Tottenham travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon seeking a desperately needed victory to salvage their Premier League survival hopes.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are currently stranded two points from safety and remain without a league win this calendar year.
With only five games remaining in the campaign, the emotional toll of this fraught relegation scrap is mounting.
Rivals turn up the heat
Results elsewhere have done the north London club no favours over a punishing past week.
Nottingham Forest moved five points clear of the drop zone by emphatically beating Burnley, while Leeds United secured a vital draw at Bournemouth.
The bleak situation leaves the Lilywhites facing a potential straight shootout for top-flight survival against West Ham, who host Everton today.
‘We cannot forget the table’
The Italian head coach has acknowledged the severity of the crisis engulfing his squad ahead of kickoff.
“For sure, what we have done until now is not enough. We can’t forget the table.”
Roberto De Zerbi
A failure to secure maximum points at Molineux could see the troubled outfit match their longest-ever run without a top-flight victory.
Search for a turning point
The current reality is a stark contrast to September’s reverse fixture, when the capital club sat comfortably in third place.
Now, they languish third from bottom and are heavy favourites to join Wolves and Burnley in dropping down to the Championship.
Despite their perilous league standing, the former Brighton manager was encouraged by his players’ performance against his old club last weekend.
“If we win in Wolverhampton, it’s not finished yet. There are four other games, but I think now we deserve to win a game.”
Roberto De Zerbi
The under-fire boss is now reportedly living at the Hotspur Way training ground as he works tirelessly to engineer an unlikely escape.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka demanded his team “grow up” after a catastrophic late-game collapse saw them lose 112-108 in overtime to the Los Angeles Lakers, falling into a 3-0 deficit in their first-round play-off series.
The Texan franchise inexplicably blew a six-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Friday night’s devastating defeat leaves them on the brink of elimination from the Western Conference post-season.
“Horrendous mistakes. I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case.”
Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets Head Coach
James sparks dramatic late comeback
Houston initially appeared positioned to secure their first victory of the series despite playing without injured forward Kevin Durant.
The veteran superstar missed his second game of the match-up with a sprained ankle, having previously sat out the series opener due to a knee issue.
Back-to-back turnovers from LeBron James had allowed the hosts to build a commanding 101-95 advantage in the dying moments.
However, the Lakers capitalised on a late Houston error when Marcus Smart converted three free throws following a foul from beyond the arc.
Moments later, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer stripped the ball from rookie guard Reed Sheppard and drained a game-tying three-pointer with just 13 seconds left.
“It was a stupid turnover,” admitted Sheppard.
“I should have hit Alpie [Sengun] right over half-court and just made the simple play.”
Egregious errors frustrate Rockets boss
Alperen Sengun missed a potential game-winning shot for the hosts before James failed to connect on a buzzer-beater at the opposite end, forcing the extra period.
The Turkish centre had dominated for large stretches of the contest, producing a game-high 33 points and 16 rebounds.
Closing out games was a persistent issue for the Rockets during the regular season, a vulnerability that was ruthlessly exposed once again.
“It’s obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish,” Udoka noted.
“The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can’t have those.”
Experience demands better execution
This marks the franchise’s second consecutive post-season appearance following their seven-game exit against Golden State last year.
Given that recent play-off exposure, their 46-year-old manager refused to accept youthful inexperience as a valid excuse.
“Grow up. You’re not that young anymore,” he told his locker room.
Udoka forced his squad to re-watch the final 30 seconds of regulation immediately after the buzzer to highlight their tactical failures.
It remains uncertain whether Durant will be medically cleared to participate in Sunday’s crucial Game 4, with his status described as “up in the air”.
Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach answered severe online abuse with a standout performance to secure a 3-2 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game three of their play-off series.
The 25-year-old was targeted by fans after making two costly errors during Tuesday’s game two defeat in Florida.
His misplaced icing clearance and subsequent failure to defend J.J. Moser directly led to the game-winning goal for Tampa Bay, prompting a deluge of hostile messages.
The harassment forced the Canadian to deactivate his social media accounts before the series shifted back to Quebec.
However, an impassioned home crowd chanted his name during warm-ups on Friday, sparking a resilient display from the centre.
Bouncing back from adversity
Dach contributed an assist on Alexandre Texier’s opening goal before scoring his first of the series to tie the contest at 2-2 in the second period.
He was also on the ice for Lane Hutson’s decisive overtime strike, finishing the night with a positive plus-three rating in just over 11 minutes of action.
The crucial home victory gives Montreal a 2-1 lead over the Lightning in the best-of-seven series.
“Didn’t really expect it. It was nice. The fans have been unbelievable all year and have been by my side.” – Kirby Dach
Team-mates and coach rally around
Montreal head coach Marty St. Louis had publicly urged the fanbase to support their struggling player before the puck dropped.
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki praised the home faithful for their swift change in tone and vocal backing.
“It was unfortunate what happened in the previous game. It was great to see the fans support him tonight. Got some ‘Kirby’ chants going in warmups.” – Nick Suzuki
Dach acknowledged that the backing of his coaching staff and fellow players was vital in helping him navigate a challenging few days.
“Everybody was lifting me up and helping me out, training staff and coaches. So it definitely wasn’t just me kind of digging myself out of that hole. I had a lot of support.” – Kirby Dach
The forward will look to continue his resurgence when Montreal host game four on Sunday evening.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for a dominant fourth-quarter performance as the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Friday night to reclaim home-court advantage in their playoff series.
The star duo scored 25 points apiece during a thrilling victory in front of a raucous sellout crowd at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
They were directly responsible for scoring or assisting on their team’s first 27 points in the final period.
Tatum, who is continuing his return from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last year, added seven assists and four rebounds in 42 minutes of action.
The standout forward sealed the result with a crucial three-pointer off an offensive rebound with just 27 seconds remaining.
Experience shines through
Since entering the league in 2018, the Boston stalwarts have played in more postseason games than anyone else in the NBA.
That extensive playoff pedigree proved vital as they repeatedly answered the challenge posed by Tyrese Maxey.
The Philadelphia guard delivered an exceptional individual display, finishing the contest with 31 points and six assists.
However, crucial second-chance opportunities ultimately doomed the hosts to a disappointing home defeat.
Celtics capitalize from deep
Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla has built a reputation for encouraging a high volume of three-point attempts.
His squad executed that tactical plan effectively, connecting on 20 of their 47 efforts from beyond the arc.
Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged that his team failed to secure vital defensive rebounds.
“I think they hit four or five threes off offensive rebounds so that’s kind of doubly bad,” Nurse said.
“We knew that was a big, probably the number one key coming into the series and we probably didn’t do enough.”
Embracing the pressure
The decisive moments of the game saw both sides exchange heavy blows in a tense finale.
For the returning Boston talisman, the intensity of the back-and-forth encounter was exactly what he had been missing during his injury layoff.
“Sometimes we had some moments where things didn’t go our way and then we had to fight back and get the lead,” Tatum explained.
“Just as a basketball player, being on a team where everybody’s just contributing and making plays, I just missed being a part of moments like that.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the NFL draft while the franchise awaits a decision on Aaron Rodgers’ playing future.
The AFC North franchise secured the 6-foot-5 prospect with the 76th overall pick on Friday night.
He arrives in Pennsylvania with the team’s quarterback situation heavily dependent on whether 42-year-old Rodgers chooses to retire.
The veteran signal-caller is currently mulling his options, leaving a depth chart that also features Mason Rudolph and Will Howard in a state of flux.
Ankle injury halts promising college finale
Allar saw his final collegiate season end abruptly last October after suffering a broken ankle against the Northwestern Wildcats.
Prior to the setback, the highly-rated passer had accumulated 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns across six appearances.
He had entered the campaign as one of the nation’s premier talents following a stellar run to the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2024.
The Nittany Lions eventually fell to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but their talisman finished that year with 3,347 passing yards and 24 scores.
Rewriting the university record books
Despite recent injury concerns, the 235-pound athlete departs the collegiate ranks with an impressive statistical legacy.
He topped the Big Ten conference in 2023 with 25 passing touchdowns while surrendering a mere two interceptions.
The imposing passer finished his university career as the program’s all-time leader in completion percentage at 63.2%.
He also cemented his place in local history by ranking third for career passing touchdowns with 61 and fourth in total passing yards.
The Arizona Cardinals have selected former Miami quarterback Carson Beck with the 65th overall pick in the NFL Draft, adding to a crowded quarterback room.
The NFC West franchise used the first selection of the third round to secure the prospect on Friday.
This decision complicates an already congested roster situation for the team under centre.
Beck will join a depth chart that currently features veteran Jacoby Brissett, recent free-agent acquisition Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis.
Draft strategy pivots after missing Simpson
Speculation had strongly linked Arizona to former Alabama prospect Ty Simpson in the weeks leading up to the three-day event.
Many analysts expected the organisation to trade back into the first round to secure his services.
However, the Los Angeles Rams thwarted those plans by drafting Simpson with the 13th overall pick on Thursday evening.
Brissett absence adds uncertainty
The arrival of the former Georgia standout creates further intrigue given Brissett’s ongoing contract dispute.
The experienced signal-caller, who started 12 games for the team last season, has so far boycotted the franchise’s voluntary offseason programme.
Brissett is reportedly holding out from team activities while he awaits a lucrative new deal.
A proven collegiate winner
The newly drafted rookie arrives in the professional ranks boasting an impressive 37-6 record as a starter during his university career.
The prolific passer brings elite big-game experience, having appeared in three national championship matchups.
Over 55 collegiate appearances, he accumulated 88 touchdown passes compared to just 32 interceptions.
The highly-touted prospect also recorded an exceptionally accurate 69.5% completion rate throughout his time in college.
Interestingly, his penultimate college outing took place at State Farm Stadium, which serves as the permanent home field for his new NFL employers.
The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired linebacker Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings on Friday in a trade accompanied by a new four-year, $100m contract.
Philadelphia sent the 98th overall pick in this year’s draft and a 2025 third-round selection to Minnesota.
In return, they receive the 28-year-old pass rusher along with a seventh-round pick in 2026.
The lucrative extension includes $50m in guaranteed money, according to his representation.
Eagles pivot after missing out on Phillips
Securing a quality edge rusher has been a major priority for the franchise throughout this offseason.
Philadelphia initially targeted a reunion with Jaelan Phillips ahead of the free agency period.
However, the Carolina Panthers priced them out of the market by offering Phillips a massive four-year, $120m deal.
That prompted a swift move for the former Houston Texans defensive standout.
Looking to recapture double-digit sack form
The newest arrival in Pennsylvania will be eager to bounce back from a relatively quiet recent campaign.
He managed just three sacks in 12 appearances during his final season in the NFC North.
Despite that dip in production, he previously recorded consecutive double-digit sack seasons.
He now bolsters an outside linebacker rotation featuring Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Arnold Ebiketie.
The veteran brings significant experience, boasting 38 career sacks across six professional seasons.
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2025-26 season following a spectacular breakout campaign.
The 6-foot-5 guard averaged a career-high 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds to go along with 1.3 steals per game.
He also recorded personal bests in blocks, overall field goal percentage, and three-point efficiency over the course of the year.
His scoring output increased by an astonishing 11.4 points from his previous season as a bench player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the third-highest statistical jump over the past 25 years.
Historic back-to-back success for Atlanta
Alexander-Walker succeeds his teammate Dyson Daniels, who claimed the prestigious honour last season.
This unprecedented achievement represents the first time in NBA history that two consecutive winners have emerged from the same franchise.
The versatile playmaker arrived in Georgia during free agency after being actively recruited by former Hawks point guard Trae Young.
When Young sustained an early-season knee injury and was subsequently traded to the Washington Wizards, the newly acquired guard stepped up to ensure his squad remained a playoff team.
‘Tireless work ethic’ drives record-breaking season
The former Timberwolves rotation player established a single-season franchise record by connecting on 251 three-pointers, which ranked fourth overall across the league.
Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised his player’s remarkable transformation and crucial contribution to their current campaign.
“Nickeil’s dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award.”
Quin Snyder
Snyder also highlighted how his unselfish attitude as a teammate has positively impacted the overall success of the squad during a transitional year.
Atlanta’s general manager Onsi Saleh echoed these sentiments, pointing to the guard’s exemplary professionalism both on and off the court.
“He brings a high level of care and professionalism to everything he does associated with the game of basketball. Nickeil truly embodies what it means to be the best version of yourself and we are excited for his future growth in our program.”
Onsi Saleh