The Boston Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 57-25 regular season record, thus earning themselves a first-round bye in the NBA playoffs. The No. 7 seed Miami Heat and No. 8 seed Atlanta Hawks will face off in the Play-In round, with the winner advancing to play the Celtics on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series. The Celtics went 2-2 against the Heat during the regular season, and 3-0 against the Hawks, including a 120-114 win in their season finale.

The 2023 NBA Play-In tournament is in its fourth year, with this year's tournament involving the four Eastern Conference teams and four Western Conference teams that did not clinch direct playoff spots. The Play-In tournament will have six games in total, with the teams that finish seventh and eighth in each conference pitted against each other for the seventh seed. The winners of the No. 7 versus No. 8 matchup will take up the seventh seed in the respective conference, while the losers will have one more chance to secure the eighth seed through the No. 9 versus No. 10 matchup. The Play-In tournament may have only been experimental at first, but its positive receptions have resulted in a fixed format that has kept more teams engaged throughout the regular season.

Despite the Miami Heat's recent struggles, forward Jimmy Butler has made his first appearance in the NBA.com MVP Ladder, coming in at No. 10. Butler was previously seen as a darkhorse candidate, but the team's drop in form has hindered his chances. This year has been inconsistent for Butler, but it’s worth noting he’s in good company in the MVP race, alongside the likes of Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Domantas Sabonis. Butler has publicly prioritized winning games over individual accolades. He finished with 35 points and 12 assists in Miami's win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, adding some impressive moves to his arsenal. Butler attempted a no-look jump shot in the midrange, following in the footsteps of Steph Curry’s signature move. Despite the successful shot, Butler insists that it is still Curry's move, and he won't try it from three-point range.

Boston Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell expressed his concerns on playing against the Miami Heat in the NBA Playoffs. Maxwell believes that Celtics are the stronger team compared to the Heat but acknowledges that Miami could cause them problems with their talented roster. Maxwell mentioned Jimmy Butler's scoring abilities, Tyler Herro's three-point shooting and Bam Adebayo's terrific performance this season. However, he still thinks the Celtics have the edge on paper, stating that they have more reliable players than Miami. The Celtics only narrowly made their way past Miami in the Eastern Conference finals last year in a seven-game series. The Heat comes into the playoffs this year with less firepower, but they still have the ability to take games off anyone.

The Heat is set to play the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Playoffs first round. If Miami wins, they will play against the Boston Celtics in the second round. The Celtics finished second seed in the Eastern Conference this season and have been one of the most consistent teams. However, a series against Miami, who have experienced players in their team, could cause them to stumble.

The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the eighth seed in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, but the game left them in chaos. Breakout forward Jaden McDaniels fractured his right hand after punching a wall in frustration, and center Rudy Gobert was suspended for a game after striking teammate Kyle Anderson in a huddle. The disagreement started with Anderson telling Gobert to block shots, and Gobert responding by telling him to grab a “bleeping” rebound. Anderson then told Gobert to, “Shut the f---- up, b----,” which incited Gobert to throw a punch at Anderson’s chest. After the incident, Gobert was sent home and later apologized for his actions. The Wolves are now weighing whether to keep Gobert off the trip to Los Angeles on Monday for the play-in game against the Lakers. This is a significant blow to the Timberwolves, who gave up four first-round picks for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Despite tempers flaring during the game, Anderson said, “We’ll move forward. We want to win games. It is what it is. We’ll keep it in house... I think our tempers just flared. That’s all. It is what it is. We’ll speak about it and move on. We’re grown men.”

The Western Conference playoff race is packed, with just five games separating the fourth seed Suns from the 12th seed Jazz. The Lakers are ninth, but position is far from solid. The Thunder and Mavericks are nipping at their heels, each with the same record or better.

LeBron James and the Lakers face a tough challenge with three games left. Up first is the Phoenix Suns, who are locked in as the No. 4 seed, followed by the Utah Jazz, who are desperate for a win to stay in playoff contention. The team ends the season against the Portland Trailblazers.

Winning all three games would be ideal but tough for the Lakers, who are struggling with injuries and inconsistent play. The Thunder and Mavericks must lose at least one game each to give the Lakers a chance to secure a playoff spot.

The Clippers are threatening to take the sixth spot but have a tougher schedule than the Lakers. The Warriors, who sit in eighth, face the Blazers and Kings with hopes to stay in front of the Lakers.

With the Western Conference playoff race so tight, every game matters, and the Lakers will have to bring their A-game to secure a spot in the postseason. Can LeBron and his teammates step up? |||||

Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks expressed his desire to take on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a seven-game playoffs series. Brooks believes that it would test their team and also give them an opportunity to knock James out in the first round, given his legacy. The Grizzlies are likely to take on the Lakers in the first round if they win the play-in tournament, and Brooks will get his wish. However, Brooks' callout for LeBron could be ill-advised as the Lakers star is known to have a relentless competitive spirit and has performed well in playoff games throughout his career. James has made ten Finals appearances and holds several individual playoff records. While Brooks' confidence in his team is admirable, the Grizzlies will face a tough challenge against the defending champions with or without James at full strength. Nevertheless, the upcoming playoffs are set to be an exciting affair, with the play-in tournament adding an extra edge to the postseason this year.

Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna will miss their upcoming Bundesliga game against Bayern Munich due to a bad cold, as confirmed by manager, Edin Terzic. The midfielder was expected to feature in the game that could see Dortmund secure their first league title in over a decade. Alongside Reyna, Thomas Meunier will also be unavailable for the game due to back problems.

Reyna's absence adds to the USMNT's sick bay, which includes Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, who picked up an illness during the international break. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich has had better fortune with injuries, with only Mathys Tel sidelined due to an adductor strain.

The upcoming game could be crucial to the title race, with Dortmund currently leading Bayern by a point. These two teams are renowned rivals, with Dortmund having only won once in their past eight meetings in the Bundesliga. The last time the Black and Yellows won at the Allianz Arena was in April 2014. Despite Reyna's absence, Dortmund will be hoping to put an end to Bayern's dominance and push one step closer to a potential league title win.

Sadio Mane's wide grin and infectious energy at Liverpool have transformed to a blank expression on his face since his move to Bayern Munich. While Bayern top the Bundesliga and still have a chance to win another Champions League, Mane has only recorded a single assist in seven appearances, despite coming back from an injury. Questions around when Bayern Munich fans would witness his ongoing form at Anfield have arisen. Mane's response was hopeful, though, leaving fans waiting with bated breath to see if he will fulfill his promise. Meanwhile, Mane's ex-club Liverpool is out of all competitions and might not even qualify for European football for the 2023-2024 season. With Roberto Firmino leaving Liverpool along with Mane, only Mo Salah remains, and managers seem unable to get the same levels of output from the players they did one or two seasons ago. Liverpool supporters will be delighted to see the prospect of a Mane reunion with Salah, though, with rumors of a summer reunion. It remains to be seen whether the Senegalese international's promise of better form will be kept.

Leylah Fernandez has been vocal about dealing with online abuse on social media, revealing that she tries to ignore the naysayers and focuses on the love and support of those around her. The Canadian tennis star shot into fame with her phenomenal performance at the US Open in 2021, but she struggled to replicate that success in subsequent events. Despite criticism, Fernandez trusts in herself, her team, and the process of hard work. She also shared that she is balancing her tennis career and studies as she takes online business classes. When asked about her relationship status, she said that she is in a relationship with tennis. Fernandez recently participated in the Charleston Open where she suffered an early exit. The 20-year-old's next event is the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers, as Team Canada takes on Belgium in Vancouver. Though Fernandez has faced setbacks on the court and online, she remains determined to work hard and bounce back.

The family of the late Dwayne Haskins filed a civil lawsuit, claiming a new theory behind his death. Dwayne Haskins was found dead in Florida, after being hit by a dump truck while walking along a road in April 2022. Although medical examiners ruled that the former NFL quarterback's death was an accident, it is believed that he may have been targeted as part of a blackmail conspiracy. His family alleges that he was drugged and robbed, claiming that he was wearing an expensive watch that was stolen from him shortly before his death. Attorney Rick Ellsley, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Haskins family, said that "What occurred in the hours before Dwayne was killed, many questions remain unanswered.”

According to the toxicology report released by the Broward County Medical Examiner, Haskins had a blood alcohol level of 0.24 - three times the legal limit for driving in Florida - and legal drugs were also found in his system. However, the family's lawsuit suggests that his blood alcohol level may have been manipulated. The suit lists four individuals, two restaurants, a hotel and a driving range as defendants connected to the alleged conspiracy. Haskins' wife, Kalabrya Haskins, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit and is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial for the death of her husband.

After a tumultuous 2022 season, the New England Patriots have been the subject of many rumors regarding their quarterback, Mac Jones. Despite being debunked, a Pro Football Talk report claimed that Bill Belichick had trade conversations about the young player. Jones faced unprecedented adversity last year, with staffing issues and a lack of high-level talent around him on offense. Michael Lombardi, a former Patriots assistant, has suggested that Jones should take some accountability for his behavior as a leader, while also suggesting that the team made mistakes last season. The media has oscillated between laying blame for the season on Jones or on the coaching staff, particularly the decision to give Patricia initial responsibility as the offensive play caller. Shannon Sharpe has offered his opinion that Jones is in a difficult position and is likely voicing concerns to the coaching staff. Amid all this speculation, it is unclear whether trading Jones would be the right move for the Patriots. Many fans hope that Jones can grow and develop into a successful quarterback for their team over the coming years.

By Emma Johnson

The Dallas Wings are set to be the biggest wildcard of Monday night's WNBA Draft, possessing picks No. 3, 5, and 11 in the first round. After a busy offseason of trades and acquisitions, the Wings have significant control over a quarter of the first round, and CEO Greg Bibb is determined to make the most of it. While Bibb admits that the draft is an "inexact science," he believes accumulating picks rather than avoiding them is the way forward, even trade picks two years out. Bibb is looking for young talent to join the Wings' existing core in order to build success both now and in the future. However, the Wings are not alone in their quest for new talent, and some top prospects such as Aliyah Boston and Rhyne Howard have already drawn significant attention from other franchises. With the much-anticipated draft only hours away, the question remains: will the Wings' multiple picks translate into a major leap forward for the franchise, or will their position as top picks lead to more pressure than promise?

Jackson Mahomes, the younger brother of Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, has been embroiled in controversy after a video of him forcibly kissing a woman surfaced online last month. Since then, the 22-year-old has disappeared from social media except for commenting on a post by his sister-in-law. The Mahomes family reportedly forced Jackson to stay off social media throughout the season to avoid distractions for his older brother, but he returned after the Chiefs' victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Now that he is once again in trouble and could face criminal charges, the family may be keeping him off TikTok again. Meanwhile, Patrick has yet to comment on the incident and has been spotted without his brother on social media. This is not the first time Jackson has caused a social disaster that required intervention from the family. Despite the current situation, Patrick has always been supportive of his younger brother in the past.

After a pair of concussions cut his 2022 season short, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expressed excitement for the start of his team's offseason workout program next week. With a fifth-year option exercised by the Dolphins to keep him under contract through 2024, Tagovailoa will lead an offense that saw improvement in 2022 under first-year coach Mike McDaniel, posting career highs in touchdowns while ranking in the top 10 in yardage for the first time in many years. Miami's offseason addition of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the hiring of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio only emphasizes their aspiration for a Super Bowl run. In hopes of preventing further concussions, Tagovailoa has been working with jiu jitsu to refine his falls. Furthermore, Tagovailoa's performance in McDaniel's offensive system could have significant potential; previous quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers have had career years in this system, especially in their second season. If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, he has the potential to become a dynamic young quarterback in the NFL.

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton recently dispelled the notion that he's not willing to be a backup quarterback. The former Panthers and Patriots quarterback, who didn't play in 2022, said that there wasn't any interested parties vying for him this off-season. Newton named nine quarterbacks he'd be willing to back up, including former league MVPs Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson. Newton also listed down potential quarterbacks he'd be willing to groom, naming three promising rookies in C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson. Newton's video, posted on his YouTube channel, explains that he is willing to be part of a team but would like to mentor young quarterbacks as well.

Newton's list of quarterbacks he'd be willing to backup included the Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson, Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, Chicago Bears' Justin Fields, Cleveland Browns' Deshaun Watson, Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa, Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, Tennessee Titans' Malik Willis (not currently a starter), Washington Commanders' Sam Howell, and Aaron Rodgers.

Former NFL quarterback, Carson Palmer, caused quite a stir this week when he appeared on "The QB Room" podcast and made bold statements about Joe Burrow being the best quarterback in the league. He specifically compared Burrow and Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. "I know Patrick (Mahomes) is phenomenal, but I just think Joe's more consistent", Palmer said. His comments were met with backlash from the analytics community who disagreed with his assessment, pointing out that Mahomes has significantly better numbers. Palmer praised Burrow's mental toughness, physical strength, accuracy, speed, quick release, and his ability to run when necessary. He thinks Burrow could potentially do a lot of the same things as Mahomes if he were to step outside his system and show off his athleticism. Although a bit of a controversial take, it's clear that both Mahomes and Burrow are top tier quarterbacks, and this debate will likely continue throughout the coming NFL season.

Logan Paul, the famous YouTube vlogger and wrestler, has reportedly renewed his contract with WWE. Following his stunning performance at WrestleMania, Crown Jewel, and Royal Rumble, the renewal of his contract was obvious. Although he publicly teased about not knowing whether they would sign him again, there was little chance they would release someone with his level of talent. His WWE debut came on April 2, 2022, almost exactly one year prior to the current WrestleMania, and he has made a huge impact in that time. On the news of his new contract, he took to social media and posted a photo of himself with WWE's chief content officer, Triple H, to celebrate. While his opponent during the WrestleMania match, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, defeated him, Paul's performance clearly won over the wrestling audience. Paul has confirmed he has signed a multi-year deal to remain with the WWE.

The Los Angeles Kings secured a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night, ending their three-game losing streak. The Canucks were outplayed in the game, with Joonas Korpisalo stopping all 20 shots he faced to secure his fourth career shutout. Early goals by Arthur Kaliyev and Alex Iafallo set the tone for the Kings, with Sean Durzi securing the win in the third period. While the Canucks had three power play opportunities, they were unable to convert any of them. Instead, the team missed several chances and could only manage to convert two of their 33 shot attempts. With the loss, the Canucks record stands at 36-36-7.

SKIP STORY

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.

Alex Lyon, third-string goalie for the Florida Panthers, may have just saved their season. With starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky out with an illness, Lyon has stepped up with a 4-0-0 record in the last four games. On Tuesday night, he made 39 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, moving the Panthers into the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, tied with the New York Islanders but ahead on the tiebreaker, while the Pittsburgh Penguins sit just one point behind. With only four games left for each team, the race for the wild-card spots is incredibly tight.

This success is a welcome change for the Panthers, who had lost four games in a row before Lyon's winning streak. However, the team is not relaxing. Head coach Paul Maurice stated that the Eastern Conference wild-card race was "running neck-and-neck,” and the team still has work to do. With a talented roster that includes Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Carter Verhaeghe, the Panthers could be a formidable opponent in the playoffs, provided they continue to receive solid goaltending.

What's next for Michigan's hockey team now that junior goaltender Erik Portillo has signed an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL's Ontario Reign? The 2019 third-round draft pick (67th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres had his rights traded to the Los Angeles Kings last month for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. He was also Michigan's starting goaltender for two seasons, most recently extending his Big Ten unbeaten streak to a perfect 8-0, helping Michigan to its second Big Ten tournament championship and Frozen Four appearance. Portillo's .908 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA and had four 40-plus save performances don't tell the full story of just how integral he was to Michigan's success over the past two seasons.

Portillo's tryout agreement puts him one step closer to an NHL contract this offseason, and also leaves big shoes for Michigan to fill, considering Portillo's two straight Big Ten Tournament championships, two Frozen Four appearances, and 60 wins. It remains to be seen who exactly fills those shoes. Portillo's backup, Noah West, is currently in the transfer portal, but he may return, and Michigan has landed a skilled goalie recruit in Marcus Brannman.

Despite experiencing his worst game as a professional athlete, Buffalo Sabres' goaltender Devon Levi remained calm and collected, leaving fans and teammates in awe. The team's game against the Detroit Red Wings saw Levi giving up six goals out of 32 shots for a 0.813 save percentage. While some of these goals were against the league's best, Levi was not shaken by his poor performance. "At the end of the day, you're never gonna play a perfect game. It's the NHL, the best league in the world," Levi said. "You gotta love it. It's a little bit of adversity, it's not gonna kill you." Despite this setback, Levi maintained his composure and made sure his team prevailed by making the necessary saves which eventually led to Sabres' win in a shootout. Even more impressive is that the goaltender remained unfazed in the face of adversity, taking on and defeating Jonatan Berggren's breakaway attempt. With 2 wins and 1 loss in his three games as a pro so far, Levi's cool head and impressive performance are sure signs of his potential to go far in the NHL.

Myah Selland, a South Dakota State University forward, has just finished her college basketball career and is now hoping to move on to the professional level. She has her sights set on the WNBA Draft which will be held on April 10. Selland is hoping to become only the third Jackrabbit player drafted by the WNBA. Only Megan Vogel and Macy Miller have had this distinction before Selland. Although Selland did not land among the 36 players selected during Thursday night's WNBA Draft, she could still have a chance to hook up with a WNBA team as a free agent or play professional basketball overseas. An ESPN mock draft has predicted that Selland could go as the final pick to the Washington Mystics in the draft's third, and final, round, pick number 32. Though Selland won't be one of the first twelve choices, as fifteen were invited to New York, her versatility, consistency, and ability to perform well under pressure have certainly caught the eye of potential WNBA teams. Regardless of what happens, Selland remains optimistic and believes in the opportunities that lie ahead.