With a beefy $21.3 million cap number in 2026, Minnesota Vikings playmaker T.J. Hockenson is on tap to be the NFL’s most expensive tight end. Now, according to recent reporting, Hockenson might accept a pay reduction to remain with the club,
If no deal emerges, Minnesota can pivot to a restructure, trade, or release to clear cap space.
NFL free agency kicks off in one week, and if Hockenson doesn’t rework his deal, well, the Vikings would need a new TE1.
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A Hockenson Pay Cut May Make Sense For Both Sides
It’s roster change season in the NFL.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) loosens up before kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Nov. 3, 2024. Hockenson moved through pregame drills as fans filled the lower bowl, preparing for regular-season action in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Report: Hockenson Willing to Take Less Money
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis weighed in on Minnesota’s free-agency lay of the land on Monday, mentioning Hockenson’s would-be salary reduction.
“The Vikings are prepared to make difficult decisions to alleviate their salary-cap concerns. Don’t expect a big-name free-agent splurge like last year. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the cap, and while that isn’t dire, it is significant. Pay cuts: Minnesota wants to lower the cap number for tight end T.J. Hockenson. He is amenable to lowering it, but the outcome is largely a matter of how low the Vikings want to go,” he wrote.
Until the observation, many believed Hockenson would be traded, released, or asked to restructure the deal — the latter of which would not involve a pay decrease. But a paycut is apparently in play.
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The Adam Thielen Situation in 2023
The Hockenson situation in 2026 is reminiscent of Adam Thielen in 2023. The Vikings had handed Thielen a generous contract extension in 2019 — that he deserved — but by the 2023 offseason, his cap hit proved to be too ginormous for Minnesota’s budget. The team approached Thielen about a paycut, he declined, and later signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he stuck around for two seasons before landing back with the Vikings in the summer of 2025 via trade.
Three offseasons later, Hockenson carries a similar outlook. If he doesn’t oblige the paycut, the Vikings can either restructure his deal (backload the big cap hit to the future with void years), explore a trade, or cut him loose — like Thielen in 2023.
It all depends on how low Hockenson will go to remain Minnesota’s TE1.
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Our Kyle Joudry noted last week, “Rather, look toward a restructure for T.J. Hockenson. Pursuing the maximum savings would mean surpassing $9.4 million in added room for 2026. The cost of doing business is less cap space in the future, but that’s a problem for a different day. If Hockenson can be very good in 2026, then finding a way to make the cap charges work is the way forward.”
“If, in theory, a competent passer gets added (or, better yet, McCarthy turns into one), then the Vikings may be able to unleash a talent like T.J. Hockenson. Indeed, that’s the central question Minnesota is seeking to answer: can Mr. Hockenson be excellent in the future? That’s what’s interesting and pivotal.”
Hockenson’s 2025 Campaign
Hockenson’s 2025 box score tells one story, but the game film revealed another.
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While he finished with 51 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns, the quarterback situation was unstable. J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer all took snaps, preventing the passing game from finding consistency and limiting the production of everyone except Jalen Nailor.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) has his helmet knocked off after gaining a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, Nov. 10, 2024. The play unfolded during second-quarter action as Hockenson battled through contact to move the chains. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images.
Furthermore, Hockenson’s role shifted significantly. Minnesota’s offensive line struggled throughout the year due to injuries and inconsistent play. As a result, Kevin O’Connell adjusted the game plan, acknowledging midseason that Hockenson was blocking more frequently. He essentially became an additional lineman, providing extra protection and reinforcing the edges.
Even with Christian Darrisaw’s return from an ACL injury in September, the line never fully solidified, and Hockenson continued to fill gaps. Thus, his receiving numbers declined, leading some fans to believe his performance was deteriorating.
However, Hockenson is turning 29 this year and retains his route-running skills, exceptional catch radius, and ability to dominate the middle of the field. If he returns to a primary receiving role, his production should rebound accordingly — if the Vikings find stable quarterback production in 2026.
The TEs in Addition to Hockenson
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Along with Hockenson, Minnesota has these tight ends under contract in 2026
Josh Oliver
Gavin Bartholomew
Ben Yurosek
Bryson Nesbit
None of these combatants would be tapped on the shoulder for TE1 duty, barring an amazingly bizarre upward ascent at training camp, meaning Minnesota would have to scour free agency for a replacement like Isaiah Likely, Darren Waller, or Cade Otton, to name a few.
New Orleans Saints scout Josh Hill (left) speaks with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, Feb. 27, 2026. The two met on the field as evaluators gathered information ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The early section of April’s draft will also feature Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq and Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, both of whom performed marvelously at the NFL Combine last week.
The Hockenson verdict should be made public within a week or so. He basically has to decide if the paycut from Minnesota would be more or less than what he’d command on the open market.
Manchester United supporters are set to be left less than impressed as the calendar for the 2026/27 Premier League campaign starts to take shape
12:27, 03 Mar 2026Updated 12:28, 03 Mar 2026
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Manchester United face the prospect of not playing over the Easter weekend next season following a controversial change by FIFA.
The Daily Mail is reporting that in a tradition-defying move, FIFA have shifted the international break to encompass Good Friday and Easter Monday next season. The Sky Bet Championship is also likely to be affected by the change, which will see domestic fixtures restart with the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on April 3.
The first international break of 2027 will include Good Friday (March 26) and Easter Monday (March 29), with games set to be played on Saturday and Tuesday. The Premier League – which usually stages one round – and the second tier will subsequently be out of action.
The first Easter Saturday match took place in 1889, and games over the Easter period have been a staple for more than 100 years.
The FA Cup quarter-finals will be played over Easter weekend this season, with a round of games in the Championship set to take place on Good Friday and another on Easter Monday.
The latest tradition-defying move in the game comes after just one top-flight fixture was played on Boxing Day this season.
United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford was the only game played on December 26, with most of the games being played the next day. But the Premier League have already confirmed that fans can expect a return to a more familiar Boxing Day schedule next season, as Boxing Day this year will fall on a Saturday, rather than last year when it fell on a Friday.
In terms of international breaks for next season, it has also already been confirmed that the Premier League and Championship will pause following September 19 and then not restart until October 10.
The move to switch to an extended September break was approved by the FIFA Council in March 2023 and will also ensure there will be an extra week of domestic football in the calendar.
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There are currently five international breaks each year which take place in March, June, September, October and November. Each lasts two weeks and allows nations to play a maximum of 10 matches, aside from major tournaments such as the World Cup, European Championship, Copa America, Africa Cup of Nations, Gold Cup or Asian Cup.
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The 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational begins this week at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Fla. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the PGA Tour tournament, including a full Arnold Palmer Invitational TV schedule, streaming information and complete tee times for the first and second rounds once they are released.
How to watch Arnold Palmer Invitational
All of the biggest stars of the PGA Tour are back in action for the Arnold Palmer’s annual event in Orlando. And with $20 million on the line, $4 million of which will go to to the winner, who could blame them?
The entire top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking will be represented in the field at Bay Hill, with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy leading the way. Scheffler already has a victory this season and has not finished worse than T12. That came in his last start at the Genesis Invitiational, also a Signature Event, where McIlroy finished T2 in his second PGA Tour event of the season.
Scheffler has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational twice, while McIlroy has one win (in 2018) and four top-5 finishes in his career at Bay Hill.
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Elsewhere in the field, two-time major champion Justin Thomas will make his season debut this week after missing considerable time due to injury. Not including TGL, Thomas’ last competive rounds came at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
NBC and Golf Channel will provide TV coverage of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer streaming coverage and featured group coverage all week long. Peacock will air simulcasts of NBC’s Arnold Palmer Invitational coverage.
You can find complete information about streaming or watching the tournament on TV below.
What: 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational Where: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla. When: Thursday-Sunday, March 5-8 Purse: $20 million ($4 million winner’s share)
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With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
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How to watch on TV
NBC and Golf Channel will air TV coverage of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational this week. Check out the full TV schedule below.
Thursday, March 5: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Friday, March 6: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Saturday, March 7: 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 2:30-6 p.m. ET (NBC) Sunday, March 8: 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 2:30-6 p.m. ET (NBC)
How to watch online, streaming
You can watch the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational online via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, including exclusive early coverage beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on Thursday and Friday, then 9 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will also provide featured group and featured hole coverage throughout the round. You can stream NBC’s coverage on Peacock.
Mar 1, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) drives past Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) during the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic will try to find a way to turn first-half promise into second-half performance when they host the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
Orlando turned a position of strength into a 106-92 loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
The Magic led by seven at halftime, before being outscored 31-18 and 25-17 in the last two periods.
“Twenty-six points of pain,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley lamented, referring to the amount of points his side conceded from its 19 turnovers. “That’s what (the Pistons) did. We talked about it before the game, we showed the film — they reach, they grab, they swipe at the ball.
“We were too loose with it at a lot of these moments, but you’ve got to give Detroit a ton of credit — that’s the reason why they’re the No. 1 team in the East. They get after it physically, they get after it defensively.”
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Paolo Banchero’s 24 points and 11 rebounds were offset by a whopping nine turnovers, while Tristan da Silva scored 19 points.
The meltdown against Detroit came on the heels of a five-point home loss to Houston, highlighted by a 21-0 third-quarter Rockets run that wiped out a 19-point Orlando lead.
da Silva shared his frustration, as well as his determination to get it right this time.
“Obviously it stings,” he said following the Pistons game. “Everybody feels like we’ve been giving games away now — two in a row that we had in control for a good amount of time. It doesn’t necessarily discourage us for the remainder of the season. I don’t think that’s an issue or that’s a problem. I think the guys are very locked in and very focused on the next game.”
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Washington’s losing streak stretched to five after the Wizards succumbed 123-118 to the visiting Rockets on Monday.
The Wizards got off to a hot start, shooting 8 of 11 from 3-point range in the opening quarter, at the end of which they led 30-26, before being battered for the duration.
Houston outrebounded Washington 59-27 and outscored the Wizards in the paint 62-40.
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“You’ve got to give (the Rockets) credit,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said. “We were undersized, but that’s no excuse — they beat us to some second shots, for sure. They’re pretty physical, like I said. Our crashing wasn’t exactly where it would (ideally) be.”
The Wizards trailed by as many as 19 points before rallying late despite the absence of several key personnel, headlined by Anthony Davis (finger), Trae Young (quadriceps), Alex Sarr (hamstring) and D’Angelo Russell (not with the team yet).
Tristan Vukcevic (thigh) and Anthony Gill (illness) also did not suit against Houston, while Kyshawn George is listed as day-to-day after sustaining an elbow injury in the third quarter against the Rockets.
Those gaps have created opportunities for others, and Bilal Coulibaly is one who took advantage.
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The third-year guard from France scored 23 points and sank five 3-pointers, both season highs.
“He’s been doing this a little bit lately, but I’ve seen the amount of work that he’s putting in,” Keefe said of Coulibaly. “I always trust him when he’s open. I tell him to shoot it — let it fly — because he’s probably putting up more shots in our gym than anybody.
“He puts a massive amount of time into it and I have great faith in him. That work is starting to pay off.”
While Young, like Davis, has yet to play for his new team after an in-season trade, he showed on Monday that he is ready to fight for the Wizards. Even though he was in street clothes, he was ejected from the contest for stepping on the court to argue a call.
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Young won’t be active at Orlando, but he is expected to make his Wizards debut on Thursday against the visiting Utah Jazz.
Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar has unveiled the DP World Celebrity Golf Event, a special charity initiative set to be held on March 6, 2026, at the iconic Bombay Presidency Golf Club in Chembur, Mumbai. The event is aimed at raising awareness and support for the CHAMPS Foundation, an organisation founded by Gavaskar to assist former Indian international athletes facing financial and medical hardships.
Driving Awareness for CHAMPS Foundation
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The CHAMPS Foundation, Caring, Helping, Assisting, Motivating, Promoting Sportsperson, was created to ensure that athletes who once brought glory to the nation are not left unsupported in difficult times. Since its inception, the foundation has worked towards providing care, dignity, and financial assistance to several former sportspersons across disciplines.
Speaking about the initiative, Gavaskar said: “The CHAMPS Foundation was created with the belief that those who have brought glory to India through sport should never be left behind in times of need. This event is not just about golf, it is about giving back to the sporting community that has given us so much. I am deeply grateful to DP World and all the participating legends who have come forward to support this cause. Their presence reflects the strong sense of camaraderie and responsibility that defines the global sporting fraternity.”
Star-Studded Sporting Icons to Participate
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The 18-hole event will feature over 100 participants, including renowned Indian cricketers such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Venkatesh Prasad, and Ajay Jadeja. International cricket personalities Eoin Morgan and Michael Vaughan are also set to be part of the initiative.
The event extends beyond cricket, with Indian tennis legend Leander Paes and badminton great Prakash Padukone joining leading professional golfers.
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Paes shared his thoughts on the cause, stating: “Sport teaches us resilience, discipline, and the importance of standing by one another. The CHAMPS Foundation embodies these very values. It’s inspiring to see athletes across disciplines unite to support fellow sportspersons. This event is a celebration of sport’s enduring spirit and a reminder that the sporting community is, above all, a family.”
Strong Partner Support
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The DP World Celebrity Golf Event is backed by leading partners including Asian Paints as Official Colour Partner and Tata Motors (Tata Sierra) as Official Car Partner, along with Campa, 3 Below, and Godawan Estuary Premium Water.
Blending sport, philanthropy, and camaraderie, the event aims to spotlight a meaningful cause while bringing together some of the biggest names in the global sporting fraternity.
Ten minutes of intense activity can help safeguard against cancer / Shutterstock–Branislav Nenin
Ten minutes of hard exercise releases molecules into the bloodstream that can shut down cancer growth signals and switch on DNA repair, according to research from Newcastle University, UK.
Exercise raises the levels of several small molecules in the blood, many of which are known to reduce inflammation, support blood vessel health and improve metabolism.
The study involved 30 volunteers, male and female, aged 50 to 78, all overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy. They completed a 10-minute intense cycling test, after which researchers collected blood samples and analysed these for 249 proteins.
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Thirteen of these proteins – which help to repair the DNA of damaged cells – increased after exercise.
Exercise boosted the activity of genes that support mitochondrial energy metabolism, enabling cells to use oxygen more efficiently. At the same time, genes linked to rapid cell growth were switched off, which could reduce the aggressiveness of cancer cells and exercise-conditioned blood promoted DNA repair, activating a key repair gene called PNKP.
Senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at Newcastle University, Dr Sam Orange, who led the study, said: “What’s remarkable is that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cells.
“These results suggest that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells. Even a single workout can make a difference. One bout of exercise, lasting just 10 minutes, sends powerful signals to the body. It’s a reminder that every step, every session, counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health.”
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Researchers plan to test whether repeated exercise sessions produce lasting changes and explore how these effects interact with standard cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Exercise serum promotes DNA damage repair and remodels gene expression in colon cancer cells was published in International Journal of Cancer.
The Spring Transfer Portal window is a thing of the past, and there is a rule change being discussed to make that permanent.
Player movement after Spring Practice should be obsolete.
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin breaks down some of the most impactful QB transfers that will play for new teams this year.
Indiana’s Josh Hoover has to be on top of any list. Targeting rule changes are being proposed to try to lessen the penalties for players who are flagged for it.
Spencer lays out how he would issue targeting penalties in college football.
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00:00 Spring Transfers Hurt College Football 03:33 NCAA Antitrust Exemption Debate 08:04 Optimizing Transfer Portal Timing 12:41 Indiana’s Incredible Football Turnaround 20:00 LSU’s Future Hinges on Leavitt 26:15 Debating Targeting Ejection Rule 27:38 “End Targeting Ejections Now”
Mar 2, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) plays the puck against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
After nearly experiencing an epic collapse, the Columbus Blue Jackets will try for their second win in as many days when they host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
The Blue Jackets won seven in a row and 11 of 12 before losing 4-2 at Boston on Thursday and falling 4-3 in overtime against the visiting New York Islanders on Saturday.
Columbus led 4-0 through two periods against the host New York Rangers Monday before squandering the lead. Kirill Marchenko’s overtime goal gave the Blue Jackets a 5-4 victory, rescuing them from an embarrassing defeat.
The Blue Jackets, who moved within three points of the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot, missed an opportunity to pick up a regulation victory. They have just 20 on the season, fifth fewest in the conference.
Wins in regulation are the first tiebreaker for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Boston has 25.
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Columbus coach Rick Bowness said his team made it much harder than it needed be due to some “self-inflicted” mistakes, such as defensemen pinching up ice at the wrong times or a lack of desperation in chasing down pucks.
“We’ll address that and take the two points and get ready for tomorrow,” he said postgame.
Soft third periods have been an issue for Columbus all season. According to Champs or Chumps, the Blue Jackets have lost 16 games in which they held a lead. That’s tied for fourth most. Nine times, they led in the third and still managed to lose. Only the Pittsburgh Penguins have endured more late collapses, 10.
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The issue could come up again Tuesday as the Blue Jackets host a Predators squad that ranks second with 18 comeback victories. Nashville is also one of five teams with eight or more rallies from third-period deficits. Vegas leads the NHL with nine.
Unfortunately for the Predators, they allowed the Red Wings to come back from a 2-1 deficit midway through their Monday afternoon game, and Detroit registered a 4-2 victory in Nashville.
Two of Detroit’s first three goals came off rushes, including a short-handed tally by Albert Johansson that put the Red Wings up for good with less than four minutes left in the second.
Predators defenseman Roman Josi said afterward that the Blue Jackets play a lot like the Red Wings.
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“Those are some things we can correct,” said Nashville’s captain, who notched his 30th assist of the season in the loss. “I thought in the zone, we played well defensively, but when you play these fast teams that are good off the rush, you got to make sure you come back and don’t give up too many odd-man rushes.”
Nashville, too, is on the outside of the playoff picture. The Predators, 1-2-2 in their past five games, are four points behind both the Utah Mammoth and the Edmonton Oilers, who hold the two Western Conference wild-card spots.
Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski, a key member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, missed the Monday game due to an illness. He owns a nine-game point streak (two goals, 11 assists) and leads the team with 45 assists and 65 points.
Steven Stamkos, who leads Nashville with 30 goals, did not score on Monday, but he has five in his past six games.
Teams battling for playoff positioning meet when the Los Angeles Clippers meet the Golden State Warriors in a key NBA Pacific Division matchup on Monday night. Los Angeles is coming off a 137-117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, while Golden State dropped a 129-101 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. The Clippers (28-31), who are 18-18 against conference opponents, are 13-18 on the road this season. The Warriors (31-29), who are 21-18 against Western Conference foes, are 19-12 on their home court. Darius Garland is set to make his Clippers debut after being acquired in January from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors will be without Stephen Curry (knee), Will Richard (ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).
Tipoff from Chase Center in San Francisco is set for 10 p.m. ET. The Warriors lead the all-time series 139-103, but the teams have split a pair of games so far this season. The Clippers are a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Clippers vs. Warriors odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 2165.5. Before making any Clippers vs. Warriors picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice 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 Week 19 on a sizzling 38-18 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Clippers vs. Warriors, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (215.5). The Over has hit in four of the last five Los Angeles games, and in six of the past seven Golden State games. The Clippers are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games. The Warriors, meanwhile, are 3-7 ATS in their last 10.
The SportsLine model is projecting the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard to score 24.7 points on average and be one of five Los Angeles players to score 10.4 or more points. The Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton, meanwhile, is projected to have 18.8 points as seven Golden State players score 10.4 points or more. The teams are projected to combine for 228 points as the Over hits nearly 70% of the time.
Two-time Olympic medal-winning Indian badminton star P V Sindhu, who was stranded in Dubai due to closure of airspace in the Gulf region, has returned to the country after pulling out of the All England Championships in Birmingham.
Sindhu posted on X to announce that she is back in the city.
“Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house,” she posted.
“A heartfelt thank you to the incredible ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration, and every single person who stepped up and took such good care of us during a very difficult time. The empathy and professionalism meant more than words can say.
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“For now, it’s time to rest, reset, and figure out the next steps,” she added.
The former world champion was on her way to Birmingham via Dubai, when she was stranded after the flight operations were suspended in the Gulf region following the US and Israeli bombing of Iran.
Iran subsequently retaliated, hitting Dubai as well.
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“Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life really is,” she had posted on February 28 while revealing some details of her ordeal, which included an explosion near her place of stay.
She had described the experience as “extremely tense and scary moment” for her and her team, including Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up for a four-nation tournament during the March international break, and they, alongside EFL Championship side Hull City, have received a major lift in preparations with the return of defender Semi Ajayi.
Ajayi featured prominently for Nigeria at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, playing six matches before sustaining a hamstring injury in the third-place game against Egypt. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since January 17, but he is now set to rejoin Hull City and potentially the Super Eagles squad this week.
Hull City, currently fifth in the EFL Championship and three points shy of second-placed Middlesbrough, are chasing a first top-flight promotion in nine years. They face fourth-placed Ipswich Town tomorrow, and Ajayi’s return comes at a crucial stage. Hull’s assistant coach described his comeback as a significant boost for the team.
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“We’re fine, we’ve got a couple of bumps and niggles from the weekend,” Dean Holden said. “Everyone’s come through unscathed, and we’ll welcome Semi back into the squad, which is a big boost for us. He’s been out for a decent amount of time since that AFCON game. He hasn’t had a lot of training, but trained again this morning, looks fine, and he’ll come back in, so that’s a huge positive for us.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles, under Eric Chelle, are set to face Iran, Jordan, and Costa Rica in the upcoming tournament. Concerns over recent missile strikes in Iran have raised questions about the competition going ahead, but Ajayi’s return would provide much-needed experience for younger players should he be included in the squad.
For Hull City, having a player of Ajayi’s Premier League experience is crucial to guide a relatively young squad through the remaining 12 games of the Championship season. His last appearance for the Tigers came in early December, meaning tomorrow’s clash against Ipswich will mark the end of a three-month absence.
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Ajayi’s comeback is a timely boost for both club and country, offering leadership, stability, and experience at a key point in the season.
Indiana’s Josh Hoover has to be on top of any list. Targeting rule changes are being proposed to try to lessen the penalties for players who are flagged for it. 
