The Los Angeles Lakers owned a double-digit lead for most of the game, held off a fourth-quarter push from the Minnesota Timberwolves and held on for a 94-85 victory in Game 2.

The Lakers avoided a problematic 2-0 hole and evened the first-round Western Conference series at 1-1. Game 3 is Friday in Minneapolis (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Lakers star Luka Doncic almost had a triple-double (31 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists), and All-Star LeBron James had 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Austin Reaves added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Rui Hachimura scored 11 points for Los Angeles.

From midway through the first quarter until midway through the fourth, the Lakers led by at least 10 points and were up 22 points in the second quarter and 21 in the third. But Minnesota trimmed the deficit to 86-77 with 6:27 left in the fourth.

It was 90-81 with 3:10 remaining in the fourth, but the Lakers never let Minnesota get closer, giving first-year coach JJ Redick his first playoff victory.

After making a franchise playoff-record 21 3-pointers in their Game 1 victory, the Timberwolves were just 5-for-25 on 3s (20%) in Game 2. The Lakers weren’t much better from long range (6-for-29), but made 60.9% of their shots inside the 3-point line.

Los Angeles played with a better purpose, especially defensively, and James and Doncic found a better offensive rhythm. They combined for just four assists in Game 1, but matched that total in the first quarter and combined for 16 assists in Game 2.

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 27 points, and All-Star teammate Anthony Edwards had 25 points.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, scores and highlights from Game 2 of the Timberwolves-Lakers series: 

Lakers vs. Timberwolves score

Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85 (final)

Lakers vs. Timberwolves highlights

End of 3Q: Lakers 81, Timberwolves 65

The Timberwolves got within 11 points with 7:48 remaining in the third quarter, but the Lakers pushed the lead to 21 and owned an 81-65 lead headed into the fourth quarter.

Luka Doncic continued his stellar all-around performance, compiling 28 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists through three quarters. LeBron James has 15  points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Austin Reaves has 12 points, four assists and four rebounds.

Anthony Edwards leads Minnesota with 23 points, and Julius Randle has 22 points. No other Minnesota player has more than six points, and the Timberwolves’ 3-point problems continued. They are 3-for-17 on 3s.

The Lakers are just 6-for-24 on 3s but are shooting 71.9% inside the 3-point line.

Anthony Edwards has the dunk of the game

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, one of the NBA’s best in-game dunkers, had a soaring two-handed slam on Lakers center Jaxson Hayes with 10:52 left in the third quarter. Even incoming Timberwolves owner Alex Rodriguez, who is sitting courtside, got up for that dunk.

Halftime score: Lakers 58, Timberwolves 43

Luka Doncic delivered 22 points, five assists and five rebounds, and LeBron James had 13, four assists and four rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers took a 58-43 lead into halftime of Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series. Certainly, the Lakers are playing with a greater purpose after dropping Game 1 at home.

Doncic and James combined for four assists in all of Game 1, and they had nine assists in the first two quarters of Game 2 in a much better offensive and defensive showing for Los Angeles.

Julius Randle has a team-high 15 points for the Timberwolves, and Anthony Edwards has 12 points. After making a franchise playoff-record 21 3s in Game 1, Minnesota shot 2-for-10 from that distance in the first half of Game 2. The good news for the Timberwolves? They trailed 53-31 with four minutes left in the second quarter and trimmed the deficit to a more manageable 15 points.

The Timberwolves have foul issues with their two key reserves, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo, both of whom collected three fouls by the 9:16 mark of the second quarter and were limited to just eight minutes in the first half.

End of Q1: Lakers 34, Timberwolves 15

The Lakers came out with a sense of urgency in Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday and led by as many as 19 points in the first quarter. 

Luka Doncic is off to another red-hot start. He scored 16 of the Lakers’ 34 first-quarter points, shooting 4-of-7 from the field, 2-of-4 from three and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. LeBron James added four points, while Gabe Vincent added six points off the bench. 

Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with six points (2-of-4 FG, 1-of-2 3PT). Julius Randle added five points. 

Notable pregame quotes

Both coaches – the Lakers’ JJ Redick and the Timberwolves’ Chris Finch – met with reporters before Game 2.

Redick on the time off between Game 1 and Game 2: ‘It’s a luxury to have the extra day between games. We really took our time on Sunday with the defensive stuff, and we really took our time yesterday (Monday) with the offensive stuff and then we’ll have a little bit of time in between Games 2 and 3, so that’s good. And then it’s kind of full tilt after that every other day. So our staff, our players, they responded after Game 1, and hopefully we get great response.’

Finch on what to expect in Game 2 after making franchise playoff-record 21 3-pointers in Game 1: “We did a good job of moving, playing well off the ball, making the play, making the pass at the right time, understanding where the traffic was going to be. I don’t know what adjustments specifically to expect around that. Maybe they’ll stay home, maybe they’ll close out a little harder. I don’t know. We’ll just have to feel our way through it. We’ve seen a lot of different things and seen a ton of different looks this year.”

Lakers-Timberwolves Game 2 starting lineups

Timberwolves: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels

Lakers: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura

What time is Lakers vs. Timberwolves?

Game 2 of the NBA playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves is at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 22.

How to watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves Game 2: Time, TV, streaming info for NBA playoffs

Date: Tuesday, April 22
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Max, Sling TV

Watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves Game 2 with Sling TV

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The 2025 NFL draft appears to be short on star power. But that doesn’t mean this year’s event will be lacking in entertainment value.

Months of analysis and speculation have yielded the usual pre-draft consensus on a few fronts, with the top of the first round seemingly taking shape ahead of the action kicking off Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But it doesn’t take much for one unexpected move – think the Atlanta Falcons grabbing quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 last year – to throw the entire night for a loop.

And while this year’s big twist might take some time to materialize, a class that’s short on surefire first-rounders could result in one or more figures who seldom appeared in mock drafts hearing their names called before Day 1 is over.

Here are five players who could be surprise first-round picks on Thursday:

QB Tyler Shough, Louisville

In a vacuum, Shough might seem like an odd candidate to sneak into the first round. The seventh-year senior, who was in the same recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, will turn 26 early in his rookie season. And while he showed plenty of promise in his final season after transferring to Louisville, the 6-5, 219-pound signal-caller also has an extensive injury history, twice breaking his collarbone and suffering a broken fibula in previous stops at Oregon and Texas Tech.

But of course, quarterback picks aren’t made in a vacuum. Several teams are facing dire outlooks behind center, and Shough could stand to benefit from a potential lack of patience at the position.

While there could be an extended wait for the next passer to be picked after the Tennessee Titans’ expected selection of Cam Ward at No. 1, the close Day 2 clustering of the Cleveland Browns (who hold the No. 33 overall selection), New York Giants and New Orleans Saints might prompt some movement. If one of those teams doesn’t feel comfortable waiting for its signal-caller of choice, it could leap up into the first round. Both ESPN and The Athletic have reported that some organizations have Shough rated as their top quarterback, and his pure throwing ability could be a significant draw for various teams still seeking some semblance of a long-term solution at the position.

TE Mason Taylor, LSU

Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland have thrust the tight end position into the spotlight this year, as the two figure to be go-to targets as first-round picks. But Taylor, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, might have cemented his status as the next-best option behind his more highly touted counterparts. As a well-rounded receiving threat with a track record of dependability, he could be an alluring complementary target.

‘(Taylor)’s one of those guys when you are talking to teams, if you got wiped out, who would be your guy? ‘If we get wiped out, we would just take Mason Taylor,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said in a conference call last week. ‘He’s going to start the next eight, 10 years. Just a steady, solid player.’

Jeremiah predicted Taylor would make the cut for Day 1, and there could be several contenders interested in adding a readymade contributor to the passing game. The Philadelphia Eagles face an uncertain outlook with Dallas Goedert given the veteran tight end’s lack of guaranteed money for 2025, and Taylor could be an efficient successor if the team opts to move in a different direction. The Los Angeles Rams also could be drawn to Taylor after the team’s push to move up for record-setting rookie Brock Bowers last year.

CB Trey Amos, Mississippi

Jaxson Dart and Walter Nolen have commanded the spotlight as the two Mississippi draft prospects generating a good deal of first-round buzz. Yet the more overlooked Amos might not be far behind.

In his breakout campaign, the 6-1 and 195-pound cover man proved capable of sticking with all sorts of receivers both down the field and in the short area. Amos also has a knack for breaking on the ball to make a play, recording three interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 2024. While he can still get out of sorts when forced to change directions in man coverage, he has the tools to be a standout in zone with significant room for growth as he settles in.

With the likes of Travis Hunter, Will Johnson and Jahdae Barron seemingly on track to be off the board by the time last season’s playoff teams have to make their selections, several organizations with a pressing need at the position might be left to sort through the next tier of prospects, with Amos sizing up favorably to many of his peers. His range could begin as early as the Minnesota Vikings at No. 24, though zone-heavy teams like the Rams (No. 26) and the Buffalo Bills (No. 30) also could be fits.

G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

A former five-star recruit, Jackson helped power the Buckeyes’ national title run by filling in at left tackle when Josh Simmons – a likely first-rounder – went down for the season with a torn patellar tendon. Between the superlative protection he provided and the impressive versatility he displayed in changing positions during the season, the 6-4, 315-pounder demonstrated plenty of qualities that will endear him to coaches and personnel decision-makers alike.

Jackson likely won’t be counted on to reprise his roll as blindside protector for NFL teams, but his ability to bounce out to tackle is a significant plus. And with offensive guard no longer an afterthought as teams try to ward off interior disruptions as well as edge pressure, high-end inside protectors aren’t certain to stick around until Day 2. Jackson could be in play for the Houston Texans (No. 25), Baltimore Ravens (No. 27) and Detroit Lions (No. 28).

RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

It’s little surprise that a second Buckeye is on this list, as it’s possible the defending champions could tie or break the record for most players drafted in one class from a single school (15). While Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton have widely been seen as first-round locks for some time, Henderson’s potential inclusion on Day 1 would mark a true renaissance at the position, as three ball carriers haven’t been among the first 32 picks since 2018.

At 5-10 and 202 pounds, Henderson doesn’t figure to occupy the bell-cow role that Jeanty and Hampton will. But Henderson has serious straight-line explosiveness, and teams have shown they’ll pay a premium for players capable of igniting big plays. What might put him over the top, however, is his experience and savvy in the passing game, as he’s arguably this class’ premier back in pass protection and also a major threat to split out wide as a receiver. He would be an intriguing option for the Denver Broncos (No. 20) given Sean Payton’s fixation on backs who can create mismatches in the passing game, though he could also step in as the dynamic backfield presence the Washington Commanders (No. 29) have been seeking to complement Brian Robinson Jr.

Longtime ESPN play-by-play commentator Mike Patrick passed away Sunday at the age of 80.

Per ESPN, Patrick’s doctor confirmed that the West Virginia native — who was the voice of ESPN’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ for 18 seasons — died of natural causes in Fairfax, Va.

Patrick rose to national prominence at ESPN starting in 1982, and was a consistent presence on the network’s football and basketball broadcasts for over 30 years. His final ESPN call came in the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

That career included being the play-by-play announcer for the first NFL regular-season game ever broadcast on ESPN, back in 1987, with Joe Thiesmann and Paul Maguire frequently joining him as color commentators over the years. Patrick would go on to be the voice of ‘Sunday Night Football’ from 1987 through 2005, as well as over three decades of ACC men’s basketball championship games and the network’s Women’s Final Four games from 1996-2009.

Patrick’s voice was a familiar one to ESPN viewers, as he was the lead announcer for many years of college football and the College World Series, including ‘Thursday Night Football’ and ‘Saturday Night Football’ broadcasts.

Mike Patrick career

Patrick first took to the airwaves in 1966, working at Somerset, Penn. radio station WVSC. Four years later, he moved on to Jacksonville, Fla. TV station WJXT, where he became the sports director and began calling World Football League games for the Jacksonville Sharks, along with Jacksonville University basketball.

Patrick headed back north in 1975, taking up a post as a reporter and weekend anchor for Washington, D.C.’s WJLA. There, he called University of Maryland football and basketball games, as well as Washington NFL preseason games for the next seven years.

Patrick then joined ESPN in 1982, not long after the network launched, and would remain there until retiring in 2018. Over the years, he became best known as the voice of ‘Sunday Night Football,’ calling NFL games for 19 seasons from 1987-2005. Patrick’s first call of a college football game for ESPN came in 1985, and he would go on to be the lead play-by-play announcer for ‘Thursday Night Football’ from 1991-97, and in 2006 moved over to ‘College Football Primetime.’

From 2009-17, Patrick was on the mic for ESPN and ABC broadcasts of college games on Saturday afternoons while continuing to work the College World Series, the women’s Final Four, and numerous NFL playoff games on ABC. Patrick’s work extended into the world of video games as well, with EA Sports hiring him as the voice of the MVP: NCAA Baseball series in 2006 and 2007.

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Boston Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard is the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Pritchard averaged a career-high 14.3 points for the Celtics, led the NBA in points off the bench with 1,079 in 80 games and set an NBA single-season record for most 3-pointers off the bench with 246. He was third among reserves in assists (257) and had the league’s best plus-minus of any reserve at plus-428.

Pritchard shot a career-high 47.2% from the field and made 40% of his 3-point attempts for the third time in six seasons with the Celtics, who had one of the league’s top benches. Hs 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists 28.4 minutes per game were also career highs.

“Payton is one of the most dedicated players I’ve ever been around,” Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a news release. “He truly loves the game and is committed to the work that goes into being great. In addition, he’s driven by winning and doing whatever it takes to help the team.’

He had two games with at least 30 points this season, including a career-high 43 points against Portland on March 5. He 24 games with at least 20 points and 22 games with at least five made 3s, including 10 against the Trail Blazers making him the eighth NBA reserve to make 10 or more 3s in a game.

Pritchard, a first-time winner of the trophy named after Celtics great John Havlicek, received 82 of 100 first-place votes, 13 second-place votes and five third-place votes and finished with 454 points ahead of Detroit’s Malik Beasley (279 points) and Cleveland’s Ty Jerome (81 points).

‘Payton is a baller – and his teammates know what they are getting every single day in terms of effort, care, and commitment,’ Stevens said. ‘For him to be honored with the award named after the great John Havlicek is a credit to all that he brings to the table for our team.’

The 6-1 guard has turned into a valuable contributor and played a significant role in Boston’s championship last season.

Boston leads the Orlando Magic 1-0 in their first-round playoff series, and Pritchard scored 19 points and was 4-for-6 on 3s in the series opener. Game 2 is Wednesday in Boston (7 p.m. ET, TNT).

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Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk returned to action with two goals and an assist, and the Stanley Cup champs swiped home-ice advantage by thumping the host Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-2, to start their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.

Sidelined in the season’s final 25 games with a lower-body injury, Tkachuk tallied on two power plays in Game 1 of the Battle of Florida. Defenseman Nate Schmidt added one on the man advantage and another at even strength as Florida went 3-for-3 on the power play.

Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist apiece for the Florida Panthers. Aleksander Barkov posted two helpers. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 20 saves.

Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point scored, but star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy surrendered six goals on just 16 shots.

Game 2 of the series is Thursday night in Tampa.

The Panthers quieted the frenzied home crowd when Mackie Samoskevich, playing in his first playoff game, saucered a waist-high pass that Bennett chipped in at 3:44 of the first period.

However, with four seconds left in the power play following Tkachuk’s roughing penalty, Guentzel, who led the NHL with 17 man-advantage goals, knotted it at 12:21.

Inside the final minute, Florida retook the lead on Reinhart’s redirection of a shot sent wide by Dmitry Kulikov.

Florida went up 3-1 at 4:41 of the second on a goal by Schmidt, who swooped in for a tally after Eetu Luostarinen battled at the top of the crease with Vasilevskiy. Lightning coach Jon Cooper challenged for goalie interference, but the marker stood.

The failed challenge burned the home side, as Reinhart found Tkachuk wide open in the low slot on the ensuing power play. Tkachuk deked Vasilevskiy twice and fired a shot through his pads for a 4-1 edge just 14 seconds after Schmidt’s tally.

With Vasilevskiy shielded by traffic, Tkachuk struck again for a 5-1 lead when his shot caromed off a skate and slid in at 9:44, but Point cut it to 5-2 at 13:04.

Schmidt’s power-play tally at 5:09 of the third gave Florida its second four-goal lead to lock down a 1-0 series lead.

Panthers vs. Lightning highlights

Panthers vs. Lightning playoff schedule

Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
Game 2: Thursday, April 24, Panthers at Lightning, 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, Max
Game 3: Saturday, April 26, Lightning at Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, Max
Game 4: Monday, April 28, Lightning at Panthers, TBD
Game 5: Wednesday, April 30, Panthers at Lightning, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6: Friday, May 2, Lightning at Panthers, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Panthers at Lightning, TBD (if necessary)

Max Domi scored at 3:09 of overtime, lifting the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, on Tuesday night and giving the hosts a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Game 3 is Thursday in Ottawa.

Domi scored on a 28-foot wrist shot from the edge of the left circle after taking a backhand pass from Simon Benoit and weaving to his left.

John Tavares had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs. Morgan Rielly also scored and Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves.

Brady Tkachuk and Adam Gaudette scored for the Senators and Linus Ullmark stopped 18 shots.

Toronto opened the first period aggressively and Ullmark was forced to make a save when Pontus Holmberg broke in alone at 1:20.

The pressure paid off when Rielly moved to the edge of the crease and steered home a pass from William Nylander at 3:43.

The Senators reversed the flow when they took four shots on goal during a power play that started at 4:45 but Stolarz was solid.

The Maple Leafs took advantage of their first power play. Tavares scored from the right circle when his shot was deflected by a defender at 8:20 with Toronto’s Matthew Knies hovering on the doorstep. Artem Zub was off for tripping.

Ottawa came out stronger in the second period and took four shots on goal on an early power play.

The Maple Leafs can be vulnerable to the forecheck and the Senators kept them bottled up for stretches in the first half of the second period.

Ottawa broke through on the power play at 15:41 of the second when Tkachuk’s between-the-legs pass from the side of the crease was knocked into the net by Toronto defenseman Brandon Carlo. Nicholas Robertson was off for high-sticking.

Ottawa was gaining confidence and had a 13-3 edge in shots on goal in the second.

The Senators hemmed the Maple Leafs in for nearly a minute midway into the third but could not get a shot on goal. Toronto was effectively clogging the middle of the ice.

A turnover in the Toronto zone helped Ottawa tie the game when Gaudette deflected Tyler Kleven’s shot at 14:47 of the third.

Maple Leafs vs. Senators highlights

Maple Leafs vs. Senators playoff schedule

Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 24, Maple Leafs at Senators, 7, ESPN2
Game 4: Saturday, April 26, Maple Leafs at Senators, 7, TBS, truTV, Max
Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Senators at Maple Leafs, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6:  Friday, May 1, Maple Leafs at Senators, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Senators at Maple Leafs, TBD (if necessary)

The NBA on Tuesday fined Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards $50,000 “for directing inappropriate language and making an obscene gesture toward a fan.”

This incident happened with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter of Minnesota’s 117-95 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. The Timberwolves were ahead 85-61 and waiting for a timeout to end. Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid were on the sideline near the scorer’s table when Edwards exchanged words with a fan.

Edwards has been fined by the league multiple times this season, including a fine for each of his 17 regular-season technical fouls – totaling $622,000, which includes a one-game suspension.

Anthony Edwards fines in 2024-25

Nov. 17: Fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture on the playing court in a game at Sacramento.

Dec. 9: Fined $25,000 for using profane language during a media interview after a game at Golden State.

Dec. 23: Fined $75,000 for public criticism of the officiating and using inappropriate and profane language after a home game.

Dec. 29: Fined $100,000 for using profane language during a live TV interview after a game at Houston.

Jan. 13: Fined $50,000 for making obscene gestures toward a game official during a home game.

Feb. 28: Fined $5,000 and suspended one game for accumulating his 16th technical foul of the season. Each technical foul includes a fine on an escalating penalty scale.

March 1: Fined $35,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection and throwing the game ball into the spectator stands during a game at the Los Angeles Lakers.

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

They can be underhanded, brutal and merciless. Among those regularly ripping Sanders, the Colorado quarterback and son of Deion Sanders, one man stands apart.

It’s Daniel Kelly, 51, a former pro scout for the New York Jets. Last week, he said he was laying low with his criticism of Sanders. But that day he extended his streak of posting negative tweets about the quarterback to 14 days in a row.  

In some ways, the overall criticism of Sanders has been fair. But in other ways, it’s traversed into the extreme.

Kelly represents the latter. He exemplifies the challenges polarizing players like Sanders encounter on social media from individuals who consider themselves draft experts − but may not have the extensive experience and accountability of high-profile experts like the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah or ESPN’s Louis Riddick.

‘It’s never hating,’ Kelly told USA TODAY Sports. ‘It’s evaluating.’

With Sanders expected to be picked in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Kelly has bestowed on him a ‘100% bust rate.’ He also has labeled Sanders as ‘an immature, passive aggressive hothead’ and ‘NFL practice squad talent with a Hall of Fame name.’ Of Sanders’ character, the former scout wrote ‘he has a suitcase full of red flags.’

In more analytical fashion, Kelly writes Sanders has ‘decent arm strength,’ ‘good behind-the-line-of-scrimmage mobility’ and resets in the pocket. But that he takes too long to throw the ball, presents a medical risk because of a fractured back in 2023 and is prone to fumbling.

The result: Kelly has raised his profile, relished articles being written about his opinions of Sanders and ticked off some notable people.

On March 3, Deion Sanders Jr. wrote on X, ‘Bro just calm yo (expletive) down….’ On April 3, Mel Kiper Jr. tersely dissected one of Kelly’s tweets during ESPN’s ‘First Draft.’ And every day, Kelly said, he gets bombarded with unpleasant messages, including death threats, on his X account, @firstroundmock.

‘My wife can’t believe some of the stuff I’ve showed her,’ Kelly said.

The improbable path

Kelly’s path to the NFL is about as improbable as a sixth-round draft pick becoming the greatest quarterback of all time.

At 17, according to Kelly, he started writing and sending scouting reports to Charley Casserly, then general manager of the NFL’s team in Washington. ‘I remember the name,’ Casserly told USA TODAY Sports.

At 21, according to Kelly, he did an unpaid internship with Tony Dungy, then defensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings. Dungy did not respond to voicemails and text messages from USA TODAY Sports.

At 24, Kelly said, he published an NFL Draft guide and sent copies to every team in the league. The Jets apparently were impressed enough to hire Kelly, who said he was working as a loan officer at the time.

‘I was sitting in the best chair in the National Football League at 24 years old,’ he said.

A 1998 media guide for the Jets lists Kelly as a member of the support staff and working pro personnel. He said he worked with the team until 2002. As evidence, Kelly has shared online photos of a Jets ID badge and a Jets business card identifying him as a Pro Scout.

Lionel Vital, who was a scout with the Jets in 1998 and 1999 and went on to become director of college scouting for the Dallas Cowboys, confirmed Kelly’s time with the Jets.

‘He’d walk in there and he had his opinion, and he’d just stick to it,’ said Vital, who co-hosted a podcast with Kelly last season. ‘He just wouldn’t give up on what he thought, and I know he’s going to tell everybody.’

It was a turbulent four years.

The first month on the job, according to Kelly, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. In early 2001, his daughter Bailey Hope, then 15 months old, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer, Kelly said.

‘It made my cancer look like a walk in the park,’ he said.

He shared a memorial card of his daughter. She died Dec. 25, 2001.

Kelly said he got fired by the Jets about two months later.

‘I believe I had the talent to do this,’ Kelly said, ‘but I was too immature.’

Predictions gone wrong

Jason Brown, a football coach who starred in Netflix’s ‘Last Chance U,’ said of Shedeur Sanders, ‘Let’s be honest, if he’s not Prime’s son, he’s not even a (expletive) third-rounder.’

Dan Sileo, a retired defensive tackle who played one year in the NFL, wrote on X, ‘QB Shedeur Sanders will be an @nfl bust!’

In other words, Kelly isn’t the only one openly blasting Sanders. But it’s come at a price.

Critics have skewered Kelly for some of his past predictions, such as:

‘Tim Tebow…is a future Hall of Fame caliber quarterback.‘

‘Bryce Young has the best potential I’ve ever seen to quickly turnaround a struggling team.‘

‘Spencer Rattler is the next Patrick Mahomes.‘

What Kelly would prefer to highlight:

‘Any GM who is considering (Trey Lance) or takes him in the first round should be fired on the spot.’ 

‘It would be foolish to take (Zach Wilson) in the first round. He will get everybody fired.‘

‘(C.J.) Stroud is a franchise quarterback.‘

Dreaming again

Bill Polian, the retired general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, said he doesn’t know of Kelly or begrudge draft analysts like him. But he says they’re ill-equipped.

‘If someone’s a retired scout, then he has about 45% of the information,’ Polian said, noting that psychological testing and medical evaluations are among information available only to NFL personnel. ‘I just know that they don’t have all the information that I, as a general manager, needed in order to make a judgment.’

Added Polian: ‘Some guy in his grandmother’s basement doesn’t know how to look at film.’

For the record, Kelly said he lives in a townhouse in Key West, Florida, with his wife, Samantha.

‘First two years I was out of football, I didn’t even watch the game,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t, it was too painful…

‘I’m 28 years old. I’m on the backside of my dream.’

But he’s dreaming again, about reclaiming his NFL dream. Says he’s working 17 to 20 hours a day, six to seven days a week while building his business, First Round Mock, and its website he launched in 2022.

‘He grinds,’ said Vital, the former NFL scout.

There’s little time to waste at 51, hoping to get back to the NFL while pumping out scouting reports, more analysis and tweets, many of them pointed and directed at Sanders.

‘Please get help,’ one X user wrote to Kelly, ‘you are clearly hurting about something.’

Jordan Martinook continued to haunt the Devils in the postseason, posting a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes beat New Jersey, 3-1, on Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C., to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Newark, N.J.

Martinook has four goals and 13 points in seven career playoff games against New Jersey.

‘I love (the) playoffs; I feel like it brings the best out of me,’ Martinook said.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes. Frederik Andresen stopped 25 shots.

Jesper Bratt got the goal for the Devils. Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves.

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said, ‘We were able to get to our game early. It’s a great response. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to build on it.’

Carolina, which has held New Jersey to two goals in the series, scored twice in the first six minutes of the second period to take a 2-1 lead.

Gostisbehere tied the game 2:57 into the second when he converted his own rebound. Three minutes later, Martinook’s short-handed goal put the Hurricanes on top. He scored from the left circle off the rush after taking a backhand pass from defenseman Dmitry Orlov in the neutral zone.

Jarvis added an empty-net goal with 37 seconds left.

It could have been worse for the Devils in the second period but defenseman Brett Pesce, a former Hurricane, knocked the puck away from the goal line when it was inches away and cleared another that was heading toward the net.

New Jersey got off to a fast start and took its first lead of the series 3:51 into the game, when Bratt put in the rebound of Erik Haula’s shot off the rush.

When Carolina got chances late in the first period, Markstrom made the saves, including one on Jack Roslovic at the left post during a power play.

The Devils were without defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon because of undisclosed injuries sustained in Game 1 on Sunday. They were replaced by Simon Nemec and Dennis Cholowski, who made their Stanley Cup playoff debuts.

Hurricanes vs. Devils highlights

Hurricanes vs. Devils playoff schedule

Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
Game 3: Friday, April 25, Hurricanes at Devils, 8, TBS, Max
Game 4: Sunday, April 27, Hurricanes at Devils, 3:30, TBS, truTV, Max
Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Devils at Hurricanes, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6: Friday, May 2, Hurricanes at Devils, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Devils at Hurricanes, TBD (if necessary)

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is listed as doubtful for Game 2 against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday with a bruised right (shooting) wrist.

Tatum has been diagnosed with a right distal radius bone bruise, the team said in Tuesday’s injury report. Tatum sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Boston’s 103-86 victory against in Game 1 on Sunday.

It happened with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter and the Celtics ahead 89-73. Tatum dribbled toward the rim and as he tried to dunk, he was fouled by Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and used his right hand to brace his fall.

Caldwell-Pope was issued a flagrant foul one, and Tatum missed both free throws. He remained in the game, scored seven more points, including a 3-pointer to put Boston ahead 94-76 with 6:28 to play, and took a seat on the bench for the final 74 seconds.

Tatum had 17 points, 14 rebounds and four assists in the victory.

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