Timberwolves leap to 3-1 lead over Lakers; Shedeur Sanders to Browns; NFL Draft grades, superlatives

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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Anthony Edwards will not be right here to play second or third fiddle within the star-studded Timberwolves-Lakers sequence, and a 3-1 sequence lead proves as a lot. Edwards exploded for 43 factors as host Minnesota rallied for a 116-113 Recreation 4 win over Los Angeles.

• It is Edwards’ fifth profession 40-point playoff sport. Solely Luka Dončić (who scored 38 factors on this one), has extra earlier than turning 24. Edwards is racking these up towards an spectacular checklist of opponents, too.
• Edwards was relentless, making 5 3s, attending to the free throw line 17 occasions (he made 14, together with two essential ones with seconds remaining) and including 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
• The Timberwolves as soon as once more bought massive video games from Julius Randle (25 factors) and Jaden McDaniels (16 factors, 11 rebounds).

Minnesota’s huge benefits in depth, physicality and flexibility present up in all places. I am tremendous impressed.

Listed below are different notable weekend winners:

😃 Honorable mentions

🏀 And never such a great morning for …

THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS …

There are a number of numbers we might get into right here: 18 offensive rebounds allowed or a 12-point lead blown or one essential late name LeBron James disagreed with.

However the quantity we should always actually deal with is 0.

That is what number of substitutions Los Angeles made within the second half. Zero. James, Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith by no means sat.

The Lakers’ greatest weaknesses are being uncovered, Sam Quinn writes.

• Quinn: “Jarred Vanderbilt and Jordan Goodwin, two of the hearts of their regular-season protection, simply could not survive offensively in a playoff setting. … If the truth that the Lakers do not have a usable middle anyplace on the roster is not evident but, observe that Dončić had solely a single help in Recreation 1 and two assists in Recreation 2. That is two video games with two or fewer assists out of 4 on this sequence. He solely had two such video games out of fifty playoff appearances with the Mavericks. … These are solvable issues with an offseason to work with.”

… AND DAMIAN LILLARD AND THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS …

The Bucks had been already going to have a question-filled offseason. It simply bought worse. A lot worse. Damian Lillard is feared to have torn his Achilles in Milwaukee’s 129-103 Recreation 4 loss to the Pacers. Indiana leads the sequence 3-1.

We are able to save the “What is going on to occur with Giannis Antetokounmpo?” for a bit later. Proper now, this simply stinks for Lillard, 34, who has skilled a brutal end to his prime years, Sam Quinn writes.

… AND THE DETROIT PISTONS

Often individuals recognize once you admit you made a mistake. However you will forgive the Pistons if they do not share that sentiment. Referee David Guthrie admitted there ought to have been a foul known as when Josh Hart ran into Tim Hardaway Jr. on a last-second shot try.

After all, there was nothing Guthrie nor the Pistons might do at that time, moments after the no-call allowed the Knicks to flee with a 94-93 Recreation 4 win. Making issues all of the extra painful, it is the kind of play Jalen Brunson attracts fouls on on a regular basis, Brad Botkin notes.

New York leads the sequence 3-1 regardless of Detroit main by at the least eight factors within the second half in three of the 4 video games. It has been an extended street again to the playoffs for the Pistons, they usually’re shortly studying the postseason could be unforgiving within the cruelest methods. 

Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Shedeur Sanders endures draft slide, prank name earlier than Browns draft him in fifth spherical

After 143 picks, a prank name and an unprecedented draft slide, Shedeur Sanders bought drafted by the Browns within the fifth spherical (144th general) Saturday, an enchanting touchdown spot on many ranges.

• Sanders, thought to be the QB2 by many (together with our prospect rankings), was the sixth quarterback taken, and the second taken … by his personal workforce! Cleveland chosen Dillon Gabriel within the third spherical Friday.
• Sanders had a really totally different Friday, receiving a prank name saying he was drafted. Sunday, it was revealed that Jax Ulbrich, the son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, made the decision after getting Sanders’ cellphone quantity off of his father’s unattended, unlocked iPad. Jax Ulbrich and the Falcons apologized.
• Give Sanders credit score: He remained hopeful after Day 2 got here and went and reacted with pleasure and gratitude when Cleveland — which traded as much as make the choose — drafted him.

No matter you consider Sanders the participant, the pre-draft course of was a catastrophe. That features not simply the previous few months — this quarterback-needy workforce wasn’t impressed by Sanders — however the previous few years, Jonathan Jones experiences. His dad, Deion Sanders, did not assist.

Now comes the (hopefully) enjoyable half. Certain, the place Sanders was picked would not usually produce stars, however there is a precedent of late-pick quarterbacks turning into stars, and in a crowded quarterback room, why cannot Sanders be the one who emerges?

Sanders landed in each classes of John Breech’s NFL Draft winners and losers.

• Breech: “Within the best-case state of affairs, Sanders beats everybody out for the beginning job. Within the worst-case state of affairs, he begins the season on the bench and will get to study from a veteran like Flacco. Nevertheless, the 40-year-old Flacco in all probability is not going to make it by means of a complete season because the starter, so Sanders ought to actually get an opportunity to play sooner or later in 2025, however he’ll should earn it.

Primarily based on play alone, he is clearly a steal. Primarily based on all the things else … nicely, I can not wait to see what’s subsequent.

🏈 NFL Draft full outcomes, workforce grades, choose grades, greatest picks

All 257 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft are within the books, and the chances of the place they go from right here is infinite. Nonetheless, who would not love some on the spot evaluation?

Pete Prisco graded each workforce’s draft class, and three groups obtained an “A.”

• Jaguars — “The commerce to get Travis Hunter was massive, and offers them one other playmaker, however they added a bunch of fine gamers. I like guard Wyatt Milan within the third and operating again Bhayshul Tuten within the fourth.”
• Chiefs — “First-round sort out Josh Simmons is one of the best offensive lineman on this draft. … Third-round nook Nohl Williams and fourth-round receiver Jalen Royals will likely be good additions and I preferred seventh-round again Brashard Smith.”
• Buccaneers — “Emeka Egbuka going within the first was a bit of odd — even when he is an efficient participant — however Jason Licht made up for it the remainder of the draft. He bought two corners in Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, which they wanted.”

I additionally thought the Cowboys did some good issues, together with grabbing a operating again who is not brief on confidence, and depend me in as a fan of the Ravens‘ and the Seahawks‘ drafts.

Nobody made extra picks, although, than the 49ers, who landed amongst Jared Dubin’s checklist of groups that modified most within the draft. 

• Dubin: “Key picks: EDGE Mykel Williams, DT Alfred Collins, LB Nick Martin, CB Upton Stout, DT CJ West — They’ve seen an exodus of expertise alongside the line of defense in latest seasons, so that they attacked that spot with a ton of draft capital this yr. Williams ought to instantly improve the workforce’s run protection, and he has upside as a cross rusher past what he confirmed at Georgia.”

Here is extra:

⚾ MLB Energy Rankings, weekend roundup

Regardless of being on the fallacious finish of two walk-offs in three days, the Mets are No. 1 in Matt Snyder’s MLB Energy Rankings. Here is the highest 5:

1. Mets (earlier: 3)
2. Cubs (4)
3. Dodgers (2)
4. Giants (7)
5. Tigers (8)

As for information across the league:

📺 What we’re watching Monday

⚾ Mets at Nationals, 4:05 p.m. on MLB Community
⚾ Cardinals at Reds, 6:40 p.m. on MLB Community
🏒 Lightning at Panthers (Panthers lead 2-1), 7 p.m. on ESPN 
🏀 Cavaliers at Warmth (Cavaliers lead 3-0), 7:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏒 Avalanche at Stars (Sequence tied 2-2), 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Rockets at Warriors (Warriors lead 2-1), 10 p.m. on TNT/truTV