Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in English Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.From Dan Woike: On the night Luka Doncic returned to Dallas, the Mavericks condensed his American basketball career into an emotion-filled two minutes full of game-winners, highlight passes and trick shots that helped connect the Slovenian star to the Texas city.As Doncic watched the footage, occasionally hiding his eyes behind a white tear-filled towel, one moment in particular stood out as most special.It was Game 2 of the 2024 Western Conference finals, his team down by two points, the final seconds ticking off the clock. Rudy Gobert, the league’s four-time defensive player of the year, stood out at the three-point line attempting to stop the inevitable from happening.Doncic, in one of the biggest moments of his career, moved Gobert to the left, to the right and then back toward the paint, opening a window for Doncic to make the big shot in the big moment.He celebrated with a scream, joy and anger combining for uncontainable passion and an image that’ll define Doncic.“I like big games,” Doncic said with a half-smirk on Thursday. “Playoffs is a fun time.”Continue reading here NBA insiders break down the Lakers-Timberwolves playoff series Enjoying this newsletter? Consider subscribing to the Los Angeles Times Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Become a subscriber. NBA PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE, RESULTSAll Times PacificPlay-in roundFridayMiami at Atlanta, 4 p.m., TNTwinner advances to playoffs as East No. 8 seedDallas at Memphis, 6:30 p.m., ESPNwinner advances to playoffs as West No. 8 seedFirst roundWestern ConferenceNo. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 MinnesotaSaturday at Lakers, 5:30 p.m., ABCTuesday at Lakers, 7 p.m., TNTFriday at Timberwolves, 6:30 p.m., ESPNSunday, April 27 at Timberwolves, 12:30 p.m., ABCWed., April 30 at Lakers, TBD*Friday, May 2 at Timberwolves, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at Lakers, TBD*No. 4 Denver vs. No. 5 ClippersSaturday at Nuggets, 12:30 p.m., ESPNMonday at Nuggets, 7 p.m., TNTThursday at Clippers, 7 p.m., NBA TVSaturday, April 26 at Clippers, 3 p.m., TNTTuesday, April 29 at Nuggets, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at Clippers, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Nuggets, TBD*No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 8 TBDSunday at Thunder, 10 a.m., ABCTuesday at Thunder, 4:30 p.m., TNTThursday at TBD, 6:30 p.m., TNTSaturday, April 26 at TBD, 12:30 p.m., TNTMonday, April 28 at Thunder, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at TBD, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Thunder, TBD*No. 2 Houston vs. No. 7 Golden StateSunday at Rockets, 6:30 p.m., TNTWednesday at Rockets, 6:30 p.m., TNTSaturday, April 26 at Warriors, 5:30 p.m., ABCMonday, April 28 at Warriors, 7 p.m., TNTWednesday, April 30 at Rockets, TBD*Friday, May 2 at Warriors, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at Rockets, TBD*Eastern ConferenceNo. 1 Cleveland vs. No. 8 TBDSunday at Cavaliers, 4 p.m., TNTWednesday at Cavaliers, 4:30 p.m., NBA TVSaturday, April 26 at TBD, 10 a.m., TNTMonday, April 28 at TBD, TBDWednesday, April 30 at Cavaliers, TBD*Friday, May 2 at TBD, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at Cavaliers, TBD*No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 OrlandoSunday at Celtics, 12:30 p.m., ABCWednesday at Celtics, 4 p.m., TNTFriday at Magic, 4 p.m., ESPNSunday, April 27 at Magic, 4 p.m., TNTTuesday, April 29 at Celtics, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at Magic, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Celtics, TBD*No. 3 New York vs. No. 6 DetroitSaturday at Knicks, 3 p.m., ESPNMonday at Knicks, 4:30 p.m., TNTThursday at Pistons, 4 p.m., TNTSunday, April 27 at Pistons, 10 a.m., ABCTuesday, April 29 at Knicks, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at Pistons, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Knicks, TBD*No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 5 MilwaukeeSaturday at Pacers, 10 a.m., ESPNTuesday at Pacers, 4 p.m., NBA TVFriday at Bucks, 5 p.m., ESPNU/NBA TVSunday, April 27 at Bucks, 6:30 p.m., TNTTuesday, April 29 at Pacers, TBD*Friday, May 2 at Bucks, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at Pacers, TBD** if necessaryDODGERSFrom Jack Harris: Shohei Ohtani is not publicly known, nor personally sees himself, as a quick starter at the plate.“Overall, in my career,” he said through interpreter Will Ireton, “I don’t really have a hot start in the beginning of the season.”This year, that’s technically true again — but only if you hold the reigning National League MVP to his own stratospheric standards.Through the opening three weeks, all of Ohtani’s triple-slash stats are down from last year (.288/.380/.550), but only because his 2024 marks (.310/.390/.646) all topped the NL. Same story with a .930 OPS that is more than 100 points lower than his gaudy 2024 total, but still good enough to rank top 20 in the majors.With six home runs and five stolen bases, Ohtani isn’t quite on mathematical pace for another 50-homer, 50-steal season; but is on an early track to become the first player in MLB history with multiple 40/40 campaigns.The only true area of regression so far has been in one statistical category; where a glaring drop in production has signaled a key early-season problem for the team.After racking up 130 RBIs in 159 games last year, Ohtani has just eight in this season’s opening 20 contests. Seven of them have come via his six home runs (all but one of which were solo shots). Not until Wednesday, when he returned to the plate in a seven-run first inning and knocked in Austin Barnes with an RBI single, did he record his first hit with a runner in scoring position.“Shohei’s in a good spot,” manager Dave Roberts said recently. “We just need to get some guys on base for him.”Continue reading here ANGELSKumar Rocker struck out a career-best eight in a career-long seven innings to earn his first MLB victory as the Texas Rangers beat the Angels 5-3 Thursday night to complete a three-game series sweep.Rocker (1-2) threw a career-high 78 pitches and allowed three runs on five hits without a walk as the Rangers extended their home winning streak to nine games. The 25-year-old right-hander was drafted third overall by Texas in 2022, a year after concerns over a physical led to him going unsigned by the New York Mets as the 10th overall pick. He made his big league debut in September and was 0-2 last season.Corey Seager hit his 100th homer with Texas. Robert Garcia earned his first major league save.The Angels lost their fourth straight game and scored four runs in the series. They head home having played 15 of their first 18 games on the road, matching a MLB high, most recently done by 1957 Chicago Cubs.Continue reading here Angels box score MLB scores MLB standings KINGSFrom Kevin Baxter: The Kings were playing for history Thursday and the Calgary Flames were playing for pride. Pride won, with Nazem Kadri scoring twice and and Sam Morton, Zayne Parekh and Mikael Backlund also scoring to give the Flames a 5-1 win in the final game of the NHL regular season.Taylor Ward, making his NHL debut, got the only Kings goal late in the third period, long after the outcome had been decided. The goals by Morton and Parekh also came in their first NHL games.The loss, the Kings’ first in five games, left them with 48 wins and 105 points for the season, matching the team record in both categories.Still, the Kings will enter their first-round playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday as the hottest team in the Western Conference, having won eight of their last 10. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played in Los Angeles on Wednesday before the series moves to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4.Continue reading here Kings summary NHL scores NHL standings NHL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE, RESULTSAll times PacificFirst roundWestern ConferencePacific 3 Edmonton vs. Pacific 2 KingsMonday at Kings, 7 p.m., ESPN2Wednesday at Kings, 7 p.m., TBSFriday at Oilers, 7 p.m., TNTSunday, April 27 at Oilers, 6:30 p.m., TBSTuesday, April 29 at Kings, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at Oilers, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Kings, TBD*Wild-card 2 St. Louis vs. Central 1 WinnipegSaturday at Jets, 3 p.m., TNTMonday at Jets, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2Thursday at Blues, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2Sunday, April 27 at Blues, 10 a.m., TBSWed., April 30 at Jets, TBD*Friday, May 2 at Blues, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at Jets, TBD*Central 3 Colorado vs. Central 2 DallasSaturday at Stars, 5:30 p.m., TNTMonday at Stars, 6:30 p.m., ESPNWednesday at Avalanche, 6:30 p.m., ESPNSaturday, April 26 at Avalanche, 6:30 p.m., TBSMonday, April 28 at Stars, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at Avalanche, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Stars, TBD*Wild-card 1 Minnesota vs. Pacific 1 VegasSunday at Golden Knights, 7 p.m., ESPNTuesday at Golden Knights, 8 p.m., ESPNThursday at Wild, 6 p.m., TBSSaturday, April 26 at Wild, 1 p.m., TBSTuesday, April 29 at Golden Knights, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at Wild, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Golden Knights, TBD*Eastern ConferenceWild-card 2 Ottawa vs. Atlantic 1 TorontoSunday at Maple Leafs, 4 p.m., ESPN2Tuesday at Maple Leafs, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2Thursday at Senators, 4 p.m., ESPN2Saturday, April 26 at Senators, 4 p.m., TBSTuesday, April 29 at Maple Leafs, TBD*Thursday, May 1 at Senators, TBD*Saturday, May 3 at Maple Leafs, TBD*Atlantic 3 Florida vs. Atlantic 2 Tampa BayTuesday at Lightning, 5:30 p.m., ESPNThursday at Lightning, 3:30 p.m., TBSSaturday, April 26 at Panthers, 10 a.m., TBSMonday, April 28 at Panthers, TBDWed., April 30 at Lightning, TBD*Friday, May 2 at Panthers, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at Lightning, TBD*Wild-card 2 Montreal vs. Metropolitan 1 WashingtonMonday at Capitals, 4 p.m., ESPNWednesday at Capitals, 4 p.m., ESPNFriday at Canadiens, 4 p.m., TNTSunday, April 27 at Canadiens, 3:30 p.m., TBSWed., April 30 at Capitals, TBD*Friday, May 2 at Canadiens, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at at Capitals, TBD*Metropolitan 3 New Jersey vs. Metropolitan 2 CarolinaSunday at Hurricanes, noon, ESPNTuesday at Hurricanes, p.m., ESPNFriday at Devils, 5 p.m., TBSSunday, April 27 at Devils, 12:30 p.m., TBSTuesday, April 29 at Hurricanes, TBD*Friday, May 2 at Devils, TBD*Sunday, May 4 at Hurricanes, TBD** If necessaryRAMSFrom Gary Klein: The Rams once again are on the move for the NFL draft.But for the first time in five years, coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead will not make their picks from a luxury home transformed into a Rams-centric draft house.The Rams will conduct the April 24-26 draft from the Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations headquarters in Van Nuys, the team announced Thursday.The facility will remain fully operational during the draft, the team said.“Drafting from LAFD Air Operations is a powerful reminder of what it means to represent Los Angeles,” Rams president Kevin Demoff said in a statement. “Since the wildfires devastated our region in January, we have looked to bring LA Together to help with the recovery efforts, raise the spirits of those impacted, and shine a light on our first responders. We are humbled to partner with LAFD during one of the NFL’s biggest moments to express gratitude for those who risk their lives daily to protect our city.”Continue reading here UCLA GYMNASTICSFrom Benjamin Royer: Jordan Chiles screamed in relief. Tears welled in her eyes as she stuck her uneven bars dismount.When it mattered most, the Olympic gold medalist delivered at the NCAA semifinals in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday night. She posted a score of 9.975 on the uneven bars to put her in position to win another title in the event as No. 5 UCLA held first heading into the final rotation, with less than two-tenths of a point separating four teams.Needing their beam routines to connect after Emily Lee posted a sub-9.70 score, the Bruins went to work. Led by senior Emma Malabuyo’s meet-high 9.975 beam score, UCLA outpaced top-seeded Louisiana State to secure the fourth and final spot in the NCAA championship final, finishing with an overall score of 197.5250.Continue reading here SPARKSFrom Anthony De Leon: At 13 years old, Sarah Ashlee Barker came close to losing her dream of becoming a WNBA player before it began.Barker was an eighth-grader when she was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, a condition that disrupts blood flow to a bone beneath joint cartilage, causing pain and limiting mobility.The condition in her left knee required surgery at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Doctors gave her a recovery timeline of nearly a year; but two months later, she received news that the procedure had been unsuccessful.To keep her basketball dreams alive, she would need a more invasive surgery, one that would last more than four hours.On Monday, Barker became the first of three draft picks in the new chapter of Sparks basketball under coach Lynne Roberts. A standout wing at Alabama, she was selected ninth overall after establishing herself as one of the Southeastern Conference’s best players.Continue reading here ANGEL CITYFrom Kevin Baxter: Angel City is naming Bayern Munich’s Alexander Straus its new manager, filling a job that has been vacant since Becki Tweed’s sacking in December.Straus will join the club on June 1, when his season in Germany ends. Straus, who joined Bayern in 2022, has led the team to a 54-2-7 record and can win his third straight Frauen-Bundesliga title with a win over Freiburg next weekend. He has also taken Bayern to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.Last year Straus, 49, signed a two-year contract extension with Bayern Munich that was set to run through 2026. Before coming to Germany he coached for five clubs and with the youth national teams in his native Norway, working with both men and women players.Continue reading here THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Jewey Smith in the fifth round in Paris to retain the world heavyweight title.1942 — Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-3 series win.1946 — Jackie Robinson debuts as 2nd baseman for the Montreal Royals.1959 — The Montreal Canadiens win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup with a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth game.1962 — Boston’s Bill Russell scores 30 points and grabs 40 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 110-107 overtime win over the Lakers and their fourth consecutive NBA title. Russell’s 40-rebound effort matches his NBA Finals record set on March 29, 1960.1966 — Bill Russell is named the coach of the Boston Celtics to become the first Black head coach of an NBA team.1967 — Rick Barry scores 55 points as the San Francisco Warriors beat Philadelphia, 130-124, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.1984 — Joan Benoit runs world record female marathon.1986 — Washington ends the game on a 18-0 run in the last 3 minutes, 49 seconds and wins it on a banked Dudley Bradley 3-pointer at the horn. The 76ers had a seemingly safe 94-77 lead, but do not score in the 3:39 in the opening game of the first-round of the NBA playoffs.1987 — Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt hits his 500th home run with two outs in the ninth to rally the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.1991 — John Stockton breaks his own NBA single-season assist record as the Utah Jazz rout the Seattle SuperSonics 130-103. Stockton’s 11 assists give him 1,136 for the season, two more than the record he set last season.1993 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: American Tom Wargo pars second playoff hole to beat Bruce Crampton of Australia and take his first and only major title.1995 — Quarterback Joe Montana announces his retirement from football.1998 — NFL Draft: Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning first pick by Indianapolis Colts.1999 — Wayne Gretzky ends his NHL career at Madison Square Garden with an assist, setting up a second-period goal as his New York Rangers fall to Pittsburgh 2-1 in overtime. Before the game, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces the league is retiring No. 99 in honor of “The Great One.”2001 — A.C. Green plays in his 1,192nd consecutive game, which remains the NBA record. His streak began on November 19, 1986.2007 — Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox faces the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 no-hit victory over the Texas Rangers. Buehrle walks Sammy Sosa with one out in the fifth, then promptly picks him off first base.2008 — NBA owners give approval of a potential Seattle SuperSonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City in a 28–2 vote by the Board of Governors.2017 — Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League.Compiled by the Associated Press Until next time… That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
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