No. 5 seed LA Clippers have taken control of the 2025 NBA playoffs first-round series, 2-1, after beating the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets. It was the first home playoff game for the Clippers at the Intuit Dome.

Kawhi Leonard produced a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds after shaking off a slow start in the 117-83 Western Conference Game 3 victory over the Nuggets.

James Harden added 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the winning effort for the Clippers while Norman Powell also added 20 points. 

Former MVP Nikola Jokic added a team-high 23 for the Nuggets. He also had 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Jamal Murray scored 23 points while former Clipper Russell Westbrook was held to just three points after shooting 1-for-5 from the field (all attempts from the three-point line).

USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from Game 3 between the Nuggets and Clippers:

Final: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83

Clippers vs. Nuggets highlights

Clippers vs. Nuggets third quarter update

The Clippers took a 90-70 lead entering the fourth quarter.

James Harden and Norman Powell each scored 20 points through the first three quarters of play while Kawhi Leonard added 14 points and nine rebounds. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 21 points and Nikola Jokić had 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Clippers vs. Nuggets halftime update

After taking its first lead of the game late in the first quarter, the Clippers held on to their lead throughout the first half. The Clippers lead the Nuggets 63-47 at halftime.

James Harden led the Clippers with 20 points, four assists and three rebounds. Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray each have 13 points for the Nuggets.

James Harden stats

James Harden leads the Clippers with 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes of play against the Nuggets.

Kawaii Leonard stats

Kawhi Leonard produced a double-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes of play for the Clippers.

Clippers vs. Nuggets first quarter update

Aaron Gordon has scored 11 of the Nuggets’ first 20 points with 7:01 left in the first quarter against the Clippers, but was a non-factor for the rest of the quarter.

James Harden led the Clippers with 13 points while Kawhi Leonard was limited to five points in the period.

The Nuggets led the Clippers for the first 10:30 of the quarter before Harden gave L.A. the 29-28 lead. The Clippers pulled away with a 35-28 lead after Harden and Nicolas Batum scored back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute..

Clippers’ starting lineup vs. Nuggets in Game 3

Norman Powell
Kawhi Leonard
Ivica Zubac
Kris Dunn
James Harden

Nuggets’ starting lineup vs. Clippers in Game 3

Michael Porter Jr.
Aaron Gordon
Nikola Jokić
Christian Braun                                                                     
Jamal Murray

Clippers-only fan section ready to horse around

Members of the Wall, which is the Clippers-only fan section called the Intuit Dome, found a horse mask at their seats to wear before the game. Nuggets star Nikola Jokić is known to have a love and passion for horses and harness racing.

What time is Nuggets vs. Clippers?

Game 3 of the NBA playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers is at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 24.

How to watch Nuggets vs. Clippers: Time, TV, streaming info

Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Stream: Fubo
Location: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, CA)

Watch Nuggets vs. Clippers with a free trial of Fubo

Aaron Gordon stats

Aaron Gordon averaged 14.7 points in the regular season, shooting 53.1% from the field and a career-high 43.6% from three in 51 games (42 starts). He also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Through two games in the 2025 NBA playoffs, Gordon is averaging 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist.

Michael Porter Jr. will play in Game 3

Porter is officially a go for Game 3. He’s coming off a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double performance in Denver’s Game 2 loss on Monday, following a mere three points in the team’s Game 1 win on Saturday.

Will Michael Porter Jr. play in Game 3?

Michael Porter Jr. is listed as questionable for Game 3 on Thursday due to a left shoulder sprain. Porter suffered the injury during the closing minutes of Denver’s 105-102 loss to the Clippers in Game 2 on Monday. He dove for a loose ball and the Clippers’ Kris Dunn fell on him while attempting to do the same. Following the game, Porter said he “never felt a pain like this” and noted that he suffered a “joint sprain.”

On Wednesday, interim head coach David Adelman said he’s ‘very optimistic’ Porter will suit up on Thursday. ‘I don’t think he gets enough credit for how tough he is and what he’s played through over these years. His pain threshold is something that people don’t understand, don’t get, that he deals with all year long…If Mike can play he will.’

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The New York Giants left the first round of the 2025 NFL draft with a potential quarterback of the future. 

With the 25th pick of the first round, the Giants selected quarterback Jaxson Dart of Mississippi. New York sent the 34th and 99th overall selections in 2025, along with a third-rounder next year, to the Houston Texans to move back into the first round after the Giants took edge rusher Abdul Carter with their original pick at No. 3 overall. 

The Giants gave up the draft capital and brought in Dart despite signing veteran signal-callers Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston during the offseason.

Dart started his college career at Southern California as a four-star recruit but transferred upon the arrival of Caleb Williams. He transferred to Ole Miss – the college home of former Giants quarterback Eli Manning – and was a three-year starter for Lane Kiffin. Dart became the Rebels’ all-time leader in wins (28) and passing yards (10,617) over 38 starts in Oxford. 

With dual-threat ability, Dart becomes the latest quarterback project for Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who played a key role in the progression of reigning MVP Josh Allen during his time as offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. Dart will face plenty of question marks at the next level but the Giants are banking on his big arm – he led the FBS in yards per attempt (10.8) and completions of 10 yards or more (74) in 2024 – and toughness translation to the pros. 

‘I think he’s got a lot of qualities you look for in a quarterback,’ Daboll said. ‘He’s tough, makes good decisions with the football, pushes the football down the field, has athletic ability.’

New York had also been linked to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but the team ultimately went with Dart. The Giants also tried to trade with the Tennessee Titans for the top overall pick to take quarterback Cam Ward, per multiple reports. Last year, they attempted to move into the top three to take Drake Maye, but the New England Patriots didn’t budge then, either. 

Ja Morant took a hard fall Thursday night that knocked him out of Game 3 of the first-round series between the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The injury occurred in the second quarter after Morant was upended by the Thunder’s Lu Dort while driving to the basket on a 2-on-1.

Memphis led 77-51 at halftime at home.

Morant finished his night with 15 points and five assists in 16 minutes.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City thundered back from a 29-point deficit to win, 114-108. The Thunder hold a 3-0 series lead. Game 4 is in Memphis on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT), but Morant’s status is not known.

(This story was updated to add information).

Pro Football Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe said on Thursday he is stepping away from ESPN.

Sharpe said in a statement: ‘My statement is found here and this is the truth. The relationship in question was 100 % consensual.

‘At this junction I am eliciting to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties. I will be devoting my time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason. I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, friends and colleagues.’

ESPN said in a statement: ‘This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.’

Sharpe first joined ‘First Take’ in August 2023 after he reached a buyout with Fox Sports in June 2023 to leave FS1’s ‘Undisputed.’ Sharpe appeared alongside Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ on Mondays and Tuesdays and signed a multi-year contract with ESPN in June. Sharpe was set to expand his role on ‘First Take’ and his presence across ESPN platforms under the new deal, but he’ll now be missing from the ESPN airwaves entirely.

SHANNON SHARPE accused of sexual assault, battery in $50 million civil lawsuit

Here’s what we know about Sharpe:

Sharpe named in sexual assault, battery civil lawsuit

Sharpe’s decision to step away comes on the heels of a civil lawsuit filed against him in Clark County, Nevada on Sunday. According to the suit obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the plaintiff, listed under the alias ‘Jane Doe,’ alleged that Sharpe sexually assaulted her twice, once in October 2024 and again in January 2025. They met at a Los Angeles gym in 2023 when she was 19.

The plaintiff said she was in a relationship with Sharpe for nearly two years, and it began as a ‘rocky consensual relationship.’ The woman says Sharpe became violent over the course of the relationship, threatened to kill her during one incident, and recorded their sexual encounters without her consent.

The lawsuit is seeking $50 million in damages for sexual assault and battery, in addition to engaging in the intentional infliction of emotional distress. Sharpe denied the allegations on Tuesday in an Instagram video and said he’s the victim of a ‘blatant set-up’ and ‘shakedown’ attempt.

Sharpe’s NSFW Instagram Live mishap

In September, Sharpe inadvertently livestreamed audio of him having sex to his roughly 3.2 million followers on Instagram. After initially claiming he was hacked, Sharpe later owned up and apologized for his mistake.

‘Obviously I am embarrassed. Someone that is extremely, extremely private and to have one of your most intimate details – the audio – heard for the entire world to hear, I’m embarrassed for a number of reasons,’ Sharpe said at the time on the ‘Nightcap’ podcast. ‘There are a lot of people that count on Shannon to be professional at all times and I always try to be professional at all times, even when I’m behind closed doors.’

Sharpe didn’t face any discipline from ESPN over the incident.

Shannon Sharpe: Star athlete to social media star

Sharpe played 14 seasons in the NFL (1990-2003), primarily for the Denver Broncos, where he played two separate stints (1990-99, 2002-03) and won two Super Bowls (1998-99). He also won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001. Sharpe, an eight-time Pro Bowler, was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Following his successful football career, Sharpe transitioned to sports commentary. He served as a commentator for CBS Sports’ ‘The NFL Today’ from 2004-2014 and later joined FS1’s ‘Undisputed’ alongside co-host Bayless in 2016. The pairing of Sharpe and Bayless was gold for TV ratings, but their on-air chemistry turned contentious.

Tensions between Sharpe and Bayless spilled over onto the broadcast in January 2023 following Bayless’ controversial tweet about Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during the Buffalo Bills’ Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals that was subsequently canceled. Sharpe no-showed ‘Undisputed’ the next morning, but confronted Bayless when he returned.

‘There’s been a lot of speculation to why I wasn’t on air yesterday… Skip tweeted something… and hopefully Skip would take it down,’ Sharpe said, before Bayless interjected: ‘Timeout, I’m not gonna take it down, because I stand by what I tweeted.’ A clearly frustrated Sharpe responded, ‘I can’t even get through a monologue without you interrupting.’

Sharpe filmed his last show for ‘Undisputed’ in June 2023 after reaching a buyout with Fox Sports.

What’s next for Shannon Sharpe? Podcast empire

Sharpe has his podcast empire to keep him busy. Sharpe created ‘Club Shay Shay’ in 2020. After leaving FS1’s ‘Undisputed,’ Sharpe signed a media deal to partner with The Volume, Colin Cowherd’s digital podcast network in August 2023. ‘Club Shay Shay’ has amassed nearly 4M subscribers on YouTube and has featured many guests, including comedian Katt Williams and U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris. ‘Nightcap,’ a nighttime podcast Sharpe co-hosts with Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson, has over 1.7M subscribers since launching on September 2023.

Last week, Front Office Sports reported that Sharpe was nearing a new podcast deal that exceeds $100 million.

This story was edited to add new information and for editing.

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In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Judge Karen Caldwell ruled that the plaintiffs didn’t prove there were enough female students at or admitted to UK ‘actually able to compete at a varsity level.’
Social justice in sports expert and Ithaca College professor Ellen Staurowsky, Ed.D., thinks this lawsuit against UK could have serious implications for the future of Title IX.

A gender discrimination lawsuit against the University of Kentucky could have national implications after its latest filing was made to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday evening.

Former UK students Ala Hassan and Lisa Niblock filed a federal lawsuit in 2019 alleging the school violated Title IX by not providing equal opportunities for women to participate in varsity sports. Last fall, U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell ruled in the Eastern District of Kentucky that the university was not in violation of the gender-equity law. Iowa-based attorney Lori Bullock filed a notice of appeal to the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in February, and UK’s lawyers submitted their appellee’s brief Thursday, according to online court records.

In an appellee’s brief, the defendants are tasked with outlining why the lower court’s decision should stand. They asserted that 46-year-old guidance handed down by the U.S. Department of Education regarding Title IX compliance, otherwise known as the three-part test, ‘is not entitled to judicial deference, contradicts the statutory text, and conflicts with the regulations, it should have no applicability to this case.’ Should the court decide the 1979 policy interpretation applies to this case, however, UK argues that it still complies with Title IX.

If the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decides to throw out the three-part test, it could devastate the anti-discrimination law.

‘In this climate, I think these kinds of decisions, the potential impact of them is quite serious,’ Ellen Staurowsky, Ed.D., Ithaca College professor and social justice in sports expert, told The Courier Journal. ‘If we put that together with the reductions in workforce with the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Education, the emphasis that’s being made on speeding up reviews, the Trump administration is talking that language. …

‘So the potential implications of this are big.’

Bullock did not immediately respond to request for comment. UK spokesperson Jay Blanton said the university would ‘let the brief speak for itself.’

What is the three-part test?

Under the Department of Education’s three-part test, a school can be in compliance with the participation aspects of Title IX in any one of the following ways:

— The number of male and female athletes is substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments; or

— The institution has a history and continuing practice of expanding participation opportunities responsive to the developing interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex; or

— The institution is fully and effectively accommodating the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex.

UK’s legal counsel tried multiple times during the lower court proceedings to have the three-part test thrown out. Lawyers most recently cited a Supreme Court ruling from June between Loper Bright Enterprises and Raimondo, which is also cited in Thursday’s brief. The decision made in favor of Loper Bright overturned a 40-year precedent known as “the Chevron doctrine” directing courts to defer to government agency interpretations of ‘ambiguous’ laws. 

How was the three-part test previously applied to this case?

Caldwell declined to discard the three-part test in the Eastern District of Kentucky but ultimately ruled in UK’s favor. It is unclear whether the Loper Bright case can be applied to the Department of Education and the Office of Civil Rights’ guidance on Title IX. Staurowsky told The Courier Journal that ‘the question would be did (the Department of Education and Office for Civil Rights) exceed its authority in issuing the regulations as they are. I’m not sure how this is going to play out.’

It is also unclear whether a judge would be receptive to a precedent set after this particular lawsuit was filed in 2019.

In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Caldwell ruled that UK did not meet two parts of the three-part test used to measure participation opportunities in accordance with a 1979 interpretation of Title IX.

Caldwell wrote in her ruling that the plaintiffs had proven UK “does not provide females (sic) students with intercollegiate varsity participation opportunities in numbers substantially proportionate to their respective enrollment.” Women made up 58.9% of UK’s enrollment during the 2023-24 academic year. But less than 51% of UK’s varsity athletes participate in women’s sports, according to the school’s most recent NCAA financial report.

Caldwell also found UK didn’t prove “either a history or a continuing practice of program expansion that is demonstrably responsive to the developing interests and abilities of its female students,’ nor did it ‘present evidence of a plan of program expansion pursuant to which the committee regularly reviews multiple measures of developing interest and ability, like those reviewed for [STUNT], to expand its varsity participation opportunities for females.”

Ultimately, though, Caldwell ruled that the plaintiffs did not prove there were enough female students at or admitted to UK who are ‘actually able to compete at a varsity level in a sport and that there are enough of them to form a team.” She also wrote that the plaintiffs could not prove UK failed to address unmet student interest in the sports they argued it should add: women’s lacrosse, field hockey and/or equestrian.

Regarding student ability, Caldwell wrote that ‘neither the club lacrosse nor field hockey club teams has won any championships or otherwise obtained recognition for the skill level of the team or its individual players.” The equestrian team has won accolades at the club level (including a national championship in 2008), but most of the club’s team members “fall below the skill level required for a varsity team,’ Caldwell wrote.

How this lawsuit could have national impact on Title IX

Staurowsky has been following this case for a while. It raises fundamental questions about what Title IX compliance looks like half a century after the law’s passage in 1972. Staurowsky believes the plaintiffs effectively laid out how UK failed each prong of the three-part test — by a concerningly wide margin — in their initial complaint and appellee’s brief two months ago.

Regarding the assertion from UK (which it doubled down on in its latest filing) and Caldwell that club participation alone doesn’t translate to a full varsity team, Staurowsky said “no kidding.”

The standard, Staurowsky told The Courier Journal, isn’t supposed to be “plaintiffs deliver a varsity sport, and then we say, ‘You can have it.’” The standard, she added, is meant to focus on whether an institution is engaging in sex discrimination. Most Division I programs, regardless of sport, don’t recruit their campus anyway, instead looking nationwide (if not internationally) for talent.

“This determination that somehow the plaintiffs hadn’t met the burden of demonstrating whether or not they had enough viable candidates,” Staurowsky said, “I think the logic of that really, really should be challenged. And its potential impact would be considerable.” 

If the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals judge decides to do away with the three-part test, it could spell disaster for the anti-discrimination law. The three-part test has been used to evaluate Title IX compliance for nearly 50 years. Without it, Title IX could be rendered ineffective.

This comes while Title IX is seemingly under siege by various entities and government officials. 

The Trump administration recently announced its “Special Investigations Team” to speed up the process of Title IX investigations on the heels of halving the U.S. Department of Education’s staff and laying off at least 43% of the Office for Civil Rights. For years, politicians have used transgender women to fearmonger in the name of “protecting” women’s sports. And even as the NCAA seeks congressional intervention with NIL and revenue sharing, Staurowsky said, the governing body uses Title IX as a smokescreen to avoid labeling athletes as “employees.”

“These large pieces have slowly been getting put into place,” Staurowsky said, “in very damaging ways.”

Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.

No. 5 seed LA Clippers have taken control of the 2025 NBA playoffs first-round series, 2-1, after beating the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets. It was the first home playoff game for the Clippers at the Intuit Dome.

Kawhi Leonard produced a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds after shaking off a slow start in the 117-83 Western Conference Game 3 victory over the Nuggets.

James Harden added 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the winning effort for the Clippers while Norman Powell also added 20 points. 

Former MVP Nikola Jokic added a team-high 23 for the Nuggets. He also had 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Jamal Murray scored 23 points while former Clipper Russell Westbrook was held to just three points after shooting 1-for-5 from the field (all attempts from the three-point line).

USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from Game 3 between the Nuggets and Clippers:

Clippers vs. Nuggets third quarter update

The Clippers took a 90-70 lead entering the fourth quarter.

James Harden and Norman Powell each scored 20 points through the first three quarters of play while Kawhi Leonard added 14 points and nine rebounds. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 21 points and Nikola Jokić had 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Clippers vs. Nuggets halftime update

After taking its first lead of the game late in the first quarter, the Clippers held on to their lead throughout the first half. The Clippers lead the Nuggets 63-47 at halftime.

James Harden led the Clippers with 20 points, four assists and three rebounds. Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray each have 13 points for the Nuggets.

James Harden stats

James Harden leads the Clippers with 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes of play against the Nuggets.

Kawaii Leonard stats

Kawhi Leonard produced a double-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes of play for the Clippers.

Clippers vs. Nuggets first quarter update

Aaron Gordon has scored 11 of the Nuggets’ first 20 points with 7:01 left in the first quarter against the Clippers, but was a non-factor for the rest of the quarter.

James Harden led the Clippers with 13 points while Kawhi Leonard was limited to five points in the period.

The Nuggets led the Clippers for the first 10:30 of the quarter before Harden gave L.A. the 29-28 lead. The Clippers pulled away with a 35-28 lead after Harden and Nicolas Batum scored back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute..

Clippers’ starting lineup vs. Nuggets in Game 3

Norman Powell
Kawhi Leonard
Ivica Zubac
Kris Dunn
James Harden

Nuggets’ starting lineup vs. Clippers in Game 3

Michael Porter Jr.
Aaron Gordon
Nikola Jokić
Christian Braun                                                                     
Jamal Murray

Clippers-only fan section ready to horse around

Members of the Wall, which is the Clippers-only fan section called the Intuit Dome, found a horse mask at their seats to wear before the game. Nuggets star Nikola Jokić is known to have a love and passion for horses and harness racing.

What time is Nuggets vs. Clippers?

Game 3 of the NBA playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers is at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 24.

How to watch Nuggets vs. Clippers: Time, TV, streaming info

Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Stream: Fubo
Location: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, CA)

Watch Nuggets vs. Clippers with a free trial of Fubo

Aaron Gordon stats

Aaron Gordon averaged 14.7 points in the regular season, shooting 53.1% from the field and a career-high 43.6% from three in 51 games (42 starts). He also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Through two games in the 2025 NBA playoffs, Gordon is averaging 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist.

Michael Porter Jr. will play in Game 3

Porter is officially a go for Game 3. He’s coming off a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double performance in Denver’s Game 2 loss on Monday, following a mere three points in the team’s Game 1 win on Saturday.

Will Michael Porter Jr. play in Game 3?

Michael Porter Jr. is listed as questionable for Game 3 on Thursday due to a left shoulder sprain. Porter suffered the injury during the closing minutes of Denver’s 105-102 loss to the Clippers in Game 2 on Monday. He dove for a loose ball and the Clippers’ Kris Dunn fell on him while attempting to do the same. Following the game, Porter said he “never felt a pain like this” and noted that he suffered a “joint sprain.”

On Wednesday, interim head coach David Adelman said he’s ‘very optimistic’ Porter will suit up on Thursday. ‘I don’t think he gets enough credit for how tough he is and what he’s played through over these years. His pain threshold is something that people don’t understand, don’t get, that he deals with all year long…If Mike can play he will.’

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The defending champion Florida Panthers have a 2-0 lead in their first-round series, but it comes with a cost.

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was knocked out of Thursday’s game when he was hit hard by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel midway through the third period. He went to the dressing room and didn’t return.

Barkov wasn’t near the puck so Hagel was called for interference. He received five minutes, which was upheld on review, though not a game misconduct. The Lightning killed the penalty but it hurt them because they were trying to tie the game.

Instead, they lost 2-0 on a Nate Schmidt first-period goal and a Sam Bennett empty netter. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves. Florida has won both games on the road.

Coach Paul Maurice had no update on Barkov after the game, per reporters.

Barkov, who had two assists in the series opener, is one of the Panthers’ top scorers. He also has won the Selke Trophy twice as the NHL’s top defensive forward.

The Panthers next play Saturday at home in Game 3. They’ll get back defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has finished serving a 20-game PED suspension.

Either the Panthers or the Lightning has reached the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last five playoffs.

Maple Leafs 3, Senators (OT)

Simon Benoit scored at 1:19 of overtime to give the Maple Leafs a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven series against the Senators.

Benoit, who assisted on Max Domi’s Game 2 overtime goal, scored on a shot from the point after an Auston Matthews faceoff win.

If the Maple Leafs win Saturday in Ottawa, it would be their second playoff series win since 2004 and their first sweep since 2001 (vs. the Senators).

Wild 5, Golden Knights 2

Kirill Kaprizov had his second consecutive two-goal game as the Wild took a 2-1 lead in their series against the Golden Knights.

Blues 7, Jets 2

Pavel Buchnevich had a hat trick and Robert Thomas had four assists as the Blues cut their series deficit to 2-1. On his first goal, Buchnevich kicked the puck toward the net but batted it out the air with his stick before it crossed the goal line. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was pulled after giving up six goals on 25 shots.

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The Golden State Warriors are hoping two days of rest will enable guard Jimmy Butler to return to the lineup for Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

Butler left Wednesday’s game late in the first quarter and did not return after being undercut on a rebound attempt and landing hard on his tailbone.

Butler was diagnosed with a bruised glute muscle after an MRI on Thursday, but the test showed no structural damage, a person familiar with Butler’s injury told USA TODAY Sports. The person was not authorized to speak publicly on the test results.

Butler wants to play in Game 3 on Saturday, but probably will be listed as questionable on the Warriors’ injury report, the person said.

After the foul by Houston’s Amen Thompson, Butler got up gingerly and limped to the free throw line. He converted one of two foul shots, then left the game and headed straight to the locker room.

‘Hopefully, he’s OK,’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. ‘We’ll see. … Jimmy always says he’s going to be fine. But we have to wait and see with the MRI.”

Jimmy Butler status will impact Game 3

Butler was acquired in February from the Miami Heat to give the Warriors a veteran presence with playoff experience, as well as give Stephen Curry some scoring and playmaking support. Butler also is a key defensive cog and, at 35, was expected to give the Warriors a final piece in what could be their last, best run at another NBA title with this group.

However, Kerr said that if Butler is ruled out for Game 3, ‘we’ll have to rethink everything.”

The series, tied at one game apiece, resumes Saturday in San Francisco.

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It didn’t take long for the first trade to happen in the first draft (since 2002) that all 32 teams held their own original first-round pick.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a bold move up to No. 2 to select 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, trading up into the spot originally held by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns, meanwhile, received the No. 5 overall selection, which they used on Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. The Browns also received a 2025 second-rounder, a 2025 fourth-rounder, as well as a 2026 first-round pick.

The first round then went 23 selections without a trade, until the New York Giants traded back into Round 1 to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Giants surrendered two 2025 second-day picks and a 2026 third-rounder in order to move up.

➤ Draft tracker: Round 1 

Here are details for all of the noteworthy trades executed before and during the 2025 NFL Draft:

Eagles move up one spot in Round 1 for Jihaad Campbell

2025 first-round pick (No. 31): Jihaad Campbell

2025 first-round pick (No. 32): Josh Simmons
2025 fifth-round pick (No. 164)

Falcons trade up to double-down on defense

2025 first-round pick (No. 26): James Pearce, Jr.
2025 third-round pick (No. 101)

2025 second-round pick (No. 46)
2025 seventh-round pick (No. 242)
2026 first-round pick

Giants trade back into first round for Jaxson Dart

2025 first-round pick (No. 25): Jaxson Dart

2025 second-round pick (No. 34)
2025 third-round pick (No. 99)
2026 third-round pick

Jaguars trade up with Browns to pick Travis Hunter

2025 first-round pick (No. 2): Travis Hunter
2025 fourth-round pick (No. 104)
2025 sixth-round pick (No. 200)

2025 first-round pick (No. 5): Mason Graham
2025 second-round (No. 36)
2025 fourth-round (No. 126)
2026 first-round pick

Browns, Texans swap late-round picks in draft-day trade

2025 fifth-round pick (No. 166):
2027 fifth-round pick

2025 sixth-round pick (No. 179)
2025 sixth-round pick (No. 216)
2025 seventh-round pick (No. 255)

Finally a wrap on Panthers and Bears, Bryce Young and Caleb Williams 2023 trade?

WR DJ Moore
2023 first-round pick (No. 9): Traded to Philadelphia Eagles
2023 second-round pick (No. 61): Traded to Jacksonville Jaguars
2024 first-round pick (No. 1): Caleb Williams
2025 second-round pick (No. 39)

2023 first-round pick (No. 1): Bryce Young