"It's a tough one for me because I came back from …

Mike Trudell: More from Dončić on his hamstring: "It's a tough one for me because I came back from injuries before too soon, and it wasn't the best result. But like I say, this is the first time I have the hamstring injury. It's not the same like other injuries. You have to be very careful, and I'm doing everything to come back. All the recovery, the chamber, cold tub, everything I can to come back, but it's obviously very different than other injuries I had."

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "It's a tough one for me because I came back from …

It’s been four weeks since the Dodgers won a road series, and they’ll need a win on getaway day Wednesday in Houston to snap that skid.

Wednesday game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Astros
• Ballpark: Daikin Park, Houston
• Time: 11:10 a.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

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PASADENA, Calif. – Sounds of hammers, drills and other tools filled the south end of the Rose Bowl during UCLA’s Spring Game on Saturday as construction continued on the stadium’s latest renovation project – the South End Zone Field Club.

Just across the way along the north end zone, a different kind of foundation was being laid. The rising voices of nearly a hundred UCLA recruits were just as loud as the construction on the other end of the field – yet inspired far more optimism about the program’s future than any luxury stadium section ever could.

UCLA has seen its biggest recruiting surge since the Jim Mora era just five months into coach Bob Chesney’s tenure in Westwood. Fresh off seven new commitments from the class of 2027 – seven four-stars and three three-stars – over the weekend, the Bruins hold the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports.

Four-star Long Beach Poly cornerback JuJu Johnson and four-star Cherry Creek (Colorado) Englewood offensive lineman Jackson Roper were among the recruits gathered along the north end zone, watching the Bruins take the field on Saturday. Johnson, the nation’s No. 12 cornerback, announced his commitment just hours before the Spring Game. Roper, the top recruit in Colorado, announced his a day earlier.

So, what’s the secret? What is Chesney doing on the recruiting trail that so many of his predecessors in Westwood couldn’t? Well, it has little to do with football.

“Just think about this for a minute,” Chesney told reporters on Saturday. “Where we’re sitting and as a coaching staff at a university. It’s the number one public university in the country, right? And then you add the fact that it’s the most applied-to school in the country.”

According to College Transitions, a group of expert college consultants, UCLA was the most applied-to university in the nation, with 145,904 applicants and an 11.6% acceptance rate in 2025. The group projects that for the class of 2027, the university will remain atop the list. Chesney emphasized the school’s competitive acceptance rate, which consistently remains the lowest among public universities in the nation: “That’s elite.”

Chesney acknowledges who his players brush shoulders with in UCLA’s athletic department – first-round draft picks from baseball and women’s basketball and, of course, the Olympic athletes.

He continues, “that’s not even yet mentioning what happens on this campus. Because of the [low] acceptance rate and the caliber of students that we have here, you’re talking about future CEOs, doctors, lawyers, engineers, you know, leaders of America. And this is rare air that our guys get to breathe every single day surrounded by greatness.

“The guys that are committing understand that this isn’t something that’s just a football decision. This is a decision that could change your life. … I want them to make sure when they think about themselves at 40, are they still as proud of that decision as they were today? I think that can all be answered in the affirmative just because of the type of school this is and the location that it’s at.”

It’s unclear whether Bruins fans will get to savor the Rose Bowl’s newest renovation beyond this season, with rumored plans to move home games to SoFi Stadium delayed until at least next year. But what is becoming clear is that the foundation Chesney is building on the recruiting trail is one fans can count on for years to come.

Why Jaylen Brown-Donovan Mitchell Swap Could Reshape Celtics And Cavs This Offseason originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Celtics will have to weigh the possibility of trading star guard Jaylen Brown this offseason. Brown just wrapped up a career year, stepping up to lead the team while Jayson Tatum was sidelined recovering from his torn Achilles injury last May.

Although Brown and Tatum did play together in the playoffs this season, their journey ended early with a tough seven-game loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. This defeat might be a factor prompting the Celtics to consider shaking up their roster.

Tatum isn't going anywhere, and if Boston wants to make a significant move in a different direction, trading Brown could be the way to go. Trading him for Cavs star guard Donovan Mitchell could be a good outcome for both teams.

Why a Brown-Mitchell Trade Works for the Cavs and Celtics

Mitchell has established himself as one of the NBA's best players over the past nine seasons. Yet, he has never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. The Cavs currently trail the Pistons by one game in a second-round playoff series that began on Tuesday. If Cleveland can't wrap up the series, there's a strong possibility that Mitchell may not play another game for the Cavaliers.

Mitchell has two more years remaining on his contract after this season, which he signed for the 2026-27 year. He also has a player option for the 2027-28 season, meaning he could become a free agent after next season.

If the Cavs cannot secure a long-term contract with Mitchell this summer, there is a chance they may consider trading him during the offseason. Cleveland has watched LeBron James leave twice in free agency without receiving anything in return, and the Cavs can't afford to let that happen again with Mitchell.

The Celtics might consider trading Brown for Mitchell, along with a few other player pieces. This move would bring an elite scorer into the lineup alongside Tatum, significantly strengthening the Celtics, and the Cavs would get a star player in return to help them win now.

More NBA: Brad Stevens Admits Celtics' Fatal Shortcomings In Shocking Playoff Exit

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Ousmane Dembélé grins when he says that, if he does not press, he will be benched by Luis Enrique. The Ballon d’Or winner does not do his defensive work under duress. Like the rest of his teammates, he seems to derive enjoyment from a part of the game that was once seen as unnatural. Attackers would attack and defenders would defend; simple rules for a simple game. But demands have changed.

The forward line of Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar was a mouthwatering prospect but they failed to take Paris Saint‑Germain close to a Champions League title and there was a lack of joy in their work. All attack and no defend made PSG a dull watch. There was a lesson in their failure: that football had changed and matches could not be won by the sheer weight of their attacking talent.