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I just wanted to come here and help: Ashley Westwood on becoming Kerala Blasters coach Kerala Blasters is going through a nightmare. It is lying 13th among the 14 teams of the ongoing season of the Indian Super League, with five losses and a draw.So, Ashley Westwood has a task on his hands. The Englishman, who has a lot of experience in Indian football, has taken over as the new coach, in place of the Spaniard David Catala.He admits it is a big challenge. “I have to get some morale back, some confidence, some team spirit, and to obviously try and improve performances,” Westwood, who had guided Bengaluru FC to the I-League title in the club’s first season, told Sportstar. “I have had a few chats with the players and the support staff.”Westwood, a former England youth international who played for Bradford City in the English Premier League, said he accepted the job from the Blasters management because he wanted to help the team. “I know Indian football quite well. I just wanted to come here and help. They reached out to me after the match against Punjab FC.”The offer came to Westwood, who has also worked with ATK and RoundGlass Punjab, at the right time – he had left his coaching job with the Hong Kong national team. “Seven weeks, roughly, and seven games, so it fitted well for me at the minute,” he reasoned. “And I am happy to be with Blasters at Kochi, which is a fantastic city.”ALSO READ | ‘When fans rejoice, the JLN trembles’ — the Kochi crowd roars as India exorcises its hoodooHe recalled how he spoiled the Blasters’ chances once while he was with ATK. “We had a very poor team at ATK, and we ended up drawing with Kerala Blasters, which probably cost them the playoffs,” he said. “My old friend David James was their coach.”Westwood said Blasters was one ISL club he would have been keen about at any rate. “Because of the fan base,” he said. “As a coach, you always want to go to clubs with fans. And Kerala Blasters arguably have the most fans in India.”Westwood, a product of the famous Manchester United Academy where he worked with the coaching great Alex Ferguson, believes there is plenty of talent in Indian football, but a lot needs to be done.“Infrastructure, of course, is always very important,” he said. “When you go to European places, you will find millions of football fields everywhere,” he said. “There are nice facilities to train at. You need to encourage young players to stick at their career. And you have to train the kids from an early age.”Published on Apr 02, 2026 #wanted #Ashley #Westwood #Kerala #Blasters #coach

I just wanted to come here and help: Ashley Westwood on becoming Kerala Blasters coach

Kerala Blasters is going through a nightmare. It is lying 13th among the 14 teams of the ongoing season of the Indian Super League, with five losses and a draw.

So, Ashley Westwood has a task on his hands. The Englishman, who has a lot of experience in Indian football, has taken over as the new coach, in place of the Spaniard David Catala.

He admits it is a big challenge. “I have to get some morale back, some confidence, some team spirit, and to obviously try and improve performances,” Westwood, who had guided Bengaluru FC to the I-League title in the club’s first season, told Sportstar. “I have had a few chats with the players and the support staff.”

Westwood, a former England youth international who played for Bradford City in the English Premier League, said he accepted the job from the Blasters management because he wanted to help the team. “I know Indian football quite well. I just wanted to come here and help. They reached out to me after the match against Punjab FC.”

The offer came to Westwood, who has also worked with ATK and RoundGlass Punjab, at the right time – he had left his coaching job with the Hong Kong national team. “Seven weeks, roughly, and seven games, so it fitted well for me at the minute,” he reasoned. “And I am happy to be with Blasters at Kochi, which is a fantastic city.”

ALSO READ | ‘When fans rejoice, the JLN trembles’ — the Kochi crowd roars as India exorcises its hoodoo

He recalled how he spoiled the Blasters’ chances once while he was with ATK. “We had a very poor team at ATK, and we ended up drawing with Kerala Blasters, which probably cost them the playoffs,” he said. “My old friend David James was their coach.”

Westwood said Blasters was one ISL club he would have been keen about at any rate. “Because of the fan base,” he said. “As a coach, you always want to go to clubs with fans. And Kerala Blasters arguably have the most fans in India.”

Westwood, a product of the famous Manchester United Academy where he worked with the coaching great Alex Ferguson, believes there is plenty of talent in Indian football, but a lot needs to be done.

“Infrastructure, of course, is always very important,” he said. “When you go to European places, you will find millions of football fields everywhere,” he said. “There are nice facilities to train at. You need to encourage young players to stick at their career. And you have to train the kids from an early age.”

Published on Apr 02, 2026

#wanted #Ashley #Westwood #Kerala #Blasters #coach

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Kerala Blasters is going through a nightmare. It is lying 13th among the 14 teams of the ongoing season of the Indian Super League, with five losses and a draw.

So, Ashley Westwood has a task on his hands. The Englishman, who has a lot of experience in Indian football, has taken over as the new coach, in place of the Spaniard David Catala.

He admits it is a big challenge. “I have to get some morale back, some confidence, some team spirit, and to obviously try and improve performances,” Westwood, who had guided Bengaluru FC to the I-League title in the club’s first season, told Sportstar. “I have had a few chats with the players and the support staff.”

Westwood, a former England youth international who played for Bradford City in the English Premier League, said he accepted the job from the Blasters management because he wanted to help the team. “I know Indian football quite well. I just wanted to come here and help. They reached out to me after the match against Punjab FC.”

The offer came to Westwood, who has also worked with ATK and RoundGlass Punjab, at the right time – he had left his coaching job with the Hong Kong national team. “Seven weeks, roughly, and seven games, so it fitted well for me at the minute,” he reasoned. “And I am happy to be with Blasters at Kochi, which is a fantastic city.”

ALSO READ | ‘When fans rejoice, the JLN trembles’ — the Kochi crowd roars as India exorcises its hoodoo

He recalled how he spoiled the Blasters’ chances once while he was with ATK. “We had a very poor team at ATK, and we ended up drawing with Kerala Blasters, which probably cost them the playoffs,” he said. “My old friend David James was their coach.”

Westwood said Blasters was one ISL club he would have been keen about at any rate. “Because of the fan base,” he said. “As a coach, you always want to go to clubs with fans. And Kerala Blasters arguably have the most fans in India.”

Westwood, a product of the famous Manchester United Academy where he worked with the coaching great Alex Ferguson, believes there is plenty of talent in Indian football, but a lot needs to be done.

“Infrastructure, of course, is always very important,” he said. “When you go to European places, you will find millions of football fields everywhere,” he said. “There are nice facilities to train at. You need to encourage young players to stick at their career. And you have to train the kids from an early age.”

Published on Apr 02, 2026

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Deadspin | Ex-Oriole Ryan O’Hearn helps Pirates finish sweep <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28664600.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28664600.jpg" alt="MLB: Baltimore Orioles at Pittsburgh Pirates" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates fright fielder Ryan O’Hearn (29) celebrates his two run home run in the dugout while wearing a welders hood against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Braxton Ashcraft struck out a career-high eight and Ryan O’Hearn drove in four runs to lead the host Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>O’Hearn and Oneil Cruz each hit two-run home runs to help the Pirates complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles, and win their fifth in a row. Pittsburgh did not sweep a series last season until June.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Ashcraft (1-1) gave up one run on an RBI double by Pete Alonso in the fourth inning, which put the Orioles on the board. But Ashcraft limited the damage, eventually tossing six innings without a walk. He allowed only four hits.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Taylor Ward led the Orioles at the plate with three hits.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Pirates pitchers struck out 14 overall without a walk.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>Meanwhile, O’Hearn torched his former club at the plate, starting with a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the first off Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt (0-2). Pittsburgh followed with four more runs in the second.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>Cruz finished with two hits and three RBIs and started the scoring in that frame with an RBI single when he lined a 112-mph hit on one hop off Bassitt’s leg. Bassitt shook it off and remained in the game. He later allowed a two-run double to O’Hearn that scored Cruz and Brandon Lowe.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Bassitt lasted just two innings and allowed six runs on six hits and two walks without a strikeout. </p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Lefty Cade Povich, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, replaced Bassitt in the third and delivered a solid 5 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two. Cruz tagged Povich for a two-run home run – his fourth – in the bottom of the sixth to extend Pittsburgh’s lead to 8-1. </p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was ejected in the top of the third after arguing with home plate umpire Jesse Jean after the Pirates’ Blaze Alexander felt like Ashcraft had started his windup before he was set at the plate. Baltimore bench coach Donnie Ecker managed for the remainder of the game.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Jeremiah Jackson hit an RBI single in the seventh for the game’s final run.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #ExOriole #Ryan #OHearn #helps #Pirates #finish #sweep

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Deadspin | Marlins avoid sweep vs. Yankees thanks to 8th-inning surge <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28666792.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28666792.jpg" alt="MLB: Miami Marlins at New York Yankees" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Miami Marlins third baseman Graham Pauley (21) runs the bases after hitting a two RBI double against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Pinch hitter Graham Pauley lined a go-ahead two-run double with the bases loaded against Jake Bird to spark a four-run eighth inning and the Miami Marlins hung on for a 7-6 victory over the host New York Yankees after a lengthy rain delay Sunday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The Marlins chipped away at an early 4-1 deficit following a pregame delay of three hours and 35 minutes and took their first lead in the eighth.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Bird (1-1) replaced Fernando Cruz after Jakob Marsee drew a one-out walk. After Bird walked Otto Lopez and hit pinch hitter Griffin Conine on the left foot, Pauley batted for Connor Norby.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Pauley gave the Marlins a 5-4 lead when he lined a sweeper down the right field line.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Xavier Edwards, who drove in three runs, followed with a two-run single off Ryan Yarbrough for a three-run lead.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>New York’s Ben Rice hit a three-run homer in the first off opener Pete Fairbanks. Aaron Judge scored in the third when Lopez dropped a throw at second from Norby on a grounder by Rice.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>After throwing 13 1/3 scoreless innings in his first two starts, New York’s Max Fried allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Fried struck out four and walked three.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>Lopez hit an RBI single off Fried as the Marlins took a lead in the first inning for the third straight game. </p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Edwards hit a run-scoring double in the fourth and Marsee scored in the sixth on a throwing error by shortstop Jose Caballero, trimming it to 4-3.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Fairbanks allowed three runs on three hits in a 27-pitch first inning. He served as the opener Sunday so he can leave the team and join his wife, who is expecting a child on Monday.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>After Fairbanks exited and Andrew Nardi pitched the second, Chris Paddack allowed one unearned run on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. Paddack struck out four and walked four.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>John King (1-0) notched the last out of the seventh and Calvin Faucher stranded a runner in the eighth. Anthony Bender allowed a two-run double to Jazz Chisholm Jr. before fanning pinch hitter J.C. Escarra to secure his first save.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>The Marlins allowed nine more walks and issued 30 walks in the three-game series.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-14"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Marlins #avoid #sweep #Yankees #8thinning #surge

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Deadspin | Rangers, Mariners each licking wounds entering early-season series Apr 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker (55) walks to the mound during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Texas Rangers’ strong early-season vibes have come crashing down. After winning four of their first five games, the Rangers have lost four in a row after being swept at home over the weekend by the Cincinnati Reds. Texas will look to turn the tide once more when it faces the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series starting Monday night in Arlington, Texas. “We’ve got to figure out what went wrong,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after Sunday’s 2-1 loss. “What did we miss? What are things I can do better to get guys ready and win more games?” In the big picture, the “wrong” from the series against Cincinnati seems clear. Texas managed just four runs on 18 hits over the three-game set, striking out 31 times and finishing 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position. That hampered a strong showing on the mound for the Rangers’ staff, which allowed just seven runs over the series. “I think we’re a better offense than we showed,” designated hitter Joc Pederson said. “There’s no excuses. We still got to score some more runs.” The Mariners also head to Texas feeling a bit down after back-to-back one-run road losses against the Los Angeles Angels. The second of those, an 8-7, 11-inning defeat in Sunday’s rubber match, saw Seattle squander three separate leads. After winning the AL West for the first time since 2001 and coming a win away from a World Series trip, Seattle is in an early slump this season, having lost four of the last five. The Mariners, who struck out 15 times Sunday, rank second-to-last in the majors in batting average (.198) and have the second-most strikeouts at the plate (104). “We know who we are,” Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez said. “Sometimes, it can be early on and you’re kind of finding your rhythm in the season. But like, we know who we are. We’re a great defensive team, offensive team, and we pitch well. We’re going to give trouble to anybody.” In the series opener, both teams will turn to right-handed pitchers who are looking to find their form early this season. Seattle will throw Logan Gilbert (0-1, 6.75 ERA), who was hit hard and allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings in his last start against the New York Yankees. Gilbert hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.73 since his rookie season in 2021. The Rangers could be the fix for Gilbert’s early-season struggles. He has a 5-2 record and 2.90 ERA in 16 career appearances against the division foe with 97 strikeouts and 20 walks. Texas will start Jacob deGrom (0-0, 5.79), who was scratched from his scheduled start in the second game of the season March 28 due to neck stiffness but managed to pitch just three days later than anticipated. He allowed three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings March 31 vs. Baltimore. deGrom’s Rangers tenure has been a bit hit or miss in terms of availability. He had a 2.97 ERA over 30 starts and 172 2/3 innings last season, but made just nine total starts over his first two seasons with Texas in 2023-24. The 37-year-old is 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA in seven career appearances against Seattle. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rangers #Mariners #licking #wounds #entering #earlyseason #seriesApr 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker (55) walks to the mound during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Texas Rangers’ strong early-season vibes have come crashing down.

After winning four of their first five games, the Rangers have lost four in a row after being swept at home over the weekend by the Cincinnati Reds.

Texas will look to turn the tide once more when it faces the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series starting Monday night in Arlington, Texas.

“We’ve got to figure out what went wrong,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after Sunday’s 2-1 loss. “What did we miss? What are things I can do better to get guys ready and win more games?”

In the big picture, the “wrong” from the series against Cincinnati seems clear. Texas managed just four runs on 18 hits over the three-game set, striking out 31 times and finishing 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

That hampered a strong showing on the mound for the Rangers’ staff, which allowed just seven runs over the series.

“I think we’re a better offense than we showed,” designated hitter Joc Pederson said. “There’s no excuses. We still got to score some more runs.”

The Mariners also head to Texas feeling a bit down after back-to-back one-run road losses against the Los Angeles Angels. The second of those, an 8-7, 11-inning defeat in Sunday’s rubber match, saw Seattle squander three separate leads.

After winning the AL West for the first time since 2001 and coming a win away from a World Series trip, Seattle is in an early slump this season, having lost four of the last five.


The Mariners, who struck out 15 times Sunday, rank second-to-last in the majors in batting average (.198) and have the second-most strikeouts at the plate (104).

“We know who we are,” Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez said. “Sometimes, it can be early on and you’re kind of finding your rhythm in the season. But like, we know who we are. We’re a great defensive team, offensive team, and we pitch well. We’re going to give trouble to anybody.”

In the series opener, both teams will turn to right-handed pitchers who are looking to find their form early this season.

Seattle will throw Logan Gilbert (0-1, 6.75 ERA), who was hit hard and allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings in his last start against the New York Yankees.

Gilbert hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.73 since his rookie season in 2021. The Rangers could be the fix for Gilbert’s early-season struggles. He has a 5-2 record and 2.90 ERA in 16 career appearances against the division foe with 97 strikeouts and 20 walks.

Texas will start Jacob deGrom (0-0, 5.79), who was scratched from his scheduled start in the second game of the season March 28 due to neck stiffness but managed to pitch just three days later than anticipated.

He allowed three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings March 31 vs. Baltimore.

deGrom’s Rangers tenure has been a bit hit or miss in terms of availability. He had a 2.97 ERA over 30 starts and 172 2/3 innings last season, but made just nine total starts over his first two seasons with Texas in 2023-24.

The 37-year-old is 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA in seven career appearances against Seattle.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rangers #Mariners #licking #wounds #entering #earlyseason #series">Deadspin | Rangers, Mariners each licking wounds entering early-season series Apr 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker (55) walks to the mound during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Texas Rangers’ strong early-season vibes have come crashing down. After winning four of their first five games, the Rangers have lost four in a row after being swept at home over the weekend by the Cincinnati Reds. Texas will look to turn the tide once more when it faces the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series starting Monday night in Arlington, Texas. “We’ve got to figure out what went wrong,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after Sunday’s 2-1 loss. “What did we miss? What are things I can do better to get guys ready and win more games?” In the big picture, the “wrong” from the series against Cincinnati seems clear. Texas managed just four runs on 18 hits over the three-game set, striking out 31 times and finishing 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position. That hampered a strong showing on the mound for the Rangers’ staff, which allowed just seven runs over the series. “I think we’re a better offense than we showed,” designated hitter Joc Pederson said. “There’s no excuses. We still got to score some more runs.” The Mariners also head to Texas feeling a bit down after back-to-back one-run road losses against the Los Angeles Angels. The second of those, an 8-7, 11-inning defeat in Sunday’s rubber match, saw Seattle squander three separate leads. After winning the AL West for the first time since 2001 and coming a win away from a World Series trip, Seattle is in an early slump this season, having lost four of the last five. The Mariners, who struck out 15 times Sunday, rank second-to-last in the majors in batting average (.198) and have the second-most strikeouts at the plate (104). “We know who we are,” Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez said. “Sometimes, it can be early on and you’re kind of finding your rhythm in the season. But like, we know who we are. We’re a great defensive team, offensive team, and we pitch well. We’re going to give trouble to anybody.” In the series opener, both teams will turn to right-handed pitchers who are looking to find their form early this season. Seattle will throw Logan Gilbert (0-1, 6.75 ERA), who was hit hard and allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings in his last start against the New York Yankees. Gilbert hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.73 since his rookie season in 2021. The Rangers could be the fix for Gilbert’s early-season struggles. He has a 5-2 record and 2.90 ERA in 16 career appearances against the division foe with 97 strikeouts and 20 walks. Texas will start Jacob deGrom (0-0, 5.79), who was scratched from his scheduled start in the second game of the season March 28 due to neck stiffness but managed to pitch just three days later than anticipated. He allowed three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings March 31 vs. Baltimore. deGrom’s Rangers tenure has been a bit hit or miss in terms of availability. He had a 2.97 ERA over 30 starts and 172 2/3 innings last season, but made just nine total starts over his first two seasons with Texas in 2023-24. The 37-year-old is 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA in seven career appearances against Seattle. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rangers #Mariners #licking #wounds #entering #earlyseason #series

Tim David showed exactly why Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained his services for ​the 2026 season with a scintillating power-hitting display for the ‌defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champion on Sunday.

The 30-year-old ​Australian clobbered eight sixes in his unbeaten ⁠70 off 25 balls as Bengaluru scored a 43-run win over Chennai Super Kings to make it two wins from two.

In ‌an innings of huge hits, David drew gasps with a monstrous 106m strike that landed on ‌the roof of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“I’ve been ‌getting ⁠in trouble during training with the boys,” ⁠Player-of-the-Match David said of the six.

“We have competitions to try and hit them on the roof, and we’re obviously on ​the side pitches. So, ‌to get one during a match out of the middle, help it up on the roof, it was good fun.”

Bengaluru tops the early-season standings with a net ‌run rate superior to that of Rajasthan Royals, ​Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, who also began with back-to-back wins.

Bengaluru’s Rajat Patidar thumped 48 ⁠not out off 19 balls and David, who plundered 30 runs from a Jamie Overton over that included four ‌sixes, said the captain’s approach helped set the platform for his late burst.

“Rajat was absolutely smoking it and I was taking balls off him so to be able to get us to a score and obviously put a lot of pressure on the opposition,” he added.

Chasing ‌251 for victory, five-time champion Chennai Super Kings managed 207 before being bowled ​out with two balls left in its innings.

“If you look at the score, we were ⁠ahead of them up to about five overs to go,” ⁠CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said.

“And then they just went like a rocket. So, that’s really ‌where the game was lost for us.”

It was a third straight defeat for Chennai Super Kings, which slipped to the ​bottom of the table.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #RCBs #sixhitting #machine #Tim #David #hits #roof">IPL 2026: RCB’s six-hitting machine Tim David hits the roof Tim David showed exactly why Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained his services for ​the 2026 season with a scintillating power-hitting display for the ‌defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champion on Sunday.The 30-year-old ​Australian clobbered eight sixes in his unbeaten ⁠70 off 25 balls as Bengaluru scored a 43-run win over Chennai Super Kings to make it two wins from two.In ‌an innings of huge hits, David drew gasps with a monstrous 106m strike that landed on ‌the roof of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.“I’ve been ‌getting ⁠in trouble during training with the boys,” ⁠Player-of-the-Match David said of the six.“We have competitions to try and hit them on the roof, and we’re obviously on ​the side pitches. So, ‌to get one during a match out of the middle, help it up on the roof, it was good fun.”Bengaluru tops the early-season standings with a net ‌run rate superior to that of Rajasthan Royals, ​Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, who also began with back-to-back wins.Bengaluru’s Rajat Patidar thumped 48 ⁠not out off 19 balls and David, who plundered 30 runs from a Jamie Overton over that included four ‌sixes, said the captain’s approach helped set the platform for his late burst.“Rajat was absolutely smoking it and I was taking balls off him so to be able to get us to a score and obviously put a lot of pressure on the opposition,” he added.Chasing ‌251 for victory, five-time champion Chennai Super Kings managed 207 before being bowled ​out with two balls left in its innings.“If you look at the score, we were ⁠ahead of them up to about five overs to go,” ⁠CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said.“And then they just went like a rocket. So, that’s really ‌where the game was lost for us.”It was a third straight defeat for Chennai Super Kings, which slipped to the ​bottom of the table.Published on Apr 06, 2026 #IPL #RCBs #sixhitting #machine #Tim #David #hits #roof

Deadspin | NBA roundup: Rockets edge Warriors to spoil Stephen Curry’s return Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after missing the final shot of the game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco. In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference. Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament. Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee. Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points. Celtics 115, Raptors 101 Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Toronto. The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 from Derrick White. Boston’s Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger March 6 and had four points and four rebounds. Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15. Mavericks 134, Lakers 128 Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas over short-handed Los Angeles. Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scoring 13 and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg. LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Suns 120, Bulls 110 Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25 and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to help Phoenix get past host Chicago. All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards. Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points. Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108 Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana. Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points. Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108 LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis. Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte), which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench. Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game. Magic 112, Pelicans 108 Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans. Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four. Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18 and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans. Clippers 138 Kings 109 Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento. Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8. Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115 Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Memphis. The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter. Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games. Nets 121, Wizards 115 Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off visiting Washington in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York. Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1. Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Rockets #edge #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #returnApr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after missing the final shot of the game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.

In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference.

Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament.

Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee.

Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points.

Celtics 115, Raptors 101

Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Toronto.

The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 from Derrick White. Boston’s Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger March 6 and had four points and four rebounds.

Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15.

Mavericks 134, Lakers 128

Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas over short-handed Los Angeles.

Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scoring 13 and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg.

LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

Suns 120, Bulls 110

Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25 and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to help Phoenix get past host Chicago.

All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards.

Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points.

Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108

Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana.

Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round.


Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points.

Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108

LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte), which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench.

Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game.

Magic 112, Pelicans 108

Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans.

Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four.

Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18 and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans.

Clippers 138 Kings 109

Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento.

Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams.

Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8.

Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115

Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Memphis.

The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter.

Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games.

Nets 121, Wizards 115

Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off visiting Washington in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York.

Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1.

Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Rockets #edge #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #return">Deadspin | NBA roundup: Rockets edge Warriors to spoil Stephen Curry’s return Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after missing the final shot of the game against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Stephen Curry returned from a two-month absence with 29 points, but Alperen Sengun capped a 24-point performance with a go-ahead interior hoop with 11.1 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets to a 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco. In his first return to San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 31 points for Houston (49-29), which moved within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in their three-team duel for third place in the Western Conference. Brandin Podziemski backed Curry with 18 points for the Warriors (36-42), who virtually assured themselves of the 10th seed in the Western play-in tournament. Curry, who had missed 27 straight games since a Jan. 30 injury against Detroit, played 26 minutes, during which he hit 11 of his 21 shots. The Warriors had gone 9-18 in his 27 absences as he recovered from a sore right knee. Gui Santos finished with 15 points and Payton 14 for the Warriors, who saw Kristaps Porzingis foul out with just nine points and a team-high eight rebounds after 23 minutes. Draymond Green collected a game-high 12 assists to go with seven points. Celtics 115, Raptors 101 Jaylen Brown tossed in a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to lead Boston to a victory over visiting Toronto. The Celtics received 18 points and seven rebounds from Neemias Queta, 17 points from Payton Pritchard and 10 from Derrick White. Boston’s Nikola Vucevic played in a game for the first time since he fractured his right ring finger March 6 and had four points and four rebounds. Boston has won its last nine home games against Toronto. The Raptors haven’t won in Boston since 2021. Boston has won 21 of its last 24 regular-season games against Toronto overall. Ja’Kobe Walter led Toronto with 16 points. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each scored 15. Mavericks 134, Lakers 128 Cooper Flagg followed a historic 51-point performance with another sensational outing, going for 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead host Dallas over short-handed Los Angeles. Dallas built a lead as large as 22 points behind P.J. Washington’s 15 points, Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scoring 13 and Klay Thompson knocking down three 3-pointers on the way to 11 points to support Flagg. LeBron James (30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds) did what he could to pick up the slack as Los Angeles was without its top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who will both miss at least the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard notched his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Suns 120, Bulls 110 Devin Booker scored 30 points, Jalen Green added 25 and Dillon Brooks sank a pair of clutch baskets down the stretch to help Phoenix get past host Chicago. All five Phoenix starters scored in double figures, as Mark Williams shot 6-of-8 from the floor on the way to 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and seven boards. Tre Jones scored 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor to lead Chicago. Collin Sexton posted a double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. Leonard Miller had a game-high 10 rebounds and shot 7-of-14 from the field on the way to 17 points. Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108 Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland overcame a slow start in a victory over visiting Indiana. Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana, which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points. Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108 LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Charlotte pulled away for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis. Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte), which won its fourth game in a row. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench. Julius Randle scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Minnesota. Bones Hyland finished with 18 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness) missed the game. Magic 112, Pelicans 108 Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando overturned a 15-point third-quarter deficit to defeat host New Orleans. Paolo Banchero paired 23 points with 16 rebounds for the Magic, who seized control after edging in front midway through the fourth quarter to win their third game in the last four. Saddiq Bey had 32 for the Pelicans, who succumbed to their eighth straight defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi posted 18 and Zion Williamson contributed 17 for New Orleans. Clippers 138 Kings 109 Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles moved into eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a road victory over Sacramento. Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each scored 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 each as the Clippers ended a two-game skid. Los Angeles has the same record as the Portland Trail Blazers but now owns the eighth spot in the standings via tiebreaker by winning two of the three games between the teams. Devin Carter scored 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw a two-game winning streak come to an end. Maxime Raynaud scored 11 points with 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has struggled with injury issues this season but has managed to go 7-8 since March 8. Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115 Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan added 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Memphis. The Bucks also got 19 points from Taurean Prince, who was 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-5 from long range. The team shot 60.2% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, never trailing in the second half, although the Grizzlies did cut the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter. Rayan Rupert posted a 30-point triple-double for the Grizzlies, only the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight and for the 17th time in 19 games. Nets 121, Wizards 115 Rookie Nolan Traore scored a career-high 23 points and added a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off visiting Washington in an Eastern Conference basement battle in New York. Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each had 15 points as the Nets won for just the second time in their past 14 games. They also won the season series with Washington 3-1. Will Riley shot 9 for 16 from the field and led the Wizards with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the past six games, averaging 22.5 points per game over that stretch. Julian Reese added 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Rockets #edge #Warriors #spoil #Stephen #Currys #return

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