Dan Hurley speaks out on the possibility of leaving for the NBA
Dan Hurley appears to be keeping his options open when it comes to the pros.
The UConn head coach Hurley was interviewed this week by Adam Zagoria of Forbes. During the interview, Hurley suggested that he could still make the leap to the NBA at some point.
“I’m the UConn coach until the end, and maybe the NBA someday down the line,” said Hurley. “But yeah, I’m the UConn coach.”
The 53-year-old Hurley has been the coach at UConn since 2018 and has experienced immense success. He led the team to two consecutive NCAA titles in 2023 and 2024 and now has the Huskies back in the national championship game this year, where they are playing Michigan on Monday.
That said, Hurley had a major flirtation with the NBA just two summers ago. In June 2024, Hurley turned down a monster contract offer to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He then ended up signing a new extension with UConn, which now runs through 2029-30.
If Hurley manages to lead the Huskies to another national title, the lure of a new challenge elsewhere might become even stronger. Interestingly enough too, Hurley’s contract with UConn features no buyout if he leaves for an NBA job after March 31, 2027 (with a buyout of just $1 million if he leaves for the NBA any earlier than that).
Details surface on Luka Doncic’s unusual injury treatment
Luka Doncic is going experimental as he attempts to return to the lineup as soon as humanly possible.
The Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic was diagnosed last week with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He suffered the injury during a humiliating loss on Thursday to the Oklahoma City Thunder (see the video here).
On Sunday though, we learned that Doncic was seeking specialized treatment in Europe in the wake of his injury. The hope for Doncic is that he will somehow be able to return to play ahead of the usual roughly 4-to-6 weeks that it takes to recover from a hamstring strain of that nature.
Shams Charania of ESPN appeared Monday on “NBA Today” and shared the details about Doncic’s unusual treatment plan. Charania reported that Doncic was in Spain undergoing an injection procedure to promote healing in his hamstring (but noted that it was unclear if the treatment would actually work in speeding up Doncic’s timeline).
The No. 3 seed Lakers now have less than one week to go in the regular season before the playoffs officially start on Apr. 18. There is obviously significant risk when it comes to rushing back from a hamstring injury in particular, but Doncic is clearly comfortable with taking that risk in an effort to contribute to his team during the postseason.
In the meantime though, the Lakers are just one game away from falling to the No. 5 seed with four games left to play. With fellow L.A. star Austin Reaves also nursing a fresh 4-to-6-week absence of his own right now, it remains to be seen if Doncic’s gamble will even be worth it in the end.
Jose Ramirez makes Cleveland Guardians history
Cleveland Guardians superstar Jose Ramirez just put his name into the franchise record books.
On Monday, the Guardians faced the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. With Ramirez in the lineup again, he became the franchise’s all-time leader for games played.
Here is the list:
- Jose Ramirez: 1,620
- Terry Turner: 1,619
- Nap Lajoie: 1,614
- Lou Boudreau: 1,560
- Jim Hegan: 1,526
Ramirez, who has spent his entire MLB career with the Guardians, is also commonly seen in other records for the franchise.
With José Ramírez set to become the solo franchise leader in games played for Cleveland today, here’s where he ranks in other notable categories:
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 6, 2026
Runs: 1,003, 3rd in CLE history (leader: Earl Averill 1,154)
Doubles: 400, 3rd (Tris Speaker 486)
HR: 286, 2nd (Jim Thome 337)
RBI:…
Ramirez is a seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger winner, and he has been a focal point for the franchise since making his MLB debut in 2013.
No one has ever worn "Cleveland" across the chest for more MLB games than José Ramírez.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/dG1JOxj6M4
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 6, 2026
Unfortunately, Ramirez is off to a bit of a slow start to begin the 2026 MLB season. The Guardians third baseman has a .154 average with one home run and five RBIs through the first two weeks of the year.
On the other hand, Cleveland entered Monday’s game with a 6-4 record and in first place in the American League Central.
Regardless, Ramirez is now the franchise leader in games played, and this record looks to be very difficult for anybody to break for a long time.
Billy Donovan’s future with Bulls gets an update after front office firings
The Chicago Bulls are making changes even before the end of the 2025-26 NBA season.
On Monday, the Bulls announced that they are firing both executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons with the franchise.
The next domino is regarding head coach Billy Donovan. His name was linked to the North Carolina Tar Heels job, but former Nuggets coach Michael Malone was hired on Monday just before the Bulls fired the two executives.
Donovan’s future with the Bulls got an update from Jamal Collier of ESPN after the front office shakeup.
“Chicago remains high on coach Billy Donovan and plans to meet with him in the offseason to see how the team can retain him, sources told ESPN on Monday,” Collier wrote. “The team has made it clear, though, that they want him back in the organization as coach or in some capacity going forward, sources told ESPN.”
That sure sounds like Donovan is sticking around, whether it be as a head coach or in another role.
At the end of March, it was revealed that there was a “growing chance” Donovan would leave if Karnisovas stayed, so with him out of town, perhaps that helps the Bulls’ chances of keeping the head coach.
Donovan has a 224-254 record in six seasons as the Bulls’ head coach, although some questionable trades and roster decisions have made things very difficult on the staff.
With the North Carolina job filled and the Bulls making changes in the front office, it could mean Donovan is back for at least another season despite missing the postseason once again.
Former North Carolina star reacts to hiring of Michael Malone
The North Carolina Tar Heels’ search for a new head coach is over.
North Carolina made a surprising move by hiring former Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
Malone’s name was very unexpected, but he won an NBA title with the Nuggets and he could be a good fit for the program in Chapel Hill. After the news surfaced, former North Carolina star Ty Lawson reacted to the decision to bring in Maline, and Lawson is excited about it.
“Mike Malone!!!!!! Yeah he gonna get ish done fasho !!!! Unc I love it!!!” Lawson wrote on X.
Mike Malone!!!!!! Yeah he gonna get ish done fasho !!!! Unc I love it!!!
— Ty Lawson (@TyLawson3) April 6, 2026
A report emerged previously that the top candidates for North Carolina were Billy Donovan, Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May.
However, Arizona gave Lloyd a new contract, and May informed Michigan officials he wasn’t looking for another job.
The NBA season hasn’t ended, and with the transfer portal opening on Tuesday, North Carolina had a tough decision to make, which led to the move to hire Malone instead of waiting to kick the tires on Donovan.
Malone’s daughter is a volleyball player at North Carolina, so there were some ties there.
Still, it’s a big move by the program, but Lawson is all the way on board with the choice his alma mater made for the next head coach.
Trevor Plouffe compares 1 Braves player to an orange
The fruit-to-MLB player comparisons are not seen very often, but former MLB player Trevor Plouffe made sure to get into that action.
During an episode of “Talkin’ Baseball,” Plouffe discussed his favorite fruits, but then said Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson is like a navel orange.
“Matt Olson has now played in 792 games in a row,” Plouffe said. “Matt Olson, to me, is like a navel orange. There might be some other fruits, like a Corey Seager, who might hit better. But overall, I’m taking Matt Olson over Corey Seager because he’s available to play.”
PLouffe then said Olson is “so juicy” and available.
.@trevorplouffe compares Matt Olson to a naval orange
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 6, 2026
“It’s so juicy. It’s got good texture to it. He’s available. He’s consistent.”
Presented by @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/23asYruAmH
Since the start of the 2022 season, Olson has played in every single regular-season game.
He came to the Braves in 2023, and he had 54 home runs with 139 RBIs that season, which were career-highs in both categories.
Olson then had 29 home runs in each of the past two seasons, and he has been a steady presence in the lineup for Atlanta daily.
While Olson might not be producing like the Aaron Judge’s of the world, Plouffe credits the fact that Olson is consistent.
Nonetheless, it’s quite the comparison for Olson.
1 key Blue Jays player is set to undergo surgery
The Toronto Blue Jays started off April with four losses on the road against the Chicago White Sox.
Now, the Blue Jays are set to be without starting catcher Alejandro Kirk for the foreseeable future. Kirk suffered an injury in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Ill. On Monday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that Kirk will undergo thumb surgery on Tuesday and his return is up in the air.
Alejandro Kirk having surgery on his left thumb tomorrow per mgr John Schneider
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) April 6, 2026
Kirk was signed by the Blue Jays in 2016 at the age of 18, and he has become a key part of their everyday lineup.
Kirk played in 130 games last season as the primary catcher, and he hit .282 with 15 home runs and 76 RBIs in a career-best campaign. Before the 2025 season began, the Blue Jays gave Kirk a well-deserved five-year, $58 million extension as well.
Tyler Heineman replaced Kirk on Friday and got the start on Saturday, but Brandon Valenzuela started on Sunday at catcher, so it will be interesting to see what Schneider does with Kirk on the shelf.
The Blue Jays also saw starting pitcher Cody Ponce suffer an injury, so it hasn’t been a promising start to the year after the World Series run in 2025.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has made a clear statement to the Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks remain at odds over whether he should be shut down for the season, and Antetokounmpo is attempting to lay down the law behind the scenes.
ESPN’s Shams Charania appeared on “NBA Today” Monday and revealed that Antetokounmpo is still trying to ramp up in order to play before the end of the season. The star forward’s goal is to be able to play at least one game with brothers Alex and Thanasis. He mentioned Friday’s home finale against the Brooklyn Nets as a game Antetokounmpo could target to play in.
“Giannis is trying to ramp up this week, from my understanding,” Charania said. “He wants to play with his brothers before the regular season ends. He’s making very clear behind the scenes that’s his goal.”
Shams:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 6, 2026
"Giannis is trying to ramp up this week from my understanding…he wants to play with his brothers before the regular season ends, he's making very clear behind the scenes that's his goal" pic.twitter.com/9rBY5ILlh9
Friday’s game might be an awkward choice, since it’s against the tanking Nets. Of course, the Bucks will not be able to catch Brooklyn in the loss column, but they will want to lock in as high a lottery position as possible. That is at the core of Antetokounmpo’s dispute with the Bucks, even if no one can admit it publicly. It isn’t clear whether a late-season return would help or hurt the Bucks in terms of the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into the team, either.
Giannis has made it clear publicly that he wants to play with his brothers at least once. The question at this point seems to be if the Bucks will allow it to happen.
Coach K has savage response to North Carolina’s coach hire
If Mike Krzyzewski is worried about rival North Carolina’s new head coach, he certainly isn’t showing it.
Coach K was a guest on “The Pat McAfee Show” Monday when news broke that the Tar Heels were hiring former NBA champion Michael Malone as their new head coach. The former Duke coach wasted no time sharing his reaction, and he did so by invoking Tar Heels football coach Bill Belichick.
“They had an NFL champion hired as the coach and Duke beat Carolina in football this year,” Krzyzewski said. “That doesn’t mean Coach Belichick isn’t a great coach, but there is time for adjustments. I’ve said it takes longer adjusting from the pros to college.”
BREAKING NEWS: North Carolina intends to hire Mike Malone as the school’s next basketball coach#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/VVDmFhbk8n
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 6, 2026
Belichick is the perfect example for why hires like this do not guarantee immediate success. He is the most accomplished NFL coach ever, but went just 4-8 in his first season at North Carolina. Similarly, numerous coaches who were very successful at the college level have failed in the NBA.
Malone will be expected to bring immediate success for North Carolina. Count Coach K among those who thinks the program might have to wait a little while to get what it wants.
Dan Orlovsky got hammered for his bad Lamar Jackson take
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky offered up a Lamar Jackson take on Monday that aged terribly almost immediately.
Orlovsky appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” Monday to discuss the importance of Jackson attending the Ravens’ first voluntary offseason workout. Orlovsky felt that Jackson needed to be there since the team has a new coaching staff, but was under the impression the quarterback was going to skip them.
“I’m not going to overreact to him not being there,” Orlovsky said of Jackson. “Maybe he gets there in the next day or two, but it certainly sounds like that’s not going to be the case.”
Dan Orlovsky at 8:18 AM: “I’m not going to overreact to him not being there, maybe he gets there in the next day or two but it certainly sounds like that’s not going to be the case”
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 6, 2026
Ravens at 8:24 AM: Post Lamar Jackson arriving for 1st day of workouts pic.twitter.com/TFFYR4PM60
Less than an hour later, the Ravens posted a video of Jackson arriving for workouts on their social media accounts.
🎱@Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/ZQ36d8Oopv
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 6, 2026
Orlovsky never addressed his comments, and ESPN quietly removed the video of the segment from their social media as if it never happened.
Orlovsky has a history with Jackson that has fueled the perception that the ESPN analyst is biased against the Ravens quarterback. He infamously voted against Jackson for MVP in 2025 despite giving him an All-Pro vote, and has been called out for favoring Josh Allen over Jackson.
If Orlovsky was going off history, he was not necessarily wrong to think Jackson would be a no-show. The quarterback skipped eight of a possible nine voluntary workouts last season.
Bulls make major decision on top executive Arturas Karnisovas
The Chicago Bulls are making sweeping changes to their front office at the end of another disappointing season.
The Bulls announced Monday that executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have been fired after six seasons.
In a statement, Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf said the team had “not had the success our fans deserve,” and assured Bulls fans that “I hear you and understand your frustration.”
The Chicago Bulls announced today that Artūras Karnišovas, Executive Vice President – Basketball Operations and Marc Eversley, General Manager have been relieved of their positions. pic.twitter.com/nFFK0U66ng
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 6, 2026
Since hiring Karnisovas in 2020, the Bulls have had just one winning season and made the playoffs only once. The roster has been largely overhauled, but results have been the same, with Karnisovas openly admitting one point that the team he put together has not worked out.
This will raise questions about the future of head coach Billy Donovan. There were reports that he might walk away from the job if Karnisovas remained with the team, so this might actually make it more likely that Donovan stays with the Bulls going forward.
The Bulls have already been eliminated from playoff contention for this season with a 29-49 record.
Michael Malone’s daughter emerges as key reason for his North Carolina move
Michael Malone’s shocking decision to take the North Carolina Tar Heels head coach job may be partially explained by his daughter.
North Carolina caught the basketball world by surprise when they hired Malone on Tuesday as their new head coach. Several people were quick to point out that he has a family connection with the school: his daughter, Bridget, is a sophomore volleyball player for the Tar Heels.
Bridget Malone committed to North Carolina all the way back in 2023. Presumably, her father would have been quite familiar with the school’s athletics program from that process.
Malone almost certainly could have waited for the NBA offseason and pursued a job at that level, and he would have been a top candidate for every opening. The Tar Heels, however, seemingly offered him the opportunity to continue coaching basketball while also being close to his family.
Bennett Durando of the Denver Post noted that Malone even skipped an NBA Cup game with the Nuggets just to watch Bridget compete in the state tournament.
Happy for Michael Malone. His daughter Bridget is on the UNC volleyball team and he’s her biggest fan. He even skipped an NBA Cup game a couple years ago to see her play in the state tournament. Not that he’ll have a lot of free time with this job, but a cool landing spot for him
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) April 6, 2026
The interest had to be mutual, of course, but the Tar Heels were evidently impressed enough by Malone’s resume to make him the hire. Much was made about the school going outside the “family” and hiring someone with no ties to the school, and on the surface, they did that. It turns out, however, there is at least some family connection there after all.
North Carolina makes unexpected decision on its next head coach
The North Carolina Tar Heels have decided on their new head coach, and it is not a choice many saw coming.
The Tar Heels plan to hire former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone to replace Hubert Davis, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. Malone has most recently served as an NBA analyst for ESPN.
Sources: North Carolina intends to hire longtime NBA coach Michael Malone as the school’s next basketball coach. He’s an NBA Championship coach with the Denver Nuggets from the 2022-23 season and has won 510 games as an NBA head coach. pic.twitter.com/JwJmUNRLQT
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 6, 2026
Malone was not on anyone’s radar as a potential option for the Tar Heels. He worked as a collegiate assistant from 1994 to 2001, but all of his head coaching jobs have come at the NBA level. While it is no shock he is returning to coaching, the widespread expectation had been that it would be at the NBA level.
On the other hand, Malone has a track record of success. He is 510-394 as an NBA head coach and won the NBA title with the Nuggets in 2023. Denver unexpectedly fired him last year amid reports that he was clashing behind the scenes with other members of the organization.
The Tar Heels are presumably hoping Malone will be able to attract NBA-level talent and draw players in with the strength of his resume. That strategy has not necessarily worked well on the football side, but the Tar Heels are betting on reputation and experience.
North Carolina had targeted the likes of Dusty May of Michigan and Tommy Lloyd of Arizona, but both opted to remain with their current programs. A different NBA head coach had also been strongly linked to the job.
Giants All-Pro has asked for a trade
A key member of the New York Giants has asked the team for a trade after a breakdown in contract negotiations.
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade and will not report for the team’s offseason program on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The request comes after two offseasons of unsuccessful haggling over a new deal.
ESPN sources: Giants All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade and he will not be participating in the team’s off-season workout program that opens Tuesday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 6, 2026
Lawrence and the Giants have been through two off seasons attempting to negotiate a contract… pic.twitter.com/WUSTNxmeGh
Lawrence has firmly established himself as one of the game’s best defensive tackles. The 28-year-old has been selected to three Pro Bowls and twice named second-team All-Pro. While he is coming off something of a down year, he is still seen as the anchor of the Giants’ defensive line.
Lawrence is due to make $20 million in 2026 and signed a contract extension three years ago. The defensive tackle market has reset itself since then, particularly after Chris Jones signed a 5-year extension worth nearly $160 million with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Giants’ defensive line is really in flux right now, with some other players potentially being on the move. They would not want to trade Lawrence, but it seems they will have to either move him or pay him.
Angel Reese has been traded by the Chicago Sky
Angel Reese has been traded by the Chicago Sky in a blockbuster deal.
The Sky traded Reese to the Atlanta Dream on Monday. The Dream confirmed the deal on social media, as did Reese herself.
An Angel’s DREAM💭
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 6, 2026
🅰️TL WHAT UP?! @AtlantaDream pic.twitter.com/obtqyhl35e
Kendra Andrews of ESPN reported the Dream are sending two first-round picks to Chicago in exchange for Reese.
Reese’s relationship with the Sky had soured over the past year after she made some explosive comments about the team’s struggles and the need for change going forward. Those comments did not sit well with the organization or her teammates, and probably helped seal her fate with the franchise. It is hardly a coincidence that trade rumors started shortly after that.
The trade sends Reese to a legitimate playoff team. The Dream went 30-14 last season, but fell to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs.
Reese has emerged as a strong interior presence during her first two WNBA seasons. She has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game and made the All-Star game in both seasons. However, the team has not had much success during her time there, and she has drawn critics for perceived stat-padding during her time with the Sky.
Dan Hurley bluntly addresses rumors linking him to North Carolina
Dan Hurley has no plans of leaving his job with the UConn Huskies to coach the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Before the No. 1 seed Huskies take on fellow No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament championship game on Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Hurley tried to set the record straight about his level of desire on the Tar Heels’ coaching opening.
“I’m the UConn coach until the end, and maybe the NBA someday down the line. But yeah, I’m the UConn coach,” Hurley told Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68.
The Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis shortly after the blue-blood college basketball program suffered an embarrassing meltdown in a loss to the VCU Rams in the first round of the Big Dance. Since then, several names have been rumored as Davis’ potential successor, including Hurley.
Hearing Hurley’s name in rumors linking him to the Tar Heels’ job isn’t surprising, given the success he’s been having with the Huskies. Based on his resume alone, several programs would want him to run their programs.
He has guided UConn to back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, and he is just a win on Monday away from becoming a three-time NCAA champion head coach.
If Hurley leaves UConn, it’s probably going to be for a gig in the NBA, though it’s worth noting that he previously turned down a job to coach the Los Angeles Lakers.
Travis Kelce’s tweet gets an unexpected response from NASA nearly 16 years later
Long before he captured Taylor Swift’s heart, Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce had one of those nights when he looked up at the sky and admired the cosmos — particularly Earth’s lunar friend.
“The moon looks crazy tonight… Imma chill out here for a little and just visualize my success n vibe to the scenary,” Kelce tweeted back in August of 2010.
Nearly two decades later, NASA unearthed Kelce’s tweet and responded to it amid the hype surrounding the Artemis II mission.
“It’s been a long time coming,” NASA responded on Sunday to Kelce’s old post.
What some might have missed about NASA’s response was the space agency’s savvy reference to one of Swift’s songs.
Swift used to begin each performance during her “Eras Tour” with the line “It’s been a long time coming,” which is apparently a lyric taken from her song “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince.”
Given the breadth of Taylor Swift’s canon, NASA has plenty of lyrics from her works to choose from if the world’s premier space agency wants to continue referencing her songs to describe space or have wholesome fun with people on the internet.
As for Kelce, he can add to the success he visualizes each evening while staring at the moon, as he has decided to return for at least one more season with the Chiefs.
Dawn Staley responds to a reporter’s awkward USC-South Carolina mix-up
Dawn Staley faced the media following the South Carolina Gamecocks’ 79-51 loss to the UCLA Bruins in the national championship game on Sunday, and one of the several questions she fielded came straight out of the land of confusion.
While doing her postgame press conference duties at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Staley was asked about her level of excitement for having Saniyah Hall on her team next season.
It seemed like an ordinary question, but the reporter was asking the wrong person.
Hall committed to the USC Trojans, not South Carolina, which the reporter seemed to confuse with USC.
The reporter later backtracked upon realizing her mistake.
“Did something come over the transfer portal? That’s USC,” the 55-year-old Staley said, as the reporter apologized for her blunder.
You can watch the exchange here.
The good: USC got the #1 recruit for next season
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 6, 2026
The bad: you asked the wrong USC about it pic.twitter.com/xOW2WKIWp5
Considering the loss the Gamecocks just suffered, Staley could have reacted to the question in a less friendly manner, but she handled it quite well.
South Carolina fell just a win short of winning the NCAA title for the second year in a row, and the Gamecocks will try to make another deep run and get the job done next season — without Hall in the lineup, of course.
Video: Donovan Mitchell drops two defenders at the same time with a wild crossover
Donovan Mitchell’s crossover claimed two victims at the same time.
During the third quarter of Sunday night’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Mitchell pulled back and found himself facing the defense of Micah Potter. The Cavs guard then tried to make his move to the basket as Potter fell to the ground along with his teammate, Kobe Brown.
To top it all, Mitchell finished the sequence with a made floater, sending Cavs fans inside the building into a frenzy.
You can watch the play here.
DONOVAN MITCHELL BROKE 2 DEFENDERS ANKLES 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/xJ7GgHKF0Q
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 5, 2026
Mitchell is one of the hardest players in the league to guard one-on-one for several reasons. His ball-handling skills, quickness, and athleticism make him extremely difficult to contain, as Potter and Brown can attest.
The seven-time NBA All-Star Mitchell had an ankle situation himself in the fourth quarter of the game, as he tweaked it toward the end of the contest. However, he said he was fine (via Danny Cunningham of Locked on Cavs) shortly after the game in which he led the Cavaliers with 38 points on 16-for-27 shooting from the field, along with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal in 33 minutes in a 117-108 victory.
Mitchell and the Cavs now sport a 49-29 record, just a game behind the New York Knicks for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Draymond Green was visibly irate with Brandin Podziemski after Warriors-Rockets game
The Golden State Warriors got a major boost on Sunday, with two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry returning to action after a 27-game absence.
But Curry’s night against the Houston Rockets at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., did not have the ideal ending for the Warriors, as he missed a potential game-winning attempt from deep as time expired in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 117-116 Golden State loss.
Right after Curry’s miss, Draymond Green showed his frustration with teammate Brandin Podziemski over a misunderstanding on the final play.
Green wanted Podziemski to come closer to the ball to get Curry a more favorable matchup on a switch. But Podziemski stayed on the left side for the entire sequence, idly waiting for Curry to either shoot or pass him the ball.
Curry was unable to get a great look at the basket, with Jabari Smith Jr.’s long arms bothering him and Amen Thompson helping out.
You could see Draymond trying to direct Podz to come over so they could get Sengun guarding the action but Podz didn't understand. Left Jabari on Steph and he played really good defence to make it a tough look. pic.twitter.com/I1SjXePCRk
— Vivek Jacob (@vivekmjacob) April 6, 2026
Green and Podziemski can talk over improving late-game execution and communication, as the Warriors prepare for the Play-in Tournament.
The loss to Houston was Golden State’s fourth in a row, as Curry’s remarkable performance in his first game back from a knee injury went for naught. He came off the bench and fired 29 points on 11/21 shooting with five 3-pointers for the Warriors, who dropped to 36-42 overall and 21-18 at home.
