Mets had the best post after their 12-game losing streak finally ended
New York Mets fans can finally come out of hiding.
The Mets officially broke their nightmarish 12-game losing streak with a win on Wednesday over the Minnesota Twins. They prevailed by a 3-2 final score at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. after a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning by first baseman Mark Vientos.
Mark Vientos plates the go-ahead run in the eighth inning! pic.twitter.com/3O6V0yFv1O
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 23, 2026
In the wake of the Mets’ victory, their official page on X had the best post. They simply posted one letter — “W.”
W
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 23, 2026
That says it all for the Mets after their very first victory in over two full weeks. They last won on Apr. 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks to improve to 7-4 on the season. But after their 12 straight clunkers, the Mets are now an NL-worst 8-16, even with Wednesday’s “breakthrough” win.
The Mets lead Major League Baseball this season with a total payroll of $334 million. Even after a 2025 season in which the Mets completely collapsed and missed the playoffs altogether after having the best record in baseball in mid-June, their fortunes have not gotten any better this year.
During their miserable 12-game losing streak, the Mets had $765 million man Juan Soto acting up and had their downtrodden fans giving sarcastic chants in the stands. While the Mets will still be facing a major uphill climb for the rest of the season, their fanbase finally has something to celebrate about for at least one night.
Caitlin Clark plans to make a notable change for 2026 season
Caitlin Clark is looking to drop her usage rate some in 2026.
The Indiana Fever superstar Clark spoke with reporters during media day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. on Wednesday. During her remarks, Clark revealed that she plans to make a noteworthy change for the 2026 WNBA season.
Clark said that she wants to play off the ball more often. She cited the physical toll that facing constant full-court pressure as a ball-handler takes on her.
“It is exhausting, bringing the ball up 94 feet vs. pressure every single time,” Clark said, per Kareem Copeland of ESPN. “So we certainly need to find somebody that can handle the ball a little bit and give me a little bit of a break.
“‘I’m the best transition player in the league,” added Clark. “That’s where I thrive. Everyone knows that’s my game. So getting the ball off a rebound in transition, that’s probably when I’m going to be a primary ball handler more than anything. So I think there’s a lot of different things that can give us a lot of different looks and just make us harder to guard.”
Clark, 24, had her sophomore WNBA season in 2025 derailed by injuries. Thanks to both quad and groin problems, she appeared in just 13 total games and experienced decreased efficiency (with underwhelming shooting splits of 37/28/82) even in the games that she did play in.
Opposing teams love to be extra physical with Clark, and she will obviously be the undisputed focal point of any defensive gameplan that she faces. As Clark looks to prioritize her health and a reduced workload as she returns to action in 2026, Fever teammates like Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and first-round draft pick Raven Johnson may have to lift her up in that regard.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is being linked to 1 surprising new team
Giannis Antetokounmpo might just end up with the team that he once beat in the NBA Finals.
The Phoenix Suns are a “preferred destination” for the disgruntled Milwaukee Bucks star Antetokounmpo, Suns writer Felix Cruz reported on Wednesday. Cruz added that Phoenix star Devin Booker and franchise owner Mat Ishbia are among the selling points for Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo, the 31-year-old two-time NBA MVP, is universally expected to finally get traded away by the Bucks this offseason. This comes after a disaster 2025-26 campaign in which the Bucks went a dismal 32-50 as Antetokounmpo openly feuded with the franchise.
Interestingly enough, Antetokounmpo does appear to have a friendship with Booker. Earlier this year at the NBA All-Star Game, Antetokounmpo indicated to Booker in a viral video that he might like to play with him some day.
Meanwhile, the Suns owner Ishbia is indeed known for taking big swings on the trade market (to varying degrees of success and failure). The 2023 trades for Kevin Durant and (later) for Bradley Beal are among the seismic moves that Ishbia has already made since taking over the franchise.
Phoenix also went a very respectable 45-37 during the regular season, and they are now up against the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA playoffs. They would have a number of trade chips to potentially dangle for Antetokounmpo (including 24-and-unders Jalen Green, Mark Williams, Oso Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, and Khaman Maluach) and have notably been trade partners with Milwaukee in the recent past.
Charles Barkley calls out Magic players over questionable pregame moment
Charles Barkley does not care much for the Orlando Magic’s way of showing affection for one another.
Magic teammates Desmond Bane and Tristan da Silva went viral before Wednesday’s Game 2 against the Detroit Pistons over their curious moment together. Prior to taking the court at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., Bane and da Silva decided to bond by … bumping their lower torsos together.
The unusual moment was aired live on ESPN, which led to quite the reaction from Barkley. The Basketball Hall of Famer was quick to express his disapproval, saying in an exasperated tone, “Oh come on. Come on. Oh.”
Here is the video.
Charles Barkley was in disgust seeing Tristan da Silva and Desmond Bane's moves pic.twitter.com/eiMgUTt6QZ
— The Magic Way (@MagicFilmRoom) April 22, 2026
The “dance” between Bane and da Silva did not end up being very good luck for the Magic either. After going into halftime tied 46-46 with the Pistons, Orlando got absolutely flattened in the third quarter, getting outscored 38-16 to fall behind by an ugly 84-62 score through three quarters.
Meanwhile, there is some precedent for these kinds of antics as the Los Angeles Dodgers did a rather similar move during the playoffs a couple of years ago. But as for the 63-year-old Barkley, who played in the NBA from 1984-2000, he definitely has some complaints about the new generation.
Steve Kerr drops a major hint about his next job
Steve Kerr may be following the lead of former Golden State Warriors colleague Bob Myers.
The longtime Warriors head coach Kerr has been meeting recently with media agents, Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported on Wednesday. Glasspiegel adds that all three NBA rights partners (ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime) would have interest in Kerr if he decides to return to television.
Kerr, 60, has served as head coach of the Warriors since 2014 and has led them to 1,109 total victories (both regular season and playoffs) plus four NBA championships over that span. But the partnership appears to have gone stale, especially after Golden State went 37-45 this season and missed the playoffs.
Notably, Kerr already has plenty of experience when it comes to the TV space. After retiring as a player, Kerr was a commentator for TNT from 2003-07. Following a subsequent stint as the general manager of the Phoenix Suns, Kerr returned to broadcasting for TNT in 2010 and gave coverage of both the NBA and the NCAA Tournament.
As it currently stands, Kerr is not under contract for the 2026-27 season. In recent days, we have also heard reports of friction between Kerr and the Warriors (including one claiming that Golden State had been muzzling Kerr).
Even some of Kerr’s star players do not believe that he will be back coaching the Warriors next season. While Kerr could also have further opportunities in coaching and in front office work, it appears that he may be gearing himself up for a potential return to the television airwaves.
Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing speaks out on ‘f–k him’ video that sparked backlash
Dalton Rushing appears to be doing some damage control after a viral video sparked criticism this week.
The Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Rushing drew ire during Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants thanks to a moment at the end of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee was thrown out at home plate to end the frame and was slow to get up after seemingly injuring himself on the run.
In the video, Rushing was seen looking over in Lee’s direction and turning back towards the Dodgers dugout before dropping an expletive. “F–k him,” Rushing appeared to say about Lee, who was still on the ground in apparent pain.
Dalton Rushing after seeing Jung Hoo Lee possibly injured in a play at the plate (I’m pretty sure):
— Allen Stiles (@The_StilesFiles) April 22, 2026
“F$&k em”
Giants Dodgers rivalry is alive and well. pic.twitter.com/h4aAjFTZyk
On Wednesday, Rushing attempted to clarify the viral moment. Rushing claimed that the clip was taken out of context and that he was not actually using an expletive towards Lee.
“Hopefully he didn’t take it the way it was put out,” said Rushing of Lee, per Jack Harris of The California Post. “I’ll be sure to say something to him face-to-face tomorrow, making sure he’s OK. There was nothing really directed at him. He’s a great guy.
“I used a word, but it was not what [people thought] was said,” Rushing added. “I’ll just leave it at that.”
The Dodgers were losing 3-1 at the time of the incident and went on to lose to the Giants by that same final score. Meanwhile, Lee would exit the game in the eighth inning with what San Francisco called a quad injury but was back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers.
Rushing, 25, is in his second MLB season and is having an excellent year thus far, batting .414 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs through just nine games. But Rushing is not doing himself any favors from a PR standpoint right now as he also sparked backlash a few days ago by claiming after a Dodgers loss that the opponents had cheated.
Juan Soto has concerning quote about his Mets teammates
Juan Soto is set to return for the New York Mets, but one comment he made prior to Wednesday’s game did not suggest he represents the end of the team’s problems.
Soto rejoins the team in the midst of a 12-game losing streak, but when asked about the streak, the star outfielder did not sound like he was taking much of a leadership role in trying to motivate his teammates.
Soto admitted he had not really spoken to any of his teammates during the losing streak.
“They’ve been on the road most of the time so I haven’t talked to them,” Soto said.
Juan Soto said he hasn’t been talking to his Mets teammates during the losing streak.
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 22, 2026
“They’ve been on the road most of the time so I haven’t talked to them” pic.twitter.com/W9SmiuEdd5
Admittedly, Soto has been on his own rehabbing the calf injury he suffered a little over two weeks ago. He didn’t really need to be reaching out to his teammates. However, this will not do much to convince anyone that the clubhouse is particularly tight or closely aligned, or that Soto is taking on much of a leadership role.
At one point last season, the Mets reportedly had some concerns that Soto had not really embraced playing for the team. Perhaps those worries are still relevant.
Carson Beck could go unexpectedly early in NFL Draft
Carson Beck apparently has some believers in NFL front offices.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” Wednesday and was asked about draft prospects he envisioned going earlier than the conventional wisdom suggests they will. Pelissero named the former Miami Hurricane as a potential name to watch among quarterbacks.
“This may not be in round one, though I can’t 100 percent rule it out. The quarterback who’s going to go higher than every projection has had him in this process is Carson Beck,” Pelissero said. “There was a lot that teams had to sort through going back to Georgia. All the things they saw on social media, all the things they heard out of the program, the celebrity obsessions and him and Kirby Smart not getting along. To his credit, Carson Beck heard some of that stuff after he transferred to Miami. He cleaned up some of those things. Carson Beck has impressed people in the process.
“There’s enough teams that have a quarterback need that I believe Carson Beck will go in the second round of this draft. And there’s at least a non-trivial chance (of) Carson Beck somehow finding his way into the bottom of round one.”
Carson Beck = 1st Rounder??@TomPelissero told us to be ready for anything in the #NFLDraft:#NFL @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Hw9oxLhEqz
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 22, 2026
Beck did himself plenty of favors with a strong season at Miami, which saw him lead them to the national championship game. He threw 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season and grades out well in a lot of categories that scouts pay attention to, though he does turn 24 in November and is no guarantee to become a success.
One team did meet with Beck before the NFL Draft, sparking speculation that they might be a suitable landing spot for him.
Yankees players want team to break with a famous tradition
For the second year in a row, the New York Yankees break with tradition because of player pressure.
Yankees players have privately pushed to be allowed to wear alternate jerseys during games, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. Specifically, players have sought to wear their navy batting practice jerseys, which have “New York” across the front in gray letters. If the players get their way, the jerseys would be worn for occasional road games.
The final decision will ultimately lie with owner Hal Steinbrenner. Players are said to be hopeful of a change, but are not sure if they will get their wish.
The Yankees are the only team in baseball without an alternate third jersey. With only a few special exceptions, they have worn their famous pinstripes at home and their road grays when playing elsewhere. It is one of the ways the Yankees remain staunchly traditionalist in a league where third jerseys and City Connect uniforms have become the norm.
Last season, the Yankees did drop their longstanding facial hair policy in response to requests from players. Adding a third jersey for occasional use would not be quite as shocking as that was, but it would still represent a major change for one of the league’s most traditional franchises.
Nuggets coach throws shade at Jaden McDaniels
Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman had some fun with comments made by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels following Game 2 of their Western Conference first round series.
McDaniels said after Minnesota’s 119-114 win that the strategy facing the Nuggets was to “go after” them because the entire team was made up of “bad defenders.” Naturally, those words made it back to the Nuggets’ locker room.
Adelman was asked to comment on McDaniels’ claims on Wednesday, and he seemed to find the whole back-and-forth to be amusing.
“I can’t wait for his podcast,” Adelman said. “What’s our defensive rating in this series through two games? 109. Sixth-best in the playoffs. Okay.
“He’s a really good player. Everybody has a sounding board nowadays. It’ll help his social media.”
Nuggets coach David Adelman on Jaden McDaniels calling the Nuggets defenders out by name
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 22, 2026
“I can’t wait for his podcast.”
“It’ll help his social media.”
“What’s our defensive rating in this series?”
109
“How is that?”
Sixth best in the playoffs
“Ok. Next.” pic.twitter.com/Kr6gKTbbWf
Essentially, Adelman is suggesting that McDaniels just wants attention. If that is the case, McDaniels got what he wanted, but Adelman does not intend to give his remarks any further oxygen.
McDaniels has demonstrated in the series that, for better or worse, he wants the smoke. The Nuggets probably don’t need any additional motivation, but the remarks may provide them some extra focus for Game 3 of a tied series.
Cause of death revealed for Garret Anderson
Garret Anderson died at his home in Newport Beach, Calif., last week on Thursday at the age of 53. The death came as a surprise due to his young age and no public reports about him struggling with his health.
So what happened that led to Anderson’s death? The California Post received a report from the Orange County Sheriff Coroner’s Office stating that Anderson died due to acute necrotizing pancreatitis. According to a definition from Cleveland Clinic, necrotizing pancreatitis is a complication of acute pancreatitis in which part of your pancreas dies. The leading cause of this issue is gallstone disease, and the second leading cause is alcohol abuse.
Anderson’s wife Teresa had previously told an ESPN reporter she believed her late husband died due to a heart attack, but the coroner’s report indicates otherwise.
Anderson’s death was deemed to be due to natural causes.
Anderson was a fourth-round pick by the Angels in 1990. He made his Major-League debut in 1994, though 1995 was his first full season in the bigs. He made an immediate impact by batting .321 as a rookie, finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Anderson became a cornerstone for the Angels. He batted .293 with 287 home runs during his career, and made the All-Star team in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He led the AL in doubles in both 2002 and 2003, and won the Silver Slugger award in both seasons.
Anderson finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2002, the same year he helped the Angels win their first and only World Series ever, by slugging a tie-breaking 3-run double in Game 7 against the San Francisco Giants. Anderson is the Angels’ franchise leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), doubles (489), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796) and grand slams (eight).
Todd Golden addresses NBA job speculation
Florida coach Todd Golden has issued a public response to speculation that he might be pursued by the Golden State Warriors.
Golden was asked Wednesday about reports claiming the Warriors have him at the top of their list if they part ways with Steve Kerr this offseason. The Florida coach seemed amused by the rumor, and dismissed the NBA speculation quickly.
“I’m definitely planning on coaching the Gators,” Golden said.
Todd Golden on NBA speculation 👀
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 22, 2026
“I’m definitely planning on coaching the Gators” pic.twitter.com/3zMOnjUf5V
Golden’s name emerged as a possible candidate after Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports suggested that he would be the Warriors’ top target. Those in the know have cast serious doubt on those claims, and now Golden himself has done so.
Golden has gone 103-41 in four seasons with Florida and guided the Gators to a national title in 2025. The 40-year-old has no experience coaching at the NBA level, but has impressed at the college level.
The Warriors, meanwhile, are waiting on a decision from Kerr, whose contract is up this summer. Kerr himself has said he plans to take time to decide on his next steps.
Lucas Giolito has signed with a new team
Former All-Star pitcher Lucas Giolito has a new home for 2026.
Giolito is signing with the San Diego Padres, according to multiple reports. The one-year contract is worth a base value of $3 million, but could rise to as much as $8 million.
The deal is for one-year, $3 million with a chance to earn $8 million, source says, as @JonHeyman reported. https://t.co/37wqljN9TC
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) April 22, 2026
Giolito spent last season with the Boston Red Sox, where he went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA. Despite the solid numbers, his peripheral stats were not as good, and injury concerns toward the end of the season limited his market.
The Padres had been one of two teams linked to Giolito in recent days as the 31-year-old sought a new team. While they are second in the league with a 3.22 starter ERA, their depth is being tested with Nick Pivetta now dealing with an elbow strain. Giolito provides some MLB-ready insurance at the back end of the rotation with the potential for more if he is anywhere close to his best.
Giolito has a 4.30 lifetime ERA. He was an All-Star in 2019 as a member of the Chicago White Sox, and also has two top-10 finishes in Cy Young voting.
Cowboys make decision on George Pickens’ contract
The Dallas Cowboys have made their decision on the contract status of wide receiver George Pickens.
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said Wednesday that the Pickens will play on the franchise tag in 2026, and that there will be no further negotiations on a long-term contract. Jones made it sound like the Cowboys had ultimately made the decision.
In response to a @garrettpodell question, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones says WR George Pickens will play under the franchise tag in 2026. "There won’t be negotiations on a long term deal," Jones says. The tag is $27.3 million.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) April 22, 2026
Pickens would play on a $27.3 million tag next season, though it remains to be seen how he will react to this. He has not formally signed the tag yet, so he cannot be fined if he skips offseason activities.
The Cowboys’ decision certainly leaves some uncertainty around what will happen to Pickens. From Dallas’ perspective, they may just want to see more from him, especially since there were questions about his effort late in the season. The organization has spoken highly of him and appears to want him back, though that has not stopped some trade rumors.
Pickens is coming off a breakout campaign with the Cowboys. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, and undoubtedly hoped to parlay that into a long-term deal this offseason.
Fernando Mendoza’s ceremonial first pitch was a little bit wild
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s ceremonial first pitch at Tuesday’s Miami Marlins game left a lot to be desired.
Mendoza was enlisted to throw out the first pitch prior to the Marlins’ 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fl. on Tuesday. The likely No. 1 NFL Draft pick tried to make the pitch from the top of the mound, but unworked one way high and outside.
I'm a Mendoza guy but thank god I'm not a GM because I would take this throw into consideration pic.twitter.com/MNgm2zV1Zk
— Marty Mush (@martymush) April 22, 2026
It may seem obvious, but it’s easy to tell that Mendoza is a football player and not a baseball guy. He throws the ball like a quarterback, even here, so he obviously gets a bit more height on the ball than he probably intended to.
The good news for Mendoza is that he will not actually be judged on his first pitch. The better news is that there are plenty of other athletes, including some NFL stars, that have done way worse.
Mendoza, a Miami native, recently revealed some big news about his plans during the draft.
Kurt Busch responds to Stephen A. Smith’s dismissive take on NASCAR drivers
Stephen A. Smith’s harshly worded take about NASCAR drivers may have angered a new sports demographic and stock car racing legend Kurt Busch.
During a recent episode of his Mad Dog Sports Radio show on SiriusXM, Smith fired back at a caller who suggested that NASCAR Richard Petty is one of the greatest athletes of all time.
“Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!” Smith said, via Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing. “I’m being honest, it’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.”
Smith further explained his reasoning, with perhaps enough bombast to sway people into believing him. Even golfers caught a stray during Smith’s diatribe.
“You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud. A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete,” Smith continued. “Just because you gotta walk the course for 18 holes for four days, that don’t make you an athlete.”
One person who clearly isn’t buying the idea Smith peddled is former NASCAR driver Kurt Busch.
As a response to Smith’s critical remark, Busch issued a challenge to the ESPN personality.
“Let’s go cupcake. I will personally drive you around a nascar track for 30mins or when you pass out on lap 30,” Busch wrote in a comment on Motorsport’s Instagram post showing Smith’s quote about NASCAR drivers.
Smith has made enough outlandish sports takes to fill the Daytona International Speedway, and this is just the latest. It won’t be the last, either.
His logic behind his claim on NASCAR drivers doesn’t really hold up, and he would find that out if he takes on Busch’s offer.
‘Hawk Tuah’ girl Hailey Welch tries to break Mets curse and fails
Not even “Hawk Tuah” girl Hailey Welch’s powers could cure the malaise that is plaguing the New York Mets.
Things have apparently gotten so desperate in the Mets’ realm that Welch was asked for help, in hopes of ending whatever curse New York is under.
Just before the Mets faced the Minnesota Twins for a series opener at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y., on Tuesday, Welch made a guest appearance on “The Carton Show.”
Host Craig Carton requested to hear Welch’s famous two-word mantra for good luck for the Mets. Although she seems to have moved on from the viral moment, Welch obliged to throw it back for the sake of the slumping Mets.
You can watch the interaction here.
Haliey Welch formerly known as the "Hawk Tuah", tries to reverse the Mets curse & bring them a W tonight! @CartonShowWFAN pic.twitter.com/DQT4bdwL0h
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) April 21, 2026
As it turned out, Mets closer Devin Williams was not covered by Welch’s voodoo.
Williams struggled anew on the mound, as he was charged with two earned runs in the ninth inning, as the Twins broke a 3-3 tie and came away with a 5-3 victory. It was the the club’s 12th loss in a row, the first time they lost that many games in consecutive fashion since 2002.
The Mets dropped to 7-16, which is the worst record in the big leagues through Tuesday.
They will look to end their skid again on Wednesday, with New York giving the ball to Clay Holmes in the second game of the Twins series.
Justin Fields makes an admission about working with Patrick Mahomes
Justin Fields is beginning a new chapter in his football career, this time with a team that has a proven winning culture.
With the Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Fields will not be in a battle for the starting job, which is firmly in Patrick Mahomes’ hands, but he can still gain plenty from being in the same QB room as the two-time NFL MVP.
Fields opened up about the opportunity to work with Mahomes as he begins to gain some of the future Pro Football Hall of Famer’s football wisdom.
“I’m excited to learn from [Mahomes]. I’m already kind of picking his brain a little bit and just observing how he goes about things in the meeting rooms, field and stuff like that,” Fields said, via Nate Taylor of ESPN.
“I’m excited, of course, to work with Coach Reid and [offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy] and all the guys on offense,” added Fields, who is now on his fourth team in as many years.
The 27-year-old Fields was traded by the New York Jets to the Chiefs in March for a 2027 sixth-round pick. He has a year left on the 2-year, $40 million contract he signed with New York in 2025, so he can use his experience with the Chiefs to boost his stock the next time he hits free agency.
Fields joins a Kansas City team that is eager to reclaim its glory after missing out on a Super Bowl three-peat in the 2024 season and failing to clinch a playoff berth in the 2025 campaign.
Video: Cheerleaders get caught in awkward situation with 76ers players
Boston Celtics cheerleaders just wanted to do their job before Tuesday’s Game 2 of the playoff series between the C’s and the Philadelphia 76ers. But a couple of Sixers players made it a little challenging for them.
While the Celtics were being introduced before the game at TD Garden in Boston, Mass., Philadelphia players continued to warm up on the court. At least one of them even dribbled in front of the cheerleaders before passing the ball and running toward the basket for a rebound.
Here’s a video of it, shared by 98.5 The Sports Hub.
During the Celtics' introductions tonight, multiple 76ers players were warming up on the court.
— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) April 21, 2026
🎥 @_JakeSeymour pic.twitter.com/R7juZghe7j
The cheerleaders didn’t look bothered, but they still had to watch out for the players to avoid bumping into them and ruining the choreography.
On the other hand, that showed how locked in the Sixers were, as they played with an immense sense of urgency. Without Joel Embiid, who missed another game to recover from a recent surgery, Philadelphia succeeded in its mission to steal a win in Beantown before flying home for Games 3 and 4, thwarting the Celtics, 111-97, to level the series at 1-1.
VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey showed the way for the 76ers in Game 2, scoring 30 and 29 points, respectively, while Paul George added 19 points in a supporting role behind Philly’s awesome backcourt combo.
LeBron James takes a jab at Kevin Durant’s real height
LeBron James knows that height is a touchy subject for Kevin Durant.
While talking about the threat that Houston Rockets star forward Durant presents to the Los Angeles Lakers, James brought up a particular topic that’s often viewed with intrigue — KD’s height.
“It’s still a tall challenge, a seven-foot-tall one, too. I know he don’t like it. He might be mad at me. He wants to be 6’10” or 6’9″ so bad, but he’s 7’0″ for sure,” the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player told reporters about Durant following the Lakers’ Tuesday 101-94 win in Game 2 of their first-round series against Houston at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif..
LeBron James on Kevin Durant:
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) April 22, 2026
It's still a tall challenge, a 7 foot tall one too, I know he don't like it, he might be mad at me. he wants to be 6'10" or 6'9" so bad, but he's 7'0" for sure". 😭😭😭😭😭
(🎥 – @michaeljduarte) pic.twitter.com/JD4ZWVIfxz
To this day, Durant’s actual height continues to confound many people. Durant is listed as 6-foot-11 on his profile on the NBA’s official website. He is also of the same height, according to Basketball-Reference.
James has played against and alongside Durant several times, giving him a great sense of how tall the former Texas Longhorns star really is without consulting the internet. As far as James is concerned, Durant is a legitimate seven-footer.
What is not debatable is that James and the Lakers still can’t afford to take their foot off the gas despite a 2-0 series lead over the Rockets.
Houston remains dangerous, especially with the series shifting to Texas for Games 3 and 4.
