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IPL 2026: Bowlers’ off day cost Gujarat Titans against Rajasthan Royals, says Matthew Hayden  Even 45 dot balls couldn’t mask the lapses as many of Gujarat Titans’ bowlers “were just a little bit off their rhythm and lines in particular,” admitted batting coach Matthew Hayden after a six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a boundary-laden IPL contest here on Saturday.The Titans conceded 13 wides, which proved costly in a narrow defeat. “(Mohammed) Siraj had an off day. Simple as that. When we reviewed his pitch map, it was a little bit too short and a little bit too wide,” he said.Hayden felt “the game was absolutely in the bag,” pointing to key decisions against an on-song Ravi Bishnoi (four for 41) and a costly run out of Shahrukh Khan. The 54-year-old called for a “little bit of cohesion” in the “entire batting line-up,” adding that there was a need for “that little attention to detail around winning a game amongst a partnership that does start.”Hayden said Kagiso Rabada (23 n.o.) “was magnificent with the bat,” adding that he “showed, as a frontline bowler, that commitment to batting counts, especially in run chases.”Player-of-the-Match Bishnoi revealed his most effective tactic of the night. “There was a big boundary on one side, and there were many left-handers in the opposition. So, I was trying to bowl googlies from middle and leg (stumps). The attempt was to make the left-handers hit the balls going away towards the longer end. Sai (Sudharsan) and Washi (Washington Sundar) both got out. So, that tactic I discussed with the captain (Riyan Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) behind (the stumps) worked,” he said.Published on Apr 05, 2026  #IPL #Bowlers #day #cost #Gujarat #Titans #Rajasthan #Royals #Matthew #Hayden

IPL 2026: Bowlers’ off day cost Gujarat Titans against Rajasthan Royals, says Matthew Hayden

Even 45 dot balls couldn’t mask the lapses as many of Gujarat Titans’ bowlers “were just a little bit off their rhythm and lines in particular,” admitted batting coach Matthew Hayden after a six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a boundary-laden IPL contest here on Saturday.

The Titans conceded 13 wides, which proved costly in a narrow defeat. “(Mohammed) Siraj had an off day. Simple as that. When we reviewed his pitch map, it was a little bit too short and a little bit too wide,” he said.

Hayden felt “the game was absolutely in the bag,” pointing to key decisions against an on-song Ravi Bishnoi (four for 41) and a costly run out of Shahrukh Khan. The 54-year-old called for a “little bit of cohesion” in the “entire batting line-up,” adding that there was a need for “that little attention to detail around winning a game amongst a partnership that does start.”

Hayden said Kagiso Rabada (23 n.o.) “was magnificent with the bat,” adding that he “showed, as a frontline bowler, that commitment to batting counts, especially in run chases.”

Player-of-the-Match Bishnoi revealed his most effective tactic of the night. “There was a big boundary on one side, and there were many left-handers in the opposition. So, I was trying to bowl googlies from middle and leg (stumps). The attempt was to make the left-handers hit the balls going away towards the longer end. Sai (Sudharsan) and Washi (Washington Sundar) both got out. So, that tactic I discussed with the captain (Riyan Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) behind (the stumps) worked,” he said.

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#IPL #Bowlers #day #cost #Gujarat #Titans #Rajasthan #Royals #Matthew #Hayden

Even 45 dot balls couldn’t mask the lapses as many of Gujarat Titans’ bowlers “were just a little bit off their rhythm and lines in particular,” admitted batting coach Matthew Hayden after a six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a boundary-laden IPL contest here on Saturday.

The Titans conceded 13 wides, which proved costly in a narrow defeat. “(Mohammed) Siraj had an off day. Simple as that. When we reviewed his pitch map, it was a little bit too short and a little bit too wide,” he said.

Hayden felt “the game was absolutely in the bag,” pointing to key decisions against an on-song Ravi Bishnoi (four for 41) and a costly run out of Shahrukh Khan. The 54-year-old called for a “little bit of cohesion” in the “entire batting line-up,” adding that there was a need for “that little attention to detail around winning a game amongst a partnership that does start.”

Hayden said Kagiso Rabada (23 n.o.) “was magnificent with the bat,” adding that he “showed, as a frontline bowler, that commitment to batting counts, especially in run chases.”

Player-of-the-Match Bishnoi revealed his most effective tactic of the night. “There was a big boundary on one side, and there were many left-handers in the opposition. So, I was trying to bowl googlies from middle and leg (stumps). The attempt was to make the left-handers hit the balls going away towards the longer end. Sai (Sudharsan) and Washi (Washington Sundar) both got out. So, that tactic I discussed with the captain (Riyan Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) behind (the stumps) worked,” he said.

Published on Apr 05, 2026

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#IPL #Bowlers #day #cost #Gujarat #Titans #Rajasthan #Royals #Matthew #Hayden

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Displaced in Lebanon: ‘Lives turned upside down’<div data-tracking-skip="true" data-tracking-name="rich-text"><p>Fatme A. is trying to maintain some semblance of a normal life in between the improvised tent shelters, stacked mattresses and all the other families sheltered close by.</p> <p>She is staying in the Azarieh buildings, in the middle of <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/beirut/t-38446502">Beirut’s</a> commercial center — the buildings have become a shelter for <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/lebanons-humanitarian-crisis-worsens-as-fighting-continues/a-76512884">hundreds of displaced Lebanese</a>. Around 250 families are living here in makeshift tents. There’s water, a communal kitchen and goods distributed by aid organizations. But there’s not much space, let alone peace or privacy.</p> <figure class="placeholder-image master_portrait right"><img data-format="MASTER_PORTRAIT" data-id="76638708" data-url="https://static.dw.com/image/76638708_${formatId}.jpg" data-aspect-ratio="3/4" alt="Fatme (right) and her family in Beirut, sitting on the ground on mattresses eating food" style="padding-bottom: 133.33%; height: 0; max-height: 0;"/><figcaption class="img-caption">In early March, Fatme (right) and her family left their home in the Beirut suburbs under attack by Israel<small class="copyright">Image: privat</small></figcaption></figure> <p>Fatme spends most of her time inside her tent. She isn’t even that keen to go to the bathroom here. “You have to queue and everybody looks at you,” she confides. “I get embarrassed.”</p> <p>That’s why she sits inside her cloth shelter, amid bags, blankets and the small number of personal belongings she was able to carry with her when she was forced to flee home.</p> <p>She lives here together with her husband, their 7-year-old daughter and her mother, sharing what little space they have. Her husband, a carpenter, has been helping others in the building. He repairs, builds and organizes. “Because he is able to help, we managed to get two tents,” Fatme explains.</p> <p>During the day she tries to carry on as usual. But the nights are more difficult. “The explosions are so loud,” she tells DW. “A lot of people here are afraid and sleep fully dressed.”</p> <h2>Conflict expanding in Lebanon</h2> <p>The <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/lebanon-caught-in-the-middle-as-hezbollah-deadline-looms/a-75189155">Iran war arrived in Beirut</a> some time ago, and lately it has moved from beyond what are recognized as conflict zones to other parts of the Lebanese capital.</p> <p>Israel has expanded its targeting and has also started hitting areas that are beyond what are known as neighborhoods that support the Lebanese group, Hezbollah — that includes central city areas. Sometimes the Israeli attacks come without any warning.</p> <p><a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/hezbollah/t-41508807">Hezbollah</a> has both a military and political wing, plays a major role in Lebanese society and politics and is opposed to Israel. The group, which is allied with Iran, is categorized as a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and a number of Sunni Muslim countries. Europe considers Hezbollah’s armed wing a terrorist organization.</p> <p>At the same time that Israel is attacking from the air, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has also said a buffer zone will be set up inside southern Lebanon and that Israel will keep security control over it even when the Iran war ends.</p> <p>Katz has said the area to be <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/eu-weighs-options-as-israel-threatens-lebanon-offensive/a-76413367">occupied by Israeli forces</a> would go right up to the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (around 18 miles) from the Lebanese border with Israel. Katz also said all houses in Lebanese villages near the Israeli border would be destroyed.</p> <p>In response, Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa said Katz’s remarks showed Israel’s “clear intention to impose a new occupation of Lebanese territory, forcibly displace hundreds of thousands of citizens, and systematically destroy villages and towns in the south.”</p> <p>A joint statement signed by the foreign ministers of 10 European countries, alongside the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas, urged Israel to respect <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/lebanon/t-19131661">Lebanon’s</a> territorial integrity.</p> <h2>‘Nowhere is safe’</h2> <p>But for Lebanese locals impacted by the Israeli invasion, those words bring no comfort. They feel there is nowhere safe for them at the moment.</p> <p>“We fled [our homes] but we know that there’s nowhere that’s really safe. But there’s nothing more we can do,” Fatme explains.</p> <p>Only a few weeks ago, Fatme and her family were living at home in Ouzai in the south of the city. It’s a dense, mixed-use neighborhood that belongs to the part of Beirut known as Dahiyeh.</p> <div class="vjs-wrapper embed big"><h2 aria-label="Embedded video — 'Nowhere feels safe': Beirut hit by ongoing Israeli strikes" class="headline"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><g fill-rule="evenodd"><path d="M14.114 7.599H13.5l.002 4.706h.601l4.582 3.25-.005-11.11zM11.084 4.444l-9.007.002-1.336.797.002 9.514 1.334.793 9.007.006 1.509-.799-.004-9.516z"/></g></svg>‘Nowhere feels safe’: Beirut hit by ongoing Israeli strikes</h2><video id="video-76383948" controls="" playsinline="" preload="none" poster="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-id="76383948" data-posterurl="https://static.dw.com/image/76383706_605.webp" data-duration="06:22"><source src="https://hlsvod.dw.com/i/dwtv_video/flv/je/je20260316_beirut_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8" type="application/x-mpegURL"><source src="https://tvdownloaddw-a.akamaihd.net/dwtv_video/flv/je/je20260316_beirut_AVC_1920x1080.mp4" type="video/mp4"><p class="vjs-no-js">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href="https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/" target="_blank">supports HTML5 video</a></p></source></source></video></div> <p>Dahiyeh — in Arabic, the word simply means “suburb” — is an area that is almost as big as central Beirut itself. Over the past few decades, Dahiyeh has grown thanks to migration and displacement. A lot of people have moved here simply because they couldn’t afford to live in other parts of the increasingly expensive city. Others arrived thanks to war, political crises or a lack of state support elsewhere.</p> <p>For some outsiders and for Western observers, Dahiyeh is often only seen as a Hezbollah stronghold, a political and military space. But for the people who actually live there it is also a totally normal, often bustling area, filled with shops, restaurants and supermarkets. And above all, it is their home. </p> <p>“We had a normal family life there,” Fatme recounts. “My daughter went to school, my husband worked as a carpenter and I ran the house. Our life was good there.” The family felt secure and stable, she adds.</p><span data-slot-id="Article_InContent-1" class="rich-text-ad"/> <h2>No real ceasefire</h2> <p>But in late February the US and Israel <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/us-israel-war-with-iran/t-76168615">began attacking Iran</a> and killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.</p> <p>Hezbollah is supported by Iran and had pledged allegiance to Khamenei. At the beginning of March, the group joined the war, explicitly linking their participation to Khamenei’s assassination. They began firing rockets and drones into neighboring Israel and <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/lebanon-israel-trades-fire-with-hezbollah-in-south-and-east/a-76183883">Israel has responded</a> with aerial sorties. Since then, violence and fighting in Lebanon has only escalated. </p> <figure class="placeholder-image master_landscape big"><img data-format="MASTER_LANDSCAPE" data-id="76638730" data-url="https://static.dw.com/image/76638730_${formatId}.jpg" data-aspect-ratio="16/9" alt="A view inside a blue tent, mattresses and water bottles are seen" style="padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; max-height: 0;"/><figcaption class="img-caption">Fatme’s family managed to get two tents inside buddings in central Beirut<small class="copyright">Image: privat</small></figcaption></figure> <p>After fighting started, Fatme’s family got in their car and left. They managed to return to their home twice and stayed there for two nights. But it was clear things were getting more dangerous.</p> <p>“We were just afraid,” Fatme says, explaining that they decided to leave again, mostly for their daughter’s sake.</p> <p>“It took me five years to get pregnant,” Fatme continues, saying she was worried about losing her only child. “And my daughter is still suffering from the war in 2024. She is often afraid and scared to go anywhere alone. Whenever there’s any loud noise, she covers her ears.”</p> <p>Even after the <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/lebanon-israel-send-civilian-delegates-to-truce-monitoring-talk/a-75007010">official ceasefire</a> between Israel and Hezbollah was arranged in November 2024, there was still violence with continuous Israeli attacks, explosions and ever more insecurity.</p> <p>According to the <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/israeli-troops-fire-at-un-peacekeepers-in-lebanon/a-74768105">United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL</a>, and the Lebanese government itself, there were more than 15,400 ceasefire violations by Israeli forces, and more than 370 people killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon by February 2026 — that was despite the November ceasefire. </p> <p>“The continuing Israeli attacks don’t just destroy houses and infrastructure; they erode the pillars of daily life and recovery,” Jeremy Ristord, head of programs in Lebanon for the group Doctors Without Borders, <a rel="noopener follow" target="_blank" class="external-link" href="https://prezly.msf.org.uk/msf-update-southern-lebanon-where-is-the-ceasefire" title="External link — said in a statement">said in a statement<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><path d="M11.5 3.5 11.5 4.233C14.342 4.233 15.167 4.245 15.167 4.258L8.984 10.467 10.033 11.516C14.826 6.725 16.228 5.333 16.242 5.333L16.267 9 17.733 9 17.733 2.767 11.5 2.767 11.5 3.5M2.267 11 2.267 17.233 16.733 17.233 16.733 12 15.267 12 15.25 15.75 9.5 15.75 3.75 15.75 3.75 6.25 9.5 6.233 9.5 4.767 2.267 4.767 2.267 11 "/></svg></a> in late February.</p> <p>That was why Fatme’s daughter was still so scared. The explosions and frightening loud noises never stopped, nor did her fear. For Fatme’s family it was clear they had to leave. They packed only necessities. As they drove away, they still didn’t know where they were heading. They just left.</p> <p>They ran into heavy traffic jams because other people in the area had had the same idea. At first the family slept in their car but then they managed to find some accommodation in the Azarieh buildings, which have been turned into accommodation for displaced locals.</p> <p>“I really miss my own home,” Fatme says. “My life, my things, my routine. Just a month ago, everything looked so different. Our lives have been turned upside down.”</p> <p>Even inside the buildings, Fatme’s daughter still gets scared at loud noises and cries a lot. When that happens, Fatme pulls her closer. “That’s when I forget my own fear and try to comfort her,” she says.</p> <h2>Uncertain future </h2> <p>It’s unlikely that things are going to get better any time soon. At a March 31 meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Tom Fletcher, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator, said 1,240 people had been killed and a further 3,500 injured in Lebanon. That number included women, children and first responders. </p> <p>At the same time, over 1.1 million people have been displaced, including hundreds of thousands of children.</p> <p>“A cycle of coercive displacement is unfolding,” <a rel="noopener follow" target="_blank" class="external-link" href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167231" title="External link — Fletcher warned">Fletcher warned<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><path d="M11.5 3.5 11.5 4.233C14.342 4.233 15.167 4.245 15.167 4.258L8.984 10.467 10.033 11.516C14.826 6.725 16.228 5.333 16.242 5.333L16.267 9 17.733 9 17.733 2.767 11.5 2.767 11.5 3.5M2.267 11 2.267 17.233 16.733 17.233 16.733 12 15.267 12 15.25 15.75 9.5 15.75 3.75 15.75 3.75 6.25 9.5 6.233 9.5 4.767 2.267 4.767 2.267 11 "/></svg></a>. “Displacement is not a solution, but a painful last resort […] a temporary way to preserve dignity.”</p> <p>During these difficult days there are still moments when Fatme can see some hope for the future, for instance, as she watches the children here playing. When her daughter is among them, relaxed, laughing and without a care even for a few minutes, Fatme feels positive. “When I see her playing, that’s when I think everything will be OK.”</p> <p>But that feeling often doesn’t last long. The sound of Israeli drones over Beirut, the explosions in the distance — they all bring her back to the present and a view of what is left of their once happy lives: a family, two tents, a makeshift life.</p> <p>“We are not the first, and we won’t be the last family that has had to flee,” Fatme says. “We’ve just got to hold on. And I just want the people out there to know this: That we had it good here, and that we lived with dignity.”</p> <p><em>This article was originally written in German.</em></p> <div class="vjs-wrapper embed big"><h2 aria-label="Embedded video — Israel strikes Hezbollah sites in Beirut" class="headline"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><g fill-rule="evenodd"><path d="M14.114 7.599H13.5l.002 4.706h.601l4.582 3.25-.005-11.11zM11.084 4.444l-9.007.002-1.336.797.002 9.514 1.334.793 9.007.006 1.509-.799-.004-9.516z"/></g></svg>Israel strikes Hezbollah sites in Beirut</h2><video id="video-76663021" controls="" playsinline="" preload="none" poster="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-id="76663021" data-posterurl="https://static.dw.com/image/76655660_605.webp" data-duration="03:48"><source src="https://hlsvod.dw.com/i/vps/webvideos/ENG/2026/NEWS/NEWSENG260404_LebanonNew_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8" type="application/x-mpegURL"><source src="https://tvdownloaddw-a.akamaihd.net/vps/webvideos/ENG/2026/NEWS/NEWSENG260404_LebanonNew_01SMW_AVC_1920x1080.mp4" type="video/mp4"><p class="vjs-no-js">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href="https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/" target="_blank">supports HTML5 video</a></p></source></source></video></div> </div>#Displaced #Lebanon #Lives #turned #upside

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Why Do We Say “Piece of Cake” for Something That’s Easy?

Deadspin | Auburn blows 21-point lead, recovers to beat Tulsa for NIT title  Auburn Tigers guard Keyshawn Hall (7) ball is tipped away by Tulsa Golden Hurricane guard Ade Popoola (0) on Sunday, April 5, 2026, during the NIT men’s basketball championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.   Kevin Overton netted 26 points, including a deep 3-pointer and a free throw in the final two minutes of overtime, and Auburn won its first NIT championship in a wild 92-86 win over Tulsa on Sunday night in Indianapolis.   An NCAA Tournament Final Four team one year ago, the Tigers (22-16) wasted a 21-point first-half lead, but rallied in the final 10 seconds for overtime. They then outscored Tulsa 14-8 in the extra frame for the victory.  Tahaad Pettiford had 24 points and eight assists and Sebastian Williams-Adams tallied 13 points for the Tigers. Elyjah Freeman had six points, including two free throws with 11 seconds left in OT, and 14 rebounds.  Filip Jovic scored 12 points, while Keyshawn Hall had 11 and 12 boards, but both fouled out late in regulation.   A two-time NIT champion, the Golden Hurricane (30-8) used a 22-2 run to take the lead with 10:26 left in regulation.   Tulsa’s David Green had 25 points and six rebounds and Tylen Riley added 20 points. Ade Popoola scored 13 points.  With Tulsa trailing 48-31 at halftime, Green’s three-point play at 14:10 put the squad back in the contest, as the group trailed 57-45. Riley’s spinning layup at 12:58 made it 57-49 and forced an Auburn timeout during a 10-0 Tulsa run.   Miles Barnstable’s trey, Green’s two free throws and Riley’s pair from the line extended that run to 22-2 and put Tulsa ahead 61-59.  After Auburn forced a five-second turnover on an inbounds play while down by three, Overton drilled a corner 3-pointer to force overtime at 78-all.   With Auburn great Charles Barkley courtside, Jovic, a bruising 6-foot-8 freshman, started strong with back-to-back dunks as the Tigers used a 7-0 run for a 9-2 lead just over two minutes into the title game. Williams-Adams sank a 3-pointer at 13:58 to push it to a 16-4 advantage.  The American Conference school went 8 1/2 minutes without a field goal until Popoola’s layup at 10:51 made it 23-9.  Tulsa cut it to 39-26 on Tyler Behrend’s layup at 3:30, and Green’s 10 points led the way. However, the team shot only 38.5% (10 of 26) from the field.  Pettiford and Overton scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, as Auburn made 16 of 31 (51.7%) shots overall and led by 17 at the break.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Auburn #blows #21point #lead #recovers #beat #Tulsa #NIT #titleAuburn Tigers guard Keyshawn Hall (7) ball is tipped away by Tulsa Golden Hurricane guard Ade Popoola (0) on Sunday, April 5, 2026, during the NIT men’s basketball championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Kevin Overton netted 26 points, including a deep 3-pointer and a free throw in the final two minutes of overtime, and Auburn won its first NIT championship in a wild 92-86 win over Tulsa on Sunday night in Indianapolis.

An NCAA Tournament Final Four team one year ago, the Tigers (22-16) wasted a 21-point first-half lead, but rallied in the final 10 seconds for overtime. They then outscored Tulsa 14-8 in the extra frame for the victory.

Tahaad Pettiford had 24 points and eight assists and Sebastian Williams-Adams tallied 13 points for the Tigers. Elyjah Freeman had six points, including two free throws with 11 seconds left in OT, and 14 rebounds.

Filip Jovic scored 12 points, while Keyshawn Hall had 11 and 12 boards, but both fouled out late in regulation.

A two-time NIT champion, the Golden Hurricane (30-8) used a 22-2 run to take the lead with 10:26 left in regulation.

Tulsa’s David Green had 25 points and six rebounds and Tylen Riley added 20 points. Ade Popoola scored 13 points.


With Tulsa trailing 48-31 at halftime, Green’s three-point play at 14:10 put the squad back in the contest, as the group trailed 57-45. Riley’s spinning layup at 12:58 made it 57-49 and forced an Auburn timeout during a 10-0 Tulsa run.

Miles Barnstable’s trey, Green’s two free throws and Riley’s pair from the line extended that run to 22-2 and put Tulsa ahead 61-59.

After Auburn forced a five-second turnover on an inbounds play while down by three, Overton drilled a corner 3-pointer to force overtime at 78-all.

With Auburn great Charles Barkley courtside, Jovic, a bruising 6-foot-8 freshman, started strong with back-to-back dunks as the Tigers used a 7-0 run for a 9-2 lead just over two minutes into the title game. Williams-Adams sank a 3-pointer at 13:58 to push it to a 16-4 advantage.

The American Conference school went 8 1/2 minutes without a field goal until Popoola’s layup at 10:51 made it 23-9.

Tulsa cut it to 39-26 on Tyler Behrend’s layup at 3:30, and Green’s 10 points led the way. However, the team shot only 38.5% (10 of 26) from the field.

Pettiford and Overton scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, as Auburn made 16 of 31 (51.7%) shots overall and led by 17 at the break.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Auburn #blows #21point #lead #recovers #beat #Tulsa #NIT #title">Deadspin | Auburn blows 21-point lead, recovers to beat Tulsa for NIT title  Auburn Tigers guard Keyshawn Hall (7) ball is tipped away by Tulsa Golden Hurricane guard Ade Popoola (0) on Sunday, April 5, 2026, during the NIT men’s basketball championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.   Kevin Overton netted 26 points, including a deep 3-pointer and a free throw in the final two minutes of overtime, and Auburn won its first NIT championship in a wild 92-86 win over Tulsa on Sunday night in Indianapolis.   An NCAA Tournament Final Four team one year ago, the Tigers (22-16) wasted a 21-point first-half lead, but rallied in the final 10 seconds for overtime. They then outscored Tulsa 14-8 in the extra frame for the victory.  Tahaad Pettiford had 24 points and eight assists and Sebastian Williams-Adams tallied 13 points for the Tigers. Elyjah Freeman had six points, including two free throws with 11 seconds left in OT, and 14 rebounds.  Filip Jovic scored 12 points, while Keyshawn Hall had 11 and 12 boards, but both fouled out late in regulation.   A two-time NIT champion, the Golden Hurricane (30-8) used a 22-2 run to take the lead with 10:26 left in regulation.   Tulsa’s David Green had 25 points and six rebounds and Tylen Riley added 20 points. Ade Popoola scored 13 points.  With Tulsa trailing 48-31 at halftime, Green’s three-point play at 14:10 put the squad back in the contest, as the group trailed 57-45. Riley’s spinning layup at 12:58 made it 57-49 and forced an Auburn timeout during a 10-0 Tulsa run.   Miles Barnstable’s trey, Green’s two free throws and Riley’s pair from the line extended that run to 22-2 and put Tulsa ahead 61-59.  After Auburn forced a five-second turnover on an inbounds play while down by three, Overton drilled a corner 3-pointer to force overtime at 78-all.   With Auburn great Charles Barkley courtside, Jovic, a bruising 6-foot-8 freshman, started strong with back-to-back dunks as the Tigers used a 7-0 run for a 9-2 lead just over two minutes into the title game. Williams-Adams sank a 3-pointer at 13:58 to push it to a 16-4 advantage.  The American Conference school went 8 1/2 minutes without a field goal until Popoola’s layup at 10:51 made it 23-9.  Tulsa cut it to 39-26 on Tyler Behrend’s layup at 3:30, and Green’s 10 points led the way. However, the team shot only 38.5% (10 of 26) from the field.  Pettiford and Overton scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, as Auburn made 16 of 31 (51.7%) shots overall and led by 17 at the break.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Auburn #blows #21point #lead #recovers #beat #Tulsa #NIT #title

The bleak timeline for Luka Doncic’s return from injury was already out there when the Los Angeles Lakers got word that Austin Reaves also wouldn’t play again in the regular season.

LeBron James woke up from a nap to find out about the prognosis on Reaves’ strained left oblique. He had gone to sleep knowing the outlook on a strained left hamstring for Doncic, the NBA scoring leader.

“It was a shot to the heart and to the chest and the main frame with Luka, and we got that news kind of quick,” James said after the Lakers’ 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. “And (Reaves), he’s kind of dealing with the pain, we’re saying, ‘OK, whatever the case may be.’

“I woke up from my nap yesterday and then saw that news, I was like … (expletive),” James said, pausing for several seconds before punctuating his thought.

For now, the playoff-bound Lakers will lean on James as their primary scorer and floor leader, while keeping in mind the 41-year-old is wrapping up his record 23rd NBA season.

Sure enough, James had 30 points and 15 assists against the Mavericks, but did struggle in the fourth quarter after sparking a rally in the second. He was two of seven from the field in the final 12 minutes, and missed both free throws when the deficit was eight with 3:50 remaining.

“I think we have to be mindful of that. I think that’s a valid question,” coach JJ Redick said before the game. “For all our guys, him included, we want to put them in positions to be successful. Certain guys are gonna be tasked with doing stuff they haven’t done a lot of this year.”

Doncic and Reaves, LA’s No. 2 scorer, were both injured in a blowout loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#LeBron #James #reacts #injury #updates #Luka #Doncic #Austin #Reaves #Lakers #gear #playoffs">LeBron James reacts to injury updates of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as Lakers gear up for playoffs  The bleak timeline for Luka Doncic’s return from injury was already out there when the Los Angeles Lakers got word that Austin Reaves also wouldn’t play again in the regular season.LeBron James woke up from a nap to find out about the prognosis on Reaves’ strained left oblique. He had gone to sleep knowing the outlook on a strained left hamstring for Doncic, the NBA scoring leader.“It was a shot to the heart and to the chest and the main frame with Luka, and we got that news kind of quick,” James said after the Lakers’ 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. “And (Reaves), he’s kind of dealing with the pain, we’re saying, ‘OK, whatever the case may be.’“I woke up from my nap yesterday and then saw that news, I was like … (expletive),” James said, pausing for several seconds before punctuating his thought.For now, the playoff-bound Lakers will lean on James as their primary scorer and floor leader, while keeping in mind the 41-year-old is wrapping up his record 23rd NBA season.Sure enough, James had 30 points and 15 assists against the Mavericks, but did struggle in the fourth quarter after sparking a rally in the second. He was two of seven from the field in the final 12 minutes, and missed both free throws when the deficit was eight with 3:50 remaining.“I think we have to be mindful of that. I think that’s a valid question,” coach JJ Redick said before the game. “For all our guys, him included, we want to put them in positions to be successful. Certain guys are gonna be tasked with doing stuff they haven’t done a lot of this year.”Doncic and Reaves, LA’s No. 2 scorer, were both injured in a blowout loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday.Published on Apr 06, 2026  #LeBron #James #reacts #injury #updates #Luka #Doncic #Austin #Reaves #Lakers #gear #playoffs

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