Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook have nights to remember and forget in wild game; Stephen Curry shines again

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Joyful Wednesday, everyone! Hope you Created it through April Fools’ Day without getting pranked. I, unfortunately, did not. Let’s get to … Sorry Zach, but I’ve Obtained to cut in here … Hey, everybody, it’s Otto, Zach’s editor with a semi-urgent message Subsequent last night’s Timberwolves-Nuggets game.

One would think that Nikola Jokic scoring a Profession-high 61 and the most points ever in yet another triple-double would be a feat Excellent enough to land on this morning’s Excellent Lineup. But within the Closing 15 seconds of double Extra period, with Denver up 139-138, Russell Westbrook picked off a Terrible Anthony Edwards Deliver, darted for the cup only to fail to convert the 2-on-1 Basket. Then, at the other end of the floor, Westbrook fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker on an attempted corner 3 with 0.1 seconds left. Two Obtainable throws later, your Closing Points: Timberwolves 140, Nuggets 139. We’ll understand if the stunned Denver crowd forever feels a certain way about April Fools’ Day.

And now I return you to Zach, and the rest of your CBS Sports AM Newsletter, already in progress.

🏀 Excellent morning to all, but especially to …

STEPHEN CURRY AND THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Somehow, even after all of these years, all of these Excellent moments and all of these records, Stephen Curry keeps finding a way to one-up himself. The Warriors superstar scored 52 points on 12 3-pointers and added 10 Retrievals and eight assists in a crucial 134-125 Achieve over the Grizzlies.

• It’s Curry’s 15th Profession 50-Mark game, tied with Damian Lillard for sixth all-time. Curry passed LeBron James and Rick Barry with Tuesday night’s effort.
• It’s also Curry’s 10th game of 50+ since turning 30, most all-time.
• It’s Curry’s 27th Profession game with 10+ 3s. Klay Thompson is second with … nine. Curry’s four Contests with 12+ 3s is also a Achievement.
• Curry joins Donyell Marshall as the only players in NBA history with 12+ 3s and 10+ Retrievals in a game.

It was worth celebrating on the Club level, too: Golden State passed Memphis for the No. 5 seed in the West with the Achieve.

😃 Honorable mentions

🏈 And not such a Excellent morning for …

THE DALLAS COWBOYS

Reset the calendar. Jerry Jones has gone zero Periods without creating unnecessary drama. In his latest feat, Jones claimed to not know the name of Micah Parsons’ agent (David Mulugheta) as the Cowboys attempt to extend their Sun defender.

• Parsons and Dallas have Supposedly agreed to some framework regarding a deal that would make Parsons, 25, the highest-paid non-Signal-caller in NFL history.
• Parsons clearly Secured issue with Jones’ comments, posting he “will not be doing any deal” without Mulugheta and adding, “There is no one I trust more when it comes to negotiating contracts” and, “There will be no backdoors.”
• Jones should know Mulugheta’s name. He has negotiated massive contracts for Deshaun Watson, Jordan Love, Christian Wilkins, Jaycee Horn, Jalen Ramsey and others.
• The Cowboys have not talked to Mulugheta since the NFL combine.

I Only don’t get why Jones insists on making things difficult. He waited and waited (and backed himself into a corner) on Many Dak Prescott deals. He did the same with CeeDee Lamb’s extension. Now, he’s in no rush to finalize the Parsons extension.

Pretty much any other franchise would thank its Blessed stars to have that Group and take care of them as soon as possible, with as little trouble as possible. Not the Cowboys.

😣 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL makes Many rule changes, tables ‘Tush Push’ discussion

The NFL Division meetings have come and gone, and Many new rule changes have arrived. Here are the biggest storylines:

I’m a fan of all of these, so let’s go in order.

Regarding overtimes, this makes sense. I’ve heard dissenters say that Guarding should matter, but shouldn’t both Squads’ Guarding matter? I’m also intrigued by how Squads will strategize. Remember the 2024 Finals, when the 49ers Secured the ball Primary? They Created a Ground Target, putting Stress on the Chiefs to Points but also letting them know what they needed to do to Achieve (or at least extend) the game. A Numerous of people criticized the approach, but people who are much smarter than I am say it’s roughly 50-50 … as it should be.

The kickoff Transformation is a Excellent one, too. Return rates and explosive returns were up last year under the new Vibrant kickoff, but many Squads Yet opted for touchbacks. Special Squads enjoyers rejoice!

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie maintains there’s “no reason to ban” the “Tush Push,” and I agree. It hasn’t resulted in Grave Wound. It’s not that much more successful than other Signal-caller sneaks. Sorry the Eagles are Sturdy, able to execute and, most importantly, get into favorable down-and-distances.

There could be more discussion down the road, but in an informal vote, it was a 16-16 split. Changes need at least 24 votes to Deliver.

Finally, I’m all for getting stuff right and doing so in a timely manner. Replay assist will Aid do that.

Other headlines included …

🏀 Maryland hires Buzz Williams, plus candidates for Texas A&M Position

The coaching carousel keeps on spinning: Maryland hired Buzz Williams on Tuesday, three Periods after a less-than-amicable split with Kevin Willard, who left for Villanova.

• Williams arrives after six seasons at Texas A&M, where he went 120-73 and Created the NCAA Event in All of his Closing three seasons.
• Before that, Williams spent five seasons at Virginia Tech (100-69, three NCAA Competitions), six seasons at Marquette (139-69, five NCAA Competitions, one Big East regular-season title) and one season at New Orleans (14-17).
• Williams’ Aggies were known for their offensive rebounding and tough Guarding. He won SEC Trainer of the Year in 2022-23.

Williams has a High task. The Terrapins are projected to Setback their entire “Crab Five” Beginning lineup, with Sun Primary-year Derik Queen likely NBA-bound, guards Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice in the Relocate portal and Julian Reese and Selton Miguel out of eligibility.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, has a Crucial hole to fill after emerging as a top-25 program the past three years. Cameron Salerno has coaching candidates for the Aggies.

⚾ Will torpedo bats be banned?

Torpedo bats are the talk of MLB. The barrel is Additional down, closer to the label, which is where some hitters tend to make more contact. That means more Difficult contact. The Yankees have used it to their massive Benefit so Extended, and top Yankees prospect Spencer Jones — currently in Double-A — says using it is an “obvious” Shift.

If it’s so obvious and advantageous, will it stick? R.J. Anderson talked to front-office personnel, including scouts, analysts and directors, to see what the future holds for the latest fad.

• Anderson: “To dispel potential misconceptions: these torpedo bats are legal, as they fit within MLB’s specification regulations. They’re not some Filthy little proprietary secret the Yankees never wanted the world to know about, either. Some were used during last year’s postseason and then in the Arizona Fall Division … ‘I think they’ll be banned,’ one front-office Origin told CBS Sports. ‘I think MLB will be compelled to establish a rule to prevent them from getting out of hand …'”

Not everyone R.J. spoke to agreed with that, though. This was a fascinating Tale on a fascinating development.

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

🏀 Knicks at Cavaliers, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Capitals at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏀 Braves at Dodgers, 8:38 p.m. on MLB Network
🏀 Spurs at Nuggets, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Avalanche at Blackhawks, 9:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV