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2026 NFL Draft Day 2 winners and losers: Eagles’ Howie Roseman works magic again

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After unveiling some winners and losers for the first round of the draft on Thursday, we are back with more, and this time, we have two rounds to work with, so it’s going to be twice the fun.  

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made our winners list on Thursday, and once again, he’s also on the winners list. I wonder if he ever gets tired of winning. Roseman is the only person who made the list two days in a row. 

The second day of the draft was a wild one because we saw one player get free ketchup for life and we also saw the second round go by with zero running backs or quarterbacks getting selected, marking the first time in 23 years that’s happened. 

With that in mind, let’s get to our winners and losers, starting with Howie Roseman. 

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2026 NFL Draft essentials

Winners

Eagles GM Howie Roseman

At this point, we might just have to name the “winners” section after Howie Roseman because he always ends up here. We put him here after the first round, we put him here last year and I’m pretty sure we put him here the year before that. I can’t remember a year when we didn’t have him as a winner. 

This time around, he’s a winner because he pulled off a blockbuster trade for Jonathan Greenard in the middle of the second round. To make the deal happen, Roseman just had to send two third-round picks to Minnesota. For the Eagles, this trade makes a lot of sense. The Eagles were in desperate need of some pass-rushing help after losing several key defensive players this offseason, including Jaelan Phillips and Nakobe Dean. Roseman didn’t love his options in the draft, so he went out and got Greenard and then they turned around and signed the linebacker to a four-year, $100 million extension. 

Although Greenard dealt with a shoulder injury in 2025 that caused him to miss several games, the 28-year-old has recorded at least 12 sacks in two of his past three seasons. This is another case of the rich getting richer. 

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Offensive weapons

When I say offensive weapons here, I’m specifically referring to wide receivers and tight ends. Both positions have been drafted at a historical pace through three rounds. 

There have been 17 receivers taken so far in the draft, which is tied for the most through three rounds in draft history. Of that total, 12 were taken on Day 2. The Browns led the charge when it comes to drafting receivers: They became the first team since 1996 to use two top 40 picks on the position, taking KC Concepcion (24th overall) and Denzel Boston (39th overall). We handed out an ‘A’ or an ‘A-‘ to seven different teams that drafted a receiver on Day 2, so we were big fans of most of the moves that went down.  

Tight end was also a popular position to draft on Day 2. There were seven tight ends taken through the first 75 picks, which was the most since 1973. Overall, nine tight ends were taken in the first three rounds, tying the most in NFL history (the last time we saw nine came in 2023). At one point on Friday, four tight ends got taken in a span of eight picks. 

All those tight ends can probably thank Sean McVay. The Rams coach started running more 13 personnel last year, which calls for having three tight ends on the field, and he had so much success that other teams started doing it more. The NFL is a copycat league, which might explain why everyone drafted a tight end on Day 2, including McVay’s Rams (Max Klare). Even the Bears drafted a tight end (Sam Roush) and they made the move even though they already have Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland on their roster. 

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The belief that defense wins championships

Someone once said that defense wins championships and I’m starting to think that person might have been right. Yes, I did just point out all of the offensive weapons that were taken on Friday, but it was defense that dominated the second round. There were a total of 22 defensive players in the round, which was tied for the most in a second round in draft history. At one point, there was a stretch where 13 defensive players were taken in a 14-pick span. 

The Texans were one team I certainly took note of. Houston traded up from 38th to 36th to draft Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald. If defense truly does win championships, then we might just want to give the Lombardi Trophy to the Texans. They already had one of the best defenses in the NFL and it just got even better with the addition of McDonald. The run-stuffing defensive tackle fills one of the few weaknesses that the defense still has. 

Another team that’s gone all-in on defense is the Chiefs. Apparently, someone forgot to tell them that you’re allowed to draft offensive players, because, through the first two days, Kansas City has spent all three of its picks on defensive players with CB Mansoor Delane (sixth overall), DL Peter Woods (29th) and EDGE R Mason Thomas (40th). With these picks, the Chiefs’ defense better be good this year, because they’ve done absolutely nothing to help Patrick Mahomes through the first three rounds. 

Logan Jones

With the 57th overall pick, the Bears decided to take Iowa center Logan Jones, who might actually end up being the biggest winner of the draft and that’s mainly because he’ll be getting free ketchup for life. In what might go down as the best draft sponsorship of all-time, Heinz decided to give a lifetime supply of ketchup to the 57th player taken in the draft. The company is based in Pittsburgh and with the draft being held in the Steel City, Heinz decided to go all-in. 

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Jones had no idea that there would be getting free ketchup for being the 57th pick, but he seems totally on board with the giveaway. 

This is the worst-case scenario for Heinz because an offensive lineman living in Chicago — where hot dogs are one of the main food groups — might eat $7 million worth of ketchup over the course of his lifetime. 

On a non-ketchup note, this is a huge pick for the Bears. With the unexpected retirement of Drew Dalman this offseason, the Bears were definitely in the market for a center and getting Jones at this spot was definitely some solid value. The Bears did make a trade for Garrett Bradbury this offseason, so Jones will be competing with him for the starting job. 

Gennings Dunker

If your name is Gennings Dunker, you’re automatically a winner in my book. The Steelers drafted the Iowa offensive lineman with their final pick of the third round and it’s fitting that he went to Pittsburgh, because based on his looks, he might be more suited than any prospect ever to play for the Steelers. 

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I’m now 99% sure that Aaron Rodgers is going to return, if only just so he can see Dunker’s mullet in person. 

Losers

Third round quarterbacks

There were zero quarterbacks drafted in the second round on Friday, but two in the third round. However, that’s not great news for those two, because if there’s one round a quarterback never wants to be drafted in, it’s the third. If you’re a QB taken in the third round, you are essentially doomed to failure and we saw two of them taken in that round on Friday night. 

First, the Cardinals took Carson Beck with the opening pick of the third round (65th overall). Eleven picks later, the Steelers drafted Penn State’s Drew Allar. 

Over the past 13 years, no QB drafted in the third round has made a Pro Bowl. In all of NFL history, only four quarterbacks drafted in the third round have ended up winning a Super Bowl as a starter (Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, Joe Montana, and Jeff Hostetler). 

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To give you an idea of how much of a struggle it is to become a successful quarterback after being taken in the third round, here is a list of every QB who has been taken in the third round over the past 10 years: 

2016: Jacoby Brissett, Cody Kessler
2017: Davis Webb, C.J. Beathard
2018: Mason Rudolph
2019: Will Grier
2020: NONE
2021: Kellen Mond, Davis Mills
2022: Desmond Ridder, Malik Willis, Matt Corral
2023: Hendon Hooker
2024: NONE
2025: Jalen Milroe, Dillon Gabriel

Both Wilson and Foles were drafted in 2012 and if you eliminate that draft class, there have only been two third-rounders since 2000 who threw at least 80 touchdown passes in their career (Josh McCown and Matt Schaub). When you’re drafted in the third round, you’re a good quarterback, just not quite good enough to have any sustained success in the NFL. 

In a wild twist, Allar and Beck will both be joining a former third-round QB. Allar will be in a QB room with Rudolph in Pittsburgh, while Beck will be with Brissett in Arizona. 

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49ers Day 2 strategy 

The 49ers made one of the most shocking picks of the day on Friday when they opened up the second round by taking Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling at 33rd overall. 

The pick might have been the biggest reach of the second round. Stribling was the 19th-ranked receiver on our big board here at CBS Sports and the 120th-ranked overall player. At ESPN, he was ranked as the 15th-best receiver and 76th overall. I don’t think there was a single ranking that had him in the top 70 and the 49ers decided to take him at 33rd overall. The bizarre thing is that this pick wasn’t even out of character for the 49ers because they have a track record of making bad picks on Day 2. It’s like they can’t get out of their own way. 

Based on that list, the 49ers might want to start thinking about just trading away all of their Day 2 picks, because nothing seems to be working out for them. 

The 33rd pick was a popular one and multiple teams tried to make a trade for it, but the 49ers held on to the pick and selected a player they probably could have gotten in the third or fourth round. 

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Jermod McCoy

Last year, it was Shedeur Sanders who inexplicably fell out of the first three rounds of the draft. This year, that unfortunate honor belongs to McCoy. The Tennessee cornerback, who was ranked as the SIXTH-best player on Mike Renner’s big board, is still available as the draft gets ready to head into the fourth round. He was projected by most pundits to go in the first or second round, but so far he hasn’t found a single taker. 

The big reason for McCoy’s fall seems to be injury-related. McCoy suffered a torn ACL at the end of the 2024 college season and he didn’t play a single snap in 2025. He also didn’t participate at the NFL Combine, which didn’t help his cause. To make matters worse, NFL Network is reporting that he might have to get another knee surgery to replace a bone plug that’s used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee.

At this point, his knee just has too many question marks, and because of that, no one is willing to take a chance on him. 

Running backs

The draft got off to a hot start for running backs with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian both getting taken in the first round. However, things have cooled off considerably since then. There were ZERO running backs taken in the second round, marking the first time in 23 years that there wasn’t a single running back taken in that round. Things didn’t get much better in the third round with just one running back going off the board. That happened when the 49ers selected Kaelon Black with the 90th overall pick. That pick was arguably another Day 2 reach by the 49ers. 

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We’re not here to roast the 49ers, though; we’re here to talk about running backs. There were only three taken through the first three rounds, which is the fewest ever through three rounds in the Super Bowl era. 

The three running backs who were drafted all ended up in the NFC West, meaning no other division has drafted a running back yet. 

Although it was an ugly day for running backs, things should improve on Saturday and it won’t be surprising if we see eight to 12 of them go off the board over the final four rounds. 

Brotherly Love

The Falcons pulled off one of the coolest picks of the draft when they decided to take Clemson’s CB Avieon Terrell in the second round at 48th overall. The thing that made the pick so cool is that Terrell’s brother, A.J., already plays for the Falcons. The elder Terrell brother has been in Atlanta since 2020 when the Falcons made him the 16th overall pick in the draft. 

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On the surface, this should be a good thing that they’re playing together and we should probably have them in the winners section, but we have them here because A.J. DOES NOT WANT HIS BROTHER ON HIS TEAM. Earlier this month, the older Terrell was asked about the possibility of the Falcons drafting his younger brother and he was totally against it.

“I want to play against him and see him walk on the sideline,” A.J. told ESPN. “I want to see him play and I want him to have his own story somewhere else. I don’t want the narrative to be the Terrell brothers.”

I have some bad news for you, A.J.: the narrative is going to be the Terrell brothers. 

The Terrells are now just the second pair of brothers since 1980 to be drafted by the same team in the first two rounds of separate drafts. The only other time it happened came with Kevin and Andre Dyson. Kevin was the 16th overall pick of the Titans in 1998. Three years later, Tennessee made Andre the 60th overall pick. 

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Non-Power Four programs

When it comes to college football, there is no more David vs. Goliath because David has been squashed. Now that we’re in the NIL era, it’s become almost impossible for any players from a non-power conference to make it to the NFL. If a player at a smaller college shows some promise, then he’ll just get recruited by a Power Four school, and that will be that. 

If this year is any indication, we’re just not going to see very many FCS or Group of Six players get drafted going forward. Through the first three rounds, there were only three players drafted who didn’t attend college in a Power Four conference: 

27. Dolphins: CB Chris Johnson (San Diego St.)
58. Browns: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)
84. Buccaneers: WR Ted Hurst (Georgia St.)

This draft also marked the first time in history that zero FCS players were selected in the first three rounds. There were only 24 players drafted last year that came from a non-power conference, and that number will likely shrink this year. Players are going where the money is and the money is in the Power Four and that’s created a situation where smaller schools are no longer producing NFL-caliber talent. 

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Lakers take control with Late Comeback in Game 3

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The Los Angeles Lakers are now one win away from advancing after a 112-108 overtime win over the Houston Rockets in Game 3.

Houston were leading by six points with under 30 seconds left and looked set to win, but a foul on a three-point shot and a late turnover allowed the Lakers to tie the game and force overtime.

“Horrendous mistakes,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case.”

  • Alexander-Walker wins Most Improved Player AwardAlexander-Walker wins Most Improved Player Award

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In overtime, the Lakers took control. Smart scored eight of their 11 points and finished with 21 points and 10 assists.

“Marcus Smart is a winner. He makes winning plays,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

LeBron led the Lakers with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Rui Hachimura added 22 points.

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The game also included a historic moment as LeBron assisted Bronny for the first father-to-son assist in NBA playoff history.

“Always appreciate and don’t take for granted what LeBron is able to do,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

Houston had a good performance despite the loss. Alperen Sengun finished with 33 points and 16 rebounds, Amen Thompson had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. added 24 points.

The win gives the Lakers a 3-0 lead, and they are now one win away from advancing, while Houston must win the next game to stay in the series.

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Giants trade up in NFL Draft to select Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields

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The New York Giants stayed aggressive during Day 2 of the NFL Draft. After starting the night with only one scheduled pick, the Giants executed a bold trade to secure Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields.  

​Head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen traded back into the third round to snag Fields at No. 74 overall. To move up, the Giants sent their fourth-round pick (No. 105), fifth-round pick (No. 145), and a 2027 fourth-rounder to the Cleveland Browns.  

​Fields brings massive frame and vertical ability to the offense. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound receiver averaged 17.5 yards per catch last season. He provides a large target for quarterback Jaxson Dart and fills the void left by free agent departures like Wan’Dale Robinson.

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New York Giants helmet on a field during training camp

A New York Giants helmet is seen during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 1, 2023. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

​Earlier in the evening, the Giants addressed the defense with the 37th overall pick. They selected Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.  

​Hood is a physical, high-motor defensive back who recorded 20 solo tackles and 13 pass breakups in 2024. Analysts praise his ability to disrupt routes and challenge receivers at the catch point. He joins a revamped secondary featuring Deonte Banks and Paulson Adebo.

‘SPECIAL’ PLAYER JEREMIYAH LOVE GOES TO CARDINALS

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The Giants have become one of the most discussed teams of this year’s draft, after surprising many fans with the selections of linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.

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The selections prompted mixed reactions by fans and pundits, as some argued the team should have taken star safety Caleb Downs with one of their top 10 picks, as Downs was later taken by the rival Dallas Cowboys at No. 11. 

The Giants are entering year one of the Harbaugh era, looking to get back to credibility after a decade plus of ineptitude.

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Sergeant major eyes key role in 2026 Randwick return

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Horse race in progress as a black horse with number 4 leads a pack of jockeys on a green turf, blue and white silks flying. The Star Championships backdrop is visible.

Sergeant Major holds a Listed triumph on record, but assistant trainer to Ciaron Maher, Johann Gerard-Dubord, maintains the best is still ahead for the four-year-old.

Gerard-Dubord accepts that the gelding has not fully delivered since his South Pacific Classic (1400m) conquest in last autumn’s Sydney series, yet he is firmly in the horse’s corner.

“If he finally puts it all together, he’s got a lot of ability. We haven’t seen the best of him yet,” Gerard-Dubord said.

Complementing his Sydney autumn carnival win, the horse earned two stakes placings during his three-year-old campaign before faltering in four spring appearances.

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An extended break followed his midfield finish at Eagle Farm come November, and Gerard-Dubord views that Queensland stint as ultimately positive despite the racing disappointments.

“In his work, he looks like he could be anything, but he has been a bit disappointing at the races, even though he is a Listed winner,” he said.

“Last prep, we felt he wasn’t going as well as he could and he’s a gelding, so he is always going to keep improving. We stopped, reset and came back at this time of year.

“The trip to Queensland seems to have done the job, like it did with Gringotts and Jimmysstar.

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“He has changed physically and mentally. He has done really well.”

Gerard-Dubord sees echoes of Gringotts in Sergeant Major, with the latter peaking later and winning consecutive The Big Dance (1600m) features.

He envisions the gelding potentially stepping up to that level in due course.

“He has always shown a lot of ability, and I have always compared him to Gringotts,” Gerard-Dubord said.

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“He could be a Big Dance horse at some stage. We’ll play it by ear. But he is back at a good time, and there are good races in Queensland at the back-end of the carnival if he’s going well enough.”

Betting interest has sparked early for Sergeant Major, who has firmed from $16 to $11 and gets in light at 57kg courtesy of apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald’s 3kg claim.

Head to the racing betting markets for competitive prices on his Randwick comeback in 2026.

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Rafa Jodar beats De Minaur for first Top-10 Win in Madrid

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Rafa Jodar defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-1 in Madrid to secure the first top-10 win of his career.

The 19-year-old controlled the match from the start and closed it out in straight sets, continuing a strong run of form. He recently won the title in Marrakech, reached the semifinals in Barcelona, and has now won 10 of his last 11 matches.

After the match, Jodar spoke about what the moment meant to him, especially playing at home.

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“Yeah, it was crazy, you know, crazy feelings. I’m super happy to get my second win here in Madrid, in my home tournament where I used to come when I was a kid. I used to watch all these top players in the stands. Now being able to play here on the center court means a lot to me.”

With his current form and results, Jodar is building momentum and showing signs of becoming a key figure in Spanish tennis.

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Akwa United, Godswill Akpabio United Set for State FA Cup Final Showdown

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The stage is set for the grand finale of the 2026 Akwa Ibom State FA Cup, which will take place today, Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Uyo Township Stadium.

In the women’s final, Ibom Angels FC will take on Solo Wonders at 2pm. Ibom Angels, who play in the NWFL Premiership, will be aiming to defend their title against Solo Wonders from the NWFL Championship.

The men’s final will follow at 4pm, with reigning champions Akwa United facing Godswill Akpabio United FC in what promises to be an exciting clash.

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Godswill Akpabio United booked their place in the final after a hard-fought 4-3 win over Palm Syrup FC in the semi-finals. Akwa United, on the other hand, cruised into the final with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Heaven’s Race Academy.

Although all four teams have already qualified for the national finals of this year’s President Federation Cup, they will be aiming to win the state title in their respective categories.

Fans are expected to turn out in large numbers to witness both matches, which promise to deliver excitement and a fitting end to the 2026 Akwa Ibom State FA Cup.

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Netball Super League 2026: Nottingham Forest condemn Leeds Rhinos to eighth consecutive defeat

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Nottingham Forest made it back-to-back Netball Super League wins with a 68-63 victory over an NIC Leeds Rhinos side who fell to an eighth straight defeat.

Forest, in fourth, earned a fifth victory of the campaign to move within one point of AO Manchester Thunder in third.

“Speed is our best friend,” said Forest head coach Chelsea Pitman after the win.

“We play the game really quick with rapid transitions. That’s when we are at our best and Rhinos were really good at disrupting that.

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“Kudos to them. They really took it to us. But I am really proud of us for grinding out the result.”

South Africa shooter Rolene Streutker led the scoring for Forest with 34 goals with Anya Williams adding nine while Paige Reed finished with 31 for Rhinos.

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LeBron James’ historic playoff performance lifts Lakers to 3-0 lead over Rockets

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The Los Angeles Lakers appeared dead in the water on April 5. They’d just lost to a tanking Dallas Mavericks team despite LeBron James coming one rebound shy of a 30-point triple-double. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out with injuries that, at the time, appeared likely to keep them out longer than the Lakers were expected to last in the postseason, the onus fell entirely on the 41-year-old James to keep the team afloat. 

If he couldn’t do it against the Mavericks, well, the odds that he’d be able to do it against a playoff opponent didn’t look promising. When asked what the Lakers would need out of him in order to survive, James responded, simply, “everything.” He delivered that and then some in Friday night’s miraculous 112-108 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets that put the Lakers up 3-0 in the first-round series.

If we rewind nearly three weeks ago to when he said that, we had a reasonable idea of what “everything” might entail. James outlined it himself. “Nothing changes for me,” James added after that initial, single-word response. “Just back to the old ways.” 

We’ve seen him singlehandedly lift lesser rosters through postseasons before. He once scored 29 of his team’s last 30 points in an Eastern Conference Finals game. He played all 48 minutes and scored or assisted on two-thirds of his team’s points in another conference finals clincher. We’re talking about someone who once averaged a 33-point triple-double in the Finals. 

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James has performed plenty of basketball miracles. The Lakers seemingly needed four more to make it through the first round against the Rockets. Four more games in which James contributed in every imaginable way. Four more games in which less was needed out of his supporting cast because his team had the one player in the history of basketball who really could do everything.

The first two games of the Lakers vs. Rockets series were a bit more subdued. James was excellent, but he was reserved. He monitored his energy output cautiously, hitting the gas only when necessary. Luke Kennard‘s shot was hotter than the surface of the sun. Marcus Smart made every winning play. James was the conductor, but the first two victories belonged to the entire orchestra. Everyone played their part in Game 3. Smart was spectacular again, and so was Rui Hachimura. Even Bronny James had the most significant performance of his NBA career as Lakers coach JJ Redick trusted him enough to play fourth-quarter minutes.

But in a long lineage of historic playoff performances, this one is going to stand out for the elder James. Even if everyone chipped in, this was his “everything” game, even if it didn’t quite come in the manner we imagined. The stat line would look remarkable attached to any other name: 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals. It’s probably only above average by LeBron’s lofty standards. This wasn’t the “everything” game because James did everything. It was the “everything” game because he gave everything.

We’re used to James feeling superhuman, and there were indeed moments that felt superhuman, like the alley-oop dunk from Smart and the game-tying steal and 3-pointer. But there were vulnerabilities too, and they didn’t just show up on the stat sheet as his eight turnovers did. 

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Two of those turnovers came in the final minute. On the first, James was so visibly exhausted that Alperen Sengun managed to zoom right past him as the trailer, catch a pass from Reed Sheppard on the run and extend the Houston lead to four with a layup with 49.6 seconds to play.

On the second, James made an earnest attempt at a play we’ve seen him make so many times — a chase-down transition block on Sengun. He couldn’t close the gap. He couldn’t get enough air on his jump to meaningfully contest a center 18 years his junior.

That’s what will ultimately make this game feel so memorable. James felt mortal. He felt every one of his 41 years as he competed not just with the Rockets, but with Father Time. He didn’t get the sports movie ending. He missed his buzzer-beating attempt to win the game in regulation. It was the sort of gritty rock fight the Rockets specialize in. James felt every minute of it and came through anyway.

That comes across in the box score. The Lakers don’t win this game without every point James scored or created. But the defining moment came with around a minute and a half left on the clock in overtime. Sheppard attempted a transition layup and missed. James flew in from the wing to attempt a rebound. He grabbed it, but as he was falling out of bounds, he had to fling the ball back into play before he careened into a cameraman. He immediately picked himself up, got back into the play, stripped Sengun, and dove back onto the ground to try to secure possession. Eventually, a jump-ball was called.

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James lined up for the jump-ball against Jabari Smith Jr., a player whose father lined up against him in his NBA debut all the way back in 2003. It was a fitting moment in a game in which James threw an alley-oop to his own son, and a gassed James managed to win possession despite barely jumping. All he seemingly had left was a brief hop.

The Lakers weren’t surprised. “That motherf*****’s been in this 23 years, right?” Smart joked after the game. “We know he’s gonna come up with that ball.”

You’ll see all of the records that inevitably come with a game like this at his age. He became the oldest player in NBA history to lead his team in scoring in a playoff game, breaking the record he set three days earlier. The game-tying 3-pointer will live in his playoff highlight reel forever, and the steal that led to it is an eternal testament to his situational awareness against a less seasoned opponent. The numbers, the big moments, they speak for themselves, and they fall into a nearly never-ending pile. We weren’t exactly short on legendary LeBron James playoff games.

But as we draw closer to the end of the greatest overall career in the history of the sport, there’s something special about the sort of game that could only come at this specific point. It was less an incredible James playoff game than it was an incredible old James playoff game, a somewhat unique position in his archives. We’re so used to James feeling inevitable that seeing him win when he isn’t is a different sort of satisfying, and perhaps a more relatable one for those of us not blessed with the one-of-a-kind physical gifts James has enjoyed for most of his career. 

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This was a basketball genius summoning every last ounce of basketball left in his body to take down a younger, fresher opponent, and after more than two decades of superheroics, it’s just a different flavor of excellence. 

He promised the Lakers everything, and he delivered.

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Siragusa looks to redeem self in 2026 Randwick stakes

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Dark brown racehorse gallops on green track with jockey in pink helmet and blue silks, saddle cloth reads 3 HTBA, banners in background.

Siragusa’s conduct on day two at The Championships defies explanation, though co-trainer Rob Archibald believes the horse can forget it and realign his season for better results.

At $10 in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) April 11, Siragusa stood still at the start, dislodging jockey Craig Williams and withdrawing from proceedings.

“I don’t know what happened. It was a bit of a head scratcher,” Archibald said.

“Craig said he just jumped a bit awkward then ducked out. But he has trialled since and he was fine.”

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Starting his racing life with two straight wins, the son of I Am Invincible took Tamworth in January by three lengths and Muswellbrook in March by much the same.

Those runs convinced Archibald and partner Annabel to test the three-year-old at stakes level, and despite the setback, Rob Archibald expects recovery in Saturday’s The Last Post Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.

“He seems talented, albeit he’s won at Tamworth and Muswellbrook,” he said.

“We’re learning about him all the time and we’re just trying build him up to take him through his grades, but he’s certainly one we like.

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“He’s definitely got ability, so I’m looking forward to seeing him develop.

“It was a hiccup the other day, but I’m confident he can bounce back on Saturday.”

The team saddles lightly raced Seastraand in that race for key owner Gerry Harvey, a part-owner of Siragusa, as OTI Racing three-year-old Hillier eyes a slot in the Australian Flying Corps Handicap (1200m).

Last spring’s Group 2 placegetter in Melbourne, Hillier was fifth from afar in Autumn Boy’s Caulfield Guineas (1600m), and the awkward draw has Archibald pondering a delay for his Randwick opener.

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“I’m not sure. He has drawn a bit sticky,” he said.

“We’ll have a good look at the race and potentially wait a week. But I’ve been really happy with his trials. He seems to have come back in good order so I’m keen to get him started.”

Head to the betting sites to find racing odds for Siragusa in the Last Post Handicap.

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“You can run but you can’t hide”: Anthony Joshua sent warning by heavyweight rival

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One of Anthony Joshua‘s most fierce rivals has sent a warning to the British heavyweight.

Joshua is expected to fight twice this year, first in a warm-up in the summer and then in a long-awaited showdown against Tyson Fury towards the end of the calendar.

‘AJ’ has boxed only once since a devastating knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois back in September 2024, with that solitary outing coming in an uncompetitive six round stoppage win against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

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However, following the comeback of ‘The Gypsy King’ earlier this month, all signs are pointing to one of the biggest fights in the history of British boxing, with Fury vs Joshua now back on the cards and reportedly nearing an agreement.

First, Joshua hopes to shake off any ring rust by returning to fight in the summer, but he will presumably pick an opponent whom he does not believe can scupper plans for a Fury fight, but also one that properly motivates him.

Therefore, Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller could make for the perfect dance partner given their rivalry which was birthed ahead of their scheduled meeting in 2019, before Miller tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Speaking to Matchroom, with whom Miller has recently teamed up with, the American told Joshua that he is going to get ‘whooped’ sooner or later.

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“[Your] a** whooping gon’ come sooner or later. You can run, but you can’t hide.”

Miller fights Cuba’s Lenier Pero on Saturday night, in his first outing since signing with Eddie Hearn’s promotional outfit.

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1984 Olympic bronze medallist Gurbax Singh Grewal passes away at 84 | India News

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Former Indian men’s hockey team player Gurbax Singh Grewal, a member of the bronze medal-winning squad at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, passed away on Friday evening at the age of 84 following a heart attack.


Grewal breathed his last at his residence in Zirakpur, near Chandigarh. The 1984 Olympics bronze medallist was born on April 1, 1942, in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad in Pakistan). Grewal was known as a pacey forward who represented India at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, where the team secured a bronze medal.


He also had the rare distinction of playing alongside his brother, Balbir Singh Grewal, at the same Olympic Games, marking a special moment in Indian hockey history, according to Olympics.com.

 

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In his early 20s, Gurbax Singh Grewal shifted to Mumbai to pursue his hockey career and went on to represent Western Railways, where he established himself as a notable player.


After hanging up his boots, Grewal remained closely associated with the sport, taking up coaching roles and guiding several Mumbai-based teams over the years.


He also served as the Honorary Secretary of the Mumbai Hockey Association, contributing significantly to the administrative and developmental side of hockey in the region.


“Deeply saddened by the passing of Olympian Gurbax Singh Grewal. A proud member of the Indian team that clinched bronze at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Gurbax ji served Indian hockey with immense dedication both on and off the field. From representing the nation with pride to contributing to the sport’s growth as Honorary Secretary of the Mumbai Hockey Association, his legacy will always be remembered. Hockey India extends heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Hockey India shared a post on X, while condoling the Olympian’s death.

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