Sports
Kevin O’Connell Gets a Seat at the Table
Minnesota Vikings Kevin O’Connell received a bump in leaguewide prestige Thursday, promoted to the NFL’s Competition Committee, along with Houston Texans skipper DeMeco Ryans. O’Connell enters Year No. 5 in 2026, and it’s time for his seat at the big boy table.
O’Connell’s new committee seat adds clout, but it also keeps him squarely in the spotlight entering a pivotal 2026 season.
Meanwhile, O’Connell enters a pivotal year in Minnesota, one that will determine his long-term job security.
O’Connell Joins NFL’s Competition Committee for 2026
Good news for O’Connell in a so-far weird offseason.
O’Connell Joins Competition Committee
Vikings fans didn’t know that O’Connell was in the running for the committee, so the news caught them off guard Thursday — in a good way.
NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper wrote, “The NFL has added two current head coaches to the league’s Competition Committee. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans are the new additions to the group. Former Bills head coach Sean McDermott is no longer on the 11-person committee.”
“Broncos head coach Sean Payton and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel also joined the group this year. Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and former Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier joined McDermott in leaving the group.”
The Vikings now have a voting voice among the key players who call the shots.
What Is the Competition Committee?
Unfamiliar with the committee? NFL.com has answers: “The Competition Committee’s actions are based, in part, on feedback from a variety of sources. At the end of each season, the 32 NFL clubs fill out a survey, answering questions about player protection, officiating, competitive balance and technology.”
“Leading up to the National Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, NFL Football Operations meets with coaches, general managers, players and NCAA representatives to gather their input about potential changes to the rules. There is also a review of data on injuries, instant replay and technology.”
The group basically determines what gets a vote from all NFL owners — and what gets tabled.
NFL.com added, “After the combine, the committee reconvenes to review video, draft rule proposals and positions, discuss proposals submitted by clubs and prepare its report of supporting statistics for the membership to discuss and vote on at the league’s annual meeting. At the annual meeting, the Competition Committee presents a report of its findings to the 32 owners, who vote on any proposed new rules or rule changes.”
“To be adopted, a new rule or a revision must have the support of 75 percent of the owners (24 yes votes out of 32 clubs). During the season, the committee meets occasionally by conference call or in person to review current issues in the game and to begin to discuss potential agenda items for the next year’s meeting.”
O’Connell and committee mates essentially set the agenda for change when applicable.
Committee Members
Believe it not, this is a prestigious development for O’Connell — not just a token honor or lifetime achievement. These are the group’s members:
- Rich McKay (Co-Chairman) — Atlanta Falcons
- Stephen Jones (Co-Chairman) — Dallas Cowboys
- Katie Blackburn — Cincinnati Bengals
- Todd Bowles —Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- John Lynch — San Francisco 49ers
- John Mara — New York Giants
- Sean McVay — Los Angeles Rams
- Kevin O’Connell — Minnesota Vikings
- Sean Payton — Denver Broncos
- DeMeco Ryans — Houston Texans
- Mike Vrabel — New England Patriots
That’s a who’s who of NFL power before the owners lay down the long arm of the law.
A Big 2026 Ahead for O’Connell
Three weeks ago, the Vikings shockingly fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, while keeping O’Connell employed and appearing to promote O’Connell as a de facto personnel GM. Accordingly, most believe the coach must deliver results in 2026 or risk hot-seat chatter.
O’Connell’s runway is getting shorter. He has led Minnesota to the playoffs twice in four seasons, a tangible accomplishment. However, a postseason victory remains elusive. The franchise hasn’t experienced one since Kyle Rudolph’s Superdome heroics against the New Orleans Saints six years ago, and the drought is becoming increasingly burdensome.
The mandate for 2026 is clear: solidify the quarterback position — either by fully embracing J.J. McCarthy or providing him with reliable support and competition — achieve at least nine wins, and, most importantly, secure a playoff win. Without that January breakthrough, O’Connell’s margin for error will rapidly shrink.
All that said, the Vikings now have a member of the Competition Committee in the house. O’Connell will now have a say in matters such as banning the Tush Push, clarifying the “Catch Rule,” and expanding instant replay. It will be O’Connell’s job, in part, to decide if the issues deserve a vote.
Minnesota extended O’Connell’s contract in January 2025. He won the league’s Coach of the Year award in 2024.
Optus Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 4 AFL game between West Coast Eagles and
Sydney Swans. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Sydney Swans heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the West Coast Eagles vs.
Sydney Swans
game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday April 4, 2026 at 7:35 pm
Where: Optus Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
West Coast Eagles vs Sydney Swans Odds
West Coast Eagles vs Sydney Swans Preview
Revitalised under new leadership, this side has shown encouraging signs of improvement and cohesion. Their ball movement has become more fluid, and confidence is building across the group. However, consistency remains the next hurdle as they face an opponent capable of exploiting lapses. The midfield contest will be crucial, with clearance work and pressure acts likely to shape the outcome. Expect a competitive clash, with both teams looking to establish control and dictate terms. This match presents a strong opportunity to reinforce early progress and continue building momentum.
Head To Head Bet
We’re tipping Sydney Swans to win at $1.24 odds.
Roughly a month ago, the Jonathan Greenard trade rumors got off the ground.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news: “Vikings are now open to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Geeenard, per sources. They would like to keep Greenard, but they also have salary cap issues they’re working through that have led to these trade conversations.”
Fast forward from March 3rd until April 3rd. Nothing has happened.
There has been speculation, rumor, and dot connecting. Kevin O’Connell has expressed his desire to keep the veteran edge rusher in town. Likewise, there has been broader conversations detailing how Minnesota really likes him. A path nevertheless exists for trading him away
The Jonathan Greenard Trade & The 2026 NFL Draft
By definition, a trade needs two parties.
Minnesota could search around the NFL for a willing trade partner, but the other team would need to agree to terms. Similarly, the league’s other 31 teams could call Minnesota, each sending an offer for the pass rusher. Minnesota would need to agree for a trade to take place. A whopping 31 trade offers don’t mean anything unless the Vikings’ leadership chooses to accept one.
So, a minimum of two things need to occur. There needs to be the Vikings’ willingness to trade away Jonathan Greenard alongside another team sending back a compelling offer for Jonathan Greenard.
For the Minnesota Vikings, what may need to occur is choosing a promising pass rusher. If, for instance, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk gets chosen at No. 18, is there renewed willingness to ship out the well-paid (but still underpaid) Greenard?
In that scenario, the Vikings would rally around Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner as the starters. Faulk is the EDGE3 (possibly) and then there could be a low-level add in free agency after the draft concludes. Minnesota could choose another edge rusher later on while searching for more help among the UDFAs.
On the other end of things is the interest of a team (or teams) around the NFL.
Quite possibly, there are teams that have ongoing, consistent offers on the table. All they’re waiting for is for the Vikings to do business. That’s a scenario that is plausible, reasonable, and not hard to imagine. This possibility involves the Vikings choosing Faulk and then agreeing to the trade offer that already exists. It’s a possibility.
Alternatively, there could be teams that have renewed interest in Greenard if they miss on their preferred pass rusher in the draft. Envision a scenario where a team sees the 1st Round finish off without being able to scoop up the coveted player since he got stolen away by a different squad. Could that same team — still desiring help at edge rusher — call Minnesota with the offer of a 2nd, a 3rd, or other draft picks to pry away the talent?
Very possible, folks. Not certain, but possible.
What’s going to be fascinating to watch is (obviously) who gets chosen with the Vikings’ 1st-Round pick. Seeing someone like Keldrick Faulk, Akheem Mesidor, or another promising edge rusher get scooped up by the Vikings will necessarily change the dynamic at edge rusher.
That’s not to say that a trade involving Jonathan Greenard is a locked-in reality if Minnesota goes EDGE at No. 18. Rather, it’s simply to note that a trade involving Jonathan Greenard becomes easier for Minnesota to manage. Rival teams may be more inclined to pickup the phone to check in on Greenard’s availability (or lack thereof) if a pass rusher goes purple early.
Keep an eye on how things unfold. Jonathan Greenard is still likelier to be a Vikings defender in 2026, but the NFL Draft is the event when trades fly.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Celtic have yet to pick up a league point in Dundee this season.
In October, they lost at Dens Park for the first time since 1988, while Dundee United beat them for a second time at Tannadice last time out.
That took the champions’ total of league defeats to eight, double last term’s total and five more than the campaign before.
By the time Celtic kick off (16:30 BST), Rangers will have hosted Dundee United on Saturday (15:00) and Hearts will have played their game away to Livingston earlier on Sunday (14:00).
“Psychologically, there’s an advantage to playing early if you go and get your results,” O’Neill said. “If you don’t, it opens the way for you.
“I’m hoping that between now and the end of the season, it might work in reverse.
“You just have to try and take care of your own game that you are supposedly in control of.”
O’Neill gave an update on injured players Arne Engels and Julian Araujo.
“It’s a thigh,” O’Neill said of right-back Araujo, who has returned to parent club Bournemouth for treatment. “He’s doing fine in recovery, now. We expect to see him back, hopefully in the not too distant future.
“Arne’s come back now. We’ll see. Each day it’s a good day for him, he’s trained most of the week. We’ll just keep any eye on things at this minute. We couldn’t rule him out or in for Sunday.”
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Vanessa Trump, the former daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, broke her silence on social media following Tiger Woods’ stunning DUI arrest in Florida last week.
The golf legend’s arrest came just days after the couple were spotted together at the Golf League championship in Florida in which Woods competed in. Vanessa Trump’s daughter, Kai Trump, was also spotted in the stands.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links GC receives a hug and a kiss from Vanessa Trump before the match against Los Angeles Golf Club during the TGL finals at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on March 24, 2026. (IMAGN Syndication: Palm Beach Post)
But Vanessa Trump’s support for Woods looked different this week after the 15-time major winner was arrested on multiple charges, including DUI following a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida.
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“Love you,” Vanessa Trump wrote over a picture of herself hugging Woods as the two appeared to relax on a hammock. The photo, posted to her Instagram Stories early Friday morning, was the same photo Woods shared on X when he first announced his relationship with her in March 2025.
“Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together,” he wrote in an X post at the time. “At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts.”
Trump recently spoke to the New York Post about Woods’ arrest.
May 6, 2019; Washington, D.C., USA; President Donald Trump presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods during an event at the White House in the Rose Garden. (Scott Taetsch/USA TODAY Sports)
“I think he’s doing great, he’s doing good,” the president told the outlet, adding later, “He tested negative for alcohol, as you know, and he is under a tremendous physical pressure from his various ailments, you know, the back and the leg.”
TRUMP SAYS TIGER WOODS ‘LIVES A LIFE OF PAIN’ AFTER DUI ARREST AS AFFIDAVIT REVEALS PILLS FOUND
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital on Tuesday, deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reported observing several signs of impairment at the scene, noting that Woods was “sweating profusely” and that his movements appeared “lethargic and slow.”
Woods was placed under arrest after performing a series of field sobriety tests, and during a search, law enforcement found “two white pills inside Woods’ left side pant pocket.” According to the arrest affidavit, the pills were later identified as hydrocodone, a prescription opioid for pain relief.
Woods previously told law enforcement prior to the field sobriety tests that he underwent seven back surgeries and “over 20 operations on his leg.” He told law enforcement that “I take a few” prescription medications.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links GC talks with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, after a match against Boston Common Golf at SoFi Center on March 17, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (James Gilbert/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
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At the jail, Woods submitted to a breathalyzer, where he provided 0.00 results on both samples. He declined to submit to a urine test, resulting in another charge.
Woods entered a not guilty plea earlier this week and announced that he would be stepping away from golf to “seek treatment and focus on my health.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Be a Brainrot is a tycoon simulator on Roblox in which you disguise yourself as a Brainrot, cross the starting line, and walk on the Red Carpet to get stolen by different Brainrots and placed on their
;)
The New Yorker
;)
Sports Illustrated
Which brings me to a painting, a new and playful one, that our daughter, Alina, recently stumbled upon while hiking a green corner of the worldwide web, looking to ease the pain of Tax Day for her golf-nut father. It’s a watercolor called Chipping Season by a young artist named Liesel Anne Callahan. It depicts golfing chipmunks somewhere in Amen Corner. One of the things that makes the Masters tournament work is that it has a lot of rules, for players and fans and everyone else, and people are willing to follow them, in the name of decorum and orderliness. One of the things that makes this painting such a delight is that the artist doesn’t need any rules at all. The golfing chipmunks have their carry bags right on the green. Another group of golfing chipmunks are in a cart, with yellow-and-white surrey top, parked dangerously close to the green. The painting itself is a study in green in all its many shades.
;)
Liesel Anne Callahan
I called Ms. Callahan. “I don’t golf, but I am surrounded by people who do,” starting with her husband, she said. She joins him in watching the Masters each year in their home in Lawrence, Kans. Liesel is a fourth-generation Jayhawk.
In real life, do golfing chipmunks wear green knickers or a pink-and-white striped skirt? No, but in Chipping Season they do. Do you see golf carts going the wrong way over the Hogan Bridge on 12? You do not, at least not during the CBS telecast of the Masters. It is a background moment in Chipping Season.
“I know Augusta has a lot of rules but as an artist I like to take what I see and make my own rules,” Callahan said.
During the telecast, she saw Amen Corner — the 11th green, the par-3 12th, the tee shot on 13 — and made it her own.
The artist’s father is a physician. Her mother is a musician, on organist. Her husband is a runner. They are newish parents. They live in a house with a view of a city park. When the Masters is on, Lawrence, some years, is still coming out of winter. Her brother-in-law came up with the name, Chipping Season.
“When I think of an animal that golfs, I think of chipmunks,” the artist said. “I don’t know why.”
Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com
It’s a shame when an artist’s first album ends up being their best. Weezer’s Blue Album, The Strokes’ Is This It and Nas’s Illmatic, while all extraordinary, were also followed by cautionary tales of getting too comfortable and losing one’s initial hunger and essence after experiencing early success.
What’s known as selling out in the music industry can easily be transferred to losing buy-in when applied to basketball.
As Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković put it after his team’s loss to the Kings: “When you don’t approach the game from the start with the level of intensity and attention to detail that you need to have, this is the outcome.”
Of course, one of the NBA’s worst three-point shooting teams missing their most proficient shooter, Immanuel Quickley, has also been a factor. But the six-foot-two guard’s absence had little to do with the Raptors being minus-16 on the glass and minus-19 in second-chance points against Sacramento on Wednesday.
Now, Toronto has fallen to seventh in the East, as its record is tied with the division-rival Philadelphia 76ers, who hold the tiebreaker and consequently jumped the Raptors for the final proper playoff spot.
There are other teams that could factor in on the periphery, but the race for sixth appears poised for a photo finish between the Raptors and 76ers. Every slight advantage that can be mined down the stretch will matter, and the two squads’ strength of schedule will be under the microscope as they aim to avoid the volatility of a one- or two-game play-in scenario.
Let’s examine the outlook for Toronto and Philadelphia over the season’s final six games as they, in RJ Barrett’s words: “play like our lives depend on it.”
While strength of schedule often shakes out to a relatively fair balance over the course of an entire season, it can be a harsher factor over a smaller sample, particularly when every game counts in a tight playoff race. Toronto has the upper hand here.
Philadelphia is set to run a veritable gauntlet that includes games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets over its next four contests. Its final six opponents have a combined .558 winning percentage, giving the 76ers the fourth-most difficult strength of schedule remaining. They also have two back-to-backs left.
The Raptors are looking at a mixed bag. Pulling off wins against Eastern Conference giants in the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks will be a tall task — Toronto’s a combined 0-6 against both this season. However, the Raptors also have two games left against the Miami Heat, who they’ve dominated and who also happen to be in the midst of a 2-8 stretch.
Ultimately, Toronto’s strength of schedule is far friendlier than Philly’s due to Friday’s game against the lowly Memphis Grizzlies (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT) and its season finale against the even-lowlier Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors’ final six adversaries win at a combined .486 clip, good for 19th leaguewide.
Philadelphia does have the edge in a couple of other areas, though. The Raptors and 76ers have split their season series, rendering the first tiebreaker, head-to-head record, moot. But the next tiebreaker is divisional record, where Philly’s 9-7 will be insurmountable for the Raptors, who are 4-10 against Atlantic division foes.
This essentially gives the 76ers an additional game in the standings, as the Raptors will have to secure a better record outright to pass them. Canadian sports fans are well aware of the importance a tiebreaker can hold after the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 American League East title hinged on holding the tiebreaker over the New York Yankees.
And while Joel Embiid‘s health is a perpetual question mark, the 76ers are at full strength otherwise. Paul George has returned after missing most of the season between an off-season knee procedure and 25-game banned-substance suspension — and he’s been lighting it up. After struggling to start the season, the 35-year-old former MVP finalist is averaging 28 points and seven rebounds per contest over four games since returning. George dropped 39 on 15-of-22 shooting in his most recent game on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Raptors are attempting to navigate an injury to their starting point guard. Immanuel Quickley has missed six straight games with plantar fasciitis and has been seen wearing a walking boot. Before Toronto’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 27, Rajaković said that the only way for the injury to fully heal would be for Quickley to be off his feet for multiple weeks, a luxury the team doesn’t have.
However, the sharpshooting guard was playing through the pain prior to sitting and Rajaković said that Quickley is “going to be available to play.” Just not yet, as he is listed as out against the Grizzlies on the NBA’s injury report.
Considering that Toronto ranks 26th in three-point makes, 25th in attempts and 23rd in percentage, it can’t afford to be without its best three-point shooter for long. And make no mistake, Quickley may be tied for third in percentage on the Raptors, but he is their most important shooter.
Toronto has a dearth of pull-up three-point shooting, ranking last in the league in attempts by a wide margin. Quickley is the only player on the team that takes and makes this more difficult shot type at a high volume. He’s shooting 33.7 per cent during his time as a Raptor — above league average — while accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the team’s attempts on a per-game basis. Without Quickley, the Raptors’ pull-up three-point shooting is non-existent. They’re averaging 3.2 per game since he’s gone down, less than 29 individual players across the league.
The Raptors and 76ers are thoroughly intertwined. From Scottie Barnes and Tyrese Maxey’s comical relationship, to ex-Raptor greats Kyle Lowry and Nick Nurse leading the way in Philly, to the infamous Kawhi shot during the teams’ second-round series in 2019 — there’s no shortage of compelling connections in this rivalry.
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Not all play-in spots are created equal
The top 10 spots may be decided in each conference, but the battle for seeding is important, particularly in the packed play-in picture. The middle of the East remains tight with Nos. 6 through 10 still only separated by 2.5 games.
The Raptors and the feel-good Charlotte Hornets currently occupy Nos. 7 and 8 in the standings, meaning they would play for a playoff spot, and the loser would play the winner of the 9-10 game for the eighth and final true post-season berth.
That means that the Orlando Magic — who were in fifth just two weeks ago — and the Miami Heat would be fighting it out under the heat of the Florida sun in a one-and-done scenario if the season ended today.
This highlights the importance of nabbing one of the top two play-in spots. Having only two games to punch your ticket is still risky, but every extra chance is meaningful.
The West is more straightforward. With the Phoenix Suns now 4.5 games back of the sixth seed, their chase for a straight-up playoff berth is effectively over.
The Suns and Golden State Warriors have significant separation at the top and bottom of the West’s play-in picture, meaning the Los Angeles Clippers catching the Portland Trail Blazers to earn the coveted eighth spot is the most probable shift here.
The Clippers’ erratic season makes them tough to read, but there is reason to believe they have what it takes for a push. They started 13-23 before rattling off a 10-4 run in the lead up to the trade deadline. Then, Lawrence Frank and co. sold anyway, dealing James Harden and Ivica Zubac seemingly with an eye for the future.
Despite overhauling the roster, the Clippers have maintained a steady pace. They’re 16-11 since the deadline as acquisitions Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin have found a new gear.
Not to mention that Kawhi Leonard is playing his best basketball since the Raptors’ championship season. If the Clippers have aspirations of going on a significant run, he’ll need to stay healthy and lead the way.
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has criticised Enzo Fernández over comments that have cast doubt on his future at Chelsea FC.
Speculation around Fernández’s future has grown in recent weeks, with the midfielder reportedly hinting at a possible move to Real Madrid. His remarks about wanting to live in Madrid, along with comments from Franco Mastantuono expressing a desire to play alongside him at the Santiago Bernabéu, have not gone down well at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking on his podcast, Mikel did not hold back in his assessment of the situation. The former Chelsea midfielder questioned Fernández’s leadership and timing, especially following the club’s exit from the UEFA Champions League.
“That’s not what a leader does,” Mikel said. “At a time like this, you don’t come out and make such comments. No player is more important than the club. If he’s had enough, then he should leave.”
Mikel’s remarks reflect growing frustration within the club, where Fernández is seen as a key figure. His comments have reportedly unsettled the dressing room and raised concerns about his commitment.
Chelsea’s struggles on the pitch have added to the tension. The Blues have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League and were convincingly knocked out of Europe by Paris Saint-Germain.
They currently sit sixth in the league standings, trailing the final Champions League qualification spot by six points. Despite their dip in form, they remain in the FA Cup, where they are set to face Port Vale.
With pressure mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior to rescue the season, Fernández’s situation is fast becoming a major distraction.
The coming weeks are expected to be decisive as Chelsea battle to secure European football, while uncertainty continues to surround one of their most important players.
Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, Luguentz Dort started hot on both ends of the floor and Jalen Williams came up big all around as the Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Los Angeles Lakers 139-96 at home Thursday.
The Thunder have won four consecutive games and 16 of their last 17. Not only was the Lakers’ four-game winning streak snapped, but Luka Doncic suffered a strained left hamstring in the second half with the game out of reach. Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game that Doncic will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the extent of the injury.
An already bad night for Doncic got even worse early in the third quarter when he was dribbling into the lane and began to elevate for a mid-range jumper. But just as he came off the floor, Doncic came down grabbing his left hamstring and quickly fell to the floor. He finished with 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting from the field.
The Thunder controlled the game from the jump, building a double-digit lead less than four minutes in. That lead didn’t drop below 23 after the first quarter. Shortly after Doncic’s injury, the Thunder got a scare when Dort crashed to the floor after his legs came out from under him as he went to the basket. He left the game and didn’t return. Dort scored 14 and Williams finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Pistons 113, Timberwolves 108
Daniss Jenkins had 26 points, eight assists and five rebounds and host Detroit downed Minnesota to bring its magic number to clinch the top Eastern Conference playoff seed down to one.
Jalen Duren supplied 22 points and 14 rebounds and Duncan Robinson had 15 points for the Pistons, who trailed by one entering the fourth quarter before taking command with an 18-3 run.
Julius Randle scored 27 points and added six rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid had 19 points and six rebounds, while Ayo Dosunmu also scored 19 with five rebounds and four assists.
Spurs 118, Clippers 99
De’Aaron Fox scored 22 points with eight rebounds, Stephon Castle added 20 points and San Antonio increased its winning streak to 11 with a victory over Los Angeles at Inglewood, Calif., while playing without Victor Wembanyama.
Dylan Harper scored 19 points and Devin Vassell had 14 points with 10 rebounds as the Spurs improved to 27-2 since Feb. 1. Wembanyama was given his second night off since Jan. 6 to rest lingering ankle soreness on the second night of the final back-to-back of the season.
Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 18. It was Leonard’s 53rd consecutive game of at least 20 points. John Collins scored 15 points for Los Angeles, which has already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament but fell into ninth place in the West.
Hornets 127, Suns 107
Miles Bridges poured in 25 points and once Charlotte got rolling, it cruised to a victory against visiting Phoenix.
Kon Knueppel scored 20 and Coby White racked up 19 off the bench, while Brandon Miller supplied 17 and LaMelo Ball provided 15 points and 11 assists as the Hornets won for the seventh time in their last nine games to continue pushing for a guaranteed spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Jalen Green finished with 25 points and Devin Booker scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half for the Suns, who attempted only six free throws until late in the game. Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen each had 13 points and Mark Williams posted 12.
Cavaliers 118, Warriors 111
Max Strus capped a 24-point performance with two late 3-pointers, James Harden drove for a clinching hoop in the final seconds and Cleveland outlasted Golden State in San Francisco.
Harden finished with 19 points and Donovan Mitchell had a game-high-tying 25 for the Cavaliers, who moved within one game of the New York Knicks in their duel for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski matched Mitchell with 25 points apiece for the Warriors, whose third consecutive defeat left them solidly in 10th place in the West.
Trail Blazers 118, Pelicans 106
Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara combined to knock down 13 of their team’s 20 made 3-pointers and Portland rallied in the second half to hold off visiting New Orleans.
Holiday led Portland with 27 points, connecting on seven of his 15 3-point attempts — the last of which effectively put away the win. The Blazers, who hold the eighth spot in the Western Conference, have won three straight and five of six. Holiday combined with Camara, who scored 23 points, and Deni Avdija with 26 points to produce all but 42 of Portland’s scoring.
New Orleans remained within striking distance thanks in part to Jeremiah Fears’ team-high 21 points. Fellow reserve Derik Queen added 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
–Field Level Media
Two-division world champion Tim Bradley has shared his opinion on how a fight between Moses Itauma and Oleksandr Usyk would play out.
Itauma extended his ongoing knockout streak to 10 consecutive bouts when he dismantled Jermaine Franklin Jr in Manchester, once again capturing the attention of global boxing fans with another highlight finish.
Consequently, there is growing interest in a showdown between exuberance and experience, with many believing that Itauma could be the only man capable of handing 39-year-old Usyk a first career defeat.
However, Hall of Fame inductee Bradley told his YouTube channel that he does not think the fight will happen and that he does not believe that the 21-year-old is ready for that kind of challenge, having never fought beyond the sixth round.
“I don’t think that Usyk is going to fight his a** right now. If Usyk is dancing with a damn kickboxer then you already know that he ain’t fighting this damn Itauma dude.
“Not that Itauma can beat him, because he doesn’t have the experience yet, he don’t.
“The thing that I worry about with him is the long haul, when you don’t knock a motherf***er out and he don’t fall or react like you are used to seeing ‘em.
“I want to know how you are at [round] 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 – can you keep going?”
Although, Bradley remained impressed by the skill of the Kent-based prodigy, believing that he will continue to dominate against anybody other than the ageing heavyweight king.
“As long as you don’t give him no Usyk, he [Itauma] should be alright. Don’t give him no Usyk, he ain’t ready.
“Usyk will take him into deep waters and drown his a**, that is what I see.”
Itauma will return to action in July, as he prepares for a challenge for the heavyweight throne in the near future.
Man Finds Xbox 360 Dev Kit At Garage Sale With A Hidden Gem Game Inside
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