LaMelo Ball scored a decisive late layup as the Charlotte Hornets eliminated the Miami Heat from the NBA play-in tournament with a dramatic 127-126 overtime victory.
Miles Bridges then blocked Davion Mitchell’s buzzer-beating attempt to secure Charlotte’s first postseason home win in a decade.
The hard-fought result keeps the North Carolina franchise’s hopes alive for an eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Ball makes NBA play-in history
The dynamic point guard finished the night with 30 points and 10 assists to lead his team’s scoring efforts.
He becomes only the fourth player in league history to register at least 30 points and 10 assists in a play-in fixture.
Bridges contributed 28 points and nine rebounds, while mid-season signing Coby White added a vital 19 points off the bench.
White forced the extra period by draining a crucial turnaround three-pointer with just 10.8 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Late drama seals Miami’s fate
The visitors suffered a significant setback in the second quarter when Bam Adebayo left the court with a lower back injury.
Despite losing their star center, the Florida outfit stayed in contention through 28 points from Mitchell and 27 from Andrew Wiggins.
A frantic conclusion to overtime saw Tyler Herro convert three crucial free throws to give Miami a one-point lead with 8.7 seconds left.
However, the explosive Hornets playmaker responded instantly by driving the lane for a leaning right-handed finish.
A desperate final push by the visitors ended when Bridges spectacularly chased down Mitchell to swat away the winning attempt.
Charlotte will now travel to face either the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic on Friday as they seek their first full playoff appearance in 10 years.
Meanwhile, the defeated Heat will miss the postseason for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.
The Las Vegas Raiders have fielded trade enquiries for the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite being widely expected to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
General manager John Spytek confirmed the franchise has been contacted regarding the top selection ahead of the event.
However, the Las Vegas executive suggested rival teams already understand the organisation’s firm stance on retaining the asset.
“We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said at a pre-draft news conference.
Assessing draft trade value
The Raiders front office remains open-minded about potential draft-night deals if a substantial offer materialises.
Spytek noted that lucrative trade packages can often develop in the final moments before a team officially submits their selection.
However, he stressed that securing exceptional talent will always take precedence over accumulating additional draft picks.
“If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick,” Spytek explained.
The quarterback conundrum
Mendoza is highly anticipated to become the thirtieth signal-caller taken first overall in the common draft era.
Selecting the coveted playmaker would mark the fourth consecutive year a quarterback has been chosen with the opening pick.
Should the collegiate star arrive in Nevada, he will face immediate competition from recently signed veteran Kirk Cousins and incumbent backup Aiden O’Connell.
“Ultimately, this is a meritocracy, and the best guy will play,” the general manager stated.
Navigating rookie expectations
History suggests highly drafted quarterbacks are rarely afforded time to develop on the sidelines.
The previous six signal-callers taken first overall all started in the opening week of their respective rookie campaigns.
Spytek believes patience remains a crucial necessity when integrating young athletes into complex professional offensive systems.
“It’s a hard position to play, and there’s a lot to learn beyond throwing football and being a good teammate,” he added.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has confirmed that star guard Luka Doncic remains sidelined indefinitely as the team begins preparations for their first-round play-off series against the Houston Rockets.
The Slovenian playmaker is currently rehabilitating a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in Spain, where he has received multiple injections.
He is expected to return to California on Friday to rejoin his team-mates before Game 1 on Saturday.
Fellow backcourt starter Austin Reaves is also recovering from a Grade 2 left oblique strain suffered against the Oklahoma City Thunder on 2 April.
James to shoulder offensive burden
With their primary ball-handlers unavailable, the 17-time NBA champions will rely heavily on LeBron James against Houston.
The 23-year veteran recently earned Western Conference Player of the Week honours after guiding his side to three wins in their final four regular-season games.
“I do think we have other options [other than] just him having the ball and going against a set defense every single possession,” Redick stated.
The coaching staff plans to implement varied offensive schemes to counter the defensive coverages deployed by their Texan opponents.
Rebounding battle crucial for advancement
The upcoming series presents a significant stylistic clash, particularly on the glass.
Houston dominated the league in rebounding this season, leading the NBA with 48.1 total boards and 15.0 offensive rebounds per game.
Conversely, the Los Angeles franchise struggled significantly in that department, finishing 27th overall in the regular season standings.
To address this disparity, the coaching staff subjected the roster to intensive box-out drills during Tuesday’s focused practice session.
“Taking care of the basketball and boxing out, that’s the series,” the Lakers manager explained.
“Scheme, personnel, obviously important, but if we don’t take care of the ball and we don’t box out, we’re not going to win the series.”
Scouting a formidable opponent
Preparations will intensify throughout the week as the squad studies a dangerous Houston roster.
The opposition features prolific scorer Kevin Durant, ascending Turkish centre Alperen Sengun and highly athletic wing Amen Thompson.
Despite the daunting task and injury setbacks, the technical staff remains confident that their meticulous scheduling will have the group primed for the weekend opener.
Lauren Hemp scored inside three minutes as England secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Spain in their Women’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
The European champions were forced to diligently defend their slender advantage for almost the entire match against the reigning world champions.
Sarina Wiegman’s side previously defeated the same opposition to retain their European crown last summer, heavily relying on dramatic late comebacks.
However, this latest encounter required an entirely different approach as the hosts embraced the unique pressure of leading from the front.
Defensive resilience secures crucial points
A makeshift central defensive partnership of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan proved impenetrable under intense scrutiny.
Regular captain Leah Williamson missed the fixture through injury, while experienced option Jess Carter remained on the substitutes’ bench.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton also produced a magnificent late intervention to deny Edna Imade’s header and preserve the vital clean sheet.
“A crucial save.”
Sarina Wiegman
“They haven’t played that much together but they showed up today. They should be proud of themselves and I am too.”
Sarina Wiegman
Tactical shift frustrates world champions
The visitors severely lacked the creative ingenuity of Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who remains sidelined with a broken leg sustained in December.
Despite dominating possession and moving the ball laterally, the Spanish attack continually struggled to penetrate a resolute English rearguard.
The home side implemented a deliberate counter-attacking strategy, pressing high from goal-kicks before dropping deep once the halfway line was breached.
“Against Spain you need to defend as a team really well. When it’s hard you have to fight and communicate and stick together – we did that.”
Sarina Wiegman
This disciplined setup yielded a third consecutive win in the qualifying group, placing the Lionesses in a commanding position to reach the upcoming tournament.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes VAR made a clear error by overturning a penalty awarded to Liverpool during their Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.
The Reds initially appeared to have earned a crucial opportunity to get back into the high-stakes European clash.
Alexis Mac Allister went down inside the penalty area following a challenge from Willian Pacho.
Italian referee Maurizio Mariani immediately pointed to the spot after the Argentine midfielder hit the turf.
Clear and obvious threshold
However, the on-field official was instructed by the Video Assistant Referee to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor, leading to the decision being reversed.
Clattenburg insisted that the original call should have stood because the threshold for a clear and obvious error was not met.
The former top-flight official argued that the contact on the foot of the 25-year-old playmaker, while arguably soft, was evident enough to justify the initial decision.
“If he hadn’t given it, I would accept the VAR not to interfere, but once the on-field decision was a penalty kick, I would expect it to be given.”
Mark Clattenburg
Pundits share disbelief
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer echoed the sentiments regarding the controversial intervention.
The ex-England captain praised the former Brighton player for intelligently positioning his body to protect the ball and invite the tackle from the Ecuadorian defender.
“Once he tries to get the ball and doesn’t, and does make contact with him, and the referee gives it, I’m really, really surprised he’s overturned that.”
Alan Shearer
The controversial ruling ultimately proved costly for the Premier League side as they sought to overcome the French champions on Merseyside.
Chelsea midfielder Keira Walsh earned her 100th senior cap for England Women during Tuesday’s 2027 World Cup qualifier against Spain at Wembley.
The 29-year-old becomes only the 15th player in history to reach a century of appearances for the Lionesses.
Despite achieving this prestigious milestone under the iconic Wembley arch, the national team orchestrator still has a considerable way to go to challenge the all-time appearance record.
Fara Williams holds all-time Lionesses record
Legendary midfielder Fara Williams currently stands alone at the summit, having represented her country a staggering 172 times across an 18-year international career.
The former Everton and Liverpool star featured in three separate global tournaments during her distinguished tenure in the national side.
She is closely followed in the historic rankings by fellow midfield dynamo Jill Scott, who retired with 161 international appearances.
They remain the only two female players in English football history to have surpassed the 150-cap threshold.
Lucy Bronze closes in on historic milestone
Among active squad members, veteran defender Lucy Bronze is the nearest challenger to the long-standing benchmark set by Williams.
The 34-year-old full-back made her 146th international appearance during the high-profile fixture against the reigning world champions.
Meanwhile, Manchester City defensive stalwart Alex Greenwood also sits securely within the centurion club, boasting 108 caps for her country.
Walsh will now look to build upon her own century as the squad continues its qualification campaign for the 2027 tournament.
Rory McIlroy has claimed back-to-back Masters titles at Augusta National, becoming only the fourth player in history to successfully defend the coveted green jacket.
The Northern Irishman secured his historic victory at the 90th edition of the prestigious tournament.
Having ended a decade-long major drought to complete the career Grand Slam last year, the 36-year-old entered this week’s event with renewed freedom.
Observers are now questioning how the six-time major champion will approach the remainder of the golf calendar.
Chasing double-digit majors
Experts point out that the former world number one slightly took his foot off the gas following his emotional triumph in 2025.
He recorded modest finishes of 47th at the PGA Championship, 19th at the US Open, and seventh at The Open Championship last summer.
However, this latest success in Georgia proves the veteran ball-striker retains the formidable game required to accumulate further major championships.
Only Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Walter Hagen have reached the legendary milestone of ten career majors.
“A second straight Masters victory proved that he still has enough game to stack up more major championships,” noted ESPN golf analyst Mark Schlabach.
Strategic preparation yields Augusta success
The historic win was underpinned by an evolving, meticulous approach to tournament preparation.
The defending champion spent extensive time on the property playing practice rounds before the official tournament week began.
This intensive focus is uniquely suited to Augusta, a venue where experience and specific course knowledge are famously paramount.
“He spoke at length about how he prepared for this year’s Masters by playing the course many times and spending time on property,” explained golf correspondent Paolo Uggetti.
The experienced campaigner now looks ahead to a schedule that includes an emotional Ryder Cup in Ireland next year and The Open at the Old Course.
What lies ahead for the champion?
While no remaining event this season carries the exact magnitude of a second green jacket, confidence is surging for the European star.
He has repeatedly demonstrated the rare ability to compete fiercely even when not operating with his absolute best game.
The remaining three majors of the year now carry heightened anticipation as he chases both mathematical and emotional milestones.
If he can maintain his current focus, reaching double-digit major victories is now a distinct possibility.
Javier Mascherano has unexpectedly resigned as head coach of Inter Miami for personal reasons, just four months after leading the club to MLS Cup glory.
The Argentine tactician steps away after a little over a year in charge of the Florida-based franchise.
His sudden departure comes less than two weeks after the Herons inaugurated their brand-new stadium near Miami International Airport.
A brief but successful tenure
The former defensive midfielder took charge at the beginning of 2025, reuniting with his former Barcelona and national team colleague Lionel Messi.
During his stint in the dugout, Mascherano oversaw 67 matches across all competitions.
He secured 38 victories, registering 15 draws and suffering 14 defeats while establishing a dominant style of play.
“I would like to thank the club for the trust they placed in me, every employee who is part of the organization for the collective effort, but especially the players, who made it possible for us to experience unforgettable moments.”
Searching for a successor
Inter Miami must now search for a new leader following a mixed start to their 2026 domestic campaign.
The Eastern Conference outfit currently sit third in the standings, having collected 12 points from their opening seven fixtures.
Despite the managerial upheaval, their talismanic captain remains in scintillating form.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has already found the net six times in eight appearances this term.
World Cup looms for Messi
Speculation continues to mount regarding whether the 38-year-old forward will participate in this summer’s World Cup.
The global tournament will be jointly hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
La Albiceleste arrive as defending champions following their dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in Qatar four years ago.