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A Guide to an Amazing Weekend in Sports and Entertainment

This may be one of the greatest weekends in sports and entertainment in a long time.
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/ Source: NBC News
Image: CHINA-ENTERTAINMENT-MOVIE-AVENGERS
Fans dressed like Iron man wait for US actors during the promotion of Marvel's "Avengers: Age Of Ultron" in Beijing on April 19, 2015.FRED DUFOUR / AFP - Getty Images

With spring finally starting to show its true colors, it seems like a good time to plan a weekend full of outdoor activities.

Not so fast!

This may be one of the greatest weekends in sports and entertainment in a long time. It's loaded with big-name events, athletes, celebrities and even horses.

What follows is a game plan so you don't miss any of the action over the next three days.

All times listed below are Eastern Time.

FRIDAY

All-day – "Avengers: Age of Ultron"

Now here's a fearsome starting lineup: Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor and the Black Widow. Marvel's superhero spectacular opens in theaters on Thursday, but since Friday appears to be the lightest day in weekend action, we'll slot it here. Some estimates have the film bringing in well over $200 million and staring down the all-time record for the highest-grossing domestic opening weekend ever.

7 p.m. – NFL Draft rounds 2-3 (NFL Network/ESPN2)

8 p.m. – NBA: Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 6 (ESPN)

9:30 p.m. – NHL: Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks Game 1 (NBCSN)

Image: Las Vegas Readies For Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Manny Pacquiao
The felt covering on a blackjack table at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino advertises the upcoming fight between WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ethan Miller / Getty Images

SATURDAY

2 noon – NFL Draft rounds 4-7 (NFL Network/ESPN)

Now, this is the type of draft many people remember from years ago. It's an all-day marathon of picks, trades and optimism. In 1999, the Patriots drafted Tom Brady in the sixth round. He has since led New England to four Super Bowl victories.

6:30 p.m. – Kentucky Derby (NBC)

Better known as the Run for the Roses, this year's race has a guaranteed purse of $2 million. The early favorite is a horse named American Pharoah, while long-shot entries Ocho Ocho Ocho and Mr. Z were both listed with initial odds of 50-1.

9 p.m. – Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight (Pay-per-view $99.95 for HD)

Some are calling this the fight of the century, and it certainly looks like a lock from a business perspective. Will the action in the ring live up to the hype?

11:30 p.m. – "Saturday Night Live" hosted by Scarlett Johansson (NBC)

Image: Toyota Owners 400
Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's / Budweiser Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 26, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia.Jeff Curry / Getty Images

SUNDAY

1 p.m. – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega (FOX)

2 p.m. – PGA: WGC Cadillac Match Play Finals (NBC)

3:30 p.m. – NBA: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors Game 1 (ABC)

6 p.m. – NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 2 (NBCSN)

8 p.m. – MLB: New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox (ESPN)

Jacoby Ellsbury returns to Fenway Park with Alex Rodriguez as the New York Yankees battle their rival, the Boston Red Sox, in a national prime-time game on ESPN.

9 p.m. – "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

-- Brian Beers