Oct 25, 2025; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Zevi Eckhaus (4) is tackled by Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7) in the second half at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
Generally speaking, mock drafts before free agency tell us nothing. There’s still almost two months of scouting to be done, a ton of conversations, visits, pro days, etc.
And, of course, players to be signed starting next week. So why do one now? To familiarize ourselves with some prospects, see what the Vikings could do if the draft were tonight, and some of the holes on the roster.
It’s a Safety and RB Out of the Gate for MIN in the Draft
Whether or not the Vikings choose to sign will alter what they do when they are on the clock, but what other teams do can also change who will be on the board at #18. For example, the Los Angeles Rams have been heavily linked to a cornerback early in the draft, but they likely will look somewhere else after trading for Trent McDuffie.
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The quarterback will also impact the players, at least for me. If they stick with J.J. McCarthy, I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with a rookie or inexperienced center. However, if they do sign a veteran QB1, I’d like to see them use a draft pick on a new center. What happens with Jonathan Greenard will also impact the plan.
I think you all get the point. A lot will change between now and the draft. Also, I’m using PFF’s simulator to do this mock.
We still don’t know if Harrison Smith will be back. Regardless, safety is a big position of need even if he returns. But McNeill-Warren isn’t the pick because of his position. His Combine numbers don’t jump off the page, but the tape shows a player with very good zone instincts, good enough athleticism, a knack for finding the football (14 turnovers in four years), and physicality.
His tackling at the line is good, but he will need to improve it in open space, especially against stronger, faster players. He showed he belongs at the Senior Bowl, which is a natural concern for players coming from smaller schools.
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Trade Alert
The Jacksonville Jaguars send picks 56 and 100 for pick 49.
There were still some prospects I liked, and the idea of having five Day 2 picks was enticing. Don’t know how this would look in the trade value charts, but for the Vikings, it looked like a good deal.
For very good reasons, Jeremiyah Love is the Fighting Irish running back in the spotlight. But Price is also a great prospect. He’s explosive, patient at the line, and has fantastic vision. With the team cutting Aaron Jones, a running back to pair with Jordan Mason becomes a necessity.
And I think they’d complement eachother really well. Price will have to become a better tool in the passing game to fit KOC’s offense, but he has that home-run threat that we haven’t seen since Cook’s better days.
3rd Round, 82nd pick: Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
As I said earlier, I don’t envision the team pairing McCarthy with a young center. Considering Lew is 20 years old, I think another player will be the signal-caller in 2026. Lew will likely miss a chunk of his rookie season, as he suffered a torn ACL last October.
Looking at the bright side, though, it could give him some time to develop behind the scenes. If all goes well, he should be cleared during camp, so this could be viewed as a redshirt season. A great processor and pass protector (1 sack allowed in his sophomore season), he could be the final piece in the offensive line.
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3rd Round, 97th pick: Devin Moore, CB, Florida
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Moore is a very big cornerback. At 6’3 and 198lbs, he shows promise as a press corner. He had multiple injuries throughout his career, but his size, jump-ball skills, and tackling ability are hard to ignore.
The Vikings are probably rolling with Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers as the starters in 2026, but Moore can factor as a rotational player, particularly when in the red zone. He will have to improve a lot as a zone defender to be a starter, but he can absolutely use his size when closer to the endzone.
3rd Round, 100th pick: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
If Moore stands out because he’s big, Louis stands out for being small. But don’t let it fool you. He may lack the size to take on blocks in the running game, but he had 10.0 sacks in the last two seasons. When playing for Brian Flores, the ability to blitz is a must.
He has a little Ivan Pace to him, in that he can slip out of blocks, with 24 tackles for loss since 2024. But he is way better in pass coverage, and has a knack for finding the ball in the air. His 2025 season was worse, but he showed the potential to be, at least, a solid starter.
5th Round, 161st pick: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
6th Round, 195th pick: Cole Brevard, DL, Texas
6th Round, 197th pick: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
With Jalen Nailor likely out, the Vikings should look to add another young receiver. With Tai Felton on the roster and in contention to be the new WR3, Lance can come in as a depth option. A very good route runner, he would benefit from learning from Justin Jefferson and Keenan McCardell.
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Brevard may not be a scheme fit, as he lacks the versatility that Flores loves. But he can be a solid nose tackle for this defense.
Especially considering I’ve taken an undersized linebacker, a 6’3, 346lbs defensive tackle who eats space would be a smart move. You are unlikely to find a do-it-all player at #197, so finding athletic projects and/or role players is the objective here.
There’s a lot of talk about Hockenson being a cap casualty. Even if he stays, 2026 looks like his last year in purple and gold. So, trying to find another receiving tight end is a good move. Koziol fits exactly that mold, playing mostly as a big slot for Houston in 2025.
Blocking is a huge area of improvement for him, but he does remind me of a young Josh Oliver, who’s also very big and had trouble in the running game. With a 6’7 frame and strong hands, Koziol could be a weapon over the middle and in the redzone.
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6th Round, 202nd pick: V.J. Payne, DB, Kansas State
7th Round, 234th pick: Vincent Anthony Jr., EDGE, Duke
7th Round, 240th pick: Eric Gentry, LB, USC
Safety is a position the Vikings should invest heavily in, even if they trust Jay Ward. Payne would add depth and speed to a unit that needs it.
Athletically, he has the build of a great safety, with a rare combination of size and speed. He is a very good zone defender who played multiple roles in Kansas State’s defense, but he will need to improve his tackling to be an effective player.
Anthony comes as a draft project. He has the size (6’6″) and a solid build at 258 lbs, though he could add some more bulk. But he is as raw as it gets and will need serious development to see the field. But with Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard (at least for now), and Dallas Turner, he will have time to do so.
Gentry would be one of the tallest linebackers in the league at 6’7. He will have to add some bulk, but it is super rare to find a player with his size, athleticism, and playmaking. If he adds weight and improves his play strength without sacrificing much of his speed, there’s a real possibility that the Vikings find their linebacker duo in this class. It’d also be very funny to see a 6’0 and a 6’7 linebacker duo.
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The Vikings may be hard-pressed to find immediate starters in this draft. After all, this was one of Kwesi’s biggest perceived flaws among fans and the media. So, selecting two players with injury history may not sit well with everyone.
But, to me, Lew and Louis have enough upside that it didn’t bother me, and they should factor in as key players from 2027 and beyond. McNeill-Warren and Price would have an impact from Day 1, while Louis would have the chance to start as a rotational player and key special teams contributor.
Lance and Kozior would spend their first two years developing and with few snaps, but could have bigger roles in the future. At least they should improve the depth. Payne is the late pick with the most potential out of the group and, if he’s able to improve his tackling during camp, could even be part of the defense as a rookie.
Brevard is a player with a very specific role, but not less of a contributor because of it. Anthony and Gentry should spend every single day at the gym, but there’s potential there.
Manchester City will return to Wembley later this month for the FA Cup semi-final
19:54, 05 Apr 2026Updated 20:10, 05 Apr 2026
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Manchester City will face Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final later this month. The Blues will take on the Saints at Wembley on either Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26.
Southampton dramatically knocked out Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday night, beating Mikel Arteta’s side 2-1 in arguably one of the shocks of the competition so far.
Ross Stewart opened the scoring ten minutes before half-time with Viktor Gyokeres equalising for Arsenal with 22 minutes left to play. Former City youngster Shea Charles netted a dramatic winner five minutes from time, though, to deal Arsenal back-to-back cup blows after Pep Guardiola’s men beat them in the Carabao Cup final before the international break.
City, meanwhile, booked their place in the last four after a comfortable victory over Liverpool on Saturday. Erling Haaland opened the scoring from the spot after Nico O’Reilly was fouled by Virgil van Dijk.
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On the stroke of half-time City doubled their lead as Antoine Semenyo’s cross was headed in by Haaland. Semenyo added his name to the scoresheet shortly after the break to seal the victory, and there was still time for Haaland to complete his hat-trick as he tapped in O’Reilly’s low cross to make it 4-0.
The Blues are now favourites to win the FA Cup after Premier League leaders Arsenal were knocked out on Saturday night. City remain in the hunt for a domestic treble.
Having already won the Carabao Cup, the Blues need to eat up a nine-point gap to leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race. City have a game in hand on the Gunners and will host them in a couple of weeks in a potentially title-deciding game.
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The lineup for the semi-finals of the FA Cup was confirmed after Leeds United’s dramatic penalty shootout win at West Ham United on Sunday Afternoon. After City dispatched of Liverpool on Saturday, Chelsea and Southampton beat Port Vale and Arsenal respectively.
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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez looks set to get an immediate opportunity to win back one of the world titles he lost to Terence Crawford in September last year.
While the WBO and IBF still remain vacant, Jose Armando Resendiz now holds the WBA, and the WBC – who actually stripped Crawford days before his retirement – has upgraded Christian Mbilli to full champion.
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Mbilli is the man expected to face Canelo in his September comeback fight, currently booked for Saudi Arabia, though the location may change due to the war in the Middle East.
Responding to a fan on X, Crawford backed Alvarez to become champion once more if things play out that way.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn homered and matched a career high with four RBIs as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Sunday to sweep a three-game series and extend their winning streak to five.
O’Hearn hit a two-run shot to right-center in the first inning. In the second, his two-run double highlighted a four-run outburst as the Pirates pushed their lead to 6-0.
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Oneil Cruz made it 8-1 with a two-run homer to center field in the sixth. He also singled home a run in the second.
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Cruz’s homer came off left-hander Cade Povich. The center fielder is 7 for 10 with three homers against lefties after going 11 for 108 with one homer last season.
That was plenty of support for Braxton Ashcraft (1-1), who allowed one run and four hits in six innings. He had a career-high eight strikeouts and no walks.
Pirates starters have given up two earned runs or fewer in each of their eight games since 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes was tagged for five runs while only getting two outs against the New York Mets on opening day.
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Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (0-2) was roughed up for six runs in two innings. Signed to an $18.5 million, one-year contract as a free agent just before spring training, the right-hander has given up 10 runs over 6 1/3 innings in two starts.
Pete Alonso had an RBI double and Taylor Ward got three hits for the Orioles, who lost for the fifth time in six games.
Up next
Orioles: Were undecided on a starter for Monday night when they open a three-game road series against the Chicago White Sox and Erick Fedde (0-1, 5.40 ERA).
Pirates: Begin a three-game home series with San Diego on Monday night as rookie RHP Bubba Chandler (0-0, 0.00) faces RHP Germán Márquez (0-1, 12.00).
Mar 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The Houston Astros placed ace right-hander Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder strain.
The move was retroactive to Thursday.
Brown finished third in American League Cy Young Award balloting last season. He is 1-0 with an 0.84 ERA in two starts this season, striking out 17 in just 10 1/3 innings.
Brown, 27, last pitched Tuesday when he defeated the Boston Red Sox. He gave up one run and one hit and struck out eight against two walks in six innings.
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There was no immediate word on how long Brown might be sidelined. Houston announced the move before manager Joe Espada met with reporters prior to the club’s Sunday afternoon road game against the Athletics.
Brown made the AL All-Star team for the first time last season when he went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA in 31 starts. He struck out a career-high 206 and posted a stellar 1.03 WHIP.
He is 37-31 with a 3.44 ERA in 102 appearances (94 starts) since reaching the majors in 2022.
The Astros promoted right-hander Christian Roa from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. He had a 6.75 ERA in two relief appearances for Houston earlier this season.
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The 27-year-old pitched one scoreless inning of relief in his lone outing for Sugar Land this season.
Gerry Harvey, the owner-breeder and entrepreneur, offered a timely advisory to yearling buyers when two passed-in horses from his stock notched feature victories one after another at Randwick.
Part of the ownership for Campione D’Italia involves Harvey with an elite partnership including Newgate Bloodstock owned by Henry Field, and the colt had also been passed in at sales.
“I passed it in, and Henry Field and I had a talk. I said, ‘I want six hundred (thousand dollars) mate’, and he said, ‘I’ll give you five hundred’ and I said, ‘get lost’. Then I thought I better do it,” Harvey said.
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“It’s a very exciting day because we just had the country winner as well. We passed it in for $25,000. No-one wanted it.
So if you want to buy a horse from my horse studs, always buy the passed-in ones. Never buy in the ring. You’ll do much better buying a passed-in one.”
Campione D’Italia, by Snitzel, elevated his stallion value via the Group 1 conquest, extending from a powerful fourth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) closing from the rear.
The horse’s trainer, Chris Waller, highlighted the enhanced starting position and steady improvement as decisive.
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“Today was his fourth career start and each run has got a little bit better, a little bit better,” Waller said.
“His run in the Golden Slipper was amazing. He just got too far back. It was no-one’s fault, and the horse is just learning all the time.
He got a lovely draw today, and that was the difference between having him in the firing line or going back like he was last start.
It was good to see him knuckle down and get the job done.”
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A next step could be the Champagne Stakes (1600m) for Campione D’Italia, emulating stablemate Militarize who achieved it three years back after Sires’.
“Militarize, he won the Sires’ and then he won the Champagne, so I’ll have a talk to the team and see what they suggest,” Waller said.
“We’ve got to nurse him a little bit, so we’ll see how he comes through it.”
At $4.20, Campione D’Italia held off Miss Chanel ($15) by three-quarters of a length, followed identically by stablemate Fireball ($18) in third.
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The Champagne Stakes is on the table for Fireball subject to how he pulls up.
Be a Lucky Block is a tycoon-based simulation game where you play as a block running on a treadmill. NPCs will chase and break you open, revealing a Brainrot. Your objective is to escape their plans and return to your base to store the Brainrot, allowing you to earn revenue. The new Be a Lucky Block update added a new plot skin called Stranger base to the game. You can acquire it once you have collected all Brainrots from the Ink and Alien Events.
This article covers everything about the Strange Base in Be a Lucky Block.
Everything about the Stranger Base skin
The Stranger Base skin (Image via Roblox)
To get this alluring skin in the title, you will have to collect all 10 Brainrots from the Ink and Alien Events. The Luminous base skin featured a similar requirement to this. Since this Roblox experience now has four events that take place every four hours, it is going to be challenging to acquire specific Brainrots, as the run time of these events is very short. Hence, the only way to complete this feat is by joining the game at regular intervals and keeping note of the next event’s timer.
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To avoid confusion, it is worth mentioning that all base skins in Be a Lucky Block do not provide any perks or buffs to the game and are just mere cosmetics, meant to elevate the look of your plot. Here are the Brainrots you will need to get the Stranger Base in this title:
Alien Event units:
Spaceshipini Tortini: 50%
Astro Bandito: 40%
Chachelien: 9%
Aliensini Octosini: 0.95%
La Vacca Galactica: 0.05%
Ink Event units:
Glorbo Inkdrillo: 50%
Inknina Bombardino: 40%
Ink Din Din Dun: 9%
Cavallo Inkuoso: 0.95%
La Vacca Singolarita: 0.5%
How to get the Ink and Alien Brainrots?
To get the Ink and Alien Brainrots, you will need to venture into the treadmill, where there’s a 40% chance of getting caught by an NPC. After getting caught, you get caught, wait for the bosses to break the Block to reveal the Brainrot. Only then should you escape the plot through the portal to get back to the safe zone. Note that your chances of getting them increase during an Admin Abuse event.
FAQs on Be a Lucky Block
How do you unlock the Stranger Base in Be a Lucky Block?
To unlock the Stranger Base skin in Be a Lucky Block, players must collect all 10 Brainrots from the Ink and Alien Events.
Do base skins provide any gameplay advantages in Be a Lucky Block?
No, base skins in Be a Lucky Block are purely cosmetic, and they do not provide any boosts, perks, or gameplay advantages.
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How to get Ink and Alien Brainrots?
The best way to obtain Ink and Alien Brainrots is to participate in the treadmill while an event is active and let these NPCs capture your Lucky Block and break it to reveal a Brainrot. After the Brainrot appears, you must escape through the portal to safely return to your base to get it.
NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued their dream run in IPL 2026 with a commanding 43-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, powered by a sensational batting display and timely strikes with the ball.Put in to bat, RCB endured a cautious start on a slightly tacky surface, going boundary-less in the first three overs. Virat Kohli looked the most assured early on, while Phil Salt gradually found his rhythm. The innings gained momentum after the PowerPlay, with Salt (46) and Devdutt Padikkal stitching a crucial stand.
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Shami reveals what makes this LSG team special after big win
Padikkal then took charge, compiling a fluent 50 off 29 balls to anchor the innings.However, the real carnage unfolded in the death overs. Following Padikkal’s dismissal, skipper Rajat Patidar joined forces with Tim David, and the duo unleashed a brutal assault. David was particularly destructive, smashing an unbeaten 70 off just 25 balls, including eight towering sixes. Patidar played the perfect foil with a blistering 48* off 19 deliveries as RCB surged to a massive 250/3.In reply, CSK’s chase got off to a shaky start. Jacob Duffy struck early to remove both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Ayush Mhatre to leave them reeling. Despite the early setbacks, Sarfaraz Khan launched a stunning counterattack, racing to a 24-ball fifty and propelling CSK to 77 in the PowerPlay.Just when CSK looked to rebuild, Krunal Pandya turned the game on its head, dismissing Sarfaraz with his very first delivery and removing Kartik Sharma soon after. A spectacular one-handed catch by Jitesh Sharma to dismiss Shivam Dube further dented the chase.Though Prashant Veer (43) and Jamie Overton (37) offered resistance, the required rate kept climbing. Bhuvneshwar (3/41) and Krunal (2/36) ensured regular breakthroughs, while Suyash Sharma impressed with his control.CSK were eventually bowled out for 207 in 19.4 overs, falling well short. With this emphatic win, RCB not only extend their winning streak but also reinforce their status as early title contenders. On the other hand, CSK now find themselves at the bottom of the table with three back-to-back defeats in the new season. Brief score: RCB 250/3 (20 overs) beat CSK 207 all out (19.4 overs) by 43 runs
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Kun Khalifat FC have announced the death of their team manager, Ekpemadu Chigioke.
The sad news was shared by the Imo State-based club on their official social media handle on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
In a short statement, the club wrote:
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“Farewell, Our brother Ekpemadu Chigioke ️
Your passion as the team manager and player, dedication, and impact will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace… till we meet again.
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#ThePrideOfImo | #WeAreKunKhalifatFC”
The cause of his death was not disclosed by the club.
Chigioke’s passing is a big blow to Kun Khalifat FC, especially as the team is set to face Nasarawa United in an NPFL away match later on Sunday.
Tributes have already started to pour in from fans, players, and members of the football community, who have described him as a committed and passionate figure in the club.
Lola Vice competes against Kendal Grey during NXT at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 31, 2026.(Rich Freeda/WWE)
The match was fast-paced and featured hard-hitting action as all competitors tried to make quick work of each other.
Grey and Vice quickly picked up where they left off on Tuesday night. The two grappled for control and tried to get quick pins on each other after throwing Jayne out of the ring. No woman had the upper hand in the very beginning, but the match quickly moved outside the ring. Jayne threw Grey into the stairs while Vice hit a Meteora on the champ to take advantage.
Jayne came in with some momentum. She already defeated Grey and Vice in the past. She had her Toxic Influence stablemates, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid, on the outside of the ring and in her corner. Grey also had the backing of Wren Sinclar, while Vice only had herself.
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Jayne tried her darndest to keep it a one-on-one match, tossing either Grey or Vice out of the ring to keep the numbers even inside of it. She showed her veteran abilities often throughout the match.
Kendal Grey competes against Lola Vice during NXT at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 31, 2026.(Rich Freeda/WWE)
But Grey, who won the Iron Survivor Challenge when she was still the Evolve women’s champion, would not be beaten down – neither would Vice. The Cuban American pro wrestler used her own mixed martial arts background to keep her opponents at bay.
Just as Jayne thought she was going to get a pin on Grey, Vice – who was on the outside of the ring – put Grey’s foot on the rope to break the count. Toxic Influence got into the mix, but Sinclar hit a crossbody on the outside and sent Jayne’s partners running.
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Vice tried to put Grey into a sleeper. Jayne forced Grey out of the ring. Vice hit Jayne with a spinning backfist and pinned Jayne for the win.
It is Vice’s first title reign and she becomes a double champion with the victory as she also holds the AAA world mixed tag team championship with Mr. Iguana. She’s the first Cuban American female to hold the women’s championship in NXT.
NXT women’s champion Jacy Jayne addresses the crowd during NXT’s Vengeance Day on March 7, 2026, in Orlando, Florida.(Conor Kvatek/WWE via Getty Images)
Vice made her NXT debut in 2023 and earned her first title shot after winning the NXT Breakout Tournament.
The Boston Celtics trade-deadline acquisition will be back in the lineup on Sunday.
Centre Nikola Vucevic will return against the Toronto Raptors (3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+), the team announced.
Vucevic has been sidelined since suffering a fractured right ring finger against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6. He required surgery to repair the fracture.
The 35-year-old Montenegrin averaged 10.4 points and 21.7 minutes in 12 games with Boston after coming over from the Chicago Bulls.
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The Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference and have already clinched a spot in the postseason.
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