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Weekend Wrap-Up: NBA Play-In, McIlroy Conquers Augusta, Volkanovski Calls Title, & More
McIlroy Finally Wins the Masters, and Volkanovski Is Featherweight Champ Once Again
Ladies and Gentlemen, It’s Time for the NBA Playoffs
Alright, hoops fans, this is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill! With the last round of regular-season NBA games done and over with, it’s time for the most exciting part of the season: the playoffs!
THE PLAYOFFS ARE SET‼️🔥 pic.twitter.com/lF2dwZv6Yp
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) April 13, 2025
With the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat snagging the four spots for the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference and the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Dallas Mavericks doing the same in the Western Conference, the stage is set for the NBA playoffs to kick off.
Action is set to start as soon as Tuesday and carry until Friday, with the play-in games to determine which teams will face the #1-seeded OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets out west and the #1 Cleveland Cavaliers and #2 Boston Celtics out east.
The schedule for Game 1s in the First Round of the #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google ⬇️
More information will be provided as it is finalized. pic.twitter.com/vBIQMNYa3C
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 14, 2025
So, who’s on your NBA betting odds radar to make a deep run or flunk out in this season’s playoffs? I know I got my favorites (‘New York or Nowhere’).
Suns Tell Budenholzer to Pack His Bags
While some teams are already making postseason plans, others, who at one point were deemed as potential NBA title odds contenders, are cleaning house and wasting no time getting rid of extra baggage.
As NBA news senior reporter Shams Charania broke out, the Phoenix Suns, who finished the season winning one of their last ten games, decided to fire head coach Mike Budenholzer after one season at the helm.
BREAKING: The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after finishing in 11th place with a 36-46 record in his one season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ocySLmWDQI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2025
Considering this is a team with the likes of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal as top stars, it’s almost baffling that the Suns would end up getting eliminated from the playoffs. But again, after losing nine of their last ten, if you ever need a definition for dumpster fire, head to Phoenix and ask for directions to PHX Arena.
Suns have officially been ELIMINATED from playoff contention.
Phoenix has lost 8 games in a row…😳 pic.twitter.com/SCJcMdrJcb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 10, 2025
Sad day to be a Suns fan or coach, Budenholzer.
Cubs Ground Dodgers in LA
Over the weekend, the Chicago Cubs made MLB headlines by taking two out of three games of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA.
Closing out the series on Sunday with a 4-2 win, the Cubs have extended their record to seven wins and three losses in their last ten games, taking control of the NL Central division and grounding the Dodgers, perennial MLB betting lines favorites.
The @Cubs are victorious on #SundayNightBaseball and take the series from the Dodgers! pic.twitter.com/NDPCwmbUdF
— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2025
What came as a shock and caused immediate shockwaves in MLB rumors circles was Saturday’s 16-0 win, where the Cubbies manhandled LA’s bullpen following five strong innings from starter Rōki Sasaki.
Tonight was a hit 😌 pic.twitter.com/kUdXTf649i
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 13, 2025
Out-hitting the Dodgers by 15 hits and showing a swag not seen from the team since 2016, is it time to start believing in the Cubs once again?
As a Cubs fan writing this, I don’t care if you say no; call me a believer!
17th Time’s the Charm for McIlroy in the Masters
In what can be considered the coolest sports news this weekend, Rory McIlroy, one of the best professional golfers of recent times, won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club this weekend, finally completing his Major Championships Grand Slam.
Capturing the grand slam on the grandest stage!
Rory McIlroy has won the Masters 🏆
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 13, 2025
For McIlroy, who came into the tournament as the betting odds favorite to finally snag up his first green jacket, it took 16 previous tries to finally win the remaining PGA Major golf tournament that kept evading him.
Rory McIlroy receives his Green Jacket. #themasters pic.twitter.com/0ulQ963w68
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
Beating English golfer Justin Rose in a playoff by 3-4, Rory McIlroy’s stats in Major championships now have two PGA Championship wins, one US Open win, one The Open Championship win, and now, a Masters Tournament win.
Dreams do come true. pic.twitter.com/6WiHrVIjNl
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) April 14, 2025
Live it up, Rory. That green jacket was long overdue!
Volkanovski Once Again Reigns Supreme in UFC 314
The UFC took over Miami this past Saturday, with a star-studded and even Presidential crowd at Kaseya Center for the UFC 314 event.
🇺🇸President Trump Makes EPIC Entrance at UFC 314 in Miami
🔥CROWD ERUPTS IN USA CHANT pic.twitter.com/xEFte8VEix
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 13, 2025
With action popping off from the get-go, it was the co-main event, which saw fan favorite Paddy Pimblett show he needs to start being taken seriously after defeating Michael Chandler in a third-round KO/TKO victory, which set the stage for what was to come.
In an all-out battle for the featherweight title, Alexander Volkanovski would end up winning via decision to put “two-time champion” in his UFC resume after defeating Diego Lopes.
ON TOP OF THE WORLD AGAIN 🌎@AlexVolkanovski is now a 2x UFC Featherweight Champion!
[ #UFC314 ] pic.twitter.com/pWf2OwHhTg— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025
At 35 years old, Volkanovski once again showed MMA fans all around that one of the worst mistakes anybody can make is to count him out. Being the first fighter over 35 to win a title below the welterweight class in UFC, I’d love to see somebody call him old and washed up.
Alexander Volkanovski is the first male fighter age 35 or older to win a UFC title fight at any weight class below welterweight 🏆
VOLK IS NOT TOO OLD 👴 #UFC314 pic.twitter.com/rK7d7gW8mB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 13, 2025
So, who should “old man” Volk take on next?
Piastri Conquers Bahrain GP
Closing out the weekend, over in Bahrain International Circuit, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri officially chalked down his second victory of the season after winning the Bahrain GP with a dominant 15.490-second advantage over second-place George Russell and a 16.273-second advantage over fellow McLaren driver Lando Norris.
OSCAR ON POINT!!! 🫵
PIASTRI WINS THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 🎉#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/yQxyddUfPT
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 13, 2025
Piastri, who trails Norris by three points in the 2025 season standings, also helped his team, McLaren, take a staggering 58-point lead in the Constructors Championship standings to reach 151 points, with Mercedes following in second with 93 and Red Bull in third with 71.
I guess it doesn’t hurt to be driving what Piastri calls “the best car at the moment” in F1.
🚨 | Oscar Piastri on the MCL39:
“I’m not shying away from the fact we have the best car at the moment.
“To say otherwise, is not correct.” pic.twitter.com/EnkzoSRf0F
— formularacers (@formularacers_) April 13, 2025
With teams now focusing on the next race ahead, the Saudi Arabian GP, on Sunday, April 20 at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, will we see Piastri move to three wins in the season and pass Norris atop the standings?
Four career wins are cool, but five have a sweeter ring to them.
Four wins. 13 podiums. One constructors’ championship.
The first 50 in Formula 1 have been so sweet for Oscar Piastri 🔥#F1 @OscarPiastri pic.twitter.com/Pzn0pmPv7B
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 14, 2025
Until next week, stay classy, peeps.
