At first glance, Steve Kerr and Janet Mills have little in common.

He’s an NBA coach and former player, winning nine titles over his career. She’s a lawyer who’s spent most of her adult life in politics, currently as a governor. He’s from California, she’s from Maine. He’s 59, she’s 77.

It’s where they’re similar, however, that matters: Both recognize that President Donald Trump and his flunkies are shredding our Constitution and the rule of law, and they refuse to stay quiet about it.

“Let today serve as warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the Federal government in this way, but we will not be the last,” Mills said in a statement.

“As I have said previously, this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot.”

Two days earlier, Harvard had refused Trump’s mob boss-esque demands that it become Pyongyang U., prompting Kerr to wear a Harvard basketball T-shirt after Tuesday night’s game.

“I believe in academic freedom,” said Kerr, whose father was a longtime university professor and was assassinated while serving as president of the American University of Beirut.

“I think it’s crucial for all of our institutions to be able to handle their own business the way they want to and they should not be shaken down and told what to teach, what to say, by our government,” Kerr said. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard but it’s kind of par for the course right now.

“So yes, this is me supporting Harvard. Way to go. Way to stand up to the bully.”

Two very different people, yet two very similar messages: Do not give in, do not stay silent.

This country is in the midst of an existential crisis because we have a president who thinks he’s a king and is surrounded by people who don’t have the guts to tell him he’s wrong. Trump and his people are ignoring court decisions, disappearing people, wrecking the economy and taking away services the American people have paid for. Any one of which would be a concern for our democracy but, taken together, is a five-alarm fire.

This should be a concern for every American, regardless of whom you voted for. Trump supporters might be happy with some of his moves — though that’s debatable, judging by the polls and town halls — but he will not be president forever. Imagine a Democrat with Trump’s authoritarian bent and you see where the problem is.

(And before you at me on Joe Biden, just … don’t. I’ll spot you Supreme Court and student loan forgiveness if you need help.)

Our system isn’t perfect. Far from it. But it’s better than the autocracy Trump is trying to usher in, and if we don’t speak out now, it’ll be too late.

We’re already seeing the negative impact of Elon Musk and DOGE taking a chainsaw to the National Institutes of Health and our national parks and Social Security staff. Unless we resist, the effects of all this destruction become baked in and it’ll be generations before we can fix it.

Which is why people like Kerr and Mills are so important.

There is a risk in speaking out, which Mills has seen firsthand. Since she first stood up to Trump, the federal government has frozen funding used to feed Maine schoolchildren and disabled adults, cut money for Maine’s Department of Corrections and briefly halted programs that allowed Maine parents to get Social Security numbers for their newborns before leaving the hospital.

But by standing firm, Mills shows other people there are fights worth having. And, as important, that these fights can be won. The Trump administration backed down on the Social Security numbers, and has been ordered to restore the food funding.

Kerr might not face the same level of risk — though when Trump says he’d like to disappear U.S. citizens, all bets are off! — but his platform is larger. He can get the attention of some people who don’t otherwise pay attention to politics and the dumpster fire that is our country right now, and his opinions can help move those who wouldn’t otherwise understand the urgency.

Trump is a bully, and as any grade-schooler can tell you, the best way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him. In doing so, Kerr and Mills are showing the rest of us how to stand up, too. The future of our country depends on it.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

News flash: NFL teams have a shaky record at best when it comes to evaluating talent.

Every year, players who end up falling to later rounds of the draft emerge as better players than the dozens — if not hundreds — selected ahead of them. In the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, there will be several teams that get great value from players drafted on Days 2 and 3. There will also be teams regretting their choices in the earlier rounds.

There have been plenty of hidden gems in NFL drafts over the years, and some have aged better than others.

These 10 players are the top NFL draft steals of all time, taking into consideration both draft position and NFL production since making it pro.

Top 10 biggest NFL draft steals of all time

10. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers: Round 7, Pick 262 (2022)

Purdy earns a spot on this list as the first ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ — a title given to the last overall pick in a given year’s NFL draft — quarterback to ever start and win a playoff game. Not only did he accomplish that as a rookie, he also led his team to the Super Bowl in his second season. Purdy and the 49ers have yet to get over the hump and win a championship, but he already has earned a Pro Bowl nod and down-ballot MVP votes in his first three seasons.

9. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints: Round 7, Pick 252 (2006)

Colston is something of a wild-card pick on this list. Not only is he not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — as just about every player ahead of him either is or will be — he was never even a Pro Bowler. But it’s impossible to tell the story of the Drew Brees-era Saints without including Colston. The prolific seventh-rounder out of Hofstra recorded six 1,000-yard seasons in his first seven years in the pros. That includes his 1,038-yard rookie season when he finished as the offensive rookie of the year runner-up to Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.

8. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles: Round 6, Pick 191 (2011)

Did the Eagles have any idea how good of a pick they were making when they took Kelce with the 191st overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft? Probably not. But seven Pro Bowls, six first-team All-Pros and a Super Bowl championship later, it definitely became clear. Kelce is going to be a Hall of Famer someday — only three players with that many first-team All-Pro selections have not been enshrined, and one of them is Aaron Donald, another a punter and the third, Jim Tyrer. His stalwart presence as the anchor of the Eagles’ offensive line included nine straight seasons without missing a single start to end his career.

7. Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers: Round 3, Pick 82 (1979)

The only reason Montana is this low on the list is because his status as a ‘steal’ is questionable compared to the much later rounds for the other players. Nevertheless, Joe Cool was the final pick of the third round in the 1979 NFL Draft and the fourth quarterback taken that year (Jack Thompson, Phil Simms, Steve Fuller — all in the first round).

He went on to win four Super Bowls, two NFL MVP awards, earn three first-team All-Pro nods and eight Pro Bowls and, in 2000, his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

6. Richard Dent, DE, Chicago Bears: Round 8, Pick 203 (1983)

The Super Bowl MVP of the 1985 Bears, Dent finished his 15-year career with eight double-digit-sack seasons. That included his league-leading 17 sacks in 1985, which broke Mark Gastineau’s run of two years leading the NFL in the statistic. Dent earned a first-team All-Pro nod that year, along with his second of four Pro Bowl nominations.

He also was named to the All-Pro second-team three other times. He never won another Super Bowl with the Bears, though he did play two games for the 1994 49ers, a team that Steve Young led to a Super Bowl championship.

Dent was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2011. There are no longer eight rounds in the NFL draft, but the 203rd overall pick would fall in the sixth round this year.

5. Terrell Davis, RB, Denver Broncos: Round 6, Pick 196 (1995)

Davis’ 1996 to 1998 run is still one of the greatest three-year stretches a running back has ever had in NFL history. After rushing for 1,117 yards in 14 games as a rookie, the 1995 sixth-round pick rushed for 1,538 yards in 1996; 1,750 in ’97; then a league-leading 2,008 yards in 1998. His touchdown production also increased by a steady rate year-over-year, with 13 in 1996, 15 in 1997 and 21 in 1998 — his 1997 and 1998 marks both led the league.

He was named the NFL MVP in 1998 and earned first-team All-Pro nods in each of those three remarkable seasons, also winning offensive player of the year awards in 1996 and 1998. Injuries derailed his career after that, as he never played more than eight games in any of the three seasons that followed before his retirement.

Davis was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2017.

4. Shannon Sharpe, TE, Denver Broncos: Round 7, Pick 192 (1990)

The 1990s were a great time for the Broncos’ draft evaluators. Sharpe was the second-to-last pick in the seventh round (of 12) in the 1990 NFL Draft and the only player drafted outside of the top-two rounds that year to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Savannah State product is still considered to be one of the greatest tight ends of all time with his 815 career catches for 10,060 receiving yards and 62 touchdowns. Sharpe earned seven straight Pro Bowl nominations between 1992 and 1998 — he also earned another with the Ravens in 2001 — and he finished his 14-year career with four first-team All-Pro nods, including three in a row between 1996 and ’98.

He was a 2011 inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Ken Houston: DB, Houston Oilers: Round 9, Pick 214 (1967)

Houston wasn’t just a steal for the team that drafted him — though, as a ninth-round pick, he certainly was — he also (somehow) ended up being a steal for the Washington team that traded five players to acquire him. By the end of Houston’s 14-year NFL career, he had been named to 12 Pro Bowls. The only years that the star strong safety did not earn a Pro Bowl nod were his rookie season in 1967 and his final season in 1980.

Houston was also a first-team All-Pro for Washington in 1975 and 1978, and he was a second-team All-Pro in 1969 and 1979. He intercepted 49 passes — including nine returned for a touchdown — and recovered 21 fumbles in his career.

He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 1986.

2. Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay Packers: Round 17, Pick 200 (1956)

The Packers took a chance on a young quarterback out of Alabama in the 17th round of the 1956 NFL Draft. He was the ninth quarterback selected in a time in which the league only had 12 teams. And, as has become something of a tradition with Packers quarterbacks, Starr did not age as a ‘steal’ for Green Bay until a few years into his career.

In his fourth season, 1959, new head coach Vince Lombardi named him the starting quarterback. The next year, he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time and led the Packers to the NFL championship game, though they lost to the Eagles. In 1961, he earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod and won his first championship.

Starr went on to win four more NFL championships as the Packers’ starter and led Green Bay to wins in the first two Super Bowls after the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Starr was the winner of the first two Super Bowl MVP awards. He was also the NFL MVP in 1966 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots: Round 6, Pick 199 (2000)

Only one player could ever have topped this list, and it’s the sixth-round pick that went on to win seven Super Bowls, five Super Bowl MVP awards, three MVP awards, 15 Pro Bowl nods and was named to the All-Pro first team three times. He holds dozens of NFL records, including most career passing yards (89,214), most career pass completions (7,753), most career passing attempts (12,050) and most career touchdown passes (649). His 15 Pro Bowl nods are also an NFL record, and he is the only player in football history to win seven championships.

Since he only retired two years ago, he has not been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yet, but he will undoubtedly make it in on his first ballot in 2028.

The Dallas Mavericks are trying to salvage the remains of a disastrous season.

The Mavericks beat Sacramento 120-106 Wednesday in a play-in game and will play the Memphis Grizzlies Friday for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

But ownership and management have said or done nothing to mitigate the fallout from trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in early February. They have made it worse, even as NBA commissioner Adam Silver has tried to soften the blowback from Mavericks and Dončić fans by defending a team’s right to make roster decisions.

The problem compounded with the Lakers’ rise in the standings and success with Dončić, and the Mavericks’ struggle just to get 10^th place and a spot in the play-in game.

The problem took another exponential leap on Tuesday when Mavs general manager and president of basketball operations Nico Harrison once again defended his decision to trade Dončić, and the attempt to assuage an angry fanbase failed.

‘I’ll say this again. Defense wins championships,’ Harrison said in another jab at Dončić, adding that he has no regrets over the trade.

ESPN’s reported that the idea to meet with local media was not Harrison’s idea and was told to do so. New Mavericks CEO Rick Welts, who is NBA royalty and in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions as an NBA executive, was also part of the Q&A session. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called the decision to speak with reporters stupid.

Saying nothing – at this specific moment – would’ve been the prudent choice. There’s not a lot of good that can come from defending the trade – continuing to do it while impugning a fan favorite whose return to Dallas as a Laker during the regular season was a joyful event. Even if it was painful for fans to see what they no longer have, they love Luka.

If the idea to address reporters this week came from ownership, as ESPN reported, it wouldn’t be the first time a relatively new ownership group made missteps early in their tenure. The Adelson-Dumont families bought controlling interest in the Mavericks from Mark Cuban in late 2023 and enjoyed a smooth transition as the Mavs reached the Finals in 2024.

But it’s not unusual for new owners to underestimate fans’ connection to a team. There is so much vitriol directed at Harrison and the Adelson-Dumont ownership group that former Mavs controlling owner Mark Cuban had to urge fans to focus on the 15 players in uniform playing against Sacramento in the play-in game.

It’s difficult to understand why a team would trade someone as gifted and loved by fans as Dončić, who turned 26 years old this season. Who knows if he will lead a team to a title and who knows if he will be an MVP, but he’s been in the conversation before – has finished in the top five three times, including third in 2023-24 – and will be in the conversation again.

Other factors have played into the lingering resentment fans have for the trade. While the Mavericks received Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick from the Lakers, fans look at the draft capital Utah received from Minnesota (the equivalent of five first-round picks) for Rudy Gobert or what Brooklyn received from New York (five first-round picks) for Mikal Bridges. If you’re going to trade Dončić, you need more in return.

Then, injuries decimated Dallas’ season. Of course it makes sense to see what the Mavs can be when Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Dante Exum, Jaden Hardy, Caleb Martin and Dwight Powell can be healthier alongside Christie, Klay Thompson, Spencer Dinwiddie and Naji Marshall.

For now, a sizable and vocal portion of the fanbase has lost faith in management. It’s a bad place for a franchise to be, and that’s why Harrison and Welts talked with reporters. But the timing wasn’t right, and the message missed its target.

But Harrison was right about one thing he told reporters.

‘My responsibility to the fanbase is put a championship caliber team on the floor,’ Harrison said, ‘and we’re going to be judged by wins and losses.’

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward is the heavy betting favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But what would happen if the Tennessee Titans picked Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders instead?

USA TODAY Sports used an NFL draft simulator to predict what would happen if the Titans made a different pick than the common consensus. Tennessee is still in need of a franchise quarterback, with former second-round pick Will Levis unable to prove he’s the answer.

If Sanders, not Ward, is the pick at No. 1, how would the rest of the NFL draft shake out? Where would Ward end up? How much of a domino effect would it have on the expectations for the remainder of picks?

Here’s how things shook out, according to Pro Football Focus’ simulator:

2025 NFL Draft: What if Shedeur Sanders is the first overall pick?

1. Tennessee Titans: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

It all starts here for this simulation. Sanders is not projected to be the first quarterback off the board, but what if the Titans saw something they really liked?

2. Cleveland Browns: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

Ward’s ‘slide’ down the draft board lasts all of one pick. The Browns are in need of a franchise quarterback after their ‘swing-and-miss’ attempt – as owner Jimmy Haslam put it – when they traded for Deshaun Watson and signed him to a massive extension. He’s set to miss a hefty portion if not all of the 2025 season after tearing his Achilles twice – once during the season and once during his recovery.

Cleveland traded for Eagles backup Kenny Pickett earlier this offseason before bringing back veteran quarterback Joe Flacco after he spent last year with Indianapolis. Ward would be poised to take the starting job with this pick.

3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

If the Giants can’t get a top quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick, they might as well take the best overall prospect, since he’s still on the board. Hunter could contribute on either side of the ball for New York, though he’d fit better at cornerback after the Giants drafted Malik Nabers last year.

4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Two quarterbacks going in the top two also means the Patriots get a chance to draft one of the best prospects in the class, who’s still on the board at No. 4 in this scenario. After a 2024 season in which New England was unable to get much pressure on opposing quarterbacks, it gets the best pass-rusher in the class to bolster its front seven.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

A return to relative normalcy at this point in the draft. The Jaguars are a betting favorite to draft Mason Graham to improve their top roster need on the defensive line. With two quarterbacks, Hunter and Carter off the board in the first four picks, Jacksonville sticks with the obvious pick: Graham.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Another ‘normal’ pick. The Raiders got their quarterback when they traded for Geno Smith earlier this offseason and have a top pass-catcher in tight end Brock Bowers. But they’re still missing a leading running back. Jeanty is far and away the top option at the position in this class, and Las Vegas rounds out its offense with the sixth overall pick.

7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

New York needs to improve its blocking up front, especially with new quarterback Justin Fields coming to town. Membou is a nice start as the first tackle to come off the board in this simulation. A strong tackle with plenty of bulk on his 6-foot-4, 332-pound frame, Membou is also explosive with good length for the position.

8. Carolina Panthers: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Rather than improving their lackluster pass rush, the Panthers pull the trigger on an additional pass-catcher for quarterback Bryce Young. Receivers Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker showed promise in their rookie campaigns last year, and Warren would provide an upgrade at the position over Tommy Tremble. Tremble signed a two-year contract this offseason, but last year was his first year surpassing 200 receiving yards. How the simulation feels about Warren’s fit with 2024 fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders is a mystery.

9. New Orleans Saints: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Paulson Adebo is off in New York after free agency, and Marshon Lattimore is with Washington after a trade deadline move last year. New Orleans needs help in its defensive secondary, and with Sanders and Ward both off the board immediately, this wasn’t a great spot for the Saints to try to take a shot at quarterback, despite Derek Carr’s injury.

10. Chicago Bears: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Give quarterback Caleb Williams all of the weapons. Last year, they signed D.J. Moore to a four-year extension and drafted Rome Odunze. Rather than give Williams more protection up front, the simulator decided replacing Keenan Allen was more pressing. Regardless, it’s another pass-catcher to help out the quarterback and a good one for new head coach Ben Johnson to work with.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Trent Williams will be 37 in July, and Colton McKivitz will hit free agency next year. And even though San Francisco lost several of its starters on the defensive line, this simulation saw a good opportunity to fill another roster need with great value after Campbell slid out of the top 10. The LSU product could help improve a 49ers offensive line that ranked 14th in the NFL in pass-block win rate but 24th in run-block win rate in 2024.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

The Cowboys lost defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence to the Seahawks in free agency before bringing back Dante Fowler Jr. for a second stint after his 10.5-sack season in Washington in 2024. With this pick, Dallas gets even more pass-rushing/run-stuffing help alongside star linebacker Micah Parsons. Williams is an explosive edge defender with great length and the potential to get even better as he gets stronger with an NFL training regimen.

13. Miami Dolphins: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

A pick for Golden primarily would serve as insurance for a potential future in which Tyreek Hill gets traded away from Miami. Both Hill and Jaylen Waddle had bad years in 2024, though quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six games may have played a much bigger part in that than either of their individual performances. Golden was a standout receiver at Texas with great ball skills and excellent speed (4.29-second 40-yard dash).

14. Indianapolis Colts: Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia

Rather than taking care of a very pressing need at tight end, the Colts pull the trigger to take care of a very pressing need at linebacker/edge rusher – Walker can play either. One year after Indianapolis made Laiatu Latu the first defensive player off the board at No. 15 overall, he recorded four sacks in a rotational pass-rush role. Kwity Paye led the team with eight sacks, but he’s set to hit free agency after next year. Indianapolis could use more juice on the defensive side of the ball if it doesn’t improve its tight end situation, and that’s what the Walker pick adds.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

Atlanta has to keep taking swings at edge rushers until it finds one that sticks. The Falcons have not been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks consistently for almost a decade now. Matthew Judon only had 5.5 sacks last year after Atlanta traded for him, and 2022 second-round pick Arnold Ebiketie led the team with just six sacks. The Falcons haven’t had a 10-sack player since Vic Beasley in 2016. The simulator seemed to understand this, and selected the player that led FBS with 17 sacks in 2024.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

A mid-round run of edge rushers continues, with Arizona deciding to bolster its pass-rush attack one year after ranking 28th in the NFL in pass-rush win rate. Ezeiruaku finished second in FBS with 16.5 sacks last year and ranked third in tackles for a loss with 20.5. Given that the Cardinals didn’t have a single player with more than five sacks last year, Ezeiruaku gives them a great shot at getting more production from their pass rush.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

A fourth straight edge rusher – and fifth in the last six picks – comes off the board right after the halfway point of the first round. The Bengals didn’t really have anyone besides Trey Hendrickson making plays off the edge last year, and his future in Cincinnati is murky at best. With Stewart, the AFC North contenders get a replacement for Hendrickson at worst and make their pass rush much, much scarier at best. Stewart didn’t have outstanding production in college, but his physical traits and athleticism project well at the next level.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Not every pick can be a home run when a computer simulator is making them. The idea of taking a receiver to replace the losses of Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf this offseason isn’t a bad one. However, in drafting Egbuka, the Seahawks would have three slot receivers – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Egbuka – and no true playmakers on the outside for new quarterback Sam Darnold. Perhaps things would have played out better for Seattle if the Bears and Dolphins addressed more pressing positions of need earlier in the round.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

The Buccaneers are returning all of their offensive starters in 2025 after re-signing wide receiver Chris Godwin. That puts them in position to tackle (no pun intended) defensive help in the first round of this year’s draft. Depending on how Walker is classified, Campbell is either the best or second-best off-ball linebacker in the 2025 class. He’s extremely athletic and would give Tampa Bay a player that can both play in pass coverage and rush the passer.

20. Denver Broncos: Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi

Interior defenders Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers will both hit free agency after the 2025 season, so even after Denver brought in D.J. Jones on a three-year deal, getting more youthful depth at the position will be crucial. In Nolen, the Broncos would be getting a player with three years of starting experience in the SEC and one who can pressure the quarterback from the interior (6.5 sacks in 13 games in 2024).

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

With the top two quarterbacks off the board immediately, down at pick No. 21, the Steelers don’t force making a pick at the position to fill a need. Instead, they move to enhance their offensive line for whoever does end up starting under center in 2025.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Asante Samuel Jr., Eli Apple and Kristian Fulton all hit free agency this offseason, and the simulator was not satisfied with the additions of Benjamin St-Juste and Donte Jackson. Johnson can play both man and zone, and he’s fluid in his movements at cornerback while also bringing the requisite physicality for the position.

23. Green Bay Packers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Green Bay needs to get some big help up front on the defensive side, and that’s exactly what the simulator had them do with the 23rd pick. Grant had 32 tackles – including 6.5 for a loss – and three sacks last year as the Wolverines’ nose tackle, playing next to No. 5 pick Mason Graham.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Aaron Jones is back in Minnesota in 2025, but he’s going to be 31 in December. The Vikings also signed Jordan Mason after something of a breakout year with the 49ers, but he suffered a shoulder sprain and high-ankle sprain last year. Hampton is the second-best running back prospect in the class behind Jeanty and gives the Vikings some extra depth at the position here, late in the first round.

25. Houston Texans: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Stefon Diggs is in New England, and Tank Dell suffered a gruesome, season-ending knee injury late last year. If the Texans aren’t going to put work in early to improve an offensive line it blew up this offseason, it behooves them to add wide receiver help for quarterback C.J. Stroud. Burden ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis and was a first-team All-SEC receiver last year. He has plenty of experience with three years playing as a starter for the Tigers.

26. Los Angeles Rams: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Sure, why not? After releasing wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the Rams could use an additional pass-catcher in the offense, and tight end is a fine position to add to with Tyler Higbee set to hit free agency next year. Loveland, along with Warren, is one of the top tight ends in the 2025 class. He’d be a fine piece for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford to throw to with his excellent ball skills and consistent hands.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

Baltimore brought back left tackle Ronnie Stanley in free agency, but getting more help in the interior is a must for the Ravens in the draft. Booker started every game for Alabama over the last two seasons and earned a first-team All-SEC nod in 2024. His abilities as a run blocker stand out and would be a really nice fit for the run-heavy Ravens offense.

28. Detroit Lions: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Lions already have a couple of anchors at their tackle spots: Penei Sewell on the right side and Taylor Decker on the left. They also have a good swing-man option in Dan Skipper as additional depth behind them. But building more quality depth on the offensive line is never a bad thing, especially for a team that suffered the consequences of the injury bug that came for Detroit last year. Banks provides tackle depth and is also a potential option to replace Kevin Zeitler at a guard spot if the Lions so choose.

29. Washington Commanders: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee

Washington needs to bring in pass-rushing reinforcements after losing sack leader Dante Fowler Jr. to the Cowboys in free agency. Enter James Pearce Jr., who’s a lengthy edge rusher with tons of explosiveness coming off a first-team All-SEC season that featured 13 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. With some added strength and developed technique, he has a future as a dangerous weapon off the edge in Washington.

30. Buffalo Bills: Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State

Zabel has played four of the five positions on the offensive line (everything but center) and projects well as an interior lineman at the pro level. But do the Bills really need more help on the offensive line, rather than prioritizing defensive help? This simulator seemed to think so. Perhaps the computer sees Zabel as the upcoming replacement for David Edwards, who hits free agency in 2026.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

It really feels like the simulator would have been better off switching picks 30 and 31. The Chiefs have a bigger need on the offensive line, while the Bills need more help on their defensive line. Instead, the Chiefs select Harmon at 31 to pair with Chris Jones up the middle. Sure, Patrick Mahomes took six sacks in the Super Bowl, and sure, the Chiefs have major offensive line questions with Joe Thuney gone and Trey Smith playing on the franchise tag, but why not add an interior defender to make their run-stopping more stingy?

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

What do you get for the (team) that has everything? How about another Georgia defender. Add Starks to the growing list of former Bulldogs that general manager Howie Roseman employs in Philadelphia. They’ve got Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Kelee Ringo out there, and it got them a Super Bowl ring after the 2024 season. Starks is the best safety in the draft class, and Philadelphia could use him as a replacement for C.J. Gardner-Johnson, whom it traded to Houston in March.

In 2005, Paul Heyman became the head writer for Ohio Valley Wrestling, then one of WWE’s developmental brands. The goal was for him to develop the right people to eventually promote to the main roster on Raw and SmackDown.

Not long after Heyman took over OVW, an up-and-coming star was sent to the promotion. The order given to Heyman was to fire him. But Heyman wouldn’t do it. Since he didn’t handle hiring people, he wasn’t going to be the one to fire them.

Plus, Heyman saw something in this young wrestler, something that could end up making them a box-office attraction.

That star ended up being CM Punk.

“He was not supposed to make it. That’s for real,” Heyman told USA TODAY Sports.

Now, 20 years later, Punk will fulfill Heyman’s vision by participating in the main event of WrestleMania 41 night one, taking on Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a triple threat match between enormous figures in the business. 

For Punk, Saturday night in Allegiant Stadium will be the culmination of a career-long journey to headline WWE’s top event. He was denied it several times, and it played a role in his departure from the company in 2014. He swore he wouldn’t come back to the business.

But he couldn’t ignore the desire to be a main-event star. He returned to the profession with All Elite Wrestling in 2021, and after a tumultuous end with the company, he made his shocking return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023. 

After a triceps injury forced him to miss WrestleMania 40 last year, Punk is now healthy and ready for his WrestleMania moment. It was a long and winding road, but it resulted in Punk finally achieving his dream.

“One would suggest that this is a most improbable circumstance that came to be, for both professional and personal reasons,” Heyman said. 

One part of the storyline for the match involves Heyman’s relationships with Punk and Reigns. The WWE Hall of Famer has produced some of his best work since he became “The Wiseman” for Reigns in 2020. Since then, Heyman has been there as Reigns reached the pinnacle of WWE.

But way before that, Heyman was aligned with Punk. Beside working in OVW two decades ago, Heyman was the on-screen advocate for Punk in 2012 and 2013. They’ve had such a close bond, and that’s why when Reigns and the OG Bloodline needed someone to help at Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 in November, Heyman went to Punk.

Despite the differences with Reigns, Punk agreed to help and it paid off with a victory. The only thing Punk asked for in return was a secret favor he’d eventually cash in — having Heyman in his corner at WrestleMania 41, putting Heyman at a crossroads.

While it has added an extra layer to an increasingly-hot feud ahead of WrestleMania 41, this favor was actually a promise, and it came long before Punk aided Reigns last year.

After Heyman left WWE in December 2006, he was in former WWE star Big Show’s bus with him and Rob Van Dam when Punk walked in. He was in shambles, fearing for his career after Heyman left the company. Punk believed he would be fired.

Heyman rebuffed the notion. 

“I said, ‘They can’t fire you. You’re too damn good at what you do,’” Heyman recalled.

Then he made a bold claim.

“I said, ‘But when you main event WrestleMania, bring me back to be in your corner, we’ll enjoy that first WrestleMania main event of yours together, and will force them to deal with us,’” Heyman added.

Punk was barely in his first year of being on-screen in WWE and hadn’t even competed in his first WrestleMania match yet. But Heyman knew the moment would come.

Despite being a wrestling icon, Heyman didn’t walk down the ramp at WrestleMania until 2013. The person he did it with was Punk. Now, he’ll be able to accompany him again in a WrestleMania main event.

“Life takes a lot of crazy turns, and these turns have been especially crazy for the both of us. So when you look at our trajectories or our journeys, they are pretty wild,” Heyman said.

Heyman knows this has been Punk’s dream. It was something they discussed “in great detail” when they first met in 2005, and Heyman made the promise to be in Punk’s corner in 2006 when it did happen.

That’s why it was an emotional moment for Heyman on March 28 when he got to tell Punk the match would close out the show. Twenty years after first talking about it, Heyman and Punk will get to live out the dream together. 

“I couldn’t imagine anybody else giving him the news,” Heyman said.

(This article was updated to change a video.)

We’re just a week away from the 2025 NFL draft, and mock drafts across the internet expect former Miami (Fla.) quarterback Cam Ward will hear his name called first on April 24 at the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field in Wisconsin.

Unlike the 2024 draft class, Ward is not the consensus No. 1 pick, but it’s still a rare mock draft that doesn’t put him ahead of edge rusher Abdul Carter or two-way phenom and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

By combining the collective insights from 20 first-round, mock drafts created by USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and Pro Football Focus, or PFF, we hope to provide similar clarity for fans of all 32 teams. The drafts range from this week to the last day of the 2024 regular season.

2025 NFL draft order

A handful of players dominate the top of the draft board. As you go deeper into the first round, you learn less about the individual players that teams might pick and more about the positions teams may likely target.

Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.

Top draft prospects in the 2025 NFL draft

A few trends stand out from the mock draft predictions so far:

Offense vs. defense: Not unlike previous drafts, teams with earlier picks appear more likely to select offensive player. The exceptions: Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers. Also, the New Orleans Saints appear to be divided in the chart above, but every recent mock draft illustrated here expects they’ll pick a quarterback.

Travis Hunter: He might play cornerback and/or wide receiver in the NFL. Wherever he ends up playing on the field, no draft expects he’ll fall below the Jacksonville Jaguars at fifth. Most have Hunter going to the Cleveland Browns with the second pick.

Shedeur Sanders had been almost a consensus second or third pick in early drafts, but since the NFL combine, mock drafters have moved him up and down in the first round. USA TODAY’s most recent mock draft shows how Sanders could even fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st pick.

2025 NFL draft predictions

The biggest needs for each of the teams below are based on an NFL.com analysis published just after the Super Bowl. Players’ heights and weights are those published after the NFL Combine.

1 | Tennessee Titans

Nearly all mock drafts open with Ward as the Titans’ most likely pick. Seven of the last eight mock drafts by USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and Pro Football Focus have Ward going first overall.

Biggest needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher, offensive tackle and safety.

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2 | Cleveland Browns

Will the Browns still consider selecting Shedeur Sanders with the second pick, considering they traded with the Eagles for quarterback Kenny Pickett? All of the most recent mock drafts by USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and Pro Football Focus have Hunter as the Browns’ selection.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver and running back

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3 | New York Giants

Two weeks ago, all but PFF’s mock draft had the Giants selecting Sanders, but those mock drafts were posted before the Giants signed Russell Wilson. Now all but PFF’s mock draft predict the Giants will pick Abdul Carter, Penn State edge rusher and Big Ten’s top defensive player.

Biggest needs: Quarterback, offensive tackle and guard, cornerback and safety

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4 | New England Patriots

Past mock drafts had been split as to whether Hunter would fall to the New England Patriots, or they will end up strengthening their offensive line. Now that conventional wisdom puts Hunter as the No. 2 pick, three of the most recent mock drafts predict the Patriots will select Will Campbell, LSU offensive tackle.

Biggest needs: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback and interior offensive line

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5 | Jacksonville Jaguars

Most mock drafts expect the Jacksonville Jaguars will bolster their defense with their first pick. All but USA TODAY’s most recent mock draft predict the Jaguars will select defensive tackle Mason Graham from Michigan.

Biggest needs: Cornerback, safety, interior offensive line, wide receiver and quarterback

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6 | Las Vegas Raiders

Seventy-five percent of mock drafts expect the Las Vegas Raiders will look to add an offensive weapon. While USA TODAY proposed wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan as the Raiders pick, others have pushed running back Ashton Jeanty up the board, including half of the most recent mock drafts.

Biggest needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, running back, cornerback and defensive tackle

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7 | New York Jets

Are the New York Jets satisfied that they’ve addressed one of their biggest needs at quarterback by signing Justin Fields to a two-year deal? All but PFF’s most recent draft have the Jets adding more protection for Fields by selecting offensive tackle Armand Membou from Missouri.

Biggest needs: Quarterback, defensive tackle, offensive tackle, safety and cornerback

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8 | Carolina Panthers

While the Panthers have areas to upgrade on offense, all the most recent mock drafts predict the Panthers will select a defensive player with the eighth pick. In their past eight drafts, USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and PFF all circled Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker as the Panthers’ likely selection.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, wide receiver, center and quarterback

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9 | New Orleans Saints

The mock drafts and initially expected the New Orleans Saints would try to bolster their defense with the ninth pick. In their latest drafts, though, it’s been all quarterback: USA TODAY and PFF predicted Jaxson Dart from Mississippi while NFL.com and ESPN predicted Sanders.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, wide receiver, center and quarterback

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10 | Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears made two big moves to improve their offensive line at the start of free agency. That hasn’t fixed everything on offense in the eyes of the experts. In the most recent mock drafts, though, it’s been more about giving more options than protection for quarterback Caleb Williams, including tight end Tyler Warren from Penn State.

Biggest needs: Offensive guard and tackle, center, edge rusher and wide receiver

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11 | San Francisco 49ers

Earlier in the year, San Francisco 49ers’ mock drafts leaned toward defensive players. But since free agency started, most expect the 49ers will try to improve their offensive line with tackles Will Campbell from LSU, Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas or Membou.

Biggest needs: Cornerback, defensive tackle, edge rusher, linebacker and offensive guard

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12 | Dallas Cowboys

All but two of the mock drafts have predicted that the Dallas Cowboys will select an offensive player. Running back Jeanty had been a favorite earlier in the year, but subsequent drafts have predicted he’ll go higher. The focus now has turned to wide receiver prospects such as Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) or Matthew Golden (Texas).

Biggest needs: Running back, offensive guard, defensive tackle, cornerback and linebacker

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13 | Miami Dolphins

Since the 2024-25 season ended mock drafts suggested the Miami Dolphins might pick the best player available on either side of the ball. Most recent mock drafts are also split between an offensive lineman or cornerback Will Johnson from Michigan.

Biggest needs: Safety, defensive tackle, offensive guard, linebacker and quarterback

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14 | Indianapolis Colts

About 70% of the mock drafts expect the Indianapolis Colts will pick an offensive player – most likely a tight end. Most mock drafts have predicted Tyler Warren from Penn State might be the pick.

Biggest needs: Interior offensive line, tight end, cornerback, linebacker and safety

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15 | Atlanta Falcons

Just one of the 16 mock drafts suggest that the Atlanta Falcons will use their first pick on offense. Edge rusher Mike Green from Marshall has shown up most frequently as the Falcons’ selection.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, safety, cornerback, center and wide receiver

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16 | Arizona Cardinals

A majority of mock drafts speculate the Arizona Cardinals will choose a defensive player first, and since free agency has started, the draft experts have offered up any number of defensive positions.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, wide receiver, offensive guard and offensive tackle

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17 | Cincinnati Bengals

Since free agency started, mock drafts have seen the Cincinnati Bengals potentially using their first pick on an edge rusher. Might that change if they find a way keep Trey Hendrickson who they’ve allowed to seek a trade? The defensive player most often mentioned as the Bengals first pick: Walter Nolen, tackle from Mississippi.

Biggest needs: Wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, cornerback and offensive guard

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18 | Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks may have addressed one of their biggest needs by agreeing to a three-year, $100.5 million deal with quarterback Sam Darnold. Now mock drafts expect the Seahawks will most likely try to improve their offensive line with a tackle such as Grey Zabel from North Dakota State.

Biggest needs: Offensive guard, quarterback, linebacker, defensive tackle and offensive tackle

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19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Most mock drafts expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will attempt to improve their defense with their first pick. Mock drafters have proposed several positions, but linebacker Jihaad Campbell of Alabama has been most frequently mentioned.

Biggest needs: Wide receiver, offensive guard, linebacker, edge rusher and offensive tackle

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20 | Denver Broncos

Mock drafts have predicted the Denver Broncos will look for an offensive player in the first round. That trend didn’t change following the start of free agency. After turning in a strong performance at the NFL combine, running back Omarion Hampton from North Carolina has risen up the draft board. All but PFF’s draft had Hampton going to Denver in their most recent mock drafts.

Biggest needs: Tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, safety and defensive tackle

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21 | Pittsburgh Steelers

A slight majority of the mock drafts predict the Pittsburgh Steelers will choose an offensive player with their first pick. Mock drafts have suggested three possible quarterbacks (two in the most recent drafts), considering Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are currently the Steelers current options.

Biggest needs: Quarterback, cornerback, running back, wide receiver and offensive tackle

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22 | Los Angeles Chargers

The mock drafts seem spilt on which side of the ball the Los Angeles Chargers will address with their first pick, but if they choose offense, USA TODAY, NFL.com and ESPN see tight end Colston Loveland from Michigan as potentially a good fit.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, center, safety and tight end

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23 | Green Bay Packers

Since free agency began, mock drafts had been spilt on which side of the ball the Green Bay Packers will address with their first pick. But in most recent mock drafts, all but USA TODAY’s draft predicted the Packers will add to their defense – either with a cornerback or edge rusher.

Biggest needs: Cornerback, edge rusher, defensive tackle, center and wide receiver

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24 | Minnesota Vikings

Most of the mock drafts predict the Minnesota Vikings will use their first pick on a defensive player. After a strong performance at the combine, safety Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina could be that player, but mock drafts suggest the Vikings could go variety of directions.

Biggest needs: Cornerback, defensive tackle, running back, offensive guard and safety

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25 | Houston Texans

Most of the mock drafts predict the Houston Texans will look to upgrade their offensive line at either the guard or tackle position for quarterback C.J. Stroud. Half of the most recent mock drafts predict the Texans might pick Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas.

Biggest needs: Wide receiver, offensive guard, defensive tackle, cornerback and offensive tackle

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26 | Los Angeles Rams

Previous mock drafts have predicted the Los Angeles Rams are most likely to focus on offense in the first round. Following the start of free agency, mock drafts have been split on which side of the ball the Rams will try to upgrade. But in the most recent mock drafts, USA TODAY, ESPN and PFF proposed three different cornerbacks.

Biggest needs: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker and tight end

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27 | Baltimore Ravens

Previous mock drafts have predicted the Baltimore Ravens will lean toward defense in the first round. That trend continues in the most recent mock drafts. USA TODAY, NFL.com and PFF have all had edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku from Boston College going to the Ravens in recent drafts.

Biggest needs: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, offensive guard and safety

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28 | Detroit Lions

Previous mock drafts have predicted the Detroit Lions will lean toward defense in the first round, but following free agency, the experts are split. If the Lions decide to bolster their offense, USA TODAY and NFL.com think the Lions will look for a guard such as Tyler Booker from Alabama.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, cornerback, wide receiver, offensive guard and defensive tackle

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29 | Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have traded several of their 2025 draft picks for veteran players in the past few months, which could lead them to trade back into later rounds to gain at least one more pick. If they don’t, the mock drafts predict the Commanders will select the best available defensive player.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, offensive tackle, wide receiver, linebacker and cornerback

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30 | Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills may have improved their defense with a one-year, $12.6 million deal for linebacker Joey Bosa, although mock draft experts hadn’t seen linebacker as one of the team’s top needs. Following the start of free agency, mock drafters think the Bills might focus on cornerback or safety.

Biggest needs: Defensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback and safety

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31 | Kansas City Chiefs

Mock drafts have been largely split about which side of the ball the Kansas City Chiefs will address with their first pick. But offensive tackle has been the focus in the most recent mock drafts – especially Josh Simmons from Ohio State.

Biggest needs: Defensive tackle, offensive guard, offensive tackle, wide receiver and edge rusher

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32 | Philadelphia Eagles

Previous mock drafts predicted the Philadelphia Eagles will lean toward defense in the first round. That expectation hasn’t changed since free agency started. But what position or who is far from settled, considering they have the final pick of the round.

Biggest needs: Edge rusher, wide receiver, linebacker, offensive guard and kicker

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Want to see more detail about any of the mock drafts used for this story:

Drafts at the end of the regular season:USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF

After the Super Bowl:USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF

Following the NFL combine: USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF

First weeks of free agency:USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF

Week before the draft: USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF

The Sacramento Kings are hitting the reset button again.

According to multiple reports, the Kings and general manager Monte McNair have ‘mutually’ agreed to part ways. The news emerged shortly after the Kings were eliminated from playoff contention with a 120-106 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 9-10 play-in game.

McNair was hired in September 2020 and spent five seasons in charge of the Kings. They made the playoffs once during McNair’s tenure, in 2023. That postseason appearance, which ended in a seven-game loss to the Golden State Warriors in the first round, was the first for the Kings since 2006. McNair was named Executive of the Year that season.

Overall, the Kings went 195-205 with McNair in charge.

Their just-completed 2024-25 season in particular was filled with turmoil. The Kings fired Mike Brown, the Coach of the Year in 2022-23, after a 13-18 start. They later traded star De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a deal that landed them Zach LaVine.

Now, they kick off their offseason with a search for a new GM.

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No Luka, no problem — at least for now.

The No. 10 Dallas Mavericks, often criticized for their February trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers, rolled through the No. 9 Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night to advance to the final game of the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament.

In the 120-106 victory, Mavericks center Anthony Davis led his team with 27 points and nine rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan — and his 33-point performance — was practically the lone bright spot for the Kings.

The Mavericks will face the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, with the winner clinching the final spot in the Western Conference, and a date against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which finished with the top record (68-14) in the NBA.

The Kings are eliminated and will now continue their search for a permanent head coach after firing Mike Brown in late December.

Here are three takeaways from Wednesday night’s Kings-Mavericks play-in game:

Don’t hate on Nico Harrison just yet. His defensive vision could be special.

Going back to the Dončić trade, general manager Nico Harrison has had his own fans berate him for trading a five-time All-NBA unicorn in his prime. And while one victory in the lower bracket of the play-in, against a weaker opponent, won’t prove anything, Dallas has built an imposing front court trio of rim protectors in Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and backup Daniel Gafford.

They can adjust so many shots at the cup, can clog the lane and congest the mid-range. Domantas Sabonis struggled Wednesday, scoring just 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting. The Mavericks blocked eight shots and swiped nine steals.

Will that height and defense be enough to beat Memphis? That remains to be seen, but with the Grizzlies having Zach Edey, Jaren Jackson Jr. and plenty of height of their own, Dallas matches up well — especially because Ja Morant (ankle) thrives on attacking the paint.

The Kings are a flawed team. Their inability to defend the perimeter has proven lethal.

Throughout this season, the Kings often gave up monster quarters. Most often, it was because of an avalanche of 3s they allowed opponents to flush with little resistance, as they ranked dead last in defensive 3-point percentage (38.1%).

In the second quarter Wednesday night, Dallas outscored Sacramento 44-19 on eight made 3s. In fact, in the second period, the Mavericks made double the amount of 3s than they missed (four).

In particular, Klay Thompson ignited for 16 points in the second quarter, hitting all five of his attempts from the floor, four of which came from beyond the arc. But, proving how detrimental Sacramento’s perimeter defense can be, look at the play of Davis, who had struggled for most of the first half. But a pair of lazy closeouts and overcommitments on driving players led to kickouts to Davis, who put home a pair of 3s late in the quarter to extend Dallas’ lead to 23.

Davis had started the game 0-of-5 and then proceeded to score 17 points in just fewer than 10 minutes of game time — with the rash of 3s being key in the turnaround.

Mavericks role players came up big. They will need plenty more of that.

Thompson’s eruption in the second quarter was just one of the contributions from Dallas’ role players Wednesday night. Forward P.J. Washington, despite struggling from 3, delivered a steady dose of drives and mid-range jumpers, drawing fouls and getting to the line. He finished with 17 points and nine boards.

But it was the play of backup point guard Brandon Williams, who provided an efficient spark, scoring 17 points on eight shots (hitting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc) in just 18 minutes on the floor. Williams also dished five assists without a single turnover, providing that peak efficiency teams seek in bench players.

When Davis was struggling early, it was the role players who carried Dallas. And for the Mavericks to have a shot Friday against the Grizzlies — or beyond — they will need similar performances from players not named Davis.

We have our first elimination of the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament.

The No. 9 Chicago Bulls slogged through an unfocused, undisciplined and ineffective first half at home, falling to the No. 10 Miami Heat, 109-90.

Heat All-Star guard Tyler Herro laced his first eight shot attempts and finished with 38 points on 13-of-19 shooting to lead all players. Point guard Josh Giddey led Chicago with 25 points, but the Bulls were held to 39.8% shooting from the floor.

Miami now travels to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Friday night in an elimination game, with the winner claiming the East’s No. 8 seed and a matchup against the No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Here are three takeaways from Wednesday night’s Bulls-Heat play-in game:

Plagued all season by slow starts, Bulls dig themselves a hole too big

Chicago’s defensive intention in the first half of an elimination game was — frankly — insulting. Miami started 9-of-11 from the field and scored its first 10 points in the paint. Three of those early attempts were uncontested layups when Herro breezed through the lane.

The easy buckets, naturally, unlocked the rest of Herro’s portfolio; he scored 16 in the first quarter and made his first eight attempts, overall. Bulls players stood around, pointed fingers, did not communicate well and seemingly moved more slowly than Miami.

This has been an issue all season: Chicago tied for  22nd in first-half defensive rating (115.6) and tied for 25th in first-half net rating (-5.4). The Bulls will have all offseason to ponder a solution.

Plagued all season by incompetent second halves, Heat respond in the fourth

Miami lost an NBA-worst 15 games this season after carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. The Heat were 14-28 in clutch games. Wednesday night, they held a 24-point lead at the half and saw it evaporate to 14 after scoring only 17 points in the third quarter. It appeared inevitable that Chicago, which swept Miami in three regular season games (including a pair of fourth-quarter comebacks), would close the gap.

The Heat, though, led once again by Herro, withstood Chicago’s attempts to claw back into the game, clamping down on defense. Miami limited the Bulls to just 16 points in the fourth quarter, and just 90 overall — a season low. This against a Chicago team that averaged 121.1 points per game over its last 28.

The bad news for Miami: Cleveland — if the Heat beats the Hawks Friday — is not Chicago, and Miami would not be able to afford inefficient second halves against the NBA’s top offense.

Erik Spoelstra masterclass shows why Miami can be tough out

Regarded widely as one of the premier coaches in the NBA, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra created a decided advantage Wednesday night with his gameplan. The Bulls ranked second in pace, generating 103.61 possessions per 48 minutes. And while Miami clearly focused on getting back in transition, the Heat, perhaps unconventionally, tried to outrun the Bulls.

Miami, which ranked 27^th in pace (97.08), pushed the tempo, unsettling Chicago’s defense and leading to uncontested looks. The easy buckets in turn stifled Chicago’s offense, preventing transition opportunities. At the half, Chicago had scored just four fast break points.

And then on defense, Spoelstra matched up do-it-all defender Bam Adebayo, who starts at power forward, against Bulls point guard Josh Giddey, the player who had given Miami fits. Giddey did have his 25 points, but his four assists were well below his season average of 7.2 per game.

The NBA identified four wrong calls in its Last Two Minute Report for the Golden State Warriors-Memphis Grizzlies play-in game.

The NBA reviewed 21 total calls/non-calls from the Warriors’ 121-116 win Tuesday, which secured the No. 7 seed in the West for Golden State.

The first error the NBA identified was a non-call on Draymond Green with 1:29 to go. The NBA said Green should have been assessed a foul, which would have been his sixth, on a reach-in attempt on Scotty Pippen Jr.’s drive. Seconds later, Memphis’ Zach Edey scored a putback the NBA says should have been offensive goaltending.

With under a minute to go, the NBA says refs made the wrong call on Brandin Podziemski’s would-be block on Pippen. The report states Podziemski ‘makes contact with the ball … and any ensuing contact once the ball becomes loose is considered incidental.’ Reggie Miller noted on the TNT broadcast in real time that the Warriors did not have any challenges.

The final incorrect call came with just over 7 seconds left. With Golden State leading 117-116, Ja Morant knocked the ball away from Steph Curry. It was ruled Warriors ball, but the report says Curry touched it last and it should have been Memphis’ ball.

Memphis now needs a win at home Friday to earn the No. 8 seed in the West.

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