April 2026

There were 1,484 posts published in April 2026 (this is page 46 of 149).

Shohei Ohtani meets 100-year-old survivor of Nagasaki bombing before Dodgers-Rockies game

Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 50 games in Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. He made the achievement suspenseful by not reaching base until the ninth inning with a two-out single off Rockies reliever Victor Vodnik.

However, the Japanese superstar was also part of a special moment before Saturday’s game. Following his pregame workout, Ohtani learned the story of a woman watching him nearby from a wheelchair.

Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley is a 100-year-old Japanese native who survived the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. Currently a Salt Lake City resident, she traveled to Denver to see Ohtani, whom she called “the pride of Japan” in remarks to Chunichi Sports. Kelley said she watches Dodgers games every day to see the four-time MVP play.

Kelley was brought to the game by her grandson, Patrick Faust. The two traveled from nearby Fort Collins, where she was visiting family. Faust was inspired to make the meeting with Ohtani happen by his grandmother reaching a milestone age. The Dodgers star signed a baseball and posed for a photo with his centenarian fan.

“Just the idea that 100 is such a big number,” Patrick said, via MLB.com. “I don’t think there are many people [still alive from] when the atom bomb was dropped. She’s had a terrible experience, a big one. So we wanted to [do something] special. She watches all the Dodgers games and all the Rockies games.”

After surviving the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki when she was 19, Kelley and her husband — whom she met on an Air Force base — emigrated to the United States in the early 1950s.

Kelley met several other players and coaches with Japanese connections, including Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki and Tomoyuki Sugano of the Rockies.

“Honestly, you don’t get these kinds of opportunities often,” Sugano told MLB.com through interpreter Yuto Sakurai. “So I’m really happy I got to meet her and was given this type of opportunity. She said she’s really passionate and really likes watching baseball and is a fan of my former team [the Yomiuri Giants].”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was born in Okinawa, and broadcaster Stephen Nelson, whose mother is Japanese, both also met Kelley and were touched by the experience.

“It’s humbling,” Nelson told MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa. “Just being ‘Yonsei’ [a great-grandchild of a Japanese immigrant], you’re standing on a lot of shoulders.”

“For her to experience what she went through and endure that, and come here to make a better life for herself and future generations,” he added. “We can’t even fathom that, right?”

In the baseball game that followed, Ohtani went on to reach base safely for the 50th consecutive game. He tied Willie Keeler for the third-longest on-base streak in Dodgers history. Only Shawn Green (53) and Duke Snider (58) are now ahead of him.

The longest on-base streak in MLB history is 84 games, set by the Boston Red Sox’s Ted Williams.

Ohtani led off Saturday’s game by reaching on an error (which didn’t count for the streak), grounding out to first base, flying out to left field and reaching on an interference error on Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman in his four previous plate appearances.

The loss to the Rockies was the Dodgers’ first this season against a National League opponent. Their previous four defeats were two versus the Cleveland Guardians and one apiece to the Toronto Blue Jays (last season’s World Series opponent) and the Texas Rangers.

Salvador Perez rebuts Royals manager Matt Quatraro over ‘mental breather’ line

Kansas City Royals captain Salvador Perez got a day off Saturday, apparently against his will.

The fun began when the Royals posted a lineup without Perez. Royals manager Matt Quatraro then told reporters he was giving Perez a “mental breather” after some recent struggles, with Carter Jensen getting the start behind the plate instead.

That seemed simple enough … until about nine hours later, when Perez bluntly posted, “I don’t need a mental breather” on social media.

He also posted a screengrab of a Spanish-language MLB.com article about the comments, with the label “Fake.”

Screengrab of Salvador Perez’s Instagram story.
Instagram

So it might not be the most harmonious state of play in Kansas City right now. The Royals also lost 13-4 to the New York Yankees on Saturday, worsening their record to 7-14, tied with the New York Mets for the worst in MLB.

Jensen homered in that game, bringing his season total up to five.

What’s particularly awkward is that the 35-year-old Perez has barely been playable so far this season, after a down 2025. He’s slashed .160/.210/.307 in 20 games so far this season, with 17 strikeouts and four walks in 81 plate appearances. Jensen hasn’t been much better at .214/.274/.446, but he has been better (except when it comes to waking up).

There will soon be another catcher in the Royals’ clubhouse as well, as the team is calling up former All-Star Elías Díaz from Triple-A Omaha, according to Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. A corresponding move will be required there.

Similar to what just happened on the Toronto Blue Jays with Eric Lauer, there’s probably a conversation to be had behind closed doors. Perez commands immense respect in Kansas City as a nine-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, five-time Gold Glove and World Series MVP of the Royals’ 2015 title, but he’s simply a different player now.

Quatraro has been the manager in Kansas City since 2023 and entered this season with a 224-262 record, with a playoff berth in 2024.

How to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs with DIRECTV: Full game schedule, where to stream and more

The 2026 NBA playoffs tip off this weekend with eight games across Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19. You can catch NBA playoff games on ABC, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video. Looking to watch the tournament with just one streaming service? We’ve (almost) got you covered. With DIRECTV’s MySports® Genre Pack®, you’ll have everything you need to tune in, apart from Prime Video — but who doesn’t have access to an Amazon account these days, anyway?

Here’s what you need to know so you won’t miss a single game of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. 

Dates: April 18 – June, 2026

TV channels: NBC, ESPN, ABC

Streaming: DIRECTV

The 2026 NBA playoffs officially get underway on April 18. The Eastern Conference finals are scheduled to begin May 19, and the Western Conference finals are scheduled for May 20. The NBA finals are set to begin on June 3, 2026.

 NBA playoff games will be broadcast across Prime Video, NBC, ABC, and ESPN. 

NBA playoff games that air on NBC, ABC and ESPN are all available to stream with DIRECTV’s MySports® Genre Pack®, which includes access to ESPN (and the ESPN Unlimited streaming tier), local ABC and NBC.

Cancel anytime. Local channels vary by market. Blackout restrictions apply. Select sales channels only.

This will not replace any existing Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, or Disney bundle subscription you may already have. All other accounts must be managed separately. You must remain on an eligible plan to retain your offer.

Note: You’ll still need Amazon Prime access to catch the Prime Video-exclusive NBA playoff games — but who doesn’t have Amazon Prime access these days?

As Senior Yahoo Tech writer Rick Broida puts it, DIRECTV is the “polished and likable” cable alternative that cord-cutters have been searching for. Miss flipping through endless channels on the hunt for a gem to tune into? DIRECTV’s got one of the best channel guides out there. And in terms of content diversity, DIRECTV has you covered there, too, with packages ranging from hyper-specific Genre Packs for sports fans and reality TV zealots to full-coverage options for TV fans who want it all. Sports fans, meanwhile, will appreciate that ESPN Unlimited is included with many DIRECTV plans to boot. And don’t worry about missing your favorite shows, either: In addition to live channels, DIRECTV offers a full range of on-demand programming and unlimited DVR, too. That’s why we called DIRECTV the best cable TV replacement in the streaming world.

April 18

  • 1 p.m.: Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Prime Video)

  • 3:30 p.m.: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets (Prime Video)

  • 6 p.m.: Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks (Prime Video)

  • 8:30 p.m.: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (ABC)

April 19

  • 1 p.m.: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers (ABC)

  • 3:30 p.m.: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. TBD (ABC)

  • 6:30 p.m.: Detroit Pistons vs. TBD (NBC/Peacock)

  • 9 p.m.: San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers (NBC/Peacock)

  • May 4: Conference Semifinals begin (can move up to May 2 or 3)

  • May 19: Eastern Conference Finals begin on ESPN/ABC (can move up to May 17)

  • May 20: Western Conference Finals begin on NBC/Peacock (can move up to May 18)

  • June 3: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 1 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

  • June 5: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 2 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

  • June 8: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 3 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

  • June 10: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 4 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

  • June 13: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 5 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

  • June 16: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 6 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

  • June 19: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 7 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

NBA playoffs 2026: Odds for first-round series, play-in games

The 2025-26 NBA regular season has reached an exciting conclusion, with playoff and play-in tournament positioning coming down to the final Sunday.

The Detroit Pistons closed with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Boston Celtics had an impressive regular season — most of which was played without Jayson Tatum as he recovered from an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s postseason — and finished with the second seed in the East.

Oklahoma City Thunder are the top seed in the West for the second straight season, two games ahead of Victor Wembanyama’s hard-charging San Antonio Spurs.

Here are the odds for every NBA playoff series now that the field is set.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

No. 1 Detroit Pistons (-500) vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic (+375)

No. 2 Boston Celtics (-1200) vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers (+750)

No. 3 New York Knicks (-275) vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks (+220)

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (-550) vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors (+400)

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (-3000) vs. No. 8 Phoenix Suns (13-1)

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs (-2500) vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers (10-1)

No. 3 Denver Nuggets (-350) vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (+275)

No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers (+425) vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets (-600)

Jalen Brunson’s scorching start sets the tone for Knicks Game 1 win

Jalen Brunson got off to a hot start for New York, …

ESPN Insights: Jalen Brunson got off to a hot start for New York, highlighted by 19 1st quarter points, the most by a Knicks player in the opening quarter of a playoff game in play-by-play era (since 1997-98). It didn’t matter if he was left open or had to play through contact, he shot 60% in a half for the 3rd time in his postseason career (min 15 FGA)!

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jalen Brunson got off to a hot start for New York, …

Was hitting the target banned? Vitória and Corinthians butcher it in BR

Was hitting the target banned? Vitória and Corinthians butcher it in BR

Vitória and Corinthians played out a dreadful goalless draw this Saturday (18).

The only “possible” scoreline for the clash at Barradão, which featured just one shot on target – and that only came in the 41st minute of the second half.

The match was part of the 12th round of the Brasileirão.

Leão failed to make it a fourth straight home win in the league.

Meanwhile, Timão extended its winless run in the competition. 

Was hitting the target not allowed? 🙄

The opening half at Barradão produced a grand total of zero shots on target.

Vitória started better and looked to apply pressure. It even had more than 80% possession.

It saw Kayzer pick up a possible injury and get substituted as early as the 10th minute, and it was the team that tried most to attack.

Corinthians, meanwhile, looked even more timid on the ball. 

The best thing that happened before the second half was a marriage proposal during the interval:

Changes and… 😤

Diniz used all five available substitutions by the 32nd minute, with Lingard and Labyad coming on.

Jair Ventura, meanwhile, seemed more satisfied. 

There were attempts from both sides.

But (as usual) without the necessary efficiency. 

The first shot on target (finally) came in the 41st minute of the half, with Zé Vitor testing Hugo Souza. 

The lack of quality football was, indeed, the story from start to finish in Salvador. 

📊 Standings and schedule 📅

Vitória moved to 15 points. It is currently in 10th place.

Corinthians, meanwhile, reached 12. And it is at risk of dropping into the relegation zone.

It is now nine games without a win in the Brasileirão.

The positive note is that it still has not conceded under Diniz. 

But it still has the least effective attack in the competition.

Both teams now have the first leg of the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil ahead of them. 

On Wednesday (22), Leão’s challenge will be against Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro.

And Timão will be back in action on Tuesday (21), when it will face the reigning Série D and Campeonato Catarinense champion. The match will be at Ressacada. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Every Brandeis player drafted by the Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.

The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team’s roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of Brandeis.

Len Winogard – guard

Draft year and position: sixth round (third pick, 48th overall), 1954 NBA Draft

Seasons at Brandeis: unknown

Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Every Brandeis player drafted by the Warriors

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns lead Knicks to Game 1 win over Hawks, 113-102

The Knicks stepped up on defense in the second half and held on to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 113-102, in Game 1 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Here are the takeaways…

— Jalen Brunson started the game on fire with 15 of New York’s first 22 points, making all six shots he took, including three three-pointers. Mikal Bridges also got involved early, scoring the team’s other seven points. Although, the Knicks defense wasn’t on the same level as the offense, and the Hawks kept pace by finding ways to score inside, blocking shots, and creating turnovers to get out in transition. 

OG Anunoby began to heat up toward the end of the first quarter, getting to the foul line and scoring inside. Brunson capped off his big first quarter with a high floater as time expired, giving him 19 points and the Knicks a 30-24 lead after one. 

— Mitchell Robinson made his impact right away in the second quarter with a block on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, leading to a Jordan Clarkson dunk. Robinson got his second block a few possessions later and Anunoby buried a step-back three to make it a 38-27 game.

Atlanta continued to fight back as Jonathan Kuminga scored on the fastbreak and Alexander-Walker nailed a three-pointer to cut the New York lead down to three. Josh Hart countered with a layup, but C.J. McCollum came right back with a wide open three to keep it close with five minutes left in the second quarter.

— Despite a quiet first half, Karl-Anthony Towns made his presence felt at the end of the second quarter. The All-Star big man got his third assist on an Anunoby dunk and then scored on a dunk of his own for his first basket of the game. He made up for his fourth turnover of the game by blocking Alexander-Walker at the rim, but the Knicks couldn’t capitalize on the other end.

Towns made two free throws with 8.0 seconds left, but with the clock winding down, Jalen Johnson found Onyeka Okongwu for three at the buzzer and the Hawks trailed by just two, 57-54. Atlanta outscored New York 31-27 in the second quarter and shot 50 percent from three in the half (8-for-16). Brunson finished with 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting, while McCollum had 17 points (7-for-10 from the field) for the Hawks.

–Towns and Anunoby opened the third quarter with back-to-back three pointers, and Hart turned defense into offense with a steal and fastbreak dunk to go up 68-60. Looking for ways to slow down the Knicks, the Hawks turned to the “hack-a-Mitch” play twice — and it worked as he went 1-for-4 from the foul line and was subbed out by Mike Brown.

With under a minute left in the quarter, Brunson grabbed a rebound and found Anunoby wide open down the court for an easy dunk, going up 83-74 heading into the fourth.

— Robinson scored on an alley-oop jam and Miles McBride made his first three-pointer of the night in the fourth quarter, giving the Knicks their biggest lead of the night, 88-76. McBride drilled another three-pointer, but Atlanta kept up with the pace and Alexander-Walker hit a three right back. Towns then took over, making a pair of threes and using his size to score inside and extend the lead to 106-87 on a 13-2 run for NY.

— It wouldn’t be a playoff game without the dramatics as the Hawks made it a 106-98 game all of a sudden with about 1:30 left on the clock. The Knicks were able to hold on, icing the game at the foul line. 

All five Knicks starters finished in double figures — Brunson (28), Towns (25), Anunoby (19), Bridges (11), and Hart (10). The shot 48 percent from the field and from three-point range (12-for-25). They also won the rebound battle, 45-40, with Hart grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. McCollum finished with just 26 points for the Hawks and Johnson had 23 points.

Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns stepped up in the second half after Brunson’s high-scoring first quarter. He scored 21 of his 25 in the second half, to go along with eight rebounds, four assists (five turnovers), three steals, and a block.

Highlights

What’s next

The Knicks and Hawks play Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup on Monday at 8:20 p.m.