minnesota Twins 3-2 at home to end a devastating 12-game slide that had plagued the team for weeks.

Mark Vientos provided the heroics in the eighth inning, driving in the decisive run with a clutch single that made up for his earlier mistake on the basepaths. The victory marked the Mets’ first win since their skid began, representing their longest stretch of losses since they dropped 12 straight games between August 10-23 in 2002.

However, the breakthrough win came with a significant concern as All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor exited the game due to tightness in his left calf. The injury occurred after Lindor scored from first base on Francisco Alvarez’s double during the fourth inning. Prior to his departure, Lindor had been productive at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI infield single in the opening frame.

The timing of Lindor’s injury is particularly troubling for New York, as it happened on the same evening that Juan Soto made his return from a 15-game absence caused by his own right calf strain. Ironically, the Mets had won their first three contests following Soto’s April 3 injury before their lengthy losing streak commenced.

Minnesota managed to tie the game twice during the contest. Victor Caratini brought the Twins even with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, while Byron Buxton knotted things up again with a solo home run in the sixth. The loss continued Minnesota’s recent struggles, as they have now dropped five of their last six games.

In other major league action, the Chicago Cubs extended their hot streak to eight consecutive victories by defeating the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 7-2. Pete Crow-Armstrong led the offensive charge with three hits and two RBIs, while Seiya Suzuki contributed a two-run homer. The loss extended Philadelphia’s misery to eight straight defeats, their longest skid since September 2018.

The Arizona Diamondbacks outlasted the San Diego Padres 11-7 in Phoenix, with Ildemaro Vargas powering the offense with two home runs and a career-high five RBIs. Meanwhile, Munetaka Murakami continued his incredible power display by homering for the fifth consecutive game, becoming the fastest player in White Sox history to reach 10 home runs in just 24 games.

The Los Angeles Angels snapped their own four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Jose Soriano continued his remarkable season start, extending his scoreless innings streak to 24 2/3 while maintaining a microscopic 0.24 ERA through his first six starts.

In American League East action, the New York Yankees dominated the Boston Red Sox 4-1 behind Amed Rosario’s four RBIs in just two plate appearances and Max Fried’s eight shutout innings. The Yankees nearly recorded their third straight shutout before allowing a ninth-inning run.

The Seattle Mariners walked off against the Oakland Athletics 5-4 when Josh Naylor delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning. The victory salvaged the series finale after the A’s had tied the game moments earlier on Nick Kurtz’s home run.

Other notable results included the Houston Astros defeating Cleveland 2-0, the San Francisco Giants shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 despite six strong innings from Shohei Ohtani, and the Atlanta Braves rallying past Washington 8-6 behind Michael Harris II’s two-homer performance.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will be absent from Saturday’s final round of the NFL Draft as he enters counseling following the recent emergence of photographs showing him with veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini at a resort in Arizona.

Speaking Wednesday evening through ESPN, Vrabel explained his decision: “As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”

Vrabel continued: “I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”

The images showing Vrabel and Russini together at a Sedona resort were captured prior to the league’s annual meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which released the photographs earlier this month.

League officials confirmed last weekend that the NFL will not launch an investigation into Vrabel’s conduct.

On Tuesday, Vrabel broke his silence on the situation for the first time, telling media members he has engaged in “difficult conversations with people I care about.”

Both Vrabel and Russini, who are married to other people, issued written responses to the Post following the story’s publication, minimizing the significance of what the photographs showed. However, Russini stepped down from her position at The Athletic within a week after the Post’s report triggered an internal review at the sports publication owned by The New York Times.

Vrabel revealed he discussed the matter with his players on Monday when they returned for voluntary workouts. Two Patriots players had been scheduled for media availability on Tuesday, but Vrabel chose to address reporters first. He also expressed his desire to prevent the controversy surrounding the Post photographs from overshadowing the NFL draft, which kicks off Thursday.

PHOENIX — Japanese first baseman Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox has reached a remarkable milestone, matching a Major League Baseball rookie record by hitting home runs in five consecutive games during their matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Murakami launched a towering 451-foot blast to right-center field for his 10th home run of the season, joining an exclusive group of just 13 rookies in baseball history to accomplish this rare feat, according to MLB.com records. The impressive streak also matches the Chicago White Sox franchise record, previously achieved by several players including A.J. Pierzynski in 2012, Paul Konerko in 2011, Carlos Lee in 2003, Frank Thomas twice in 1994, Ron Kittle in 1983, and Greg Luzinski in 1983.

The rookie’s two-run blast occurred in the seventh inning off Arizona reliever Ryan Thompson, helping narrow the Diamondbacks’ advantage to 10-7. With 10 home runs this season, Murakami trails only Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, who leads the majors with 11 homers.

Perhaps most remarkably, Murakami’s 10 home runs through his first 24 major league games represent the most ever hit by a Japanese-born player in that span, with eight of those coming during road games.

DETROIT — With franchise legends Ben Wallace and Rick Mahorn looking on like proud family members, the Detroit Pistons delivered a punishing defensive performance to defeat the Orlando Magic 98-83, evening their first-round playoff series at one game each.

“I’m sure they appreciated it,” said Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart about the former players witnessing the victory.

Wallace, who earned four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, and Mahorn, a key member of the notorious Bad Boys teams, were familiar with the type of physical, grinding basketball Detroit displayed Wednesday evening.

Stewart contributed two blocked shots, including a crucial rejection that prevented Paolo Banchero from completing a dunk attempt.

“I’m willing to lay my body on the line to make those plays for the energy,” Stewart explained.

The top-seeded Pistons limited eighth-seeded Orlando to 33% field goal shooting while forcing season-low totals in both points and made field goals. Detroit generated 19 turnovers and swatted away 11 shots.

“When we play defense at the level we’re capable of, it triggers everything for us,” explained Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “We can be an elite defensive team, a disruptive defense. It’s Pistons basketball. That’s what it looks like.

“We had one off night and it came at a bad time.”

During Game 1, Detroit struggled out of the gate in both halves while allowing Orlando to connect on nearly 50% of their field goal attempts. All five Magic starters reached double figures with at least 16 points in their 112-101 victory.

The roles reversed in Game 2, with Detroit taking the aggressive approach from the opening tip. The Pistons rejected seven shots during the first quarter alone, matching a franchise playoff record for blocks in a single period.

During the third quarter, Detroit exploded with a 30-3 scoring run while outpacing Orlando 38-16 for the period.

The Pistons cruised through the final quarter to secure their first playoff victory at Little Caesars Arena. The triumph snapped an NBA-record 11-game home playoff losing streak that stretched back to 2008, when the team still played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“Obviously, we’ve heard it,” said Tobias Harris, who contributed 16 points along with two blocks and two steals.

Orlando’s coaching staff grudgingly acknowledged Detroit’s defensive effort.

“They did a heck of a job of reaching, grabbing and holding,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “They protected that paint and our ability to get downhill.”

Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 19 points while Banchero added 18. The duo combined to shoot just 14-of-35 from the field.

“They met us at the rim a few times, and they brought the intensity on defense,” Banchero noted. “But we got good looks, and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he’s prioritizing Shohei Ohtani’s long-term health by potentially resting the superstar from batting duties during certain pitching appearances.

The strategy could vary from game to game based on how the dual-threat player feels physically, Roberts explained.

In some contests, this approach might involve Ohtani taking the mound while sitting out his designated hitter role — a flexibility Roberts wants to maintain moving forward.

Ohtani took his fourth pitching turn Wednesday evening versus the San Francisco Giants. Seven days prior, Roberts benched him from the batting order while he pitched — his first time since 2021 not hitting on a day he started, due to lingering soreness from being struck by a pitch.

The 31-year-old entered the game batting .271 with five homers and 11 RBIs across 85 plate appearances. On the pitching side, he had surrendered only one earned run through 18 innings in 2026, posting a 0.50 ERA and 2-0 record while giving up 10 hits with 18 strikeouts and six walks.

Ohtani also carried a career-high 53-game on-base streak, matching Shawn Green for second place in franchise history. Duke Snider holds the Dodgers record with 58 consecutive games from May 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s run represents the longest active streak in baseball since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight games from April 25-July 6, 2006.

“I think if you look at the overall numbers it’s certainly something. I still feel really good about putting his name in the lineup,” Roberts said. “I know the last start I chose not to have him hit and just pitch. I am open to it. We’ll see. It’s something that we’ve certainly flagged, and also you have to look at what’s the option. In years past or last year, you’ve got to kind of weigh, who’s a different option?”

Catcher Dalton Rushing has emerged as a reliable designated hitter alternative, batting .414 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs.

The back-to-back World Series champions had struggled recently, losing three of their previous four games after falling 3-1 in Tuesday’s series opener against San Francisco.

During Wednesday’s pre-game conversation, Roberts found the four-time MVP — including back-to-back National League MVP winner — to be “really focused.”

“He wants to reset things, to go out there and pitch well and give us a chance to win tonight,” Roberts said.

Roberts hadn’t determined whether Ohtani would participate in Thursday’s series finale. He mentioned having no concerns about giving Ohtani five at-bats on pitching days but would consider moving him lower in the batting order when appropriate.

“I think everything should be on the table,” Roberts said.

New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor was forced to leave Wednesday evening’s matchup with the Minnesota Twins after experiencing tightness in his left calf muscle, cutting his night short after just four innings of play.

The injury became apparent when Lindor reached first base on a hit and then attempted to circle the bases on teammate Francisco Alvarez’s two-base hit. Observers noted that Lindor appeared to be moving slower than usual as he made his way around the base paths.

The 32-year-old veteran showed visible signs of discomfort as he approached home plate, wincing in pain while navigating around third base. After sliding safely into home ahead of catcher Victor Caratini’s attempted tag – a play that put New York ahead 2-1 – Lindor stayed down on the ground momentarily before being helped up.

The timing of Lindor’s injury coincides with teammate Juan Soto’s return to action after missing 15 games with his own calf strain in his right leg. The Mets had initially won three consecutive games following Soto’s April 3rd injury before entering their current 12-game losing skid.

This marks a rare injury concern for Lindor, who has appeared in all but 15 games since his last stint on the injured list three years ago in 2021, when a strained right oblique muscle kept him sidelined for more than five weeks.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards delivered the star-level performance Minnesota desperately needed, helping the Timberwolves even their heated first-round playoff battle with Denver after capturing Game 2 on the road.

Edwards posted 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while adding two blocks and providing vocal leadership for his squad. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch praised Edwards’ calming presence even after a disappointing showing in the series opener.

“He was calm and gave confidence to the guys,” Finch said, reflecting on the series opener after practice on Wednesday. “When we were down early and big, he was really into them with the right messages, to stay calm but to do the things that were asked to be done — put a little bit more work in, be a little smarter with the fouling, all that kind of stuff. So I thought that was really key.”

The four-time All-Star has been crucial in motivating Rudy Gobert to excel defensively against Denver’s star center Nikola Jokic. Edwards has also shown his commitment by competing despite knee issues that kept him out of 11 of the final 13 regular season contests.

“It definitely uplifts me. I feel like I can’t let him down. If he’s out there battling, then there’s no excuse why I can’t give my best and make the extra effort plays and just go out there and compete at the highest level,” teammate Julius Randle said.

Minnesota will require Edwards to maintain this level of intensity across all aspects of the game to defeat their biggest rival three more times and advance to the next round.

Denver will certainly bring their own determination when they visit Minnesota for Thursday’s Game 3 between these evenly matched clubs. Thursday’s other Game 3 matchups feature New York traveling to Atlanta and Cleveland visiting Toronto.

The recent history between Minnesota and Denver shows just how competitive this rivalry has become, with each team claiming 15 victories in their past 30 encounters across regular season and playoff action over the last four seasons.

“Who doesn’t love a big game? Who doesn’t want to wake up for a game with a lot of excitement, a lot of back and forth in it?” Timberwolves reserve Naz Reid said.

Game Details: Game 3, 7 p.m. EDT (Prime Video)

Series Status: Tied 1-1.

Betting Line: Nuggets by 2 1/2.

Key Storylines: The intensity between these division foes continues to escalate in their third playoff meeting in four years, with both games featuring physical play and heated moments. Minnesota gained valuable momentum by overcoming a 19-point early deficit to claim a 119-114 victory in Game 2. Edwards now has six 30-point performances against Denver across 14 playoff games, while guard Donte DiVincenzo has been exceptional with a game-high plus-20 rating and 16 points in the latest win. DiVincenzo has connected on 10 of 16 three-point attempts through two games. Denver dismissed postgame comments from Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels, who suggested the Timberwolves should continue attacking Denver directly because they’re “all bad defenders.”

The New York Mets faced another injury setback Wednesday evening when All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor departed their matchup with the Minnesota Twins due to left calf tightness.

The timing proved particularly cruel for the struggling franchise, as Lindor’s departure came on the same day outfielder Juan Soto returned from a similar calf injury that had kept him sidelined.

Lindor’s injury became apparent during the fourth inning when he appeared to struggle while running the bases. After reaching first base, he scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double to right-center field but showed clear signs of discomfort as he rounded third base and slid home feet-first.

The veteran infielder winced noticeably during the play and briefly remained on the ground after successfully beating the throw to home plate. He subsequently left the field with a team trainer and did not return to action.

Brett Baty took Lindor’s spot in the batting order, moving to third base while Bo Bichette shifted from third to shortstop when the Mets took the field in the fifth inning.

Before his exit, Lindor had contributed offensively by driving in a run with an infield single in the opening frame. He also showcased his defensive skills early in the contest with an impressive leaping catch at shortstop.

The injury comes at a particularly difficult time for New York, which entered the game mired in a 12-game losing streak. Soto had just been activated from the 10-day injured list earlier Wednesday after missing time with a right calf strain suffered on April 3 during a game in San Francisco.

English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick has captured widespread public interest heading into next month’s PGA Championship following his climb to a career-high No. 3 position in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The 31-year-old secured a dramatic playoff victory over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler at Sunday’s RBC Heritage tournament, capping off an impressive stretch that included a second-place finish at The Players Championship, a victory at the Valspar Championship, and an 18th-place showing at the Masters.

Despite stumbling with a bogey on the final regulation hole Sunday that forced a playoff with Scheffler, Fitzpatrick recovered brilliantly by hitting a 4-iron approach shot through strong winds to within 13 feet of the pin, then sinking the birdie putt to claim victory on the first playoff hole.

The strong performance has dramatically shifted betting markets, with Fitzpatrick’s PGA Championship odds improving from 35/1 to 20/1 according to Oddschecker. The 2022 U.S. Open winner has attracted the most wagering action this week, drawing 23% of all PGA Championship winner bets placed since his Harbor Town triumph.

Cameron Young ranks as the second-most popular betting choice this week, capturing 6% of total wagers alongside Ludvig Aberg, Sam Burns, and Justin Rose. Young previously defeated Fitzpatrick at The Players Championship.

Despite the recent attention on other players, Scheffler remains the tournament favorite with 7/2 odds, translating to a 22% probability of victory. He has drawn 5% of this week’s betting action, matching the percentage for LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm.

Masters winner Rory McIlroy holds the second-best pre-tournament odds at 7/1, while Rahm sits at 12/1. Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau follow at 16/1, with both Fitzpatrick and Young positioned at 20/1.

Looking ahead to this week’s action, Fitzpatrick will team with his brother Alex as co-favorites for the Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour’s sole team competition. The Fitzpatrick brothers share 11/1 odds with the pairing of Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry.

The New York Jets remain tight-lipped about their plans for the second overall selection in Thursday night’s NFL draft.

However, major sportsbooks believe they’re detecting a pattern: David Bailey, the pass rusher from Texas A&M, has overtaken Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese as the betting favorite to be chosen right after the Las Vegas Raiders select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first pick.

Just one day earlier, BetMGM had Reese listed at -400 odds to be the second pick, while Bailey was available at +200. At that point, Bailey led in total number of bets placed at 21.2%, while Reese attracted the most money wagered at 37.2%. However, by Wednesday evening, Bailey had become the favorite at -145 odds, with Reese dropping significantly to +110.

DraftKings similarly shows Bailey at -150 to be selected second overall, Reese at +115, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love far behind at +8000.

This dramatic shift in betting patterns happened even though the Jets canceled Bailey’s scheduled “top 30” visit to their facility. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn minimized the significance of not hosting Bailey for a pre-draft workout, and Bailey echoed that sentiment Wednesday, explaining he has maintained extensive communication with team leadership and recently connected with them via FaceTime.

Another consideration remains whether the Jets will actually use that second pick.

New York holds five selections among the first 103 picks and might choose to trade down from either the No. 2 or No. 16 positions Thursday evening. The team also possesses two second-round picks for Friday night.

Should the Jets remain at No. 2, the choice between Bailey and Reese has generated significant pre-draft discussion.

Field Level Media ranks the 6-foot-4, 243-pound Reese as the sixth-best prospect in the 2026 draft class, with the 6-3, 247-pound Bailey following closely at seventh.

Bailey shared the NCAA lead with 14.5 sacks this past season and has earned recognition as an exceptional athlete who demonstrates explosive first-step quickness. Analysts have drawn comparisons between Bailey and Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto, who faced similar concerns about his run-stopping ability when he left Oklahoma before the 2022 draft.

Reese offers the ability to anchor the edge in a 3-4 defensive scheme or provide interior pressure in a 4-3 alignment. He also demonstrates coverage skills against tight ends and brings an appealing mix of physical tools and positional flexibility. However, comparisons to former pass rusher Barkevious Mingo, who failed to meet pre-draft expectations during his career, may have NFL decision-makers in the Jets’ position leaning toward Bailey instead.

The Naval Academy baseball team secured a decisive 7-3 victory over the Hawks in recent college baseball action, despite an outstanding individual performance from the visiting team.

Hawks player Brown delivered his best offensive showing of the season, collecting four hits throughout the contest. However, his stellar performance at the plate wasn’t enough to prevent his team from falling to the Midshipmen.

The game saw Navy control the scoreboard for most of the matchup, ultimately winning by a four-run margin. While Brown’s season-high hitting display provided a bright spot for the Hawks, they were unable to generate enough offensive support to match the Midshipmen’s scoring output.

The loss adds another game to the Hawks’ record as they continue their season, while Navy extends their winning ways with the home victory.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Salisbury University women’s tennis team faced a challenging return to competition Wednesday, suffering a shutout defeat against the nationally-ranked Mary Washington Eagles.

After a lengthy 20-day break from competition, the Sea Gulls were unable to find their rhythm against the 25th-ranked Eagles, falling 7-0 at Mary Washington’s Hegmann Family Courts.

The extended layoff appeared to impact Salisbury’s performance as they struggled to match the level of play from their highly-ranked opponents throughout the afternoon match.

San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson has earned recognition as the NBA’s premier reserve player this season.

The versatile guard appeared in every contest for San Antonio, coming off the bench in all 82 games and joining an exclusive group as just the second NBA player in ten years to accomplish this feat. Johnson also made franchise history by becoming the first Spurs reserve to reach 1,000 points in a single season. Throughout the campaign, San Antonio consistently promoted him as the league’s top bench player.

NBA voters validated that assessment Wednesday evening when Johnson was named Sixth Man of the Year, making him only the second Spurs player to claim this honor alongside Manu Ginobili, who won in 2008. The recognition marks Johnson’s first individual NBA accolade, adding to his gold medal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics as part of Team USA.

“I started for a long time,” Johnson said on ESPN. “Now, it’s my time to come off the bench. I just continue to analyze the game, come off the bench, go in there and just do my thing.”

Johnson defeated Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. for the award. Jaquez paced all bench players in scoring and double-figure scoring performances for Miami, while Hardaway connected on a reserve-leading 205 three-pointers and ranked fourth in scoring for Denver.

This marked Hardaway and Jaquez’s ninth-place tie in 2024 voting. Hardaway previously finished fifth in 2021, tenth in 2017, and tied for thirteenth during his 2014 rookie campaign.

The honor caps an extraordinary two-season stretch for Johnson, who has logged 159 games over the past two years exclusively as a reserve. No other NBA player has approached that total without making a single start during this timeframe.

“I wanted to be part of something special here in San Antonio,” Johnson said. “I knew that in order for me to really be the best for our team that coming off the bench was probably my best possibility. At first, it was tough. I had to (control) my ego and put the team first. After that, the sky was the limit.”

This represents the third postseason award announcement and San Antonio’s second honor, marking the first with genuine suspense regarding the winner.

Victor Wembanyama made history Monday as the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year selection in San Antonio franchise history. Tuesday saw Oklahoma City’s reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capture Clutch Player of the Year honors with 96 of 100 first-place votes.

Thursday will bring the Sportsmanship Award announcement, featuring division representatives Miami’s Bam Adebayo (Southeast), San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes (Southwest), Gilgeous-Alexander (Northwest), Golden State’s Al Horford (Pacific), Indiana’s T.J. McConnell (Central), and Boston’s Derrick White (Atlantic). Players vote for this award rather than the media panel that determines most other honors.

Friday’s Most Improved Player reveal will feature Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland’s Deni Avdija, or Detroit’s Jalen Duren.

Additional awards awaiting announcement include Coach of the Year (Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, or Boston’s Joe Mazzulla), Rookie of the Year (Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, or Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel), and MVP (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, or Denver’s Nikola Jokic).

CLEVELAND — After Wednesday’s victory over Cleveland, a sparkling championship belt in boxing style hung over Yordan Alvarez’s locker room chair. Once again, he stood as Houston’s premier performer without question.

Currently, no player across baseball is performing at a higher level.

“To be honest with you,” Astros shortstop Carlos Correa stated, “2026 Yordan is the closest thing I’ve seen to Barry Bonds.”

That’s quite a statement.

Alvarez connected on his MLB-best 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast in the opening frame, helping the injury-plagued Astros secure a 2-0 victory over the Guardians and claim two games in the three-game series against last year’s AL Central titleholders.

Though Houston has struggled early this season, Alvarez has maintained exceptional form.

The powerful 6-foot-4 designated hitter tops all major leaguers in home runs, RBIs (26), hits (33), extra-base hits (19), total bases (74), on-base percentage (.466), slugging percentage (.779) and OPS (1.245).

Such dominance explains why Correa draws comparisons to the legendary Bonds.

“Aaron Judge has a 1.200 OPS, but Yordan has done it a different way,” Correa explained. “He’s not swinging and missing much. He’s not striking out a lot. He’s walking a lot, that’s what Barry did.

“Yordan is getting the intentional-walk treatment every time first base is open. I don’t see any other player in the league they do that for.”

In the series conclusion, Alvarez recorded three hits in four plate appearances, pushing his hitting streak to nine consecutive games and his on-base streak to 18 games. He has launched home runs in four of his last six contests, becoming one of the few reliable constants for manager Joe Espada.

“He stays within himself and he knows how important it is for him to do damage,” Espada commented. “He’s a presence and he’s carrying us right now.”

Following Correa’s leadoff double in the first inning against Tanner Bibee, Alvarez drove a curveball from the right-handed pitcher 422 feet beyond the right field fence, providing Houston with a 2-0 advantage that lasted the entire game.

Bibee failed to hit catcher Bo Naylor’s intended location, and Alvarez capitalized on the mistake.

“It was the right pitch in that spot if I threw it where Bo wanted me to throw it,” Bibee acknowledged. “It was supposed to be in the dirt, threw it up and that guy, as good as he is and how hot he is right now, it’s going to happen. Just can’t make the mistake.”

Alvarez recorded singles to right field in his following two plate appearances before being retired on a sharp ground ball to first base in the eighth inning that he believed was foul territory. Alvarez remained in the batter’s box, appearing shocked that he had been retired.

Such has been his season-long dominance.

“At some point you’re expecting him to get out because the game is supposed to be so hard,” Correa observed. “When he’s going that good, you’re like, OK he’s due to get out here. And he just keeps raking. It’s incredible. It’s so much fun.

“I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch TV.”

Alvarez remains modest about his scorching start to the campaign. Following a 2023 season limited to just 48 games due to injuries, he’s not taking his current success for granted while also recognizing his exceptional performance.

“I just want to find a good pitch and connect on the pitch and things are turning out for me right now,” Alvarez said, who became just the second Astros player alongside Lance Berkman (2002) to hit 11 home runs in the season’s first 26 games. “I’m not surprised with my results. That’s why I work so hard. Every at-bat that I have, I go aggressive.”

The wealthy leader of global skiing’s top organization has secured an unexpected path to re-election after his home nations declined to support his campaign.

Johan Eliasch, who holds dual citizenship in Britain and Sweden, will compete for another term as president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation with backing from Georgia, according to Wednesday’s candidate announcement from the organization’s headquarters in Oberhofen, Switzerland.

The revelation ended weeks of uncertainty about which country would sponsor Eliasch’s candidacy for the June 11 leadership vote. His situation became complicated when Britain’s snowsport federation chose to nominate its own chief executive, Victoria Gosling, while Swedish media outlets reported their national federation would not endorse Eliasch, who has faced criticism from various European skiing officials.

The billionaire businessman, who was born in Sweden and owns the Head equipment company that supplies skis to elite athletes like Lindsey Vonn, previously won the FIS leadership role in 2021 with British support. He also competed unsuccessfully for the International Olympic Committee presidency last year as a British representative, losing to Kirsty Coventry. Eliasch has served as an IOC member since 2022.

Federation rules mandate that presidential hopefuls must possess valid citizenship documents from their sponsoring nation.

Questions had swirled around where Eliasch would secure nomination support, and it remains unclear why Georgia has stepped forward as his sponsor country.

Four additional candidates will challenge Eliasch: Dexter Paine representing the United States, Anna Harboe Falkenberg from Denmark, and Alexander Ospelt of Liechtenstein.

An international review panel will evaluate all nominees before the federation distributes the final candidate roster to member organizations on May 20.

The decisive election meeting is scheduled for Belgrade, Serbia in June.

FRISCO, Texas — An unexpected visitor brightened the Dallas Cowboys’ final NFL draft preparations Wednesday when former President Bill Clinton made a surprise appearance at the team’s headquarters.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was conducting his annual pre-draft media session when he spotted Clinton walking into the facility through the glass walls of the interview room.

The reunion between the two Arkansas natives created a memorable interruption as Jones nearly stumbled while rushing off the stage to greet his longtime friend. Clinton entered through a side entrance, drawing all attention to the impromptu meeting.

“He’s been a wonderful, not only president, but a friend over the years,” Jones told the gathered media. “And I’m really happy to have you here today.” Jones, who was born in Los Angeles but worked as an oil and gas entrepreneur in Arkansas before purchasing the Cowboys in 1989, has maintained his friendship with Clinton over the decades.

Clinton, flashing his signature smile, responded by saying, “Have a good draft day,” which led to both men sharing Arkansas football memories.

The media room features a photograph of Clinton welcoming the Cowboys to the White House after one of their 1990s Super Bowl championships, when Jones had recently departed Arkansas for Texas.

Jones recalled Clinton’s impressive memory from their first personal meeting: “And when I said hello to him on a personal basis, he listed, three-deep, every player … on the Arkansas Razorback national championship team. He was a young guy that was following the Hogs feverishly, mainly over the radio. So he’s a good man to have as a fan.”

The former president, who hails from Hope, Arkansas, and at 79 is four years Clinton’s junior, then demonstrated that sharp recall by quizzing Jones about his playing days.

“Tell ’em again the position you played,” Clinton prompted.

“Well, I was a guard. I was a pulling guard,” Jones replied.

“And how much did you weigh?” Clinton continued.

“About 185 pounds,” Jones answered.

Clinton then provided historical context: “And a couple of years before him we had a guard named Wayne Harris who weighed the same thing Jerry did, and he made first-team All-America. They were great guards, and it’s a different world now.”

When Jones mentioned he wouldn’t want to play pulling guard in today’s NFL, where offensive linemen typically exceed 300 pounds, Clinton quipped, “Yeah, you’d be the late Jerry Jones.”

Following their reunion, both Clinton and Jones departed, leaving executive vice president Stephen Jones, head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and scouting director Will McClay to continue the media session for another 25 minutes without the team’s typically omnipresent owner.

BOSTON (AP) — Buffalo’s inability to dominate Boston physically on the ice has become a secondary concern compared to their struggles capitalizing on power play opportunities when the Bruins commit penalties.

Through the opening two contests of their playoff matchup with Boston, the Sabres have failed to convert on all nine man-advantage situations, extending a troubling trend that saw them go scoreless on their final 22 power plays during the regular season’s closing seven games. The series stands even at one game apiece as action moves to Boston for Thursday evening’s third game.

“It’s always a concern, for sure,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged, noting his team hasn’t celebrated a power-play goal since March. “I think we’ll have to tweak some things.”

Buffalo entered this series taking exception to comments from Bruins coach Marco Sturm about his team’s physical superiority. Tuesday’s contest featured multiple altercations and accumulated 94 combined penalty minutes, with neither squad backing down from the confrontation.

“It’s a seven-game series so you see those guys all the time and there’s game inside the game, obviously,” Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov explained. “Emotions are really high, everybody wants to win, everybody is competitive on the ice, so sometimes you just ended up in the scrums and the fights like that.”

Ruff hasn’t dismissed the possibility of making a goaltending switch after pulling Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen just 16 seconds into Game 2’s final period following the fourth goal against him — including one scored on a long dump-in from center ice. Relief goaltender Alex Lyon successfully turned away all seven shots he encountered afterward.

While both netminders split starting duties during the regular season, Luukkonen secured the primary role by posting a 12-2-1 record to close the campaign. Lyon missed the season’s final week due to an undisclosed lower-body ailment after compiling a 20-10-4 record.

Though Ruff declined to pin Game 2’s defeat solely on Luukkonen’s inconsistent performance, stating “we win together, we lose together,” he also noted that “(Lyon) may play next game.”

Buffalo’s slow starts have compounded their difficulties, falling behind 2-0 in the opener and 4-0 in Game 2, managing their first goals only in each contest’s final eight minutes. They mounted a successful 4-3 comeback in Game 1 but couldn’t overcome their deficit in the 4-2 Game 2 loss.

“It’s been two games. It’s nothing to freak out about, and we know that,” forward Zach Benson said. “And we know we’ve got to be better, and we will be.”

Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.

In other playoff action, the Carolina Hurricanes hold a 2-0 series advantage over Ottawa, with the Senators showing strength in faceoff wins (60.7% through two games) and goaltending from Linus Ullmark. Carolina forward Logan Stankoven acknowledged their faceoff struggles, saying “Obviously our percentage isn’t great. I’ve got to try and keep winning as many draws and stay in the battle as much as possible.”

The Colorado Avalanche also lead their series 2-0 against Los Angeles, with the Kings remaining optimistic despite the deficit. “Play the same way we’re playing, just a little harder,” Kings forward Trevor Moore said. “Just try to take the positives and get to LA and play a good game.”

PITTSBURGH — For aspiring NFL players, the journey to draft day can seem never-ending. After years of dedication and weeks of intense evaluations, these young athletes face nerve-wracking days of uncertainty as they await the moment their names are announced.

That wait concludes this weekend as the 2026 draft arrives in Pittsburgh, a city that perfectly symbolizes the NFL’s premier offseason showcase.

Most visitors entering the Steel City navigate through western Pennsylvania’s rolling hills and suburban landscapes before descending into the Fort Pitt tunnel — 3,614 feet of darkness that reveals nothing about what awaits beyond. The journey typically involves heavy traffic regardless of the hour, puzzling even longtime residents.

Getting to downtown Pittsburgh, much like reaching the NFL, requires persistence. However, once you arrive, the payoff can be spectacular as the city unfolds before you, filled with potential — just like each draft candidate’s future.

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who hopes to join the exclusive group of running backs selected in the top 10 over recent years, was impressed during his visit this week.

“Nice views, nice views,” Love commented on Wednesday, just over a day before Thursday evening’s opening round. “When you came out of that little tunnel or whatever, I don’t know what the tunnel’s called, but you kind of just saw the whole city. So that view was really nice.”

Love and 16 other potential first-round selections will experience an even more meaningful sight: walking the red carpet at Point State Park before taking a brief ferry trip across the Allegheny River to Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their ultimate destination will be the draft stage for that career-defining embrace with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“I’m ready to go somewhere where I can work, whether that’s the worst team, the best team, maybe a team in the middle,” Love stated. “Really doesn’t matter to me.”

Love’s destination remains uncertain. However, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza’s path appears clear.

Everything suggests the Las Vegas Raiders will rush to select the Indiana quarterback with the top pick, though Mendoza won’t meet Goodell in Pittsburgh. The standout signal-caller chose to watch from home rather than participate in the draft’s grand spectacle.

The remainder of the first round remains unpredictable, though defensive players are expected to dominate, with edge rushers Arnell Reese from Ohio State and David Bailey from Texas Tech — both present in Pittsburgh — likely to turn professional as evening falls over Mount Washington.

When asked if his competitive nature drives him to want the first handshake with Goodell, Bailey revealed the blend of instinct and football intelligence that elevated his draft status.

“When you talk about competitiveness in that context, it’s like really nothing you can do,” Bailey explained. “Like I can’t go out there and do any special tricks or say anything that’s going to boost my draft stock. … I feel like it’s time to just sit back and enjoy.”

This marks the end of countless speculation cycles and mock drafts, allowing everyone to return to actual football. The process can be overwhelming.

Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson understands the situation.

While posing in underwear for scouts and performing various physical tests at the NFL combine might seem odd, Tyson accepts the process.

“(Teams) invest a lot of money, so they got to do the research,” Tyson observed. “They got to take every little thing into account. So I don’t blame them for it, to be honest.”

Host cities also must prepare extensively for draft weekend. For locations like Pittsburgh, hosting the draft serves as a prestigious alternative to Super Bowl hosting duties.

The NFL anticipates hundreds of thousands of fans will flood a city not known for abundant open spaces. Pittsburgh’s public schools switched to remote learning Thursday and Friday to reduce bus traffic, while many employers encouraged remote work instead of office attendance.

The draft has transformed dramatically since Pittsburgh last hosted in December 1947 at the Fort Pitt Hotel, then the Steelers’ headquarters. That 32-round event saw quarterback Harry Gilmer selected first overall by Washington, but no ceremonial jersey awaited him.

The 1947 draft received no television coverage and minimal attention. The landscape surrounding the draft has shifted enormously over eight decades.

Pittsburgh sees the draft as an opportunity to highlight the region’s rich football heritage. Nearly two dozen Hall of Famers originated from Western Pennsylvania. The Steelers pass six Lombardi Trophies daily on their way to work, and football at every level remains deeply embedded in local culture.

Wednesday morning featured Love and fellow prospects conducting a youth clinic after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new turf field at Hazelwood Green Park, approximately one mile down the Monongahela River from the Steelers’ current training facility.

Steelers President Art Rooney II spent years looking out his window at the empty lot, wondering when development would come to an area being transformed by technology and education sectors.

Once the city secured draft hosting rights, progress accelerated rapidly. This reflects Pittsburgh’s broader evolution from the 20th century’s Steel City into today’s innovation center.

The draft will fulfill one dream while launching another for the 257 players selected by Saturday evening’s conclusion.

For the “City of Bridges,” the event provides a platform to demonstrate that while Pittsburgh’s football heritage runs deep, the city connects to much more than first downs and touchdowns.

“I think if you were going to pick a perfect time,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said, “this is the perfect time.”

SEATTLE — In what may be one of baseball’s strangest defensive plays, Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert’s uniform made an unexpected catch during Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.

During the opening inning with a runner positioned at third base, Oakland’s Carlos Cortes smashed a hard-hit ball directly toward the right-handed pitcher. The baseball mysteriously became trapped inside Gilbert’s jersey fabric.

Gilbert immediately clutched his midsection and spun around searching for the baseball while Cortes sprinted toward first base, eventually discovering the ball had somehow been snared by his own clothing.

Official scorers awarded Cortes a base hit since the play was ruled dead upon contact, though Nick Kurtz stayed put at third base. Shea Langeliers moved up to second base during the unusual sequence.

Broadcast measurements showed the screaming line drive traveling at 107.8 miles per hour.

Mariners head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson conducted a quick medical evaluation of Gilbert, who was cleared to continue playing and completed the inning. The pitcher ultimately surrendered two earned runs during the frame on Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly and Jeff McNeil’s run-scoring single.

Gilbert took the mound again for the following inning without further incident.

DENVER (AP) — Star player Nathan MacKinnon and his Colorado Avalanche teammates have legitimate reasons to feel constrained. Their trademark speed and explosive scoring ability haven’t been fully unleashed during this playoff run.

The league’s most prolific offensive squad and quickest team during the regular season continues to struggle against Los Angeles Kings’ defensive system that clogs the neutral zone. Colorado’s top five regular season point leaders remain without a goal in the series.

However, the Avalanche maintain a commanding 2-0 advantage in their opening round matchup as they travel to Los Angeles for Thursday’s Game 3. Both victories came by identical 2-1 scores, including one overtime victory, demonstrating their versatility in different game situations.

“You definitely can get frustrated during the regular season, but playoffs … there’s no time for that,” said MacKinnon, who has an assist through two games after leading the league with 53 goals in the regular season. “You’ve got to be 100% in, team-player positive, and you’ve just got to stick with it. I feel like we’re doing a lot of good things and we’re up to it. It’s low-scoring games, but it’s not about the amount of goals. Just got to get some wins.”

During the regular season, Colorado topped the NHL in offensive categories including goals per game (3.63), shots per game (33.7) and even-strength scoring. The Presidents’ Trophy recipients also surrendered the fewest goals, with goaltender Scott Wedgewood currently handling starting duties.

“We’re comfortable playing these games,” said captain Gabriel Landeskog, who tied Tuesday’s game with 3:35 left in regulation. “If you get a little impatient with it, you start forcing plays. We just kind of kept it going. Kept trusting our forecheck, and finally, we ended up getting rewarded for it.”

While trailing in the series, the Kings remain confident in their approach. This grinding, defense-first style of hockey suits their identity perfectly, particularly with Anton Forsberg between the pipes. He’s turned away 64 of 68 shots across the first two contests.

“We’re playing a brand of hockey that gives us a chance to win,” said Kings interim coach D.J. Smith, who was showered by shattered glass on the bench in the second period Tuesday after fans pushed the panel in celebration. “Hockey’s so close and night-to-night, you win by a goal, lose by a goal. We’ve done that all year.”

“We haven’t maybe had some bounces but that’s the kind of game you can win with,” he said. “That’s a testament to the guys and how they’re digging in. Now maybe just have a little more confidence at home with the puck, but you can’t forget the style of play that we’re playing.”

Los Angeles has successfully neutralized Colorado’s power play opportunities, holding the Avalanche scoreless on seven man-advantage chances. Special teams have been a source of concern for Colorado throughout the season.

“It may look real simple — it’s no different than what they’re doing — but you’ve got to repeat certain things enough so your odds go up at putting one in the back of the net,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I still think we’ve got another step in our game that we can ramp up to. So we’ve just got to go out and try to better our performances at home and now on the road.”

Colorado has demonstrated defensive commitment by recording the second-highest blocked shot total in the playoffs through Tuesday. They’ve also generated significant offensive pressure, ranking second in total shot attempts.

“We know we can play different styles,” said Wedgewood, who’s stopped 48 of 50 shots. “It’s going to be tough going to (their) building. They’re going to have their crowd and their emotions. Go in there and do the same thing, hopefully, take another one or two, and end it or come back here and do it again.”

BOSTON (AP) — During Monday’s Boston Marathon, runner Ajay Haridasse collapsed near the finish line when his body gave out. Two fellow competitors, Robson De Oliveira from Brazil and Aaron Beggs from Britain, stopped their own races to lift Haridasse and carry him approximately 1,000 feet to complete the course.

The inspiring moments occurred as thousands of other participants continued past the struggling runner. Instead of focusing solely on their own finish times, De Oliveira and Beggs hoisted Haridasse onto their shoulders and helped him reach the end of the prestigious race.

Spectator Pete Grasso captured the remarkable act of kindness on video as the two runners assisted Haridasse.

“The coolest part about this moment was that these two guys were less than a tenth of a mile away, in the middle of a really, really fast race, and still stopped to help a fellow runner who needed some help. That’s not easy to do,” Grasso said in an email interview. “Seeing them put everything aside in that moment just to get another runner across the line was incredible. And hearing the crowd respond, cheering for them, supporting them, truly gave me chills.”

Another touching display occurred when Washington, D.C. runner Lan Nguyen faced difficulty reaching the finish. Three other participants — Jessica Kier from Snohomish, Washington, Meredith Rosenberg from Boston, and William Bara-Jimenez from Bethesda, Maryland — stepped in to assist her. The group carried Nguyen for portions of the final stretch before she crawled across the finish line herself.

The Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the marathon, released a statement praising how participants supported struggling competitors at “the most historic finish line in all of road racing on Boylston Street.”

“The uplifting spirit of the running community to help one another, especially in times of need, is on full display on Patriots’ Day — not just at the finish, but all along the race route,” the organization stated. Officials reported that 29,101 of the 29,470 registered participants completed the race.

BOSTON — During a postgame press conference following Philadelphia’s 111-97 Game 2 victory over Boston, Paul George was praising his young teammate V.J. Edgecombe when he suddenly paused with a question.

“Are you 21 yet?” George asked, turning to face Edgecombe at the podium.

“No, 20,” Edgecombe replied with a grin.

The 76ers’ third overall draft selection from last June has entered exclusive territory in just his second playoff appearance, and his performance is no laughing matter.

“I just try not to overthink it,” Edgecombe explained. “I try not to put pressure on myself. Everybody’s already putting pressure on us to perform. … Plus, I’m around a great group of guys. That also helps me. Just keep instilling confidence in me. Just to keep going, keep going. Regardless of who’s on the floor, who’s not on the floor.”

The young star’s 30-point, 10-rebound showing made him the first rookie to achieve at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff contest since Tim Duncan accomplished the feat on May 5, 1998.

Edgecombe also etched his name in NBA record books as the first rookie ever to combine five three-pointers with 10 rebounds in a postseason game. The stellar outing represented a significant improvement from Game 1, where he managed only 13 points while shooting 6-of-16 from the field.

According to George, this performance represents the peak of talent they initially witnessed from the Bahamas-born player when he scored 34 points in his professional debut during Philadelphia’s narrow season-opening victory in Boston.

“When you think about it how he started his first NBA game in this building, I’m sure he was in a small percentage or small group of players that what he did on that opening night,” George commented.

That debut performance ranks as the third-highest scoring effort for any NBA player in their inaugural game. Wilt Chamberlain holds the record with 43 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959, also grabbing 28 rebounds against New York that evening. Frank Selvy scored 35 points for the Milwaukee Hawks versus Boston in 1954.

Edgecombe surpassed Allen Iverson’s franchise record of 30 points in a Sixers debut, set in 1996.

The rookie’s 14 first-quarter points on opening night also established a new NBA record for most points scored in a player’s initial quarter. LeBron James previously held that mark from 2003.

Throughout the regular season, Edgecombe maintained a 16.0 scoring average across 75 games.

His playing style carries a charismatic flair that echoes the entertaining approach Iverson brought during his Philadelphia years.

During Tuesday’s victory, after sinking his final shot of the evening — a long-range three-pointer over Payton Pritchard that extended Philadelphia’s lead to 105-92 following Boston’s rally to 91-89 — Edgecombe winked at the television camera while running back on defense.

George believes this is merely a preview of Edgecombe’s potential.

“To put a whole season together and get to a point where he’s showcasing who he is and his abilities. I’ve been saying all year long he’s far past a rookie,” George stated. “It’s just impressive, man. (Edgecombe had) 30 and 10, but it’s just what we needed in the moments throughout the game when he took over, and kind of just put us at ease.”

The evening wasn’t without challenges for Edgecombe, who suffered a hard fall onto his back early in the contest, causing him to limp to the locker room during both the first and third quarters.

However, Edgecombe dismissed any concerns about the injury affecting his availability for the remainder of the series.

“I just landed on my back, but I’m good. I was able to finish the game so I’m good,” he stated. “That’s all I’ve got for you. I’m good, ain’t nothing wrong with me. I’m good.”

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys leadership announced Wednesday they will not pursue contract negotiations with star wide receiver George Pickens, opting instead to have him compete under the franchise tag designation for the upcoming season.

The 25-year-old receiver has yet to sign the franchise tender valued at $27.3 million, meaning he could skip mandatory minicamp in June without facing financial consequences. The team’s offseason activities begin Monday on a voluntary basis.

“We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George play under the franchise tag, which won’t be a first for us,” said Stephen Jones, the team’s executive vice president of personnel. “So there won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal. But that’s certainly not a first for this organization and certainly won’t be a first in the league in terms of this decision as we move forward.”

While Stephen Jones indicated he hasn’t spoken with Pickens lately, team owner Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently held discussions with the receiver.

“It was good,” Schottenheimer commented during the Cowboys’ pre-draft media session ahead of Thursday evening’s NFL draft. “The thing that George knows about Jerry and myself is we’re very upfront and we’re honest. We had great conversation. We informed him. We think that’s important because that’s the way we handle all of our players and coaches.”

Pickens’ representative, David Mulugheta, has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the situation.

Following his trade from Pittsburgh during the previous offseason, Pickens achieved personal bests with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns while contributing to one of the NFL’s most productive offensive units. However, Dallas struggled defensively and posted a 7-9-1 record, extending their playoff absence to two consecutive seasons.

The Georgia product, selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, formed an effective partnership with CeeDee Lamb, who is entering his second season of a four-year, $136 million extension that places him among the league’s highest-paid receivers at $34 million annually.

Lamb staged a holdout throughout the 2024 offseason and training camp before finalizing his contract approximately two weeks prior to the season opener.

Dallas was unable to apply the franchise tag to Lamb due to his rookie contract structure. First-round selections include a fifth-year team option, while second-round picks like Pickens complete four-year agreements. Pickens earned $6.8 million during his initial NFL contract.

During his Pittsburgh tenure, Pickens demonstrated exceptional ability but also displayed concerning behavioral patterns that prompted former coach Mike Tomlin to question his professional maturity.

Although Schottenheimer avoided public criticism of Pickens during his inaugural head coaching campaign after 25 years as an assistant, both Pickens and Lamb were disciplined with a first-series benching in Las Vegas after violating team curfew following a casino visit.

“There’s a lot of things that go into that,” Stephen Jones explained regarding the decision to avoid long-term negotiations this offseason. “Let’s start with the fact that it’s not easy having two receivers being paid top of the market. A quarterback that’s been here, being the highest-paid player in this league for many years now.”

“The other thing is the newness of George being here,” Stephen Jones continued. “I think George has just done an amazing job. I mean he’s exceeded all expectations. And a lot of those things, they make their way toward a long-term deal, but that’s the biggest part of it — between the business and newness of it, I think that’s a big part of it.”

The San Diego Padres have brought aboard seasoned pitcher Lucas Giolito, adding the premier free agent starter available to help their injury-riddled pitching staff as the team continues its hot start to the season.

San Diego revealed the one-year contract agreement with Giolito on Wednesday, which includes a team option for 2027. The club did not reveal monetary details of the arrangement.

The 31-year-old California native posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 earned run average across 26 starts for Boston last season, demonstrating a strong comeback following his absence from the entire 2024 campaign due to right elbow surgery that repaired his ulnar collateral ligament with an internal brace procedure in March.

Throughout nine major league seasons with Washington, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland, Giolito has compiled a 71-66 record with a 4.30 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.

The right-hander has demonstrated consistency and reliability throughout most of his professional tenure, earning All-Star recognition in 2019 and delivering a no-hitter in 2020. Even with his injury-shortened season, he remains among the top five American League hurlers from 2018-25 in innings thrown (1,092), strikeouts (1,153), victories (68) and complete games (5).

However, Giolito remained unsigned nearly a full month into the current season before joining the Padres, who have excelled on the mound despite significant rotation disruptions and injury concerns.

Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta landed on the disabled list last week with a right elbow flexor strain that may sideline him for several months, while Joe Musgrove has yet to take the mound this year due to a prolonged recovery from Tommy John surgery. Yu Darvish is already finished for the season with an elbow problem, and Dylan Cease departed last fall after signing a $210 million free-agent contract with Toronto.

Despite these setbacks, the Padres maintain the majors’ second-best team ERA at 3.22 following Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory over Colorado, marking their 11th win in 12 contests. San Diego’s 16-7 record matches the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers for baseball’s best mark.

General manager A.J. Preller managed to accommodate Giolito within his financial constraints while the franchise undergoes ownership changes. The family of deceased Padres owner Peter Seidler is close to completing a sale to billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones.

Giolito will immediately join a rotation currently featuring Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Germán Márquez and former Dodgers ace Walker Buehler. Right-hander Matt Waldron made a start following Pivetta’s injury but performed poorly in a defeat to the Angels.

Giolito had signed a $38.5 million, two-year agreement with Boston in January 2024. He aims to continue his impressive performance with the Red Sox from 2025, when he went 9-1 with a 2.26 ERA over 15 starts between June 10 and August 31 after a sluggish beginning. Opposing batters managed just .194 (25 for 129) against his changeup and .200 (3 for 15) against his curveball.

Boston excluded him from their postseason roster after he experienced elbow discomfort in mid-September, though no structural damage was found — which he described as “a small relief in a very unfortunate situation.”

“As it was described to me in layman’s terms, my flexor is very irritated and at this point it’s hard for me to describe,” Giolito explained following Game 1 of Boston’s AL Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees. “It’s like weird stuff going on with my bone. It’s one of those things I was told you got to stop throwing and let it calm down.”

Giolito has not appeared in playoff action since 2021, when he made his second career postseason appearance for the White Sox.

San Diego moved right-hander Bryan Hoeing to the 60-day disabled list to create roster space for Giolito on the 40-man squad.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals announced Wednesday they will abandon their current home at Kauffman Stadium in favor of a brand-new downtown ballpark, teaming up with Hallmark Cards for an ambitious $3 billion development project.

Team owner John Sherman joined Hallmark chairman Don Hall Jr., Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas at Hallmark’s headquarters to unveil the massive undertaking that will transform the Crown Center district.

Though the complete master plan remains in development, Sherman revealed the $1.9 billion stadium will begin construction next year at the heart of Crown Center, serving as the focal point of an 85-acre development’s initial phase. Private investors will provide two-thirds of the financing, with the remaining third coming from public partners, including state funds designated for stadium construction.

“This is a partnership between two treasured Kansas City institutions,” Sherman stated. “We are committed to creating a vision which honors our history, the rich past of both organizations, while reinvigorating and reimagining what our future can be together.”

The revelation followed Kansas City officials’ recent approval of an ordinance allowing City Manager Mario Vasquez to negotiate a $600 million agreement supporting the Royals’ downtown relocation. Many expected the venue would occupy Washington Square Park near Union Station, but the stadium will actually sit just south of that location, incorporating the park into the broader development.

Hallmark plans to construct new corporate headquarters within the area, which connects via streetcar to the Power & Light District anchored by T-Mobile Center. That downtown Kansas City skyline will create the scenic backdrop beyond the stadium’s outfield walls.

City leaders emphasized the area’s existing public parking availability and easy highway access for traffic management.

Missouri’s financial contribution stems from legislation passed last year authorizing bonds covering up to half the cost of new or renovated state stadiums, plus $50 million in tax credits per facility and additional local government assistance.

“We think it’s a great investment for our Missouri taxpayers, because this does not affect existing programs,” Kehoe explained. “The ripple effect from this facility will truly be far-reaching into rural Missouri and other parts of the state.”

The Royals have maintained they would vacate Kauffman Stadium when their Truman Sports Complex lease ends in 2031, with Sherman pursuing a downtown ballpark replacement since acquiring the team in 2019.

However, Wednesday’s announcement followed numerous obstacles and setbacks.

The most significant hurdle occurred in April 2024, when the Chiefs partnered with the Royals on a proposal to renovate Arrowhead Stadium while replacing Kauffman Stadium. The plan required extending a sales tax funding stadium maintenance, but Jackson County, Missouri voters decisively rejected the measure, forcing both franchises to pursue separate solutions.

Kansas lawmakers aggressively courted the Chiefs, approving $2.4 billion in bonds last December to fund 60% of a new $3 billion domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas. The NFL team ultimately chose to relocate across state lines, also planning a new training facility in nearby Olathe, Kansas.

Kansas officials briefly showed interest in the Royals as well, though their pursuit of the MLB team remained halfhearted.

The Royals considered multiple locations in recent months, ultimately declining an Overland Park, Kansas option and missing a deadline for a site north of downtown across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri.

Economic experts have consistently determined that stadium subsidies don’t justify their community costs, as these facilities typically redirect economic activity from other local areas rather than growing the overall economy. Despite this, states and cities regularly fund stadium renovations or new construction — 49 of 60 venues used by MLB or NFL teams are publicly owned or built on public property.

Sherman has referenced Truist Park in Atlanta as a model for Kansas City’s potential.

That stadium represented a public-private partnership where the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority issued up to $397 million in bonds, the county generated additional millions through transportation taxes, and businesses contributed cash. The Braves funded the remaining costs for both the park and The Battery mixed-use development, totaling over $1.1 billion.

“There are many great ballpark neighborhoods in Major League Baseball,” Sherman noted, “but this is a bigger project with more land in downtown and in the heart of the city. We are bringing a modern, state-of-the-art ballpark experience to our fans, closer to our public transportation and where more people work and live.”

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday encountered another complication in his recovery from a hand injury during Tuesday’s Triple-A game, prompting team officials to schedule an MRI examination.

The 22-year-old prospect, who was selected first overall in the 2022 draft, left Norfolk’s matchup against Memphis after feeling discomfort while taking a swing at the plate.

Holliday has been attempting to return to major league action since breaking a hamate bone during February batting practice. This marks his second episode of hand and wrist pain within the past week.

“We’re getting him up to Baltimore for an MRI,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz stated after Tuesday’s 6-5 defeat in Kansas City.

The young infielder completed 11 rehabilitation appearances with Norfolk between March 27 and April 12, followed by two contests at High-A Fredericksburg on April 18-19, before rejoining Norfolk on Tuesday. His combined performance across 14 minor league games shows a .176 batting average with 9 hits in 51 at-bats, zero home runs, and four runs batted in.

The son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday posted a .242 batting average with 17 homers, 55 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases across 149 games with Baltimore during the 2025 season.

This year’s NFL draft may buck the recent trend of multiple quarterbacks being selected early, with experts predicting a significant dropoff after Fernando Mendoza is chosen first overall by Las Vegas.

Unlike the quarterback-heavy drafts of 2021 and 2024, this year’s class appears top-heavy, with a substantial talent gap between Mendoza and the next signal-caller on most draft boards, Ty Simpson.

Betting markets show Simpson as a borderline first-round selection, with odds placing his draft position at around pick 24.5. Should he slip even slightly, the opening round could feature just a single quarterback for only the third time in nearly two and a half decades.

Historical data shows only two instances since 2000 where one quarterback was drafted in round one: Kenny Pickett going 20th overall in 2022 and EJ Manuel selected 16th in 2013.

Recent drafts have averaged 3.3 quarterbacks in the first round over the past dozen years, including a record-tying six selections in 2024 and five each in 2021 and 2018. Oregon’s Dante Moore, who likely would have been drafted highly, chose to remain in college for another season, aided by Name, Image and Likeness opportunities.

Interestingly, drafts with limited first-round quarterback selections have historically produced successful late-round finds. Brock Purdy became Mr. Irrelevant in 2022 after Pickett’s selection, while Geno Smith went in round two following Manuel in 2013. Hall of Fame quarterbacks Drew Brees was a second-rounder in 2001 after Michael Vick went first overall, and Tom Brady famously lasted until the sixth round in 2000.

Should Las Vegas select Mendoza, it would mark their first opening-round quarterback since taking JaMarcus Russell first overall in 2007, a pick that became one of history’s biggest draft disappointments.

Only three franchises have longer droughts selecting first-round quarterbacks: Seattle last chose one in 1993 with Rick Mirer, Dallas in 1989 with Troy Aikman, and New Orleans in 1971 with Archie Manning.

Draft positioning has seen significant movement this year, with the latest trade sending Cincinnati’s 10th overall pick to the New York Giants in exchange for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

This marks just the sixth time in the common draft era that at least six teams possess multiple first-round selections, with nine teams accomplishing this feat in 2022 setting the record.

Teams holding multiple first-rounders include the New York Jets, Cleveland, Kansas City, Miami, Dallas, and now the Giants. Meanwhile, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Green Bay, Jacksonville, and Denver currently lack first-round picks.

Jacksonville faces their first opening round absence since joining the NFL in 1995, following last year’s trade to acquire Travis Hunter with the second overall selection. Their 31-year streak ranks fourth-longest in common draft era history.

Cincinnati’s drought would end their longest first-round absence since 1989, while Pittsburgh holds the record with 52 consecutive years of first-round picks from 1968-2019. Detroit could claim the longest active streak at 33 years if they select in round one.

The Giants now possess a rare opportunity with two top-10 selections at fifth and 10th overall, similar to their 2022 draft when they selected Kayvon Thibodeaux fifth and Evan Neal seventh.

Only four other teams in the past 25 drafts have made two top-10 picks, all occurring since 2018: Cleveland with Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward, the Jets with Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, Houston with C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson, and Chicago with Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze.

Ohio State could dominate early proceedings with Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, and Carnell Tate all projected as potential top-10 selections. The last school to place four players in the top 10 was Michigan State in 1967 with Bubba Smith, Clint Jones, George Webster, and Gene Washington.

Seven schools have managed three top-10 picks in the common draft era, with Ohio State accomplishing this in 2016 through Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, and Eli Apple. Alabama last achieved this feat in 2021 with Jaylen Waddle, Patrick Surtain II, and DeVonta Smith.

Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love could end a seven-year drought of running backs selected in the top five, with oddsmakers setting his draft position at 4.5. No running back has gone in the top five since Saquon Barkley went fifth to the Giants in 2018.

This seven-year span represents the longest stretch without a top-five running back in common draft history, surpassing the four-year period from 1970-73. The position’s declining value reflects the league’s evolution toward pass-heavy offenses.

Love’s teammate Jadarian Price could become the second running back selected, which would mark the first time the initial two running backs drafted came from the same college program.

Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner has evolved from being primarily known as a hard court specialist into the leading contender for clay court tournaments, with experts pointing to his mental fortitude and process-focused approach as key factors in his transformation.

The 24-year-old, who has captured four Grand Slam titles, was traditionally expected to dominate on faster surfaces while leaving clay court supremacy to his chief rival Carlos Alcaraz. However, Sinner’s dedicated work on developing patience and tactical control has shifted that narrative entirely.

While Alcaraz boasts seven major championships and defended his French Open crown last year, he recently fell to Sinner in the Monte Carlo championship match. The Spanish star then sustained a wrist injury during competition in Barcelona, hampering his preparation for the upcoming clay court season.

Sinner will test his continued development this week at the Madrid Open, where the elevated altitude creates unique playing conditions that accelerate the typically slower clay surface.

“Here it’s a very unique playing style,” Sinner explained. “It’s a very high altitude and it can be windy at times, so it’s very difficult to play. But I think every different kind of claycourt can help me as I’m trying to improve as a player.”

Sports psychologist and former professional player Jeff Greenwald has observed distinct mental differences between the two young stars that may give Sinner an edge.

“Sinner, even more than Alcaraz, has this unflappable demeanour that is built from this deep love and appreciation of the process,” Greenwald explained to Reuters. “He’s the poster child for mastery, a desire to be as good as he can be, which overrides the ever fluctuating, short-term obsession with this point, this win, that is almost always trading the short-term result for longer-term success.”

This emphasis on long-term improvement rather than individual moments has fundamentally altered how Sinner approaches clay court tennis, where his strategic discipline and comfort with unpredictable situations are becoming significant assets as the French Open approaches on May 24.

The Italian now faces a different type of mental challenge as he enters tournaments carrying the burden of being considered the frontrunner rather than the underdog.

According to Greenwald, managing expectations represents one of the most common yet potentially harmful distractions for elite athletes.

“They try to not get preoccupied by them with the ‘process mindset’ as best they can but most of the players are vulnerable to this reality, given that their livelihoods are on the line,” he noted. “This is where Sinner has an advantage … he didn’t develop this (mindset) after becoming successful. It was baked into his training and development. So whether he’s labelled a favourite by the media and other players, this will not affect him.”

“More than anything, it’ll only solidify the confidence, remarkable resilience and joy he brings to every match.”

Should Alcaraz recover from his injury in time for Roland Garros, the tournament could present a significant psychological examination for Sinner, who suffered defeat against his rival in last year’s thrilling final.

Despite that setback, the Italian welcomes the prospect of facing his greatest competitor as he pursues a career Grand Slam.

“When you want to win, you want to do it by beating the best and he’s among them,” Sinner stated.

J.J. Moser netted his first playoff goal 12:48 into the extra period Tuesday night, leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 comeback win over Montreal and tying their Eastern Conference first-round series at one game apiece.

The Lightning dominated the overtime session and capitalized when Moser secured the puck following a faceoff victory in the attacking zone. He maneuvered into position at the top of the right circle and fired a shot into the upper corner of the net.

Montreal had captured Game 1 in overtime but was completely outplayed in the extra frame of Game 2, managing zero shots while Tampa Bay recorded nine attempts. The series moves to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday.

Brandon Hagel contributed a goal and assist for Tampa Bay, while Nikita Kucherov added one goal. Anthony Cirelli recorded two assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots for the Lightning, who broke free from recent playoff struggles.

Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT)

Nicolas Roy found the net at 7:44 of overtime, propelling Colorado past Los Angeles in Denver and giving the Avalanche a 2-0 advantage in their Western Conference first-round matchup.

Gabriel Landeskog netted the equalizer late in regulation while Scott Wedgewood turned away 24 shots for Colorado. Wedgewood topped the NHL during the regular season with a 2.02 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

Anton Forsberg stopped 34 shots for Los Angeles in his second career playoff appearance, both coming in this series. He has surrendered two goals or fewer in eight of his last nine outings.

Bruins 4, Sabres 2

Boston scored three times in the middle period and withstood a late Buffalo surge to level their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at one win each.

Viktor Arvidsson tallied in both the second and third periods, giving Boston 1-0 and 4-0 advantages. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also found the back of the net for the Bruins, who return home for Game 3 on Thursday. Jeremy Swayman recorded 34 saves.

Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored for Buffalo, cutting the deficit to 4-2 in the final minutes. Buffalo netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen surrendered four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon took over in relief after Arvidsson’s second goal just 16 seconds into the third period.

Utah 3, Golden Knights 2

Logan Cooley scored the decisive goal on a rebound with six minutes left, delivering Utah its first playoff victory in franchise history over Vegas in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas.

Cooley converted a rebound from a Dylan Guenther shot, knotting the series at one game each. Guenther registered a goal and assist, Kailer Yamamoto added two assists, and MacKenzie Weegar also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, including a crucial stop on Mark Stone’s close-range attempt with five seconds remaining.

Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev each scored for Vegas, while Jack Eichel contributed two assists for the Golden Knights, who suffered their first regulation loss in 10 games (8-1-1) under coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart finished with 27 saves. Game 3 takes place Friday in Salt Lake City.

Scoot Henderson delivered his best performance of the season with 31 points, leading Portland’s dramatic comeback from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat San Antonio 106-103 on Tuesday night, tying their Western Conference first-round playoff series at one game apiece.

The series shifts to Portland for Game 3 on Friday, but San Antonio’s chances took a major hit when Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion after hitting his face on the court during the second quarter. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year will undergo additional evaluation on Wednesday, leaving his availability for the next game uncertain.

San Antonio appeared in control after opening the final quarter with a 13-0 scoring surge that extended their one-point lead to 93-79. However, Portland responded with a crucial 7-0 run late in the game, taking the lead on a Jrue Holiday layup with 2:02 remaining and maintaining that advantage until the final buzzer.

Holiday contributed 16 points and nine assists to Portland’s victory, while Deni Avdija chipped in 14 points. For the Spurs, Stephon Castle led all scorers with 18 points, De’Aaron Fox added 17 points, and Devin Vassell recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

In other playoff action, LeBron James powered the Lakers to a 101-94 win over Houston with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, giving Los Angeles a commanding 2-0 series lead. Marcus Smart provided excellent support with 25 points on strong three-point shooting, while Luke Kennard added 23 points despite the absence of injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia bounced back from a disappointing Game 1 loss by defeating Boston 111-97 to even their Eastern Conference series. VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined for 59 points and knocked down 11 three-pointers, helping the 76ers shoot an impressive 48.7% from beyond the arc after managing just four three-pointers in their series opener.

The opening stretch of this year’s NBA playoffs began with complete home dominance. Through the initial six contests, host teams swept every game, cruising to victory by an impressive 18.5-point average.

But the script has flipped dramatically since then. Visiting squads have discovered how to compete and win on hostile courts.

Among the six opening-round matchups that have played two games each, just two top-seeded franchises — Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers — have successfully defended their home venues to grab commanding 2-0 advantages. Oklahoma City has an opportunity to join that exclusive group when they face Phoenix in their second game Wednesday evening.

Beyond that, the home-court edge that franchises battled through 82 regular-season contests to secure has vanished. This development means numerous Game 3 matchups approaching later this week will feature lower-seeded clubs feeling confident about potential upsets.

— Eastern Conference eighth-seeded Orlando stunned top-ranked Detroit in their opening clash Sunday. The Pistons will attempt to even the series when play continues Wednesday.

— Eastern sixth-seed Atlanta defeated third-seeded New York on Monday, while Western sixth-seed Minnesota topped third-seeded Denver that same evening.

— Tuesday brought more surprises as Eastern seventh-seed Philadelphia defeated second-seeded Boston, and Western seventh-seed Portland knocked off second-seeded San Antonio. The Spurs lost star Victor Wembanyama to a first-half concussion during their defeat.

Cleveland maintains a 2-0 edge over Toronto, while the Lakers hold the same advantage against Houston.

“It’s the playoffs,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown commented following his squad’s performance — they had dominated Philadelphia by 32 points in the opener before falling by 14 in Game 2. “They’ve got ballplayers over there and they came to play. On any given night, you can lose a game if you don’t come out with the right mindset.”

Visiting teams capturing victories represents nothing new. This pattern has emerged consistently in recent seasons.

During the past six postseasons, excluding the 2020 bubble playoffs at Walt Disney World due to pandemic conditions, home clubs have claimed just 58% of playoff contests — a significant decline from historical standards. In the 15 seasons prior to that stretch, home teams secured playoff victories at a 69% clip.

“Whatever story you told yourself during the regular season, that story is done,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley explained. “And now it’s the playoffs, so it’s an entirely new season.”

The Pistons, Celtics, Spurs — regardless of Wembanyama’s status — and Nuggets won’t be fazed by needing to capture at least one road victory to advance past these first-round series. All these clubs made away wins appear routine throughout the regular campaign.

Oklahoma City posted the league’s best road record. The following four most successful road teams were San Antonio, Detroit, Denver and Boston.

“You have to just keep your temperament where it’s at, understand these games ebb and flow,” Denver coach David Adelman remarked after losing Game 2 to Minnesota. “And we can play better. We know that.”

Houston’s 30 home victories tied for fourth-best league-wide, so the Lakers — despite successfully protecting their court for a 2-0 lead — understand their Rockets series remains far from decided.

“It’s the postseason. So, it’s the first to four,” Lakers forward LeBron James stated. “It’s never the first to one. It’s never the first to two. Our whole mindset now is focused on Game 3. We know we’re going into a hostile environment. Guys tend to play better at home than they do on the road, so we have to be ready for that.”

Under the present playoff structure, higher-seeded teams advance from conference quarterfinals 77.4% of the time, jumping to 92.5% when those favored clubs begin with 2-0 series advantages. The road warriors thus far — Orlando, Atlanta, Minnesota, Portland and Philadelphia — have at minimum created significant doubt about those statistics.

Still, all these teams recognize plenty of basketball remains ahead.

“It’s 1-1. Who cares?” 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey said. “Now we’ve got to go home and try to protect home court.”

DENVER — A dramatic scene unfolded during Tuesday night’s playoff hockey game when Los Angeles Kings interim coach D.J. Smith found himself dodging falling glass after an arena panel collapsed behind his team’s bench during Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche.

The incident occurred moments after Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood blocked a penalty shot attempt by Kings forward Quinton Byfield, with 16 minutes and 48 seconds left in the second period. Enthusiastic Avalanche supporters began banging on the protective glass barrier, causing it to wobble before completely giving way and sending glass fragments tumbling onto Smith below.

Smith immediately shielded his head with his hands as debris scattered around him, then dusted off his suit jacket before walking to the locker room area. The coach emerged again several minutes later to resume his duties.

Arena maintenance staff quickly responded with cleaning equipment including shovels and containers to remove the broken glass from the visiting team’s bench area. Meanwhile, Kings players gathered on the ice surface while workers brought in and mounted a replacement glass panel.

Colorado team captain Gabriel Landeskog shared his reaction with ESPN hockey commentator Erik Johnson, saying he had never witnessed such an occurrence during his career. “It was loud there when ‘Wedgy’ made that save and fans got a little too excited,” Landeskog explained.

The unexpected interruption lasted over 15 minutes, with both teams tied at zero when officials stopped the action.

NEW YORK — The struggling New York Mets came back to their home stadium Tuesday evening hoping to end an 11-game losing streak, but instead found themselves dealing with a mostly empty Citi Field and increasingly frustrated supporters.

The atmosphere shifted dramatically as it became obvious the team’s struggles would continue for at least one more game.

Struggling reliever Devin Williams gave up a go-ahead RBI hit to Luke Keaschall during the ninth inning, extending New York’s losing streak to 12 games in a 5-3 defeat against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday evening.

Despite carrying baseball’s highest opening-day payroll at $352.2 million, the Mets now own the sport’s poorest record at 7-16. This current losing streak represents their longest since dropping 12 consecutive games between August 10-23, 2002. Historically, no team has reached the playoffs after enduring a 12-game losing streak during a season.

Throughout this losing stretch, New York has managed just a .194 batting average while opponents have outscored them 67-22. The team has played without star hitter Juan Soto during this entire period, though he’s scheduled to return Wednesday following a 16-game absence due to a strained left quadriceps.

“I’ve never been a part of something like this,” Williams said. “I think we just need to get the one win out of the way and I think everything else will take care of itself. But it’s obviously proving pretty difficult right now.”

Williams, who couldn’t record a single out, faced loud boos from the remaining fans in the announced crowd of 32,798. The actual attendance looked much smaller on an evening when temperatures dropped to 46 degrees at game time.

Some spectators expressed their frustration through the classic protest of placing paper bags over their heads.

Supporters began shouting “Fire Mendy!” while Williams walked batters to load the bases. Relief pitcher Austin Warren came in and earned cheers when he struck out Royce Lewis. The crowd then chanted Warren’s name after he struck out both Brooks Lee and Byron Buxton.

Earlier in the day, the atmosphere was much more optimistic.

Patrick Heaney sat alone in section 524 at Citi Field just before game time, smiling as he looked across rows of vacant seats.

“You wouldn’t be here tonight if you weren’t a Met fan,” Heaney said.

Star shortstop Francisco Lindor had predicted after Sunday’s 2-1, 10-inning defeat to the Chicago Cubs that Tuesday’s home crowd would “get very loud.” However, fans remained relatively quiet until the third inning, when Lindor connected on a three-run home run that opened the scoring and gave the Mets their largest lead since defeating the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on April 5.

“I think if they can get it going today, I think the fans will rally around them,” said Josh Hudson, a Tennessee visitor attending on business who purchased a $15 secondary market ticket and sat in section 509.

Heaney, who lives in Malverne on Long Island and wore his Mets cap along with a 2022 playoff sweatshirt, smiled while describing how he ended up purchasing a $12 ticket and attending the game by himself.

“I couldn’t get my wife to come,” Heaney said. “I couldn’t get my kids to come. I couldn’t get my friends to come. I bought one ticket, the cheapest one I could find, and I’m going to see if I can help them turn it around.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza, now in his third season leading the team after spending six years on the Yankees’ coaching staff, stated before the game that he wouldn’t mind a cold reception because he understands how supporters will respond if the team improves.

“They’re also going to be right behind you when we flip it around,” Mendoza said. “We’ve seen that before, too, so it’s nothing new for us that have been here. We expect those guys to continue to support us, but we’ve got to do better for them, too.

“It’s all part of it. It comes with the territory. Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama suffered a frightening fall during Tuesday evening’s playoff matchup with Portland, forcing him to leave the game and enter concussion protocol after landing face-down on the court.

The team announced that Wembanyama would not be returning to the contest as he undergoes evaluation for a potential head injury. A prolonged absence for the towering French athlete would deal a significant setback to San Antonio, which secured the NBA’s second-best regular season record largely due to the 7-foot-4 center’s dominant play.

The incident occurred when Portland’s Jrue Holiday committed a foul on Wembanyama following the big man’s spin move around the guard in the low post. Unable to break his fall properly, Wembanyama’s jaw made contact with the hardwood with 8 minutes and 57 seconds left in the second period.

The young star stayed down for approximately 30 seconds before sitting up and conversing with teammate Stephon Castle for about a minute. Head coach Mitch Johnson immediately called a timeout to assess his player’s condition, and Wembanyama quickly headed to the locker room once he stood up.

This marks San Antonio’s first playoff appearance since 2019, with the team taking Game 1 of their Western Conference opening round matchup against the Trail Blazers.

Just one day earlier, Wembanyama received recognition as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, earning every first-place vote for the honor. During the regular season, he posted averages of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds while leading the league with 3.1 blocks per game.

San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama will not finish Tuesday’s playoff matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers after sustaining a concussion during the second quarter of Game 2 in their opening-round series.

The injury occurred with 8 minutes and 57 seconds remaining in the second period when Wembanyama took a hard fall while driving toward the basket. Moving at nearly full speed, the center’s face made contact with the court surface after being knocked down, leaving him visibly shaken and struggling to regain his footing before heading to the locker room.

Team officials confirmed that Wembanyama has been placed in the league’s concussion protocol and will not rejoin the contest. At the time of his departure, San Antonio was down 34-32.

Before the injury, Wembanyama had contributed five points, four rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot during his 11 minutes and 41 seconds on the court. The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 57-57.

San Antonio has demonstrated resilience when playing without their franchise player throughout the current season. Wembanyama sat out 18 regular season contests due to various injuries, during which the Spurs compiled a strong 12-6 record in his absence.

Brooklyn boxer Richardson Hitchins has voluntarily surrendered his IBF super lightweight championship belt, announcing his decision on social media just two weeks following his signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing organization.

The 28-year-old fighter took to X to explain his reasoning, stating: “I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done. Let’s go!!!”

The International Boxing Federation officially confirmed Hitchins’ decision through a statement released Tuesday.

“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the organization stated. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.”

The statement continued: “We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”

Hitchins captured the championship belt in 2024 following a unanimous decision victory over Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn-born fighter maintains a perfect professional record of 20-0, with eight victories coming by way of knockout.

This decision eliminates any chance of a rescheduled match between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado. The bout was originally planned as a replacement for Hitchins’ February contest against Oscar Duarte, which was cancelled due to the champion’s illness.

With the title now vacant, Delgado is positioned to compete for the championship in his upcoming fight. Delgado and Duarte appear to be the most logical contenders for the empty title, though both fighters train under Robert Garcia, which could create complications for arranging such a matchup.

Hitchins becomes the second fighter to join Zuffa after Jai Opetaia, who was actually stripped of his IBF cruiserweight championship following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. By moving up in weight class, Hitchins may have avoided a similar fate of being stripped of his title.

The former champion is set to make his debut with Zuffa Boxing during the summer months.

The NFL draft’s opening round presents an intriguing imbalance: half a dozen franchises will sit out the first round entirely, while six others possess double the usual selection power.

Trading activity could heat up significantly as a result.

First-round pick trades have fluctuated dramatically in recent years, with 60 such deals occurring over the past five seasons. The 2022 draft saw 18 first-round selections change hands, while last year’s six trades tied the lowest total since 1985.

The Bengals, Packers, Jaguars, Falcons, Colts and Broncos will watch Thursday’s first round from the sidelines, having previously dealt their selections. Meanwhile, the Giants, Jets, Dolphins, Cowboys, Browns and Chiefs each hold two first-round picks.

Several major trades have already shaped this year’s landscape. Cincinnati sent the 10th overall selection to New York for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on Saturday, giving the Giants picks at fifth and tenth overall. Green Bay lacks a first-rounder due to last August’s blockbuster deal for Micah Parsons. Jacksonville traded away its 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland during last year’s draft to secure Travis Hunter with the second overall selection.

Atlanta surrendered this year’s first-round pick to Los Angeles last draft night to select edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at 26th overall. Indianapolis dealt its first-rounder to New York for Sauce Gardner. Denver sent the 30th pick to Miami in exchange for Jaylen Waddle.

Several franchises appear positioned to make moves Thursday evening:

Philadelphia’s general manager Howie Roseman has established himself as one of the league’s most aggressive executives. The Eagles hold the 23rd selection and have a recent history of draft-day maneuvering. They traded up from 10th to ninth in 2023 for defensive tackle Jalen Carter, moved from 15th to 13th in 2022 for Jordan Davis, and jumped from 12th to 10th in 2021 to select DeVonta Smith. Roseman also engineered moves in 2019 and 2016, while trading out of the first round entirely in 2018.

“I think we go into this draft being very comfortable with having 23 guys we’re ready to take. We’re there ready and prepared for that,” Roseman said. “If something happens where somebody who’s higher on our board than 23rd is available, we’ll be ready for that. If there’s an opportunity that we think makes sense to move up based on the value of that player, we’ll move up. If we have multiple guys at our spot and there’s a trade that makes sense to move back, we’ll move back.”

One Eagles trade scenario generating offseason speculation isn’t expected to materialize this week. A.J. Brown appears headed elsewhere, with New England emerging as the frontrunner to acquire the star receiver and reunite him with coach Mike Vrabel. Los Angeles also pursued Brown earlier this offseason. Philadelphia could spread Brown’s $40 million salary cap impact across two seasons by waiting until June 1 for any deal.

Tampa Bay holds the 15th selection but might find their preferred targets unavailable. The Buccaneers need pass-rushing help and could benefit from additional draft capital, as they currently possess just one pick per round. Several potential edge rushers projected for the 16-25 range could prompt Tampa Bay to trade backward while accumulating premium selections.

“In a lot of scenarios that we’re working through, yeah,” GM Jason Licht said regarding trading down. “You have a group of players that you say, ‘No matter what, if this player’s there, we’re taking (them).’ If there’s a group of three, then maybe you go back one or two to make sure that you ensure you get one of your three, but the part of that that makes it difficult is you’ve got to find a trade partner. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes teams just don’t want to move up. They don’t want to give up picks, and I understand why.”

Dallas possesses selections at 12th and 20th overall, with owner Jerry Jones suggesting an aggressive approach. However, trading down from one position to accumulate additional picks might better serve the Cowboys’ defensive needs across multiple areas.

Dallas lacks a second-round pick after sending it to New York for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams before the trade deadline. Moving down from the 20th spot while adding a second-rounder plus other selections represents one possible strategy.

New York holds four selections among the top 44 picks, including second and 16th overall in the first round. They also possess three 2027 first-round picks.

Should the Jets target a specific player—perhaps an elite receiver—they have sufficient draft assets to move up from 16th overall. They can choose among available edge rushers at second overall after quarterback Fernando Mendoza goes first to Las Vegas.

Miami enters with picks at 11th and 30th overall while facing numerous roster needs. The Dolphins are rebuilding comprehensively, and trading one first-round selection for multiple picks could help restock their talent base.

Two Latino quarterbacks created history at December’s Heisman Trophy presentation, marking the first occasion that players of Latino heritage claimed both the top honor and runner-up position in the award’s long history.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza captured the prestigious trophy, becoming only the third Latino player to achieve this distinction alongside Jim Plunkett and Bryce Young. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia earned the runner-up spot in the voting.

As Thursday’s NFL draft approaches, both signal-callers remain focal points of speculation regarding their professional destinations. Draft analysts predict Mendoza will be selected first overall, with the quarterback-hungry Las Vegas Raiders viewed as the likely destination. Pavia, meanwhile, seeks to silence any remaining critics about his professional potential.

The two quarterbacks represent just a portion of the Latino talent pool awaiting selection before Saturday’s draft conclusion. Nine players with Latino heritage participated in February’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Mendoza appears destined for the opening selection after an outstanding season that included 3,535 passing yards and a nation-leading 41 touchdown throws, plus seven rushing scores. His memorable rushing touchdown helped secure Indiana’s national championship victory. The quarterback proudly celebrates his Cuban heritage, frequently discussing how his parents and extended family influenced his development. His four grandparents departed Cuba in 1959.

Standing 5-foot-11 1/2 and weighing 196 pounds, KC Concepcion became one of college football’s premier versatile threats in 2025, earning first-team All-America recognition as an all-purpose performer. Though his Puerto Rican background adds to his compelling story, scouts may question his elite speed after recording a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. However, Concepcion consistently produces in critical situations and when plays seem destined to fail. He has also written openly about overcoming a speech impediment, expressing his desire to inspire others who “may be too scared to speak.” Expect his selection on Day 1 or early Day 2.

Rodriguez contributed across multiple areas for one of last season’s elite defensive units. The 6-1, 231-pound defender recorded 128 tackles while breaking up seven passes, intercepting four, forcing seven fumbles, recovering two, and adding one sack. The unanimous All-American claimed the Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, and Bednarik Award while playing alongside numerous future NFL talents. His college versatility included quarterback duties at Virginia in 2021. Questions remain about his optimal professional position and how his diverse experience will transfer to the next level.

Despite measuring 5-11 and 186 pounds, smaller than traditional linebackers, York could fill the safety-linebacker hybrid role increasingly popular among NFL teams. The second-team all-SEC honoree started throughout his three seasons with the Aggies, concluding last year with 72 tackles and three pass breakups. York represents one of five draft prospects with Mexican family connections. Anticipate his selection during Day 2 or early Day 3.

Pavia ranks among this draft class’s most divisive prospects, partly due to his outspoken nature and partly because of his 5-foot-10 stature, well below most teams’ quarterback preferences. However, two aspects of his background cannot be dismissed — his consistent ability to exceed expectations and his winning track record. His college journey began at New Mexico Military Institute, progressed to New Mexico State, then culminated with leading Vanderbilt through its most successful consecutive seasons in recent decades. The 2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and Vanderbilt’s first Heisman finalist now awaits discovery of which NFL organization will provide another opportunity to prove his worth.

Throughout stops at Cal Poly, Washington, and Alabama, Cuevas established himself more as a reliable blocker than pass-catcher. While his 6-3 1/2, 245-pound frame might prompt teams to envision him as a fullback rather than tight end, several appealing qualities exist. He delivered respectable production last season with the Tide — 37 catches, 411 yards, four touchdowns — and achieved career highs during 2022 at Cal Poly with 58 receptions, 678 yards, and six scores. Coaches will value his accountability, demonstrated when he apologized to Alabama supporters following the 2025 season-opening defeat to Florida State, acknowledging the team’s failure to meet expected standards. He also utilized his Senior Bowl platform to endorse Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer.

Carmona displayed adaptability last season by transitioning to guard after three years at left tackle. This move provided NFL evaluators with insight into his potential next-level role, given his shorter arms and substantial 6-4 1/2, 316-pound build. His college progression showed steady improvement, advancing from honorable mention all-Western Athletic Conference recognition at San Jose State in 2023 to third-team all-SEC in 2024 and second-team all-SEC last year. While scouts appreciate his enthusiasm and competitive edge, they recognize he’ll require refined technique to succeed professionally.

Aguilar represents a unique prospect who preferred avoiding any draft consideration. Despite accumulating 3,565 passing yards and 24 touchdowns during his lone Tennessee season, he sought to return for another collegiate campaign. However, days before the NFL scouting combine commenced, a Tennessee court rejected his preliminary injunction, forcing him into draft eligibility. This ruling placed Aguilar in an uncomfortable situation since other prospects had spent months preparing for the draft process. His eventual selection — or lack thereof — remains highly unpredictable.

Cruz possesses the physical dimensions teams desire — 6-5 1/2, 313 pounds — along with the flexibility they value in later-round selections, having played both tackle positions in college. He also demonstrated resilience by overcoming a demotion from starter to backup at Syracuse, ultimately reclaiming the starting role last year at Kansas. Whether these qualities will attract NFL interest remains to be determined.

CJ McCollum delivered a clutch performance Monday night, netting 32 points including six crucial scores in the game’s final moments as the Atlanta Hawks mounted a stunning comeback to defeat the New York Knicks 107-106 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff matchup.

Atlanta erased an eight-point deficit over the final five minutes, closing the contest with a decisive 15-6 scoring surge to tie the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece.

Despite McCollum’s heroics, drama continued until the final buzzer when he failed to convert two free throw attempts with just 5.6 seconds remaining. New York opted against using their remaining timeout, instead advancing the ball quickly before Josh Hart found Mikal Bridges, whose 12-foot shot from the left side rimmed out as time expired.

Supporting McCollum’s effort, Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points coming off the bench for Atlanta, while Jalen Johnson added 17 points and Onyeka Okongwu chipped in 15. For New York, Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 29 points, Hart recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points.

In Cleveland, the Cavaliers extended their dominance over Toronto with a 115-105 victory, taking a 2-0 series advantage in their Eastern Conference first-round battle. Donovan Mitchell poured in 30 points, including nine fourth-quarter markers, while James Harden added 28 points to power the win.

The victory marked Cleveland’s 12th consecutive playoff triumph over Toronto, matching the NBA record for most consecutive postseason wins against a single opponent. Mitchell also grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists, while Harden recorded five steals and four assists. Evan Mobley contributed 25 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers.

Scottie Barnes posted a playoff career-best 26 points for Toronto, though the Raptors never held a lead throughout the contest.

Out west, the Minnesota Timberwolves orchestrated their own remarkable rally, overcoming a 19-point deficit to defeat Denver 119-114 and square their Western Conference series at one game each. Anthony Edwards led the charge with 30 points and 10 rebounds, while Donte DiVincenzo connected on a critical three-pointer with 1:05 remaining.

Julius Randle provided valuable support with 24 points and nine rebounds, sealing the victory by sinking two free throws with 18.8 seconds left on the clock. DiVincenzo finished with 16 points and Jaden McDaniels added 14 for Minnesota.

Denver received strong performances from Jamal Murray, who scored 30 points for the second consecutive game, and Nikola Jokic, who recorded 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. The loss ended Denver’s winning streak that dated back to March 18.

DENVER — Following Minnesota’s stunning 119-114 comeback victory over Denver in Monday night’s playoff matchup, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels delivered his most impactful statement off the court.

McDaniels didn’t hold back when describing the defensive capabilities of the entire Nuggets roster, including star players Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

“Go after Jokic, Jamal, all the bad defenders,” McDaniels stated after contributing 14 points and three assists to the victory. “Tim Hardaway (Jr.), Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, the whole team, just go at them.”

When pressed about whether he considered Denver’s entire roster defensively weak, McDaniels confirmed his assessment.

“Yeah, they’re all bad defenders,” McDaniels responded.

Minnesota’s dramatic turnaround from a 19-point disadvantage has leveled the opening-round playoff series at one game apiece. The series now moves to Minneapolis for Thursday evening’s Game 3. Anthony Edwards powered the comeback with 30 points while battling through a knee injury, also grabbing 10 rebounds.

“They don’t got people that can defend the rim,” McDaniels continued. “We’re still more athletic than them and just got to be able to finish when we do.”

Denver’s star duo of Jokic and Murray combined for impressive individual statistics — Jokic recorded 24 points and 15 defensive rebounds while Murray contributed 30 points. However, both players struggled significantly in the final quarter, shooting just 2 of 12 combined for four total points. Murray had an opportunity to force overtime with a three-point attempt in the game’s final moments but chose a two-point shot attempt instead.

The shot missed.

“I was happy he took the two points,” Edwards commented. “I thought he had a good look at a 3 when he first came off but yeah, he took the 2-pointer. I guess if he made it, we would have been in a free-throw situation. But yeah, I’m kind of happy he took the 2-pointer.”

Murray acknowledged his shooting struggles following the defeat.

“I didn’t make enough shots tonight,” Murray said. “That’s really about it. We all could have played better. It’s not all on one person, that’s just the way the game goes sometimes. They played hard as well. It was a good game. I thought we had the game in our hands, but we just didn’t make enough shots, in my opinion.”

NEW YORK — CJ McCollum’s season was nearly over before the Washington Wizards traded him to Atlanta in January as part of the deal that sent Trae Young elsewhere.

Now McCollum has not only filled Young’s roster spot with the Hawks, but he’s also stepped into his role as the player New York fans love to hate at Madison Square Garden — delivering a crushing playoff defeat to the Knicks.

“I ain’t no villain,” McCollum said. “I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife.”

The experienced guard put up 32 points Monday evening as Atlanta mounted a remarkable comeback for a shocking 107-106 win that evened their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at one victory each.

Garden spectators hurled profanity at him following a heated confrontation with Jose Alvarado that resulted in technical fouls for both players during the third quarter, echoing the treatment Young received during a 2021 first-round matchup. Like Young did in the opening game of that series when he became New York’s primary target, McCollum delivered crucial plays down the stretch that silenced the hostile crowd.

“I love it. I love it. That’s why we play the game,” McCollum said. “It’s fun being in opposing arenas and when the buzzer sounds and it’s quiet and you walk off the court, I think there’s a level of mutual respect.”

After Atlanta chose to part ways with their long-time star point guard, head coach Quin Snyder recognized that McCollum could serve as a veteran presence for their youthful roster. Snyder also understood the 34-year-old could provide some of the offensive production Young had brought to the team.

“Yeah, I felt like we needed both, you know?” Snyder said. “Being in the West for a while, I’ve watched him do that when he was in Portland.”

McCollum’s journey continued to New Orleans before the Pelicans shipped him to Washington last July. The subsequent trade to Atlanta became what McCollum described as his “light at the end of the tunnel.”

“I’m just thankful to be able to play in the playoffs on a good team in a good situation,” McCollum said. “I think you take the journey for what it is in stride and just hope for the best. And I think when you do things the right way you get rewarded at the end of the tunnel, and my reward is playing the Knicks in the Garden.”

He dominated his matchup with Jalen Brunson, actively seeking one-on-one opportunities against the Knicks All-Star, and sank the decisive basket — a jump shot with 33 seconds left on the clock.

McCollum nearly gave New York a chance to steal the victory when he missed both free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining, but Mikal Bridges couldn’t connect on his potential game-winner. The Knicks must now capture at least one road victory in Atlanta while finding a way to contain McCollum’s hot shooting.

“CJ hit a couple big buckets late. He hit his and we missed ours and you give a guy like CJ a lot of credit,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “That’s what those guys are supposed to do and he got it done.”

Professional golf’s presence in Hawaii will come to an end after 2026, the PGA Tour announced Monday, marking the conclusion of more than 50 years of tournament play in the island state.

The decision follows the cancellation of the 2026 Maui tournament, which was scrapped due to severe drought conditions affecting the Plantation Course at Kapalua.

The Sentry tournament, previously called the Tournament of Champions, had traditionally kicked off each PGA Tour season in January. The event served this role from 1986 through 2013 and again in 2024-25. With this year’s cancellation, the tour began its season less ceremoniously at the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, followed by The American Express tournament in La Quinta, California.

The elite Sentry tournament typically featured the top 50 players from the FedEx Cup standings along with all winners from the prior season.

Water rights conflicts with a local company at the Plantation Course proved impossible to resolve, prompting officials to announce the 2026 event’s cancellation last October.

The Sony Open on Oahu now faces an uncertain future as well. The tournament, which allowed golfers to spend two weeks in the Pacific by pairing with The Sentry, may be transferred to the Champions Tour and potentially combined with the senior circuit’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

Tour officials indicated that additional details regarding the 2027 schedule will be released later.

In an official statement, the PGA Tour expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership: “We are grateful to The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the state of Hawaii for their longtime support of our season- opening PGA Tour event, as well as the fans, partners and volunteers across Maui who have supported the event throughout the years.”

Sentry maintains its title sponsorship agreement with the PGA Tour through 2035, requiring the organization to find a new tournament for the company to sponsor. Reports indicate executives have visited Torrey Pines in San Diego this season, as that venue’s partnership with Farmers Insurance is set to expire this year.

Chris Gotterup captured the Sony Open victory on January 18, officially launching the 2026 PGA season.

Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. exited Monday evening’s matchup with the Washington Nationals after taking a pitch to his left hand, though medical tests brought encouraging news for the team.

Team officials confirmed that X-rays on Acuña’s hand showed no fractures, listing the outfielder as day-to-day moving forward.

The incident marked the second time during the game that Acuña was struck by a pitch from Nationals starter Jake Irvin, both coming from four-seam fastballs. Earlier in the contest, Irvin’s pitch caught Acuña near his elbow protection on his left arm before the baserunner was subsequently picked off at first base.

The more concerning moment came in the sixth inning when another Irvin fastball struck Acuña’s left hand. The star player immediately leaped from the batter’s box, clearly in discomfort, and appeared to glance back toward the mound before heading to first base. Following the incident, Nationals manager Blake Butera pulled Irvin from the game.

Despite the injury, Acuña remained in the game long enough to cross home plate during Atlanta’s explosive five-run sixth inning. However, when Washington came to bat in the bottom half of the inning, Eli White had taken over Acuña’s position in right field.

The former National League MVP from 2023 has faced injury challenges in recent seasons, appearing in just 49 games during the 2024 campaign and 95 contests in 2025 following a torn left ACL suffered in May 2024 and the subsequent rehabilitation process.

Atlanta secured a 9-4 victory in the series opener, kicking off what will be a four-game set between the division rivals.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Technical problems with their charter aircraft left the Toronto Blue Jays with no choice but to travel by bus from Phoenix to Southern California on Sunday evening, enduring a six-hour journey through the desert that brought them to their Orange County accommodations around 12:30 a.m.

“I felt like I was back in the Northwest League,” manager John Schneider said before Monday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. “But we made the best of it, we all got here safe, and we’re ready to go.”

According to Schneider, Blue Jays traveling secretary Rodney Hiemstra notified him about the aircraft malfunction around 4 p.m. Sunday, just as the team was wrapping up their 10-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“There was an issue with the joystick, which is pretty important — apparently, it’s used for takeoffs and landings,” Schneider said. “So the options were to get a new plane, which would have had to fly down from Vancouver and wouldn’t have landed until 10 p.m., or drive. We took a team vote, and the team voted to bus.”

Starting pitcher Dylan Cease, slated to pitch Monday evening, chose to take a commercial flight from Phoenix to Orange County, while the rest of the team transferred their luggage and provisions from the charter aircraft to three buses — two designated for players and one for the remaining traveling group of approximately 40 people, including coaching personnel.

“The math was a little off,” Schneider said. “It worked out way better for the players, but there was a whole lot of doubling up for us. I had my own two seats, and I still had cases of water around me, and you feel bad reclining on people.”

Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer opposed the team’s decision to take the bus route, preferring air travel to Orange County, but the experienced right-hander managed to inject some levity into the circumstances.

“I got reprimanded by Max for electing to travel that way,” Schneider said as he showed reporters a letter Scherzer printed out for the manager. “So we’re going to go to a trial in kangaroo court.

“I was like, ‘Max, why don’t you just buy a plane? You’ve got plenty of cash.’ Most of the guys who were playing (Monday night) wanted to get out of there.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green shared his doubts about head coach Steve Kerr’s future with the team during his podcast appearance Monday, suggesting the veteran coach may not return for another season.

“I hope he’s our coach next year. You want my opinion? I think not, just because it just feels like that, it felt like that was it,” Green stated on “The Draymond Green Show.” “I also hope I’m on this team next year. We also don’t know that.”

The Warriors organization faces an uncertain summer after their season concluded with a 111-96 defeat to Phoenix in the play-in tournament, leaving many questions about the team’s direction moving forward.

Kerr recently finished a two-year deal valued at $35 million with the franchise.

During his dozen seasons with Golden State, the 60-year-old coach has captured four NBA titles, though this past season proved challenging with season-ending injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, plus Stephen Curry’s extended absence. The Warriors managed only a 10th-place finish in the Western Conference standings. While they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in their initial play-in matchup, Friday’s loss in Phoenix ended their championship hopes.

Following that final game, Kerr gathered Curry and Green near the sideline, telling them: “I don’t know what’s gonna happen next, but I love you guys to death and I thank you. I appreciate you.” The heartfelt moment was later shared by the NBA on social platforms, though Kerr hadn’t anticipated the public nature of the exchange.

“I’ve never been so uncertain since early in my career on what happens next, but I’m truly at a loss now because you just don’t know what direction will be what,” Green explained. “Steph, myself, Steve, shared a moment in what could be our last time playing with Steve as our coach. I’m happy we got to share that moment and he didn’t miss the moment. It was a big deal.”

Young forward Gui Santos expressed his desire to see the core group remain intact.

“They did so much for the organization. Steve, Steph, Draymond, all of them are a big part of the organization,” Santos commented. “I love being coached by Steve. Draymond, I love having Draymond on the team. Steph, I don’t need to say nothing about him. Steph is Steph. It would be great to have all of them together next year, too.”

The trio has worked together throughout Kerr’s entire tenure with the Warriors. His overall coaching record stands at 604-353, while his postseason mark of 104-48 ranks among the elite. With a .684 playoff winning percentage among coaches who have led at least 100 postseason contests, Kerr trails only his former Chicago Bulls mentor Phil Jackson, who posted a .688 mark with a 229-104 record.

Following Friday’s elimination, Kerr indicated he would sit down with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy within the next couple of weeks.

“We’ll talk about what’s next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason,” Kerr explained. “And we will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There’s a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that.”

“And, if that’s the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray and the whole group.”

While Santos and other Warriors players conducted their season-ending meetings with Kerr on Monday at Chase Center, many found it difficult to envision the organization’s future without his leadership.

“I owe Steve everything,” guard Pat Spencer shared. “He’s been like a second father to me since I’ve been here as far as just giving me guidance day in and day out.”

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Díaz faces a three-month absence after the team revealed Monday he needs elbow surgery to clear loose debris from the joint.

Díaz will go under the knife Wednesday at Los Angeles’ Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, with his return not anticipated until the season’s latter half.

The organization moved the 32-year-old right-handed pitcher to the 15-day injured list while bringing up southpaw Jake Elder from their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. Elder joined the Dodgers organization on April 1 in a cash transaction with Washington and has surrendered just two runs across 5 1/3 innings at Oklahoma City this year.

This season, Díaz carries a 1-0 record alongside a troubling 10.50 ERA, recording 10 strikeouts and converting four of five save chances through seven outings. His struggles peaked during Sunday’s 9-6 defeat in Colorado, where he surrendered three runs before being pulled without recording an out. Over his last two appearances, he has given up three earned runs in each outing.

The Dodgers committed significant resources to acquire the three-time All-Star last December, signing him to a three-year, $69 million contract after he walked away from his remaining two years and $38 million with the New York Mets.

The back-to-back World Series champions were scheduled to wrap up their four-game set against Colorado on Monday evening before heading to San Francisco for a Tuesday series opener as part of their seven-game road swing.

For the first time in the 41-year history of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, a player has achieved perfect unanimity in the voting process.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama made basketball history Monday when the NBA revealed he captured all 100 first-place votes to claim the defensive honor without a single dissenting ballot.

At 22 years and 98 days old, Wembanyama becomes the youngest recipient of this prestigious recognition while also marking his third consecutive season leading the NBA in blocked shots with 3.1 per contest.

The two-time All-Star posted personal bests this season with 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, adding one steal per contest as San Antonio posted the league’s second-best record at 62-20 and ranked third in defensive efficiency.

With his perfect 500-point voting total, Wembanyama joins Spurs legend David Robinson as the only players since the 1991-92 campaign to capture the award within their initial three NBA seasons.

This achievement extends an impressive organizational legacy, as San Antonio now boasts four different Defensive Player of the Year winners across five total awards: Alvin Robertson in 1986, Robinson, Kawhi Leonard in both 2015 and 2016, and now Wembanyama – more than any other franchise in league history.

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren claimed second place with 239 points, earning 76 second-place selections, while Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson finished third with 60 points from nine second-place votes. Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert received 41 points for fourth place, followed by Toronto’s Scottie Barnes with 21 points.

Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter praised the young star’s impact following San Antonio’s 111-98 playoff victory over Portland on Sunday. “He changes the game so much,” Splitter said after watching Wembanyama establish a franchise playoff debut record with 35 points while contributing two blocks defensively.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz faces a lengthy recovery after team officials announced Monday he will need surgical intervention on his throwing arm.

The 32-year-old closer is scheduled for an operation Wednesday at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles to extract loose bone fragments from his right elbow. Medical staff anticipate Diaz won’t return to action until the latter portion of the 2025 season.

Team management has moved Diaz to the 15-day injured list while bringing up left-handed pitcher Jake Eder from their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.

The veteran reliever, who earned All-Star recognition three times during his tenure with Seattle (2018) and the New York Mets (2022, 2025), joined the Dodgers organization this year. Through seven outings in his debut season with Los Angeles, Diaz has recorded one victory and four saves, though he’s struggled with a concerning 10.50 earned run average after surrendering seven runs across six innings of work.

His statistical troubles reached a peak during Sunday’s contest against Colorado, when he allowed three runs on three hits without recording a single out during the eighth inning.

Throughout his nine-year professional career that began with Seattle in 2016, Diaz has compiled a 29-36 record with a 2.91 ERA over 527 relief appearances. The right-hander has accumulated 849 strikeouts while issuing 187 walks in 525 1/3 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, the newly recalled Eder brings limited major league experience at age 27. The southpaw made his big league debut last season with Chicago, appearing in one game before logging eight appearances with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025. His major league statistics show an 0-1 record with a 4.87 ERA, while posting a 3.38 ERA through three games and 5 1/3 innings at Oklahoma City this season.

NBA history was made Monday when Victor Wembanyama achieved something no player had ever done before: earning every single vote for Defensive Player of the Year.

The San Antonio Spurs center’s unanimous selection was widely anticipated after a dominant defensive season. The 7-foot-4 phenom previously finished runner-up for the award as a rookie and was favored to win last season before a medical issue cut his campaign short.

Wembanyama, who won’t turn 23 until January, becomes the youngest player ever to claim the defensive honor.

“The real struggle might have been getting to 65 games,” Wembanyama said on NBC Sports Network, referencing the minimum games required for award consideration. “But I’m super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first-ever unanimous.”

Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren finished second in voting, while Detroit’s Ausar Thompson took third place, both helping their teams earn top playoff seeds. However, the outcome was never truly in question after Wembanyama dominated shot-blocking statistics for his third straight season and consistently disrupted opposing offenses.

“Best player in the world,” declared Spurs teammate Keldon Johnson.

The league will announce its Clutch Player of the Year award Tuesday, with finalists including Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Denver’s Jamal Murray. Wembanyama also remains in contention for MVP, with that announcement scheduled for next week at the earliest.

Monday’s announcement brought several historic milestones along with Wembanyama’s victory.

Previous winners had all been at least 23 years old when they claimed the award, making Wembanyama the youngest by nearly a full year.

The Spurs organization now boasts four different Defensive Player of the Year winners since the award’s inception in 1982-83. Alvin Robertson won in 1986, David Robinson in 1992, and Kawhi Leonard captured back-to-back honors in 2015 and 2016.

Wembanyama joins Robinson and Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to win both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year during their careers.

“I’ve had the chance to have great coaches over my career who have taught me great habits on defense,” Wembanyama said.

Perhaps most remarkably, Wembanyama achieved complete consensus among voters – a rare feat in professional sports awards.

Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP selection in 2016 was the last time every voter agreed on a major award. In the decade since, only two other instances of 100% first-place vote agreement have occurred: Wembanyama’s Rookie of the Year win in 2024 and now this defensive honor.

No player in at least five decades has claimed two major individual awards unanimously, making Wembanyama’s achievement even more extraordinary. Historical voting records show this level of consensus is unprecedented, with even legendary players like LeBron James and Michael Jordan never achieving unanimous recognition for major awards.

The unanimous selection represents just the tenth known instance across all major NBA awards including MVP, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

“I feel like he is one of the hardest workers that I’ve ever been around,” Johnson said. “He takes his craft very seriously. I feel like this is just a small token of what’s to come for Victor. He’s a special player now. He’s a special player on the court and even more special person off the court as well. This is just a small token, small flowers that’s given to him for Defensive Player of the Year.”

Both Holmgren and Thompson received their first career votes for the award. A panel of league reporters and broadcasters submitted ballots ranking their top three choices, with voting completed before playoff action began.

Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, a four-time winner, placed fourth in this year’s voting. The remaining top ten included Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, Boston’s Derrick White, Oklahoma City’s Cason Wallace, Houston’s Amen Thompson, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, and New York’s OG Anunoby.

Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Golden State’s Draymond Green (2017 winner), and Miami’s Bam Adebayo shared eleventh place in the final tally.

As an MVP finalist alongside Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and three-time winner Nikola Jokic of Denver, Wembanyama appears likely to earn All-NBA first-team recognition. Combined with his guaranteed All-Defensive team selection, the French star will collect at least four major honors from this award season.

“We often overlook the team aspect,” Wembanyama said. “I’m sitting here. I happen to be the guy who’s put in the spotlight, but I am part of a system and I couldn’t get this award and I couldn’t do what I do if it wasn’t for my teammates … and my coaching staff.”

NEW YORK — New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler remains undeterred about making his first appearance at Fenway Park Thursday night, despite disclosing that Red Sox supporters have sent threatening messages to him and his family.

The right-handed pitcher has previously handled similar hostile situations and delivered strong performances against Boston in high-pressure playoff scenarios, giving him confidence heading into his Fenway debut.

Born and raised in Walpole, Massachusetts, Schlittler originally cheered for the Red Sox during his childhood. However, he revealed to the New York Post that he and his relatives have been targeted with death threats in anticipation of Thursday’s matchup. The 25-year-old athlete characterized these messages as typical fan harassment and indicated he doesn’t believe police intervention is necessary.

“Most normal fans could care less, right?” Schlittler told the newspaper. “It’s just those diehards that just have nothing else in their lives other than baseball or sports that really care about this, and the fact that I play for the Yankees makes it worse for them.”

When his family faced similar online harassment during last year’s AL Wild Card Series against Boston, Schlittler delivered a masterful response on the mound. He made history as the first playoff pitcher to throw at least eight shutout innings while recording 12 strikeouts and issuing zero walks, leading the Yankees to a 4-0 series-clinching victory at home.

The towering 6-foot-6 hurler has continued his impressive form this year. Through five appearances, he holds a 2-1 record with an outstanding 1.95 ERA, striking out 36 batters across 27 2/3 innings pitched.

Schlittler acknowledges that his early-season success will likely intensify the hostile reception from Boston faithful.

“It’s gonna be bad, it’s gonna be bad,” Schlittler told the Post. “I’m not nervous about it, but it’s gonna be loud. … They’re gonna probably have dudes that are my age or a little bit younger, sitting right outside the bullpen, yelling whatever, probably throwing stuff at me, trying to grab me.

“That’s kind of what I expect. So I know the guys are excited for it and I’m excited for it.”

The intensity of playoff hockey is on full display as the Stanley Cup playoffs kick into high gear, with physical confrontations dominating the ice in the opening round.

Teams are delivering punishment at an unprecedented rate, recording an average of 86.9 hits per game across the first seven matchups. The Carolina Hurricanes set the pace with a crushing 57-hit display during their 2-0 victory against Ottawa.

This level of aggression surpasses last year’s playoff intensity, when teams combined for 79.2 hits per game through the initial 10 contests and maintained a 78-hit average throughout the tournament. The heightened physicality typically peaks during the first round as teams establish their playoff identity.

“Sometimes, the best way to manage your emotions is to get into it, get physical, give a hit, take a hit,” explained Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, whose squad holds a 1-0 series advantage over the Los Angeles Kings entering Tuesday’s Game 2. “Whatever you’ve got to do to get involved physically, that tends to settle you down a bit.”

Despite their reputation for speed, Colorado demonstrated they could match opponents’ physical intensity during their 2-1 triumph over Los Angeles. The Avalanche recorded 35 hits – with only Utah registering fewer at 30 – a dramatic increase from their regular season average of just over 16 hits per contest.

Los Angeles responded with 49 hits in Sunday’s opener.

“You’re battling against the same team, so it’s going to be like that all playoffs,” noted center Scott Laughton.

The post-whistle confrontations add another layer to the playoff atmosphere, featuring scrums, shoves and glove-to-face encounters that often escape penalty calls.

Teammate protection remains paramount. Landeskog confronted Adrian Kempe after the Kings forward delivered a hit to defenseman Cale Makar’s back, resulting in roughing penalties for both players.

Players must navigate the delicate balance between delivering impactful hits and avoiding costly penalties.

Montreal’s Josh Anderson exemplified this challenge when his high hit on Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous behind the net removed the player from the game midway through the second period. Tampa Bay capitalized on the resulting power play after Anderson received a charging penalty. The Canadiens ultimately prevailed 4-3 in overtime on a power-play goal following Jake Guentzel’s high-sticking infraction.

Buffalo continued their season-long commitment to physical hockey during their 4-3 comeback victory, out-hitting Boston 53-38. Top-line forward Alex Tuch dominated with 10 hits after recording just 82 throughout the entire regular season.

Tensions boiled over during the Knights-Mammoth matchup, with forward Nic Dowd exchanging heated words with Utah’s Logan Cooley. Late in the third period, Cooley shoved Dowd following a faceoff, leaving Dowd bloodied near his eye after the ensuing scrum.

“It’s an emotional game,” Dowd observed.

Monday brought additional consequences when Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi received a $5,000 fine for head-butting Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson during the first period. Durzi was penalized for roughing on the play.

Game 2 matchups continue Tuesday with Montreal leading Tampa Bay 1-0 (7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2). The Lightning have struggled in recent playoff openers, losing four of their last five Game 1s since capturing consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

“Game 1s are Game 1s,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper remarked. “I’ve been part of series where we’ve won them and lost the series, lost and won the series, and everything in between. That isn’t as much of a concern as how we lost it. If that’s going to be the way we keep going, then this series may not go as long as we thought.”

Buffalo leads Boston 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The Sabres transformed from Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers in early December to division champions, partly through their refusal to back down during physical contests.

“That’s been part of our strength, where we can wear people down,” coach Lindy Ruff recently explained. “Some of the guys that maybe aren’t quite as tenacious become tenacious.”

Vegas holds a 1-0 series lead over Utah heading into Tuesday’s 9:30 p.m. EDT Game 2 on ESPN2. The Golden Knights dominated the third period with a plus-47 goal differential during the regular season and outscored the Mammoth 3-0 in that frame during Game 1.

“Love the way we played,” said forward Cole Smith, sporting a cut on his lip.

Colorado leads Los Angeles 1-0 with Game 2 set for Tuesday at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The Kings employed a grinding style that limited the league’s highest-scoring team to just two goals.

“Holding them to two, I think they’ve asked themselves the same question: Are they going to continue to win with two goals?” Kings interim coach D.J. Smith questioned.

The Houston Astros made several roster moves on Monday, sidelining infielder Nick Allen due to back spasms and sending him to the injured list. The team also reassigned right-handed pitcher J.P. France to their Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land through an outright assignment.

Houston filled Allen’s spot on the active roster by promoting infielder Braden Shewmake, who was recently obtained in a trade, from their Sugar Land farm club. Additionally, the organization transferred right-hander Cristian Javier to the 60-day injured list as he continues dealing with a shoulder injury.

The 27-year-old Allen has posted a .250 batting average this season while crossing home plate five times across 14 appearances. Throughout his professional career spanning time with Oakland from 2022-25 and now Houston, Allen maintains a .214 lifetime average with nine long balls and 65 runs batted in over 396 total games.

France, who is 31 years old, struggled this season with an 8.10 earned run average through three appearances for the Astros. Over parts of four campaigns with Houston, the pitcher carries a 4.49 ERA across 34 total outings, including 28 as a starter. The team designated him for assignment last week before he passed through waivers unclaimed.

The 28-year-old Shewmake was Atlanta’s top selection in the 2019 amateur draft and came to Houston via trade with the New York Yankees this past Sunday. During his 31 major league contests split between the Braves and Chicago White Sox, Shewmake has compiled a .118 career batting mark with one home run and four RBIs.

Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau reportedly conducted discussions about potentially leaving LIV Golf while participating in The Masters Tournament earlier this month, according to a report from The Athletic published Monday.

The 32-year-old golfer, who is in the final year of his initial LIV Golf agreement, allegedly met with unidentified “organizations” regarding his departure from the controversial league while competing in the season’s first major championship at Augusta, Georgia.

Earlier this year, DeChambeau had the chance to rejoin the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program but chose not to take advantage of the opportunity. This program was established around the time Brooks Koepka left LIV to resume his competitive career in the United States.

Jon Rahm and Cam Smith also turned down the chance to return through this program. The three golfers were the only LIV players eligible for this pathway, which was limited to competitors who had been away for a minimum of two years and captured either a major championship or Players Championship between 2022 and 2025.

These reported discussions at The Masters occurred as speculation grew that LIV Golf might be facing closure. However, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil stated last week that the organization would continue operating and confirmed the league has secured funding through the 2026 season.

The current season includes seven remaining tournaments, with five scheduled to take place in the United States, following last week’s competition in Mexico. DeChambeau expressed dissatisfaction with the course conditions at the Mexican event before withdrawing after two rounds due to a wrist injury.

The next event on the calendar is LIV Golf Virginia, taking place at Trump National Golf Club from May 7-10.

DeChambeau has experienced recent success, winning back-to-back playoff victories in March at LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa. The two-time U.S. Open winner has captured five LIV Golf championships during his tenure with the league.

When LIV Golf launched in 2022, DeChambeau reportedly signed a $125 million deal spanning 4½ years. Recent reports from The Daily Telegraph suggest he had been seeking up to $500 million for a new contract to continue with the league.

Soccer enthusiasts traveling to Philadelphia for World Cup matches will receive complimentary transportation home following each of the six games scheduled in the city, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 announced Monday. The free rides are made possible through a collaboration with travel rental company Airbnb.

This initiative creates a notable difference compared to other host cities that are significantly increasing transportation costs during the global tournament.

Just last Friday, New Jersey revealed that round-trip public transit passes to matches will be priced at $150, representing more than a ten-fold price hike. Similarly, Boston fans must pay $95 for round-trip bus service to Gillette Stadium.

Though standard pricing will remain in effect for trips to matches at Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia, SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) will offer complimentary train service for the journey home. This service begins at halftime and runs for two hours following each match’s conclusion.

“My Administration has invested millions of dollars to ensure SEPTA trains remain in good service as we embark on an epic year for sports in Philadelphia,” Governor Josh Shapiro said in a statement.

“And I’m glad Airbnb is stepping up to provide free rides for fans so they can get home safely and affordably.”

The city is scheduled to host five group stage matches, starting with the Ivory Coast versus Ecuador matchup on June 14, plus one round of 16 game.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers continue waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind about playing another season, but the organization appears content to let their veteran quarterback take his time deciding on a potential 22nd NFL campaign in 2026.

General manager Omar Khan told reporters Monday that Pittsburgh maintains ongoing dialogue with the four-time Most Valuable Player, who successfully led the franchise to an AFC North championship last season.

“Nothing’s changed,” Khan said. “It’s all been positive and good. He knows how we feel about him and we know how he feels about us.”

Despite the positive communication, Rodgers hasn’t provided a concrete decision, and one isn’t expected before Thursday when the NFL draft begins in Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old signal-caller delayed his commitment last year until just before mandatory minicamp started in June. However, Rodgers’ undecided status won’t influence Pittsburgh’s approach to their dozen draft selections, which kick off with the 21st overall choice.

“That doesn’t change our evaluation process,” Khan said. “We’re still putting the guys up where they need to be and we’ll just see how it shakes out.”

This year’s draft class at quarterback appears significantly weaker than initially projected, with Indiana’s Heisman Trophy recipient Fernando Mendoza expected to go first overall to Las Vegas as the only reliable prospect.

Pittsburgh’s current quarterback depth chart includes only two players under contract: sixth-round selection Will Howard from last year, whose debut season was derailed by an early training camp hand injury, and veteran backup Mason Rudolph.

The Steelers will likely address quarterback depth during the draft. They’ve hosted pre-draft visits with Penn State’s Drew Allar, Miami’s Carson Beck, and North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, though all three are projected as later-round selections.

New head coach Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native who replaced Mike Tomlin in January, brings extensive experience developing quarterbacks. His resume includes working with Rodgers, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, and former top overall pick Alex Smith during McCarthy’s 2005 stint in San Francisco.

“We speak on it as being the most important position in football,” McCarthy said. “And I think it’s important to always try to add to it if you can (but) it has to fit.”

Beyond quarterback, Pittsburgh faces several roster needs, including finding a versatile receiver to complement established veterans DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. The team also requires help at offensive tackle, where uncertainty surrounds left tackle Broderick Jones, their 2023 first-round pick who missed the final seven games of 2025 due to a neck injury.

Jones remains without a recovery timeline, though he participated with teammates Monday as part of the “medical group” during informal team workouts.

Khan described Jones as “early in the process” of recovery, and the injury makes Pittsburgh likely to decline his fifth-year option for 2027. This situation could push the team toward finding a long-term solution to protect whoever becomes their franchise quarterback, a search that began after Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement in early 2022.

With twelve draft picks available, Khan has flexibility to package selections for potential trades up the board, or alternatively move down early to gather additional draft capital.

McCarthy expressed satisfaction with either approach. While describing the current roster as a “nice mix” of veteran and young talent, he emphasized the value of adding quality depth.

“Being above 10 (picks) I think would be awesome personally,” McCarthy said. “I’ve always felt that the more players you have to develop, I think it definitely is, for the long term, a good process.”

Professional football franchises are placing greater emphasis on tight end talent in this week’s NFL Draft as offensive coordinators increasingly deploy multiple tight ends simultaneously to combat nickel defensive packages.

Organizations including Seattle, the Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears achieved notable success in 2025 utilizing multi-tight end formations to attack smaller defensive units, a strategy expected to spread throughout the league this season. This tactical evolution places heightened value on drafting large, adaptable athletes capable of both blocking in the running game and making catches in the passing attack.

“I think offenses have tried to counter that by getting them back into base defenses by going heavier,” Bears coach Ben Johnson explained regarding offensive responses to defenses featuring additional defensive backs. “Sometimes 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) will do the trick, other times 13 (one running back, three tight ends) will do the trick. I think having some versatility at the tight end position, that’s hard to find. … When you have that versatility, it really opens up Pandora’s box.”

Chicago executed 501 plays featuring multiple tight ends last season, ranking third league-wide, following their unexpected selection of Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick to complement Cole Kmet.

However, the Bears represented just one example of this league-wide trend.

According to Sportradar data, tight ends accumulated 48,102 offensive snaps last season, establishing a 20-year record. The position also achieved new benchmarks for receptions (2,866) and receiving yards (29,072), with per-game yardage totals climbing 37% compared to two decades ago.

“I think it’s awesome,” commented Kenyon Sadiq, this draft’s premier tight end prospect. “More tight ends in the game, more snaps for everyone. I think you’re just able to do so much with different kinds of tight ends and different types of personnels in the game. Whether it’s explosive passes, run game, just creating mismatches in different places.”

Multi-tight end formations have surged 30% per game since 2018. Three-tight end packages experienced even more dramatic growth, with 1,897 plays last year setting a new record and representing a 33% jump from 2024.

Los Angeles executed 331 plays featuring three or more tight ends, shattering the previous two-decade record of 204 established by Cleveland in 2021.

The challenge facing franchises across the league involves locating additional players capable of filling these demanding roles.

Twenty-seven tight ends received scouting combine invitations — approximately 50% above typical numbers — as expanded tight end usage in both college football and professional ranks has elevated more position players into potential draft selections.

“You see so many teams running so much 12 personnel even 13 personnel, so you’re seeing more tight end usage,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller observed. “I think it also just trickled down to the college game. I remember when I was doing this seven or eight years ago, you talked to college coaches about tight ends who had 30 catches. It was like, well, we don’t really throw the ball to our tight ends a lot. Now we see a difference with that where tight ends are being featured in college games.”

Sportradar research indicates an average of 14.1 tight ends selected per draft since 2020, with 19 taken in 2022 representing the highest total in that timeframe. The most drafted since 2010 occurred in 2015 when 22 tight ends heard their names called.

“It’s such a unique position,” said Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham, who worked in Chicago’s front office last season. “The guy that can block, run routes (use them in) spacing. For the coordinator, using them in 12 personnel. Especially, when you get a guy like Colston (Loveland), when you get a guy like Kyle (Pitts), it gives you another weapon. It helps dictate the defense. Whether if they’re going to play base to that or whether they’re going to play nickel. So, it allows a lot of flexibility for an offense. I feel like that position is going to continue to grow moving forward.”

Organizations have pursued elite tight end talent more aggressively than ever, with Pitts selected fourth overall by Atlanta in 2021 and three others chosen within the top 15 over the past two drafts: Brock Bowers, Loveland and Tyler Warren.

Only two tight ends were selected in the top 18 during a 14-draft span from 2007-20, but Sadiq possesses an opportunity this year to join the tight ends chosen in the first round’s upper half.

Sadiq, who recorded 51 receptions for 560 yards playing for Oregon last season, captured widespread attention with an outstanding combine showing that included a record-setting 4.39-second 40-yard dash time for tight ends, plus a 43.5-inch vertical leap.

Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers also impressed at the combine with a 45.5-inch vertical jump and projects as a Day 2 selection. Additional tight ends expected to be chosen in middle to late rounds based on team-specific needs include Ohio State’s Max Klare, Utah’s Dallen Bentley, Texas’ Jack Endries, Georgia’s Oscar Delp, Michigan’s Marlin Klein, Baylor’s Michael Trigg, NC State’s Justin Joly, and Stanford’s Sam Roush.

“I’ve got the speed and athleticism and hands to receive and catch balls and be a threat on offense in the pass game as well,” Roush explained. “You need guys that can do both. There’s kind a shortage of true Y tight ends that can do both and block. I think that’s where I’ll bring value is the ability to kind of do it all. It’ll be hard to take them off the field.”

Banele Mkabela claimed the top spot in the 5000-meter race during the Morgan State Legacy Meet, delivering a standout performance for their university’s outdoor track and field team.

The victory at the collegiate competition showcased Mkabela’s distance running abilities as they outpaced the field in the demanding 5000-meter event.

The Morgan State Legacy Meet provided a competitive platform for college athletes to demonstrate their skills in various track and field disciplines, with Mkabela’s triumph highlighting the strength of their university’s distance running program.

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has secured his place in NFL history, signing a four-year, $28 million contract extension on Monday that makes him the league’s most expensive kicker ever.

The remarkable deal for the 31-year-old athlete includes $20 million in guaranteed money and establishes him as the first NFL kicker to earn $7 million per year, according to his representative Todd France. Aubrey’s journey to this milestone contract represents an extraordinary path from alternative careers to professional football stardom.

Aubrey holds the NFL record for most successful field goals from 60 yards or beyond, having connected on six such attempts throughout his career. His overall accuracy stands at an impressive 88.2 percent, converting 112 of 127 field goal attempts since entering the league.

The kicker’s unconventional route to the NFL began in the Dallas suburbs where he attended high school before playing collegiate soccer at Notre Dame. Toronto FC selected him in the 2017 MLS draft, launching his professional soccer career.

While working as a software engineer in Arlington, the same city where the Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium, Aubrey’s spouse motivated him to explore opportunities in football kicking. He spent two seasons competing in the USFL before joining Dallas ahead of their 2023 training camp.

Aubrey immediately made his mark by establishing an NFL record for consecutive successful field goals to begin a career, converting his first 35 attempts without a miss. During a game against Detroit last season, he became the first player to successfully kick three field goals of 55 yards or longer in a single contest, and also set a record as the first to make three 60-yard field goals in one season.

His franchise-record 65-yard field goal against Cleveland in 2024 currently ranks as the second-longest in league history, falling just three yards short of Jacksonville’s Cam Little, who connected from 68 yards last season.

Prior to Aubrey’s contract, Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn held the top annual salary among kickers at $6.5 million, with Kansas City’s Harrison Butker earning $6.4 million annually.

INDIANAPOLIS — While many college football players find the NFL draft preparation exhausting, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has taken a different approach.

The quarterback has welcomed every aspect of the lengthy process, from team interviews to workout sessions, maintaining his characteristic optimism as Thursday night’s draft approaches. Mendoza is widely expected to be selected with the first overall pick.

Speaking Monday, the former Indiana Hoosiers star said he’s valued the extended evaluation period as he prepares to begin his professional football career, whether that means joining the Las Vegas Raiders to work behind Kirk Cousins or landing with another franchise.

“It’s been long, but it’s been great because a job interview usually is a couple of weeks or even a single day in the office, but this job interview has been a couple of months,” Mendoza explained to The Associated Press. “The teams know everything about you, and that’s been my favorite part. They can peel back the layers and see the true you. It’s been great to test my football IQ, my football knowledge.”

Teams that have evaluated Mendoza appear to have found few concerns with the standout quarterback.

On Monday, Mendoza and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer revealed a new collaboration making him a spokesperson for early cancer detection efforts. The partnership appears fitting given his personal connection to the cause — someone close to him has fought cancer, his mother continues battling multiple sclerosis, and his father works as a physician.

The campaign, titled Every Breakthrough Matters, will feature two advertisements airing Thursday evening, with Mendoza indicating plans for potential expansion into other health initiatives.

However, football remains Mendoza’s primary focus, though he’s keeping quiet about any inside knowledge regarding the Raiders’ intentions.

The Boston native has conducted three separate meetings with Las Vegas representatives since guiding Indiana to their inaugural national championship in January. He also had the opportunity to meet his childhood hero, Raiders part-owner Tom Brady, who attended the title game to observe Mendoza firsthand.

Additional conversations have taken place with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns, organizations holding the second, third, and sixth selections respectively and potentially seeking a new starting quarterback.

Mendoza dismissed speculation that he’s been learning Las Vegas’s offensive system, clarifying that rumors began after he sought assistance from former NFL quarterback and coach Brian Griese to prepare for professional concepts. Both men are alumni of Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School, though from different eras.

“We knew each other and I reached out to him and said ‘Hey, I’ve got to get ready for this. I don’t care what my Pro Day looks like, I just want to help my guys on Pro Day and I want to be the best quarterback come September, can you help me with this?’” Mendoza recalled. “He (played) in the West Coast offense so we were able to install a lot of West Coast concepts, just general concepts and under center concepts every single team runs.”

For draft night itself, Mendoza plans a more intimate celebration.

Rather than attending the ceremony in Pittsburgh, he’ll remain in Miami surrounded by family and supporters who have been instrumental in his journey, including his younger brother Alberto.

“I’ve done so much traveling this year, it’s a lot easier for my mom and her health is at the forefront,” Mendoza explained. “We need to hop on a plane the next day for whatever team drafts me and to be there with the village that’s poured into me — friends, family, coaches, mentors — to be there with all of them and to share the start of this NFL journey, it’s going to create the best memory for our family.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes joined his Kansas City Chiefs teammates Monday for the beginning of their voluntary offseason training program, marking another significant step in his recovery from December knee surgery.

The star quarterback suffered ACL and LCL tears in his left knee during the closing moments of a December 14 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers, a loss that ended Kansas City’s playoff hopes for the season. Following the injury, Mahomes underwent surgical repair in Dallas under the care of renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper before returning to Kansas City to begin an intensive rehabilitation process.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid outlined Mahomes’ current activities during this recovery phase. “So he goes to the meetings. He can lift, do all that. Rehab. That’s the phase he’s in right now,” Reid explained. “We’ll just see. Kind of play it by ear. See where he’s at. He’s doing great, but we’ve just got to be smart with this thing.”

When speaking with area media previously, Mahomes expressed optimism about his timeline, stating “that’s the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions.”

The initial two-week phase of Kansas City’s voluntary program focuses on conditioning work, team meetings, and rehabilitation activities that began Monday. Unlike recent years when Mahomes conducted player workouts at his Texas residence, he remained in Kansas City this offseason to work directly with the team’s medical and training personnel.

The program’s second phase will feature three weeks of field-based activities conducted at walking speed without contact, allowing Mahomes to participate in certain drills while protecting his healing knee from additional injury risk.

Phase three consists of organized team activities where offensive and defensive units practice together without live contact. Kansas City has planned six such sessions scheduled for May 26-28 and June 1-3, leading up to mandatory minicamp from June 9-11.

This year’s schedule differs from previous seasons due to Arrowhead Stadium hosting World Cup soccer matches in June.

The complete NFL schedule release is anticipated in mid-May, with the season opener expected around September 10. This timeline would put Mahomes’ potential return approximately nine months following his injury.

Discussing his rehabilitation approach, Mahomes acknowledged his competitive nature. “Knowing me, I’m going to push it to the exact limit every single day,” he said. “There’s places you can’t go yet. You want to but you can’t go yet. And they’re doing it for a reason.”

As a precautionary measure, Kansas City acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets last month, trading a sixth-round draft selection while assuming $7 million of his $10 million guaranteed contract.

Fields, 27, had signed a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed with New York last March. He started most of the season before being replaced by Tyrod Taylor in Week 12, finishing the campaign on injured reserve with his own knee injury in late December.

Despite his struggles with the Jets, Fields brings NFL starting experience that could provide Kansas City with a viable option if needed.

Reid expressed confidence in the team’s preparation during this extended offseason period. “We’ve had this extended offseason and we’ve been able to really dive in there and really work with the plan for this coming season,” the coach said. “We think we’ve got good direction in which we’re going, and we’ll see how it all formulates by the time we get out of these OTAs and into camp, and then out of camp and into the season.”

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jack Endries recognized what college recruiting specialists completely missed about Fernando Mendoza right away in 2022.

The ex-California tight end observed his roommate grinding in video sessions and during practice to transform into a reliable team captain, an exemplary quarterback, and a complete winner. While Endries couldn’t have predicted Mendoza would capture a Heisman Trophy, claim a national title, or become the likely top selection in this week’s NFL draft after transferring from Berkeley to Bloomington, Indiana, he immediately recognized Mendoza possessed all the tools needed to beat the odds.

“During our extended practice sessions, you witnessed the commitment from both of us, just running extra passing drills and staying late at the training facility,” Endries remembered at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “You could observe as he began assuming more leadership, he would remain later and later at the facility. He was there until approximately nine o’clock most evenings when we finished at three.”

Nobody anticipated Mendoza would reach these heights.

He completed his high school career in Miami as an undervalued prospect who had already committed to Yale over schools like FIU, Bryant, Lehigh and Pennsylvania. Prior to Cal finally extending a scholarship offer, Mendoza appeared ready to accept a walk-on opportunity with a more established Football Bowl Subdivision program like his local Hurricanes or Alabama.

Yet somehow during an era when major programs invest significantly in discovering talents like Mendoza, recruiting coordinators and scouts failed to predict he would become the first signal-caller to capture college football’s most coveted honors — the Heisman and a championship — in one season since Joe Burrow at LSU in 2019.

Currently, Mendoza stands in prime position to follow Burrow as the NFL’s number-one draft selection.

“At this moment, I’m unemployed, I have no job,” Mendoza stated in February, a message he’s echoed frequently over the past two months. “So this represents my job interview. Everyone mentions it’s the most crucial job interview of your life and currently I’m attempting to do everything to hopefully secure employment.”

That shouldn’t pose any challenges for Mendoza.

His journey represents just one compelling narrative in a draft class packed with overachievers.

Endries, a walk-on who didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school, also wasn’t expected to reach this level.

The same applies to 5-foot-10, 207-pound quarterback Diego Pavia, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, or tight end Riley Nowakowski, a walk-on at Wisconsin who transferred to join Mendoza with the Hoosiers last season.

Throughout history, the NFL has provided opportunities for underdog success stories.

Consider 6-foot Drew Brees, who accumulated over 80,000 passing yards and earned Super Bowl MVP honors despite some franchises’ height concerns.

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and Super Bowl champion Clay Matthews III both began as college walk-ons before becoming first-round selections and dominant pass rushers. The most recent example occurred last year when Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a UCLA walk-on, captured the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Pavia ranks just outside the top 10 quarterbacks in this year’s class and believes he can join that list because he’s proven himself before. He spent his initial two college seasons at New Mexico Military Institute and two additional years at New Mexico State before helping Vanderbilt become an SEC championship contender over the last two seasons, and confidence radiates from the vocal Pavia.

“I feel like I’m going to carry that chip (being overlooked) on my shoulder wherever I go,” he stated. “Whatever team gets me is going to get a hard worker, a heck of a teammate. And then, if my number, when my number is called, you know, I’ll be ready.”

Pavia represents this broader, more diverse group of players who have traveled similar paths.

Eli Stowers, Pavia’s teammate over the past three seasons, could become the first tight end selected despite beginning his college career as a Texas A&M quarterback. Nowakowski played linebacker and fullback with the Badgers before discovering a better fit as a tight end. Endries spent this season at Texas in more split formations and receiver roles after using his Cal career as a more conventional tight end.

Endries also experienced his college aspirations affected by COVID, with his junior season reduced to six games and shifted to spring — challenging for an inexperienced player in his third year in the sport. Consequently, he walked on at Cal, became Mendoza’s roommate, and later played with Arch Manning at Texas, meaning he caught passes from one quarterback everyone expects will be the No. 1 pick when he declares and one quarterback few believed would advance this far.

Endries recognized the potential.

“I knew he possessed the ability, but considering where he originated, like a typical Cal guy, nearly a walk-on to a Heisman winner and national champion,” he said, reflecting on Mendoza’s journey. “That represents a significant leap. Somewhat surprising, but I could envision it occurring. He’s a leader and a competitor.”

The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout demonstrated his powerful hitting capabilities during this week’s series in New York, reminding baseball fans of his exceptional slugging talents.

However, it’s his ability to maintain that performance throughout the entire season that has become the central concern in recent years.

At 34 years old, Trout hasn’t claimed an MVP award since 2019, marking six seasons without the honor. His most impressive recent campaign came in 2022 when he launched 40 home runs. During last season, he managed to appear in more than 82 games for just the second time since 2019, though his performance suffered with a .232 batting average and an OPS under .800.

While his batting average remains similar this year, Trout has blasted seven home runs across 22 games, suggesting a return to his offensive dominance—though without the base-stealing speed that characterized his earlier career. During the Angels’ split of their four-game series against the Yankees, he connected for five home runs.

Unfortunately, this pattern has emerged before. Last season saw him crush nine home runs in April before landing on the injured list in early May due to a knee problem. The 2024 season followed a similar script with nine April home runs before a torn meniscus ended his season before the month concluded. In 2023, despite posting an April OPS exceeding 1.000, he participated in barely half the season’s games.

Coming into spring training this year, Trout expressed his desire to return to center field after spending most of the previous season in right field or serving as designated hitter. He believed that playing center field would actually reduce the physical stress on his body.

Under new manager Kurt Suzuki’s guidance, Trout has started 20 of his 22 games in center field so far. His theory about reduced physical strain is currently being tested. Should he remain healthy and continue his strong hitting performance through next month, the Angels might begin considering whether Trout is entering a late-career resurgence.

Trout joins an exclusive group as one of only four players to capture three MVP awards before reaching age 30.

In other baseball news, the National League Central division presents an unusual situation with all five teams maintaining winning records. The Chicago Cubs currently hold the third-best run differential in baseball, while Pittsburgh ranks fifth. Meanwhile, Cincinnati and St. Louis have excelled in close contests, with the Reds perfect at 6-0 in one-run games and the Cardinals maintaining a 5-0 record in both one-run games and extra-inning contests.

Both the Cubs and Cardinals are riding five-game winning streaks.

Conversely, every American League West team is performing at .500 or below.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton delivered an outstanding performance Tuesday night, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and four runs scored in the team’s 6-0 victory over Boston.

Despite a slow start to the season, Buxton’s Tuesday performance accounted for half of his season RBI total. The Twins have reached .500 after losing 92 games in the previous season.

The San Diego Padres pulled off a dramatic comeback Wednesday night, overcoming a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to defeat Seattle 7-6.

Trailing 6-3 with two outs in the final frame, the Padres mounted their rally as Luis Campusano and Ramón Laureano delivered RBI singles, followed by Jackson Merrill’s game-winning two-run double. This marked San Diego’s first victory since 2019 when entering the ninth inning trailing by four or more runs. Seattle’s win probability reached 98.7% in the ninth inning, according to Baseball Savant data.

The victory extended San Diego’s winning streak to seven games, eventually reaching eight, positioning them just half a game behind the first-place Dodgers in the NL West.

The answer to the MVP trivia question: Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, and Albert Pujols join Trout as the only players to win three MVP awards before turning 30.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray was forced to exit Monday’s matchup against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring.

The veteran right-hander appeared to be struggling physically following a two-out walk that put a pair of runners on base. Following an examination by the team’s medical staff and a single warm-up throw, Red Sox skipper Alex Cora decided to pull Gray from the traditional Patriots’ Day contest at Fenway Park.

During his abbreviated outing, Gray surrendered one earned run while giving up three hits over 2 2/3 innings of work. He recorded two strikeouts and issued one walk before his departure. Left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe took over on the mound and secured a ground ball out to close the frame.

The 36-year-old Gray joined Boston this winter through a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran pitcher, who has earned All-Star honors three times during his career, entered Monday’s contest sporting a 2-1 win-loss record along with a 4.30 earned run average across five starts this season.