Miami Heat’s veteran point guard Kyle Lowry’s (knee) status for Game 3 against Milwaukee remains uncertain. Lowry has dealt with a knee issue for most of the 2022-23 season and is being listed as questionable. He received a questionable tag in the first two contests of the Heat vs. Bucks series and played in both games, although he only saw 18 minutes of action in Game 2. If Lowry suits up in Game 3, expect him to receive a similar workload. In his two postseason appearances this season, Lowry has only averaged 3.5 PPG. He is considered a risky DFS option if he plays. On the other hand, Gabe Vincent, who has been starting in the point guard position, has averaged 15.5 PPG so far in the series. The Heat will have to wait to see if their veteran guard can play in a crucial Game 3 on Saturday.

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.

The Miami Heat might be open to trading their All-Star forward, Jimmy Butler, according to a former NBA Executive who spoke to NBA Analysis Network. The Heat, who have made several unsuccessful moves in recent years, have committed a lot of money to Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson, but neither player lived up to their expectations.

As a result, the Heat have been struggling, failing to make it to the playoffs this season, and a rebuilding phase may be on the horizon. If the Heat trade Butler, they could receive draft capital and players who line up with the same timeline as Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, two of their younger stars. Butler would have several interested suitors, and the New York Knicks have already been mentioned as a possible destination.

The Heat have not made a final decision on trading Butler, but it is clear that they are open for business, having explored options to trade Kyle Lowry earlier. The offseason will bring more clarity to Miami's direction, with a deep playoff run possibly changing the plan.

Following a Game 2 blowout loss, Los Angeles Lakers fans took great pleasure in jeering Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks off the court after being ejected for hitting LeBron James in the groin. Brooks had made derogatory comments about his opponent before the game stating that he sees James as "old" and he wouldn't respect him until he scores 40 points. Brooks had a tough night, going 3-of-13 from the field, which prompted the Lakers' game plan to challenge him to shoot.

When reporters quizzed James about Brooks' comments during a Lakers practice session, he refused to get involved in the trash talk, focusing solely on Game 3, which is critical to the rest of the series. However, fans will likely be anticipating what may happen come Saturday night. Will LeBron James give Brooks the satisfaction of a 40-point haul or will he concentrate on leading the Lakers to an important win on home court? The contest, which pits the league's youngest star against its oldest, promised to be intense, featuring two teams with authentic animosity towards each other. So far, the series is still up in the air, played between two teams with no clear identity, with games dominated by players who are experiencing this kind of moment for the first time.

The Los Angeles Lakers secured a spot in this year's playoffs after a miraculous comeback victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but starting point guard D'Angelo Russell struggled throughout the game, finishing with just two points on 1-for-9 shooting in 24 minutes. Head coach Darvin Ham chose to play Dennis Schroder over Russell in the crucial moments of the game, a decision that paid off for the Lakers. Despite the rough night, Ham and the Lakers' organization remain confident in Russell's abilities moving forward. He has been an important contributor throughout the season, especially since LeBron James' injury, and averaged 20 points per game in March. However, Russell's lack of consistency in the postseason has been highlighted in previous years. During the 2022 playoffs with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he averaged just 12 points on 33.3% shooting from the field in six games. The Lakers will need him to step up in the playoffs if they hope to make a deep run. Can Russell bounce back when it matters most for his team?

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Phoenix Suns lost Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night in a very close encounter. Suns' Kevin Durant impressed in his team's playoff debut with 27 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds. However, there is an argument to be made that Durant did not get the ball as much as his status as arguably the NBA's best player right now deserves. He only took one shot in the final six minutes, which could have given the Suns more chances to score. Suns coach Monty Williams shared that the Clippers did well in denying Durant the ball, but the team needs to create more living environments for him to get the ball. Williams added that sometimes Durant can bring the ball up the floor and create opportunities for the team. Durant was often double-teamed by Los Angeles from behind, which forced him out of post shots around the block. The Suns will need to provide Durant more freedom for him to score and advance past the Clippers, and perhaps compete for the championship.

After missing the last two games in the NBA playoffs without Kawhi Leonard, the question arises: what's next for the Clippers' duo? Kendrick Perkins believes that $90 billion worth Clippers owner, Steve Ballmer, should give Kawhi and PG just one more year to make a title run, even if their season ends in the first round this year. However, some experts argue that it might be time for the Clippers and the two stars to part ways, citing Leonard's injury issues and their inability to make a championship run in their four seasons together. The Clippers' playoff hopes certainly took a hit without Leonard and George, with the team facing a tough road ahead against the Phoenix Suns. As playoffs go on, it remains to be seen if Ballmer will choose to invest in this duo for another season or move on from them.

J.R. Smith, the former NBA star, recently revealed a story from his days playing alongside Chris Paul on the New Orleans Hornets. During his rookie season in 2005, Paul annoyed Smith with his constant talking. Smith recalled the incident while speaking on his "The Old Man and the Three" podcast. Despite the rough start, the duo ultimately played big roles in the success of the Hornets. The recent disclosure has further fueled the attention on the 12x NBA All-Star, with Paul currently leading the Phoenix Suns in the NBA playoffs. Although some might find his constant talking annoying, his ability to read plays is an advantage to his team. According to his teammates and coach, Paul's film study has given him incredible knowledge of other teams' plays and their sign languages. Clearly, Chris Paul's work on and off the court has made him into one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.

Wrexham's dreams of promotion to the English Football League (EFL) were hindered after their 0-0 draw with Barnet, which could have left them needing two wins to secure promotion. The match was marred by a "cheat" row involving Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson and opposing goalkeeper Laurie Walker, who had Callum McFadzean sent off in the second half for a foul on Walker. Parkinson was infuriated by the decision and challenged Walker after the game, but Walker defended the referee by saying McFadzean "came straight through and kicked [him] straight in the face." Parkinson is now facing a touchline ban for his red card, and Wrexham plans to appeal the decision. Wrexham can secure promotion by winning their next two games, but their chances hinge on their appeal against McFadzean's red card.

Sanford native Logan Misuraca is making a name for herself in the racing world. In addition to studying aerospace engineering at the University of Central Florida, Misuraca works as a driver at the NASCAR Fan Experience at Daytona International Speedway. Hundreds of people come to Daytona each day to take a spin with Misuraca and other drivers at the World Center of Racing. Misuraca’s experience driving at the NASCAR Fan Experience proved to be valuable as a stepping stone to actually racing at the speedway. In February, she ran the Daytona 200, part of the ARCA Main Series, placing 18th. Her next race is the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday. Misuraca’s many laps on the famous Daytona speedway allow her to take the wheel with confidence at Talladega as she hopes to make her mark in the racing world. The 22-year-old driver is set to compete against the best as she continues to make waves in the industry.

During the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway, a missed shift on the restart caused a multiple-car accident, according to ARCA Menards Series. At least eight cars were involved in the accident, which happened directly after the first caution of the event when a single-car accident occurred with Greg Van Alst. Jason Kitzmiller, who led several laps at Daytona in February, had difficulty restarting and directly caused the major pileup, collecting several cars running at the rear of the field. Kevin Hinkle, Tim Richmond, Brad Smith, Mandy Chick, Jon Garrett, Logan Misuraca, and Hunter Deshautelle got damaged with varying levels, and while Chick and Smith continued, the rest of the drivers had to go to the garage. However, all drivers were able to climb from their cars independently or drive back to pit road after the crash. NASCAR Xfinity Series race, which was also held at Talladega Superspeedway, also experienced a crash involving Blaine Perkins, where his car flipped six times in a head-on collision with Dexter Stacey's car, but luckily the drivers were unscathed.

Weston McKennie and Brenden Aaronson, currently on loan at Leeds United, both picked talented Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah as the USMNT player they’d like to see move to the club. The 20-year-old has been linked with a return to the Premier League with several clubs, including Arsenal, expressing an interest. Musah has been a bright spot in a bleak season for Valencia, showcasing his versatility as a midfielder who can play in holding or box-to-box roles, as well as on the wing.

Musah played with McKennie and Tyler Adams during the USMNT’s World Cup campaign in Qatar in December, impressing Jesse Marsch, who called him “outstanding”. Musah has 100 appearances for Valencia and has proven his value for his country on multiple occasions, making him the sort of young, experienced player Leeds love. With relegation looming over Valencia, Musah moving to England in the summer transfer window is more than likely.

Ted DiBiase Jr., a former WWE wrestler and son of “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr., has been charged with wire fraud, theft, and money laundering in Mississippi. Prosecutors say DiBiase was part of a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of federal funds meant to help needy families through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and The Emergency Food Assistance programs. These funds were allegedly allotted to two nonprofit organizations which were then directed to award sham contracts to individuals, including two companies owned by DiBiase. He allegedly used the money to buy a car, boat, and the down payment on a house. DiBiase’s indictment follows that of John Davis, who led the Mississippi Department of Human Services and pleaded guilty to fraud and theft in the same scandal. Former NFL star Brett Favre was connected to the scheme and reportedly has repaid the $1.1 million he received from welfare funds, but he has not been charged in this indictment. If found guilty, DiBiase could face up to 120 years in prison.

Adrian Kempe, forward for the LA Kings, reached the 40-goal milestone in the final regular season game against the Anaheim Ducks. Kempe finished the season with 41 goals and became the first King to score 40 or more goals since Luc Robitaille during the 1993-94 campaign. Kempe is the ninth different Kings skater to record a 40-goal season in team history. Kempe had been questioned externally about his ability to recreate his 2021-22 season, but answered those questions with a career-best of 41 goals in a season. Varying types of goals scored, including six empty-net goals, two in 3-on-3 overtime, as well as three while shorthanded highlight Kempe’s versatility. Kempe has been a valuable player for the Kings all season, with 35 goals in the previous season and earning an organization-high cap hit. While not a huge factor on offense in the postseason, Kempe can provide solid defense from his third-line role. Kempe’s successful season speaks volumes to the LA Kings’ overall growth and success.

Leon Draisaitl has been dominating the series against the Los Angeles Kings, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-2 victory in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs series. In two games, Draisaitl has showcased his skills, scoring two goals and recording three assists, outshining even teammate and Oilers captain, Connor McDavid. Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft has praised Draisaitl, calling him the best player on the ice by far. While his teammate McDavid only has one point in the series, it is not yet time to push the panic button, considering the playoffs can be a small sample size. However, in the playoffs, everything is analyzed and McDavid's future performance will likely be heavily scrutinized. Despite McDavid not performing as expected, the Oilers have managed to tie the series with the Kings 1-1.

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.

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.