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The IOC’s decision to protect the female category is a victory for fairness | Tanya Aldred

Trans athletes and those with DSD must be treated with respect, and the new testing regime must be run with sensitivity. But this is a step forward

The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to exclude transgender women and most athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) from women’s Olympic sport has won praise from most major sports bodies but criticism from some activist groups.

It also closes the door on a period where often well-intentioned inclusivity came at the expense of sportswomen, and those who pointed out that the rules were not fair.

Tanya Aldred writes about sport for the Guardian

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Seattle designates RHP Casey Legumina for assignment, calls up RHP Alex Hoppe

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Alex Hoppe #48 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Seattle Mariners announced Tuesday afternoon that they have designated RHP Casey Legumina for assignment, recalling rookie RHP Alex Hoppe for additional bullpen depth.

The move comes on the heels of a difficult outing for Legumina, but the righty had been reasonably effective in the early stages of the season prior to being tasked with the heart of the lefty-heavy Athletics order in the 8th inning of Monday night’s knotted affair. Asked predominantly for mop-up and low-leverage work, the Gonzaga product amassed a 5.43/4.15 ERA/FIP in 61.1 innings over the past two seasons with Seattle, a total of -0.9/0.0 bWAR/fWAR. At times, Legumina became the de facto long reliever for the M’s, pitching at least parts of multiple innings in half his appearances in 2026 and more than a handful a season ago. Though the Bean Man could be claimed to fill out another club’s bullpen, it’s plausible he passes through waivers and returns to Triple-A Tacoma for Seattle to call upon again.

His departure gives the Mariners a nearly fully rested bullpen headed into the final two tilts of a 13-game set without off days. The 27 year old Hoppe has yet to make his major league debut, having spent the first few weeks of 2026 with the Rainiers in Tacoma. Even without Legumina’s tough outing a night ago, Hoppe was pushing the M’s to make a move, with eight scoreless outings (well, one unearned run) as Tacoma’s de facto closer, punching out 12 and walking just three while yielding only four hits in 8.0 innings.

Nick Vitalis wrote Hoppe’s 40 in 40, which you can read here for some detail and a spectacular celebrity comp, and Kate should have some more details on Hoppe this afternoon to boot. The short of it is… Hoppe has had command issues, having been a 6th round pick out of UNC Greensboro by the Boston Red Sox in 2022 as a cost-saving senior sign whose expectation was to climb the ranks swiftly. Instead, it’s been a trickier traversal, with three rounds at Double-A Portland from 2023-2025 before cracking Triple-A Worcester last year.

As you can see from the clip below, Hoppe eschews some recent trends in pitch design and development. He’s “just” 6’1, but creates a steeper angle with a rather over-the-top delivery that makes his heater and breaking ball appear to tunnel well.

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These pitches also make it difficult for hitters to elevate, as Hoppe has run high groundball rates for much of his career and has continued to do so in his short time this season. If and when he pitches for Seattle, he’ll be the first Mariners player to make their MLB debut in 2026.

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Reds Injury Update – Nick Lodolo set for rehab assignment

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds gets set to throw a pitch during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 12, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds v Washington Nationals

It is undeniable that the heartbeat of the Cincinnati Reds roster is their starting pitching. During the 2025 regular season, in particular, that group posted an impressive 19.4 fWAR combined, a mark that was good for third-best in all of Major League Baseball (behind only the big spending Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers).

That’s by design, too. A quick glance at the projected 2026 rotation shows a cadre of former 1st round picks (Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene) as well as a 2nd rounder (Andrew Abbott). In other words, the Reds are well aware the importance of the rotation, the attrition that always hits it, and how their business model means they need to draft and develop the best arms they can get as early in drafts as it can be.

The 2026 group hasn’t been exactly as planned, however. Greene is out until mid-summer after having elbow surgery this spring, while Lodolo has been sidelined as he battles through a recurring blister issue that’s cost him time as well as impacted which pitches he can actually throw. The current group, buoyed by veteran Brady Singer and lefty Brandon Williamson, has obviously held up well enough for the Reds to sport a 15-8 overall record so far, but they haven’t exactly been brilliant in leading the roster there.

For instance, their 6.21 K/9 ranks second worst among starting rotations league-wide. Their 4.80 expected ERA is the 8th highest, while their 4.77 xFIP ranks 3rd worst. Getting guys like Lodolo – and Greene, eventually – is only going to improve that mark, and it appears the Reds are finally getting close to that happening.

As MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed, Lodolo threw 50 pitches across a trio of innings in a simulated game yesterday down in Tampa, and he’s set to head out on a rehab assignment with High-A Dayton where he’ll pitch four innings, ideally, on Sunday.

One of the batters he pitched to in said simulated game was Jose Trevino, who’s been on the IL for the last two weeks with a back/neck issue. Trevino came through the sim game unscathed, too, and it appears he could rejoin Cincinnati’s active roster as early as Wednesday.

The band is getting closer to being back together!

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Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell announces that he's transferring to Duke

Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell is heading to Duke.

Blackwell announced Tuesday in an Instagram post that he had committed to Duke. Blackwell was one of the most highly regarded players to enter the transfer portal after he teamed up with Nick Boyd this season to give Wisconsin one of the nation’s top backcourt tandems.

Blackwell's decision was part of a productive day of commitments for the Blue Devils and top rival North Carolina. The Tar Heels, preparing for their first season under former NBA championship-winning coach Michael Malone, landed commitments from Utah guard Terrence Brown and guard Matt Able from fellow instate program N.C. State.

The 6-foot-4 Blackwell had 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season while helping Wisconsin go 24-11. He shot 38.9% from 3-point range and made 2.8 3-pointers per game.

Blackwell had some of his most productive performances against Wisconsin’s toughest opponents.

He scored 26 points in a road win over eventual national champion Michigan and averaged 27.5 points in the Badgers’ two victories over Final Four participant Illinois. He had 25 points in a late-season road win over Purdue, an NCAA regional finalist.

Blackwell had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament first-round loss to High Point.

He earned third-team all-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches and media. Blackwell didn’t make the Associated Press all-Big Ten team, which includes only a first team and second team.

That followed a 2024-25 season in which Blackwell had 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Brown, a 6-foot-3 junior, averaged 19.9 points last year with the Utes as he moves east to play for the Tar Heels, according to a social media post. Able, a 6-6 freshman, also committed to the Tar Heels according to On3 and multiple outlets after averaging 8.8 points in his freshman year with the Wolfpack.

Those two figure to slot into prominent backcourt roles, while the Tar Heels also added frontcourt depth with 6-9 French forward Maxim Logue from Florida Atlantic, according to DraftExpress, citing agency Gersh Sports. That comes after the Tar Heels had already secured a commitment from versatile 6-9 forward Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech.

In other portal news, Marquette announced the additions of former Louisville forward Sananda Fru and former St. Thomas (Minnesota) guard Nolan Minessale, representing a major change in the Golden Eagles' approach to roster construction.

Marquette coach Shaka Smart had signed plenty of Division I transfers while overhauling his roster immediately after getting hired in 2021, but he hadn't added any since. The last transfer to sign with Marquette was Zach Wrightsil, who arrived from NAIA program Loyola New Orleans in 2022.

Fru, who is 6-11, had 9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game at Louisville this season. Minessale had 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for St. Thomas.

___

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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GAME THREAD: Astros at Guardians, game 25 of 162

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Angel Martinez #79 of the Cleveland Guardians sits in the dugout before the Spring Training Game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Goodyear Ballpark on March 11, 2024 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s the Astros’ lineup:

Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

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Steve Kerr ‘not expected’ to return to Warriors, per report

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In today’s Dub Hub:

It’s beginning to look like the Golden State Warriors are heading toward a major change on the sidelines next season.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, Steve Kerr is not expected to return as head coach, barring a “renewed faith” in his role with the franchise.

Via NBC Sports Bay Area:

The general belief among the Warriors – openly expressed by Draymond Green – and around the league since the weekend is that Kerr will be comfortably jobless after meeting with Lacob and Dunleavy. Most expect a decision in a matter of days, not weeks.

Yet Kerr last week left open the possibility – very slight, according to sources – of returning. Multiple sources indicate his decision, however, will not be based on the dollar amount.

“They could offer Steve $25 million a year,” one league source said, “and I doubt that alone would make a difference.”

Two sources insist that any change of heart would require, among other factors, Kerr having renewed faith in his role as the franchise shifts toward the future.

With money not expected to be a factor, the situation appears to hinge on whether Kerr still wants to lead the franchise into its next phase — one that would eventually move beyond Stephen Curry as its centerpiece.

While Kerr has long been vocal about his love for coaching Curry and the Warriors, his contract is set to expire, and this past season served as a reminder that the Warriors’ dynasty is nearing its end. Injuries exposed the reality of an aging roster trying to hold onto contention in a league that continues to get younger, faster, and more skilled. There’s also the added layer of the organization reportedly wanting Kerr to tweak his system moving forward — including placing a greater emphasis on analytics, according to ESPN.

All of that makes it fair to question whether he is still willing to navigate what could be a challenging transition period.

So, with a meeting looming between Kerr, Warriors’ owner Joe Lacob, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., this decision will define not just next season, but the next era of Warriors basketball.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 21st:

Warriors News:

The Warriors’ summer of uncertainty starts with Steve Kerr | ESPN

If Kerr returns, they will discuss staffing and what management believes is a need for philosophy tweaks, team sources said, focusing on diversifying the offensive attack and winning the analytically friendly possession battle more often. There has been a feeling internally that they were too reliant this season on 3-point variance.

Those aside, there’s also overarching organizational disappointment about the 13-15 start when the Warriors were healthy, the late-game inconsistencies, the incessant turnover problem and the fact that they won only 37 games in a season in which one-third of the league was tanking.

Is the ride over for Warriors? Golden State’s offseason looks like an off-ramp | Yahoo Sports

If Kerr walks, ESPN reported that the front office would consider external candidates, even exploring the college ranks. I’m told the Warriors love Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden. He’s known the Lacob family for years, and league sources say they’ve long admired his coaching talent ever since he was an assistant coach at the University of San Francisco. But Golden would be no guarantee to leave Florida for a Warriors franchise that is, frankly, a less appealing destination than it used to be. With aging stars and no youthful core to build around, the Warriors may no longer be in a position to get exactly what they want.

Warriors players reflect on disappointing 2025-26 NBA season, preview offseason | NBCS Bay Area

NBA News:

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama named 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year

The biggest accomplishment may be this: Wemby got everybody to agree.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry was the unanimous MVP in 2016 and in the 10 seasons that have followed, there have been only two instances of a player collecting 100% of the first-place votes for an award.

Those were Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year in 2024, and now this.

Hawks complete 4th quarter comeback win vs. Knicks to tie series at 1-1

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors reportedly extended Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently

The Warriors are waiting to learn what Steve Kerr’s future will be, but that’s where the leadership questions mostly end. According to a report from ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. signed an extension a few months ago, and is now under contract for multiple years. So in a summer of uncertainty, the Dubs know who is going to be calling the shots, and making the decisions.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

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Gamethread 4/21: Phillies at Cubs

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 20: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in the first inning during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday, April 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nick Loggarakis/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:

For the Cubs:

Let’s talk about it.

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Detroit Pistons have one game to beat the allegations

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 06: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a shot against Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Kia Center on April 06, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

You couldn’t have written up a more dispiriting Game 1 performance from the Detroit Pistons than what they delivered against the Orlando Magic on Sunday night. The eighth-seeded Magic, facing a Pistons team that never spent a day below first place in the Eastern Conference all season, never trailed. They had the better game plan, the better players, and the better energy. Even in a game when its star, Cade Cunningham, scored 39 points, it never seemed like Detroit was threatening to take over the game.

For a team and a fan base that dealt with a season of hearing Detroit disrespected as not real contenders, with the likes of the Celtics, Knicks, and Cavs, thrust above them as teams that could win a title, it was a chance to prove the doubters wrong.

Now those same doubters have no reason to do anything other than double down, and many of the believers are in crisis mode.

The Pistons have one game to fix the mess they put themselves in. Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena is a must-win contest, or this series is effectively over.

I have faith in the Pistons, but I also recognize that playoff basketball is not regular-season basketball. There is too much time to game plan and prepare. The Magic were able to effectively close off the paint to call comers, and for a non-shooting team like the Pistons, having zero pathways to the basket completely short-circuited anything they hoped to do on offense. It shouldn’t have been that easy to neutralize Detroit’s attack and take away all their strengths, but here we are.

With zero hyperbole, the Pistons had their worst game scoring inside this season. Their 34 points were a low point. The same team that scored 80 points in the paint against Brooklyn in November, and at least 60 points in the paint 38 times, managed a meager 34.

I have seen some say Jalen Duren was invisible, and, boy, I wish that were the case. Unfortunately, he was extremely noticeable in all the worst ways. Only two players on the Magic roster who played had fewer shot attempts than Duren.

Duren only had one game with a lower usage rate all season than he did on Sunday, and never had a lower percentage of his team’s shot attempts than he did against the Magic. He didn’t make any of this up on defense, where he was constantly letting Magic players have position and getting beaten on back cuts in both man and zone defense.

It was ugly. It is also fixable.

Cade proved he is a playoff performer. He can get his own, but it’s on him and his coaching staff to figure out how to get others involved, chief among them, Duren. They need to embrace Duren’s face-up game and short-roll opportunities instead of only force-feeding entry passes right below the basket.

It’s not that I want Duren suddenly co-running the offense. I just need the Pistons to find opportunities inside to provide any semblance of spacing the floor and creating cracks in Orlando’s defense. Detroit settled on Sunday and made it easy for the Magic defenders. They can’t afford to do that again.

If they do, it is effectively game over on not just the Pistons season, but has to be game over for this version of the franchise’s team-building project. If it’s this easy to shut down how your offense works because you want to put superior defenders on the floor, then you don’t have a winning formula.

Detroit would need to think long and hard about who is part of that title-contending future. It can’t be all three of Duren, Ron Holland, and Ausar Thompson. Not because any of the three can’t get markedly better on offense, but because Detroit has chips they can move around to build an extremely dangerous team that can succeed in both the regular season and the playoffs. Cunningham’s performance is all the proof you need of that fact.

The scheme, the secondary players, the future? Those are all question marks. We are going to get an answer on Wednesday, one way or another.

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Lakers, Rockets health update: Kevin Durant may play Tuesday, Austin Reaves could return before series' end

Injuries have been half the story in the Rockets vs. Lakers first-round showdown. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 and is still officially questionable for Game 2 with a knee contusion. Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) remain out for the Lakers.

The latest reporting is that Durant may try to play in Game 2 on Tuesday night, and it's possible Austin Reaves could return by the end of the season.

Officially, Durant remains questionable for Game 2, and he did not speak with reporters at the Rockets' shootaround. However, Sam Amick of The Athletic reports there appears to be a good chance he is a go in Game 2.

Without Durant, the Rockets could not break 100 points in Game 1, and as a team they shot just 37.6%. That was just part of the Rockets problems in Game 1, a defense that allowed the shorthanded Lakers to shoot 60.6% on the night was the other.

LeBron James thrived in Game 1 as a playmaker, who could score when he had to, however the Lakers would look much better with another high level shot creator on the court. There is optimism that Austin Reaves might be able to fill that role by the end of the series, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

If the Lakers can take Game 2 at home on Tuesday — a game you can watch on NBC and Peacock — they will be much closer to extending their playoff run long enough for Reaves, and maybe Doncic, to return. However, Durant is going to have something to say about that.

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Sabres Must Seize Golden Opportunity In Game 2 vs. Bruins

The Buffalo Sabres are set to face off against the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the first round on Tuesday night. The Sabres are certainly entering this contest with momentum on their side, as they beat the Bruins in Game 1 with a great third-period comeback win. 

Now, the Sabres have a golden opportunity for Game 2 that they absolutely must seize. 

If the Sabres defeat the Bruins in Game 2, they would have a commanding 2-0 series lead before they head to TD Garden for Games 3 and 4. This would put them in a fantastic spot and put them in complete control of the series. 

However, if the Sabres end up losing Game 2 on home ice, it would put them in a tougher situation, as they would be tied in the series 1-1 before heading to Boston. This would not be ideal, as the Bruins had far more success at home this season. Their 29-11-1 home record this campaign effectively demonstrates this.

It will now be interesting to see if the Sabres can win Game 2 over the Bruins from here. If the Sabres play like how they did in Game 1 vs. the Original Six club, they will undoubtedly have a good shot at winning Game 2. 

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Brighton pile pressure on Rosenior with 3-0 win over Chelsea – as it happened

Brighton rose to sixth place after punishing a Chelsea performance their manager, Liam Rosenior, described as ‘unacceptable’

2 min: Chelsea still have the ball. They’ve had one attack, in which Hinshelwood was brought down a few yards outside the penalty area but it looked like the referee was looking the other way, as presumably were his assistants, so no free kick.

1 min: Peeeeeep! It’s Brighton who get the game under way.

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Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies preview, Tuesday 4/21, 6:40 CT

Tuesday notes…

  • STREAKING: The Cubs’ current winning streak is their 181st of at least six games since 1901, first year of the Modern Era, and their 33rd since 2000. The previous one was Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 2024. It was among 73 that ended at six games. In the seventh game, the Cubs led the visiting Reds, 3-0, after seven innings, then gave up four runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to lose, 5-3. The last of more than six games was eight in a row, July 21-29, 2023. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • HITTING: Alex Bregman, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner each has made the Cubs’ first hit of a game four times, tied for most on the team. All of Happ’s have come in the last six games: April 14 and 18-20. All were singles leading off the second inning. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • PITCHING: The Cubs allowed 13 runs in the last game they lost, Monday, April 13 at Philadelphia. They have allowed 14 runs total during the six-game winning streak, the fewest of any MLB team in that stretch.
  • TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Jake Arrieta throws his second no-hitter and the Cubs defeat the Reds by the biggest margin ever in a no-hitter, 16-0 at Cincinnati. It happened 10 years ago today, Thursday, April 21, 2016.

Cubs lineup:

Phillies lineup:

Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. Jesús Luzardo, LHP

Here we have a pitching rematch from last Wednesday in Philadelphia, the most recent start for both Shōta Imanaga and Jesús Luzardo.

As you’ll recall, Imanaga was brilliant, allowing three hits and one run in six innings, with a career-high tying 11 strikeouts.

Do that again, Shōta.

Also to do again: Hit Jesús Luzardo the way the Cubs did in Philly: 12 hits, nine runs (eight earned) in 5.1 innings. Nico Hoerner homered off Luzardo, who has had a rough start to his 2026 season.

Keep that going, Cubs.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight. If you do go there to interact with Phillies fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Report: Canucks Granted Request To Interview Former Sabres GM For Open Position

It appears the Vancouver Canucks’ search for a new General Manager is unfolding. A report from Matthew Fairburn and Thomas Drance of The Athletic notes that the Canucks have requested permission to interview former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams for their open role. Vancouver parted ways with former General Manager Patrik Allvin on Friday morning. 

Adams previously served as the Sabres’ General Manager from the 2020–21 season to December of 2025. He had been with the Sabres organization since the 2009–10 season, acting as a Development Coach, Assistant Coach, Director, and Vice President before being named GM. In his time as the Sabres’ GM, Adams manned the organization’s helm for moves like trading Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights for Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, a 2022 first-round pick that turned into Noah Östlund, and a 2023 second-round pick that Buffalo partially flipped for Jordan Greenway. 

Since Adams’ firing, Buffalo has clinched the Atlantic Division and is currently up 1–0 in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins. This is the first time the Sabres have made the post-season since the 2010–11 season. 

Adams and Rutherford are connected via the Carolina Hurricanes, who the former played for from 2001-02 to 2006-07 (excluding the 2004-05 lockout). Rutherford served as Carolina's President and GM for all of these seasons. 

During his year-end media availability on Friday, Rutherford explained that the search for a new GM would begin at the start of this week. Abbotsford Canucks General Manager and Canucks Assistant General Manager Ryan Johnson has been a popular name mentioned in the discussion for Vancouver's new GM. 

Feb 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Kevyn Adams talks to left wing Thomas Vanek (26) on the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at the First Niagara Center. Islanders beat the Sabres 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-Imagn Images
Feb 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Kevyn Adams talks to left wing Thomas Vanek (26) on the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at the First Niagara Center. Islanders beat the Sabres 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Observations after Sixers snag gutsy Game 2 win over Celtics, Edgecombe and Maxey star

Observations after Sixers snag gutsy Game 2 win over Celtics, Edgecombe and Maxey star  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers emphatically erased the embarrassment of their 32-point Game 1 loss Tuesday night at TD Garden.

They responded by snagging a 111-97 win over the Celtics to even their first-round playoff series at 1-1. 

VJ Edgecombe was simply incredible, posting 30 points and 10 rebounds. Edgecombe scored the most by a Sixers rookie in a playoff game since Andrew Toney against the Celtics in 1981.

Tyrese Maxey had 29 points and nine assists. Paul George scored 19 points. 

Celtics star Jaylen Brown had 36 points. Jayson Tatum tallied 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. 

Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) remained out. A Sixers official said Monday that Embiid has started a post-surgery strength and conditioning program in Philadelphia. 

The Sixers will head home and face the Celtics in Game 3 on Friday night. Here are observations on their Game 2 victory: 

Three-point disparity the early story  

The Sixers’ defense did not have a promising start. Boston scored six points on its first two possessions with long-range jumpers by Tatum and Sam Hauser.

Offensively, the Sixers did a nice job in the opening minutes of taking available mid-range looks without hesitation. They began 4 for 4 from the floor. George knocked down a couple of mid-post jumpers. Edgecombe hit a shot from the left elbow to give the Sixers their first lead of the series at 9-8. 

The contest then shifted back to a similar dynamic as Game 1. Boston made a 16-0 run and went up 26-13 on a Nikola Vucevic three-pointer. 

The early long-distance gap between the teams was dramatic. The Celtics scored the night’s first 15 points beyond the arc. A game after going 4 for 23, the Sixers missed their first six three-point tries. 

Ultimately, the Sixers plugged away impressively until their shooting fortunes improved.

“I thought they just made tough shots,” George said. “We played good defense and they were making tough shots, contested shots. … I think the biggest thing is we were locked in. We were moving, we were flying around, we were helping one another.

“We can sustain that over a game. I thought it wore on them a little bit that we were there, we were contesting shots and we weren’t making it easy. But they came out hot. We just didn’t lay down. We stayed with it, put our heads down and hung in there.”

Edgecombe bounces right back up 

Edgecombe exited at the 4:47 mark of the first quarter, limping off to the Sixers’ locker room.

The rookie had fallen hard on his back a few plays prior while pursuing a defensive rebound. Fortunately for Edgecombe and the Sixers, he avoided anything close to a worst-case outcome.  

Edgecombe returned to the Sixers’ sideline about two minutes later and hopped on an exercise bike. He checked in with seven seconds left in the first quarter. 

“I just landed on my back, but I’m good,” Edgecombe said with a smile. “I was able to finish the game, so I’m good.

“That’s all I got for you. Ain’t nothing wrong with me; I’m good.”

Maxey and Brown sat to start the second quarter. The Sixers didn’t experience any sort of downward slide with their star guard resting. George and Quentin Grimes sunk three-pointers early in the second. Grimes also swatted away a Payton Pritchard jumper. 

Andre Drummond added a corner three. The veteran big man’s baseline push shot lifted the Sixers to a 41-39 edge and Maxey soon subbed in.

Grimes’ two-way play in the first half was an important boost for the Sixers after his quiet Game 1. When he’s on, Grimes can help keep the Sixers’ offense afloat with tough shotmaking during stagnant stretches. 

Edgecombe’s health sure didn’t appear to be an issue in the second quarter. He played a truly spectacular period. 

The 20-year-old chased down ultra-athletic offensive rebounds, played active defense and made his first three-pointers of the series — four of them, in fact. Late in the second, Edgecombe sliced through the Celtics’ defense and slammed in a fast-break dunk. He swished a jumper from the left wing to put the Sixers up 62-54. Edgecombe’s 20 points and seven rebounds topped both teams at halftime. 

As he showed in the Sixers’ opening-night win over the Celtics and on many subsequent occasions, Edgecombe believes that he belongs on big stages and has the tools to shine. He did just that in his second career playoff game. 

Sixers find tons of timely buckets

George committed his third foul with 6:57 left in the second quarter and had to watch the rest of the first half from the bench.

He drained a three-pointer on the first shot of the third quarter to raise the Sixers’ lead to double digits. Following that 0-for-6 start from three-point territory, the Sixers made 11 of their next 14 long-range jumpers. Meanwhile, the Celtics cooled off considerably and finished 13 for 50 (26 percent).

Edgecombe came out again with a limp at the 10:08 mark of the third quarter. Just like in the first half, he was back on the Sixers’ bench minutes later and good to go. 

The Celtics ate into the Sixers’ lead during much of the third quarter, but Edgecombe nailed a pull-up three to restore a six-point advantage. He continued to play fearless basketball and amped up his offensive aggression with Maxey on the bench. 

Boston trimmed its deficit to 84-82 on a short Pritchard jumper early in the fourth quarter. The Sixers prevented the Celtics from surging ahead and Justin Edwards played a major part.

Edwards, who logged 22 minutes off the bench, beat the shot clock with a timely three. He also blocked a Brown jumper, scrapped for rebounds, and generally did valuable, high-effort work as the Sixers’ lone bench wing.

“He’s a bigger wing defender,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said of Edwards. “And when Tatum and Brown are both in there, we’ve got to watch who’s in the game. So that led to Justin having a couple of stints there.

“Again, Justin for whatever reason seems to be open. The ball seems to find him and he’s not afraid to shoot ‘em. And he’s a good shooter.”

The Celtics were always bound to push the Sixers. With three-balls from Tatum and Brown, the Sixers’ lead dipped to 91-90.

Tatum missed a go-ahead jumper attempt. Maxey was then rewarded for his persistence through inevitable shooting ups and downs as the Sixers’ lead guard. He canned pull-up threes on the team’s next two possessions.

“He just wanted them,” Nurse said after Maxey’s 12-point fourth quarter. “I think you probably all could see that.

“He kind of looked at me for a play call and I looked at him and called, and he was like, ‘Man, I got it.’ He knew. … One of our emphases coming in was to screen better and I thought we did that tonight. Drummond and (Adem) Bona did a good job of getting him more space tonight.”

The Sixers’ foot stayed on the gas and the Celtics couldn’t create any drama down the stretch. Next on the Sixers’ agenda will be trying to grab an unlikely series lead Friday in Philadelphia.

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Astros vs. Guardians Game Thread: Game 25, 4/21/2026

DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) hits a second inning solo home run during a game between the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Houston Astros (9-15) and Cleveland Guardians (13-11) will play the 2nd game of this 3-game set tonight at Progressive Field.

RHP Ryan Weiss (0-2) will start for the Astros vs. Guardians LHP Parker Messick (3-0).

TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Ryan Weiss will make his second start of the season tonight.

Weiss began the 2026 season in the Astros bullpen, making 5 relief appearances before making his first career ML start on April 16 vs. COL (3.2 IP, 2 ER).

About Ryan: Weiss is back pitching in the United States in 2026 after spending the last two seasons in the KBO. He made 46 career starts in Korea for the Hanwha Eagles and posted a 3.16 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 305 strikeouts in 270.1 innings over those two seasons.

The Astros signed him to a Major League deal in December.

VS. THE LAND: Tonight is the 2nd game of six scheduled meetings vs. the Guardians in 2026,

After this 3-game set at Progressive Field, the two clubs will play a 3-game series at Daikin Park, June 19-21.

The Astros were 2-4 vs. CLE last season, going 2-1 at Progressive and 0-3 at Daikin Park.

AT PROGRESSIVE: With last night’s victory, the Astros are now 5-1 in their last 6 games at Progressive Field. They were 2-0 here in 2024 and 2-1 in 2025.

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE: Since April 13, C Yainer Diaz has been successful in 9 of his last 10 ABS challenges. In that span, he has been successful twice in the same game 4 different times.

A PERFECT 10:Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid start to the 2026 season as he leads the Majors with 10 HR, which matches the club record through a player’s first 24 games of a season, joining Lance Berkman (2002).

ON THE LEADERBOARD: Alvarez currently leads the AL in WAR (1.6), RBI (21), XBH (17) and TB (65), and is 2nd in SLG (.756), OBP (.459) and OPS (1.215).

TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have placed OF Taylor Trammell on the 10-day IL due to a left groin strain.

To take his place on the active roster, the Astros selected OF Daniel Johnson (#31) to the Major League roster.

To make room for Johnson on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated RHP Christian Roa for assignment.

MR. 2000: 2B Jose Altuve needs to appear in one more game to reach 2,000 for his career, which will make him the 3rd Astros player to reach this milestone.

Hall of Famers Craig Biggio (2,850) and Jeff Bagwell (2,150) also surpassed 2,000 career games (all for HOU).

Only four active players have reached 2,000 career games: Andrew McCutchen (2,276), Carlos Santana (2,212), Freddie Freeman (2,199) and Paul Goldschmidt (2,082).

THE ORDER: The Astros have used 24 different batting orders in their 24 games so far this season. Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the lineup (second).

EXTRA! EXTRA!: 2B Jose Altuve recorded his 750th career extra-base hit on Thursday (4/16 VS. COL) with his 461st career double. He also has 32 triples and 258 home runs, all coming as an Astro.

Only Craig Biggio (1,014) and Jeff Bagwell (969) have more extra-base hits than Altuve in franchise history.

BEHIND THE DISH:C Christian Vázquez is hitting .375 (12×32) with a .444 OBP and a 1.132 OPS.

He has also tallied 10 RBI in just 10 games (8 starts) and has four catcher caught stealings on the season.

HARD TO HIT: Opponents are just 7×48 (.146) vs. RHP Kai-Wei Teng, who is just the 2nd Taiwanese-born player to appear with the Astros in their history.

Among AL relievers, Teng ranks T-2nd in innings (13.2) and T-8th in strikeouts (14).

Sunday was his 4th scoreless appearance of at least 2.0 innings this season, tied for the most among AL relievers.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1999 – In a record-setting 10-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jeff Bagwell goes 3×5 with 3 HR and 6 RBI. Not only does Bagwell tie the franchise record for HR in a game, he also passes Jimmy Wynn to become the club’s all-time career HR leader. Bagwell would have another 3-HR game later that season, also in Chicago on June 9, 1999, homering 3 times at Comiskey Park vs. the ChiSox. He end his career with 449 HR, which still stands as the franchise record.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, April 21, 5:10 p.m. CST

Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland OH.

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)