New Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller and head coach Chris Koclanes are well aware of the enormous task ahead of them.

They inherit a team that just two years ago made it to the WNBA semifinals. But a rash of injuries and free agency turned this once promising up-and-coming squad into one of the league’s worst, especially on the defensive end.

Miller, who also holds the title of executive vice president, signed veterans DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, Tyasha Harris, and Myisha Hines-Allen, before using the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft to select UConn combo guard Paige Bueckers, a three-time All-American who led the Huskies to the national championship earlier this month.

Those additions are meant to relieve the pressure on leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale, who averaged 22.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals for Dallas, which finished 9-31 in 2024, giving up a league-worst 92.1 points a game. Shooting guard Maddy Siegrist and center Teaira McCowan are the others returning from last season.

Miller said he felt he met his goals with the draft class by adding winners, improving the team’s ball handling and having impactful scorers, while adding defenders and post depth.

Aziaha James (12th overall), Madison Scott (14th overall), JJ Quinerly (27th overall) and Aaronette Vonleh (31st overall), joined Bueckers as the Wings introduced their rookie draft class Wednesday at Dallas City Hall.

But there is no doubt the focus now, and in the next couple of years, is on Bueckers and bringing her unique skill set to a team and city that could use some good basketball public relations.

Bueckers said her faith keeps her grounded on and off the court and that she is excited to be in the same city as Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving.

‘He’s been my favorite player since forever,’ said Bueckers, who alluded to Irving going through his knee injuries like she did in college.

Off the court, Bueckers has a multitude of endorsements, but Miller said he wasn’t worried that Bueckers wouldn’t sign her rookie-scale contract, which will pay $348,198in her first four years, including $78,831 in 2025.

‘Just being a part of a new family, a new city. Dallas is a great sports city,’ Bueckers said when asked what she is looking forward to. ‘We’re looking to be a big-name organization.

‘The people, the culture, Dallas becoming a place everyone wants to play. Everyone who is here wants to stay and enjoying playing together and being together on the court, off the court.’

With Bueckers in the fold, the Wings automatically will be one of the highest-scoring backcourts. It would be expected that Bueckers would take on the majority of the ball handling and keep up the efficiency she was known to have in college.

Bueckers is looking forward to playing with Ogunbowale, who is a four-time All-Star.

‘She’s electric. Can score at all three levels, obviously a bucket getter. So looking to assist her a lot, space the floor, get her open looks, play off each other,’ Bueckers said.

An adjustment period is sure to await Bueckers, whether it’s immersing herself in the food, music and, most importantly, the physical style of the WNBA.

When a reporter commented that Bueckers is the hottest thing in Dallas right now, she was quick to put her sharp wit to use.

‘I would say the weather’s probably hotter than me,’ said Bueckers, who, along with the fellow rookies, was gifted a Stetson Cowboy hat. ‘Definitely different than Connecticut and Minnesota.’

The Boston Celtics will be without superstar forward Jayson Tatum for Game 2 against the Orlando Magic.

Tatum suffered a right distal radius bone bruise in Boston’s 103-86 victory over the Magic on Sunday. The injury happened with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter as the Celtics led 89-73. Tatum was fouled by Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as he drove toward the rim and tried to dunk. Tatum fell down and used his right hand to brace his fall. Caldwell-Pope was accessed a flagrant 1 foul on the play.

Tatum missed both free throws, but he remained in the game and went on to score seven more points. He took a seat on the bench for the final 74 seconds and finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in the victory.

Although Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum was ‘doing good’ following Game 1, Tatum’s status for Game 2 has been in the air. Will he start? Will he be sidelined? Here’s what we know:

NBA injury report: Jayson Tatum out for Game 2

Tatum will be sidelined for Game 2 against the Magic on Wednesday. He was originally listed as doubtful on Tuesday, but the team downgraded Tatum to out on Wednesday afternoon, just 30 minutes ahead of tipoff.

Who will replace Jayson Tatum in starting lineup?

Veteran Al Horford or Sam Hauser will likely be tapped to replace Tatum in the starting lineup. Horford had five points in 25 minutes of play in Game 1, while Hauser was held scoreless in nine minutes off the bench.

NBA starting lineups

This will updated when the starting lineups are announced.

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But that management group said it has started a coaching search. Current interim coach Joe Sacco will be among the candidates, Sweeney said, adding, ‘He’s earned and deserved that.’

Sacco finished the season with a 25-30-7 record after Jim Montgomery was fired in November.

Sweeney said he wouldn’t rule out a candidate without NHL head coaching experience but said the person must have ‘some exposure’ to the NHL.

‘Communication with players nowadays is paramount,’ he said. ‘Structure, details, being organized is paramount.’

Sacco had been with the Bruins as an assistant coach, associate coach or interim head coach since the 2013-14 season. He previously coached the Colorado Avalanche for four seasons.

The Bruins dropped from an NHL record-setting season to out of the playoffs in two years.

A lot of the Bruins’ problems extended beyond coaching. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired after Boston finished with a record 65 wins and 135 points, and the Bruins didn’t find replacements last season.

Sweeney signed center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov to seven-year deals last summer and they got off to rough starts. The Bruins traded goalie Linus Ullmark, and Jeremy Swayman missed training camp before signing an eight-year deal. His numbers dropped as a No. 1 goalie.

Defenseman Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy, hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off, missed significant time with injuries.

Usually buyers at the deadline, the Bruins were big-time sellers, moving Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic and Brandon Carlo. The team finished last in the Atlantic Division.

‘We owe you a better team and we aim to deliver you a better team,’ Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs said about Bruins fans. ‘We embrace your criticism because it’s well-deserved.’

Jacobs, talking about Neely and Sweeney, said the team had the ‘right people in the right seats’ to turn things around.

Neely also gave a vote of confidence to Sweeney, who has a year left on his contract.

‘Don has been a great GM in this league,’ Neely said. ‘Has everything gone right? No.

‘It doesn’t. That’s just sports. But there’s been more good than bad.’

Sweeney said one of his offseason priorities was more getting scoring from the wing.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick looked livid.

He had just called timeout early in the second half Tuesday night and angrily strode on the court.

What unfolded was a memorable moment before the Lakers finished off the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 95-84 victory in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series at Crypto.com Arena.

Redick grew, shall we say, animated after watching the Timberwolves open the second half with 8-4 spurt and cut the Lakers lead, as much as 22 points in the first half, to 11. Then he rejoined his team, having yet to cool down.

‘We know JJ is going to (flip) out from time to time,’ LeBron James said after the game. ‘That’s JJ. … At this point for us, we obviously need to listen to the message and know how it’s delivered.’

James added, ‘For me, my high school coach my freshman year was kind of the same way. He would (spaz) out on us and you have to be able to understand it’s not how it’s saying it. But we responded out there.’

Indeed, they did.

After the timeout, Lakers went on a 9-0 run. Redick, the rookie NBA coach, denied being frustrated when he called the timeout.

‘Not frustration,’ he said. ‘It’s coaching.’

Later, Redick, ‘I think tonight it was more about getting that urgency switch turned back on.”

Lakers guard Austin Reaves grinned when asked what was Redick’s message in the huddle during the timeout.

‘Just say he wasn’t happy,” Reaves said.

Lakers duo understands their role

Luka Doncic has been a Laker for less than three months. That’s more than enough time to understand a fundamental truth about this team.

The Lakers are going only as far as Doncic and LeBron James can lead them.

On Tuesday, that meant back on stable ground in their first-round playoff series after a 95-84 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 2. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 to be played Friday in Minneapolis.

“Me and LeBron are leaders of this team,’’ Doncic said after the game. “We’ve got to keep the team together.”

James said it’s about showing by example: “You can’t ask your teammates or people who are going to battle with you…to make all those sacrifices if you’re not going to.’’

Here’s how Doncic and James led:

In the first quarter, when the Lakers’ confidence still could have been shaken after a 117-95 loss in Game 1, Doncic worked his wizardry. He scored 16 points and helped propel the Lakers to a 34-15 lead after the opening quarter. He also exemplified teamwork with his nine assists after having just one assist in the opening game of the series.

For his part, James missed a couple of shots within about four feet of the basket. But he did not miss the moment.

It came with 2:43 left and the Lakers up 90-81 and still in danger of a collapse.

That is, until James stole the ball from Anthony Edwards and went coast-to-coast for a layup and all but sealed the game.

“It was a great play,’’ Doncic said. “It was a winning play.’’

So said one Lakers leader of the other.

Masked man epitomizes Lakers

Rui Hachimura wore a mask in the second half apparently after getting hit in the nose. It was a poor fit and Hachimura needed a second mask. And wore it with the confidence of a WWE wrestler.

He continued to battle Minnesota’s big men and finished with 11 rebounds, five rebounds, two and a blocked shot. He also underscored the Lakers’ grit that was missing in their Game 1 loss.

“I thought Rui was big for us tonight,’’ Reaves said. “He didn’t get that many shots. But the physicality he played with on the defense end after getting hit in the nose…He was out their competing his (butt) off.’’

Added Redick, “He played like a warrior tonight.’’

The Lakers said they’d need to be more physical with the Timberwolves after Game 1. Hachimura was the best example, but the Lakers collectively exhibited toughness.

What’s next for Lakers

The Lakers and Timberwolves will play Game 3 Friday at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Game 4 will be played Sunday at the Target Center, and Redick indicates he knows what to expect from these games.

“The mentality from both teams is to have a rock fight,” he said.

Tennis legend Andre Agassi is set to make his pro debut in another racket sport next week when he takes part in the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships alongside the sport’s No. 1 player.

Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam singles champion on the ATP Tour, told CNBC he will take to the court with 18-year-old star Anna Leigh Waters on April 30 in his first match. It was Waters’ idea to play together after she saw videos of Agassi, 54, playing pickleball on You Tube.

Waters was on track to earn more than $3 million last year as a professional pickleball player, but did not have a mixed doubles partner for this year’s U.S. Open, which begins on Saturday in Naples, Florida.

‘She’s probably sick of winning so much, and that’s why she called me and asked me to play,’ Agassi told CNBC.

Agassi said he was originally drawn to pickleball because of its social, inclusive nature. He’s since become a spokesman for the sport and an endorser for Joola, a company that makes pickleball gear.

‘Andre’s goals are to grow the sport of pickleball, and that’s a huge goal of mine,’ Waters said. ‘I thought if we partnered together, this would be a really awesome way to grow the sport.”

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Czech government leaders came to the defense of former international ice hockey starDominik Hasek on Wednesday after what they said were death threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, calling such comments unacceptable.

Hasek, a Hall of Fame NHL goaltender who backstopped his country to Olympic gold in 1998 – the first Games to include NHL stars – has long argued against Russian athletes’ participation in international sports due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russian news agency TASS reported that after Washington Capitals Russian-born star Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for career NHL goals earlier this month, Medvedev said on the Telegram social network that Hasek may commit suicide in reaction.

On Monday, Hasek posted on X that he had sent letters to the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee concerning what he saw as a threat.

‘I inform them that former Russian President Medvedev threatened to kill me,’ Hasek said, adding he also pleaded inthe letters not to allow Russia to use sports as advertising for its war in Ukraine.

On Tuesday, a Medvedev assistant told TASS that the former president believed Hasek was mentally ill.

‘I would recommend him to cross the road more carefully and not to drink beer in untested places, and to visit apsychiatrist regularly,’ Oleg Osipov told TASS, quoting Medvedev.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Wednesday that Medvedev’s threats were ‘absolutely unacceptable’.

‘It is not possible to ignore them as Medvedev is not a private person but a high representative of Russia,’ Fiala saidon X.

Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said on X that Hasek would be provided protection if needed.