The Sports Report: NFL draft first-round recap

Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.

From Sam Farmer: Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud have been friends and competitors since eighth grade, two quarterback prodigies growing up in Southern California.

On Thursday night, they were the one-two punch to kick off the NFL draft.

Alabama’s Young was the top pick of the Carolina Panthers, and Ohio State’s Stroud went No. 2 to the Houston Texans.

“Whenever there’s a pressure situation, I look at that as an opportunity,” said Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner who played at Cathedral High in Los Angeles and Mater Dei in Santa Ana. “It’s fun to be in those situations. That’s what we all dream of.

“Whatever the expectations, I want to take things day by day. But I am super blessed for this organization to take a chance on me.”

There was speculation that Stroud might slip down the draft board, but the Texans had other ideas. They grabbed him with the No. 2 pick, then traded right back up to take Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson at No. 3.

Stroud, who played at Rancho Cucamonga, became the highest-drafted Ohio State quarterback, surpassing Art Schlichter, chosen fourth by the Baltimore Colts in 1982.

Chargers take a big target receiver with 21st pick of NFL draft

See all the first-round picks

Lamar Jackson and Ravens agree to five-year deal

LAKERS

From Dylan Hernández: LeBron James was spent.

Removed from the court with about five minutes left in an eventual 116-99 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, James planted himself on the edge of the Lakers’ bench at FedExForum.

His hands were clasped between his legs. His head was down.

The two nights that separated James from his most inspirational performance in a Lakers uniform wasn’t sufficient time for him to recover, evidently.

James played on empty Wednesday night, making just five of 17 shots from the field, including one of nine three-pointers. He finished with 15 points. His five turnovers were the most in the game.

“Tonight, I was s—,” James said.

The ageless wonder who powered the Lakers to an overtime victory in Game 4 of this Western Conference series looked every one of his 38 years in Game 5.

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NBA PLAYOFFS
Results, schedule
All times Pacific

Western Conference

No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 7 Lakers
Game 1: Lakers 128, at Memphis 112
Game 2: at Memphis 103, Lakers 93
Game 3: at Lakers 111, Memphis 101
Game 4: at Lakers 117, Memphis 111 (OT)
Game 5: at Memphis 116, Lakers 99
Tonight at Lakers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
*Sunday at Memphis, TBD

No. 4 Phoenix vs. No. 5 Clippers
Game 1: Clippers 115, at Phoenix 110
Game 2: at Phoenix 123, Clippers 109
Game 3: Phoenix 129, at Clippers 124
Game 4: Phoenix 112, at Clippers 100
Game 5: at Phoenix 136, Clippers 130

No. 1 Denver vs. No. 8 Minnesota
Game 1: at Denver 109, Minnesota 80
Game 2: at Denver 122, Minnesota 113
Game 3: Denver 120, at Minnesota 111
Game 4: at Minnesota 114, Denver 108
Game 5: at Denver 112, Minnesota 109

No. 3 Sacramento vs. No. 6 Golden State
Game 1: at Sacramento 126, Golden State 123
Game 2: at Sacramento 114, Golden State 106
Game 3: at Golden State 114, Sacramento 97
Game 4: at Golden State 126, Sacramento 125
Game 5: Golden State 123, at Sacramento 116
Today at Golden State, 5 p.m., ESPN
*Sunday at Sacramento, TBD

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Milwaukee vs. No. 8 Miami
Game 1: Miami 130, at Milwaukee 117
Game 2: at Milwaukee 138, Miami 122
Game 3: at Miami 121, Milwaukee 99
Game 4: at Miami 119, Milwaukee 114
Game 5: Miami 128, at Milwaukee 126 (OT)

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Atlanta
Game 1: at Boston 112, Atlanta 99
Game 2: at Boston 119, Atlanta 106
Game 3: at Atlanta 130, Boston 122
Game 4: Boston 129, at Atlanta 121
Game 5: Atlanta 119, at Boston 117
Game 6: Boston 128, at Atlanta 120

No. 3 Philadelphia vs. No. 6 Brooklyn
Game 1: at Philadelphia 121, Brooklyn 101
Game 2: at Philadelphia 96, Brooklyn 84
Game 3: Philadelphia 102, at Brooklyn 97
Game 4: Philadelphia 96, at Brooklyn, 88

No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 New York
Game 1: New York 101, at Cleveland 97
Game 2: at Cleveland 107, New York 90
Game 3: at New York 99, Cleveland 79
Game 4: at New York 102, Cleveland 93
Game 5: New York 106, at Cleveland 95

*-if necessary

Conference semifinals

Western Conference

No. 1 Denver vs. No. 4 Phoenix
Saturday at Denver, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Monday at Denver, 7 p.m., TNT
Friday, May 5 at Phoenix, 7 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, May 7 at Phoenix, 5 p.m., TNT
*Tuesday, May 9 at Denver, TBD, TNT
*Thursday, May 11 at Phoenix, TBD, ESPN
*Sunday, May 14 at Denver, TBD

Eastern Conference

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 3 Philadelphia
Monday at Boston, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Wednesday at Boston, 5 p.m., TNT
Friday, May 5 at Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, May 7 at Philadelphia, 12:30 p.m., ESPN
*Tuesday, May 9 at Boston, TBD, TNT
*Thursday, May 11 at Philadelphia, TBD, ESPN
*Sunday, May 14 at Boston, TBD

No. 5 New York vs. No. 8 Miami
Sunday at New York, 10 a.m., ABC
Tuesday at New York, TBD, TNT
Saturday, May 6 at Miami, TBD, ABC
Monday, May 8 at Miami, 4:30 p.m., TNT
*Wed., May 10 at New York, TBD, TNT
*Friday, May 12 at Miami, TBD, ESPN
*Monday, May 15 at New York, 5 p.m., TNT

NHL PLAYOFFS

Results, schedule
All times Pacific

Western Conference

Edmonton [P2] vs. Kings [P3]
Game 1: Kings 4, at Edmonton 3 (OT)
Game 2: at Edmonton 4, Kings 2
Game 3: at Kings 3, Edmonton 2 (OT)
Game 4: Edmonton 5, at Kings 4 (OT)
Game 5: at Edmonton 6, Kings 3
Saturday at Kings, 7 p.m., TBS
*Monday at Edmonton TBD

Colorado [C1] vs. Seattle [WC1]
Game 1: Seattle 3, at Colorado 1
Game 2: at Colorado 3, Seattle 2
Game 3: Colorado 6, at Seattle 4
Game 4: at Seattle 3, Colorado 2 (OT)
Game 5: Seattle 3, at Colorado 2
Tonight at Seattle, 7 p.m., TNT
*Sunday at Colorado, TBD

Dallas [C2] vs. Minnesota [C3]
Game 1: Minnesota 3, at Dallas 2 (2OT)
Game 2: at Dallas 7, Minnesota 3
Game 3: at Minnesota 5, Dallas 1
Game 4: Dallas 3, at Minnesota 2
Game 5: at Dallas 4, Minnesota 0
Tonight at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m., TBS
*Sunday at Dallas, TBD

Vegas [P1] vs. Winnipeg [WC2]
Game 1: Winnipeg 5, at Vegas 1
Game 2: at Vegas 5, Winnipeg 2
Game 3: Vegas 5, at Winnipeg 4 (2 OT)
Game 4: Vegas 4, at Winnipeg 2
Game 5: at Vegas 4, Winnipeg 1

Eastern Conference

Boston [A1] vs. Florida [WC2]
Game 1: at Boston 3, Florida 1
Game 2: Florida 6, at Boston 3
Game 3: Boston 4, at Florida 2
Game 4: Boston 6, at Florida 2
Game 5: Florida 4, at Boston 3 (OT)
Today at Florida, 4:30 p.m., TNT
*Sunday at Boston, TBD

Toronto [A2] vs. Tampa Bay [A3]
Game 1: Tampa Bay 7, at Toronto 3
Game 2: at Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 2
Game 3: Toronto 4, at Tampa Bay 3 (OT)
Game 4: Toronto 5, at Tampa Bay 4 (OT)
Game 5: Tampa Bay 4, at Toronto 2
Saturday at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m., TBS
*Monday at Toronto, TBD

Carolina [M1] vs. NY Islanders [WC1]
Game 1: at Carolina 2, NY Islanders 1
Game 2: at Carolina 4, NY Islanders 3 (OT)
Game 3: at NY Islanders 5, Carolina 1
Game 4: Carolina 5, at NY Islanders 2
Game 5: NY Islanders 3, at Carolina 2 (OT)
Today at NY Islanders, 4 p.m., TBS
*Sunday at Carolina, TBD

New Jersey [M2] vs. NY Rangers [M3]
Game 1: NY Rangers 5, at New Jersey 1
Game 2: NY Rangers 5, at New Jersey 1
Game 3: New Jersey 2, at NY Rangers 1 (OT)
Game 4: New Jersey 3, at NY Rangers 1
Game 5: at New Jersey 4, NY Rangers 0
Saturday at NY Rangers, 5 p.m., ABC, ESPN+
*Monday at New Jersey, TBD

*-if necessary

DODGERS

From Jack Harris: Four weeks later, the Dodgers are right back where they started.

Through 26 games this season, they have as many wins as losses, dropping back to .500 after a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

And just like at the beginning of the season, their new-look roster is facing more questions than answers, continuing to sputter with an inconsistent and short-handed offense, underwhelming and out-of-sync pitching staff, and previously unforeseen problems such as their inability to control the running game.

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ANGELS

From Sarah Valenzuela: Shohei Ohtani’s pitching starts typically have a flare of excitement. Any given outing seemingly has the potential for the two-way star to make history. In Thursday’s 8-7 win over the Oakland Athletics, Ohtani hit a speed bump on the mound in the fourth inning, then capped his game at the plate almost hitting for the cycle.

“I actually felt probably the best today, all year at the plate,” Ohtani said in Japanese through an interpreter. “I gave up those five runs but still felt pretty good overall, pitching-wise. So I would say it’s a pretty good day overall.”

Had Ohtani homered in the eighth inning, he would have become the first major league player in the modern era to hit for the cycle in a game in which he pitched.

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BOXING

From Tyler R. Tynes: Well, I suppose there was never any stopping him. His promoters tried to talk some sense into him, but the pug insisted on blazing this path. He wanted to walk directly through the fire, with his chin held high toward victory. This was what it meant to be a man, right? To be the Mexican warrior he so badly wanted to embody. The paperwork had long been signed and the fight announced. There was no backing out of it, despite how many people thought he was delusional for taking such a risky fight. Didn’t he know? No one had ever survived one of these maulings. Men walked into the ring only to end the night sullen and swollen, broken and confused at how — or when — they nosedived toward the canvas.

It was hard to believe some pretty boy from Victorville had much more of a chance.

But he was assured of his victory. He had no reason to be otherwise. Ryan Garcia, a man-made boxing king of the next generation, wasn’t just going to fight Gervonta “Tank” Davis, the self-proclaimed savage from west Baltimore, in an undefeated vs. undefeated pride fight in the heart of Sin City. He told me, emphatically, that he was “gonna shock the world.” He saw the scrap as his sole moment, the only thing he could currently conquer to prove he belonged with the big boys of boxing.

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WNBA

From Chuck Schilken: Brittney Griner is done playing overseas.

With one possible exception.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since being released from Russian detainment in December, the Phoenix Mercury star said she will no longer play professional basketball in Russia or anywhere else outside of the U.S.

“I’m never going overseas to play again, unless I’m representing my country at the Olympics,” said Griner, who was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February 2022 after Russian authorities said she was carrying vape canisters with cannabis oil. “If I make that team, that would be the only time I would leave the U.S. soil and that’s just to represent the USA.”

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THIS DATE IN SPORTS

1923 — Wembley Stadium opens - Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham United (FA Cup).

1931 — Program for woman athletes approved for 1932 Olympics track & field.

1956 — Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson hits his 1st of 586 HRs.

1957 — LPGA Western Open: Patty Berg wins her 6th Western Open by one stroke from Wiffi Smith.

1961 — Milwaukee Braves’ future HOF pitcher Warren Spahn throws his second career no-hitter at 41.

1966 — Boston edges the Lakers 95-93 in Game 7, giving the Celtics and coach Red Auerbach eight straight NBA titles. Auerbach, who announced his retirement earlier, is replaced by center Bill Russell, the first Black head coach of a major U.S. sports team.

1967 — Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the U.S. Armed Forces. He is arrested and the New York State Athletic Commission suspends his boxing license and strips him of his heavyweight title.

1972 — Courts award 1968 Kentucky Derby prize money to 2nd place winner due to the winner being given drugs before the race.

1987 — The NBA awards expansion franchises to Charlotte and Miami for 1988, and Minneapolis and Orlando in 1989.

1987 — NFL Draft: University of Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde first pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

1990 — Boston sets single-game NBA playoff records for scoring and shooting accuracy in a 157-128 rout of the New York Knicks to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

1992 — Video replay is used to decide a playoff game for the first time. In game six of the Detroit-Minnesota division semifinal, Sergei Fedorov of the Red Wings appears to hit the crossbar behind Minnesota goalie Jon Casey during overtime. The Stars ice the puck immediately, but referee Rob Shick calls for a video review. The replay shows the puck enters the goal just below the crossbar and caroms off the frame at the back of the net. Fedorov is awarded the goal to give the Red Wings a series-tying 1-0 victory.

1995 — Michael Jordan, in his first playoff game since his return from retirement, scored 48 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets 108-100.

1995 — The Orlando Magic give the Boston Celtics their worst defeat in team history, 124-77, in a playoff opener.

2001 — Colorado’s Patrick Roy sets an NHL record with his 16th career playoff shutout, making 20 saves in a 2-0 win over Los Angeles.

2003 — Andre Agassi recaptures the world no. 1 ranking to become the oldest top-ranked male in the history of the ATP rankings (33 years, 13 days).

2007 — NFL Draft: LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell first pick by Oakland Raiders.

2009 — Washington edges the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference series to cap a comeback from a 3-games-to-1 deficit. It is the franchise’s first series victory since the 1997-98 season, when Washington made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.

2010 — Montreal beats Washington 2-1 to complete a come-from-behind 4-3 series victory and eliminate the NHL’s best regular-season in the first round of the playoffs. The Canadiens are the ninth No. 8-seeded team to knock off a No. 1 in 32 matchups since the NHL went to its current playoff format in 1994 — and the first to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.

2011 — Canada’s Patrick Chan wins his first world figure skating title in record fashion. Chan sets world records for the free skate and total points to claim titles at the world figure skating championships in Moscow.

2011 — NFL Draft: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton first pick by Carolina Panthers.

2016 — The Rams select California quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and the No. 2 selection for the Philadelphia Eagles is North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. It’s the second straight year that two QBs went 1-2 and the seventh time in the modern era of the draft since 1967.

2018 — Shaquem Griffin is the first one-handed person to be drafted into the NFL, for the Seattle Seahawks.

—Compiled by the Associated Press

And finally...

The Rams select Jared Goff with the first pick of the 2016 NFL draft. Watch and listen here.