Former allies turned bitter enemies, Sami Zayn and Jey Uso, will face off in a one-on-one battle this Friday on SmackDown. The two were previously part of The Bloodline faction and played a significant role in both the team's successes and failures. Jey, who initially doubted Zayn's loyalty, went into conflict with the former Honorary Uce after he attacked their leader Roman Reigns during the Royal Rumble.
Now, with Zayn and Kevin Owens holding the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles, Jey is left to fend off his own in-ring battles. But he still has a score to settle with Zayn. Will Jey be successful in his attempt to gain retribution following his WrestleMania setback? Tune in to SmackDown this Friday on FOX at 8/7 C to find out!
In addition to the match between Zayn and Jey, other high-octane clashes await on this week's episode. Newly crowned SmackDown women's champion, Rhea Ripley, will defend her title. Meanwhile, the Mysterio family will continue their feud as father-son duo Rey and Dominik team up with different partners for a tag-team showdown.
The Boston Celtics have signed G-League forward Justin Champagnie to their roster, filling their final spot ahead of the playoffs, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. The 21-year-old has shown consistency throughout the season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s affiliate, averaging 18.2 points per game, while shooting 52% from the floor and 30.6% from beyond the arc, and had a huge 43-point game with 13 rebounds and four assists. Champagnie signed with the Raptors in 2021 as an undrafted agent and played three games this year with the team as a wing. With the Celtics, he is not expected to receive minutes in the playoffs, but his signing gives the team extra depth in the wings down the stretch of the regular season. The Celtics have kept their final roster spot open since trading Noah Vonleh to the Spurs on January 5, now making it clear they were waiting for the perfect opportunity to sign promising talent. The deal with Champagnie is expected to be for the minimum with a partial guarantee for next season.
With the Chicago Bulls securely in the No. 10 seed and final Eastern Conference play-in spot, coach Billy Donovan decided to rest starters DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Patrick Beverley for their game against the Dallas Mavericks. Though the game was still competitive, the Bulls emerged victorious 115-112. However, with the win, the Mavericks were eliminated from play-in contention. While other teams opted to rest starters as well, the Bulls starters are expected to play against the Detroit Pistons, where they will face a familiar foe in LaVine's case. In the Bulls' previous games against the Pistons this season, LaVine scored an average of 38 points while shooting 65% from the field and 54.2% from the three-point line. Chicago will then head to a one-game, loser-goes-home game against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Resting starters seems like a wise decision, as the playoffs can be incredibly demanding, with players required to play every second night. Nonetheless, the strategy is not without controversy, as fans have raised concerns that season ticket holders are not getting their money's worth when starters are held out of games. Ultimately, coaches must navigate balancing rest and recovery with keeping their players sharp and maintaining momentum heading into the postseason.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a convincing 117-104 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, tallying 33 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists in the process. The win allowed the Bucks to draw one step closer to securing the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings with only four games remaining in the regular season. The victory was especially spectacular after their previous match when they lost 140-99 to the Boston Celtics. Antetokounmpo leads an impressive Milwaukee lineup, including Brook Lopez (21 points), Khris Middleton (19), and Jrue Holiday (18). After Sunday's performance, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer reaffirmed his belief that Antetokounmpo deserves to win the MVP award this season, "What he does at both ends of the court -- he does everything. We feel like he's in the conversation, and he should be the guy." In other games, LeBron James made his 107th career triple-double, and the Lakers won their third straight game, keeping their late-season push for a spot in the playoffs alive. Despite the Lakers' recent improvement, the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Atlanta Hawks, making it increasingly likely that they will miss the playoffs.
The Golden State Warriors played against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night in a pivotal late-season matchup. While the Kings have already clinched their playoff spot and are likely to finish as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, the game was critical for the defending champions. The only way for the Warriors to avoid the play-in tournament is by winning both their final two games. They currently sit in sixth place in the West and need to finish in the top six to avoid the tournament. Warriors coach Steve Kerr emphasized the importance of not letting their guard down and the necessity of winning both their final games. The Kings rested their top three scorers, which some believe could indicate that they are not taking the game seriously. Nevertheless, both teams have a chance of meeting again in the first round of the playoffs, which would be the first time for both to make the playoffs in the same season. The game ended with the Warriors winning 120-108, putting them in a stronger position to make the playoffs without the play-in tournament.
There have been rumors about the possible sale of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for months, but now it seems talks are "hot and heavy." According to a report by CNBC, WWE is "looking to pin down a sale" despite previous doubts that long-time Chairman Vince McMahon would be willing to sell. With Wrestlemania and expiring television contracts on the horizon, WWE has attractive opportunities to leverage. Potential buyers could include private equity firms and well-known names in sports. However, McMahon, who owns nearly 40% of WWE and holds more than 80% of the voting power, might be the key obstacle to a sale. Last month, reports circulated that McMahon was looking to sell the company for as much as $9 billion. McMahon, who returned to the company as executive chairman in January, is overseeing a strategic review of the company after revelations he had settled sexual misconduct claims for millions of dollars in 2022.
The Minnesota Twins have rescheduled their home opener from Thursday to Friday due to a colder forecast than expected. In an announcement on Tuesday, the team stated that the high temperature on Thursday was expected to be in the mid-30s compared to Friday's high of 50 degrees. All tickets purchased for Thursday's game will still be valid for the rescheduled Friday game. The opener's festivities scheduled on Thursday will now take place on the Friday game, including the Breakfast on the Plaza which starts at 6 a.m., with the gates opening at 1 p.m. and first pitch at 3:10 p.m. The Twins had no scheduled game for Friday, allowing them to push back the opening game by one day without affecting any other games. Tickets are still available online or by calling the ticket office. Despite this, the decision means that Thursday's game would have rivaled the coldest outdoor opener in Twins history.
Cincinnati Reds' manager David Bell missed the team's game against the Philadelphia Phillies due to a minor medical procedure. Bell has a collaborative approach to managerial decisions and often discusses in-game moves with bench coach Freddie Benavides, game planning coach Jeff Pickler, and pitching coach Derek Johnson. Benavides served as the acting manager on Bell's 57th birthday. The Reds' did not provide any information on Bell's procedure itself or what prompted it. Bell is expected to return to manage Saturday's afternoon game in Philadelphia. The swift change did not appear to affect the team, as the Reds went on to win the game 4-3.
Macaulay Langstaff broke the National League record for goals in a single season as Wrexham beat Wealdstone 3-0. The match was also an opportunity for the team to remember late CEO Jason Turner, who passed away suddenly a week prior. An emotionally charged atmosphere brought a fast start for the Wrexham team, and Langstaff coolly slotted home his 41st goal of the season after the break, beating Ricky Miller's previous record of 40 goals. The team also set a new high for club points in a single campaign. Sam Austin scored the first goal, putting Wrexham ahead at half-time, and Frank Vincent sealed the victory by scoring the third goal. Langstaff leads the line as usual, with Cedwyn Scott returning to the bench. The win moved Wrexham up to the top of the National League, ahead of Notts County on goal difference, who will be their next opponent.
Wrexham AFC's unbeaten run in the league was brought to an end by a resilient Halifax Town side at The Shay, with a scoreline of 3-1. Elliot Lee's goal gave the Dragons the lead in the first half, but in the second half, the tide turned, and the home side capitalised. Milli Alli and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe scored twice to seal the deal for Halifax. Wrexham AFC's coach, Phil Parkinson, named the same team that won 5-1 against Oldham Athletic the week before. Despite the travelling support of approximately 4,500 Wrexham fans, they were unable to sustain the league unbeaten run they had been on, which had lasted 28 games. But the Dragons have bigger fish to fry as they face a crucial title matchup against rivals Notts County. Both teams are chasing promotion to League Two, and now the match takes on even more importance as it will influence the title race. Wrexham still have a game in hand as they approach the crucial clash.
SKIP STORY
The Boston University Terriers are set to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the semifinals of the Frozen Four on Thursday. The Terriers, who finished their regular season with a record of 29-10-0, is a No. 1 seed in the tournament. They are led by captain Domenick Fensore who says that the team's approach to this tournament has been to never feel satisfied and to always want more. The team's last appearance in the tournament was in 2021 when they were eliminated after one game. Their opponents, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, are the top-ranked team in the tournament and won the Big Ten regular-season title. They feature Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies, who are both finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and will certainly be a tough challenge for the Terriers. The game is set to start at 5 pm EST and will be televised on ESPN2. The winner of this matchup will advance to the championship game on Saturday.
Michigan’s hockey team lost their National Semi-Final game against Quinnipiac on Thursday, and it seemed like an unfortunate end to a season with high hopes. While there are several reasons to blame for their loss, most attribute it to bad luck. Two goals bounced in from his net and hit Erik Portillo’s skates, and Quinnipiac’s Yaniv Parets dominated the game with impressive goaltending. Coach Brandon Naurato admits that the loss could only be attributed to one game, but it is undeniable that Michigan has had several missed opportunities in securing the National Championship. Michigan reached an impressive eight Frozen Fours since 1998, but only made it to one National Championship game, which they lost 3-2 to Minnesota. Michigan will undoubtedly come back stronger and more competitive next season, but as of now, there are still no guarantees as to when they will have another National Championship opportunity.
The NCAA's Frozen Four tournament is set to take place from April 6-8 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa. The teams, including Boston University, Quinnipiac, Michigan, and Minnesota, will compete for the top spot in college hockey. Tampa tourism officials are hoping to see a boost in visitors for the event. They expect thousands of people to fly to Tampa for the games, bringing in revenue at a traditionally slower time between spring break and summer. Santiago Corrada, CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, stated the city has a "surgically" planned approach to attracting events, and that approach is working. Compared to last year's Easter weekend, Tampa has seen a 41% increase in visitors and hotel occupancy rates are expected to be between 85-90%. This is good news as Tampa is in its 21st consecutive month of hotel occupancy rates topping 70%. However, the demand for even more hotels may be on the rise as the city continues to attract more visitors. The semifinals began yesterday and the championship game will take place on Saturday. All the games will air on ESPN2.
As the potential sale of WWE hovers overhead, rumors have surfaced about who might be interested in buying the company. Reports suggest that WWE's buyers are interested in retaining a McMahon, but the name on their contract would read Stephanie McMahon.
According to Fightful Select, "numerous sources" related to possible buyers indicated that Stephanie McMahon would be a "desired return." A source at Disney was quoted as stating "they're aware of the things that would make audiences and staff happy. She seemed to bring a lot of positive to the company."
Stephanie McMahon originally stepped down from her role in WWE in 2022 but was brought back within weeks after her father's shock retirement in July. Considering how Stephanie McMahon has stepped away from all her roles to focus on her family, it's uncertain if she would be willing to make a return if the organization got sold to new owners.
However, if it does happen, Stephanie McMahon's presence might be seen as a positive thing behind the scenes due to her excellent reputation, which might explain why many potential suitors have her in mind.
On Friday night, the Phoenix Suns will go head to head with the Denver Nuggets without four of the Nuggets' starters. Nikola Jokic, the team's two-time MVP, is out with right calf tightness, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. will sit out because of injuries to their heel, knee, and calf, respectively. The Suns, who are healthy and have won six games in a row, are expected to have an easy victory over the battered Nuggets. Furthermore, the game gives the Suns a chance to experiment with different strategies since they will most likely face the Nuggets in the playoffs, and it will give them an advantage if they are able to exploit the Nuggets' weaknesses. While the Phoenix Suns can pick their poison with the Nuggets without the majority of their starters, the Nuggets will have to work extremely hard to secure a win. Nevertheless, the game could be an excellent opportunity for the Nuggets' bench players to showcase their talent against one of the best teams in the West.
Michigan's freshmen Adam Fantilli, Gavin Brindley, and Rutger McGroarty have become a dominant line in college hockey since combining for eight points during a series split against Minnesota back in January. The Wolverines, the nation's highest-scoring team, are 13-3-2 in their past 18 games, and their all-freshmen line has been leading the charge. The players are highly-rated NHL prospects and their coach instantly saw their skill sets complementing each other when he put them together. With Brindley's speed, Fantilli's tenacity, quick-release shot and playmaking ability, and McGroarty's strength and nose for the net, the three teenagers have created matchup nightmares for opposing coaches. They are expected to be deployed heavily in Michigan's national semifinal matchup against Quinnipiac. The Wolverines have picked up momentum since the freshmen line began working together in January, and they are expected to lead their team to the championship. At the national semifinals game, the electric freshmen line will have to face off against Quinnipiac's bulldog defense, backed by Yaniv Perets, who will have to put up a good defense to stop Michigan's lethal attack.
After a win against the Sacramento Kings and an Oklahoma City Thunder loss against the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks are tied with the Thunder for the 10th best record in the Western Conference. With two games left in the regular season, the Mavericks need one of two scenarios to happen: win both games and hope for the Thunder to lose one of their last two games, or win one of their last two games and see the Thunder lose their last two games.
If the Mavericks make the play-in as a 10th place finisher in the West, they will face the Minnesota Timberwolves. If they win, they will play the loser of the 7-seed vs. 8-seed game. If they win that game, they will advance to the playoffs as an 8-seed and play a seven-game series against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets. The NBA started using the current form of the play-in tournament in 2021, and 10th place teams are 0-4 in those games.
The Florida Panthers secured an important win on Tuesday night, beating the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 and moving into a tie with the New York Islanders for the top spot in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings. Matthew Tkachuk snapped a tie in the opening minute of the third period, putting the Panthers ahead for good. Aaron Ekblad also scored for Florida while Alex Lyon made 39 saves for his fourth straight win. Panthers have now won four consecutive victories, and their strong showing has helped them catch up in the playoff race. The Sabres, though still among the best offensive teams in the NHL, are currently five points out of the playoffs with two more games remaining. With this victory, the Panthers are now positioned one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with four games left for each team. The race for the playoffs with so few games left is heating up, and fans can expect to see a thrilling finish to the season.
