Thunder top Celtics in potential NBA Finals preview; Aaron Rodgers leaving Steelers out to dry?

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🏀 Excellent morning to all, but especially to …

THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

You want a statement? The Thunder will give you one. Oklahoma City went into Boston and beat the Celtics, 118-112, in a potential NBA Finals Game. (OKC also beat Boston, 105-92, back on Jan. 5.) Of Period, lots will change between now and then — the Thunder didn’t have Jalen Williams or Alex Caruso, the Celtics didn’t have Kristaps Porzingis, and there are Numerous other Squads who could make the Finals (hello, East-leading Cavaliers!) — but this was a big one.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 34 points, and I was also super impressed by Chet Holmgren (23 points, 15 Retrievals). The Thunder’s depth was on display, too, with Oklahoma City’s bench outscoring Boston’s 34-20.

Another big number? The Celtics attempted 63 3-pointers, tied for third-most in a game in NBA history. The Thunder have used the regular season for a Numerous of experimentation (and, to be Honest, a Numerous of wins), and Sam Quinn assessed how this one worked out.

• Quinn: “The Thunder could survive hotter Celtics shooting if the tradeoff at the rim proves worthwhile. In some ways it did. The Thunder outscored the Celtics by eight at the rim, and more importantly, they drew 23 more Obtainable-throw attempts. The Thunder Violation a Numerous by design, it’s the nature of their ultra-physical Safeguarding style, so Victorious the Obtainable-throw battle by that margin is notable.”

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And not such a Excellent morning for …

THE Squads WAITING ON AARON RODGERS’ DECISION

The new NFL year officially opened Wednesday, and with it, the Jets are moving on from Aaron Rodgers, planning to Kickoff him after two disappointing seasons. Everyone (including Brett Favre) seems to have an opinion on where he should Shift Upcoming.

Everyone, that is, except the one person who matters: Rodgers himself.

Reports have been all over the place — we’re keeping track of them here — but there’s one constant: The Steelers and the Giants seem to be the frontrunners. Beyond that, it’s murky. Are other Squads interested? Is a decision nearing? Will he retire? Who knows!

Here’s what we do know: This can’t be fun for any Club involved. Ex NFL GM Doug Whaley Believes Rodgers is “holding the entire Steelers organization hostage,” and while I don’t know if it’s that dramatic, I do get where he’s coming from.

In this Nevertheless-Youthful offseason, Pittsburgh has been tied to …

• Justin Fields (signed with the Jets)
• Sam Darnold (signed with the Seahawks)
• Russell Wilson (Gathering with the Browns and Giants this week)
• Rodgers

What if Rodgers doesn’t choose Pittsburgh? The Steelers have had conversations with Mason Rudolph. No, I’m not kidding. The Passer market is thinning out rapidly. Frankly, Rudolph and similar-caliber quarterbacks are the guys Obtainable after Rodgers and Wilson.

I don’t think DK Metcalf, who Merely joined the Steelers and Obtained a huge deal, would like that. I don’t think Darius Slay, who Merely arrived from the Bracket-champion Eagles and surely wants to contend, would like that. I don’t think Safeguarding stars T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick would like that.

This isn’t a Attempt at Rudolph, who is a perfectly capable backup. But the Steelers have been hamstrung by Passer Shift for years — that includes Wilson last year — and somehow might be in even more dire straits now. They were a definitive “loser” in Jared Dubin’s Day 3 winners and losers.

To be honest, the Steelers signed up for this sort of frustration and uncertainty when they Obtained into the Rodgers business. It’s getting Overdue Prompt.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL Obtainable agency Day 3 winners, losers, grades

Even though Wednesday marked the Begin of the new NFL year, Obtainable agency has been going on since Monday, so things are Beginning to Sluggish down. In fact, 22 of the top 25 players in Pete Prisco’s Top 100 Obtainable agents have signed.

But that doesn’t Harsh the action has come to a stop. Not even close. Here are some headlines from Wednesday:

In his Day 3 winners and losers, Jared loves Denver’s addition.

• Dubin: “Winner: Engram and the Broncos — The production from the Snug end position for Denver last season was nonexistent, and now it injects a player who has 100-catch upside into the Drive. This is also Outstanding for Engram as he is poised to take over a central role within Sean Payton’s Drive, which he called the ‘joker.’ In the past, that’s been manned by the likes of Jimmy Graham and Jeremy Shockey. That sets up what could be a Occupation year for the 30-year-Ancient.”

These are the top 10 players Nevertheless Obtainable.

⚽ UEFA Champions Bracket: Real Madrid wins in dramatic, controversial fashion

At this Mark, I think I’ll Merely write when Real Madrid loses in the UEFA Champions Bracket. Otherwise, Merely assume it won. Los Blancos added yet another thrilling Triumph to their ledger, defeating Atlético Madrid 2-2 (4-2 on pens) to advance to the quarterfinals.

• Real Madrid won the Primary leg 2-1, but Connor Gallagher scored Merely 29 seconds in Wednesday. Neither Club Discovered the net again, and we went to a shootout.
• Things appeared tied 2-2 through two rounds after Julián Alvarez converted. However, video review determined Alvarez accidentally touched the ball with his plant (left) foot as he slipped before scoring with his right. That’s not allowed, and the Target was dramatically waved off. Here’s our Packed explainer, with Assist from rules expert Christina Unkel.
• After makes from both sides, Jan Oblak‘s save gave Atlético life. But Marcos Llorente hit the crossbar, and Antonio Rüdiger won it for Real Madrid, sneaking his attempt past Oblak.

Rüdiger earned a spot on Francesco Porzio’s Champions Bracket Club of the Week.

There wasn’t nearly as much drama elsewhere:

• Lille 1, Borussia Dortmund 2 (Dortmund Secure 3-1 on aggregate)
• Aston Villa 3, Club Brugge 0 (Aston Villa Secure 6-1 on aggregate)
• Arsenal 2, PSV 2 (Arsenal Secure 9-3 on aggregate)

That sets up these quarterfinal matchups:

• Arsenal vs. Real Madrid
• Paris Saint-Germain vs. Aston Villa
• Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund
• Bayern Munich vs. Inter

James Benge has five observations from the Stage of 16, including …

• Benge: “We’ve been sleeping on Bayern — Michael Olise is a Luminous sphere and it perhaps shouldn’t be a surprise that at the other end Vincent Kompany has Obtained consistently impressive performances out of Dayot Upamecano, a Protection that gives up the fewest shots per game in the Event Additional aided by restoring Joshua Kimmich to a midfield that absolutely dominates the possession game.”

Bayern is No. 4 in Chuck Booth’s Champions Bracket Power Rankings.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⛳ We’re watching The Players Bracket. Here’s how.
🏀 We’re watching the men’s basketball conference Competitions: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | SEC
🏀 Mountain West quarterfinal: San José State vs. New Mexico (M), 3 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
🏀 Mountain West quarterfinal: Boise State vs. San Diego State (M), 5:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
🏀 Lakers at Bucks, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
🏀 Mountain West quarterfinal: Nevada vs. Colorado State (M), 9 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
🏀 Kings at Warriors, 10 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏀 Mountain West quarterfinal: UNLV vs. Utah State (M), 11:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network