Illinois standout guard Andrej Stojakovic said Friday he is returning to the Fighting Illini for the 2026-27 season.

Stojakovic posted the news on his Instagram account, asking, “Did I make you nervous?” In an attached video, he lowers a newspaper then lowers his sunglasses and says, “I’m back.”

His return is a crucial one for an Illini squad that reached the Final Four before losing to UConn. Illinois went 28-9 this season and figures to be among the top five ranked teams in next season’s preseason poll, depending how the transfer portal and NBA declarations shake out nationally in upcoming weeks.

The 6-foot-7 Stojakovic averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 34 games despite missing some time with an ankle injury.

It was his first season at Illinois after one-season stints with Stanford (2023-24) and Cal (2024-25). Stojakovic averaged 17.9 points in his one season with the Golden Bears before transferring again.

Stojakovic has career averages of 12.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 95 games (59 starts). He has made 95 3-pointers to go with 53 blocked shots and 49 steals.

–Field Level Media

A pair of NBA legends will square off once more when the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets face off in a first-round series starting Saturday in Los Angeles.

Kevin Durant led the Rockets to the No. 5 seed in his first season with the team, while LeBron James has helped guide the Lakers to the No. 4 seed. But Los Angeles will be without significant firepower.

Guards Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) could end up missing the series entirely after both were injured in a 139-96 blowout loss at Oklahoma City on April 2.

The situation will thrust James back to the forefront at age 41, while in his record 23rd NBA season. Even while starting the season with a sciatica injury, it did not appear as if James lost a step, with averages of 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games.

“He had not a good season, not a great (one), he had a remarkable season,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “All things considered, you take away the fact that he’s in his 23rd year and he’s 41 years old, he had a remarkable season.”

After three consecutive losses when Doncic and Reaves went down, the Lakers rebounded to win their final three games of the regular season to clinch the fourth seed. It was James who pulled the group together in a team meeting to make the late push.

“He’s very vocal,” the Lakers’ Rui Hachimura said. “… It’s big time for him.”

At age 37 and in his 18th season, Durant averaged 26.0 points with 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Perhaps most impressive of all was his 78 regular-season games played, his most since 2018-19.

“Of course, from the outside looking in, casual folks who are not in the life with us every day, yeah, the (playoff) matchup is definitely fun,” Durant said, according to The Sporting News. “Two great players who have been in the league for a long time, but everybody who’s involved in this series knows it’s much deeper than that.”

The rebounding total was Durant’s lowest since he was a rookie with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007-08, but staying out of the fray inside likely helped to keep him fresh. The Rockets had plenty of rebounding, leading the NBA at 48.1 per game and 15.0 on the offensive end.

“It’s the best rebounding team in the last 25 years,” James said, anticipating the challenge ahead.

And it might have been even better had Steven Adams not gone down with an ankle injury in January.

While scoring can be a challenge for the Rockets at times, the focus on extending possession with offensive rebounds has served them well. While the Lakers led the NBA at 50.2% shooting from the floor, the Rockets were 10th at 47.9% and 18th at 115.2 points per game.

Alperen Sengun was as much of an all-around threat as Durant with 20.4 points, to go along with team bests in rebounding (8.9) and assists (6.2). Sengun’s passing ability helped to make up for the loss of Fred VanVleet, who tore his ACL in the preseason.

Amen Thompson added 18.3 points with 7.8 rebounds and Jabari Smith Jr. had 15.8 points with 6.9 rebounds.

Houston closed out the regular season by winning nine of its last 10 games, but it lost twice to the Minnesota Timberwolves since March 25 and dropped consecutive games to the Lakers in March at home.

–Field Level Media

Chris Sale worked seven strong innings and Mauricio Dubon provided a two-run single to lift the visiting Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

Sale (4-1) struck out seven and walked only one, giving up just one run and five hits. Austin Riley, Jonah Heim and Ozzie Albies each had two hits as Atlanta won for the eighth time in 10 games.

The Braves will look to complete a three-game sweep Sunday in the finale with the scuffling Phillies, who have dropped eight of 10. Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sanchez (2-2) gave up three unearned runs in six innings, yielding eight hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.

The game began in exciting fashion, as Ronald Acuna Jr. sent a blast to deep center, only to watch Brandon Marsh leap at the wall to rob a home run. In the second, Philadelphia’s Felix Reyes launched Sale’s 2-0 fastball over the wall in right field for a home run in his first major league at-bat. However, that was the only offensive highlight for the hosts.

Diamondbacks 6, Blue Jays 2

Corbin Carroll broke a tie with an opposite-field grand slam in the eighth inning and Arizona extended its winning streak to four games with a victory over Toronto in Phoenix.

Ildemaro Vargas singled off Jeff Hoffman (1-2) to open the eighth, extending his season-opening hitting streak to a franchise-record 14 games. Alek Thomas singled and Ketel Marte walked to bring up Carroll, who hit his fourth career slam on a 3-1 fastball. The D-backs, who have won eight of 10, lead the majors with 10 comeback victories.

Nathan Lukes had three hits, Kazuma Okamoto had two hits and an RBI and Ernie Clement and Eloy Jimenez had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who have lost four straight, six of seven and 12 of 15.

Yankees 13, Royals 4

Cody Bellinger homered twice and collected five RBIs as the New York Yankees easily recorded a victory over visiting Kansas City.

Amed Rosario hit a two-run homer and Ben Rice hit a solo shot during a five-run third. New York’s Will Warren (2-0) allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. The right-hander matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts and walked none.

The Royals dropped their sixth straight and were blanked until Carter Jensen hit a two-run homer in the seventh. Michael Massey added a two-run double in the ninth. Noah Cameron (1-1) was shelled for a career-worst seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in four innings.

Athletics 7, White Sox 6 (11 innings)

Nick Kurtz hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning and Max Muncy was the walk-off hero in the 11th as the Athletics overcame an early 5-0 deficit to beat Chicago in West Sacramento, Calif.

Muncy hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to left field off Lucas Sims (0-2) to score Jacob Wilson. The White Sox had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the 11th, but Jack Perkins (2-0) pitched out of trouble to give the A’s a chance to end the game in the bottom half.

The game went to extras after Kurtz’s two-run shot off Jordan Leasure in the seventh. Colson Montgomery, Andrew Benintendi and Munetaka Murakami hit home runs in a losing effort. The White Sox missed countless chances to build on their lead, finishing 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Giants 7, Nationals 6 (12 innings)

Matt Chapman drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning and San Francisco beat host Washington.

Chapman led off the 12th against Cionel Perez (0-2) and grounded a single to left, scoring automatic runner Luis Arraez. Caleb Kilian (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. The automatic runner did not advance in either inning and Kilian only allowed one baserunner on an intentional walk.

Heliot Ramos had three hits including his second home run in two games as San Francisco won its third straight. The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th, but Ryan Walker got two strikeouts and a groundout. James Wood hit his seventh homer of the season and scored three runs for the Nationals.

Reds 5, Twins 4

Pinch hitter Dane Myers’ bloop single scored Spencer Steer in the top of the ninth inning as Cincinnati rallied for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

The Reds scored a run in each of the final three innings to rally from three separate two-run deficits, with Elly De La Cruz providing an RBI single and Rece Hinds providing a sacrifice fly. Kyle Nicolas (1-0) struck out the side in the eighth.

Ryan Jeffers had a two-run triple for the Twins, who saw manager Derek Shelton ejected for arguing a check-swing decision on the pitch before De La Cruz’s RBI single. Cole Sands (0-1) allowed Myers’ game-winning hit in the ninth.

Tigers 4, Red Sox 1

Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading Detroit to a win over host Boston.

Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits. Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBIs) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.

Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save. Boston’s Brayan Bello (1-2) gave up four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.

Rays 8, Pirates 7 (13 innings)

Cedric Mullins’ two-run leadoff home run in the top of the 13th inning made the difference as Tampa Bay beat host Pittsburgh in a four-hour, 12-minute game that was the longest of the season in terms of innings played and was extended by a two-hour, 27-minute weather delay.

Mullins had two hits and three RBIs and Jonny DeLuca had two hits and two RBIs to help the Rays rally from a 4-0 deficit before the delay and win for the seventh time in their past eight games. Mullins’ 403-foot homer to right field came off Yohan Ramirez (2-1).

The Pirates cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the 13th when Konnor Griffin singled home Jake Mangum. But Yoendrys Gomez recovered by striking out Joey Bart with runners on second and third. Chandler Simpson, Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda also had two hits each for Tampa Bay, which used eight relievers, capped by Griffin Jax (1-2) and Gomez.

Guardians 4, Orioles 2

Brayan Rocchio hit a three-run homer and Gavin Williams pitched seven strong innings to lead host Cleveland past Baltimore for its second win in five games.

Bo Naylor also homered for the Guardians, which had just three hits. Williams (3-1) struck out 11 and allowed one run, three hits and one walk. It marked the second time this season and sixth time overall that he has struck out 10 or more in a game.

Leody Taveras and Gunnar Henderson (two hits) hit solo homers for the Orioles, who had just four hits and struck out 16 times while losing for the fourth time in the past five games. Dean Kremer (0-1) pitched six innings for the Orioles and gave up three runs and two hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

Mariners 7, Rangers 3

George Kirby continued his mastery of Texas, allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings, as host Seattle posted a victory against its American League West rivals.

Luke Raley homered for the Mariners, who snapped a four-game losing streak and beat Texas for the first time in five tries this season. Kirby (3-2) improved to 9-1 in 12 career starts against Texas.

Josh Jung went deep for the Rangers, who had won their previous two games. Nathan Eovaldi (2-3) gave up four runs (two earned) on eight hits in five-plus innings.

Cardinals 7, Astros 5

Masyn Winn and Jose Fermin smacked their first home runs, and visiting St. Louis clinched an interleague series win over Houston.

Alec Burleson also homered for the Cardinals, who pounced on Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1) and rode a solid start from right-hander Andre Pallante (2-1), who worked five innings.

Yordan Alvarez crushed his league-leading ninth home run and Shay Whitcomb belted a three-run shot, but the Astros lost their third consecutive game and have dropped 11 of 13.

Cubs 4, Mets 2

Carson Kelly hit a tiebreaking three-run pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning for host Chicago, which beat skidding New York.

The pinch-hit homer was the second of Kelly’s career and his first since Aug. 25, 2021. Ian Happ homered in the second for the Cubs, who have won four straight and have scored 51 runs while winning five of their last six games.

Kelly’s homer off Brooks Raley made a winner of Jameson Taillon (1-1), who gave up one run on five hits and three walks while striking out four over six innings.

Brewers 5, Marlins 2

Brice Turang slugged a go-ahead, two-run homer and Brandon Woodruff pitched seven brilliant innings as Milwaukee beat host Miami.

Turang went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Brewers, who won their season-high fourth consecutive game. Woodruff (2-2) allowed three singles and one run over seven innings.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (2-2) allowed five hits and three runs in five innings. He tied his career high with six walks and matched a career low among five-plus-inning starts with just one strikeout. Liam Hicks and Connor Norby each had two hits for Miami.

Padres 4, Angels 1

Fernando Tatis Jr. had two hits and two RBIs and Mason Miller struck out two en route to his seventh save to lead San Diego to a victory over Los Angeles in Anaheim.

Ramon Laureano also drove in two runs, Jake Cronenworth scored a run and reached base four times with a single, two walks and a hit by a pitch and Freddy Fermin scored twice for San Diego, which won for the 12th time in its last 14 games.

Zach Neto and Mike Trout each doubled and Nolan Schanuel had an RBI single for Los Angeles, which finished with just six hits. Ryan Zeferjahn (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in one inning immediately after Yusei Kikuchi wrapped his scoreless six-inning, eight-strikeout start for Los Angeles.

Rockies 4, Dodgers 3

Troy Johnston hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning and Colorado edged Los Angeles in Denver to win for only the second time in nine games.

Johnston had three of the Rockies’ seven hits. Brennan Bernardino (2-0) delivered 1 1/3 no-hit innings in relief, and Victor Vodnik pitched the ninth for his third save.

Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing homered for the Dodgers, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Shohei Ohtani was 1-for-4 to extend his on-base streak to 50 games. Will Klein (1-1) allowed hits to each of the first three batters he faced in the sixth, including Johnston’s game-winning double.

–Field Level Media