Celtics storm to early lead, roll past 76ers in series opener

Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 123-91 victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Sam Hauser made 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point range and added 12 points for second-seeded Boston, which never trailed in the game.

"One, we have to have an understanding of, I thought we got off to a good start in the series," Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. "And two, it really doesn't matter anymore because in 48 hours we have to do it again, and we have to expect a better version of both our opponent and ourselves."

"The strength of our team is we have a bunch of different ways we can play. Everybody has to be ready. ... We had some guys make big plays throughout."

Seventh-seeded Philadelphia received 21 points with eight assists from Tyrese Maxey and 17 from Paul George. VJ Edgecombe scored 13 and Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The 76ers shot 38.9% from the floor, including 4 of 23 (17.4%) from 3-point territory. No Philadelphia player made more than one 3-pointer.

"It was one of those games where I thought we did a pretty good job of shot creation, you just can't live with not making them," said Sixers head coach Nick Nurse. "I thought we shied away from taking some 3-pointers.

Philadelphia also committed 15 turnovers, which helped Boston hold a 22-3 edge in points off turnovers.

"A lot went wrong, that's for sure," Nurse said. "It kind of started right from the beginning. The first quarter was moving past us pretty quick, and we just didn't do enough on either end to settle into the game. We didn't execute very well at the defensive end and put ourselves in a hole."

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Boston center Neemias Queta was in foul trouble for much of the game but scored 13 points in 15 minutes of playing time.

Boston had an early double-digit lead after a Tatum jumper ended an 11-1 spurt that put the Celtics up 17-7. Philadelphia was 6 of 21 (28.6%) from the field -- 1 of 9 from 3-point range -- in the opening quarter and trailed 33-18 after the opening 12 minutes.

"I thought our fans were great, helped us get off to a good start," said Mazzulla. "Playoff basketball obviously means more and it's different in Boston, which we appreciate."

The Celtics stretched their lead to 23 points in the second quarter and held a 64-46 halftime lead. Tatum scored 21 of his 25 points in the opening half.

"Defensively, I thought (Tatum) was really good," said Mazzulla of the six-time All-Star. "Rebounding was great. Offensively, just gave the game what it needs."

After the 76ers trimmed their deficit to 15 midway through the third, Boston went on a 10-0 to extend its lead 83-58. The Celtics led by as many as 26 later in the quarter and had a 95-71 advantage entering the fourth. Brown scored 16 of his 26 points in the third.

The Celtics held a 107-75 lead following a Payton Pritchard layup with 9:03 to play. Boston led by as many as 35 later in the fourth.

Game 2 in the series will be Tuesday night in Boston.

"They need to let this one go," Nurse said of the Sixers.

--Field Level Media

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April 22, 2026

Celtics storm to early lead, roll past 76ers in series opener

Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Boston Celtics to...

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Karren Brady, top female soccer executive, leaves role as West Ham vice-chair after 16 years

Karren Brady, the most powerful female executive in English soccer, has stepped down from her position as vice-chair at West Ham to focus on other business interests and her role in the House of Lords.

The 57-year-old Brady previously worked as a director at Birmingham City, starting in the early 1990s, as part of a long association with the club’s then-owner, David Sullivan.

They then worked together at West Ham, where Sullivan is the majority owner and Brady has been vice-chair since 2010. She was instrumental in securing the club’s move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 and is regarded as influential in the world of Premier League shareholders that is largely dominated by men.

Brady has been a member of the House of Lords since 2014, when she was given the title of baroness, and also works on popular TV series The Apprentice.

In a statement, West Ham said she would be focusing in those roles as well as “mentoring and leadership initiatives” as part of her broader business interests.

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“While this chapter closes, my passion for football and commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders remains undiminished,” said Brady, who is married to former Canada soccer player Paul Peschisolido.

“I wish West Ham United every success for the future and look forward to following their continued achievements with pride.”

West Ham joint-chair Daniel Křetínský described Brady as “very highly appreciated in the Premier League leadership community and was an excellent representative of our club there.”

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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April 21, 2026

Karren Brady, top female soccer executive, leaves role as West Ham vice-chair after 16 years

Karren Brady, the most powerful female executive in English soccer, has stepped down from her position as vice-chair at West Ham to foc...

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Matt Fitzpatrick slips into playoff, beats Scottie Scheffler at RBC Heritage

England's Matt Fitzpatrick didn't flinch when more work was required on the final day of the RBC Heritage.

Fitzpatrick birdied the first playoff hole with a 13-foot putt to win the tournament after world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler forced the extra play Sunday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Fitzpatrick, whose bogey at No. 18 gave Scheffler new life, won for the second time this year to go with a runner-up finish in The Players Championship. He has four career victories on the tour, including two in this tournament (also 2023).

"To win it twice means the world," Fitzpatrick said. "To go toe-to-toe with Scottie and get over the line at the 73rd (hole) is special."

Fitzpatrick has four top-10 finishes in nine tournaments this year.

Scheffler recorded 67 and Fitzpatrick had 70 in the final round. They each posted 18-under 266s at Harbour Town Golf Links.

"(I) put up a good fight this week," Scheffler said. "It was just one of those deals where I played three out of four days with Fitzy, and every time he needed something, he made something happen. ... You name it, he was doing it, so he earned this one for sure."

Fitzpatrick hit a 4-iron to the green on his second shot when the duo replayed the 18th hole to begin the playoff, while Scheffler needed three shots to reach the putting surface.

"I felt like I was in a good spot, and to hit the 4-iron that I hit there was out of this world," Fitzpatrick said.

Scheffler pretty much agreed with that assessment.

"Fitzy made a great birdie there in the playoff," Scheffler said. "An incredible birdie the way this hole is playing right now."

Scheffler, who played alongside Fitzpatrick in the final grouping, made up three strokes across the last four holes to force the playoff.

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Fitzpatrick posted birdies on two of the first three holes -- sinking putts from 10 and 17 feet -- and then dialed up pars nearly the rest of the way.

"Felt like I got off to a great start ... and you feel like almost what could have been," Fitzpatrick said. "I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch and I had to kind of hang in there a little bit."

South Korea's Si Woo Kim's birdie on No. 15 closed the gap to two strokes. Then Scheffler's birdie on the 15th also drew him within two shots of Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick saved par on No. 16 after his tee shot was in the rough before Scheffler sank a birdie putt to make it a one-stroke margin.

On the 18th, Fitzpatrick's first shot rolled into a fairway sand trap. He got out fine, but his chip onto the green stopped about 23 feet from the cup, and he ended up with his first bogey in 29 holes.

The tournament ended in a playoff for the fourth time in five years.

Kim (68) placed third at 16 under. Collin Morikawa (67), Harris English (69) and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg (70) shared fourth place at 13 under. Aberg's double bogey on No. 16 proved costly.

Bud Cauley (70) was seventh at 12 under.

Michael Kim's bogey-free 62 marked the best score of the round and was just one stroke away from matching the course record. That put him at 8 under and tied for 25th place.

"In the morning we really had no wind, and then on the back nine it started to blow a little bit," Michael Kim said.

Defending champion Justin Thomas posted 66 on Sunday for his only sub-70 round of the tournament. He ended up at 3 over and tied for 77th place.

--Field Level Media

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April 20, 2026

Matt Fitzpatrick slips into playoff, beats Scottie Scheffler at RBC Heritage

England's Matt Fitzpatrick didn't flinch when more work was required on the final day of the RBC Heritage. Fitzpatrick bi...

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Knights rally in Game 1, spoiling Mammoth's playoff debut

Nic Dowd scored the go-ahead goal 7:20 into the third period and Carter Hart made 31 saves as the Vegas Golden Knights rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series on Sunday night in Las Vegas.

Colton Sissons had a goal and an assist, Noah Hanifin had two assists and Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev also scored goals for Vegas, which improved to 8-0-1 since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Logan Cooley and Kevin Stenlund each scored goals for Utah, which was playing its first playoff game in the franchise's two-season history. Karel Vejmelka finished with 27 saves.

Pacific Division champion Vegas had the first good scoring chance during a physical first period that featured more than 30 hits, several scrums and 10 penalty minutes when Stone blasted a slap shot from inside the blue line that caromed off the right post.

Utah took a 1-0 lead just before the end of the period when former Golden Knight Nate Schmidt rifled a cross-ice pass to Cooley, who one-timed a shot from the middle of the right circle inside the right post for his first career playoff goal.

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Vegas tied it 3:44 into the second period when Sissons tapped in Cole Smith's no-look backhand pass into the blue paint.

The Mammoth regained the lead just 1:23 later. Stenlund fired a shot from along the right boards that Hart knocked away with his stick into defenseman Kaedan Korczak skating by the left side of the crease. The puck then ricocheted off Korczak and into the net to give the Mammoth a 2-1 lead.

The Golden Knights tied it at 2-all at the 5:33 mark of the third period on a power-play goal by Stone, who roofed a rebound of a Tomas Hertl shot into an open net on the backdoor. It was Stone's 37th career playoff goal with Vegas, breaking a tie with Jonathan Marchessault for most in team history.

Dowd gave the Golden Knights their first lead when he deflected Hanifin's shot from the left point past Vejmelka's glove side.

Utah pulled Vejmelka for an extra attacker with 1:45 to go, and Barbashev sealed the win with an empty-netter before Vejmelka fully left the ice.

--Field Level Media

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April 20, 2026

Knights rally in Game 1, spoiling Mammoth's playoff debut

Nic Dowd scored the go-ahead goal 7:20 into the third period and Carter Hart made 31 saves as the Vegas Golden Knights rallied for a 4-...

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Bears 7-round mock draft: Chicago picks Peter Woods, reinforces trenches

The 2025Chicago Bearsnearly made it to the NFC championship game. How can they improve their roster in the2026 NFL Draftto get over the hump?

That's a question every Bears fan is trying to answer alongside Chicago's general manager, Ryan Poles; its head coach, Ben Johnson; and the team's scouts and other executives.

Earlier this offseason, Poles made a significant step to ready up for the draft bysending wide receiver DJ Mooreand a fifth-round pick to theBuffalo Billsfor a second-round pick. The upgraded draft capital provides Poles the opportunity to add a talented player to a position of need early in the draft.

The Bears' biggest needs are on the defensive side of the ball. While Chicago led the league in forced turnovers last season, the defense's performance outside of the takeaways left much to be desired. The unit ranked 21st in expected points added (EPA)/play allowed and 26th in success rate allowed in 2025.

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2026 NFL DRAFT:Ranking the top 150 best players available

USA TODAY Sports has compiled a seven-round mock draft to boost the 2026 Bears' roster. Here's how Chicago might use its seven picks in the upcoming NFL draft:

OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades

OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

Chicago Bearsmock draft

Round 1, No. 25 overall: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Getting the Bears' defense right starts in the trenches. Chicago ranked 31st in the NFL in pass-rush win rate and 26th in the league in run-stop win rate in 2025, according to ESPN. Dennis Allen's defense tied for seventh-fewest sacks as a team (35) during the season. WhileGervon Dexterhad another solid season,Grady Jarrett's performance left much to be desired, and he'll be 33 by the weekend after the draft.

Woods is the top defensive tackle prospect in his draft class, as a guy capable of stuffing opposing rushers and has real upside as an interior pass-rusher as well. A 3-tech who can be effective on all three downs would be a nice tool to add to Allen's arsenal on the defensive side.

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Round 2, No. 57 overall: S A.J. Haulcy, LSU

With two more picks in the second round, the Bears have a good chance to bring in several young, new starters to upgrade their defense. With Poles addressing the trenches first, he could look to the secondary with the Bears' second pick in the draft. Chicago let five defensive backs walk in free agency earlier this offseason and brought in safetiesCam LewisandCoby Bryantto help plug the new holes in the secondary.

Bryant only recently became a consistent starter, and Lewis had a lot of special teams snaps but rarely started on defense with the Bills. Haulcy is one of the best safeties in this class outside of projected first-rounders Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He lined up all over the field – free safety, in the box and in the slot – in his collegiate career and tallied eight interceptions and 10 PBUs in his last two seasons.

Round 2, No. 60 overall: Edge Derrick Moore, Michigan

Even after adding Woods in the first round, the Bears could still use the extra help in the pass-rush.Montez Sweathad the second double-digit sack season of his career in 2025, but fellow defensive endDayo Odeyingbohad one sack before tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 9.

With uncertainty around Odeyingbo's effectiveness when he returns from injury and a lack of sacks production from those not named Montez Sweat, Moore steps in as a plug-and-play starter. He's a powerful pass-rusher who broke out in 2025 with 10 sacks in 12 games with the Wolverines. Moore's run defense is less pretty, but the pass-rush ceiling is too enticing to pass up in the late second round.

Round 3, No. 89 overall: C Connor Lew, Auburn

After tripling down on defensive help in the first two rounds, Poles finally turns his attention to the offense in Round 3 of this mock. Center is not an immediate need for the Bears. AfterDrew Dalman's surprising retirement, Chicago traded for Patriots centerGarrett Bradbury. But Bradbury will be 31 in June and is a free agent after this year. Lew can join the Bears' squad of offensive lineman as Bradbury's (and Dalman's) heir apparent on the interior.

Round 4, No. 129 overall: OT Drew Shelton, Penn State

Trenches win football games. That's the philosophy for this mock draft and a sound strategy to get the Bears closer to a Super Bowl win next February.Darnell Wrighthas the right tackle spot locked down for Chicago for at least 2026 and likely 2027, once the Bears exercise his fifth-year option. It's the left tackle spot that is a bit more uncertain.

StarterOzzy Trapilotore his patellar tendon in the playoffs after a breakout rookie season in 2025, and the Bears signed three tackles to one-year deals in free agency. Shelton provides a possible short-term reinforcement if Trapilo experiences any setbacks from his patellar tendon injury. He could also be a long-term replacement if Trapilo does not return to form post-injury.

Round 7, No. 239 overall: WR Zavion Thomas, LSU

If Poles doesn't want to trade back up into the fifth or sixth round of the draft, he can take a short breather before the Bears' next pick. With the first of Chicago's two picks this late in the draft, the Bears could take a swing on a receiver who was the third-fastest player at the NFL combine. Thomas was not a hugely productive receiver in college, but he has real upside as a kick returner and gadget player for Ben Johnson's offense.

Round 7, No. 241 overall: CB Andre Fuller, Toledo

Closing things out with another defensive pick. Fuller is a raw cornerback prospect with the tools to develop into an impact defender, given further development. He has the frame – 6-foot-1, 200 pounds – and physicality to give a glimpse into his potential as a press-man, boundary corner. Early in his career, he can earn a roster spot with special teams contributions before developing into a rotational corner who thrives in Cover 2 scenarios.

3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. Kansas City Chiefs – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Cincinnati Bengals – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, OT/G, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 18. Minnesota Vikings – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Los Angeles Chargers – T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Philadelphia Eagles – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Cleveland Browns – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Chicago Bears – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 26. Buffalo Bills – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

NFL mock draft: Top-10 surprises in latest first-round projection

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Bears 2026 NFL mock draft: Chicago builds up defense, lands top DT

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April 18, 2026

Bears 7-round mock draft: Chicago picks Peter Woods, reinforces trenches

The 2025Chicago Bearsnearly made it to the NFC championship game. How can they improve their roster in the2026 NFL Draftto get over the...

Read More