TUESDAY SPORTS, APRIL 21, 2026
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell Kernels softball picked up its first win of the season Monday, defeating Aberdeen Central 13-0 in a five-inning run-rule game at McWhirter Field. The Kernels jumped out early, scoring six runs in the first inning and adding six more in the fourth. Pitcher Rylee Jennings had 12 strikeouts, allowing just one hit over five shutout innings. Emma Hegg led the offense with two RBIs, while Iris Ackman added an RBI double. Mitchell also finished with seven walks and seven stolen bases. The Kernels return to action on Tuesday, hosting O’Gorman at 5:30 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels boys tennis team split a pair of duals Monday in Sioux Falls, falling to Sioux Falls Christian 9-0 before bouncing back with an 8-1 win over Lennox. Against Sioux Falls Christian at Tomar Park, Mitchell was swept in both singles and doubles. Mitchell responded in its second dual of the day, rolling past Lennox. The Kernels won five of six singles matches and took all three doubles contests. Mitchell is now 7-2 on the season returns to action on Tuesday, hosting Sioux Falls Lincoln and Sioux Falls Jefferson in a triangular at Hitchcock Park at Noon.
—Mitchell baseball travels to top-ranked Sioux Falls Jefferson on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader.
— Mitchell track and field is back in action on Friday at the Pierre Invitational at 11 am.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan women’s basketball has landed a key transfer, bringing in South Dakota native Skyler Volmer. The 5-foot-9 guard from Presho comes from the University of North Dakota, where she played 51 games over two seasons and made 11 starts last year. She has two years of eligibility remaining. Volmer was a standout at Lyman High School, scoring over 1,000 career points and helping the Raiders reach the Class B state tournament in 2024.
— Dakota Wesleyan softball will be at Dordt on Thursday for a doubleheader at 4 pm. The Tigers are 16-2 in the GPAC holding a two-game lead over Midland and Morningside with four regular season games remaining.
— Dakota Wesleyan baseball on Sunday will be at Mt. Marty on Friday for a doubleheader at 5 pm. The Tigers are in a three-way tie with Hastings and Mt. Marty for seventh place in the GPAC.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State softball will face St. Thomas in a three-game series starting on Friday at 4 pm.
— South Dakota State baseball host Briar Cliff in a nonconference game on Wednesday at 3 pm.
MINNESOTA TWINS
— The Minnesota Twins placed right-hander Mick Abel on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation on Monday. The move was made retroactive to Friday. Abel, 24, is 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA in four games, including three starts. He set a career high with 10 strikeouts over seven innings in a 6-0 win over Boston last Tuesday night. Abel has not allowed a run in 14 consecutive innings.
— The Minnesota Twins start a three-game series vs. the New York Mets on Tuesday at 6:10 pm. The Twins have lost four games in a row after being swept of the weekend in a three-game series vs. the Cincinnati Reds. Meanwhile, the New York Mets have the longest losing streak in the majors so far this season at 11 straight.
NBA
— The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-114, evening their first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Anthony Edwards led the comeback with 30 points, while Julius Randle added 24. Minnesota erased a big early deficit after being down 44-25 in the second quarter. Jamal Murray scored 30 points for Denver, and Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Nuggets struggled late, shooting just 2-for-12 in the fourth quarter. Game 3 shifts to Minneapolis on Thursday night.
— The Atlanta Hawks rallied late to stun the New York Knicks 107-106, evening their first-round playoff series at one game apiece. CJ McCollum led the comeback with 32 points. The Hawks trailed by 12 entering the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson had 29 points for New York. Game 3 is in Atlanta on Thursday.
— Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, while James Harden added 28 as the Cleveland Cavaliers held on for a 115-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors for a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Evan Mobley had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who had at least three players score at least 25 points in a postseason game for the second straight season and fourth time overall.
— San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has been named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to earn the award unanimously. The 22-year-old led the NBA with 3.1 blocks per game for a third straight season. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren finished second, while Detroit’s Ausar Thompson placed third. Wembanyama becomes the youngest winner of the award.
NBA PLAYOFFS – TUESDAY
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, 6 pm on Peacock/NBC Sports Network – Boston leads 1-0
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, 7 pm on NBC – San Antonio leads 1-0
No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets, 9:30 pm on NBC – Los Angeles leads 1-0
NHL – MONDAY
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 0 – Philadelphia leads 2-0
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Ottawa Senators 2 (OT) – Carolina leads 2-0
Dallas Stars 4, Minnesota Wild 2 – Series tied 1-1
Edmonton Oilers 4, Anaheim Ducks 3 – Edmonton leads 2-0
NHL – TUESDAY
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens, 6 pm on ESPN2 – Montreal leads 1-0
Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins, 6:30 pm on ESPN – Buffalo leads 1-0
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth, 8:30 pm on ESPN2 – Vegas leads 1-0
Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings, 9 pm on ESPN – Colorado leads 1-0
NFL
— Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was present for the start of the team’s offseason program Monday as he continues rehabbing torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee. Mahomes was injured Dec. 14 in a loss to the Chargers and underwent surgery shortly after. Chiefs coach Andy Reid says Mahomes is progressing well and is able to participate in meetings, strength work, and rehabilitation activities, but the team is taking a cautious approach. Mahomes has said his goal is to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season without restrictions.
— The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a four-year, $28 million contract extension with kicker Brandon Aubrey, making him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history. The deal includes $20 million guaranteed and gives Aubrey an average annual salary of $7 million. Aubrey has quickly become one of the league’s most productive kickers since joining Dallas in 2023 after stints in the USFL and a previous career in professional soccer. He holds the NFL record for most field goals of 60 yards or longer with six. He is also one of the most accurate kickers in league history, converting 112 of 127 field goal attempts for an 88% success rate.
PGA
— The PGA Tour will not hold an event in Hawaii in 2027, marking the first time in 56 years the season will not include a stop in the islands. The decision follows the cancellation of The Sentry earlier this year at Kapalua on Maui, where drought conditions and a water dispute impacted the course. Tour officials confirmed Monday that the event will not return in 2027. Meanwhile, the Sony Open on Oahu, traditionally held the week after Kapalua since 1999, is also in transition as its current sponsorship cycle ends.
MLB
— Max Muncy went 4 for 4 with two homers and scored four times as the Los Angeles Dodgers hit five longballs in a 12-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Dalton Rushing also had two home runs for the Dodgers, giving him seven in his past seven games.
— Leody Taveras hit a grand slam during a five-run 12th inning as the Baltimore Orioles held on for a 7-5 victory over the Royals, handing Kansas City its eighth straight loss.
— Colin Rea pitched into the seventh inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 for their sixth consecutive win. Dansby Swanson hit a three-run homer for Chicago. The Phillies have dropped six in a row and seven of eight.
— Matt Olson had three RBIs, while Bryce Elder struck out six in 6 2/3 innings as the Atlanta Braves won their sixth straight game with a 9-4 victory over the Washington Nationals. Atlanta broke it open with five runs in the sixth.
— Boston pinch-hitter Ceddanne Rafaela had a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh inning as the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 8-6 in Boston’s annual Patriots’ Day game to salvage a split of their four-game series. The Tigers lost for just the second time in 10 games.
— Dylan Cease struck out 12 in five innings, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2.
— Carlos Cortes, Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers each hit a solo homer as the Athletics overcame an early three-run deficit to defeat the Seattle Mariners 6-4. Cortes went 4 for 5, including a home run in the fourth inning.
— Rookie Sal Stewart homered, doubled, stole a base and scored twice as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 for their fourth straight win.
— Isaac Paredes hit his first two home runs of the season, while Christian Walker also went deep as the Houston Astros beat the Cleveland Guardians 9-2 for just their third victory in 15 games.
— Agustín Ramírez homered to lead the Miami Marlins to a 5-3 victory over St. Louis, snapping the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak.
— Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow and is expected to miss about three months, the team announced Monday. Díaz is 1-0 with a 10.50 ERA, 10 strikeouts and four saves over seven appearances. He gave up three runs without recording an out in Sunday’s 9-6 loss at Colorado.