The US Men's National Team (USMNT) and Mexico will face off in their first meeting of 2023 as they renew their rivalry in the Continental Clasico friendly, taking place in Glendale, Arizona on April 19. The new annual event will feature the USMNT playing a top-tier team from North, Central, or South America. Organizers set up a big splash for the inaugural event, featuring the border rivals in the metro area with a large Mexican heritage population that has traditionally turned out in droves for any game involving Mexico, despite the match being played on American soil.

Although the game falls outside of FIFA's international window, it is set to be hotly contested. The match is notable for the rivalry between the teams that have both secured four wins apiece, with two draws in the last 10 meetings. The USMNT has the more positive recent history having secured three wins in a calendar year against Mexico in 2021, and a draw in World Cup qualifying in 2022. It is unlikely either team's most notable players will participate in this fixture, with both squads largely comprised of domestic-based players.

The United States men's national team roster for next week's friendly against Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, has been announced. The match is not being played during a FIFA international window, so the team is made up primarily of domestic players from MLS or USL Championship. Among the 23 players called up are eight veterans of the World Cup team, including LAFC's Aaron Long and Kellyn Acosta. The squad also features nine players with fewer than five USMNT caps. Defender Sergino Dest of Italy's AC Milan and midfielder Alan Sonora of Mexico's FC Juarez are the only players on the roster from outside MLS or the USL Championship. Interim U.S. coach Anthony Hudson said he was delighted with the group of players assembled. The match between the U.S. and Mexico will be played on April 19 and kickoff is at 10 p.m. ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a rocky season but have managed to secure a spot in the NBA playoffs after their victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Play-In tournament. Rui Hachimura, a fourth-year pro, has been a crucial addition to the team, playing well off the bench and putting up crucial points in crucial moments. Hachimura has shown potential and willingness to work hard to earn his spot on the team with his continuous improvement in offensive production. LeBron James praised Hachimura's work ethic, calling him a "super competitor" who is always looking to improve his performance. Hachimura’s consistent on-court contributions, including 12 points with a 5-14 shooting performance from the field and 0-6 from behind the arc against the Utah Jazz, were also praised by James. Against Minnesota Timberwolves, Hachimura scored 12 points, mixed up some key defensive plays, and made some timely shots, closing out the game in overtime. Overall, Hachimura has shown he is a valuable asset to the Lakers and is eager to contribute in any way possible. With Hachimura's continued improvement, the Lakers are hoping for a strong push in the playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies star guard, Desmond Bane, is going against the team's unwritten rule of not wearing opponents' signature shoes as he faces off against Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James, in the play-offs. Bane, who has suffered from a Grade 2 sprain in his right big toe since November 2022, found that James' Nike "LeBron XX" sneakers provided him with the support he needed, much to his chagrin. As a Nike athlete, Bane had no other choice but to wear the LeBron XXs as his previous Kyrie Irving and Paul George's sneakers did not give him the support he required.

James and Bane have a history that has seen them exchange trash-talk and small shoves on the court. Despite this, James commended Bane for wearing his sneakers, calling it "super dope." He also offered to send more pairs of the sneakers to Bane, showing cordiality despite the rivalry between the two teams in the play-offs. LeBron's Lakers currently lead 1-0 in the series, but it remains to be seen whether James' kind gesture off the court will be reflected in the rivalry on the court.

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.

Former Laker Lamar Odom is confident that LeBron James, whom he calls "God James, the god of basketball," can lead the Los Angeles Lakers to another championship as long as the team stays healthy. The Lakers are set to face the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round of the playoffs, and they have the advantage of experience over the younger Grizzlies team. Odom also praised the addition of Tristan Thompson to the team, a player who has experience playing with LeBron and has won a championship before. Alongside James, Anthony Davis has also been performing at a high level, averaging 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game during the regular season. Despite this, some skepticism remains around the Lakers' championship chances, with FanDuel giving them the eighth-best championship odds. However, the team has shown improvement since the roster reshuffle earlier in the season, and if they can maintain their health, they could make a deep playoff run.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been in fine form since the Westbrook trade, leaving pundits to take notice of their impressive match play. The Lakers have added substance with a more robust roster, delivering better defense and balance to their match strategies. With opinions from sports analysts like Nick Wright of Fox Sports 1, they say that the Lakers are the team to beat this year. The Lakers' resurgence reflects a combination of their early season tribulations and their renewed championship aspirations. Adding D'Angelo Russell and acquiring Danny Ainge from Boston in the Westbrook trade has allowed the team to find the chemistry it lacked throughout the first half of the season. LeBron James and Anthony Davis appear to have the ideal supporting cast they need to make a legitimate push for the championship. Sports commentator Skip Bayless has given the Lakers a 50% chance of winning the Western Conference Finals and perhaps a chance to win the NBA Finals, citing their ability to beat Memphis, as well as the Golden State Warriors or the Phoenix Suns. As the Lakers' combat readiness continues to gather momentum, they appear well set to make a substantial playoff run.

According to an unnamed NBA scout, it would be "crazy" for Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo to not pick up his player option for next season. Oladipo holds a player option worth just under $9.5 million for the next season, which seems like the best scenario for him as he would not get much money as a free agent. During the regular season, Oladipo recorded 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 39.7 percent shooting from the field and 33.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Despite being a former two-time All-Star, he didn't play regularly for the Heat towards the end of the regular season and didn't even play in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks due to Tyler Herro's injury. Although Oladipo seems unhappy with his inconsistent playing time, if he were to sign elsewhere, he'd likely have to take a pay cut. If he exercises the option, the Heat would be in a difficult position to re-sign players like Max Strus and Gabe Vincent, two crucial players this season. If Oladipo decides to opt-out, he would likely join several other players in the free agency market this summer.

Milwaukee Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo left Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat with a lower back contusion and did not return. The injury occurred in the first quarter after taking a swing pass from Joe Ingles and driving hard to the basket. Kevin Love slid underneath in an attempt to take a charge, resulting in Antetokounmpo crashing hard on his lower back. Although the Bucks ruled the play to be a blocking foul on Love, Antetokounmpo left the game to shoot his free throws, then continued playing for a few more minutes before retreating to the locker room.

The Bucks' power forward checked back into the game with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter, but he only lasted a little over a minute before moving gingerly towards the locker room. Antetokounmpo had to exit the game early before the end of the first half. Budenholzer, the Bucks' head coach, confirmed that x-rays on Antetokounmpo's back contusion came back "clear", but the team will continue to monitor his health.

Moreover, Tyler Herro, the shooting guard for the Miami Heat, will also miss the rest of the game due to a broken right hand. The Bucks won 118-95 against the Miami Heat in the first game of the playoff series. However, with key players' injuries, the rest of Milwaukee's playoff run may be uncertain.

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.

The St. Louis Cardinals didn't include Paul Goldschmidt in their starting lineup for Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. While the reason for his absence wasn't explicitly stated, Tyler O'Neill was named in his place in left field. The rest may have been part of a larger plan to rotate players since the Cardinals are off to a fantastic start this season. Even without Goldschmidt during the game, the Cardinals managed a victory on Monday night against the Diamondbacks with a score of 3-1. Goldschmidt had an impressive start to the season and was hitting .322 with 10 runs, 8 RBIs, and a .910 OPS through 73 plate appearances in the first few weeks of the season. The Cardinals are expected to provide more details on Goldschmidt's absence in the coming days.

Russell Westbrook was involved in an altercation with a fan on Sunday outside the court at Phoenix's Footprint Center, after the Clippers defeated the Suns. The incident took place in a club lounge that visiting players can use as a shortcut from their locker room to the court, according to the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin. Westbrook has had previous run-ins with opposing team's fans, including the infamous 2021 playoffs incident when he had popcorn dumped on his head in Philadelphia. Although Westbrook had an awful shooting night against the Suns, going just 3-for-19, he made a number of key plays down the stretch, and had 11 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said that Westbrook's shot was not important, but rather his contribution in rebounding the basketball. The Clippers were careful with Kawhi Leonard, who played just 52 games this season, but he delivered 38 points in Sunday's game.

As the NBA regular season draws to a close, teams are battling for spots in the play-in tournament. This tournament, which the league has used since 2021, features the 7th through 10th place teams in each conference. The 7th and 8th place teams play a game, and the winner advances to the playoffs as the 7th seed. The loser of that game plays against the winner of a game between the 9th and 10th place teams, with the winner becoming the 8th seed in the playoffs.

In the two years of tournament play so far, the 9th place team has won all of its games against the 10th place team and has won all but one of its games in the second round. The 7th place team has won all of its opening games and advanced to the playoffs, but neither the 7th nor 8th seeded teams have reached the second round of playoff play.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz are currently locked in a battle for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the LA Clippers face a range of possible outcomes as they try to secure their playoff position in the middle of the conference.

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to play their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns without Paul George. George suffered a knee injury in March, and despite initial predictions of a 2-3 week recovery, he has not progressed enough in rehabilitation to play in the playoffs, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

George is an eight-time All-Star, and his absence presents a significant disadvantage for the Clippers, who will be going up against a formidable Suns team. Since adding Kevin Durant to the lineup, Phoenix has been on an 8-0 run, and now finds themselves among the championship favorites as the No. 4 seed in the West. Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton have all become essential in a Suns team that has thrived with Kevin Durant on board.

Without George, The Clippers will rely on Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac to pick up the slack, making a first-round win against the Suns seem unlikely. Leonard and George are one of the most dangerous tandems in basketball when healthy, and the Suns will have breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the Clippers will be without George.

The Los Angeles Clippers are set to take on the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and they know they have a tough matchup ahead of them with Kevin Durant. Having faced him in multiple NBA Finals, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue understands the difficulty in guarding Durant over a seven-game series. The Suns have gone undefeated in the eight games Durant has played with his new team, indicating that the Clippers have a monumental task ahead of them. Lue knows that no position can guard Durant and that he just has to be aware of where he is on the floor at all times. Before joining the Clippers in 2020, Lue coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016 to 2018, helping the team win their first-ever NBA title with one of the best comebacks in league history against the Golden State Warriors. However, Lue later had to take on the Warriors two more times in the Finals, this time with Durant on the roster, and there was seemingly nothing he could do. Despite the challenge, the Clippers are up for it, knowing that they are in the playoffs and that it's all about being locked in.

Andre Iguodala is the latest to heap praise on Paul George, stating that he is the second-most skilled player in the NBA behind Kevin Durant, according to his interview on the Point Forward podcast. While both players are undeniably talented, the comparison between them is not so straightforward. Durant has had the better career so far, with two championships, two Finals MVPs, and 13 All-Star and 10 All-NBA selections. George, on the other hand, has yet to make it to an NBA Finals, but has shown his scoring prowess with an average of 20.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals throughout his career.

However, injuries and LeBron James' dominance in the Eastern Conference have hindered George's chances of winning a championship. Even with his recent knee sprain, he remains a skilled player and a key component of the Clippers' success in the playoffs. A championship win for George would solidify his legacy as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and would also justify the greatness of his teammates, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard.

The New York Knicks are hoping that All-Star forward Julius Randle can join their lineup for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. Randle sprained his left ankle against the Miami Heat on March 29 and has missed the Knicks' final five games of the regular season. The 28-year-old forward has been a key figure for the Knicks this season, averaging 25.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. If Randle can't start, this will place more pressure on Jalen Brunson, who has been playing through pain for much of the second half of the season. The Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell, who has been playing exceptionally, averaging more than 40 points in four straight games before being put on the bench for his team's final two tilts. However, since the NBA odds for Mitchell's total points prop has adjusted to 30.5, up from a high of 28.5 in his final regular-season tilt, bettors might be sacrificing a little juice. Mitchell has cleared 3.5 three-pointers in most of his previous games, making him a great bet to get at least four threes in this game. Overall, the Cavaliers are favored to win the series against the Knicks, but Randle's return could help increase the Knicks' chances to win Game 1.

Despite not being in the 2023 NBA postseason, San Antonio Spurs’ fans have been vocal about rooting for their ex-players, who are currently playing in the playoffs. Amongst these players are Derrick White and Dejounte Murray, who started their NBA careers in San Antonio but were traded as part of the franchise's rebuild. While Murray made public comments about his time with the Spurs when traded to Atlanta, White had a quiet exit during his trade to Boston, and this behavior seems to have won over the Spurs’ loyalists. Many Spurs’ fans are rooting for White and the Boston Celtics over Murray’s Hawks, with several expressing their support for White and calling for his victory. Some fans are even suggesting that the Celtics sign the young guard to a more secure deal. White earned Mazzulla's confidence early on, and his strong contribution on both ends of the court has earned him a spot in the Celtics’ starting lineup for 70 of 82 games played this past season. The 28-year-old also took a significant jump in his defensive stats, averaging 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks this season, making him the second among all point guards in the league in these categories. Whether Boston wins the playoffs remains to be seen, but it is quite evident that Spurs’ fans are rooting for their former player.

Despite posting 29 points and 12 rebounds in the Celtics' Game 1 win against the Hawks, Jaylen Brown was dealing with a cut that reopened on his right hand, according to Coley Harvey of ESPN. Brown originally suffered the cut last week and had to get stitches, but he was cleared to play on Tuesday for Game 2. Brown had padding over the cut during Game 1 but he left in the first quarter to return with a new bandage that was more comfortable. Boston will need Brown to be playing at his best as they continue in the playoffs, and it is uncertain whether his hand injury will affect him going forward. Despite the injury, Brown's performance in Game 1 was impressive, especially considering he had some trouble gripping the ball.

According to an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic, Trae Young has been voted the most overrated player in the NBA. Young received 14.8% of the vote, leaving him technically behind the "other" category. The poll was conducted among 54 NBA players, with Young receiving eight total votes, and no other player receiving more than four. Young rose to fame when he led the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, and he was a huge factor in the Hawks' success. However, he has had poor individual performances in the past two postseasons, with an average of just 15.5 points per game on 31% shooting from the field. The anonymous poll of his peers likely reflects Young's recent struggles and the possibility of him being traded from the Hawks. However, this poll should be taken with a grain of salt, as 'overrated' is a subjective term that could be influenced by Young's media coverage.

Shooting guard's defensive skills give Cavs a boost

Isaac Okoro has missed the past six games with soreness in his left knee but has taken part in some contact during practice ahead of the Cavs' playoff matchup against the Knicks. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff says Okoro is still day-to-day. Okoro's defensive presence has been missed, as he is considered one of the best defenders on the team, according to his teammates. His return could make a big impact, especially in guarding the ball-handler during pick-and-rolls. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are enjoying their fourth seed in the playoffs after being eliminated in the play-in tournament last season. Veteran Danny Green may not be part of the playoff rotation, having only played 71 total minutes in seven games since signing with Cleveland in February. Cavs fans are looking forward to the playoffs and hoping for the team to go as far as they can.

Robert Williams, the talented center for the Boston Celtics, missed significant time due to injury this season. However, he seems to be back in form as the playoffs begin. Last week, he played 31 and 25 minutes in two games against the Raptors before sitting out the finale. The Celtics are relying on him to contribute on both offense and defense, and he believes that he is ready for the playoffs.

The Celtics have employed several strategies to take advantage of Williams' skills. One is the "grenade" action, where Williams receives the ball on the block and then cuts back towards the perimeter, either handing off the ball to teammates or using his screen to facilitate passing and shooting opportunities. Another tactic is the "veer," an on-ball screen that flows into an off-ball screen which frees up other more well-rounded attackers to create. Finally, there's the "quick/wide," where Williams sets a screen for a wing or guard as soon as the ball enters the opponent's halfcourt, allowing them to take advantage and score.

While Williams is just one player on a talented Celtics roster, his success will undoubtedly play a key role in Boston's push for the NBA championship.