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Four Events That Might Be Axed in PGA Tour Shakeup | Deadspin.com   Golf’s schedule shakeup has begun.The PGA Tour this week confirmed that it would not return to Hawaii, where it’s traditionally opened the season with consecutive tournaments on Maui and in Honolulu.The long-rumored move is undoubtedly the first of several to come as PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp preaches scarcity and tries to contract the schedule. If you’re just catching up, the tour’s current preference is to create a top tier of 21-26 tournaments and a second track for lower-ranked players to earn opportunities for promotion.The elevated track would include the four majors, The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. You figure the eight “signature events” that already exist maintain that status. That leaves five to 10 standard tournaments to select — and a bunch of regular-season tournaments that won’t make the cut.Now that’s much more interesting to me. Who gets the axe? I’ve got four suggestions for a shortlist of tournaments to either chop completely or demote to the second tier.There are plenty of reasons to cut a tournament, from lack of fan interest to an expiring sponsor to even the environment on Maui, which has dealt with wildfires and drought alike. (It’s worth remembering the tour also made several missteps pre-LIV Golf, dropping popular annual stops in Boston, New York, Washington and Chicago and cold-shouldering millions of golf fans in those areas. Rolapp rightly wants to claw some of those back.)I considered five criteria to determine which ones wouldn’t be missed: TV ratings (2025 numbers compiled by Sports Business Journal), estimated attendance (tracked by the fellow behind this website), relative strength of field (measured by Datagolf.com), consensus about the golf course and location.As luck would have it, we’ll start with the team event that begins Thursday:Zurich Classic of New OrleansMost elite players, including past champion Rory McIlroy, are taking the week off because the Zurich comes at an odd time in the jam-packed schedule. A sampling of players who are in the field this week: Martin Couvra, Pontus Nyholm, Chandler Blanchet, Trace Crowe. Casual fans, are you excited yet? A shrinking New Orleans market and bottom-five TV ratings (among standard tour events) don’t help, but above all, it feels cheap for a pairs tournament to be doling out FedEx Cup points when it’s an individual sport the rest of the season.CJ Cup Byron NelsonI’d delete this from the calendar for the abominable name alone. That aside, TPC Craig Ranch is the real problem here. Dallas native Scottie Scheffler played the tourney last year and embarrassed the course by going 31 under par for four days. That prompted a revamp, and headlines promising the course is no longer a pushover are never a good sign. The field is weak, attendance is low and Dallas-Fort Worth doesn’t need to hog two tournaments when there’s more history at Colonial Country Club.Rocket ClassicIn 2019 the PGA Tour introduced both their Minnesota and Detroit events, the 3M Open and the Rocket Classic. The Upper Midwest is a good home for some July golf, but neither of these have any juice. I was torn between the two and nearly picked the 3M due to worse TV ratings, but I came back to Detroit Golf Club, which is flat and straight-ahead and usually quite soft due to summer rain. It’s boringly easy, with more birdies made there than any other course on tour in 2025. They left the D.C. area for this.Wyndham ChampionshipThe attendance is relatively low, the TV ratings aren’t better, but more than anything this choice comes down to philosophical fit. Right now the Wyndham serves as the final regular-season event for players to squeak into the playoffs. Top players never come here because they never have to. In the PGA Tour’s New World Order, it works better as a late-season tournament for the rookies and journeymen to scrap for promotion to the top track next year.   #Events #Axed #PGA #Tour #Shakeup #Deadspin.com

Four Events That Might Be Axed in PGA Tour Shakeup | Deadspin.com

Golf’s schedule shakeup has begun.

The PGA Tour this week confirmed that it would not return to Hawaii, where it’s traditionally opened the season with consecutive tournaments on Maui and in Honolulu.

The long-rumored move is undoubtedly the first of several to come as PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp preaches scarcity and tries to contract the schedule. If you’re just catching up, the tour’s current preference is to create a top tier of 21-26 tournaments and a second track for lower-ranked players to earn opportunities for promotion.

The elevated track would include the four majors, The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. You figure the eight “signature events” that already exist maintain that status. That leaves five to 10 standard tournaments to select — and a bunch of regular-season tournaments that won’t make the cut.

Now that’s much more interesting to me. Who gets the axe? I’ve got four suggestions for a shortlist of tournaments to either chop completely or demote to the second tier.

There are plenty of reasons to cut a tournament, from lack of fan interest to an expiring sponsor to even the environment on Maui, which has dealt with wildfires and drought alike. (It’s worth remembering the tour also made several missteps pre-LIV Golf, dropping popular annual stops in Boston, New York, Washington and Chicago and cold-shouldering millions of golf fans in those areas. Rolapp rightly wants to claw some of those back.)

I considered five criteria to determine which ones wouldn’t be missed: TV ratings (2025 numbers compiled by Sports Business Journal), estimated attendance (tracked by the fellow behind this website), relative strength of field (measured by Datagolf.com), consensus about the golf course and location.

As luck would have it, we’ll start with the team event that begins Thursday:

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Most elite players, including past champion Rory McIlroy, are taking the week off because the Zurich comes at an odd time in the jam-packed schedule. A sampling of players who are in the field this week: Martin Couvra, Pontus Nyholm, Chandler Blanchet, Trace Crowe. Casual fans, are you excited yet? A shrinking New Orleans market and bottom-five TV ratings (among standard tour events) don’t help, but above all, it feels cheap for a pairs tournament to be doling out FedEx Cup points when it’s an individual sport the rest of the season.

CJ Cup Byron Nelson

I’d delete this from the calendar for the abominable name alone. That aside, TPC Craig Ranch is the real problem here. Dallas native Scottie Scheffler played the tourney last year and embarrassed the course by going 31 under par for four days. That prompted a revamp, and headlines promising the course is no longer a pushover are never a good sign. The field is weak, attendance is low and Dallas-Fort Worth doesn’t need to hog two tournaments when there’s more history at Colonial Country Club.

Rocket Classic

In 2019 the PGA Tour introduced both their Minnesota and Detroit events, the 3M Open and the Rocket Classic. The Upper Midwest is a good home for some July golf, but neither of these have any juice. I was torn between the two and nearly picked the 3M due to worse TV ratings, but I came back to Detroit Golf Club, which is flat and straight-ahead and usually quite soft due to summer rain. It’s boringly easy, with more birdies made there than any other course on tour in 2025. They left the D.C. area for this.

Wyndham Championship

The attendance is relatively low, the TV ratings aren’t better, but more than anything this choice comes down to philosophical fit. Right now the Wyndham serves as the final regular-season event for players to squeak into the playoffs. Top players never come here because they never have to. In the PGA Tour’s New World Order, it works better as a late-season tournament for the rookies and journeymen to scrap for promotion to the top track next year.

#Events #Axed #PGA #Tour #Shakeup #Deadspin.com

Golf’s schedule shakeup has begun.

The PGA Tour this week confirmed that it would not return to Hawaii, where it’s traditionally opened the season with consecutive tournaments on Maui and in Honolulu.

The long-rumored move is undoubtedly the first of several to come as PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp preaches scarcity and tries to contract the schedule. If you’re just catching up, the tour’s current preference is to create a top tier of 21-26 tournaments and a second track for lower-ranked players to earn opportunities for promotion.

The elevated track would include the four majors, The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. You figure the eight “signature events” that already exist maintain that status. That leaves five to 10 standard tournaments to select — and a bunch of regular-season tournaments that won’t make the cut.

Now that’s much more interesting to me. Who gets the axe? I’ve got four suggestions for a shortlist of tournaments to either chop completely or demote to the second tier.

There are plenty of reasons to cut a tournament, from lack of fan interest to an expiring sponsor to even the environment on Maui, which has dealt with wildfires and drought alike. (It’s worth remembering the tour also made several missteps pre-LIV Golf, dropping popular annual stops in Boston, New York, Washington and Chicago and cold-shouldering millions of golf fans in those areas. Rolapp rightly wants to claw some of those back.)

I considered five criteria to determine which ones wouldn’t be missed: TV ratings (2025 numbers compiled by Sports Business Journal), estimated attendance (tracked by the fellow behind this website), relative strength of field (measured by Datagolf.com), consensus about the golf course and location.

As luck would have it, we’ll start with the team event that begins Thursday:

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Most elite players, including past champion Rory McIlroy, are taking the week off because the Zurich comes at an odd time in the jam-packed schedule. A sampling of players who are in the field this week: Martin Couvra, Pontus Nyholm, Chandler Blanchet, Trace Crowe. Casual fans, are you excited yet? A shrinking New Orleans market and bottom-five TV ratings (among standard tour events) don’t help, but above all, it feels cheap for a pairs tournament to be doling out FedEx Cup points when it’s an individual sport the rest of the season.

CJ Cup Byron Nelson

I’d delete this from the calendar for the abominable name alone. That aside, TPC Craig Ranch is the real problem here. Dallas native Scottie Scheffler played the tourney last year and embarrassed the course by going 31 under par for four days. That prompted a revamp, and headlines promising the course is no longer a pushover are never a good sign. The field is weak, attendance is low and Dallas-Fort Worth doesn’t need to hog two tournaments when there’s more history at Colonial Country Club.

Rocket Classic

In 2019 the PGA Tour introduced both their Minnesota and Detroit events, the 3M Open and the Rocket Classic. The Upper Midwest is a good home for some July golf, but neither of these have any juice. I was torn between the two and nearly picked the 3M due to worse TV ratings, but I came back to Detroit Golf Club, which is flat and straight-ahead and usually quite soft due to summer rain. It’s boringly easy, with more birdies made there than any other course on tour in 2025. They left the D.C. area for this.

Wyndham Championship

The attendance is relatively low, the TV ratings aren’t better, but more than anything this choice comes down to philosophical fit. Right now the Wyndham serves as the final regular-season event for players to squeak into the playoffs. Top players never come here because they never have to. In the PGA Tour’s New World Order, it works better as a late-season tournament for the rookies and journeymen to scrap for promotion to the top track next year.

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IPL 2026: GT’s top-heavy method to face full-throttle RCB test <div id="content-body-70898031" itemprop="articleBody"><p>In a way, Gujarat Titans is a throwback to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru of yesteryear.</p><p>Back then, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle used to do the bulk of the scoring and the rest of the batting line-up would be comparatively airy. GT of today is eerily similar, with the troika of Shubman Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler expected to do all the heavy-lifting.</p><p>On Friday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here, GT’s biggest test against an RCB outfit that operates at full throttle from ball one will be to prove that its methods – even if they seem anachronistic – are effective enough.</p><p>“I don’t think we’ll suddenly change,” said Vikram Solanki, GT’s director of cricket, on match-eve. “We’ll remain consistent in the way we go about our cricket altogether. We trust in a method and formula, and we trust the players that have delivered.”</p><p>Just that, in the most recent match, the players didn’t. GT lost by a crushing 99 runs to Mumbai Indians, a defeat Solanki attributed to “a number of errors”. It is imperative that the middle- and lower-orders contribute, especially Rahul Tewatia and M. Shahrukh Khan who have totalled 84 runs in 10 combined visits to the crease.</p><p>RCB too is coming in following a defeat – to Delhi Capitals at home by six wickets. But that reverse was only its second this season from six matches, and it boasts of such a well-set team that even a generational talent like England’s Jacob Bethell has had to warm the bench.</p><p>Friday will be the last time RCB will play in the Garden City this campaign, and there will be significant attention on a pitch which has not aided free-flowing strokeplay from the get-go. The city is also in the midst of a searing summer, but the RCB faithful will want nothing more than a rain of runs.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #IPL #GTs #topheavy #method #face #fullthrottle #RCB #test

Deadspin | Ducks rally twice, upend Oilers in OT for 3-1 lead  Apr 26, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers  in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images   Ryan Poehling scored the winning goal to give the host Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday and put them one win away from advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Cutter Gauthier, Mikael Granlund and Jeffery Viel also scored for the Ducks in the comeback victory that has them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series. Defensemen John and Carlson and Jackson Lacombe each had two assists and Lukas Dostal made 24 saves.  Game 5 is Tuesday in Edmonton.  The Oilers’ Evan Bouchard notched a goal and an assist, Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored a goal, while Connor McDavid collected two assists, his 50th multi-point performance in 100 career playoff games. Tristan Jarry stopped 34 shots in his first start of this year’s playoffs.  Poehling sent a pass to the front of the net, and it ricocheted off Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse’s skate before squirting through Jarry’s legs just over the line at 2:29 of overtime. Poehling has three goals in the series.  A lengthy video review ruled it was a good goal.  The Oilers have scored first in every game of the series and continued that trend when Kapanen tallied just 38 seconds into the clash by pouncing on a loose puck in the slot for his fourth goal of the series.   Nugent-Hopkins doubled the lead on the power play six minutes later. His shot from the left circle was stopped, but the puck bounced off the skate of defenseman Pavel Mintyukov and into the net.  Gauthier provided the Ducks a huge jolt when he put them on the board with a short-side, top-corner wrist shot from the right faceoff dot at 12:24 of the second period.  Granlund scored Anaheim’s second power-play goal of the game — and sixth of the series — with 77 seconds remaining in the period by converting a give-and-go with Leo Carlsson to tie the clash 2-2.  Bouchard restored Edmonton’s lead with his team’s second power-play goal of the affair, finding the mark with a high shot at 3:27 of the third period.  However, Viel again pulled Anaheim even by sliding into the net a loose puck with 6:29 remaining in regulation.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Ducks #rally #upend #Oilers #leadApr 26, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images

Ryan Poehling scored the winning goal to give the host Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday and put them one win away from advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Cutter Gauthier, Mikael Granlund and Jeffery Viel also scored for the Ducks in the comeback victory that has them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series. Defensemen John and Carlson and Jackson Lacombe each had two assists and Lukas Dostal made 24 saves.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Edmonton.

The Oilers’ Evan Bouchard notched a goal and an assist, Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored a goal, while Connor McDavid collected two assists, his 50th multi-point performance in 100 career playoff games. Tristan Jarry stopped 34 shots in his first start of this year’s playoffs.

Poehling sent a pass to the front of the net, and it ricocheted off Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse’s skate before squirting through Jarry’s legs just over the line at 2:29 of overtime. Poehling has three goals in the series.

A lengthy video review ruled it was a good goal.


The Oilers have scored first in every game of the series and continued that trend when Kapanen tallied just 38 seconds into the clash by pouncing on a loose puck in the slot for his fourth goal of the series.

Nugent-Hopkins doubled the lead on the power play six minutes later. His shot from the left circle was stopped, but the puck bounced off the skate of defenseman Pavel Mintyukov and into the net.

Gauthier provided the Ducks a huge jolt when he put them on the board with a short-side, top-corner wrist shot from the right faceoff dot at 12:24 of the second period.

Granlund scored Anaheim’s second power-play goal of the game — and sixth of the series — with 77 seconds remaining in the period by converting a give-and-go with Leo Carlsson to tie the clash 2-2.

Bouchard restored Edmonton’s lead with his team’s second power-play goal of the affair, finding the mark with a high shot at 3:27 of the third period.

However, Viel again pulled Anaheim even by sliding into the net a loose puck with 6:29 remaining in regulation.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ducks #rally #upend #Oilers #lead">Deadspin | Ducks rally twice, upend Oilers in OT for 3-1 lead  Apr 26, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers  in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images   Ryan Poehling scored the winning goal to give the host Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday and put them one win away from advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Cutter Gauthier, Mikael Granlund and Jeffery Viel also scored for the Ducks in the comeback victory that has them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series. Defensemen John and Carlson and Jackson Lacombe each had two assists and Lukas Dostal made 24 saves.  Game 5 is Tuesday in Edmonton.  The Oilers’ Evan Bouchard notched a goal and an assist, Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored a goal, while Connor McDavid collected two assists, his 50th multi-point performance in 100 career playoff games. Tristan Jarry stopped 34 shots in his first start of this year’s playoffs.  Poehling sent a pass to the front of the net, and it ricocheted off Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse’s skate before squirting through Jarry’s legs just over the line at 2:29 of overtime. Poehling has three goals in the series.  A lengthy video review ruled it was a good goal.  The Oilers have scored first in every game of the series and continued that trend when Kapanen tallied just 38 seconds into the clash by pouncing on a loose puck in the slot for his fourth goal of the series.   Nugent-Hopkins doubled the lead on the power play six minutes later. His shot from the left circle was stopped, but the puck bounced off the skate of defenseman Pavel Mintyukov and into the net.  Gauthier provided the Ducks a huge jolt when he put them on the board with a short-side, top-corner wrist shot from the right faceoff dot at 12:24 of the second period.  Granlund scored Anaheim’s second power-play goal of the game — and sixth of the series — with 77 seconds remaining in the period by converting a give-and-go with Leo Carlsson to tie the clash 2-2.  Bouchard restored Edmonton’s lead with his team’s second power-play goal of the affair, finding the mark with a high shot at 3:27 of the third period.  However, Viel again pulled Anaheim even by sliding into the net a loose puck with 6:29 remaining in regulation.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Ducks #rally #upend #Oilers #lead

Deadspin | NBA roundup: Spurs storm past Blazers in Victor Wembanyama’s return  Apr 26, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) walks off the court after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images   De’Aaron Fox scored 28 points and Victor Wembanyama had 27 in his return from concussion protocol, helping the visiting San Antonio Spurs to a 114-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series on Sunday.  Fox sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor and drained four 3-pointers to aid the Spurs in overcoming a 19-point deficit to seize a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Tuesday in San Antonio. After sitting out Game 3, Wembanyama showed why he was the NBA’s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year by recording 11 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals.  Stephon Castle collected 16 points and eight assists while dealing with both an injured left hand and foul trouble. Devin Vassell added 11 points for the Spurs, who outscored the Trail Blazers by a 73-35 margin in the second half. Deni Avdija scored 26 points, Jrue Holiday had 20 and Jerami Grant added 17 off the bench for the Trail Blazers.  Tied at 74 entering the fourth quarter, the Spurs opened the period on a 27-7 run. Castle set up Wembanyama for a trio of alley-oop dunks before Fox sank a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer to give San Antonio an 87-77 lead with 7:47 left. Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson converted from beyond the arc and added a pair of driving buckets to extend San Antonio’s lead to 101-81 with 4:31 remaining.  Rockets 115, Lakers 96  Amen Thompson scored a game-high 23 points, Tari Eason added 20 and Houston averted elimination with a victory over visiting Los Angeles in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.  All five starters scored in double figures for the Rockets, who played without Kevin Durant (ankle) for the third time in the series. Reed Sheppard chipped in 17 points on 4-for-7 3-point shooting while Alperen Sengun (19 points) and Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points) rounded out the balanced offensive attack.  After dominating Game 3 and co-authoring the Lakers’ overtime victory, LeBron James (10 points, nine assists) and Marcus Smart (nine, five) shot a combined 5 of 17 from the floor. Deandre Ayton finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds but was ejected in the third quarter.  Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89  Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes each scored 23 points and Toronto held off visiting Cleveland to even the best-of-seven first-round playoff series at 2-2.    Barnes added nine rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots to his stat line and scored 10 fourth-quarter points, knocking down all six free throw attempts in the final 34.6 seconds. RJ Barrett added 18 points for the Raptors, and Collin Murray-Boyles scored 15 with 10 rebounds.  Donovan Mitchell scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland. James Harden added 19 points but had seven turnovers. Jarrett Allen had three points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while Sam Merrill contributed 14 points.  Celtics 128, 76ers 96    Payton Pritchard scored a career-playoff-high 32 points off the bench and Boston took a 3-1 series lead with a convincing road victory over Philadelphia.    Jayson Tatum made five treys and recorded 30 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 20 points and seven rebounds as the second-seeded Celtics moved one victory away from winning the Eastern Conference first-round series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Boston.    Joel Embiid played for the first time in the series for the seventh-seeded 76ers after undergoing an appendectomy two-plus weeks ago. He scored 26 points on 9-of-21 shooting and collected 10 rebounds and six assists while playing 34 minutes. Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points and Paul George added 16 for the 76ers.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Spurs #storm #Blazers #Victor #Wembanyamas #returnApr 26, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) walks off the court after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

De’Aaron Fox scored 28 points and Victor Wembanyama had 27 in his return from concussion protocol, helping the visiting San Antonio Spurs to a 114-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series on Sunday.

Fox sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor and drained four 3-pointers to aid the Spurs in overcoming a 19-point deficit to seize a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Tuesday in San Antonio. After sitting out Game 3, Wembanyama showed why he was the NBA’s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year by recording 11 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals.

Stephon Castle collected 16 points and eight assists while dealing with both an injured left hand and foul trouble. Devin Vassell added 11 points for the Spurs, who outscored the Trail Blazers by a 73-35 margin in the second half. Deni Avdija scored 26 points, Jrue Holiday had 20 and Jerami Grant added 17 off the bench for the Trail Blazers.

Tied at 74 entering the fourth quarter, the Spurs opened the period on a 27-7 run. Castle set up Wembanyama for a trio of alley-oop dunks before Fox sank a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer to give San Antonio an 87-77 lead with 7:47 left. Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson converted from beyond the arc and added a pair of driving buckets to extend San Antonio’s lead to 101-81 with 4:31 remaining.

Rockets 115, Lakers 96

Amen Thompson scored a game-high 23 points, Tari Eason added 20 and Houston averted elimination with a victory over visiting Los Angeles in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Rockets, who played without Kevin Durant (ankle) for the third time in the series. Reed Sheppard chipped in 17 points on 4-for-7 3-point shooting while Alperen Sengun (19 points) and Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points) rounded out the balanced offensive attack.

After dominating Game 3 and co-authoring the Lakers’ overtime victory, LeBron James (10 points, nine assists) and Marcus Smart (nine, five) shot a combined 5 of 17 from the floor. Deandre Ayton finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds but was ejected in the third quarter.

Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89


Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes each scored 23 points and Toronto held off visiting Cleveland to even the best-of-seven first-round playoff series at 2-2.

Barnes added nine rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots to his stat line and scored 10 fourth-quarter points, knocking down all six free throw attempts in the final 34.6 seconds. RJ Barrett added 18 points for the Raptors, and Collin Murray-Boyles scored 15 with 10 rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland. James Harden added 19 points but had seven turnovers. Jarrett Allen had three points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while Sam Merrill contributed 14 points.

Celtics 128, 76ers 96

Payton Pritchard scored a career-playoff-high 32 points off the bench and Boston took a 3-1 series lead with a convincing road victory over Philadelphia.

Jayson Tatum made five treys and recorded 30 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 20 points and seven rebounds as the second-seeded Celtics moved one victory away from winning the Eastern Conference first-round series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Boston.

Joel Embiid played for the first time in the series for the seventh-seeded 76ers after undergoing an appendectomy two-plus weeks ago. He scored 26 points on 9-of-21 shooting and collected 10 rebounds and six assists while playing 34 minutes. Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points and Paul George added 16 for the 76ers.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Spurs #storm #Blazers #Victor #Wembanyamas #return">Deadspin | NBA roundup: Spurs storm past Blazers in Victor Wembanyama’s return  Apr 26, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) walks off the court after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images   De’Aaron Fox scored 28 points and Victor Wembanyama had 27 in his return from concussion protocol, helping the visiting San Antonio Spurs to a 114-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series on Sunday.  Fox sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor and drained four 3-pointers to aid the Spurs in overcoming a 19-point deficit to seize a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Tuesday in San Antonio. After sitting out Game 3, Wembanyama showed why he was the NBA’s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year by recording 11 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals.  Stephon Castle collected 16 points and eight assists while dealing with both an injured left hand and foul trouble. Devin Vassell added 11 points for the Spurs, who outscored the Trail Blazers by a 73-35 margin in the second half. Deni Avdija scored 26 points, Jrue Holiday had 20 and Jerami Grant added 17 off the bench for the Trail Blazers.  Tied at 74 entering the fourth quarter, the Spurs opened the period on a 27-7 run. Castle set up Wembanyama for a trio of alley-oop dunks before Fox sank a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer to give San Antonio an 87-77 lead with 7:47 left. Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson converted from beyond the arc and added a pair of driving buckets to extend San Antonio’s lead to 101-81 with 4:31 remaining.  Rockets 115, Lakers 96  Amen Thompson scored a game-high 23 points, Tari Eason added 20 and Houston averted elimination with a victory over visiting Los Angeles in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.  All five starters scored in double figures for the Rockets, who played without Kevin Durant (ankle) for the third time in the series. Reed Sheppard chipped in 17 points on 4-for-7 3-point shooting while Alperen Sengun (19 points) and Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points) rounded out the balanced offensive attack.  After dominating Game 3 and co-authoring the Lakers’ overtime victory, LeBron James (10 points, nine assists) and Marcus Smart (nine, five) shot a combined 5 of 17 from the floor. Deandre Ayton finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds but was ejected in the third quarter.  Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89  Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes each scored 23 points and Toronto held off visiting Cleveland to even the best-of-seven first-round playoff series at 2-2.    Barnes added nine rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots to his stat line and scored 10 fourth-quarter points, knocking down all six free throw attempts in the final 34.6 seconds. RJ Barrett added 18 points for the Raptors, and Collin Murray-Boyles scored 15 with 10 rebounds.  Donovan Mitchell scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland. James Harden added 19 points but had seven turnovers. Jarrett Allen had three points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while Sam Merrill contributed 14 points.  Celtics 128, 76ers 96    Payton Pritchard scored a career-playoff-high 32 points off the bench and Boston took a 3-1 series lead with a convincing road victory over Philadelphia.    Jayson Tatum made five treys and recorded 30 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 20 points and seven rebounds as the second-seeded Celtics moved one victory away from winning the Eastern Conference first-round series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Boston.    Joel Embiid played for the first time in the series for the seventh-seeded 76ers after undergoing an appendectomy two-plus weeks ago. He scored 26 points on 9-of-21 shooting and collected 10 rebounds and six assists while playing 34 minutes. Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points and Paul George added 16 for the 76ers.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Spurs #storm #Blazers #Victor #Wembanyamas #return

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