From The Sports Desk: Now We’re Even

4 hours ago

The NBA playoffs haven’t genuinely started until a visiting subordinate inspires a vulgar chant from nan crowd astatine Madison Square Garden. Atlanta’s C.J. McCollum did that past night, arsenic nan Hawks mounted a precocious comeback to down nan New York Knicks. Our Rohan Nadkarni breaks down past night’s NBA action below.

Also, our Ben Kamisar profiled arguably the astir diversion player successful nan NFL draft, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Read an excerpt of nan article below. We’ll person much NFL draught and NBA playoff sum present and, arsenic always, connected nan NBC News website.

NBA Playoffs

The Hawks stole Game 2 from nan Knicks yesterday, overcoming a 14-point second-half shortage to snatch a 107-106 victory. The Hawks were led by McCollum, who led each scorers pinch 32 points.

After languishing connected nan tanking Wizards to statesman nan season, nan 34-year-old McCollum was spectacular for Atlanta, many times hunting Jalen Brunson and sinking clutch changeable aft clutch changeable successful nan fourth, including a tally of six consecutive points successful nan game’s last minutes. The capacity endeared McCollum to nan MSG faithful, and astatine 1 constituent he was connected nan receiving extremity of a very vulgar chant aft a heated speech pinch Jose Alvarado.

“I’m nary villain, I’m a bully feline pinch 2 kids and a wife,” McCollum said successful an effort to deflect postgame. “I deliberation it’s admiration. Great, passionate fans successful a dispute environment. It’s fun, it’s basketball, it’s nan playoffs. If anything, I deliberation it’s a motion of respect.”

CJ McCollum of nan Atlanta Hawks drives to nan handbasket during nan crippled against nan New York Knicks

Later, nan Timberwolves besides engineered a Game 2 comeback, trailing by arsenic galore arsenic 19 earlier beating nan Nuggets 119-114.

After nan teams traded haymakers successful nan first half, nan last 24 minutes were tight. The Wolves outscored nan Denver Nuggets by 8 successful nan fourth, acknowledgment to an unthinkable protect effort connected Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The high-powered duo was held to only 4 points connected 2-of-12 shooting mixed successful nan last period, allowing Minnesota to propulsion distant for nan win.

And successful nan night’s first game, nan Cleveland Cavaliers held homecourt, extending their bid lead to 2-0 complete nan Toronto Raptors aft a 115-105 win. James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley combined for 93 points.

Athletic Freak

NFL teams don’t typically prime linebackers successful nan apical 10 picks of nan draft. But Sonny Styles isn’t a emblematic linebacker.

The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Ohio State prima tin tally a 40-yard dash successful only 4.46 seconds, nan fastest of immoderate subordinate astatine his position successful this year’s class, and wide jump 11 feet, 2 inches, nan farthest. He besides boasts a 43.5-inch vertical leap, 1 of nan champion astatine immoderate position since astatine slightest 1999. Put simply: he’s an diversion freak.

Yet, those types of players haven’t ever panned retired successful nan NFL. Some who cognize Styles, however, opportunity he’s acold much than conscionable a transcendent jock with an NFL pedigree. His activity ethic and shot intelligence make him worthy of a top-10 prime successful Thursday’s draft.

“Whoever takes him is going to get a feline who is going to beryllium nan leader of their franchise, and nan look of it for a decade,” Ohio State linebackers coach and NFL seasoned James Laurinaitis told NBC News. “That’s why I’m truthful precocious connected him — it’s nan well-roundedness of his beingness traits, yes. Football accumulation and precocious shot intelligence, yes. And past you get nan full intangibles, activity and character.”

This was conscionable an excerpt. Read nan rest of nan story connected nan NBC News website.

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What We're Reading

Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler says his family has received decease threats from Red Sox fans.

Carlos Alcaraz is in uncertainty for nan French Open because of a wrist injury.

Billy Donovan is out arsenic nan Chicago Bulls coach aft six seasons.

What We're Watching

As nan NBA playoffs proceed tonight, we person 3 must-watch games connected Peacock.

What will Victor Wembanyama do for an encore, aft his 35-point playoff debut? Will nan Philadelphia 76ers put up a conflict against their rival, nan Boston Celtics? Is this nan past playoff tally for LeBron James, nan Los Angeles Lakers’ 41-year-old star? Tune successful to find out.

All times are Eastern:

7 p.m.: No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, connected Peacock
8 p.m.: No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trailblazers, connected NBC/Peacock
10:30 p.m.: No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets, connected NBC/Peacock

That’s it for now! We’ll beryllium backmost tomorrow.