DeAndre Ayton’s double-double powered the Lakers past the Timberwolves and showed why his presence will be crucial if Los Angeles faces Rudy Gobert or Nikola Jokic in the NBA Playoffs.

The noise around DeAndre Ayton had been building for weeks. You could feel it in the murmurs from fans, in the exasperated sighs on sports talk radio, and in the quiet frustration that follows a ...

Our form expert has tipped 11/1, 15/2, 5/1 and 10/1 winners in his last four Verdict columns, including Wednesday plunge Jingko Blue, and he has four selections for day three at Cheltenham.