Stephen A. Smith makes a bad mistake about the Warriors
Stephen A. Smith continues to add to his list of strikeouts.
The ESPN personality Smith was speaking Monday on “First Take” about the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors officially failed to qualify for the 2026 playoffs after losing to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA play-in tournament a few days prior.
During his remarks, Smith made a curious claim. Smith said that Golden State had not made the playoffs since winning the NBA championship in 2022.
"They haven't been back to the playoffs since that championship in 2022. That's four years away from the playoffs" – Stephen A. Smith on the Golden State Warriors pic.twitter.com/xrUGkeKuoZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 20, 2026
Of course, that is a blatantly false claim by Smith. The Warriors made the playoffs in 2023 and then again in 2025.
Making matters even worse is the fact that Golden State actually advanced in the playoffs both times as well. They won a memorable seven-game first-round series against the rival Sacramento Kings in 2023 (before losing in the second round to the Los Angeles Lakers) and then won another exciting seven-game first-round series over the Houston Rockets in 2025 (before losing in the second round to the Minnesota Timberwolves).
But these kinds of mistakes have unfortunately become more the rule than the exception for Smith. The longtime media figure Smith clearly does not follow the NBA very closely these days and is not even on top of things any more when it comes to his beloved New York Knicks.
Coach K’s grandson Joseph Savarino charged with DWI after crash that killed 15-year-old
Mike Krzyzewski’s grandson Joseph Savarino has been arrested and charged after being involved in a fatal crash.
Savarino, 26, has been hit with a driving while impaired (DWI) charge in connection with a crash in Durham, N.C. that killed a 15-year-old boy who was riding an e-bike, according to a report by CBS 17 in North Carolina. The Durham Police Department says that Savarino was driving a Ford Explorer at around 9 PM on Apr. 18 when he struck the 15-year-old at the intersection of Cole Mill Road and Wyndham Lane.
According to court records, Savarino admitted to police that he was drinking prior to being on the road and also took a breathalyzer test that revealed he had a blood-alcohol (BAC) level of 0.11. Savarino is currently out on a bond of $100,000 after his attorney appeared in court on Monday.
You can read CBS 17’s full report on the situation here.
The legendary former Duke coach Kryzewski also has another grandson who had a DWI incident of his own back in 2021. Michael Savarino, who was under 21 at the time, was arrested in Nov. 2021 after getting pulled over by police outside Hillsborough, N.C. The incident also involved former Duke star (and now Orlando Magic star) Paolo Banchero, who was with Michael Savarino in the car at the time of the incident and was charged with aiding and abetting DWI (full details here).
Michael Savarino would end up pleading guilty to DWI in July 2022, which led to the charge against Banchero being dropped. But now Joseph Savarino, another one of Coach K’s grandsons, is facing a serious DWI situation of his own after being involved in a traffic collision that left a 15-year-old dead.
Joe Mazzulla doubles down on his smear campaign against Coach of the Year Award
Joe Mazzulla continues to rag on the NBA Coach of the Year Award any chance he gets.
The Celtics head coach was named one of three finalists for the 2025-26 Coach of the Year award over the weekend. It’s an honor that virtually all of his peers would embrace and celebrate, but one that Mazzulla himself does not care for.
The three finalists for the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year Award:
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 19, 2026
▪️J.B. Bickerstaff, @DetroitPistons
▪️Mitch Johnson, @spurs
▪️Joe Mazzulla, @celtics pic.twitter.com/Yb2VJYqIy3
Mazzulla spoke to reporters about his nomination on Monday ahead of Boston’s Game 2 matchup against its first-round opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers. The 37-year-old coach shared reasons why he doesn’t believe he — or any other coach, for that matter — deserves any hardware.
“If it were Staff of the Year, it’s different, if it were Organization of the Year – but at the end of the day, I haven’t made one basket all year,” Mazzulla said.
“Our staff hasn’t made a basket. We haven’t gotten a block. We haven’t ran back on defense. We didn’t play in a back-to-back. We didn’t have to play hurt. We haven’t really done shit. So, if you don’t have the guys to be able to put you in position, it doesn’t really matter. I’m just grateful – the greatest gift I have is I get to coach a bunch of guys that care about winning and being a part of the culture that we have.”
It’s not the first time Mazzulla has ragged on the NBA’s most “stupid” award. His prickly approach may push some voters toward other finalists — Detroit Pistons’ JB Bickerstaff and San Antonio Spurs’ Mitch Johnson — instead. But it’s possible Mazzulla’s words work as reverse psychology, with some perceiving him to be even more worthy for how little credit he wants to give himself.
Mazzulla is every bit deserving of the coaching plum, having led a depleted Celtics squad to a 56-26 record. The team shipped out several veteran members of its championship core and didn’t have Jayson Tatum until March, but still finished as a top-2 seed in the East.
Giving him the award may be worth it just to see how he’d react.
Sophie Cunningham announces notable personal news
Sophie Cunningham is continuing to stack up the milestones in 2026.
The Indiana Fever guard Cunningham announced in a recent post to her TikTok page that she has gotten baptized. Cunningham shared a video of the ceremony and noted that, while she had gotten baptized as a child, she felt compelled to undergo the ritual again as an adult.
“I got baptized when I was little but I was feeling a tug on my heart to do it on my terms as an adult!” wrote Cunningham. “Such a fun, amazing day. Thank you Jesus.”
Cunningham also tagged Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, Ariz. as the location and included a lengthy testimonial on her decision to undergo an adult baptism in the caption of the post. You can see her full TikTok post at the link here.
The 29-year-old Cunningham has been in the WNBA since 2019 but became a fan favorite last season with the Fever after defending superstar teammate Caitlin Clark during a game. Cunningham has also since decided to continue her partnership with Indiana for a little while longer.
It is been an eventful year for Cunningham in other regards as well. Earlier this month, Cunningham made waves after sharing her photos for this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.
Todd Golden is being linked to 1 NBA team in surprise development
Todd Golden may be looking to follow in the footsteps of Florida predecessor Billy Donovan.
The Golden State Warriors could potentially pursue the Florida men’s basketball coach Golden if current head coach Steve Kerr ends up departing, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports reported on Monday. O’Connor notes that Golden already has ties to the San Francisco area.
Golden, 40, has served as the head coach of the Gators since 2022 and led them to the national title in 2025. But prior to that, Golden was the head coach for three seasons at the University of San Francisco from 2019-22.
Additionally, Golden has a link to Warriors owner Joe Lacob and family, O’Connor adds. Golden is reportedly familiar with the Lacob family and has had meetings and lunches with them in the past.
For the Warriors, they just went a rough 37-45 on the season and failed to qualify for the playoffs after losing in the NBA play-in tournament. Now their longtime head coach Kerr, who has guided them to four championships since taking over in 2014, is facing widespread retirement rumors as he is not currently under contract for the 2026-27 NBA season.
Meanwhile, Golden, who just led Florida to a 27-8 record but lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, is under contract through the 2030-31 NCAA season. While he recently turned down interest from another big college program, Golden would only have a relatively modest buyout of $2 million if he decided to leave the Gators for an NBA job this summer.
Dodgers announce Edwin Diaz injury update
The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to be without one star player for the foreseeable future.
Closer Edwin Diaz, who signed a $69 million deal this offseason, is now out until the second half of the season as he will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.
Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Edwin Díaz will have surgery on Wednesday to remove loose bodies from his elbow. He is expected to return during the second half of the season.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 20, 2026
The Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal, and the All-Star closer was expected to be a major boost to the bullpen.
However, Diaz has a 10.50 ERA in seven appearances with four saves and one blown save. He has given up seven runs in just six innings with the Dodgers, including three runs on three hits while recording zero outs in the loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday at Coors Field.
The appearance on Sunday was a non-save situation for Diaz, but he still struggled.
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that the expected timeline for Diaz is three months, which would put him on track to return right around the All-Star break.
In Diaz’s absence, the immediate replacement figures to be Tanner Scott, who had 23 saves and 10 blown saves in 2025. Alex Vesia is another option, and he already has two saves this season.
Victor Wembanyama makes more NBA history with latest award
San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is really living up to his “Alien” nickname.
On Sunday, Wembanyama led the Spurs to a 111-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals round. Wembanyama scored 35 points, the most ever in a playoff debut for a Spurs player in franchise history.
Now, Wembanyama has been named the KIA NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and he received every first-place vote to become the first-ever unanimous winner since the inception of the award.
Victor Wembanyama is the first unanimous Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year since the award’s inception in 1982-83.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2026
The winner was selected by a global media panel of 100 voters.
Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wIUDEDWJtm
Wembanyama stated previously that he would be surprised if he wasn’t the winner of the award, although there is no upset here.
Wembanyama, 22, is also the youngest player to win the award, and he becomes the first to win it in his first three seasons in the league.
Victor Wembanyama is the youngest player to win the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2026
He is also the first player to win the award within his first three seasons since David Robinson (1991-92 with San Antonio). https://t.co/D6wU6hsvJI
Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren had 239 total points, but no other player had more than 80 points in the DPOY voting.
Wembanyama was the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he has quickly become one of the best players in the league. The Spurs and Trail Blazers will face off in Game 2 on Tuesday night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
49ers GM drops interesting comment about potential Brandon Aiyuk trade
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has not played a game in the NFL since October 20, 2024.
As such, his time with the San Francisco 49ers appears to be over, although it remains to be seen where he will head next. While a release has been a common prediction for the 49ers, general manager John Lynch admitted he thinks there’s a “chance” Aiyuk is traded.
“I’ve had some discussions,” Lynch said, via David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. “Do I think it’s a high probability? Likely no. But is there a chance? Yeah, I think there’s a chance.”
The drama involving Aiyuk has been going on for some time, and the 49ers decided to void his $25 million due for the 2026 season.
The 49ers have also been consistent in the belief of trying to get any value out of Aiyuk, even if it’s just a seventh-round pick in a trade.
The team hopes to be able to find a trade suitor for Aiyuk before or during the 2026 NFL Draft, but Lynch said they will reevaluate if the right move doesn’t come to fruition.
“We’ll focus on our draft. If something happens there, great. If not, we’ll reevaluate it. He’s still a member of this roster right now, and we’ll treat him as such,” Lynch said.
The Washington Commanders are one team that has been linked to Aiyuk, and they also have former 49ers WR Deebo Samuel on the roster.
UConn dealt crushing injury blow after Final Four run
The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team fell just short of another national title with a 69-63 loss to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament.
The future continues to look bright for Dan Hurley’s team, but they have already received some crushing injury news for the 2026-27 season. Star guard Solo Ball will miss the entire season due to wrist surgery.
Hurley released a statement after the news was announced on Monday.
“Solo is a true Husky and a champion who would do anything to be out on the court,” Hurley said. “This guy has shown throughout his career what a warrior he is. Solo is going to use the season to get his wrist fully healthy and then come back next year as one of the best guards in America while cementing his legacy as an all-time great at UConn.”
Update: Junior guard Solo Ball will undergo wrist surgery and miss the entirety of the 2026-27 campaign. Ball will take a medical redshirt and return in 2027-28. pic.twitter.com/Kgud02a355
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) April 20, 2026
Ball, who just finished his third season at UConn, had been dealing with the injury for the majority of the season. He still managed to play in 35 games, averaging 12.4 points, including 11 points in 16 minutes in the national championship game.
Silas Demary and Braylon Mullins are among the key returning players for UConn, and the plan is for Ball to use his medical redshirt and aim to return for the 2027-28 season.
Maverick Carter shares LeBron James’ post-retirement plans
LeBron James appears to have already done a lot of thinking about what his post-playing career is going to look like.
Maverick Carter, James’ longtime business partner, appeared at the Semafor World Economy recently and opened up about what the two have planned once James retires. Carter suggested that James has the ability to bypass a traditional sports media career and build a digital entertainment business of his own.
“We have a team of people that can produce and create at a high caliber,” Carter said, via Max Tani of Semafor. “So he is actually going to come to us with what his vision is. How does he want to keep creating content and telling stories that connect with his fans? And how do we build a suite of shows around that? And then the beauty of it is, today, distribution is everywhere. So someone like LeBron’s caliber is a big draw. You can get distribution anywhere and really connect with people and build a show, just us, without anybody else.”
Carter certainly makes it sound like we’ll be seeing a lot of James after he retires. It just won’t necessarily be through more traditional media platforms.
The big question remains when James will take the step into his new career. His future beyond this season is uncertain, though the general consensus seems to lean toward him playing at least one more year. Even if he does play, nobody knows if that will be with the Lakers or with someone else.
James has already dabbled in podcasting — with someone who went on to become his head coach, no less. It sounds like everything is ready for him to start on a new path. The only question is when that will be.
Everyone said the same thing about Nets’ Jordi Fernandez decision
The Brooklyn Nets are doubling down on their rebuild, but not everyone is impressed with the decision they made on Monday.
The Nets announced that they have signed head coach Jordi Fernandez and his staff to multi-year contract extensions. In a statement, the organization called Fernandez a “tremendous leader” who had put his stamp on the team.
Nets say they’ve signed HC Jordi Fernandez and his staff to multi-year extensions. After cycling through coaches in years before his hire, Nets landed a great young coach in Fernandez. “We are excited to have this group lead us into the future,” GM Sean Marks said in statement: pic.twitter.com/Sm2ptopPWE
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 20, 2026
To most, the decision made little sense. Fernandez has gone 46-118 in his first two seasons as Nets coach, and is coming off a miserable 20-62 campaign this past year. Many social media users were quick to criticize the organization as rewarding failure and questioning what Fernandez has done to earn a new deal.
The rest of the NBA
— 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 (@AbdulCarterMVP) April 20, 2026
pic.twitter.com/T7wQhc0s3M
What did the Nets FO see in him? pic.twitter.com/uh2rJQ541m
— Novig (@Novig) April 20, 2026
What exactly was done to earn this?
— Earned In Ohio (@EarnedInOhio) April 20, 2026
Rewarding absolute mediocrity with a multiyear bag is exactly why this franchise will never win a ring
— Emima (@kachinuel) April 20, 2026
The actual reason is not necessarily down to results. The Nets are in the middle of a full-scale rebuild and are trying to focus on developing young talent. They see Fernandez as the right figure to do that, and want stable leadership in place instead of bringing in another new staff. It’s worth noting that the Oklahoma City Thunder followed a similar approach that saw Mark Daigneault go 46-108 in his first two seasons as head coach, and he is now an NBA champion.
For better or worse, Fernandez has shown a willingness to fight for his team and has kept them playing hard despite their poor results. The Nets would not really benefit from yet another reset.
Rockets provide update on Kevin Durant’s Game 2 status
After their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Houston Rockets might feel an even greater sense of urgency to get Kevin Durant back in the lineup. Whether that will happen remains to be seen.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Monday that Durant made it through roughly half of Monday’s practice, and would be a game-time decision for Tuesday’s Game 2. Will Guillory of The Athletic observed Durant getting some shots up following practice, and said the forward appeared to be moving around “much better” than he had been a few nights ago.
Kevin Durant is here getting shots up after Rockets practice today in LA. Looks like he's got some type of tape on his right knee.
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) April 20, 2026
Appears to be moving around much better than he was a few nights ago. pic.twitter.com/JI4HnCtFXB
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Durant is dealing with a deep bruise in his right patellar tendon, but that the Rockets are “optimistic” that he will be able to go in Game 2.
Durant abruptly showed up on the injury report before Game 1 after banging knees with a teammate in practice, and was ruled out for the series opener. The Rockets missed him badly in a 107-98 loss to a shorthanded Lakers team.
Durant had hoped to play through the injury, but Udoka said he simply would not have been able to in Game 1. Houston fans will be holding their breath that this is not the case again on Tuesday.
Phillies fans might get manager Rob Thomson fired
One MLB manager may already be on the hot seat less than a month into the new season, and fan reaction may be to blame for his troubles.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic appeared on the “Foul Territory” podcast and suggested that Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson could soon find himself on the hot seat. Interestingly, the stated reason is that owner John Middleton is sensitive to fan reaction, and Phillies fans are losing faith in their team.
“The biggest issue, to me, and the reason why Thomson might be in trouble sooner than later, is that the fans are kind of turning on the team,” Rosenthal said. “John Middleton, the owner of the Phillies, is sensitive to fan reaction. Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, has never been afraid to make a change if he deems it necessary. That’s how Thomson got his job in the first place.
“With the Phillies 5-10 at home, with their fans kind of disenchanted right now to say the least, you can see, if this team doesn’t turn around, a problem becoming more apparent with what they’re going to do with their leadership.”
John Middleton's sensitivity to fan reaction means Rob Thomson could find himself on the hot seat sooner rather than later, says @Ken_Rosenthal.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 20, 2026
"The fans are kind of turning on the team." pic.twitter.com/lrfSpXMApo
Thomson was, in fact, elevated to his current position by the midseason firing of Joe Girardi in 2022. He led that team to a surprise World Series appearance. In three full seasons as manager, his Phillies have never won fewer than 90 games, so he should theoretically have some goodwill saved up.
On the other hand, the Phillies are an older group in win-now mode. If Thomson isn’t winning, they may simply want someone to change the tide. There was speculation that he might be let go after the Phillies’ playoff disappointment last year, too, though that did not happen.
Making decisions based on fan sentiment is risky, but the Phillies are off to an 8-13 start and were just swept at home by the Atlanta Braves. They are already 6.5 games back in the NL East, which adds to the sense of urgency.
Odell Beckham Jr. may be reuniting with his former team
Odell Beckham Jr. has long hinted at a reunion with one of his former teams. Now that may become reality.
Beckham is visiting the New York Giants on Monday, according to multiple reports. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reported that Beckham even took a physical, though it does not sound like a deal is actually done.
NEWS: Odell Beckham Jr is in #Giants building for a physical today, per league source
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) April 20, 2026
If nothing else, a Beckham reunion would be a feel-good moment for both the player and the team. The wide receiver had his best seasons with New York, where he spent the first five years of his career. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with them in 2014, and was a second-team All-Pro on two occasions.
Beckham has suggested on multiple occasions that he would like to return to the Giants. At least one of the team’s current players would like to have him around, too.
It is not clear how much Beckham would actually contribute to the Giants. He has not played in the NFL since 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, and injuries have been a consistent issue for the 33-year-old during the back half of his career.
Jimmy Garoppolo considering surprising decision about his future
Jimmy Garoppolo is weighing retirement despite the fact that there still appears to be some demand for his services.
Garoppolo is still making a final decision, but is considering retirement, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Los Angeles Rams would still welcome him back as their backup quarterback for 2026.
#Rams free agent QB Jimmy Garoppolo, considered their top option as backup QB, is considering retirement, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 20, 2026
Jimmy G, who has started 64 games during a 12-year career, has made over $156M in all. He is 34 and is mulling a final decision. pic.twitter.com/GqpB5YU3uz
As Rapoport notes, Garoppolo has made $156 million in his career, and could easily walk away and be set. The 34-year-old has spent each of the last two years serving as Matthew Stafford’s backup, and could probably make a decent amount of money if he decided to do so again.
Garoppolo made 64 career starts with New England, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and the Rams. He quarterbacked the 49ers in two playoff runs, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2019.
There were some rumors that Garoppolo actually had a chance to land a starting job this offseason, but that never materialized.
Brandon Aubrey sets record with his new contract
The Dallas Cowboys have sorted out a new contract with kicker Brandon Aubrey that will make him quite wealthy.
Aubrey is signing a 4-year, $28 million contract extension with the Cowboys, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal includes $20 million in guaranteed money and is the most lucrative contract for a kicker in NFL history.
Aubrey was said to be looking for $10 million annually in contract talks with the Cowboys, while Dallas was hoping to sign him for something closer to Harrison Butker’s $6.4 million annual deal. In the end, the two sides compromised, though the $7 million annual figure is closer to what the Cowboys wanted to do than Aubrey’s original demands.
There is no denying that Aubrey is worth the investment. There is a strong argument to be made that he is the best kicker in the NFL, in part because of how consistent prowess from distance. He is 112/127 in his career on field goal tries, including an impressive 24/27 from 50+ yards. He has even shown himself to be able to essentially win games on his own.
The Cowboys value Aubrey so much that they took an unusual step to ensure they would not lose him while contract talks had stalled. Their efforts have been rewarded, and he will remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
49ers and Trent Williams resolve their contract dispute
Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers have finally sorted out their lingering contract dispute.
The 49ers and Williams reached an agreement on a new two-year contract worth $50 million. The deal ensures that Williams will remain tied to the franchise through 2027.
49ers and 12-time Pro-Bowl LT Trent Williams reached agreement today on a two-year, $50 million extension that now contractually ties him to San Francisco through the 2027 season, per @eliteloyaltysp. pic.twitter.com/jTFDgOYyt0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 20, 2026
Williams and the 49ers have been at odds since February, when it emerged that the 49ers might release him in order to avoid his hefty cap hit. Ultimately, it never came to that, and it had been reported that the Niners intended to do exactly this before the NFL Draft.
Williams would have carried a $39 million cap hit had he remained on his previous contract.
The Niners would have desperately missed Williams had they been forced to let him go. The 12-time Pro Bowl selection has anchored the team’s offensive line since joining the team in 2020, and was a first-team All-Pro every season from 2021 to 2023.
Scoot Henderson had a classy reaction to teammate’s rare playoff accomplishment
Scoot Henderson had quite a debut in the NBA Playoffs, but he was more thrilled by the performance of his teammate, Deni Avdija.
Although Henderson and the Portland Trail Blazers dropped Game 1 of their series against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, the former No. 3 overall pick didn’t hide his appreciation for Avdija’s notable feat.
During the postgame presser, Henderson had a great response when informed that Avdija became just the third player ever in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a playoff debut.
“That’s amazing, first of all. Congratulations to Deni, I’m gonna tell him right after this, Henderson said.
“I’m super happy for him, but man, Deni is an amazing talent. You know what I’m saying. You don’t see many players like that, just aggressive. Swiss army knife. It’s so fun to play with him, and that’s probably terrible to play against him.”
Scoot Henderson on the fact that Deni Avdija became the 3rd ever player to have 30-10-5 on his playoffs debut. Scoot was asked:
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 20, 2026
"What else is there to be said about Deni? How do you also describe him as a leader?"
Scoot:
"That's amazing, first of all. Congratulations to Deni,… pic.twitter.com/fCcODtb2Bz
Avdija has truly blossomed in Portland. He earned his first-ever All-Star nod during the 2025-26 season, his second campaign with the Blazers, and is now playing a major role for a Portland squad that is looking to solve Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the first round.
Henderson, on the other hand, isn’t having the career trajectory the Blazers envisioned when they took him in the 2023 NBA Draft behind Wembanyama and Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets, but if his Game 1 performance was any indication, Portland fans have reason to expect him to have a strong individual series against the Spurs.
Angel Reese had a great reaction to her boyfriend’s win in the NBA Playoffs
Angel Reese just made it clear once again where her allegiance lies in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Following the Orlando Magic’s surprising 112-101 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their first-round series at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., Reese shared a social media post that was unmistakably a show of support for her boyfriend, Wendell Carter Jr., and the Magic.
The Magic even acknowledged it.
play my theme music 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/rcZqGikxEn
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 20, 2026
The Magic’s social media team usually shares a “Play the Song” post after every Orlando win.
The team hopes it will do so again three more times against the Pistons, as Orlando looks to pull off a first-round upset.
Taking out Detroit in the first round is going to be easier said than done for the Magic, but Orlando drawing first blood in the series has put the top seed in the Eastern Conference on upset alert.
Carter had a solid outing in Game 1, scoring 17 points on an efficient 8/9 shooting from the field with 7 boards, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 37 minutes.
Reese is in the middle of a training camp with her new team, the Atlanta Dream, but she’s surely going to keep a close eye on Carter and the Magic, who shoot for a 2-0 series lead on Wednesday.
Paige Bueckers sets the record straight on her overseas trip
Training camp has begun for the Dallas Wings, but before that, star guard Paige Bueckers went on a trip abroad to meet a former UConn Huskies teammate.
Bueckers recently flew to Croatia to meet Portland Fire guard Nika Muhl. She even shared several photos from her trip to the Balkan country. She was there to show support for Muhl, who will miss her second straight WNBA season after suffering a torn ACL in her right knee during a EuroBasket qualifying game in March.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Bueckers opened up about her trip to Croatia.
“That’s like best friend and my sister. Someone who I want to be a bridesmaid at my wedding,” the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year said, via The Wings Bulletin.
“We’ve helped each other a lot of times, dark times, times we were fighting injuries and going through stuff.”
Paige Bueckers on her surprise trip to Croatia to visit Nika Mühl..
— The Wings Bulletin (@WingsBulletin) April 19, 2026
“That’s like best friend and my sister. Someone who I want to be a bridesmaid at my wedding… we’ve helped each other a lot of times, dark times, times we were fighting injuries and going through stuff…” pic.twitter.com/sZxbiOs7a7
Muhl is going through it again with a devastating injury, and the least Bueckers can do for her is to be for her.
Muhl sat out the entire 2025 WNBA campaign due to a left ACL tear, which she suffered while playing for Turkish club Besiktas in the FIBA SuperCup. Taken by the Seattle Storm in the second round of the 2024 draft, Muhl has appeared in only 16 games so far in her WNBA career.
