Sports Digest.

Rudy Gobert Silences His Critics With a Dominant Performance Against Nikola Jokić

Minnesota Teams

Timberwolves even the series with Denver, 1-1. Rudy Gobert had a point to prove on Monday — and he made it loudly. On the same day he finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, the Wolves' big man held three-time MVP Nikola Jokić to just 1-of-8 shooting as Minnesota rallied to win Game 2 in Denver and even their first-round playoff series. It's the kind of game that gives Wolves fans real hope heading back to Minneapolis.

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NFL

The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here, and it's a chaotic one. The big news: the New York Giants traded for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the Cincinnati Bengals, shaking up the entire top-10 draft order. Meanwhile, the Raiders are expected to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and mock drafts are flying in every direction — which is just the sports media's way of saying no one really knows what's going to happen. The draft kicks off soon, so expect things to get even messier.

Sad news from Raiders history. Rod Martin, a linebacker who famously intercepted three passes in Super Bowl XV — still a record — passed away at 72. He was a true legend for the Raiders franchise.

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NBA

Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year — unanimously. The San Antonio Spurs' 7-foot-4 phenom became the first unanimous winner in league history, which is a big deal. He then backed it up by dazzling in the Spurs' Game 1 playoff win. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers handled the Toronto Raptors comfortably in their Game 2, and the New York Knicks blew a big lead Monday night — keeping their series very much alive.

WNBA training camps are open. The women's basketball season is getting underway, with rosters taking shape after the draft and free agency. Two new expansion teams are joining the league this year, so there's some fresh faces to watch for.

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MLB

Mason Miller might be the most unhittable pitcher in baseball right now. The Oakland Athletics' closer hasn't allowed a single run all season and is striking out more than 70% of the batters he faces. That's so dominant that he's showing up in Cy Young Award conversation — an award typically reserved for starting pitchers. It's a fun story to keep an eye on.

The 100 mph fastball is officially the new normal. A feature piece this week explores how throwing 100 miles per hour — once a rare, jaw-dropping feat — has become almost commonplace in today's MLB. More pitchers than ever are hitting triple digits on the radar gun.

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NHL

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are rolling. The Edmonton Oilers — one of the favorites to win it all — opened their first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are also squaring off in an old-school rivalry matchup, with Game 2 on Sunday. Sixteen teams are still alive, and things are just heating up.

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College Sports

UConn basketball is quietly reloading. The Huskies, who have been one of college basketball's dominant programs lately, are moving up in early preseason rankings after landing a couple of key recruits and transfers. Coach Dan Hurley keeps finding ways to keep the pipeline full.

The big-name programs are scrambling in the transfer portal. Kansas and Kentucky are both chasing the top recruit in the country, while North Carolina is waiting to hear back from a highly coveted prospect. College basketball's offseason is basically a second season at this point.

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Other Sports

Erling Haaland strikes again to keep Manchester City in the Premier League title race. City beat Arsenal, closing the gap to just three points — with a game in hand. That means City could actually leapfrog Arsenal with a win in that extra game. The Premier League title race is very much alive.

Bryson DeChambeau had to withdraw from LIV Golf's Mexico City event due to wrist discomfort before the final round. DeChambeau is one of the biggest names in the rival golf league, so his health is worth monitoring heading into the summer.

Golf's RBC Heritage is this week at the scenic Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina — the first big event after the Masters. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is in the field, so there's real star power on display.

Sources

Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
2026 NBA Draft order: Jazz win tiebreaker over Kings -- what that, other results mean for lottery, first round
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
Raiders legend Rod Martin, a former All-Pro linebacker and Super Bowl hero, dies at 72
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
Mason Miller has top-five Cy Young odds -- here's what it would take for MLB's best closer to make a real run
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA playoff picks, April 20 best bets by proven model
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
Mike Brown fails first major test as Knicks coach with Game 2 collapse vs. Hawks
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
NBA playoff winners and losers: CJ McCollum takes over at MSG, Rudy Gobert puts on clinic vs. Nikola Jokić
Rss Espn · 2026-04-21
Gobert carries DPOY snub into Jokic matchup, win
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Martinook lifts Canes in 2OT after goal overturn
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Wemby captures DPOY as first unanimous winner
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Counsell: MLB rule in place for Ohtani 'bizarre'
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McCollum plays MSG villain as Hawks tie series
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Dodgers' Diaz to have elbow surgery, miss months
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PGA Tour boots both Hawaii events from '27 sked
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UConn's Ball (wrist) to miss all of next season
Rss Espn · 2026-04-21
Transfer rumors, news: Man United eye Real Madrid star as Casemiro replacement
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
Every NFL team's best draft class of the 21st century
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
Prisco's 'What teams should do' mock draft: Giants take Dexter Lawrence replacement, Cowboys add to defense
Rss Cbssports · 2026-04-21
Celtics vs. 76ers odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA playoff picks, April 21 best bets by proven model
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Spurs vs. Blazers odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA playoff picks, April 21 best bets by proven model
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Lakers vs. Rockets odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA playoff picks, April 21 best bets by proven model
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Astros vs. Guardians prediction, odds, time: 2026 MLB picks for Tuesday, April 21 from proven model
Rss Espn · 2026-04-21
'It's 100 or die': How throwing 100 mph went from a novelty to the norm in MLB
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Kiper's final 2026 Big Board: Ranking the top 150 NFL draft prospects, plus position reports
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What questions do Alabama, Georgia, BYU, Oregon and others face after spring ball?
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What we learned at Notre Dame and Indiana this spring
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From Mozart at UNC to dancing in the weight room, Gio Lopez is rediscovering himself
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Meet Prospect X, who could be the 2026 NFL draft's brightest diamond in the rough
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The Draft Day Predictor settles big Round 1 debates: Could Simpson slide?
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How the 'Lumber Yard' was built: Inside the Avalanche's goaltending tandem
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Why Guardiola's legacy could exceed the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, Klopp
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Is the new Premier League ball behind all the long-range goals? We asked a scientist
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Barça have gone backwards, Madrid set for barren year. How can they be fixed?
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Tim Duncan, David Robinson ... LeBron: What Victor Wembanyama's Game 1 signals for the NBA
Rss Espn · 2026-04-21
Fallacy or fact? Why Lakers' shooting records in Game 1 could be good news for Rockets