The Los Angeles Lakers, after an upset win on their home court, will host the Houston Rockets on Tuesday in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA playoff first-round series. The West’s No. 4 seed, Lakers (53-29), defeated the fifth-seeded Rockets (52-30) 107-98 in Sunday’s Game 1. Los Angeles has now won four straight, while Houston has dropped two of their last three games. The Lakers are 24-16 all-time versus the Rockets in the NBA postseason. Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) remain out for the Lakers. Kevin Durant (knee), who missed Game 1, is listed as questionable for Game 2.

Tipoff is at 10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The latest Rockets vs. Lakers odds have Houston as a 4.5-point favorite, while the over/under for total points scored is 207.5. Before making any Lakers vs. Rockets picks, check out the Rockets vs. Lakers predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the first full week of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 24-9 roll (73%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has simulated Rockets vs. Lakers 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Rockets vs. Lakers: 

Top Rockets vs. Lakers predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Rockets vs. Lakers, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (207.5). Six of the Rockets’ last eight games have gone Over the total. The total has gone Over in seven of Houston’s last eight games against an opponent in the Western Conference and eight of the last 10 games the Rockets have played in April. 

The SportsLine model is projecting the Rockets to have six players scoring 10.7 or more points, led by Durant with 27 points if he’s able to go. LeBron James is projected to lead the Lakers with 24.6 points scored, as five Lakers players will score 10 or more points. The teams are projected to combine for 215 total points as the Over hits 61% of the time, making it a great selection for anybody targeting NBA parlay betting. See the Rockets vs. Lakers spread pick at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Rockets vs. Lakers at FanDuel here:

How to make Rockets vs. Lakers picks

After simulating each possession of Rockets vs. Lakers 10,000 times, the model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks. 

So who wins Rockets vs. Lakers, and which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

Rod Martin, a key contributor to Super Bowl-winning teams, died at 72, the Las Vegas Raiders announced.

Martin is perhaps best known for his record-setting performance in Super Bowl XV, when he picked off three passes from Ron Jaworski en route to a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Martin set the tone by picking off the Eagles quarterback on his first pass of the game, and Jim Plunkett turned it into six points just a few plays later on the ensuing drive.

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Former Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders linebacker Rod Martin attends the game against the San Diego Chargers at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on Oct. 10, 2010. (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports)

As the Eagles trailed 21-3, they attempted to mount a comeback and were marching, but Martin picked off Jaworski again. Martin’s third pick all but sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter for the Raiders during their first stint in Oakland.

Three years later, when the then-Los Angeles Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII over the Washington Redskins, he had a sack and a fumble recovery.

“The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Martin, a standout linebacker and key player on two Super Bowl championship teams…” the team said in a release.

Linebacker Rod Martin of the Los Angeles Raiders stands on the sideline against the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Oct. 19, 1986. (USA TODAY Sports)

STEPHEN A. SMITH SAYS HE BELIEVES DIANNA RUSSINI AND MIKE VRABEL ARE INNOCENT — FOR NOW

“A beloved member of the Raiders Family and a favorite of Raiders fans everywhere, the deepest condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Rod’s family at this time.”

Amazingly enough, Martin’s career-high in interceptions in a regular season is four from his 1983 campaign, the same year as his second Super Bowl victory. Two of those went for pick-sixes, which led the league.

The following season, he was named a first-team All-Pro for the only time in his career.

Super Bowl XV was the only time he recorded at least one interception in a playoff game, and it was the only time in his career he had more than one in any game, regular season or postseason.

Oakland Raiders linebacker Rod Martin carries the ball after an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 25, 1981. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. (Manny Rubio/USA TODAY Sports)

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Martin was a 12th-round pick out of USC but became a mainstay on the Raiders’ defense, starting 147 of his 165 career games across his 12-year career, all of which were with the Raiders.

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When it comes to the future of the PGA Tour, and specifically the 2027 PGA Tour season, a lot is up in the air. But on Monday we gained some official insight into the new schedule, and it’s not good news for Hawaii golf fans.

The PGA Tour’s Hawaii swing is no more. Both the traditional season-opening event at Kapalua and the Sony Open in Hawaii will not be contested next year, at least not as PGA Tour events.

The Tour confirmed the news following early reports from the Associated Press and Sports Business Journal.

Here’s what you need to know.

PGA Tour confirms Hawaii will not be on 2027 schedule

The Sentry, formerly known as the Sentry Tournament of Champions, ran from 1999-2025 at Kapalua’s Plantation Course. For many years, it acted as the official PGA Tour season opener.

But beginning next year, the tournament will not serve that purpose.

The PGA Tour confirmed the development in a statement released Monday night.

“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,” the statement read, “as well as the fans, partners and volunteers across Maui who have supported the event throughout the years.”

The news of the tournament’s end comes after the 2026 event was controversially cancelled due to course conditions related to water issues in Maui.

Sentry’s tournament sponsorship with the PGA Tour runs through 2035. Sports Business Journal reports that the company could potentially take over the sponsorship for the late-January event at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

As for the Sony Open, the Tour revealed that they are in discussions to turn it into a PGA Tour Champions event.

The news comes as the Tour plans to overhaul the 2027 schedule. CEO Brian Rolapp has stated the hope is to decrease the total number of tournaments, while bringing some events to big markets.

Chennai Super Kings have so far played six matches in the IPL 2026, losing four of them. Former skipper MS Dhoni has been conspicuous by his absence in these matches. A calf strain ruled him out of the first two weeks of action. Though he recently travelled with the team to Hyderabad, Dhoni was nowhere to be seen in the stadium. However, on Tuesday, CSK uploaded a video showing Dhoni wicketkeeping. CSK’s next match is against Mumbai Indians on Thursday, and the video has given rise to speculation over whether Dhoni is ready for that match.

Rule No. 1: Don’t step out when Thala’s behind the stumps

Rule No. 2: Read Rule No. 1 again 😂💪#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/mPYUIb3yuW

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— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 21, 2026

On Sunday, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey expressed optimism about MS Dhoni’s comeback during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The former Indian cricketer is yet to feature in IPL 2026 as he has been recovering from a calf strain. While the right-hand batter has been taking part in net sessions, it is unclear when he will return to CSK’s playing XI.

After CSK suffered a 10-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, Hussey, speaking at the post-match press conference, said Dhoni is progressing well with his rehabilitation and expressed satisfaction with his batting.

“He’s progressing nicely with his rehab. And look, I’m a batting coach, and I’m happy with how he’s batting,” Hussey said.

Hussey added that Dhoni is batting well and that he is satisfied with his form. He explained that Dhoni’s main focus during recovery has been improving his running fitness and speed, particularly for quick runs between the wickets during the latter stages of an innings. Hussey said he is unsure about the exact return date but hopes Dhoni will be back soon.

“As you saw yesterday at training, he’s batting well. He was very happy with where his batting is at. He’s just about progressing with his running, because if he’s going to bat towards the back end of the innings, he’s going to have to scurry back for those twos and things like that. He just needs to get confidence in his running and build that speed up. I don’t know when he’ll play, but I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later, like all the fans are,” the CSK batting coach said.

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IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss

SRH batting-first XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (capt), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (wk), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga

SRH bench: R Smaran, Praful Hinge, Liam Livingstone, Dilshan Madushanka, Harshal Patel

DC bowling-first XI: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (capt), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Nitish Rana, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar

DC bench: Tripurana Vijay, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, Dushmantha Chameera, Auqib Nabi.

The NCAA cabinet is considering a rule that would create a blanket 5-year eligibility window with very few exceptions.

An even more exciting idea is flying around to start College Football sooner.

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I’m joined by ‘Locked On Utes’ host JT Wistrcill to discuss the top questions for first-time HC Morgan Scalley.

Does his roster look like one that will compete in the Big 12 for a Playoff spot?

Tennessee’s QB battle is one of the most interesting, with 5-star freshman Faizon Brandon competing against former blue-chip prospect George MacIntyre.

What are the Vols’ biggest questions outside of that position room?

00:00 Proposed college football calendar change
03:40 Adjusting the transfer portal timing
06:21 Revising college football schedule
12:26 Utah’s offensive line transition
13:07 Offensive line depth analysis
17:25 Discussing Devon Dampier’s potential
22:50 Evaluating Tennessee’s defensive improvements
24:59 Tennessee football player updates
30:33 Analyzing Tennessee’s quarterback options

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

Peter Siddle and Samit Patel (GettyImages)

Peter Siddle and Samit Patel have been ruled out of this summer’s T20 Blast after falling foul of ECB regulations linked to their participation in an unsanctioned tournament earlier this year, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. Both players featured in the World Legends Pro T20 League held in Goa during January and February, a competition deemed “disapproved cricket” as it did not have the backing of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Under ECB rules, any cricketer who has taken part in such events within 12 months of the domestic season is barred from county competitions. Siddle, 41, had been lined up as an overseas signing for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the Blast, but the deal has now been scrapped. The club confirmed the development on Tuesday, citing his “personal circumstances”. Director of cricket Mick Newell admitted the decision was a setback, saying Nottinghamshire were “naturally disappointed” and would now seek a replacement. The county had already bolstered their squad with additions like Benny Howell and George Munsey. However, they could also be without another overseas recruit, George Linde, at the start of the tournament. Linde is currently tied up with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL and may miss the opening matches if the franchise progresses to the playoffs. Meanwhile, Patel’s situation is more definitive. The 41-year-old all-rounder, who has been without a county contract since leaving Derbyshire County Cricket Club after last season, confirmed that he has accepted the ECB’s directive and abandoned hopes of playing in this year’s Blast. Patel’s absence marks the end of a remarkable streak. Alongside Ravi Bopara, he is one of only two players to have appeared in every edition of the T20 Blast since its inception in 2003. Neither will feature this season, with Bopara having already stepped away from county cricket last month to focus on coaching and media commitments.