Draymond Green was so sick during Warriors’ win
Draymond Green turned in a defensive masterclass during the Golden State Warriors’ play-in win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, and new information has emerged to make it even more impressive.
Green was battling an illness during the Warriors’ 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Ca. ESPN’s Shams Charania said Thursday that Green was throwing up in the locker room before the game.
“Team sources told me Draymond Green was sick,” Charania said. “He was throwing up, puking all over the place in pregame on the sideline, in the back area in the locker room.”
Shams:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 16, 2026
"Team sources told me Draymond Green was sick, he was throwing up, puking all over the place in pregame, sideline in the back area by the locker room" pic.twitter.com/t0rAIeViH6
Stephen Curry had also alluded to Green battling an illness during his postgame interview with Prime.
By the end of Wednesday’s game, there was no way of knowing Green was sick. He held Kawhi Leonard to just two shot attempts and two points in the fourth quarter, and was responsible for two key steals late to help seal the win for Golden State.
The Warriors have another game on Friday against the Phoenix Suns with a playoff bid on the line. Green has to hope that he will be feeling better by then, even though he didn’t look terribly affected on Wednesday.
Benches clear after final out of Reds-Giants game
The Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants had an odd bench-clearing incident Thursday after the final out of the game had been recorded.
The Reds dropped the series finale to the Giants 3-0 Thursday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Oh. Giants pitcher Erik Miller and Reds infielder Sal Stewart exchanged words after Stewart struck out, prompting both benches to clear. No punches were thrown, both both dugouts cleared even though the game was over.
Benches clear after the final out in Giants vs. Reds 😳 pic.twitter.com/aRsGHXGkme
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 16, 2026
Tensions between the Reds and Giants were high for the last two games of the series. Reds outfielder Spencer Steer had words for Giants pitcher JT Brubaker on Wednesday after being granted a late timeout. Speer was hit by a pitch in the second inning of Thursday’s game, and Giants infielder Willy Adames was hit in the eighth, leading to Reds pitcher Connor Phillips’ ejection.
The Giants have plenty of frustration to work off, which probably exacerbated tensions. They had lost four straight games heading into Thursday’s game, and life has been rocky under new manager Tony Vitello.
The Reds and Giants will square off again this season, though not until late August. It remains to be seen if these tensions might carry over until then.
Ex-LeBron James teammate to plead guilty in NBA gambling scandal
One of LeBron James’ former teammates is the first defendant in the NBA gambling scandal to plead guilty.
Former player and assistant coach Damon Jones plans to plead guilty to sports gambling charges, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Jones had initially pleaded not guilty to selling insider information to sports gamblers.
Jones has also been accused of participating in a rigged poker game. He has pleaded not guilty in that case, and apparently does not intend to change that plea.
Jones was accused of passing along insider information about James’ injury status while working as an unpaid assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. The scheme involved Jones passing along information about James’ injury status before it went public, allowing his co-conspirators to bet against the Lakers with more favorable odds.
Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is facing charges as part of the same indictment. Rozier has pleaded not guilty. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has also been accused of taking part in rigged poker games, and he has also pleaded not guilty.
Bam Adebayo addresses whether LaMelo Ball apologized to him
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is firing back at LaMelo Ball over Ball’s controversial move in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Adebayo revealed Thursday that Ball has not apologized to him for the trip that knocked him out of Miami’s 127-126 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Ball had said after the game that he intended to reach out and apologize for the incident.
“It didn’t happen,” Adebayo said. “By that time I was in the shower trying to figure out what I was going to do next. Obviously, everything happened all at once. At some point I’ll see him again and we’ll have that conversation.”
Bam says LaMelo Ball has not apologized to him yet:
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) April 16, 2026
“It didn’t happen… I want It to be out there. At some point I’ll see him again and we’ll have that conversation” https://t.co/V7be6aZDTV pic.twitter.com/HpPqEtpQ9o
Adebayo did not seem too bothered by the lack of apology, and chalked it up to the two not crossing paths after Tuesday’s game. He also said he had no idea if Ball made a dirty play or had any intent in tripping him, even though the Hornets guard has done it twice now.
Ball was ultimately fined for the trip. He will still be available Friday when the Hornets face the Orlando Magic for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Jets are picking between 2 players with the No. 2 pick
The New York Jets are thought to have narrowed their choices down to two players with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
The Jets are expected to pick either Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Many expect them to ultimately settle on Bailey, as he is viewed as a more NFL-ready product.
Bailey excelled at Texas Tech and had a breakout season in 2025. He posted 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss and was a unanimous All-American.
The draft essentially begins at No. 2, since the Las Vegas Raiders are going to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. The Jets’ pick is the first one that has any uncertainty involved, and things get even more murky with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3.
The Jets pursuing help in the pass rush department is hardly a surprise. The team’s decision will be watched closely, especially since head coach Aaron Glenn might have slept through their workouts at the NFL Combine.
Bronny James likely to have playoff role for Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers’ injury situation is serious enough that they might have to lean on Bronny James during their upcoming playoff series.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Wednesday that James will likely be part of the team’s gameplan for their Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Houston Rockets. The coach emphasized that James has earned the trust of the team, and that the series will require “all hands on deck.”
“We’re gonna have to have all hands on deck for the series,” Redick told reporters. “I think Bronny’s improved a lot. I think we trust him. The shooting piece, I’m a believer in because of how well he shot it the last two years in the G League. He’s improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning, both on- and off-ball. We want him to continue to evolve as a disruptive defender as well.”
“We're gonna have to have all hands on deck for the series. … He’s got to be ready … I think Bronny's improved a lot. I think we trust him. The shooting piece, I'm a believer in … He's improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning” – JJ Redick on Bronny James pic.twitter.com/ilifp4seoI
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 15, 2026
The Lakers are likely to play the series without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, meaning some other players are going to have to pick up minutes. Bronny appears to be one player the team might look to. In the last ten games of the regular season, he averaged 15.3 minutes with 5.6 points per game. He has flashed some real scoring ability in the G League, though.
Some people are giving the Lakers no chance against Houston. Fair or not, the possibility that they might have to lean on Bronny would count as one reason why.
NBA allows 2 star players to be eligible for awards
At least two NBA stars will successfully circumvent the league’s 65-game awards rule this season after the NBA and NBPA ruled in their favor on a challenge Thursday.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham will both be eligible for end-of-season awards, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Under the 65-game rule, neither made the cut due to late-season injuries.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards also sought an exemption, but his was denied.
The @NBA and @TheNBPA issue a joint statement saying Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham have successfully challenged the league’s 65-game rule …. but say Anthony Edwards’ challenge was denied: pic.twitter.com/8hXkIzIh2m
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 16, 2026
Cunningham and Doncic were both touted as MVP candidates at various points during the season. It is unlikely that either of them will win the award even after becoming eligible, but this will allow them to feature on All-NBA teams. That might matter in future contract negotiations, as inclusion on such teams can make players eligible for supermax deals.
The big tiebreaker here is that both Doncic and Cunningham had circumstances beyond their control keep them from the 65-game mark, and both definitely would have made it if not for them. Doncic played in 64 eligible games, while Cunningham played in 63. Edwards only played in 60 and did not receive the benefit of the doubt.
The awards eligibility rule has drawn criticism this season because of what it did to players like Cunningham. Adam Silver has made it clear that the rule is not changing, though there is apparently room for limited exceptions.
Mike Trout did something no one had seen in nearly 13 years at Yankee Stadium
Mike Trout can’t stop flexing his power in the Bronx.
The Los Angeles Angels superstar outfielder hit one out of the park again on Wednesday against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y. It was his third game in a row with a home run and fourth overall, so far in the ongoing series against the Yankees.
With one out and a man on base, Trout sent a four-seamer 383 feet into the air for a two-run home run that put the Halos in front, 4-3.
With that blast, the 34-year-old Trout became just the first visiting player since Miguel Cabrera in 2013 to homer in three consecutive days at Yankee Stadium, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Here’s a look at Trout’s sixth home run in the 2026 MLB season.
<p><blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>MIKE TROUT IS UNBELIEVABLE!<br><br>The <a href=”https://twitter.com/Angels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Angels</a> lead! <a href=”https://t.co/ewpHMfbiDP”>pic.twitter.com/ewpHMfbiDP</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href=”https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2044571864144527630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>April 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script></p>
Cabrera homered in each of the Detroit Tigers’ games in an August trip to the Bronx in August of 2013.
Trout, on the other hand, had two home runs in the opener of the Yankees series on Monday and had another on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, Trout’s home run on Wednesday ultimately went for naught, as Los Angeles lost to the Yankees, 5-4.
The three-time American League Most Valuable Player Trout has a chance to make it four straight games with a home run on Thursday, as the Angels and the Yankees play the finale of their series.
Video: Padres fans nearly come to blows amid giveaway chaos
The San Diego Padres are the hottest team in the big leagues right now, having won seven straight games.
But they apparently are not as hot as the puffer vest giveaways that fans lined up for before San Diego’s game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif.
So in-demand the free vests were that at least one fight nearly broke out amid the sea of people trying to score a Padres-themed sleeveless jacket.
Chase Izidoro of KUSI News shared a video showing how chaotic the situation was, including an elderly fan getting into a heated argument with another person that turned slightly physical.
When the elderly man turned around, he got into another verbal altercation with an angry fan, while a woman tried to separate them.
Fights breaking out at Petco Park after lines wrapping around the block over the puffer vest giveaway #Padres pic.twitter.com/SeK9lfHbxn
— Chase Izidoro (@chaseizi) April 16, 2026
A logistical issue caused the massive buildup of people outside Petco Park, as the Padres ran out of sizes.
“The cause for the long lines appears to be the fact that the Padres ran out of sizes. People refused to leave the gate until they got their puffer vest, which created the log jam around the entire ballpark,” Izidoro reported.
Obviously, not everyone got a puffer vest, but the Padres still sent all of them happy after San Diego completed a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Mariners.
The Padres overcame a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to come away with a 7-6 victory and keep their winning streak alive.
Fans drag Amazon Prime over an AI-generated video during an NBA game
Just when the dust was beginning to settle following Amazon Prime Video’s snafu during Tuesday’s NBA play-in game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets, the streaming service drew the ire of fans again during another play-in contest on Wednesday.
During a timeout in the second half of the game featuring the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., Prime Video showed an AI-generated video to sum up the Magic’s 2025-26 campaign. It featured Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley as a magician welcoming Desmond Bane and sawing Franz Wagner in half.
You can watch the clip here.
Amazon Shows an AI-Generated Graphic Detailing the Orlando Magic's Season that Includes Jamahl Mosley Sawing Franz Wagner in Half
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 16, 2026
Via: https://t.co/mpsZxLZ3eG pic.twitter.com/JXNVU6fQJj
The video did its job, but fans clearly are not happy with Prime Video resorting to AI use to produce it.
AI segments on Amazon prime? Get outta my face
— OKC (@victor_okc) April 16, 2026
Amazon prime using AI… PLEASE SEND IN THE FLOOD
— 𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕦𝕤² 🥷🏿 (@nothoodg3nius) April 16, 2026
why is the nba on amazon prime using AI generated graphics on my screen
— Austttttin (@Austtttttttttin) April 16, 2026
Amazon prime using ai to show stats of the magic coach is disgusting
— Brock “Air-Raid” Towles (@brocktowles) April 16, 2026
WHY IS AI ON MY NBA BROADCAST AMAZON PRIME
— Pacers Playoffs🏆 (@PlayoffsPacers) April 16, 2026
Use of AI is a polarizing subject that will continue to be debated on, as it becomes more ubiquitous, including in sports broadcasting.
It’s also interesting to hear what Mosley, Wagner and Bane think of their representation in the video, though now is not exactly the perfect time to bother them with such a non-basketball question, considering they lost to Philadelphia, 109-97, and will prepare for a win-or-go-home matchup for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference against the Hornets on Friday at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla.
Jimmy Butler takes an unexpected shot at Warriors player after play-in win
A Golden State Warriors player caught a hilarious stray from Jimmy Butler following the Dubs’ incredible 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
As Butler was making his way to the Warriors’ locker room, he gave a shoutout to the players, who stepped up and delivered for the team against the Clippers, but also couldn’t keep himself from taking a harmless shot at reserve Will Richard.
“Dre, Steph, Gui, Big Al, wow. Will Richard didn’t do anything, but he was over there with me, cheering his heart out. Wow,” Butler said.
Jimmy Butler after the Warriors win:
— aly ✶ (@jinthirty) April 16, 2026
“Between Dray, Steph, Gui, Big Al, wow. Will Richard didn’t do anything but he was over there with me cheering his heart out. Wow. Go Dubs!” 😂 pic.twitter.com/m5RVJv9XWa
Richard was one of four active Warriors players who did not see action in the game. The others were Charles Bassey, Seth Curry, and Pat Spencer, who all cheered from the bench along with Butler, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in January.
Richard was not expected to see ample minutes in such a crucial game, even if head coach Steve Kerr called on him to play. Still, he gets some points for being a supportive teammate, as the Warriors mustered enough strength in the final quarter to overcome a big deficit and steal a win on the road to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Warriors need just one more win to qualify for the playoffs. They will face the Phoenix Suns on Friday at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and the right to face reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Steve Kerr had a great quote after defeating the Clippers
The Golden State Warriors still have a very long way to go if they are to win the NBA championship, but on Wednesday, Steve Kerr felt as though he was going home with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 126-121, in a play-in game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., to stay alive in their hunt for the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed in the NBA Playoffs.
Speaking to reporters in the postgame press conference, Kerr got candid about how he really felt after his team pulled off the remarkable win on the road.
“For one night, we’re us. We’re champions again. I know that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a Play-In game. I don’t care,” Kerr said, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Golden State’s takedown of the Clippers wouldn’t have been possible without the collective effort of multiple individuals.
Stephen Curry, who had just recently returned from a long absence due to an injury, powered the Warriors with a game-high 35 points on 12/23 shooting. Veteran big man Al Horford came out of nowhere and scored 14 points, while making big bucket from behind the arc in the fourth period.
Draymond Green only had 7 points, but without his lockdown defense on Kawhi Leonard in the fourth quarter, the Warriors probably wouldn’t have completed their comeback win.
Kerr has one more day to relish his team’s success in Inglewood before getting back to work on Friday, when they lock horns with the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Kawhi Leonard had an emotional response when asked about his future
Kawhi Leonard is not moving on just yet from the heartbreaking loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
The seven-time All-Star Leonard has an interesting summer ahead, as he’s eligible to sign a two-year extension with the Los Angeles Clippers after the NBA Finals, but he’s not even thinking about it.
“Let me cry about this loss a little bit more,” Leonard responded when asked about his future with LA during the postgame press conference following the Clippers’ season-ending 126-121 loss to the Warriors at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
“We’ll have our discussions when that time comes,” added Leonard, who struggled to deliver for the Clippers when they needed him the most against the Warriors. Leonard finished the game with 21 points on 8/17 shooting, but he had a nightmarish fourth quarter, in which he went scoreless until the final 16 seconds.
Warriors forward Draymond Green put up a defensive masterclass to take Leonard out of the equation of the Clippers’ offense in the last period, as Stephen Curry and Al Horford led Golden State’s comeback bid.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner still has a year left on his current contract with the Clippers, who can offer Leonard a maximum of $126.1 million through two seasons via extension.
The Clippers will still have to decide as well whether they want to commit such a hefty contract to an aging and injury-prone superstar.
Either way, Leonard and the Clippers are off to an early vacation after failing to qualify for the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Chris Paul had the pettiest social media post after Clippers got eliminated
It is safe to say that the bridge between Chris Paul and the LA Clippers has been burnt to a crisp.
The Clippers’ season came to an end on Wednesday night with a 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference’s 9/10 play-in tournament game. Despite leading for much of the night and holding a 13-point advantage at one point, the Clippers collapsed late in the fourth quarter at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. and were eliminated from playoff contention as a result.
Just minutes after the Clippers got eliminated, the retired former Clippers star Paul had the pettiest post to social media. Paul took to his Instagram Story to post the popular meme image known as “RIP Bozo” (used to celebrate the downfall of someone else).
Chris Paul on Instagram after the Clippers lose to Golden State pic.twitter.com/EpMgljlQrt
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 16, 2026
The original caption of that meme image read, “I stopped by one of my biggest haters funeral today. Just to make sure that n—a was dead #RIPBozo #DieHatersDie.” Clearly, Paul was very happy to see the Clippers’ season end.
Paul starred for the Clippers from 2011-17 and then returned for a second stint with the franchise in 2025. But the reunion quickly went bad after Paul clashed with multiple Clippers coaches before finally being sent home by the team in the middle of a horrific 6-21 start to the season.
Eventually, the Clippers would sell off Paul at the trade deadline, and Paul never played in another NBA game before formally announcing his retirement in February. Paul would later accuse Clippers executive Lawrence Frank of being two-faced with him, and Paul’s wife Jada even went on to take a public shot at the Clippers of her own.
Interestingly enough, the Clippers righted the ship soon after sending Paul home and finished out the year at a very respectable 42-40 for their 15th consecutive winning season. But Paul is getting the last laugh on the Clippers now that their 2025-26 campaign has still come to an early end (though one can debate the merits of this kind of petty behavior by Paul at almost 41 years old).
Candace Parker kept botching Warriors player’s name during play-in game
Candace Parker gave more fodder for Amazon Prime viewers to complain about during Wednesday’s play-in game.
The retired former WNBA Star Parker was doing color commentary for Amazon alongside Kevin Harlan for Wednesday’s Western Conference 9/10 play-in game between the LA Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. But Parker drew backlash for continuing to make one error during the action at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
While referring to Warriors forward Gui Santos, Parker kept mispronouncing Santos’ first name as “Guy.” It is actually pronounced as “Ghee,” leading to heavy criticism for Parker over social media.
Did Candace Parker just say GUY Santos????
— (@30Betterrrrr) April 16, 2026
Get her out my ear man
Candace Parker calling an NBA playoff game and cannot pronounce Gui Santos name…
— Ynosports (@ynosports) April 16, 2026
I’m not taking Candace Parker seriously. Guy Santos?!
— Casey Lima (@CaseInPoint24) April 16, 2026
candace parker aka female reggie miller… "guy santos"
— CÆ (@Caezypooh) April 16, 2026
Santos, 23, is not quite a household name. But he developed into an important player for the Warriors this season, drawing 30 starts over the course of the year and also getting the start against the Clippers during Wednesday’s play-in game.
As for Parker, 39, she has been calling NBA games for a variety of networks since 2018. But with Amazon Prime already having some prominent whiffs during their coverage of this year’s NBA play-in tournament, Parker did not do the network any favors either with her continued mispronunciations on Wednesday.
NBA announces LaMelo Ball’s punishment for dirty play on Bam Adebayo
LaMelo Ball is not quite getting off scot-free after his takedown of Bam Adebayo on Tuesday night.
The NBA announced on Wednesday that they are fining the Charlotte Hornets star Ball a sum of $35,000 for his dirty trip of the Miami Heat counterpart Adebayo during Tuesday’s 9/10 Eastern Conference play-in tournament game. Additionally, Ball is retroactively being given a flagrant 2 foul for the incident.
On top of that, the NBA is also fining Ball a separate sum of $25,000. In their release, the league stated that Ball used profane language during a live television interview after the game.
The former All-Star Ball grabbed at Adebayo’s ankle during a sequence in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (see the video here). Adebayo landed hard on his tailbone as a result and ended up missing the remainder of the game as the Hornets squeaked out a narrow 127-126 win over the Heat in overtime.
No whistle was blown at the time however, and the officials later stated the imminent change of possession on the play meant that the sequence was not reviewable in real time for a possible flagrant. But after a postgame review, Ball is now being punished by the NBA with a fine and an upgrade to a flagrant 2 for the takedown of Adebayo.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game that Ball should have been ejected for the “stupid” play. While the retroactive punishment comes as too little, too late for Miami now that their season is over, it could still matter for Ball and the Hornets if they make a playoff run this season due to the accrual of flagrant foul points.
VJ Edgecombe taunts Jalen Suggs during play-in game
VJ Edgecombe was not looking the part of a rookie during Wednesday’s play-in game.
Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers battled Jalen Suggs and the Orlando Magic as part of the Eastern Conference’s 7/8 play-in game on Wednesday. In the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., the 76ers guard Edgecombe got an opportunity in transition off a steal by teammate Paul George.
Edgecombe drove all the way to the basket and scored the layup over the contest by the Magic guard Suggs. After making the shot, Edgecombe got up into Suggs’ face to taunt him, knocking Suggs off-balance in the process. That then caused the two teams to exchange some hostilities heading into an Orlando timeout.
VJ Edgecombe gets the steal and goes right at Suggs after the transition bucket, causing a bit of ruckus amongst the two teams pic.twitter.com/4ZwdxWnOwY
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 16, 2026
Take a look at another angle of Edgecombe taunting Suggs.
Tony Brothers reaction to VJ Edgecombe getting on Jalen Suggs face pic.twitter.com/ZiEfCQXG9Q
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 16, 2026
Edgecombe would ultimately receive a technical foul for the taunt of Suggs. That led to one free throw being awarded to the Magic, which Suggs then made.
The 20-year-old Edgecombe enjoyed a standout rookie campaign for the 45-37 Sixers, averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He proved to be fearless from the very start of his NBA career and continued to show out during Wednesday’s play-in game as well.
Kawhi Leonard is being linked to 1 notable new team
Kawhi Leonard might be going from one beachfront state to another.
The Miami Heat could potentially pursue the LA Clippers star Leonard this offseason, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Wednesday. Siegel notes that the Heat are expected to turn their attention to Leonard if they are unsuccessful in trading for long-rumored target Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Leonard, 34, enjoyed a banner regular season with the Clippers. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game en route to earning his sixth career NBA All-Star selection. Leonard also appeared in exactly 65 games for the Clippers, making him eligible for this year’s NBA awards.
As it currently stands, Leonard is under contract for just one more season at $50.3 million. However, there is the possibility that Leonard’s contract with the Clippers gets voided pursuant to the Aspiration scandal, which would immediately make him available to sign with any NBA team.
The Heat went 43-39 this season but just suffered a disappointing loss in this year’s NBA play-in tournament, eliminating them from playoff contention. Now it appears that they may be going star-hunting this summer.
Leonard has been linked to Miami in the past, and the Heat also have his former Clippers and Toronto Raptors teammate Norman Powell on the roster. Though age will be a primary concern for Leonard as he turns 35 in June, he may be the Plan B that Miami has in mind if they cannot land Antetokounmpo in a trade this offseason.
Dodgers pull an unusual move with Shohei Ohtani for his start
Shohei Ohtani will only be a one-way player for Wednesday’s game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers revealed hours before their matchup with the New York Mets on Wednesday that Ohtani would be their starting pitcher that night … but nothing more. Ohtani will not be serving as the designated hitter for the game at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Instead, Dodgers teammate Dalton Rushing will step in as the team’s DH on Wednesday. Here is the team’s full lineup card for the game.
The Dodgers are using Shohei Ohtani strictly as the starting pitcher tonight and not as the DH pic.twitter.com/O8fwRtu8oo
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 15, 2026
Ohtani, 31, has long made a name for himself as a premier player with both the ball and the bat. This also marks the first time in Ohtani’s Dodgers career that he has opened a season completely healthy as a pitcher.
Through his first two starts on the mound this season, the four-time MVP Ohtani has gone 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and eight strikeouts through 12 total innings pitched. At the plate meanwhile, Ohtani is batting .254 with five home runs and 10 RBIs through 17 games.
Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reports that the decision by the Dodgers was influenced by the fact that Ohtani took a 94-mph pitch to his upper back (near his right shoulder) during Monday’s game against the Mets. Now Ohtani is slated to pitch in a game but not also hit for the first time in five years.
On top of that, the Dodgers have an off day on Thursday before facing the Colorado Rockies on the road on Friday to begin a four-game set. Thus (at least for Wednesday’s contest), Ohtani won’t have to worry about making the same funny mistake he had during a previous start on the mound.
Skip Bayless makes a very controversial claim about Joel Embiid
Skip Bayless is sparking controversy this week with his assertion about Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers star center Embiid was inactive for Wednesday’s Eastern Conference 7/8 play-in game against the Orlando Magic. Embiid had a recent bout with appendicitis that continues to keep him sidelined.
Earlier in the day Wednesday though, Bayless made a bombshell claim about Embiid. Appearing on Gilbert Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena” show, Bayless said that Embiid was actually cleared to play in Wednesday’s game but chose not to.
“Embiid is actually cleared to play but chose not to play,” said Bayless. “[I was told] that it’s appendicitis but it’s fine and went well. These days they can just go in quickly and pretty simply. And he could play if he chose to. So, now that’s like turmoil, locker room kind of turmoil [in Philadelphia].”
Skip Bayless says he has a source in Philadelphia that said Joel Embiid is cleared to play, but chosen not to:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 15, 2026
“That’s what I was told. That it’s appendicitis but it’s fine and went well these days they can just go quickly and pretty simply. And he could play if he chose to. So,… pic.twitter.com/tG9wWlJ8g8
Bayless’ claim is extremely far-fetched given the medical realities of appendicitis. Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy less than a week ago and is thus still well within the general 1-to-3-week recovery timetable for such a procedure (especially when it comes to returning to high-level basketball).
On top of that, Embiid’s trainer Drew Hanlen proceeded to rip Bayless over the “100% false” claim about Embiid.
“To set the record straight, this is 100% false,” Hanlen posted on X. “Nothing worse than when media members make up s–t for clicks & views then hide behind unnamed ‘sources’” (profanity edited by LBS).
Embiid obviously does not have the best reputation when it comes to health and even had his former head coach recently drop a brutal comment about Embiid’s continued unavailability. But for Bayless to claim that Embiid was somehow cleared for full-speed game action just six days after an emergency appendectomy is dubious at best.
