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151st Run for the Roses: Who are the top contenders for Kentucky Derby?

The top contenders for the 151st Kentucky Derby are awaiting the post-position draw Saturday, April 26 at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Derby features the top 20 point earners on the leaderboard. Japan and Europe-Middle East have their own ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby,’ which allows one horse from each region to secure a spot in the Run for the Roses.

Here are the top 5 Kentucky Derby contenders as of Monday, April 21:

Five contenders for 151st Kentucky Derby

Burnham Square

Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Road to Derby points: 130
Prep race results: Blue Grass Stakes (1st), Holy Bull Stakes (1st) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (4th)
Career earnings: $977,755
Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 15-1

Sandman

Owners: D.J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Road to Derby points: 129
Prep race results: Arkansas Derby (1st), Southwest Stakes (2nd), Rebel Stakes (3rd), 2024 Street Sense Stakes (3rd) and Iroquois Stakes (5th)
Career earnings: $1,254,595
Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 8-1

Journalism

Owners: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Robert LaPenta
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Road to Derby points: 122.5
Prep race results: Santa Anita Derby (1st), San Felipe Stakes (1st), 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity (1st)
Career earnings: $638,880
Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 3-1

Rodriguez

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Road to Derby points: 121.25
Prep race results: Wood Memorial Stakes (1st), Robert B. Lewis Stakes (2nd) and San Felipe Stakes (3rd)
Career earnings: $522,800
Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 10-1

Tiztastic

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Mrs. John (Susan) Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Road to Derby points: 119
Prep race results: Louisiana Derby (1st), 2024 Street Sense Stakes (2nd), Southwest Stakes (3rd), 2024 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (3rd) and Rebel Stakes (5th)
Career earnings: $1,549,800
Kentucky Derby odds, futures: 20-1

How to watch 2025 Kentucky Derby

Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.

The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.

You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.

What time is the Kentucky Derby?

Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.  

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story atpstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.

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GOP lawmaker touts $19M Trump tariff success story in her district: ‘New model for American manufacturing’

An Indiana lawmaker is celebrating an American bicycle company opening a new manufacturing plant in her district after President Donald Trump launched his aggressive tariff campaign against China.

Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital that Guardian Bikes is starting with a new $19 million investment in Seymour, Indiana to expand their operations there – which she said will create new local jobs.

‘The number of job opportunities that are available, the investment right here in southern Indiana, that’s money that’s staying right here at home and not going outside the country. And certainly away from China,’ Houchin said in her first interview on the topic.

The Indiana Republican, now in her second term, said she first visited Guardian Bikes shortly after being elected to Congress. At the time, they had just 16 employees, she said.

‘At the time, they talked to us about their desire to become a 100% made in the USA bicycle factory,’ Houchin said. ‘Currently, over 97% of bicycles are made outside of the United States. Many are assembled in the United States, but their component parts mostly come from China.’

Guardian Bikes specifically relied on Chinese imports for 70% of its production, she said.

After Trump’s election in November 2024, however, she said ‘they have been slowly working toward being 100% made in the USA.’

‘They just announced $19 million in financing with JPMorgan Chase to launch the first large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in the United States,’ Houchin said. ‘This has been made possible by President Trump’s trade policies…it’s just pretty incredible that we have a president right now that is focused so much…on creating a level playing field for American companies.’

Houchin said the company is aiming to increase its ‘mass market’ bicycles manufactured in the U.S. from 100,000 to over 1 million.

‘That’s just very, very exciting,’ she said.

Guardian Bikes also currently has locations in California and Pennsylvania, with two more expected in Texas and Georgia this year, according to the company’s website.

The site also touts the company’s plans to manufacture its bike frames in Indiana, and vows to be ‘rapidly’ moving toward being made entirely within the United States.

‘We brought Guardian Bikes production to the U.S., because we believe the future of manufacturing is local, fast, and data-driven. Indiana, and specifically Seymour, offers the perfect combination of workforce, infrastructure, and proximity to our customer base,’ Guardian Bikes CEO Brian Riley told Fox News Digital. ‘It’s not just about making bikes – it’s about building a new model for American manufacturing.’

It comes as critics of Trump’s sweeping tariff plans have accused him of upending the global economy.

Supporters of the plan, however, have hailed it as both a potent negotiating strategy and a long-needed solution to jobs moving overseas.

A cornerstone of Trump’s policy has been a 10% tariff on all imports to the U.S. Plans for additional reciprocal tariffs, which Trump announced earlier this month, were dropped against countries that have not retaliated against the U.S.

However, Trump has levied a massive 145% base tariff across all of Beijing’s exports in a bid to crack down on the U.S.’s growing reliance on Chinese manufacturing.

When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, White House spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News Digital, ‘Trillions in historic investment commitments from industry leaders – now including Guardian Bikes – since Election Day only reinforces what President Trump has been saying all along: if you make your product in America, you don’t have to worry about tariffs.’

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JD Vance champions ‘roadmap’ toward US-India trade deal, says partnership critical to deterring ‘dark time’

Vice President JD Vance touted progress made toward a U.S.-India trade deal on Tuesday, saying a partnership between the Trump administration and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would ensure a 21st century that’s ‘prosperous and peaceful.’ 

Speaking in the northwestern Indian city of Jaipur, Vance also warned of ‘dire’ consequences in the Indo-Pacific and a ‘dark time’ for the world should the partnership between the U.S. and India fail. 

‘Critics have attacked my president, President Trump, for starting a trade war in an effort to bring back the jobs of the past, but nothing could be further from the truth,’ Vance said, referring to Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and commitment to revitalize U.S. manufacturing. ‘He seeks to rebalance global trade so that America, with friends like India, can build a future worth having for all of our people together.’ 

President Donald Trump and Modi announced in February that the U.S. and India aim to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by the end of the decade. 

‘Both of our governments are hard at work on a trade agreement built on shared priorities, like creating new jobs, building durable supply chains and achieving prosperity for our workers,’ Vance said on Tuesday. ‘In our meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Modi and I made very good progress on all of those points, and we’re especially excited to formally announce that America and India have officially finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiations. I think this is a vital step toward realizing President Trump and Prime Minister Modi’s vision because it sets a roadmap toward a final deal between our nations. I believe there is much America and India can accomplish together.’ 

Vance noted that his trip to India was the first time he had visited the birthplace of the parents of his wife, Usha Vance. The vice president, the second lady and their three children visited Modi for dinner on Monday. 

In his speech Tuesday, Vance said his children have only built a rapport with two world leaders – Trump and Modi, who the second family first met in February at the AI Action Summit in Paris. 

‘Our kids just like him,’ Vance said, arguing that children are ‘brutally honest’ and typically good judges of character. ‘I just like Prime Minister Modi too. And I think it’s a great foundation for the future of our relationship.’ 

‘President Trump and I know that Prime Minister Modi is a tough negotiator. He drives a hard bargain. It’s one of the reasons why we respect him. And we don’t blame Prime Minister Modi for fighting for India’s industry,’ Vance said. ‘But we do blame American leaders of the past for failing to do the same for our workers. And we believe that we can fix that to the mutual benefit of both the United States and India.’ 

Vance appeared to reference China – though not directly – in addressing the high-stakes nature of trade negotiations between the U.S. and India. 

‘This audience knows better than most: neither Americans nor Indians are alone and looking to scale up their manufacturing capacity,’ Vance said. ‘The competition extends well beyond cheap consumer goods and into munitions, energy infrastructure and all sorts of other cutting-edge technologies. I believe that if our nations fail to keep pace, the consequences for the Indo-Pacific, but really the consequences for the entire world will be quite dire.’ 

‘We believe a stronger India means greater economic prosperity. But also greater stability across the Indo-Pacific, which is, of course, a shared goal for all of us in this room,’ the vice president continued. ‘I believe that if India and the United States work together successfully, we are going to see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful. But I also believe that if we fail to work together successfully, the 21st century could be a very dark time for all of humanity.’ 

In the past, Vance argued, Washington has approached Modi with an ‘attitude of preachiness or even one of condescension,’ using India ‘as a source of low-cost labor’ while criticizing the prime minister’s government. 

Vance said the Trump administration recognizes that’cheap, dependable energy is an essential part of making things and is an essential part of economic independence for both of our nations.’ He said America isblessed with vast natural resources and an unusual capacity to generate energy,’ arguing that India would benefit from purchasing expanding U.S. energy exports by being able ‘to build more, make more, and grow more, but at much lower energy costs.’

‘We also want to help India explore its own considerable natural resources, including its offshore natural gas reserves and critical mineral supplies,’ he said. ‘We believe that American energy can help realize India’s nuclear power production goals, and this is very important as well as its AI ambitions, because as the United States knows well, and I know that India knows well there is no AI future without energy security and energy dominance.’ 

‘Americans want further access to Indian markets. This is a great place to do business, and we want to give our people more access to this country,’ Vance said. ‘And Indians, we believe, will thrive from greater commerce in the United States. This is very much a win-win partnership. It certainly will be far into the future.’ 

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Supreme Court to hear case on LGBTQ-themed storybooks and parents’ right to opt out

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a closely watched case that could reshape the role of parental rights and religious freedom in public education. 

At issue is whether a Maryland school district violated the First Amendment by requiring elementary school students to engage with LGBTQ+ storybooks that include topics about gender transitions and same-sex relationships, without allowing parents to opt out. 

The policy was implemented to disrupt ‘cisnormativity’ and promote inclusivity, according to Supreme Court documents. Initially, the school allowed parents to opt their children out of these lessons, but later reversed this decision, eliminating the opt-out option and not notifying parents when such content was being taught.

Parents, supported by religious freedom organizations, argue that this policy infringes upon their First Amendment rights by compelling their children to engage in instruction that contradicts their religious beliefs. The Fourth Circuit Court, a federal appeals court, ruled last year that there was no violation of religious exercise rights, stating that the policy did not force parents to change their religious beliefs or conduct and that parents could still teach their children outside of school.

Thomas More Society attorney Michael McHale told Fox News Digital in a previous interview that ‘while there is an opt-out statute in state law, the school initially abided by it.’

‘The school decided to yank the opt-out exception, so to speak, and it really triggered the issue of whether the Constitution requires an opt-out in that circumstance,’ McHale said. 

‘For the Fourth Circuit to say there was no religious burden, it really seems radical, and given how pressing that issue of school curriculum on sexual orientation, gender identity is, I think it raises an issue worth the Supreme Court’s attention,’ he said.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders related to gender policies in federal institutions. McHale said these actions could reduce legal conflicts involving religious rights, such as disputes over whether teachers must use students’ preferred pronouns in schools.

Mahmoud v. Taylor is one of three major religious cases the Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for this year.  

Earlier this month, the high court heard a case brought by a Wisconsin-based Catholic charity group’s bid for tax relief, which could alter the current eligibility requirements for religious tax exemptions. 

At issue in that case is whether the Wisconsin branch of Catholic Charities, a social services organization affiliated with Catholic dioceses across the country, can successfully contest the state’s high court determination that it is ineligible for a religious tax exemption because it is not ‘operated primarily for religious purposes.’

The third case is about whether a Catholic online school can become the first religious charter school in the U.S. 

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Pistons’ culture shifts with playoff road win. What will they do next?

NEW YORK — The last time the Detroit Pistons won a playoff game, the Seattle SuperSonics were a month from selecting Russell Westbrook with the No. 4 overall pick of the NBA draft. Apple was still months from releasing the iPhone 3G — the successor to the original model.

In fact, since May 26, 2008, the date of Detroit’s last postseason victory, the Boston Celtics have won an NBA-most 126 playoff games.

On Monday night, facing the possibility of a second consecutive blown fourth-quarter lead, the Pistons finally snapped a 15-game postseason losing streak to even their first-round series against the New York Knicks. They won 100-94. And in the process, Detroit also surpassed another benchmark, another indicator that its culture is being reset.

“We did what we were supposed to do,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters after the game. “To win a game, on the road, to get home court is what we came here for. We approached it with a business-like mentality and learned from the fourth quarter the other night, but we just did what we were supposed to do.”

This season, Detroit posted a 30-win improvement over last year, the sixth-best turnaround in NBA history. The team has a burgeoning supernova in Cade Cunningham, a 23-year-old, first-time All-Star who dropped 33 points and 12 rebounds — 11 of them defensive — Monday at Madison Square Garden. The Pistons play team defense and hounded the Knicks along the perimeter, forcing them to miss their first eight 3-point tries.

And through the first two games of this series — even with Saturday night’s blown lead — the young Pistons showed they’re already ahead of their rebuild.

“We wanted to send a message,” forward Tobias Harris said after the game. “We were disappointed after Game 1 with what happened there, so we wanted to come out tonight and figure out ways that we could be better. … Our message was for us, internally, to show that we could close. Tonight was a great night for that. That type of feeling and that type of energy — we have a team that’s new and new to this feeling. We needed to understand how to close out a game in the playoffs.”

Just like they did Saturday night, the Pistons entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead. And also like Saturday, New York responded with a fury, tying the score at 94 with 1:15 left.

But point guard Dennis Schröder scored 20 points off the bench, none bigger than his go-ahead 3-pointer that was the eventual game winner.

The question now is whether Monday will be merely a culture-shifting victory, or one the Pistons can ride to a series upset.

Some of the coaching adjustments Bickerstaff and his assistants made before Game 2 suggest that Detroit could continue to find ways to attack New York’s defense. After the Knicks dictated the physicality with which they defended Cunningham in Game 1, the Pistons asked Cunningham in Game 2 to push the pace and get easier opportunities in transition. When asked about the shift, Bickerstaff did not divulge much, saying only that the Pistons “saw something” from game film that they thought they could exploit.

“He’s elite,” Bickerstaff said. “He is a superstar, and he played the game tonight as a superstar. He did what he needed to do to help his team win. He understood how aggressive he needed to be on the offensive end of the floor. So he was going to go out and be aggressive.

“He also understood how important finishing possessions was. He had 11 defensive rebounds; that’s knowing and understanding how to manipulate the game and make winning plays, whatever your team needs in the moment.”

The Pistons also moved center Jalen Duren to guard the shorter Josh Hart, reducing his impact on the offensive glass, an area where Hart can spark New York with high-energy plays. That left Harris to guard Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, a player with range who can stretch the floor; Towns took just three shots in the second half, did not score after intermission and finished with 10 points.

The Knicks, however, are also well-coached. They’re loaded with offensive firepower and will surely make their own adjustments ahead of Game 3 Thursday night in Detroit. The next test for the Pistons will be to anticipate any tweaks and devise their own — to avoid stagnation and retain homecourt advantage.

“It’s a great feeling, man,” Cunningham said. “It feels good to represent the city like we did tonight. It’s something that the city has been waiting on a long time, so we feel good about it and we’re ready to go back to the crib and perform in front of them.”

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The long line of the papacy: Francis’ death renews focus on the church’s most powerful figures

There have been 266 papal leaders of the Catholic Church since Jesus Christ’s death in the AD 30s through Pope Francis – Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who died on Easter Monday at 88.

The most prominent pope is considered to be St. Peter, the first holder of the title.

Christ had appointed him the inaugural Bishop of Rome, and the papal church – St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City – is named in his honor.

St. Peter’s writings to persecuted people in the Asia Minor region are also chronicled in the New Testament’s epistles.

Peter reportedly died around 64 and was succeeded by Pope Linus.

In the present day, there is wide agreement across the Catholic world that one of the most recent popes, John Paul II, deserves to be in consideration as the most influential pontiff.

John Paul II was also the first non-Italian pope since Pope Adrian in the 1500s. Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, John Paul’s lengthy three decades in the Vatican were marked with very prominent situations for the Catholic Church.

John Paul II oversaw the movement into the digital age, but he continued to be a prolific writer.

He revised the Canon Laws for the church, wrote more than a dozen encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, nearly 50 apostolic letters and several books, as chronicled by Father William Saunders in his cataloging of ‘great’ popes.

While Pope John Paul II has not officially been dubbed John Paul the Great, there is wide consensus that one day he will be.

John Paul notably held a Mass praying for God’s forgiveness for the past sins of the Catholic Church itself and made more than 100 state visits, which included engaging with non-Christians, Saunders wrote in Catholic Answers.

One of those visits featured the pope offering Mass to 80,000 people at Yankees Stadium in The Bronx, New York in 1979.

Only a few popes – Leo I, Gregory I and Nicholas I – have been given the moniker ‘the great.’

In the 400s, Pope Leo met with Attila the Hun and prevented a siege of Rome, though the Vandals took it over later.

Pope Gregory I was the Catholic leader who in the late 500s stylized ‘Gregorian Chant’ – a tradition still present in many Catholic churches today.

Born wealthy, Gregory I later gave up his riches and moved into a monastery and aided the poor.

Gregory was considered the treasurer of Rome, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, which chronicles his efforts to prevent sieges from groups like the Lombards.

He also repaired Roman infrastructure, sought détente with the Lombards and Gauls and enforced government laws he personally disagreed with and protested against – explaining that he did his duty to obey [Emperor Maurice] while not ‘restrain[ing] what ought to be said on God’s behalf.’

Pope Nicholas became pontiff in the mid 800s. He notably urged against the attempt by a king to divorce his wife and marry another woman. He also believed the Holy See was the head of the Catholic Church and urged the ‘supremacy of Rome,’ according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Other popes may not have been monikered ‘the great’ but have had lasting impact on the world and society.

One such pontiff was Pope Gregory XIII. 

Purported miscalculations in the Julian calendar spurred Gregory XIII to decree a new calendar in 1582 – as the spring equinox had fallen back to early March over a span of 1,400 years.

On Oct. 4, 1582, Gregory XIII ordered the next day be considered Oct. 15, not Oct. 5 – therefore fixing the lunar discrepancy. By the end of the 16th century, most Western lands had come around to following the new ‘Gregorian calendar.’

Another historically influential pontiff was Pope Innocent III. Around 1200, Innocent III launched several ‘Crusades’ against Muslim-held lands in what is now France, Spain and Portugal, as well as an effort to take back the historic Holy Land near today’s Israel and Jordan.

He also extended his power into personal affairs, ordering King Philip of France to return to his separated wife.

The most recent pope, Francis, was considered influential in that he was one of few to delve more into the political sphere than past pontiffs.

In 2015, Francis published the first papal encyclical to be focused on the environment: Laudato Si.

Among its repercussions, it helped foreshadow that year’s U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris, which led to a global warming treaty between 196 countries, according to Vatican News.

He was also known for his critiques on Western market capitalism, once calling the ‘unfettered pursuit of money’ the ‘dung of the devil’ during a speech.

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Chipotle to expand to Mexico amid Trump trade war with U.S. neighbor

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its first location in Mexico early next year as the latest stage in its international expansion.

The company announced Monday that it has signed a development agreement with Alsea, which operates Latin American and European locations of Starbucks, Domino’s Pizza and Burger King, among other chains.

After the initial restaurant opens in 2026, Chipotle plans to explore “additional expansion markets in the region,” which could mean broader Latin American development.

The deal to expand in Mexico comes as President Donald Trump wages a trade war with the country, straining the relationship between the two neighbors. Avocados from Mexico were originally subject to a 25% tariff until he paused new duties on goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. While Chipotle has diversified its avocado sourcing in recent years, it still imports about half of its avocados from Mexico.

In recent years, Chipotle has been trying to expand internationally, after decades focusing almost entirely on its U.S. business. The company operates 58 locations in Canada, 20 in the United Kingdom, six in France and two in Germany. Chipotle also currently has three restaurants in Kuwait and two in the United Arab Emirates through a deal with Alshaya Group.

Chipotle is betting that Mexico’s familiarity with its ingredients and appreciation for fresh food will win over consumers, according to a statement from Nate Lawton, Chipotle’s chief business development officer.

But U.S. interpretations of Mexican food don’t always resonate in the market; Yum Brands’ Taco Bell has twice attempted to expand into Mexico, but both efforts failed quickly.

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Jarrett Allen is Cavs’ Core Four cog. He’s also a huge bookworm.

Late in the NBA season at the end of a five-game West Coast trip, Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen had free time in Portland.

He did what he often does on the road: he sought a bookstore. This time, he stopped at Powell’s Books, the famous and massive city of books.

He first went to the rare books collection and then visited the sci-fi section.

“I have always wanted to visit the rare books room,” Allen told USA TODAY Sports. “That stuff was so intriguing to me when I went in there – books from the 1400s.”

Maybe it’s the Tattered Cover in Denver. Or right before the 81st game of the regular season while in New York, he visited The Strand, known for its “18 miles of books.”

He left with Martha Wells’ ‘All Systems Red.’ He’s also reading “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue,” by V.E. Schwab.

Allen said he is strictly a purveyor of physical books, no e-reading device.

“I want to have a big (library) collection when I get older. I keep all the books that I read, so I want to be able to look back and be like, ‘Oh, I remember when I read that back in 2017.’ That’s the fun in it for me.”

Jarrett Allen, defender of rims, support of bookstores and reader of books.

“I love basketball, but I think there’s only so much I can do in one day in any type of thing that I do,” Allen said. “My whole thing is if I’m able to step away from basketball and reset my brain, I can come back even stronger and give more of myself to basketball.”

It works for the 27-year-old Allen who is in his eighth NBA season.

A vital member of Cleveland’s Core Four along with Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, Allen averaged 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and nearly one steal and nearly one block and shot a career-high league-best 70.6% from the field this season. He also was instrumental in making Cleveland the No. 8 defense and No. 1 offense during the regular season.

He is one of seven players to register 70 steals and 70 blocks and recorded 40 double-doubles and contested 766 shots, which was third-best this season. Mobile at 6-9, Allen provides defensive versatility, guarding on the perimeter or in the paint.

In Cleveland’s Game 1 victory against Miami in their first-round Eastern Conference series, Allen had 12 points, 11 rebounds (six offensive), three steals and one block.

“The rap on Jarrett coming out of college was that he didn’t love basketball, and that scared some people away,” first-year Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters earlier this season. “That couldn’t be farther from the truth. He’s just got a lot of other interests. He’s an intellectual guy, a smart guy, reads a ton, plays all the video games. But you shouldn’t underestimate his toughness and grit. That’s growing. … Now that his physical strength has caught up to his agility and athleticism, you’re starting to see him in his prime.”

Allen played for Atkinson in Brooklyn and had an idea of what to expect including the prospect of playing fewer minutes per game during the regular season and utilizing depth.

Allen’s minutes decreased this season, but the Cavs won 64 games, the most a non-LeBron James Cavs squad has won in franchise history. They earned the No. 1 seed, three players made the All-Star team (Mobley, Garland, Mitchell) and multiple players are up for season-ending honors, including Ty Jerome for Sixth Man of the Year and Atkinson for Coach of the Year. Mobley, Garland and Mitchell are All-NBA possibilities.

“We all want to be a superstar, and I understand with my role, it’s not the most glorious,” Allen sad. “But I know I get the satisfaction from my team and my players and honestly everybody around the league that understands how my position helps the team win. Basically my job is to try to make things as easy as possible for guys like Darius, Donovan and Evan to be able to show their talents and their skills on the court.”

Allen gets his opportunities offensively and makes the most of them. He averaged just 7.8 shot attempts but made 5.5 in 2024-25. Allen, who played in all 82 games, was one of seven players to attempt fewer than eight shots per game with fewer than one 3-point attempt per game and still average double-figures in points.

Atkinson likes to create spacing with shooters on the perimeter which opens up driving lanes to the basket. But Allen is not a 3-point shooter. So, during the summer, he spent time with Texas Pro Academy, a basketball training and development center in Austin, Texas. Allen worked on positioning and where he can be most effective offensively.

Setting screens for Garland and Mitchell and cutting to the rim where he can catch passes for easy shots was part of the answer. He was 411-for-557 on shots at or near the rim, according to NBA shot chart data. Allen made 159 dunks, and Garland assisted on 30% of Allen’s made shots.

“I’ve been playing with these guys for about three years now, so we know each other’s tendencies very well,” Allen said. “I know how to set the right screen for Darius, I know how to set a different screen for Donovan. The longer you play with players like that, the easier things come naturally.”

Game 2 against Miami is Wednesday in Cleveland.

‘Just dial into all the things that made us great in the regular season,” Allen said. “It’s easier said than done. But we know that there was a time during the regular season when we played, we were unbeatable. We won 10 games in a row three times this season (including 15-0 to start the season). Just trying to find that success and replicating it early in the playoffs so we can get on a roll like that and have it carry us however far we’re going to go.’

Follow Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

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Clippers even up playoff series vs. Nuggets: Highlights

Two days after taking Game 1 into overtime, Game 2 nearly went to extra time as well. However, Nikola Jokic’s final-second 25-foot desperation shot attempt clanked off the board and the Los Angeles Clippers escaped with a 105-102 win over the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Monday night.

The series is evened up at a game apiece with the Clippers returning home to the friendly confines of Intuit Dome for Game 3 on Thursday (10 p.m. ET on NBA TV).

Game 2 was a thriller as the evenly matched Clippers and Nuggets played through 18 lead changes in a game that was tied 12 times. The Clippers prevailed thanks in large part to Kawhi Leonard, who scored a game-high 39 points on an impressive 15-for-19 shooting.

Jokic had a triple-double (26 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), but it wasn’t enough for the Nuggets.

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

Clippers vs. Nuggets score

Clippers 105, Nuggets 102 (final)

Clippers vs. Nuggets highlights

Kawhi Leonard stats

Minutes: 39
Points: 39
Rebounds: 3
Assists: 5
Steals: 2
Blocks: 1
Free throw percentage: 100% (5-5)
Field goal percentage: 78.9% (15-19)
3-point percentage: 57.1% (4-7)

Nikola Jokić stats

Minutes: 43
Points: 26
Rebounds: 12
Assists: 10
Steals: 3
Blocks: 0
Free throw percentage: 60% (6-10)
Field goal percentage: 50% (8-16)
3-point percentage: 50% (4-8)

Jamal Murray, Norman Powell get into kerfuffle

Emotions got hot midway through the third quarter, as the Nuggets’ Jamal Murray and the Clippers’ Norman Powell started a brouhaha that involved multiple players.

Murray was only assessed a common foul for his role in the shenanigans. Powell and Kris Dunn received technical fouls, as did the Nuggets’ Christian Braun, for their involvement in the pushing and shoving.

Two of the technical fouls offset each other, so the Nuggets got to shoot a free throw.

This series might get spicy.

Clippers vs. Nuggets halftime update

Kawhi Leonard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Clippers a 55-52 halftime lead in a game that is aiming to match the excitement of a Game 1 that was decided in overtime.

Leonard was on fire in the first half, scoring a game-high 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting (2-for-3 from 3-point range). James Harden and Ivica Zubac each pitched in 10 points apiece for the Clippers.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets in scoring in the first half with 12 points, as the Clippers held Nikola Jokic to eight points. Michael Porter Jr. added nine points for Denver.

What time is Nuggets vs. Clippers?

Game 2 of the NBA playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers is at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, April 21.

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

Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Ball Arena (Denver)
TV: TNT, truTV, Max
Stream: Max, Sling TV

Watch Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 2 with Sling TV

LA Clippers Game 2 starting lineup

PG James Harden
SG Kris Dunn
SF Norman Powell
PF Kawhi Leonard
C Ivica Zubac

Denver Nuggets Game 2 starting lineup

PG Jamal Murray
SG Christian Braun
SF Michael Porter Jr.
PF Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Jokić

Clippers vs. Nuggets NBA playoff schedule

Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets | Tonight, 10 p.m. ET | TNT
Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, April 24, 10 p.m. ET | NBA TV
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. ET | TNT
Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD*
Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*
Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*

Who is the Denver Nuggets coach?

David Adelman, who is the team’s interim coach after Michael Malone was fired last month.

Who is the LA Clippers coach?

Tyronn Lue, who has coached the team the previous five seasons.

What we learned from NBA playoffs Game 1s

The No. 1 seeds took care of business with not much of a worry, and stars – some new, some old – showed up as the NBA playoffs opened with eight Game 1s Saturday and Sunday.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Indiana’s Pascal Siakam, New York’s Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Boston’s Derrick White, Cleveland’s Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell all showed why they are All-Star caliber players.

And of course, several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, need to improve in Game 2. — Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY Sports

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Ovechkin’s career first lifts Capitals; Kings survive blown lead

Ovechkin, who recently broke Gretzky’s record for regular-season goals, had two goals and an assist as the Capitals downed the Montreal Canadiens at home 3-2 in overtime. He sealed the victory with his first career playoff overtime goal at 2:26 as the Capitals took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series.

That gave Ovechkin his 73rd and 74th career playoffs goals, moving him past Esa Tikkanen and tying him with Joe Pavelski for 13th overall in NHL history. Gretzky leads the way with 122 goals.

Ovechkin’s first goal was reminiscent of his record-breaking 895th career goal as he wristed in a power-play shot from his office in the left faceoff circle, this time past Montreal’s Sam Montembeault.

Anthony Beauvillier scored on a rebound of an Ovechkin shot in the second period, but Montreal tied the game in the third period on goals by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.

The Capitals struck quickly in overtime with Beauvillier feeding Ovechkin in front for the game-winner.

Capitals goalie Logan Thompson, returning from an April 2 upper-body injury, made 33 saves in the victory.

Los Angeles Kings 6, Edmonton Oilers 5

The Kings blew a 4-0 lead, but survived when Phillip Danault scored with 41.1 seconds left for a Game 1 victory.

Los Angeles jumped out to the four-goal lead, but Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl got a goal with six seconds left in the second period. The lead was cut to 5-3 and the Kings had the chance to put the game away when the Oilers unsuccessfully challenged a delay of game penalty against Jake Walman. The Oilers killed off the 5-on-3 disadvantage and got goals by Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid with their goalie pulled for an extra skater.

Danault’s shot knuckled past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner as the Kings broke up ice in the final minute for the winner. It was his second goal of the game.

Dallas Stars 4, Colorado Avalanche 3 (OT)

Colin Blackwell circled back to pick up his own rebound and ripped a shot past Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood at 17:46 of overtime to tie the series in Game 2.

The Stars ended an eight-game losing streak.

Winnipeg Jets 2, St. Louis Blues 1

Kyle Connor broke a tie early in the third period and Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg took a 2-0 series lead.

Jimmy Snuggerud score St. Louis’ goal late in the first period after he had helped knock in Scheifele’s goal.

Gabriel Landeskog sits again

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog will have to wait more before he plays his first NHL game in nearly three years.

He was activated from the injured list on Monday and took part in the pregame warmup but didn’t play Monday.

His last Avalanche game was in 2022 during their Stanley Cup championship clincher. He has been rehabbing from a serious knee injury that required a cartilage transplant.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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