A man who knows Keyshawn Davis very well has claimed the former world champion is doing everything in his power to avoid a fight.
Davis is widely regarded as being one of the best talents in all of boxing, beginning when he won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
After turning professional, he became WBO lightweight champion when he knocked out Denys Berinchyk, though he was later stripped of the title when he came in overweight for a defence against Edwin De Los Santos, which was subsequently cancelled.
Advertisement
Davis returned in January when he moved up to 140lbs and earned a stoppage win over Jamaine Ortiz, and he has since made his intentions known to head up a further weight class and potentially challenge WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney.
One man that seemingly doesn’t appear to be on the radar of Davis is Andy Cruz, who beat the American on all four occasions when they met as amateurs, most notably in the gold medal clash of the Tokyo Olympics.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Cruz referred to Davis as ‘his son’, and accused his past rival of making excuses to not face him again.
“Truth is, my son doesn’t want anything to do with me and I’m letting him enjoy his career on his own. He always talks about me but he’ll always have excuses not to fight.”
As a professional, Cruz holds a record of six wins from seven fights, after unsuccessfully challenging Raymond Muratalla for the IBF lightweight title back in January, perhaps making it difficult for a fight with Davis to take place anytime soon.
Sep 14, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz reacts with quarterback Cade McNamara (12) after a touchdown against the Troy Trojans during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The NCAA ruled on Tuesday that Iowa committed tampering violations when head coach Kirk Ferentz and an assistant made impermissible contact with a player in November 2022 before he entered the transfer portal.
Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr previously resolved their respective violations in the case. However, the school had argued that one of the penalties it faced — the vacation of team records — was outdated, prompting the need for a hearing with the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions.
The hearing panel said Tuesday that the vacation of records penalty was appropriate in this case but did acknowledge that the changing sports landscape requires a regular review of its rules and consequences.
“Changes to historical practice — particularly around what violations trigger student-athlete ineligibility and how ineligible competition is penalized — should be made by more traditional governance committees through the governance and legislative process,” the panel said. “The COI is open to reevaluating the violations that trigger ineligibility or how ineligible competition should be penalized, but it would be inappropriate to do so in the context of a single infractions case and outside of the legislative process.”
In addition to a vacation of all records in which the player competed, the full list of prescribed penalties includes one year of probation for the Hawkeyes.
Advertisement
Iowa’s self-imposed penalties that were accepted by the NCAA included one-game suspensions for Ferentz and Budmayr (served in 2024), a $25,000 fine, a 24-day reduction in recruiting time in 2025, and a two-week ban on football recruiting communication during the 2026 calendar year.
“When respected individuals identify their mistakes and take responsibility for them, it sets the standard for appropriate behavior within their programs, universities and, more importantly, across the broader industry,” the panel said. “The panel appreciates the actions taken by Iowa and Ferentz to publicly address his and his staff member’s conduct.”
The NCAA did not name the player in question, previously identified as quarterback Cade McNamara. According to the panel, Budmayr made 13 phone calls and sent two text messages to the student-athlete and/or his father, and arranged for a phone call with Ferentz.
Advertisement
McNamara, who transferred from Michigan, participated in five games for the Hawkeyes in 2023. Iowa was 4-1 in those contests and finished the season with a 10-4 record. The victories against Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan and Michigan State will be vacated.
Ferentz, the head coach at Iowa since 1999, will see his career total reduced from 213 wins to 209.
Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings Winter Warrior helmet before the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The keyword, folks, is tiny. Several things still need to happen for the Vikings’ dream trade scenario to become a reality.
Acquiring DT Dexter Lawrence, a tremendous talent who would form a deadly duo with Jalen Redmond, would instantly supercharge Minnesota’s defensive line. The All Pro is looking to leave New York behind, so it’s notable when those same Giants start doing work on a free agent DT option.
Does D.J. Reader end up replacing the soon-to-depart Lawrence?
Advertisement
Consider the basic update. Jordan Schultz offers the word: “Sources: The #Giants hosted veteran DT DJ Reader for a visit today. Reader, who also recently visited the #Ravens, has started 128 career games and has been a consistent presence on the interior.”
Shrinking things from a national level down to a local level means relaying the insight from Jordan Raanan: “The Giants hosted veteran DT D.J. Reader for a visit on Monday, source confirmed. No signing imminent at the moment. See what happens around the draft. Reader, 31, would help greatly as interior run stopper. Giants are thin on DL, even with Dexter Lawrence on the roster.”
The Vikings’ Dream Trade Scenario: Dexter Lawrence
Prying away Mr. Lawrence would be a bold, aggressive move.
Advertisement
The defense would instantly look very different. Lawrence stands at a hulking 6’4″ while weighing 340 pounds. Normally, DC Brian Flores has uplifted smaller DTs — Redmond, for instance, is a highly-athletic player at 6’3″ and 305 pounds — but Lawrence is a powerful playmaker, a ballerina bully. Putting those two on the field at the same time would be too much for most center/guard combos to handle.
The Vikings would be wise to seriously consider making a move, even if there needs to be a meaty extension on the back end of things. Special players are difficult to acquire; Dexter Lawrence is a special player who is 28 and who plays a position of need.
Putting Lawrence onto Minnesota’s roster would mean being able to trot Justin Jefferson onto the field as a clear-cut, no debate elite option. Next up would be the trio of LT Christian Darrisaw, EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, and DT Dexter Lawrence as those who don’t get enough respect for playing elite ball.
The Reader update makes the trade scenario a tiny bit more plausible.
The NFL is a place where actions communicate much. Bringing in a veteran DT for a workout could be due diligence. Or, perhaps, it’s a sign that moving on from Lawrence is being given serious consideration. Adding Reader, a veteran DT who possesses a similar build at 6’3″ and 330 pounds, would allow the Giants to solidify the d-line’s floor even as the ceiling has taken a hit.
Advertisement
The pivot in New York would then be to rally around the deep, talented cluster of edge rushers: Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Dec 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) tackles Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (4) during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
Quite possibly, the Vikings would need to take action in other ways to accommodate Dexter Lawrence.
Maybe that means a trade involving LB Ivan Pace Jr., a swap that would clear modest cap space ($3.52M, per OTC) alongside bringing back modest draft compensation.
Or, perhaps, the move would be to offload Jonathan Greenard. Doing so would help the finances in a more robust manner while bringing back a move valuable pick. Gaining a 2nd could be too ambitious for Mr. Greenard, but the general consensus is that Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick(s). Does a 3rd get the job done?
Lawrence would be the best defensive tackle Minnesota has had since at least Linval Joseph, someone who got his career started with the New York Giants before becoming a Viking. In fact, there could even need to be a further journey into franchise history to uplift options such as Kevin Williams and Pat Williams to find someone as good as Lawrence.
Manchester United were reportedly on the verge of offering Michael Carrick the head coach job on a permanent basis, but are now said to be reconsidering their options
Manchester United are reportedly reconsidering handing Michael Carrick the permanent head coach’s role at Old Trafford. The Reds appointed Carrick as interim head coach until the end of the season back in January, following the exit of Ruben Amorim.
Since taking charge, Carrick has steered United to third place in the Premier League, placing the club in a commanding position to secure Champions League football with six matches still to play.
Advertisement
The past couple of months have been swirl with speculation surrounding whether Carrick could be handed the United job on a full-time basis this summer, and a fresh update has now emerged regarding the thinking of those at the top of the Old Trafford hierarchy.
According to the i Paper, United were on the verge of offering Carrick the role on a permanent basis.
However, the report suggests that news of Andoni Iraola’s impending departure from Bournemouth this summer is prompting United to reconsider their position.
Advertisement
Iraola has been linked with the United job for several months, and the 43-year-old is set to leave the Vitality Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.
Precisely what decision United will make regarding the club’s future direction remains to be seen, with the outcome of the current season likely to prove pivotal in those discussions, reports the Mirror. United sit third in the Premier League table, level on points with fourth-placed Aston Villa following Monday night’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds.
Liverpool trail by three points in fifth, while Chelsea find themselves seven points adrift of United in sixth place, currently outside the Champions League qualification spots.
Iraola is not the only Premier League manager poised to depart their current club amid speculation over the Old Trafford vacancy.
Advertisement
Oliver Glasner is also understood to be in the frame for the role, having already confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace when his contract comes to an end at the close of the season.
Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
Advertisement
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.
Dalton Joyce (@youngdalt) is a golf content creator known for showing off his dedication to health, performance and enjoying the game one swing at a time. He also happens to manufacture ball speeds upwards of 200+ miles per hour. Known for his “Nobody cares, work harder” mentality, it’s fascinating to watch Dalton work, and to follow his success on his Instagram page. I caught up with Joyce at a Callaway Ambassador shoot last month to see what was in the bag for this high-speed player and why he chooses to play the Callaway clubs he does.
A top end of choices built for speed
Consistency is king
Swinging at speeds like Joyce reaches, there are some unique problems to solve at the top end of the bag. For him, specifically with the driver, it’s about consistency in spin. This has been a huge talking point with Callaway over the last few years as they continue to improve on their Ai-Smart Face. That technology was developed to implement Ai to construct a face that supports off-center hits. Typically this is done by adding speed where it’s needed, but Callaway has started to hone in on spin consistency as well. With the introduction of the Tri-Force face this year on Callaway’s Quantum drivers, the brand has also added even more speed and stability. For Dalton, that’s everything.
When asked about his switch into the Quantum Triple Diamond 9º Joyce said, “I switched to the Quantum driver rather quickly this year… it takes a little bit of time (usually) but this time there was zero hesitation. I love the way the crown looks, reminiscent to the Ai Smoke, but beyond that the spin dispersion is just way better for me. I need something with a little bit better spin dispersion, a little tighter, reign it in.”
The next club in his bag is his Callaway Elyte Mini, which — spoiler alert — will be replaced by the upcoming Quantum Mini (more on that soon). The Mini for Joyce is a “tool” in the bag, often replacing his driver on courses where his driver just doesn’t make much sense on the course. Joyce talks a lot about course strategy, along with gear strategy, and how that helps his game. He tied the current course record at TPC Houston, so I’m gonna let him direct me to the success on this one. The Mini plays a great role in his bag, though. It’s a driver replacement when necessary, but also works as a great secondary tee option for courses that require some shot-shaping off the tee. He finds it easier to manipulate the flight of the Mini than he does with the driver.
Dalton Joyce’s Callaway Elyte Mini
Jake Morrow / GOLF
No 3-wood
Alongside the mini sits the Callaway Apex UW in 17º of loft. In Joyce’s bag it works as a 3-wood replacement. Because of the shape of the UW and the step sole that they have added to the newest generation of the club, it’s a very easy club to hit off the deck. For Joyce, this means pretty much every par 5 becomes reachable in two with very little stress. If he has the driver in the bag, and a confident feeling off the tee for the day, the UW is going to be in the bag over the Mini just to make sure that all the shots he needs are in the bag. He says he doesn’t hit it off the tee all that much, but performance off the turf was hard to ignore.
Advertisement
Dalton Joyce’s 17º Callaway Apex UW
Jake Morrow / GOLF
The club that influenced and influencer
Yes, we’re still at the top end of the bag. As such an important piece of success for Joyce, he’s really got this area of the bag locked down for problem solving. They most reliable problem-solver in the bag? His latest generation Callaway Apex UT. He likes the design of this version much better than the last.
“This is probably my favorite club in the bag. I just think this is so much better than their last UT model. The offset looks really good to me, I didn’t think the other one had enough offset for how the face was … this one just looks a little bit more like an iron than the last one.”
Dalton Joyce’s 265-yard cut shot club; the Callaway Apex UT
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Advertisement
That’s something we agree on. What we don’t share is the ability to hit this thing the way he does. A UT in his hands, in this case a 3-iron variant, can be his 265-yard shot into a “short” par 5. He’ll do that that hitting a cut. I don’t have that in my bag, but it’s sure fun to watch Dalton do it. There was actually a point where Joyce only had one headcover in the bag: his driver.
“I used to go driver, this is the first mini I have ever had, I used to go driver, 16º iron, 20º iron, and then 4-iron thru the rest… but this is a little easier on me now.”
“Big fan of these,” he said. “I think that while they are a little bit longer heel to toe, it breeds confidence for me. I felt like the TCBs that I played for a while were really good but for the thickness I didn’t understand why they were so thick heel to toe.”
Advertisement
Joyce pointed out that he doesn’t love irons with shorter blade lengths. “I love the classic look, when I look at this I just think prime Phil Mickelson.”
For Joyce, the X-Forged sole is a dream. Having a tri-sole design allows him to stay aggressive with every iron in the set, while making sure that the club exits the turf efficiently; a very important factor in choosing irons at high speeds.
Dalton Joyce’s Callaway X-Forged irons
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Advertisement
Callaway 2025 X Forged Custom Irons
Pure Precision, Forged for Better Players
Crafted from a single piece of 1020 Carbon steel, X Forged Irons deliver the crisp sound and soft feel that discerning players demand—precision-engineered for professionals and elite ball strikers.
Clean Looks, Tour-Preferred Shape
X Forged features a streamlined cavity back, compact profile, minimal offset, and a thin topline—crafted to appeal to the eye of the better player.
Tri-Level Sole Design
X Forged Irons feature a tri-level sole with beveled leading and trailing edges, promoting smooth turf interaction and precise ball control through impact.
At the bottom of the bag Joyce wraps up his set with Callaway Opus SP wedges and an Odyssey Ai-One Milled 7T in silver, although the putter was replaced by a find from the PGA Tour Superstore used bin during our filming trip. He now has a special Odyssey 2 Ball Ten Triple Track PGA Tour 2K edition putter in the bag, because why not?
Dalton’s Odyssey Ai-One Milled 7T in silver
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Joyce also mentioned he was experimenting with Callaway’s new Opus SP+ wedges and saw some great results. He also mentioned that he can carry his lob wedge about 120 yards. He’s comfortable swinging his shortest club at “…about 115 [yards] downwind,” joking that, “I spin it too much, buddy.”
Advertisement
Dalton’s Opus SP 54º, bent to 55º
Jake Morrow / GOLF
“I have tried the SP+, I think I was the first one to hit them. Within a matter of two balls … the trajectory from 40-yards must have gone down 10ft … unbelievable … It makes me feel a lot better than I should feel, but I’ll take it.”
After asking about the grinds on his lobber he responded with a cool little nugget. “With the SP+ the Z-grind is what I felt best with. This (Opus SP) is a C-grind, for the SP+ definitely a Z-grind guy. As soon as I put the Z-grind in action, that’s when I really started seeing the (launch) benefits of the SP+”
Multiple golf balls in play
Depending on the course Joyce will actually switch golf balls.
Advertisement
“If it’s a big, wide open golf course, I’ll just send the Triple Diamond if I know I am going to hit a lot of drivers. But for tournament purposes I am a (Chrome) Tour guy. I did a lot of testing with the ball R&D at Callaway and I’m just a Tour guy over the X. I just spin the X a little bit too much, especially with the mid to short irons.”
Translated: Hit scramble team bombs with the Chrome Tour Triple Diamond, score when it matters with Chrome Tour.
Advertisement
Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond Golf Balls
Chrome Tour has set the new gold standard in performance for the best in distance, feel, shot shaping, and control. Now our Chrome Tour Triple Diamond provides all these major-winning performance characteristics in a design for better players who prefer a consistently penetrating flight, slightly firmer feel, and lower spin on full shots. Every detail has been optimized including a new Seamless Tour Aero, and a high-performance Tour urethane cover.
Features & Benefits
Consistent Penetrating Ball Flight On Every Shot
From a new Seamless Tour Aero. This new, uniquely designed aerodynamic package is built for penetrating ball flights in any condition.
Slightly Firmer Feel and Exceptionally Fast Ball Speeds
From a new optimized core. The core is engineered for better players who want the best balance of long distance and feel.
Higher Launch, Lower Spin and Tour-level Greenside Control
From our High-Performance Tour Urethane Soft Cover. Better players can aggressively go after shots through the bag, while the cover system provides outstanding control and Tour-level feel.
More Consistent Performance
From Precision Technology. Every detail in Chrome Tour Triple Diamond has been engineered to ensure maximized performance throughout your game with our industry-leading manufacturing.
You can see more from Joyce on his Instagram page. Just prepare to be jealous of his speed, and probably end up thinking you’re not working hard enough on your game. Every time I see his content, it’s quite a good reminder to get back to the grind.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (RB15) works through drills during the NFL Scouting Combine, showcasing his movement skills and readiness in front of evaluators. Feb 28, 2026 highlighted the session at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where Price took part in on-field testing as teams assessed his draft profile. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings are doing their homework on rookie backs for next week, and they’ll probably leave the draft with one. That’s the good news. The bad news? Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price may not be available.
Price’s draft momentum may force Minnesota to pivot at running back.
Price is increasingly being discussed as a late 1st-Rounder, and if so, he’d work his way out of Minnesota’s draft range.
Advertisement
The Vikings’ RB Options Expand beyond Jadarian Price
It might be time to cross Price off the purple bingo board.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price breaks through the Pittsburgh defense and accelerates into open field during first-half action on November 15, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The explosive run highlights his burst and vision as he capitalizes on a crease created by the offensive line in a physical road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Michael Longo-Imagn Images.
Price as a 1st-Rounder
Bleacher Report‘s Moe Moton sized up five players who could sneak into Round 1 this week, and Price was the one running back to get the nod.
He wrote, “NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes Jadarian Price will be the second tailback off the board and may sneak into the first round within a shallow class of ball-carriers.”
Advertisement
“Jeremiyah Love, a projected first-rounder, and Price played together through three terms with the Fighting Irish. The former took on the featured role after Audric Estime’s departure to the NFL, while the latter served in a complementary role.”
Until recently, Price has been considered a safe Round 2 or 3 pick.
“Although Price didn’t rack up more than 746 yards in a single collegiate term, he averaged at least six yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns over the last two years. After a couple of seasons as Notre Dame’s No. 2 running back, Price may have more to offer a team that wants a decisive early-down ball-carrier who can also contribute on special teams,” Moton continued.
“He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in college. Most of the league’s clubs featured multiple running backs, so don’t discount one of them taking Price on Day 1.”
Advertisement
Others, like Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers and Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, got shoutouts from Moton, too.
Then What for the Vikings?
Suppose Price indeed slips into the bottom of Round 1 or the top of Round 2, disqualifying him from the Vikings’ grasp. It’s not doomsday. The club would just have to pivot and explore an alternative rookie running back.
Per the current Consensus Big Board, the options would look like this:
All the Round 1 chatter for Price that has emerged might be code for the Seahawks. The Super Bowl champions have the luxury of a deep roster, and picking a running back like Price might be fair game after Kenneth Walker III left in free agency for the Chiefs.
Advertisement
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price carries the ball and navigates traffic during the first half on Oct. 18, 2025, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. He presses forward through contact, working for extra yardage while helping the Fighting Irish offense find rhythm early against a packed defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images.
SI.com‘s Michael Hanich on Price to Seattle: “The Seahawks could find a way to trade back into the second round for more picks and still find a way to get Price. He might be one of the most undervalued players in this draft. In the last two seasons, Price has rushed for 1,420 yards and 18 touchdowns on 233 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.”
“In the receiving game, he also caught 10 receptions for 97 yards for two touchdowns. Price is also a serious threat on special teams by taking two kickoff returns for a touchdown. Price would come in and immediately be the favorite for the starting running back. He has a much higher ceiling than George Holani and newly signed Emanuel Wilson. The Seahawks could have Price be a main contributor until Zach Charbonnet returns from his injury, but even then, he could be the main back.”
Time for a Rookie RB
While the Vikings’ ground game has improved gradually under Kevin O’Connell, it has yet to become a dominant strength. Here’s their rushing DVOA and NFL ranking during his tenure:
Vikings Rushing DVOA NFL Ranking in O’Connell Era:
Advertisement
2022: 27th
2023: 27th
2024: 20th
2025: 13th
The significant jump in 2025 is encouraging. However, the play-calling reveals another aspect of the story. Minnesota ran the ball on 43% of its plays, ranking 19th in the league. This indicates that while their rushing production improved to a Top 13 ranking, their commitment to the run still ranked in the bottom half of the league.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts along the sideline after a rushing touchdown by Aaron Jones during the first quarter on Oct. 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The moment captures O’Connell’s energy as the offense converts a ground-game opportunity against the Detroit Lions in a key divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have no running backs scheduled under contract next offseason. Aaron Jones will be a free agent; so will RB2 Jordan Mason. Jones will be 32 at that time, Mason 27.
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, it’s time for a young running back to enter the mix for Minnesota. While that may not be Price, Washington Jr., Johnson, and Coleman make sense.
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament begins tonight, providing high-intensity matchups to claim the latest DraftKings promo code to get $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 wager wins. Tuesday features Heat vs. Hornets in an elimination game in the Eastern Conference, followed by the Trail Blazers vs. Suns, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference NBA playoffs. The SportsLine Projection Model is backing the Suns, who made the playoffs four of the previous five years, to cover as 3.5-point favorites as part of its Tuesday NBA best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 23-9 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
The Brewers are set to start 24-year-old Jacob Misiorowski, who soared to one of the top prospects in baseball last season and made last year’s MLB All-Star Game after allowing one run or fewer in three of his first five MLB starts and just two runs over his first three outings. This season, he has 28 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings with a 3.31 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays turn to 35-year-old Kevin Gausman, who allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings to the Dodgers in his last start. The Blue Jays are off to a 6-9 start while the Brewers are 8-7 this season, and the model gives the Brewers the advantage at home on Tuesday. Milwaukee wins in 61% of simulations. Back the Brewers at DraftKings here, and claim $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins as a new user:
Tyler Herro, Heat, Over 21.5 total points
“Tyler Herro sat out Friday with foot soreness and then played just 22 minutes in Sunday’s rout of the Hawks. Miami was saving Herro for Tuesday’s play-in game at Charlotte,” SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein said. “Herro put up 33 points and 20 points in two meetings with the Hornets last month, going 9 of 12 from deep and 12 of 12 from the foul line combined. The Heat will need a huge game from Herro to pull off the upset, so I’m betting on Erik Spoelstra giving Herro 35-plus minutes.” Back Herro’s Over at DraftKings here, and claim $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins as a new user:
Suns (-3.5) vs. Trail Blazers
The Suns went 2-1 against the Trail Blazers this season, with each of their wins coming by more than four points. The Suns have the top scorer in this matchup in Devin Booker, who was ninth in the league at 26.1 points per game this season. He rested the final two games of the regular season due to an ankle that has bothered him since late January, but Booker scored at least 30 points in each of his last three games in April. He’s scored at least 30 points in five of his last six games, and could be too much for Portland to handle. The Suns are a win away from their fifth playoff appearance in the last six years, while the Trail Blazers haven’t made the playoffs since the 2020-21 season. The model projects the Suns to cover in 60% of simulations. Back the Suns to cover at DraftKings here, and claim $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins as a new user:
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli was seen training with his left knee heavily strapped ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.In a video shared by LSG’s social media handle, Kohli was seen walking with his left knee strapped while meeting New Zealand great Kane Williamson. He greeted Williamson, who is part of LSG’s support staff, and also hugged LSG skipper Rishabh Pant.
Watch
Krunal Pandya on RCB’s performance and key turning points
Kohli, who has been in ominous form in IPL 2026, had walked off the field with an ankle niggle during the previous match against Mumbai Indians, raising concerns about his availability for Wednesday’s game.However, the star batter spent time in the nets with a strapped knee, easing concerns over his fitness for now. He also had an extended batting session during practice.In four matches so far this season, Kohli has scored 179 runs at an average of 59.66 and a strike rate of 162.72, including two fifties, with a highest score of 69*.In the previous outing against Mumbai Indians, he struck a 38-ball 50, hitting five fours and a six.RCB will once again rely on their formidable batting line-up as they aim to overcome an inconsistent Lucknow Super Giants side and move clear of the mid-table congestion.The Bengaluru outfit are currently third on the points table with six points, while four other teams trail closely with four points each. RCB are two points behind leaders Rajasthan Royals and one point adrift of Punjab Kings.
Watch
Krunal Pandya on RCB’s performance and key turning points
Squads:Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Josh Hazlewood, Jordan Cox, Nuwan Thushara, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik DeswalLucknow Super Giants Squad: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, George Linde, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mayank Yadav, Matthew Breetzke, Anrich Nortje, Josh Inglis, Himmat Singh, Mohsin Khan, Arjun Tendulkar, Akash Maharaj Singh, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Arshin Kulkarni, Naman Tiwari.
The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets look to extend their seasons when they meet in a 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament matchup on Tuesday night. The winner will play the loser of Wednesday’s Magic-76ers matchup for the eighth seed on Friday, while the loser is eliminated. Miami won the season series 3-1, but Charlotte won the most recent game, 136-106 on March 17. The Heat (43-39), who were fourth in the Southeast Division, are 17-24 on the road this season. The Hornets (44-38), who finished third in the Southeast, are 21-20 on their home court.
Tipoff from Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Charlotte is a 6-point favorite in the latest Heat vs. Hornets odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 230.5. Before making any Heat vs. Hornets picks, check out the Heat vs. Hornets predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 23-9 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
New to sports trading? Visit our Kalshi promo code review to see their latest offers and get started.
Advertisement
Top Heat vs. Hornets predictions
After 10,000 simulations of Heat vs. Hornets, SportsLine’s model is going Under on the total (230.5), which has incresed by three points since the opening line. Charlotte has trended heavily to the Under this season with 63% of its games hitting that side of the total.
The SportsLine model is projecting the Heat to have six players scoring 10.6 or more points, led by Bam Adebayo’s 20.9 points. LaMelo Ball is projected to lead the Hornets with 24.6 points scored, while five Charlotte players are projected to score more than 10.5 points. The teams are projected to combine for 226 total points as the Under hits 58% of the time. See the spread pick at SportsLine.
Semenyo’s case is the latest in a growing list of racist abuse suffered by Premier League players this season, with four players targeted during a single weekend in February.
The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) is investigating the abuse of the four players in February, which included Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida, Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare.
Years after winning gold medals at the Paralympics and various World Championship titles, Heinrich Popow believes the future for disabled people is brighter than it has ever been, thanks in part to the success and growing popularity of the Paralympics. But there is one particular societal issue the lower leg amputee would like to see change: Adults should view people with disabilities through the same eyes and curiosity as children.
“The biggest change I would love to see is to break the barriers of having this, we call it in German, Berührungsangst, being afraid to come too close,” Popow told DW. “The way that kids interact with people with a disability, and also with stuff they see for the first time. That is what I would like to see adults do.
“So when I, for example, go to Kindergarten with shorts in the summer, I’m the coolest daddy in the world because kids accept me. And then they ask me, ‘What do you have?’ So I explain. And because my two daughters, always put some new stickers on my legs, every day I have a different leg.
“What I really would love to see is that we accept each other the way we are and learn from kids.”
One of Germany’s greatest para athletes
Popow maintains that the amputation of his lower leg was tougher on his parents than on his 9-year-old self. He stayed active in sports, and eventually settled on athletics at the sports club, Bayer Leverkusen. In 2002, at age 19, Popow won a bronze medal at the International Paralympics Committee World Athletics Championships in Lille, France. Three bronze medals in the T42 category followed at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, a silver in Beijing 2008, and a gold medal in the 100-meters in London Paralympics. He won gold in the long jump in the 2016 Games in Rio. “Sports gave me the opportunity to push barriers and limits,” said Popow. And it still does.
Advertisement
Heinrich Popow won gold at the London 2012 Olympics and has also seen long jump successImage: Volkmann/IMAGO
In addition to pushing and prodding those who may be newly disabled toward sport these days, he actively promotes and defends people with disabilities in Germany and around the world. He is often seen in clinics and other engagement opportunities for the mobility firm, Ottobock (which employs him), which focuses on, among other things, prosthetics for those who have had amputations, injuries, or neurological diseases.
Inclusivity breeds success
Popow’s travels have led him to believe that countries that do well at the Paralympics usually do well with the inclusivity of the disabled back at home. Germany finished a disappointing 11th in the 2024 Paralympics medals table. Popow believes he has a clue why.
“Grassroot sports in Germany are not improving the way they need to improve,” he told DW. Federal government research in 2022 suggested more than half of disabled people in Germany avoided sports. Part of the reason could be that 90% of all playing fields and gymnasiums were not barrier-free. Meanwhile, insurance companies often do not cover medical devices for sports.
“I feel the government and insurers can save a lot of money if they realize paying for disabled sports is better than the bill from a pharmacy. Sports is the best medicine.
Advertisement
“I do running clinics, and I see activity all over the world. The Netherlands is doing a great job. It is the size of the German state of North Rhine Westfalia, and it is more successful than our whole country.” The Netherlands was 4th in the 2024 Paralympics medal table.
Does the International Day of Persons with Disabilities help?
Popow is an avowed booster for the disabled. He is sure that the one day of the year set aside by the UN to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities is positive in ways that go far beyond simple awareness. “I forget the day of my marriage sometimes,” he joked. “But this UN day becomes more and more special.”
Yet he acknowledges that having lived with his disability since 1992 (he was nine when a rare form of cancer in his left calf led to his lower leg being amputated), the day personally matters less to him than it previously did. Those who are recently disabled see things much differently, and the acknowledgment of that fact is important, he said.
“I have no restrictions from my disability in my daily life. It is packed with kids, job, and everything, but no further movement is important.”
“But to be honest, and this is something also the (disability) community thinks about, it’s more important if we think about disabilities every day, like the awareness we should have every day. A special day is nice, but it is only one step. We need that second and third day,” he says.
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login