ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
Lakers Refuse to Lose

Los Angeles took Game One of its first-round series against Houston, 107-98, while improving to 20-5 in their last 25 games overall, and 13-1 SU/12-2 ATS at home, since we started bombing Iran on Feb 28.

At this rate it appears they are traveling through the Strait of Refuse to Lose.

Down Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers cobbled together enough offense to win. Luke Kennard scored 27 points, going a perfect 5 of 5 from three-point range. LeBron James racked up 19 points and 13 assists. L.A. shot 60.6% from the floor and 52.6% from three, with all five starters finishing with double figures. 

“It has to be that way. It has to be a collective group. I mean, when you’re missing so much firepower like we are right now with AR and Luka being out, we all have to pitch in. We all have to do our job and even do it a little bit more. Protect one another offensively and defensively. And I think we did that tonight,” said LeBron James after the game.

Meanwhile, hours before the game, Kevin Durant was ruled out with a knee injury after he bumped knees with a teammate during practice. ESPN revealed that Durant suffered the injury during practice this week.

In his absence Houston’s offense … stunk. The Rockets shot 37.6% from the floor. They connected on just 33.3% from three. The play-calling was unimaginative. The execution was worse. 

Durant’s injury has to be very real for him to sit out a playoff game. Durant is the ultimate hooper. He’s 37 and plays like he’s 27. He suited up for 78 games this season, averaged 26 points per game and shot 41.3% from three. He isn’t the engine powering Houston’s offense. He is Houston’s offense. 

He’ll have an extra day to test the knee before the Rockets take on the Lakers on Tuesday in Game Two of the series.

Moving forward, the ‘Grinding Out the Profits’ section in the Coffee Club will share exclusive insight into the 2026 College Football season directly from the 2026 Playbook Football Preview Guide magazine. Check out today’s insight:

‘STAT YOU WILL LIKE’:

The California Golden Bears are 10-0 ATS
as non-conference road dogs versus
Power Four opponents.

He turned the stadium into a "Sea of Orange" with orange lights for his performance.

College football fans reacted humorously, acknowledging Wallen's bold Tennessee-themed trolling.

“Things I never thought I’d see: Bryant-Denny Stadium covered in Tennessee orange. Every fan has orange lights on their arms as Morgan Wallen performs “TN”, said a Bama beat writer.

In this instance, Bryant-Denny was essentially a concert arena where music filled the air, not a Bama beat down that normally happens to Tennessee when they take on the Crimson Tide, reported Heartland USA.

On a sidebar note: My wife, Colleen, and I had the pleasure of attending a Morgan Wallen concert at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. We can relate to the lighting show. It was amazing.

The first NFL draft was initiated by Philadelphia Eagles co-owner Bert Bell and held in 1936, and it consisted of nine rounds with a total of 81 players selected.

It was a modest affair, held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, where teams selected players from a small pool of 90 athletes across nine rounds​.

The Philadelphia Eagles had the first overall pick and selected halfback Jay Berwanger, who never played in the NFL. The draft process continued to evolve over the years, with the number of rounds and the way in which players are selected changing multiple times.

In 1958, the draft was reduced from 30 rounds to 20, and in 1977, it was further reduced to 12 rounds. In 1994, the draft was shortened to just seven rounds, which is the current format.

Quarterbacks are the most frequently chosen position at the No. 1 overall spot, with this trend particularly pronounced in recent drafts with 9 of the last 10 No. 1 overall picks leading the charge.

The last year a quarterback was not the No. 1 overall pick was 2022 when DT Trayvon Walker of Georgia was selected. Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh was selected at the top QB at No. 20 that year.

The record for most QBs selected in the 1st round is 6, in 2024 and 1983 (the year of John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino -three Hall of Famers).

Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza will run that streak 10 of the last 11 years when the Las Vegas Raiders call his name first this Thursday night.