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Celtics vie to secure East’s No. 2 seed in clash vs. Pelicans

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NBA: Boston Celtics at New York KnicksApr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) defends Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics will have another chance to secure the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

Boston (54-26) could have clinched second place by beating New York on Thursday night, but the Knicks scored nine of the final 11 points to earn a 112-106 victory.

The Celtics and Knicks each have two games to play, and any Boston victory or New York loss will give Boston the No. 2 seed. The Knicks will host Toronto on Friday night.

“Obviously we have to take care of the first round first, and I don’t think we can play them (the Knicks) in the first round, so that’s where our focus is,” Boston guard Payton Pritchard said. “If we see them again, we’ll be ready.”

Baylor Scheierman’s performance was a bright spot for Boston in the loss to New York. On a night when the Celtics didn’t have leading scorer Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis), Scheierman made 6 of 7 3-point attempts and tied his career high by scoring 20 points.

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“Obviously, shot-making is the easiest thing to see and helps us on the scoreboard, but he just does a lot for us,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Whether it’s his crashing or his defense, but his instincts on both ends. … He just continues to get better and better, and that’s what we need, hitting that stretch there.”

Thursday’s game was the first time Jayson Tatum played at New York since he ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a road game against New York during the playoffs last season. Tatum collected 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in Thursday’s loss.

“It was a big moment, a big hurdle for me,” he said. “I was nervous and anxious to come back here.”

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New Orleans (26-54), meanwhile, is coming off Tuesday’s 156-137 feel-good win against Utah. The Pelicans set a franchise record for points scored in a game with the win, which ended an eight-game losing streak.

Jeremiah Fears scored 40 points against Utah to set a Pelicans record for most points in a game by a rookie. Fears, the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, made 17 of 29 shots from the field.

“Really just proud of his growth,” New Orleans coach James Borrego said. “From training camp to where he’s at today — he’s taken a massive step. This franchise is in a really good place because of players like him. … I see a clear pathway for this team to be successful moving into the future.”

New Orleans won even though it played without starters Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey.

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Murphy (right ankle sprain) and Murray (left hand contusion) were injured. Williamson, Jones and Bey were active but didn’t leave the bench in the team’s final home game.

The Pelicans have ruled out Williamson, Jones and Bey for Friday’s game.

New Orleans, which will miss the playoffs for the second straight season, will wrap up the regular season Sunday at Minnesota.

“We have two more games to play,” Borrego said. “I want to honor those two games. Go play the best basketball possible for those two games.”

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–Field Level Media

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Caitlin Clark cleared to play in Fever preseason finale after injury scare

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The Indiana Fever wrap up their 2026 preseason schedule Saturday night against the Nigerian national team.

Caitlin Clark was not listed on the injury report entering the game. Concerns arose about her health and immediate availability after she collided with a Dallas Wings player in Thursday’s preseason matchup. She limped to the bench but appeared to walk it off during a replay review that resulted in a Flagrant 1 call.

Clark returned to make two free throws before spending the remainder of the game on the sideline.

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Caitlin Clark dribbling a basketball at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever brings the ball up court against Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings during the first half of a preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 30, 2026. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

She finished with a team-high 21 points. Clark made two of her three attempted three-pointers, while knocking down 11 of 13 from the free throw line. She also had two rebounds, four assists and one steal in the contest.

Two days later, the two-time All-Star is available for Saturday night’s game despite the injury scare.

A string of injuries sidelined Clark in 2025, limiting the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader to 13 games in her second WNBA season. The injury woes last year included a groin strain followed by an ankle bone bruise.

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Caitlin Clark dribble during a WNBA

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark plays during the first half against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Apr. 25, 2026. (John Jones/Imagn Images)

Ahead of the WNBA’s milestone 30th season, ESPN ranked the league’s top 50 active players. Back-to-back MVP and defending WNBA champion A’ja Wilson led the list at No. 1. She was also ESPN’s top-ranked player entering 2025. Clark was the No. 10 player on the list.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shooting a basketball during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots the ball in the second half against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 30, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

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Indiana appears to be getting healthy ahead of the regular season, with Fever center Aliyah Boston expected to make her debut Saturday. She missed the first two exhibition games after suffering an injury while playing in Unrivaled. Fever guard Ty Harris was also cleared to play Saturday.

The Fever open the regular season on May 9 in Dallas against the Wings.

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Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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Fernando Mendoza says Raiders OTAs may keep him from White House visit

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Fernando Mendoza responded to a question Saturday about whether he will visit President Donald Trump at the White House to celebrate the Indiana Hoosiers’ historic college football championship.

Mendoza said that he “believed” the scheduled date of the visit, May 11, was the first day of the Las Vegas Raiders’ organized team activities (OTAs). But he was incorrect, as the Raiders’ OTAs don’t start until May 18.

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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza speaking at a news conference in Henderson, Nevada.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, attends a news conference at the Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nev., on April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

“If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I said, I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here, I got to prove myself, I can’t miss practice,” Mendoza told reporters at a Raiders press conference on Saturday. “As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I want to try to best serve my teammates, and I don’t think that would be accomplishing that goal.”

The Raiders don’t have anything in their offseason program scheduled for May 11.

INDIANA’S FERNANDO MENDOZA WINS 2025 HEISMAN TROPHY

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza looking on during warmups at Hard Rock Stadium

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks on during warmups before the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

Mendoza led Indiana to the college football championship and the first 16-0 season in the modern history of the sport. The team announced it was visiting the White House to celebrate the accomplishment on Friday.

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Mendoza became one of the biggest names in the sport during his heroics for Indiana last season, en route to the Heisman Trophy. He was the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.

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President Donald Trump, White House, briefing

President Donald Trump hosts NCAA collegiate national champions at the White House in this April 2026 photo. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The other college football champions who went on to be the No. 1 overall picks, Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow, each visited Trump at the White House in the president’s first term. Lawrence visited in 2019 and Burrow went in 2020.

Now, all eyes turn to Mendoza, who etched his name in college football history and the hearts of many football fans, to see if he will make the trip once realizing that OTAs are not on the same day as the visit.

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Gunther’s favor from Paul Heyman revealed on SmackDown,  Brock Lesnar has officially retired?

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Paul Heyman was spotted by eagle-eyed WWE fans on SmackDown this week, in the background of a backstage segment between Fraxiom and R-Truth.

Heyman was seen talking with Adam Pearce, but this was the only time The Oracle made an appearance this week. It seems that this was a significant moment on the show, since this later led to Gunther’s return to the brand.

Gunther was on RAW when he was battling Seth Rollins ahead of WrestleMania, but it seems that Heyman had something to do with his move over to SmackDown and his shot at Cody Rhodes.

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There is a belief that WWE was showing fans that this was the favor that Gunther asked for from Heyman, which could also confirm that Brock Lesnar has retired.

Gunther vs Brock Lesnar was believed to be Paul Heyman’s favor

There was major speculation that Gunther would push for Brock Lesnar to make his return so that he could be added to his retirement list, but it seems that this isn’t the case.

Gunther could have instead asked for Paul Heyman to talk to Pearce and help him get a shot for the WWE Championship, since Roman Reigns is busy with Jacob Fatu on RAW. Cody Rhodes appears to be a better target for The Ring General, and now he has his eyes on the prize ahead of Backlash.

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Gunther protected Heyman from Seth Rollins when Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed were sidelined, which left him indebted to the Austrian star, and now it appears that he has decided to cash in.

There is no other reason why Pearce and Paul Heyman would need to speak, since The Vision is on RAW. WWE also made a point of showing the two men talking to make it clear it’s connected. This could be confirmed if the two men have a backstage segment next week, since Gunther should have his shot at the World Championship confirmed for Backlash momentarily.

It will be interesting to see if Gunther can dethrone Rhodes or if Backlash will see the return of Randy Orton, who could still have a bone to pick with Rhodes after WrestleMania 42.