Sports
Panthers add longtime S Mike Adams to coaching staff
Nov 4, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers free safety Mike Adams (29) on the sidelines with defensive tackle Dontari Poe (95) in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Carolina Panthers will hire longtime NFL safety Mike Adams to assist the coaching staff, multiple outlets reported Monday.
Adams, 45, began his NFL career in 2004 with the San Francisco 49ers and played for two seasons (2017-18) for the Panthers. He had 935 tackles and 30 interceptions over 16 seasons and 228 games with the 49ers (2004-06), Cleveland Browns (2007-11), Denver Broncos (2012-13), Indianapolis Colts (2014-16), Panthers and Houston Texans (2019).
He was named to consecutive Pro Bowls from 2014-15 with the Colts.
Adams will initially join the staff as a Bill Walsh coaching fellow, in an initiative to promote diversity in the coaching ranks. He will be utilized during offseason workout programs and in training camp.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NBA Playoff Game 1 Bet Picks: 76ers vs Knicks and Timberwolves vs Spurs Bets
Apr 23, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) talks with a reporter after the game with the Denver Nuggets at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Look at who has crashed the second round of the NBA Playoffs – Joel Embiid. Figured there was no invite coming for the Philadelphia 76ers and their star center after he underwent an appendectomy at a really unfortunate time.
But Embiid returned for the final four games of the first-round series against the Boston Celtics and the 76ers won the last three contests to surprisingly claim the Eastern Conference series. So the heat waiting for Embiid was transferred to the Celtics, coach Joe Mazzulla and NBA Executive of the Year Brad Stevens for a horrifying collapse.
Philadelphia now looks to upend the New York Knicks on the Eastern side, beginning with Monday’s Game 1. The Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs also open a Western Conference series on Monday with Anthony Edwards (left knee) listed as questionable for Minnesota.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS AT NEW YORK KNICKS
The much-maligned Embiid can hold his head high after the last three games as he also fought through his knee getting banged up in Game 7 while recording 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the clinching 109-100 win in Boston. He averaged 28 points in the four games he played and the only question will be if he can play with this much juice in Game 1 against the Knicks after also banging up his right hip.
The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round and the clinching victory was a 140-89 beat down on Thursday, furthering the confidence of a team primed for a deep run. Guards Jalen Brunson (26.3 average vs. the Hawks) of the Knicks and Tyrese Maxey (26.9 vs. the Celtics) of the 76ers figure to put on a stellar show, similar to two seasons ago when New York took down the 76ers in six games in the first round.
New York finished the Atlanta series with victories by 16, 29 and 51 points after losing both Games 2 and 3 by one point. OG Anunoby had 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting in the decisive game and averaged 21.5 points and shot 61.1% from the field in the series. Anunoby (18-plus points, -103) was so hot that his second-lowest shooting percentage in the first round was 56.3.
The teams split four meetings in the regular season with the Knicks delivering a 138-89 whipping on Feb. 11 in Philadelphia. New York will send deluxe defensive big man Mitchell Robinson inside to slow Embiid (27-plus points, -106) so this might be a game where either Brunson (28-plus points, -112) or Maxey (25-plus points, -123) shines brightest.
Knicks minus 7.5-point spread, -108 (DraftKings)
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MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES AT SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs cruised past the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the first round and all four victories were by double digits. MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama, still just 22, returned from a concussion to average 22 points, 13 rebounds and 6.5 blocks over the final two games of the series.
Guards De’Aaron Fox (18-plus points, -114) and Stephon Castle (18-plus points, -104) are fine compliments to Wemby (30-plus points, +117) and big reasons why San Antonio’s win total is up to 66 this season. Fox averaged 20.2 points and 6.8 assists against Portland and Castle contributed 19.8 points and 6.0 assists.
Edwards missed the final two games of the six-game first-round series victory over the Denver Nuggets but is pushing hard to be on the floor Monday. What would really hurt Minnesota is if both Edwards and stellar reserve Ayo Dosunmu (calf) both miss the game. Dosunmu (18-plus points, -111) averaged a team-best 21.8 in the Denver series – led by his electric 43-point outing in Game 4 – before missing the finale.
Of course, Minnesota also lost Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) in Game 4 so Julius Randle (21-plus points, -106) could be carrying the load and guys like Jaden McDaniels (18-plus points, -102) and reserve Naz Reid (13-plus points, -119) will need to step up. The Spurs have the upper hand to begin with but had lost five straight games to the Timberwolves before posting a 126-123 home win on Jan. 17.
Timberwolves plus 13.5-point spread, -115 (DraftKings)
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Sports
Jarrett Allen Saves Cavs in Game 7 To Secure Date With Pistons
After 26 quarters of basketball, the Raptors and Cavs were tied 718-718 in total points scored for the series. It had been a very underwhelming series for Cleveland up until that point. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden had been very quiet, and shots weren’t falling for the rest of the role players.
Someone had to step up to save the season for Cleveland, and it was Jarrett Allen. The man best known for the lights being too bright saved the Cavs’ season with a 14-point, 10-rebound third quarter. He took over this game for Cleveland, being the catalyst for a 38-19 third quarter, which Cleveland rode to a 114-102 finish.
More importantly than Allen showing up when it mattered, the Cavs finally played like the team we expected them to be this entire series. Instead of settling for bad isolation sets and last-second threes, the Cavs took it to the Raptors and would not let up with consistent rim pressure.
Cleveland has been out-physicalled by playoff teams during the Mitchell era, and they won this game by being the more physical team on both ends. The Cavs out-rebounded the Raptors 40-33, but more importantly destroyed them on the offensive glass 20-7. They also did a great job getting in the paint, shooting 37 free throws in this one.
Harden didn’t have an amazing game, but late into the second quarter, he started putting his head down and driving into the lane. He finished the game with 13 free throws and was a big spark to Cleveland’s offense whenever the game seemed to get tense. Most importantly for Harden, he only had 2 turnovers. He limited the possessions for a Raptors team that thrives on transition basketball.
Round two should be much different for Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell has to show up for the Cavs. Detroit has far fewer physical and talented defenders to throw at him. If he can’t attack the doubles they send at him, I’ll have questions on what he can ever provide for Cleveland in the playoffs.
It was an ugly first round for Cleveland, but I love their matchup with Detroit heading into the Eastern Conference Semis. The Cavs have a far more explosive offense than Orlando, and should be able to exploit a Pistons team that showed zero signs of offensive production outside of Cade Cunningham. Dean Wade did a tremendous job of slowing Cade in the regular season. If he can do that again, I think Donovan could end his streak of zero Conference Finals appearances in 2026.
Sports
Longtime Yankees broadcaster John Sterling dies at 87
John Sterling, Edgewater, NJ resident and the voice of the Yankees on radio on Aug. 17, 2012 in Bronx, New York. Legendary New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling has died at 87.
Sterling joined the team in 1989 and spent 36 years in the booth, calling 5,420 regular-season games and 211 playoff games before retiring in April 2024. He worked 5,060 consecutive games from 1989 to 2019.
“We are devastated to hear about the passing of John Sterling, a WFAN and Yankees radio icon whose voice was synonymous with an entire generation of Yankee fandom,” WFAN said in a statement.
Sterling suffered a heart attack in January. The announcement of his death from WFAN and confirmation by the Yankees did not include where or how he died.
The Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling. Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and loved ones at this time. pic.twitter.com/1rCeRC1D61
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2026
The New York native was known for his enthusiastic delivery and signature catchphrases like “It is high, it is far, it is gone!” and “Thuuhhh Yankees win!”
“Through his unique style and passionate play-by-play calls, Sterling endeared himself to generations of players and fans as radio voice of the Yankees from 1989 to 2024,” Major League Baseball said in a statement. “His signature punctuation of Yankees victories included calling the final out of five World Series championships.”
Sterling was on the air for seven World Series with the Yankees, including championships in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009. His career spanned every single game played by shortstop Derek Jeter and every pitch thrown by fellow Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.
“He’s synonymous with those five championships (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009),” longtime broadcast partner Michael Kay said, per The Athletic. “If you’re coming into people’s homes, at the beach, the pool or their car, and you’re constantly telling them good news – it made him part of the Yankee firmament. He became a part of forever, because those championships are never going to go away.”
Sterling was a 12-time Sports Emmy Award winner and a member of the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
“I am a very blessed human being,” Sterling said in a statement announcing his retirement. “I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years.”
–Field Level Media
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NBA Playoff Game 1 Bet Picks: 76ers vs Knicks and Timberwolves vs Spurs Bets
