From The Sports Desk: Crossed Signals

4 hours ago

Last night, information 1 of nan NFL draught was afloat of twists, turns and surprises. Our squad recapped them each here. But nan biggest 1 progressive a telephone call. Or technically, 2 telephone calls. When 1 squad thought they were drafting a player, only for different squad to swoop in. We’ll explain.

Plus, Rohan Nadkarni breaks down each nan action from past night’s NBA playoffs, and Joe Prince-Wright previews this weekend’s Premier League slate. Jam-packed newsletter coming and moreover much coverage, arsenic always, connected nan NBC News website.

NFL Draft

In caller years, a caller contented has been adopted astatine nan NFL draft, particularly successful nan first round. Teams will grounds them calling their draught pick, to seizure nan excitement successful nan room, and past merchandise nan video connected societal media.

It’s expected to beryllium an easy promotion for nan team. But connected these telephone calls, we’re learning, a batch tin spell wrong.

Last night, nan Dallas Cowboys were connected nan timepiece astatine prime No. 20 erstwhile Makai Lemon, a wide receiver from USC, received a telephone from nan Pittsburgh Steelers, who held nan No. 21 pick. Pittsburgh had apparently assumed nan Cowboys weren’t taking him.

Lemon’s telephone kept ringing. He looked and it was nan Philadelphia Eagles. They had traded pinch nan Cowboys. The Eagles now owned nan No. 20 prime and were taking Lemon.

“I consciousness for illustration everything happened for a reason,” Lemon said later. “They traded up, truthful it intends a lot. They really want me. I’m each in, and they’re going to get everything that I got.”

The Steelers were near to prime Arizona State violative tackle Max Iheanachor.

Notre Dame moving backmost Jeremiyah Love poses connected nan reddish carpet for nan NFL Draft connected April 23, 2026 successful Pittsburgh.

Earlier successful nan night, nan Arizona Cardinals were delayed successful calling Jeremiyah Love, a moving backmost from Notre Dame, whom they selected pinch nan No. 3 pick. “We had nan incorrect telephone number,” Monti Ossenfort, nan Cardinals’ GM, said. “The telephone number that we were fixed was nan incorrect one.”

“Technical difficulties,” he joked.

When nan New York Jets called Kenyon Sadiq, a tight extremity from Oregon, to show him he would beryllium their prime astatine No. 16, he didn’t judge them astatine first.

“I was reasoning it was a prank telephone for a second,” Sadiq said connected nan call.

“No, we’re not pranking you, brother,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn told him. “You’re gonna beryllium a Jet. You’re gonna beryllium a Jet. Trust maine connected that, man. You’ve been a target for america for a while.”

NBA Playoffs

The No. 3 seed New York Knicks fought backmost aft trailing by arsenic galore arsenic 18 points to return a lead precocious successful nan 4th quarter, but yet fell to nan No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, 109-108. New York has now mislaid back-to-back games by 1 point, becoming nan first squad successful NBA playoff history to suffer 2 consecutive games successful regularisation by only 1 point.

After CJ McCollum scored a precocious go-ahead bucket to springiness Atlanta nan lead, nan Knicks had nan shot successful nan waning seconds pinch a chance to win. Instead, connected a group play pursuing a timeout, Knicks prima Jalen Brunson was swarmed by aggregate defenders and turned nan shot complete — meaning New York didn’t moreover get a changeable disconnected connected its last possession.

“I wish I had a amended reply for you,” Brunson said erstwhile asked what went incorrect connected nan play. “I sewage thing correct now.”

CJ McCollum of nan Atlanta Hawks shoots nan game-winning changeable

Meanwhile, different No. 6 seed, nan Minnesota Timberwolves, dismantled nan No. 3 Denver Nuggets and won 113-96 past nighttime to return a 2-1 bid lead.

The Nuggets were playing without do-it-all guardant Aaron Gordon, whose athleticism and protect tenacity were sorely missed.

The Wolves, connected nan different hand, person seemingly recovered nan reply to slowing down Nikola Jokić , who is wide believed to beryllium nan NBA’s champion violative player: Rudy Gobert. A four-time Defensive Player of nan Year and longtime Jokic foe, Gobert has been sensational this series. Through 3 games, Jokic is averaging 25.3 points connected only 40% shooting.

Finally, nan Toronto Raptors sewage connected nan committee yesterday, winning their first crippled against nan Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors won 126-104 successful ample portion because RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes each scored 33 points.

For nan Cavs, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell combined for 33 points — and 8 turnovers.

Premier League Preview

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario comforts a dejected Dominic Solanke

Quite simply, Spurs person to triumph astatine already-relegated Wolves tomorrow if they’re going to enactment successful nan Premier League. No matter really galore times you publication that sentence, it’s still shocking to digest. But it’s nan reality of wherever nan Spurs are aft a genuinely shambolic play connected and disconnected nan pitch.

Their 3rd head of nan season, Roberto De Zerbi, has travel successful and cajoled this surgery broadside a little, but their expensively assembled squad, which was expected to situation for nan apical four, has still underachieved epically. De Zerbi’s desire and clear message, positive injuries calming down, person led to 2 improved performances against Sunderland and Brighton. But only 1 constituent has arrived since De Zerbi stepped successful arsenic Spurs fto successful a heartbreaking precocious equalizer astatine location to Brighton past weekend.

With relegation now confirmed for Wolves, they person thing but pridefulness to play for, but would relish dragging Spurs down into nan Championship, England’s 2nd tier, pinch them.

With games against Aston Villa, Leeds, Chelsea and Everton remaining aft this weekend, Spurs cognize that 3 points astatine Wolves is an absolute must.

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What We're Reading

Chiefs coach Dave Merritt charged pinch home battery.

One of nan men who helped a chap runner complete nan decorativeness statement astatine nan Boston Marathon explained why he did it.

Four tickets to nan World Cup last have been listed for much than $2 cardinal each.

What We're Watching

If you’re a existent NFL draught junkie, it continues coming pinch rounds 2 and 3. If you skip it, we’ll person much draught sum successful Monday’s newsletter. There’s besides 3 NBA playoff games connected tonight.

We’ll beryllium peculiarly watching nan No. 7 seeds successful each conference. Can nan Portland Trail Blazers support pushing nan No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, now that Victor Wembanyama is dealing pinch a concussion? Also, tin Philadelphia 76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe repeat his 30-point capacity from earlier this week against nan No. 2 Boston Celtics?

Both bid are tied 1-1, and coming are their pivotal Game 3’s.

All times are Eastern:

7 p.m.: Rounds 2 and 3 of nan NFL draft, connected ESPN
7 p.m.: No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, connected Amazon Prime
8 p.m.: No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets, connected Amazon Prime
10:30 p.m.: No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, connected Amazon Prime

That’s it for now! We’ll beryllium backmost Monday.