Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

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LeBron, Luka ‘impersonators’ drop six figures to sit courtside for Game 1 with one goal

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Two Lakers fans, Tom Biddle and Mantis Taylor, wearing Luka Doncic and Lebron James jerseys respectively, cheer from the stands, Image 2 shows Two men in Lakers jerseys on a basketball court, Image 3 shows LeBron James and Luka Dončić walk off the court after a loss

Last Sunday night in Los Angeles, as the Lakers were closing out their regular season against the Jazz, the broadcast cameras landed on two guys courtside who looked like they didn’t belong — and somehow belonged more than anyone else in the building.

Their names are Brandon Taylor and Tom Biddle, and they are not celebrities. Not yet. They’re just two content creators from Indianapolis who showed up courtside to the game dressed as LeBron James and Luka Doncic. 

Tom, better known online as “Popcorn with Tom,” does look uncannily like Doncic. The height, the facial hair, the haircut, if you see him from a distance you might do a double-take. 

Brandon, who goes by the online name of “Young Mantis,”… well, let’s just say his LeBron impression relies a lot more on inner confidence than actual accuracy. 

They went viral anyway. 

In addition to the broadcast cameras, the Lakers’ in-house camera crew spotlighted them. They included them in their “Fan of the Game” contest. They made it down to the final two. But they lost to a young Lakers fan instead. 

“It stuck with me that we didn’t win the Fan of the Game,” Tom told The California Post in an exclusive interview Saturday. “So we decided to upgrade our seats to get more of an advantage tonight.” 

Upgraded is one way to put it. The pair is sitting next to the Rockets’ bench for Game 1 of the NBA playoff series and even got up close and personal with LeBron and his son, Bronny, during pregame warmups. 

The courtside seats in the playoffs cost north of $100,000, and if you believe them, they did it not for status or clout but for revenge. 

“The Lakers are going to win tonight, but more importantly we’re going to win the game,” Brandon said. “We don’t know how much time LeBron has left. We have to witness greatness.”

James, at 41 years old, is definitely hoping to turn back the clock against the Rockets on Saturday. Without Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), the undermanned Lakers are heavy underdogs against the younger, athletic and defensive-minded Rockets. 

So Brandon and Tom decided to lean into it. They stayed in Los Angeles, posted their viral clips and showed back up to Game 1 of the NBA playoff series. 

“I’m hoping to see my boy and get a picture,” said Tom of wanting to meet the real Luka Doncic, who returned to Los Angeles after two weeks in Europe on Friday night and was seated on the Lakers’ bench for Game 1. 

Here’s hoping they win “Fan of the Game” this time.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns lead Knicks to Game 1 win over Hawks, 113-102

The Knicks stepped up on defense in the second half and held on to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 113-102, in Game 1 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Jalen Brunson started the game on fire with 15 of New York's first 22 points, making all six shots he took, including three three-pointers. Mikal Bridges also got involved early, scoring the team's other seven points. Although the Knicks defense wasn't on the same level as the offense, and the Hawks kept pace by finding ways to score inside, blocking shots, and creating turnovers to get out in transition. 

OG Anunoby began to heat up toward the end of the first quarter, getting to the foul line and scoring inside. Brunson capped off his big first quarter with a high floater as time expired, giving him 19 points and the Knicks a 30-24 lead after one. 

-- Mitchell Robinson made his impact right away in the second quarter with a block on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, leading to a Jordan Clarkson dunk. Robinson got his second block a few possessions later and Anunoby buried a step-back three to make it a 38-27 game.

Atlanta continued to fight back as Jonathan Kuminga scored on the fastbreak and Alexander-Walker nailed a three-pointer to cut the New York lead down to three. Josh Hart countered with a layup, but C.J. McCollum came right back with a wide-open three to keep it close with five minutes left in the second quarter.

-- Despite a quiet first half, Karl-Anthony Towns made his presence felt at the end of the second quarter. The All-Star big man got his third assist on an Anunoby dunk and then scored on a dunk of his own for his first basket of the game. He made up for his fourth turnover of the game by blocking Alexander-Walker at the rim, but the Knicks couldn't capitalize on the other end.

Towns made two free throws with 8.0 seconds left, but with the clock winding down, Jalen Johnson found Onyeka Okongwu for three at the buzzer and the Hawks trailed by just two, 57-54. Atlanta outscored New York 31-27 in the second quarter and shot 50 percent from three in the half (8-for-16). Brunson finished with 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting, while McCollum had 17 points (7-for-10 from the field) for the Hawks.

--Towns and Anunoby opened the third quarter with back-to-back three pointers, and Hart turned defense into offense with a steal and fastbreak dunk to go up 68-60. Looking for ways to slow down the Knicks, the Hawks turned to the "hack-a-Mitch" play twice -- and it worked as he went 1-for-4 from the foul line and was subbed out by Mike Brown.

With under a minute left in the quarter, Brunson grabbed a rebound and found Anunoby wide open down the court for an easy dunk, going up 83-74 heading into the fourth.

-- Robinson scored on an alley-oop jam and Miles McBride made his first three-pointer of the night in the fourth quarter, giving the Knicks their biggest lead of the night, 88-76. McBride drilled another three-pointer, but Atlanta kept up with the pace and Alexander-Walker hit a three right back. Towns then took over, making a pair of threes and using his size to score inside and extend the lead to 106-87 on a 13-2 run for NY.

-- It wouldn't be a playoff game without the dramatics as the Hawks made it a 106-98 game all of a sudden with about 1:30 left on the clock. The Knicks were able to hold on, icing the game at the foul line. 

All five Knicks starters finished in double figures -- Brunson (28), Towns (25), Anunoby (19), Bridges (11), and Hart (10). The shot 48 percent from the field and from three-point range (12-for-25). They also won the rebound battle, 45-40, with Hart grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. McCollum finished with just 26 points for the Hawks and Johnson had 23 points.

Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns stepped up in the second half after Brunson's high-scoring first quarter. He scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half, to go along with eight rebounds, four assists (five turnovers), three steals, and a block.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks and Hawks play Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup on Monday at 8:20 p.m.

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Giants' Drew Gilbert returns, shares hilarious moment with Tony Vitello

Even when things seem rough, the San Francisco Giants stay close as a group. Look no further than the light-hearted moment between Drew Gilbert and skipper Tony Vitello.

Los Gigantes haven't had the start to their 2026 season that they hoped, but there could be signs that things could pick up.

Through 21 games, the Giants have posted a 9-12 record following their 7-6 win against the Washington Nationals after 12 innings on April 18. Matt Chapman hit an RBI single in the 12th inning to lift San Francisco to its third straight victory.

The vibes were high, especially for a team that needed a momentum booster. Outside of Chapman's game-winning RBI, there was no moment better during the game than the moment shared between Giants skipper Vitello and outfielder Gilbert.

Gilbert returned to the lineup after being recalled. He suffered a shoulder injury during spring training that kept him from being listed on the Giants' opening day roster.

During Saturday's game, Vitello and Gilbert were seen on camera playfully shadow-boxing in the dugout.

As for who won the shadow match, Gilbert was all smiles, but judging the open looks he had, he'd probably have the higher scorecard if we're keeping count.

Drew Gilbert returns

The two share a history as Gilbert played for Vitello at the University of Tennessee in 2022. Gilbert made his MLB debut for the Giants on August 8, 2025. Vitello is in his first year as a MLB manager. He joined the Giants in October 2025, becoming the first skipper with no previous professional experience. Vitello became the first college baseball coach to jump straight to the pros.

The Giants have one last matchup with the Nationals in their three-game series. Giants look to sweep Washington before going back home to the Bay to host another rendition of their storied rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 21 to 23.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tony Vitello, Drew Gilbert play fight in dugout as Giants beat Nats

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Knicks roll past Hawks for statement Game 1 playoff victory

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns #32 drives to the basket as Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye #18 defends during the third quarter, Image 2 shows Jalen Brunson after hitting a 3-pointer in the first quarter
Knicks Hawks

Eventually, the talent discrepancy revealed itself. Eventually, the experience discrepancy revealed itself.

When they did, the game became a mismatch, and the Knicks blew it wide open.

The Hawks were mostly as advertised — young, athletic, full of confidence. And this wasn’t necessarily a vintage Knicks showing — there were a few areas of concern. Their defense, for starters, was porous until a dramatic second-half turnaround.

They were made to sweat a bit. But in the second half, they dragged the Hawks into the deep end and watched Atlanta sink en route to a 113-102 Game 1 win Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

But these Knicks don’t often make anything easy. They led by 19 with 3:14 left in the game before the Hawks ripped off an 11-0 run to cut their deficit to eight with 1:39 left and make it interesting. The Knicks stabilized and avoided catastrophe.

“We had a 7-to-11 [point] lead for the majority of the second half,” Jalen Brunson said. “And then be able to push it to 16, 18, [but] then just finished the fourth not as well as I would like, as well as we would like.

Jalen Brunson celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the first quarter of the Knicks’ 113-102 Game 1 win over the Hawks on April 18, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“We know they’re going to be ready for Game 2.”

Brunson came out firing and had 19 points — on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range — in the first quarter. But it was actually the start of the fourth quarter — with Brunson on the bench — that the Knicks had their best stretch. They outscored the Hawks by seven points — to take a 16-point lead — before Brunson checked back in with 5:07 left in the game. Brunson only went 1-for-11 from the field after the first quarter and finished with 28 points.

The Knicks led by as many as 11 early in the second quarter, but the Hawks used a 19-8 run to tie the game. They outscored the Knicks by four points in the second quarter and, after Onyeka Okongwu’s buzzer-beater 3-pointer, only trailed by two at halftime.

The Knicks, though, tightened up defensively and shut down the Hawks coming out of the break. They held Atlanta to 8-for-23 shooting from the field in the third quarter as they rebuilt their lead.

And that’s golden territory for the Knicks. They are the best fourth-quarter team in the NBA and entered Saturday 46-2 when leading to start the fourth quarter. Now, they’re 47-2 — and 1-0 in the postseason.

Karl-Anthony Towns drives on Mouhamed Gueye during the third quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“Our transition defense was better,” coach Mike Brown said. “Our ability to defend their small-small pick-and-rolls was better. And then our ability to keep them off the glass during that time was a lot better.

“It allowed us to get out and run and attack them in transition. That’s something we have to do while communicating for as close to 48 minutes as possible.”

It was a bit of a roller coaster for Karl-Anthony Towns, who did not score his first points until 4:50 left in the second quarter or hit his first field goal until the 2:53 mark. Towns averaged 28.5 points in the two regular-season games he played against the Hawks — his most against any opponent. For most of the first half, though, Okongwu won that matchup.

But Towns came alive for 19 points in the second half and finished with 25 points and eight rebounds.

OG Anunoby added 18 points and eight rebounds for a mostly balanced Knicks scoring attack. He briefly came out of the game in the third quarter after rolling his left ankle — the same one that forced him to exit the Knicks’ penultimate game — but avoided the locker room and quickly returned.

Josh Hart quietly had 11 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

Brunson set the tone, Anunoby and Hart were steady presences throughout and Towns finished the job. The scoring was extremely starters heavy with little production from the Knicks bench.

“That’s the thing about having [Brunson] and amazing teammates, we got to get them going early and facilitate,” Towns said. “I thought that opened the game for us, especially in the second half and we did a great job fighting and continuing to score and also impact winning.”

For all that’s been made about the Hawks’ youth, it was actually the veteran CJ McCollum who most hurt the Knicks. With Brunson mainly guarding him, McCollum finished with 26 points. Jalen Johnson added 23 points for the Hawks.

After taking the lead with 2:29 left in the first quarter, the Knicks never trailed again.

The Hawks asked a few questions of the Knicks, but they had plenty of answers. 

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Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105: The Switch Stays Un-Flipped

DENVER , CO - APRIL 18: Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to being warned for a delay of game after some gamesmanship on an inbound pass during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images

DENVER – The last time the Minnesota Timberwolves took the floor at Ball Arena for an NBA Playoff game, it was possibly the greatest game in Timberwolves history.

That night, the Wolves took out the defending champion Denver Nuggets in Game 7, coming back from a 20-point second-half deficit. The win also came with extra significance as it came on Kevin Garnett’s birthday and the 20th anniversary of the franchise’s first trip to the Western Conference Finals.

On Saturday afternoon, the Wolves returned to Mile High for the next chapter in the Timberwolves-Nuggets rivalry that in many ways has defined the last four seasons in the Western Conference.

The game started out promising for Minnesota, as the Wolves jumped out to a 12-point lead in the first quarter. Rudy Gobert locked down the paint while slowing down Nikola Jokić, they forced Denver into six first-quarter turnovers, and the ball movement was absolutely pristine, leading to consistent open looks in the halfcourt.

From there, it almost all fell apart. The Wolves’ defense slipped, especially on the perimeter, where the guards were getting destroyed on screen, leading to a flurry of Denver 3-pointers. When Gobert went to the bench, the Timberwolves had little to no chance of stopping the Nuggets, especially if Jokić was on the floor.

And possibly most concerningly, the ball movement that got Minnesota the early lead completely dried up, which has been a consistent theme with this team all season. The Nuggets outscored the Wolves 68-46 in the second and third quarters combined to flip a double-digit Minnesota lead into a 12-point lead of their own.

The Timberwolves did find a way to claw back into the game, trailing by only two points halfway through the fourth quarter, but their execution down the stretch of the game prevented them from having a meaningful chance of pulling the game late.

There were awful turnovers, missed defensive assignments, and a lack of attention on the defensive glass, which led to numerous second-chance points for Denver. The most striking difference between the two teams was their ability to find quality offense late in the game.

The Nuggets consistently found open shots in the flow of their offense. While many of their shots did not fall as the Nuggets shot 1-17 from beyond the arc in the second half, their ability to generate open looks speaks more meaningfully toward their chances to win this series and more.

The Wolves, on the other hand, had to take tough shots after tough shots. Anthony Edwards was fantastic in the clutch during the regular season, but he was not able to find that gear in this game, as he scored just five fourth-quarter points before the final garbage-time minute of the game.

The Timberwolves lost Game 1 by a final score of 116-105. Edwards finished the game with 22 points on 7-19 shooting. He did contribute well in other areas, putting up nine rebounds and seven assists, but did not seem to have the explosive burst the Wolves will likely need to see from him to win this series.

“Nah, I felt good,” Edwards said after the game. “A little fatigued, I haven’t played in like a month. But that was expected. Other than that, I felt good.”

Chris Finch felt similar about Edwards’ game and his health, “I didn’t see a ton of physical limitations. It looked like just a rusty game back.”

Without fully knowing the extent to which Edwards’ knee is bothering him, Edwards low-scoring output did seem to be more than just rust. While Edwards had a few nice drives to the rim, the volume of those looks was much lower than what would normally be expected. Ant also shot 2-8 on 3-pointers, potentially indicative of someone struggling with knee pain.

Julius Randle similarly struggled. He scored 16 points on 7-16 shooting while dishing out only two assists, both of which came in the fourth quarter.

Gobert had an outstanding performance. He held Jokić to 25 points while forcing him into five turnovers and put up 17 points and ten rebounds while missing just one of his nine shots. The baskets weren’t just easy lob dunks either. On multiple occasions, Gobert caught a tough pass in traffic and made a nice move toward the basket to score the bucket.

“Both ends, he did a good job,” Jaden McDaniels said about Gobert’s Game 1 performance. “He keep doing that, we’re going to win.”

The Wolves in the first quarter showed the ability to “flip the switch” as they so often have these past couple playoff runs; they have shown the ability to increase their level of play to meet the moment, even in adverse situations. That team was there in the first quarter, but in no way could it sustain that level of play.

That variability in how Minnesota plays has been an issue the entire season. They have desperately needed the ability to stack good performances on good performances, but have been unable to do so since the season started all the way back in October.

That level of consistency is not found in the Playoffs; it has to be built during the regular season to embed it into a team’s DNA. The Wolves did not do that. When they were healthy early in the season, they often opined about waiting for the playoffs to begin. Once injures did hit in March and April, they were unable to close the regular season strong like they did last season.

This series is not over, and it is just one game, but the Wolves are going to have to find a level of play they did not find at all during the regular season. The Nuggets have won 13 straight games dating back to the regular season, and they are out for revenge from two years ago.

Rudy put it best when asked if he would be able to repeat his performance tonight, one that will certainly be needed if the Wolves have any chance to win this series.

“I think we shall see.”

Up Next

The Timberwolves vs Nuggets series continues with Game 2 back at Ball Arena on Monday. It’s another late-night playoff tip with the game beginning at 9:30 PM CT. Fans can watch the game on NBC and Peacock.

Highlights

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San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini open to contract extension

The San Jose Sharks missed the NHL playoffs but they have every reason to be optimistic about their future.

Their standout young phenom, center Macklin Celebrini, finished a stellar 2025-26 season where he broke a team record and indicated that he wants to be in San Jose in the long run.

During player exit interviews, a 19-year-old Celebrini told reporters that he wants to commit to the Sharks, following his sophomore season.

When asked if he'd welcome a contract extension over the summer, Celebrini responded, "Yeah, I'm open to it."

"I want to commit to this team and being here. I love it here," he said. "So I'm open to whatever happens."

Posted on

Game 20: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels

Anaheim, CA - April 17: Second baseman Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres throws out Yoan Moncada (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Angels at first base in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday, April 17, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

San Diego Padres (13-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-10), April 18, 2026, 6:38 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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76ers at Celtics Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 19

The Philadelphia 76ers (45-37) travel to TD Garden for a first round series against the Boston Celtics (56-26). The regular season series is tied 2-2.

Boston ended the regular season with a 6-1 record over the last seven games and the fourth-best record overall in the NBA. The Celtics under Joe Mazzula have gone 50-33 in the playoffs, including a 12-4 first round record. In three-straight first round series, Boston has won 4-2, 4-1, and 4-1 with Mazzula at the helm.

Philadelphia beat Orlando, 109-97, during the play-in round to clinch the seventh seed. The 76ers were without Joel Embiid for the play-in tournament and will be without Embiid for Game 1 and possibly longer. The 76ers finished ranked 17th and 16th in offensive and defensive net rating this season, while the Celtics are rated second and fourth-best.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: 76ers vs. Celtics

  • Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
  • Time: 1:10 PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden 
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: ABC

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: 76ers vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Boston Celtics (-800), Philadelphia 76ers (+550)
  • Spread: Celtics -12.5
  • Total: 213.5 points

This game opened Celtics -12.5 with the Total set at 214.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Celtics vs. 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

  • PG Tyrese Maxey
  • SG VJ Edgecombe
  • SF Kelly Oubre Jr
  • PF Paul George
  • SF Adem Bona

Boston Celtics

  • PG Derrick White
  • SG Jaylen Brown
  • SF Sam Hauser
  • PF Jayson Tatum
  • C Neemias Queta

Injury Report: Celtics vs. 76ers

Boston Celtics

  • None

Philadelphia 76ers

  • Joel Embiid (abdomen) is OUT for Game 1

Important stats, trends and insights: 76ers vs. Celtics

  • Boston is an NBA-best 49-33 ATS 
  • Boston is an NBA-best 50-32 to the Under
  • Boston is 26-15 to the Under at home
  • Boston is 23-18 ATS at home
  • Philadelphia is 44-39 ATS
  • Philadelphia is 24-17 ATS as the road team, ranking second-best
  • Philadelphia is 43-40 to the Under
  • Philadelphia is 21-20 to the Under as the road team

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s Celtics and 76ers’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Celtics’ Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Celgics -12.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 213.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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Magic at Pistons Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 19

The Orlando Magic (45-37) travel to Detroit to take on the No. 1 seeded Pistons (60-22). The two teams split the season series 2-2.

Detroit clinched the No. 1 seed and is one of three teams to reach 60 wins this season (Spurs, Thunder). The Pistons lost in the first round over six games to the Knicks last season, but are much improved this year, ranking second on defense and ninth in offensive net rating. Cade Cunningham missed a portion of the season, but returned for the final three games of the regular season ahead of the playoffs.

Orlando lost to Philadelphia during the play-in tournament, but pounded Charlotte in order to make the playoffs. The Magic ended the regular season on a heater, but fumbled the No. 6 seed in the last game and over the past month. The Magic rank 13th and 18th in offensive and defensive net rating this season, and have been very up-and-down. Luckily, they have welcomed Franz Wagner back to the mix this month, and just in time for a tough series.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic vs. Pistons

  • Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: Little Caesars Arena
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Magic vs. Pistons

The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-325), Orlando Magic (+260)
  • Spread: Pistons -8.5
  • Total: 218.5 points

This game opened Pistons -8.5 with the Total set at 218.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Magic vs. Pistons

Orlando Magic

  • PG Jalen Suggs
  • SG Desmond Bane
  • SF Franz Wagner
  • PF Paolo Banchero
  • SF Wendell Carter Jr.

Detroit Pistons

  • PG Cade Cunningham
  • SG Duncan Robinson
  • SF Ausar Thompson
  • PF Tobias Harris
  • C Jalen Duren

Injury Report: Pistons vs. Magic

Orlando Magic

  • Jonathan Issac (knee) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 1

Detroit Pistons

  • None

Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic

  • Detroit is 44-38 ATS
  • Detroit is 21-19 ATS as the home team
  • Detroit is 43-38-1 to the Under
  • Detroit is 17-14 to the Under as a home favorite
  • Detroit is 21-19 to the Under as the home team
  • Orlando is 39-45 ATS
  • Orlando is 18-22 ATS as the road team
  • Orlando is 44-40 to the Over
  • Orlando is 21-19 to the Under as the road team
  • Orlando is 11-10 to the Over as the road underdog

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s Magic and Pistons’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons -8.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 218.5

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Tigers 4, Red Sox 1: It’s Tarik Skubal

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 18: Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers throws in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

One of the unfortunate side effects that we experience in this current era of prestige TV is that it’s all too easy to forget about a great show after it ends. I’m not talking about the Mad Men and Sopranos types of prestige TV shows, the ones that stick around long enough that they firmly embed themselves in the zeitgeist. I’m talking about the smaller, auteur driven shows that flash across our TV screens for just a short season or two before burning out in a way that would make Neil Young proud. I’m talking about shows like Fleabag,I May Destroy You, and Station Eleven. For a few months they dominate the culture, lapping everything else with their originality and voice. We talk about them at bars and in Slack channels, we read recaps and listen to podcasts with their creators. And then they go away. And a few years later we struggle to remember them at all.

Donald Glover’s Atlanta was one of those shows. I adored it, and I will probably rewatch it someday. But despite how wonderful I found it as it aired, it’s not something I think about with any regularity. I can now barely remember certain plot points or even the names of prominent characters. But, for some reason, one particular and not very eventful scene has stuck in my head. It comes at the end of an early season two episode, when Donald Glover’s Earn has planned a night out at the club only for everything to go wrong. He hasn’t had any fun, he’s barely had anything to drink, and he’s failed to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend as he hoped. And then, just as the night is coming to an end, the universe gives him a chance at redemption: Michal Vick is racing any and all challengers in the parking lot.

… and then the chance at redemption passes him by. Of course it does. It’s Michael Vick.

Tarik Skubal against the 2026 Red Sox is the MLB equivalent of Michael Vick racing drunk strangers in a parking lot. You think you have some momentum coming off a walk-off win? You think putting Andruw Monasterio in the two-hole will shake things up? You think Brayan Bello can put up some zeros a few days after his best start of the year to give the lineup a chance to win the game?

It’s Tarik Skubal.

There are some big league lineups that will give Skubal trouble this year. But the lineup of the 2026 Red Sox — with its glaring dearth of power, balance, and veteran nous — is not one of them. The Sox lost this game as soon as the Tigers’ bus pulled onto Jersey Street. It’s Tarik Skubal.

One Lonely Stud

Jovani Moran: 3 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 H, 3 K

I was going to go with the bullpen as a collective for this. But that would’ve been unfair to Moran, who single-handedly kept his team in the game. Moran hasn’t impressed much in his career so far, but that career has also been marked by injury and bad luck. He could turn himself into an unheralded weapon at the back of the Sox’ roster this year.

Three Duds

Trevor Story: 0-4, 3 K

I’m tempted to warn people that this could be the year that Trevir Story falls of a cliff. But let’s face it: Story’s relationship to cliffs has been Homer Simpson-esque ever since he showed up in Boston.

Brayan Bello: 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Bello wasn’t terrible today. But he also wasn’t good. And he’s going to need to figure out how to be good soon, because right now he’s the weak link in the Sox’ rotation and Payton Tolle is punching the route from Worcester to Boston into Google Maps.

Barometric pressure or cold fronts or whatever

I’m tired of watching cold, raw baseball games and I’m calling on OTM weather guru Matt Gross to fix this.

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Freddy Peralta's two sixth-inning walks prove large in Mets' loss to Cubs: 'Ended up costing the game there'

With Freddy Peralta on the mound, the Mets felt pretty good that their long losing streak could come to an end on Saturday afternoon.

And it was looking good at first. Peralta was matching Cubs starter Jameson Taillon pitch for pitch and held Chicago to just one run over the first five innings. However, the game changed in the sixth.

Peralta got the first two batters out before Ian Happ came to the plate. The outfielder had taken Perala deep earlier in the game, so the right-hander was sure to be a bit more careful, but Happ walked on seven pitches. Seiya Suzuki was next, and Peralta got ahead in the count 2-2. However, Suzuki didn't bite on back-to-back sliders low and out of the zone and he walked. 

That spelled the end of Peralta's start.

"I thought I was still competing there," Peralta said of the sixth inning. "Was a very good at-bat from both of them. But I think that I pitched good against Suzuki too. He took a very good at-bat."

Manager Carlos Mendoza brought in Brooks Raley and Cubs skipper Craig Counsell called Carson Kelly to pinch-hit in the spot. Kelly would ambush Raley's first-pitch cutter and deposit a three-run shot into the Wrigley Field crowd. That home run would prove to be the difference in the 4-2 win for the Cubs.

"Tried to move the ball around. Two-out walk to Happ. The Suzuki one, was the one that hurt him," Mendoza said of Peralta's outing. "Ended up costing the game there. He was pretty good, only two walks, and unfortunately, it was the two towards the end there. Overall, I thought he was pretty good, but, again, two outs, two walks ended up costing us." 

"They had a big swing, made a good move putting Kelly in there," Marcus Semien said. "I played with that guy, he can do that. And he did it to us today."

The home run made Peralta the pitcher on record on the losing end. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out three batters across his 5.2 innings pitched. It's the third time in his first five starts this season that Peralta has allowed at least three runs.

Peralta was acquired this offseason to be the ace of the staff, and the stopper of streaks like this. Unfortunately for Peralta and the Mets, his two walks led to their downfall and their 10th straight loss, the franchise's longest losing streak in over 20 years.

The right-hander was asked if he felt extra pressure on Saturday to try and stop the streak, and Peralta disagreed with the notion.

"No, no pressure. I have a commitment to myself and everyone else. Just trying to give my best as always," Peralta said. "I thought I was competing until the last pitch. Sometimes you can’t control some of the stuff that happens in a game."

Mounting pressure or not, the Mets are looking to put together a complete game to finally break the losing streak. The feeling in the locker room, including from Peralta, after Saturday's loss was to flush it and try again tomorrow. 

"We just have to keep preparing. I don’t know how difficult it is [to keep a positive mindset], but we’re professionals," Peralta said. "We have to stay together and win some games."

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GAME BLOG: Pittsburgh Penguins v. Philadelphia Flyers, Game 1

Pittsburgh Penguins v. Philadelphia Flyers - Game 1 (PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Updated start time: 8:25 p.m. ET

Penguins' projected lines and pairings:

Forwards
Egor Chinakhov - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Tommy Novak - Rickard Rakell - Evgeni Malkin
Elmer Soderblom - Ben Kindel - Anthony Mantha
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Defensemen
Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard - Kris Letang
Ryan Shea - Connor Clifton

Goaltenders
Stuart Skinner (starter)
Arturs Silovs (backup)

Flyers' projected lines and pairings:

Per Siobhan Nolan of THN - Philadelphia Flyers:

Forwards
Travis Konecny - Christian Dvorak - Porter Martone
Matvei Michkov - Noah Cates - Denver Barkey
Tyson Foerster - Trevor Zegras - Owen Tippett
Luke Glendening - Sean Couturier - Garnet Hathaway

Defensemen
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Emil Andrae

Goaltenders
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson

First period

Let's see if this thing starts at 8:25.

- Well, the puck DID drop at 8:25, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were here to give the "It's a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh" opener. Good stuff.

Also, it is very, very loud. Deafening. "Flyers suck" chants already ringing.

- Flyers have already hit the post once, and fisticuffs are already being thrown. Flyers to the box, as Ristolainen gets an early penalty for roughing. Penguins to the game's first power play.

- PP looks a bit disjointed early on. A few chances on shots from the point, and an Egor Chinakhov chance off the rush.

- Rakell throwing around the body quite a bit early on. Already two or three hits from him, and we're six minutes into this game. Lots of physicality in general.

- Letang goes to the box for tripping at 6:37. Still no score. Flyers to the power play after the TV timeout.

- Well, the Flyers appeared to have scored the first goal of the game on their power play, but it was waived off. Can't make a beeline straight into the goaltender, squeak the puck through, and expect not to get called. Usually, that is.

Other than blip, the Penguins' PK is back - just as Blake Lizotte is back. Great stuff from the PK unit. 

- Sidney Crosby rips of Jamie Drysdale's helmet. No call. Drysdale continues to play, which is... not allowed. 

And after the refs convene, Crosby is called for roughing. But, not sure why Drysdale isn't also penalized there for continuing to play without his lid, unless I'm missing something here. 

Well, never mind. Drysdale is called for interference at 11:16, along with Crosby's roughing. We'll play four-on-four for two minutes. 

- Just over seven minutes left in the first, and the Penguins are being outshot, 10-4. It doesn't necessarily feel that way (not entirely, anyway), but Philly has controlled the majority of even-strength play in this opening period. 

- Malkin, Chinakhov, and Mantha are out there for a straggled shift together. Generated a few chances. Around six minutes to play in the first. 

- Nice stick by Connor Clifton with 2:40 left to prevent a high-danger opportunity for Philly in the slot. Skinner (Stuuuuuu) makes a save shortly afterward on a perimeter shot. 

About a minute earlier, Soderblom created a chance for himself off the rush. He took a pass and gained the zone down the right side, and he did a little toe drag and put a pretty heavy shot on goal from the top of the right circle. I continue to be impressed by this guy's puck skills and the way he uses his reach. 

- END OF FIRST PERIOD - 

Score: 0-0  |  Shots: Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 10

Second period

- The Penguins just put up a stat on the video board that Pittsburgh is 12-1-3 in its last 16 games against the Flyers at PPG Paints Arena. That's a pretty glaring disparity. 

- Penguins have been far too sloppy in this one, and that trend continues into the second period. Skinner makes a breakaway save on Trevor Zegras a minute and 20 seconds into the middle frame, and a minute later, Evgeni Malkin whiffs on a pass at the right point and gives it away to Noah Cates, who turns it back for a chance against (another save by Skinner).

Nice job by Ryan Shea to get back on that play and put some pressure on Cates to shoot, essentially taking away the pass. 

- Pens registered their first shot on goal in the second with a few ticks under 14 minutes to go in the middle frame. Flyers have simply been the better hockey team up to this point. Penguins are passing up far too many opportunities to get pucks to the net.

- Skinner ANOTHER breakaway save, this time on Owen Tippett, with 11:38 to go in the second. The Penguins are really playing with fire here. Philly is catching their blueline cheating a bit. 

- GOAL (PHILADELPHIA): Jamie Drysdale (1), from Trevor Zegras and Denver Barkey. 1-0 Philadelphia over Pittsburgh (9:19).

- Flyers were bound to break through eventually. Drysdale just throws a puck to the net from the right circle, and it finds its way through traffic and past Skinner. 

- Sanheim goes for interference. Knocked Crosby down, and he slid into the post. He's okay, but teammates take exception. Rust, Clifton, and Chinakhov all getting mixed up. Penguins to the power play at 10:38. They trail, 1-0. 

- The Penguins have tried to enter the attacking zone three different times on this power play and have failed each time. Whistled down. They can't get anything generated. The man advantage is a mess so far tonight. 

- Nice stick play by Wotherspoon in the d-zone to break up an odd-man break, as Cates had Barkey breaking to the net. This was after an o-zone turnover by Chinakhov.

- GOAL (PITTSBURGH): Evgeni Malkin (1), from Tommy Novak and Rickard Rakell. 1-1 tie (15:51).

- What a pass by Novak there. The Penguins were getting some chances in tight on Vladar, and he puts a perfect no-look backhand pass from the goal line right on the tape of Malkin, who was waiting for it in the right circle. Beautiful play.

The Penguins needed that one. The building was being drained of life with the Flyers' lead and the way the home team had been playing up that point. This gave them some much-needed momentum. 

- An Anthony Mantha blast hits Soderblom in front, and he is being tended to by trainers on the Penguins' bench. Not sure where he got hit, but it looked like he was favoring one of his legs heading to the bench. 

- Mantha then goes to the box for cross-checking on the same shift. Flyers to the power play late in the second (18:48).

- Skinner has been outstandng in this one. He needs more support in the final frame. 

- END OF SECOND PERIOD - 

Score: 1-1  |  Shots: Pittsburgh 10, Philadelphia 16  |  Goals by Jamie Drysdale (PHI) and Evgeni Malkin (PIT)

Third period

- Penguins still had 45 seconds to kill off on the Mantha minor to begin the third. They not only kill it off, the PK earned a glorious shorthanded chance just before time expired. Connor Dewar almost tipped on in at the goal mouth.

This PK is literally just a different animal altogether with Lizotte in the picture.

- Soderblom has got some great hands. Used his frame to power his way to the net for a chance (16:55) there, too. Really like his game tonight.

- Anthony Mantha goes for high-sticking at 3:48. Flyers to the power play. Offensive zone penalty by Mantha there.  

- Lizotte with a pickpocket and a clear on the PK. There he is again. 

- A "F--- you, Philly" chant rings through the arena. The proud people of Pittsburgh are letting this team have it right now. 

- Another Malkin turnover at the offensive blue line. Breakaway for Denver Barkey. Skinner comes up big again, and Karlsson kind of pressures him, too. Way too careless with the puck right now.

- GOAL (PHILADELPHIA): Travis Sanheim (1), from Rasmus Ristolainen and Christian Dvorak (10:02). 2-1 Philadelphia over Pittsburgh.

- Sanheim puts one home from the slot. Nice move around a few guys on that one, too. Penguins really just haven't had it all night. 

- GOAL (PHILADELPHIA): Porter Martone (1), from Travis Konecny (17:23). 3-1 Philadelphia over Pittsburgh.

- Just a snipe by Martone. Nothing you can really do about that one. The Penguins have a tall mountain to climb in the last three and a half here if they're going to claw their way back into it.

- GOAL (PITTSBURGH): Bryan Rust - PPG (1), from Malkin and Karlsson (18:59). 3-2 Philadelphia over Pittsburgh.

- END GAME -

Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2 (Philadelphia leads series, 1-0)

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Dodgers vs. Rockies game II chat

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 17: Hyeseong Kim #6, Kyle Tucker #23, Alex Freeland #76 , and Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their win against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Game two of four between the Dodgers and Rockies in Denver.

Saturday game info
  • Teams: Dodgers at Rockies
  • Ballpark: Coors Field, Denver
  • Time: 5:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

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Playoff Notes: Lyon, Ostlund Practice Prior To Start Of Sabres – Bruins Series

The Buffalo Sabres practiced at KeyBank Center on Saturday in preparation for their first playoff series since 2011, and had nearly a full complement of players.  Sabres Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon took to the ice for the first time in over a week and according to head coach Lindy Ruff, he would be available for the start of the series against the Boston Bruins on Sunday night. 

Lyon suffered a lower-body injury at practice in New York prior to their win over the Rangers on April 8 and third-stringer Colten Ellis stepped in for two starts in the final week of the regular season. Ellis also suffered an unspecified injury at the end of the season, but Ruff indicated that both netminders were ready to go.

Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was in the home goal during the morning workout, giving a preliminary indication that the big Finn will be the Sabres starter in Game 1. 

Ostlund last played in the 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins on March 25 and missed the final three weeks of the season with an upper-body injury, but Ruff was optimistic about the rookie’s chances of returning to the lineup in the near future. 

Other Sabres Stories

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Sabres win the Atlantic Division

"It's his first day back with us. We're going to get him involved in a little bit of physical contact and see where he's at. He has been skating. We've just been trying to get him to that next level (and) today was that next level," Ruff said.  "We'll see how he feels after taking faceoffs and being involved in practice and (he's) definitely a possibility, I don't know for game one, but he is right there knocking on the door now."

 Ruff also reacted to the comments of Bruins head coach Marco Sturm, that his club is bigger, stronger, and more physical and that Boston’s game plan is to go after the Sabres.  

"That's his take on his team. I have a lot of respect for what our team has done and how we play and the speed we play the game," Ruff said.  "They've got a good team. They know who they are, and we know who we are."

The Bruins have been a physical team all season, and will likely be targeting their forechecking on Buffalo’s key players: centers Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, and winger Alex Tuch up front, and Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram on the back end. Boston will likely look to match up veteran Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm against the Sabres top two lines centered by Thompson and Norris, while relying on their heavy forecheck and hard-hitting blueliners Charlie McAvoy to lay the body on Buffalo forwards. The series may come down what playoff series always come down to; special teams and which goaltender will perform better under pressure. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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A’s Beat White Sox 7-6

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It took a couple extra innings but our A’s came out on top on Saturday afternoon, beating the Chicago White Sox 7-6 to knot up the series and send it to the rubber match tomorrow.

More to come…