Author: Action News 7

Zach KramApr 15, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.Multiple AuthorsWho will decide the next two-plus months of NBA basketball?Welcome to NBA Rank: 2026 playoffs edition, where we’re counting down the 50 most impactful players ahead of the league’s postseason gauntlet.Can reigning Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander add another trophy to his mantel? Will Victor Wembanyama make a splash in his first trip to the postseason?…

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is a candidate for the job as Bayer Leverkusen coach, according to Kicker.Kasper Hjulmand is widely expected to leave the position at the end of the season, with Die Werkself currently identifying potential replacements.AdvertisementAfter Brighton & Hove Albion coach Fabian Hürzeler was initially named, Iraola has reportedly now emerged as an alternative.The 43-year-old Spaniard is set to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season after a three-year spell with the Cherries.He would therefore be available on a free transfer – unlike Hürzeler, who would cost a transfer fee in the double-digit million range.Under Iraola, Bournemouth…

Two 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament games comprise Wednesday’s NBA schedule. In the 7:30 p.m. ET tip, the 76ers are 2.5-point favorites against the Orlando Magic with the over/under at 222.5. The Clippers are -5.5 against the Warriors in the 10 p.m. ET start with the over/under at 221.5. Joel Embiid (appendectomy) is out for the Sixers. What are the NBA best bets for Wednesday, and which combination of picks should you target in a Wednesday NBA parlay? Before locking in any NBA picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.Want to bet on…

WrestleMania 42 will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, just the second time the same venue has hosted back-to-back WrestleMania events. The first instance took place at WrestleManias IV and V, held at the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall in New Jersey.Editor’s Picks2 RelatedNight One of this year’s event, headlined by Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship, begins at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and continues on ESPN Unlimited after the first hour. Night Two, featuring CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns, starts at the same time on ESPN and progresses on…

Just one year ago, the 2026 NFL Draft brought a huge surprise.Huge is no exaggeration, as QB Shedeur Sanders, projected by most, yes most, analysts to be a first-round draft selection, fell. Oh, he didn’t merely fall into the early second round; he plunged, he nose dived, out of the second round, out of the third round all the way to the fifth round and the 144th overall selection by the Cleveland Browns.AdvertisementIn Shedeur’s case, his father Deion might have not only been a reason, but the major reason for the huge fall in the draft. Deion, never cautious to…

Welcome to the 2026 NBA postseason. As the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat reminded us in the opener, this is when the NBA starts to turn wild. The Heat and Hornets gave us an instant classic, that was, in true Play-In Tournament fashion, filled with as many completely inexplicable moments as it had incredible plays. The Suns and Blazers gave us something a bit more conventional, but no less exciting. The Blazers overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to steal a road win and make it the playoffs for the first time since 2021.Now the Hornets will advance to Friday’s final…

Apr 14, 2026, 09:51 PM ETRap megastar J. Cole said Tuesday that his time playing professional basketball in China has come to an end after one game.”The work visa process took way longer than expected, so I was only able to play in one before heading back,” Cole said in a statement.Earlier in April, the two-time Grammy winner and multitime Platinum-selling artist signed a deal with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association. He was scheduled to play at least three games for the club.”I want to say thank you to the Nanjing club and to the CBA…

It might not have been the perfect performance he hoped for, but Noah Schultz pushed through a rough first frame of his major league debut to finish his 4 1/3-inning outing strongly, despite the White Sox (6 -11) dropping the first game of the series to the Rays (9-7), 8-5.Schultz needed 33 pitches to get through the first, which could have led to a quick exit. The lanky southpaw was able to work around Yandy Díaz with no problem to start the game, but walked the next two batters for quick trouble. The first MLB hit surrendered by Schultz was…

The No. 7 seed in the Western Conference of the 2026 NBA playoffs will be decided when the Portland Trail Blazers visit the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. It is the 7/8 matchup in the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament, with the winner notching the 7-seed and facing San Antonio in the first round, while the loser will play the Warriors vs. Clippers winner for the 8-seed. Phoenix (45-37) has alternated wins and losses over its last six, prevailing on Sunday over Oklahoma City, 135-103. Portland (42-40) is coming off back-to-back wins and defeated Sacramento, 122-110, on Sunday. Jerami Grant (calf) is…

The NBA play-in tournament has arrived with games tipping off Tuesday.Editor’s Picks2 RelatedFirst, the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets face off in the Eastern Conference’s No. 9 and No. 10 seed matchup. The winner plays the loser of the No. 7 and No. 8 game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers.The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns close out the night in a Western Conference battle of the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. The winner plays the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, while the loser faces either the LA Clippers or Golden State Warriors.Miami enters with…