The sports calendar this weekend is loaded, with marquee events in several sports. Included on that schedule is the finale of the first golf major of the year, some huge fights, and more. Here, we look at the top sports events of the weekend, so sports bettors know what to look forward to on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday & Sunday: The Masters
The biggest event of this weekend is the conclusion of The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. The green jacket is the most prestigious award in golf, and it will be awarded again by the end of the weekend. With several elite golfers already emerging as contenders to win this year’s Masters going into the weekend, it is set to be a fascinating final 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday.
Among the favorites to win this year’s Masters is Jon Rahm, who has been on an absolute tear this year and is looking for his first green jacket. Last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler is also in the mix, as are other big names like Brooks Koepka and Jason Day. With everything to play for after the cut on Friday, it will be fascinating to see who steps up on golf’s biggest stage.
Saturday: UFC 287
Another championship will be awarded this weekend, only in a much more violent fashion than golf, at UFC 287. There, the UFC middleweight title will be fought for, as Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya will compete for the right to be called champion in Miami. Pereira knocked Adesanya out in the fifth round of their first title fight back in November, and he will look to defend his title for the first time here.
Also worth keeping an eye on during that card is the bout between Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal. Burns is the superior fighter coming into this fight, but Masvidal is always one big shot away from ending a fight. In the co-main event slot for the night, there could be more fireworks than the main event between Pereira and Adesanya itself.
Sunday: NBA Regular Season Finale
The final marquee sporting event for this weekend is on Sunday, as the entire NBA will be in action for the final day of the regular season. Most of the teams will be resting players as they know where they stand at this point in the year. However, there are a few key races worth keeping an eye on, as a few teams do still need results to help themselves as the regular season winds down.
The Western Conference will be of particular interest heading into the final day of the regular season, as there are several things to be decided. Seeds five through nine in the West are still up in the air, as the Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Pelicans, and Timberwolves can all finish in some combination of those playoff and play-in tournament slots. Additionally, the Oklahoma City Thunder are aiming to hold off the Dallas Mavericks for the final spot in the play-in tournament, which would be a shocking result given the expectations for both teams going into this year.