From The Sports Desk: Now we’re even - BERITAJA

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

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

NBA Playoffs

The Hawks stole Game 2 from the 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 the tanking Wizards to statesman the season, the 34-year-old McCollum was spectacular for Atlanta, many times hunting Jalen Brunson and sinking clutch changeable aft clutch changeable successful the fourth, including a tally of six consecutive points successful the game’s last minutes. The capacity endeared McCollum to the MSG faithful, and astatine 1 constituent he was connected the 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 the playoffs. If anything, I deliberation it’s a motion of respect.”

CJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the handbasket during the crippled against the New York Knicks during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs connected April 20, 2026 astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City, New York.Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE via Getty Images

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

After the teams traded haymakers successful the first half, the last 24 minutes were tight. The Wolves outscored the Denver Nuggets by 8 successful the 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 the last period, allowing Minnesota to propulsion distant for the win.

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

Athletic Freak

Sonny Styles of the Ohio State Buckeyes participates successful the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine astatine Lucas Oil Stadium connected Feb. 26, 2026 successful Indianapolis.Stacy Revere / Getty Images

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

The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Ohio State prima could tally a 40-yard dash successful only 4.46 seconds, the fastest of immoderate subordinate astatine his position successful this year’s class, and wide jump 11 feet, 2 inches, the farthest. He besides boasts a 43.5-inch vertical leap, 1 of the 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 the 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 the leader of their franchise, and the look of it for a decade,” Ohio State linebackers coach and NFL seasoned James Laurinaitis told Beritaja. “That’s why I’m truthful precocious connected him — it’s the well-roundedness of his beingness traits, yes. Football accumulation and precocious shot intelligence, yes. And past you get the full intangibles, activity and character.”

This was conscionable an excerpt. Read the rest of the story connected the Beritaja 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 the French Open because of a wrist injury.

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

What We're Watching

As the 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 the Philadelphia 76ers put up a conflict against their rival, the Boston Celtics? Is this the past playoff tally for LeBron James, the 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.