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Obinna Ekezie Jr. commits to Louisville basketball: What to know of 5-star C

Pat Kelsey and Louisville men's basketball continue to have a strong offseason in preparation for the 2026-27 college basketball season.

The latest addition to the Cardinals comes from the high school ranks, as they landed five-star recruit Obinna Ekezie Jr., the No. 4 national prospect in the 2027 recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

He announced his commitment and re-classification to the Cardinals' 2026 recruiting class on Sunday on Instagram.

MORE: When the stars are gone, the smart transfer portal moves matter most

The Cardinals won the recruiting Ekezie sweepstakes against Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky and Maryland, according to the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. His dad, Obinna Ekezie Sr., played in the NBA for four seasons.

"I have chosen to commit to (the) University of Louisville as I feel it's the best situation to develop, showcase my game and strive to win a national championship," Ekezie told ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi on why he chose Louisville. "Coach Kelsey separated himself with his detailed plan for my development, specifically being able to play and develop at both the 4 and 5. His excellent staff was completely bought in to helping me reach my goals. But honestly, what put it over the top was the visit. Louisville felt like home from the moment I got there."

Ekezie not only brings a 7-foot frame to the Cardinals, but also adds to their growing depth at the forward position. He was also a consensus five-star and top-five ranked recruit, according to different recruiting outlets.

As noted by the Courier Journal, Ekezie participated in the Basketball Without Borders camp at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in February, where he earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors.

Obinna Ekezie Jr. 247 ranking

  • Stars: Five
  • National ranking: No. 4
  • Positional ranking: No. 2
  • State ranking: No. 2

Ekezie is listed as a five-star prospect and the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2027 recruiting class by 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 2 center and No. 2 player in the state of Florida in the 2027 class, as well.

His classification rankings are not updated to the 2026 recruiting class at the time of this writing.

Louisville basketball 2026 recruiting class

Ekezie is the lone member of Louisville's 2026 high school recruiting class, as noted by 247Sports. He was originally one of three commits to Louisville's 2027 recruiting class.

Louisville basketball 2026 offseason acquisitions

Ekezie becomes the eighth addition to the Cardinals' 2026-27 roster after Louisville swarmed the transfer portal following their first-weekend exit from the men's NCAA tournament. Louisville should be a top-15 ranked team — if not within the top-10 — in preseason polls with a roster that includes Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga, Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad and Arkansas transfer Karter Knox.

Here's an updated look at Louisville's offseason acquisitions with Ekezie's commitment and re-classification:

  • Obinna Ekezie Jr. (High School Commit)
  • Flory Bidunga (Transfer Commit)
  • Jackson Shelstad (Transfer Commit)
  • Karter Knox (Transfer Commit)
  • Alvaro Folgueiras (Transfer Commit)
  • De'Shayne Montgomery (Transfer Commit)
  • Gabe Davis (Transfer Commit)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5-star C Obinna Ekezie Jr. commits to Louisville, reclassifies to 2026

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Wolves say Edwards is questionable for Game 1 despite knee injury

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Anthony Edwards might be back for Game 1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, barely a week after appearing to suffer a serious knee injury.

Edwards will be listed as questionable for Monday night’s series opener, the Timberwolves said.

The All-Star guard, who averaged 36.7 points in three games against San Antonio this season, has been “cleared for on-court basketball activities,” the Timberwolves said Sunday.

Edwards was hurt in Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series against Denver and diagnosed with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Luka Doncic out for start of second round. When will Lakers star return?

Luka Doncic is still building towards a return, but it won't come in time for Game 1.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Doncic for the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on "Inside the NBA" on Sunday.

Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis and is currently on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the past month.

Doncic returned to the practice floor during the Lakers' first round series, but has yet to progress to 3-on-3 or 5-on-5.

"He's doing more and more on the court," Charania reported. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts."

Doncic has missed 11 games since straining his left hamstring against Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers have gone 7-4 in that span but ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets, winning the series in six games.

The odds are stacked against LA yet again with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Thunder, who won a league-best 64 games in the regular season. The absence of Jalen Williams makes things slightly less lopsided, especially if the Lakers keep producing total team efforts with contributions from Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura.

Make no mistake, though: Doncic, who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game and finished third in assists with 8.3 per game, will be needed this series. It just remains to be seen when – or if – he'll be back in time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic injury update, status ahead of Lakers-Thunder series

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NBA Game 7 winners and losers: Pisons make Magic pay for collapse

In the NBA, there’s nothing better than a Game 7.

Fortunately for fans tuning in Sunday, May 3, there are two of them, between the No. 1 Detroit Pistons and No. 8 Orlando Magic and between the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers and No. 5 Toronto Raptors.

In win-or-go-home scenarios, teams tend to elevate their play and compete with desperation. Perhaps no team is feeling that more than Orlando, which had a 3-1 series lead before it allowed the Pistons to win two in a row, the most recent after an epic choke job in Game 6 in which the Magic shot only 4-of-37 from the floor in the second half.

Here are the winners and losers from Sunday’s Game 7s:

WINNERS

Cade Cunningham

This is what a Most Valuable Player candidate is supposed to do. After he dropped a team-high 32 points in Game 7 Sunday, he brought his scoring average over Detroit’s last three games in the first round — all of which were elimination games — to 36.3 points per game.

Cunningham also dished out 12 assists and limited his turnovers, committing just 4.

Detroit finds a second option in Tobias Harris

He erupted for 17 points in the second quarter and scored 19 overall in the first half. Harris was the player who helped spark a massive run to end the first half, but he didn’t stop there.

Harris steadily knocked down shots and provided an outlet for Case Cunningham; when the Magic tried to blitz him with extra bodies, Harris took advantage and knocked down his shots. It may have been, considering the magnitude of the Game 7, the best game of his career.

Harris finished with 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, adding 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.

Jalen Duren

It was a good sign for Detroit that Duren, a first-time All-Star this season, had a productive first half. Duren has struggled to impact games this series and is averaging well below his regular season totals.

He was active on the glass and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He added 15 rebounds, though, moving forward in the second round, he could certainly be more aggressive in finding his mid-range stroke.

Paolo Banchero

He scored the Magic’s first 11 points and set the tone for Orlando, including draining the first three 3-pointers he attempted. Banchero aggressively sought his shot, and, when Detroit diverted more defensive attention toward Banchero, he tried to find his teammates.

He finished the game with 38 points on 14-of-25 shooting, adding 9 rebounds and 6 assists. His biggest issue was that his teammates simply didn’t knock down their shots.

LOSERS

Jamahl Mosley

The head coach of the Magic is going to face considerable criticism this offseason over the way Orlando squandered a 3-1 series lead and for that Game 6 collapse. Mosley simply didn’t do enough to halt the runs and the momentum that Detroit was building during pivotal games in the series.

To be clear, the Pistons, the No. 1 seed in the conference, are an extremely talented team, so it was to be expected that they would elevate their play once the stakes were highest.

The right calf strain to Franz Wagner significantly hindered Orlando’s offensive portfolio, But the execution still lacked creativity and flow. Not enough was done throughout the back half of the series to generate offense for Paolo Banchero’s teammates.

Magic role players in the first half

Orlando’s other starters combined to miss their first six shots of Game 7, and the Magic players not named Banchero shot just 8-of-27 (29.6%) in the first half.

While Banchero had 9 field goals in the first half, no other Orlando player had more than 2.

Jalen Suggs

With Orlando needing someone else to step up on offense, Suggs, the starting point guard, was an obvious choice. Yet, Suggs struggled once again on Sunday, completing what ended up being a very tough series for him.

Over Orlando’s final four games in the first round, Suggs combined to shoot just 8-of-41 (19.5%). It was even worse from deep; from Games 4-7 of the series, Suggs shot just 4-of-26 (15.4%) from 3-point range.

Magic turnovers in the first half

Orlando couldn’t afford to have careless possessions in the first half, and a 9-3 deficit in the turnover battle before intermission was the key reason why Detroit went on a 20-6 run to close the second quarter; the Pistons, not surprisingly, led the battle in points off turnovers 12-3 at halftime.

That helped set the tone for the rest of the game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pistons vs Magic, Cavaliers vs Raptors today: NBA winners, losers

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76ers vs Knicks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Monday's NBA Playoffs Game 1

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Down 3-1, the Philadelphia 76ers completed an improbable comeback against the Boston Celtics, winning the decisive Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday. 

Joel Embiid was a beast in Games 4-7 of the series, and my 76ers vs. Knicks predictions expect him to keep rolling as an old rivalry with Karl-Anthony Towns is renewed.

Here are my free NBA picks for May 4.

76ers vs Knicks Game 1 prediction

76ers vs Knicks best bet: Joel Embiid Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)

For as good as the Philadelphia 76ers are with Tyrese Maxey leading the way, the team’s play on the offensive side of the court gets a noticeable boost when Joel Embiid is available. 

During the regular season, Philly’s offensive rating was a mediocre 112.9 with Embiid on the sideline. With Embiid available, the 76ers’ offensive rating soared to 118.5, a mark that would have been fifth-best on the season.

Joel Embiid has averaged a healthy 44 PRA since returning in the playoffs, hitting the Over on this combo line in three of four games. In 11 career games at Madison Square Garden, Embiid has gone for 41+ PRA eight times.

Joel Embiid will also likely need to do more if he wants to lead his team to victory. The New York Knicks have multiple capable defenders to throw at Maxey, but their defensive depth down low isn't as deep.

With Philly's point guard locked up, its big man will have to do more of the heavy lifting. 

Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns also have an old rivalry dating back to 2019, and the Sixers center has found success against the opposing big man. He’s averaged 41 PRA in 14 career matchups with Towns, hitting the Over on this line eight times. 

Riding high from a 34/12/6 performance in Game 7 and playing against a heated rival, I expect Embiid to be at his best and deliver another big playoff performance.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Joel Embiid averaged 16 rebounds + assists vs. the Celtics.

76ers vs Knicks Game 1 same-game parlay

At 27-18, the Sixers sport the second-best road record against the spread.

The Knicks may have the advantage of rest, but the Sixers are in a groove and have played the Knicks well over the last two seasons. Philly is 4-1 ATS across its last five games at Madison Square Garden. 

The 76ers have hit the Over in two of their last four, and the Knicks have reached that mark in three of their last four.

Playoff basketball tends to slow down with lower scoring totals, but the Sixers’ offense is Top 5 with Embiid available, and New York averaged 133 points per game across its last two contests.

76ers vs Knicks SGP

  • Joel Embiid Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists
  • 76ers +7.5
  • Over 212

76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 1

  • Spread: 76ers +7.5 | Knicks -7.5
  • Moneyline: 76ers +235 | Knicks -290
  • Over/Under: Over 212 | Under 212

76ers vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Philadelphia 76ers have hit the moneyline in 26 of their last 45 games (+19.85 Units / 20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.

How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 1

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateMonday, May 4, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVPeacock/NBC

76ers vs Knicks latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Harper Brothers Make Their Mark in the NBA Playoffs

The 2026 NBA Playoffs have delivered two very different realities for Rutgers products Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper—but together, they still tell a powerful story about the Scarlet Knights’ growing footprint at the next level.

Ron Harper Jr. — Opportunity in the Margins

For Ron Harper Jr. and the Boston Celtics, the playoffs ended in heartbreak—and unexpectedly, a major opportunity for the older Harper brother.

Boston’s first-round exit came in stunning fashion, blowing a 3–1 series lead and falling in Game 7 to Philadelphia. Injuries—most notably to Jayson Tatum—forced the Celtics to dig deep into their bench, and that’s where Harper’s moment on the big stage briefly arrived.

In a surprising Game 7 decision, Harper was inserted into the starting lineup, a reflection of both Boston’s desperation and trust in his readiness. While his minutes remained limited (just four in the finale), the moment itself mattered: a former Scarlet Knight starting in a win-or-go-home playoff game.

Statistically, Harper’s role stayed modest:

  • 6 games played
  • 4.2 minutes per game
  • 1.8 points, 0.7 rebounds per game

But that doesn’t fully capture his postseason. He had flashes—like a quick 5-point burst in his playoff debut—and provided defensive energy in short stretches.

For Harper, this postseason wasn’t about production—it was about positioning. He proved he can be trusted in high-leverage situations, even on a contender. That’s often the first real step toward carving out a long-term NBA role.

Dylan Harper — A Rookie Who Belongs

While Ron’s playoff run was about survival, Dylan Harper is actively shaping his NBA career as a rookie.

The lottery pick guard has been a legitimate contributor for the San Antonio Spurs, who handled business in the first round, defeating Portland in five games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.

And Harper hasn’t just been along for the ride—he’s been part of the engine.

Through the first round:

  • 12.6 points per game
  • 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
  • Over 56% shooting from the field

He’s already delivered standout moments, including a 27-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 3—an early glimpse of his ceiling in big games. Despite not being the strongest distance shooter in volume or accuracy, Harper knocked down four of five triples and made nine of twelve field goals overall in his career performance.

In a pivotal game where San Antonio was without Victor Wembanyama and Portland was looking to go up two games to one at home, Harper and Stephon Castle combined for 60 points. Harper also registered a team-high +25 in plus-minus, showing that his scoring was contributing to winning.

Harper followed that game up with 17 points on 6-9 shooting in the Spurs’ closeout win over the Blazers, which sent San Antonio to a second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 1: Monday 9:30 EST).

More importantly, Dylan Harper looks comfortable. Composed. In control. As a rookie.

On a Spurs team built around youth and growth, Harper is doing something rare for a young guard in the playoffs: playing efficient, mistake-controlled basketball while still being aggressive.

San Antonio’s philosophy—trusting its young core—has paid off, with Harper playing a key role in their advancement and overall playoff success.

Two Paths, One Statement

The contrast is clear:

  • Ron Harper Jr.: Fighting for minutes, earning trust, stepping into moments when called
  • Dylan Harper: Already a rotation piece, producing, and helping drive a playoff team forward

But both paths matter.

One shows how hard it is to stick in the league—and how valuable even small playoff opportunities can be. The other shows what it looks like when a young player accelerates that timeline.

To support me and my work, please follow me at @arnavsarkar100 on X!

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Inter cruise to Serie A title triumph after Thuram sparks victory over Parma

  • Inter 2-0 Parma seals scudetto with three games to spare

  • Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan on target

Inter sealed the Serie A title with a 2-0 victory over Parma, wrapping up the scudetto with three games to spare. The Nerazzurri only needed a point to claim their 21st Italian league championship before the home match, with defending champions Napoli nine points behind and Milan and 12 points back after a 2-0 defeat at Sassuolo earlier in the day.

Yet a clinical Marcus Thuram finish in first-half stoppage time put the hosts ahead at San Siro. The France forward latched on to Piotr Zielinski’s defence-splitting pass and made no mistake inside the box. Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed the win with a close-range finish in the 80th minute to ensure a party atmosphere inside the stadium before the full-time whistle.

Continue reading...
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Twins 4, Blue Jays 3: Canada vs. Andrew Morris (& Co.)

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 03: Andrew Morris #78 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Target Field on May 03, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Twins sent Joe Ryan to the bump this morning—the Peacock MLB Sunday Wakeup special—hoping for a series split. He lasted all of two batters before leaving with an undisclosed injury. It would be an unexpected bullpen game featuring the worst pen in baseball. My thoughts at the exact moment: how many innings will Kody Clemens need to cover today?

Fortunately, Twins’ bats were not as depressed as the fan base early on, with a Trevor Larnach single and Austin Martin BB paid off by a Victor Caratini RBI knock to put an early run on the board. 1-0 MN.

In the third inning, an in-game interview with Twins manager Derek Shelton revealed it was “right elbow soreness” that regelated Ryan to the bench. Wonderful. That same frame, the Twins loaded the bases (Martin single, Luke Keaschall double, Clemens BB) with two outs, only to see Royce Lewis not enjoy salami—or even a lesser-quality meat—after striking out against Blue Jays SP Trey Yesavage.

Remarkably, the first RP out of the pen for MN—Andrew Morris—tossed 3.2 innings of 2 H, 0 ER ball to keep the contest at the razor-thin 1-0 margin.

MIN finally changed the number in B5 when a Caratini BB was followed by doubles from Keaschall, heretofore-not-needed-on-the-mound Clemens, & Matt Wallner. 4-0 MN!

Toronto got on the board in T6 when Taylor Rogers tried to complete a second consecutive scoreless inning but could not. A Daulton Varsho drag-bunt single allowed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to scamper home, but Rogers avoided any further damage by coaxing a “home run in an elevator shaft” fly out from Tyler Heineman. 4-1 MN.

A ticklish situation—two Jays on the pond—was mitigated in T8 by Kody Funderburk inducing a ground-out.

Justin Topa entered in T9 to try and close this one out—which of course meant clenched cheeks (and not the chewing kind). Another Kazuma Okamoto HR closed the margin to a single run, and an error from Keaschall allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to reside on the base paths. Blessedly, a Lenyn Sosa grounder went successfully from 2B to 1B for a game-ending double play!

Your Final: Minnesota Twins 4, Toronto Blue Jays 3

Seeing their best pitcher exit with injury after recording just one out, the Twins turned to a league-worst bullpen and somehow escaped with the victory. #baseball.

Zach’s Zealot
  • Morris: Coming in cold two batters into the game and keeping the defending AL champs off the board into the middle innings.
Zach’s Zombie
  • Lewis: 0-4, 2 K, now at .176 BA & .598 OPS on the season.
Egg-cellent Elocution
Who’s Got Next
  • After a travel Monday off-day, the Twins visit the Washington Nationals in D.C. (Tues. night, Wed. night, Thurs. afternoon)—and I’ll be joining them there! I’ll be back in time to cover next Sunday’s slate, but if you don’t hear from me much on the threads until then it’s because I’m seeing the sights of our Nation’s Capital!
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Griffin Canning to start; Germán Márquez to IL

Peoria, AZ - February 18: Griffin Canning #17 of the San Diego Padres poses for a portrait on February 18, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

The San Diego Padres activated right-handed starter Griffin Canning from the injured list Sunday morning to start in the final game in the series against the Chicago White Sox. Right-hander Randy Vásquez, slated to start on Sunday, will be pushed back to Monday in San Francisco.

The corresponding move for the Padres is to place right-handed starter Germán Márquez on the 15-day injured list with right forearm nerve inflammation, retroactive to May 2. Márquez started on Friday against the White Sox, allowing seven runs on five hits and five walks in five innings pitched. He also got two strikeouts while increasing his ERA to 5.76.

Canning injured his Achilles tendon while pitching for the New York Mets last season. He began the 2026 season with Triple-A El Paso and started five games. He threw 62 pitches in his last start on Tuesday, allowing three hits with no earned runs, allowing a walk with four strikeouts. It was expected that Canning would complete his rehab today with El Paso but is joining the Padres instead.

The injury to Márquez pushes his start to San Diego and Canning could go 70-80 pitches with a natural progression from his last start. Canning features six pitches with his four-seam fastball and slider being dominant. His pitching is ground-ball heavy but he has the repertoire to get swing-and-miss as well.

Márquez, who signed with the Padres in the offseason, underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and has struggled to return to his former effectiveness before the surgery. He has started six games for the Padres and has a 3-2 record with his 5.76 ERA. He features a knuckle curve 40% of the time and his 94 mph four-seam fastball 36% of the time. He also flashes a sinker, slider and changeup.

Márquez had two starts allowing no earned runs but allowed at least four earned runs in all the other outings before allowing the seven runs on May 1.

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs series preview, prediction: Can Wolves slow Wemby?

All season long, the San Antonio Spurs showed they were a team far ahead of everyone else's timeline — they were a contender now, not in a year or three. San Antonio won 62 games and was the No. 2 seed in the West.

All season long, Minnesota almost looked bored. We'd see flashes of the team that made it to two straight Western Conference Finals, but we'd see ugly losses (or just flat games) on other nights. It looked like a team waiting for the games to get serious. When the games did get serious in the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves showed not just their talent but real heart to overcome injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, and they beat the Nuggets.

Can Minnesota repeat that formula, or is San Antonio just too deep and too good? Here's what you need to know heading into this Western Conference Semifinals matchup.

When does the Timberwolves vs. Spurs begin?

Game 1 between Minnesota and San Antonio is on Monday, May 4, and you can watch it on Peacock. The series continues every other day until Game 6, there are a couple days off before that game.

Minnesota vs. San Antonio Playoffs Schedule 2026

All times are Eastern (* = if necessary).
Game 1: Monday, May 4 (9:30 ET, Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 2: Wednesday, May 6 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 3: Friday, May 8 (9:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: Sunday, May 10 (7:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: May 12* (TBD)
Game 6: May 15* (TBD)
Game 7: May 17* (TBD)

Player to watch: Rudy Gobert

Victor Wembanyama considers Rudy Gobert, a fellow French center, a mentor.

"He's played a huge role in my journey, has been a role model, has inspired me in so many ways that should actually inspire more people, especially when it comes to the care given to the body, which is an example for all big men," Wembanyama said this week.

However, this is Wembanyama we're talking about, so he wants more information and details than anyone else.

"A few weeks ago he asked me what kind of filter I had in my house for water," Gobert said. "It just tells you how his mind is. I try to talk to the young guys here about the food they eat and stuff like that. But I don't get those type of questions."

Gobert was the reason the Timberwolves upset the Nuggets in the first round, thanks to his spectacular defense on Nikola Jokic. It's not that the three-time MVP didn't get his, but he had to work for every bucket, every inch of court, and it wore him down. It was the key to the series.

Now Gobert has to find a way to be physical and do the same thing to Wembanyama, but it may not be as easy. In part because this will not be a straight matchup — Gobert will not be one Wembanyama much of the time (look for him to be on Stephon Castle, that is what Portland did with its big Donovan Clingan).

Gobert on Wemby is tough because Wemby's game is more fluid, he's got better handles and a better 3-point shot, and his role in the San Antonio offense, while central, is not the same. The Nuggets play through Jokic, that's the case in San Antonio, where Wembanyama can be off the ball and they use his gravity as a shooter to create driving lanes.

Gobert will get his time on Wembanyama (as will Julius Randle), and he needs to be physical and wear his mentee down. It's just a lot easier said than done.

Keys to watch for in Minnesota vs. San Antonio

If/When does Anthony Edwards return?

Anthony Edwards reportedly told his teammates he will be back in this series from the ugly knee hyperextension and bone bruise he suffered in Game 4 against the Nuggets. ESPN's Shams Charania reports Edwards did a little on-court work, and there is some hope he could be back for "potentially Game 3 or Game 4 at the earliest."

All Minnesota is saying is that Edwards remains week -to-week. If Edwards does return, what version of him do we see? 80% 90%

Edwards dropped 55 points on the Spurs in a matchup this season (a game San Antonio still won), which leads into the next issue…

How can Minnesota score enough to win?

Jaden McDaniels may want to hold back from saying the Spurs are "all bad defenders," as he did when talking about the Nuggets. San Antonio is an entirely different thing.

It's not just Wembanyama protecting the rim, although he is the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year who completely changes the geometry of the court. It's that he is surrounded by quality defenders on the perimeter: Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and on down the list, the Spurs don't roll out a bad defender.

A fully healthy Timberwolves team with Edwards driving and creating, plus DiVincenzo knocking down 3s, could put up points on the Spurs and make this a series. As it is now, Minnesota needs a massive series from Julius Randle plus some other guys to step up — Ayo Dosunmu, if he's healthy — to have any chance.

Minnesota also must rely on its defense, which was fantastic against the Nuggets, holding them to 13 points below their league-leading regular-season average. San Antonio has more shot creators and ball handlers, but Minnesota has a great defense and experience. Is that enough?

Prediction: Spurs in 5

The Edwards injury makes this a challenging prediction, if he were fully healthy I'd say Spurs in 7. However, without him to at least start the series — and we don't know what version of Edwards we get if and when he does return — it just changes the equation.

San Antonio is just a tougher matchup for Minnesota, especially a shorthanded Timberwolves team.

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Mariners claim LHP José Suarez off waivers from Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 10: José Suarez #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the eighth inning during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Mariners, suddenly drawing from their depth a month into the season, made a waiver claim today, picking up lefty José Suarez from Atlanta.

Mariners fans likely remember Suarez from his lengthy Angels tenure, from the time he signed with the Angels as a free agent out of Venezuela to 2024. Prior to the 2025 season, the Angels traded him to Atlanta in exchange for injury-prone pitcher Ian Anderson (later DFA’d by the Angels and re-claimed by Atlanta). Atlanta transitioned the short king (listed 5’10”) to the bullpen and edited his pitch mix, dropping his sweeper and tweaking his slider to be shorter and more of a traditional gyro slider, resulting in more whiffs on the pitch.

Command remains an issue for Suarez, something that’s persisted since his days as an Angel. Although he had a solid first season as a Brave, this year has been a struggle, leading to much sturm und drang amongst the Braves fanbase, who are all too happy to see Suarez go. As for how he fits in the Mariners bullpen, that’s a bit of a puzzle; the Mariners have a third lefty (with his own command issues, even) in Josh Simpson, although Simpson has options, where Suarez does not.

However, the Mariners are well-familiar with Suarez, having seen him for so many years in the AL West, so there must be something there the pitching brain trust hopes to unlock. The other bonus Suarez brings is length; as a former starter, he can cover multiple innings if necessary, which it’s been more often than not lately as three-fifths of the Mariners rotation continue to turn in shorter outings.

In a corresponding move, OF Rhylan Thomas was designated for assignment.

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Game Thread XXXIV: Royals at Mariners

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 02: Lucas Erceg #60 of the Kansas City Royals reacts after getting the final strike out of the game during the tenth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 at T-Mobile Park on May 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Kansas City Royals are going for a road sweep today in the Pacific Northwest, yes, you read that right a ROAD sweep. Last night, the Royals once again snatched a clutch victory in extras from the Seattle Mariners, allowing the Royals to win their third series this season and their first on the road. Shades of the 2024 season is starting to come up these Royals, as they are starting to show signs of the team people projected them to be preseason.

Kris Bubic gets the start this afternoon. Bubic had a rollercoaster ride of a start in Sacramento to start the road trip. He went 5 innings allowing 4 hits, 1 run, walking 4 but striking out 6, on 96 pitches. That game was the only one the Royals won in Sacramento.

The Royals have already clinched a .500 road trip with back-to-back victories, in fact all three wins this week have been in 10 innings, it’d be nice if they could take this one in the regular nine innings.

The starters behind Bubic are the same as it has been all series. Carter Jensen catches again today, while Salvy is the designated hitter, but this is the same starting lineup as the first two games, so some consistency from Q.

On the other side, it’s been a rough go for the Mariners. They came into this series at .500 but have dropped two heartbreakers. They also lost Cal Raleigh for unknown soreness these last two games, and their closer Andrés Muñoz blew a save last night.

Anyways, righty Luis Castillo gets the ball today for Seattle. The 33-year-old is having a rough go to start the season. He has a 6.35 ERA over 28.1 innings this season. His last start in Minnesota was not great. He surrendered seven hits, seven runs and two homers in just 5 innings of work.

Behind him, is a different starting lineup than we’ve seen the first two nights in Seattle.

The Royals sit at 14-19 and winners in 6 of their last 8 games. Can they complete a road sweep today and a winning trip out west? They come into today 2 games out of the final wild card spot and 3.5 games behind the division leading Guardians, who they start a four-game series with tomorrow night at the K. First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. CT, the game can be streamed on Royals.TV.

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Jalen Williams status uncertain for Thunder with hamstring strain

Feb 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) goes to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Lakers aren’t alone in having been without a star player due to a hamstring strain in their upcoming playoff series.

During the Thunder’s first round series with the Suns, Jalen Williams exited Game 2 with a hamstring strain, a sight purple and gold faithful are certainly familiar with.

After the game, Williams was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain, a less severe injury than the one Luka Dončić is dealing with. Still, the team announced updates on his status would only come weekly, an indicator of how long he was expected to be out.

The Lakers-Rockets series going six games actually helped OKC in giving Williams additional time to rest, though. And that time could prove to be critical.

At Oklahoma City’s practice on Saturday, head coach Mark Daigneault was coy about Williams’ status, as one would expect.

It’s unlikely that there is any sort of clarity on Williams’ status until Game 1 on Tuesday. Even then, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there’s some gamesmanship and Williams is listed as questionable for the contest, forcing the Lakers to at least prepare for him in some regard.

OKC has plenty of experience playing without Williams this year. The Thunder played the first 19 games without him, going 18-1 in that span. In total, he only played 33 games this series after dealing with various injuries, including just nine appearances in the last 39 games.

Obviously, Lakers fans aren’t going to feel any sort of sympathy for the Thunder, but it will be a storyline worth watching entering the series. It’s possible Williams returns this series and it’s certainly more likely than Luka returning, but it’s not a given either will be back.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Mariners Game #35 Preview and Discussion

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Jhonny Pereda #5 of the Seattle Mariners looks on during the fifth inning of the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Cal Raleigh will not return to the Mariners lineup Sunday.

The Mariners look to prevent a sweep against the Royals. The pitching staff blew a strong performance by the lineup on Friday, and the lineup blew a strong performance by Emerson Hancock last night. After an up and down April, they have started May on the wrong foot.

As has Raleigh, who is out of the lineup for a second straight day. Kate Preusser reported this morning that Raleigh is dealing with general soreness in his “side.” He is not on the injured list for now, and the team is simply being cautious with their top slugger in the early days of a long season.

Jhonny Pereda is up in his place and will get his first start with the Mariners in the series finale. For a primer on Pereda, Zack Mason has you covered in our preseason 40 in 40.

Rob Refsnyder leads off against Royals lefty Kris Bubic. Connor Joe is also in the lineup today; he’s been absolutely crushing the ball lately.

Luis Castillo gets the start. He got obliterated his last time out.

In other Mariners news, the team has claimed left-handed reliever José Suarez off waivers from Atlanta.

Lineups:

Game information:

Game time: 1:10

TV: Mariners TV, with Aaron Goldsmith and Dave Valle, with Angie Mentink as field reporter

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.

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Blake Snell strikes out 4 in 4 innings in Triple-A start

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up in the outfield during batting practice before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Blake Snell completed the prescribed four innings in his third minor league rehab start on Sunday, and struck out four for Triple-A Oklahoma City against the Round Rock Express, a Texas Rangers affiliate.

Snell threw 55 pitches in those four innings, right around the expectation for his first start with Oklahoma City. Nineteen of those pitches came in the first inning, when he allowed a leadoff single, then a two-run home run on a changeup for an early deficit. But he retired his next nine batters and allowed only a walk the rest of the way.

The veteran left-hander finished off three of his four strikeouts with his curveball, and another with his four-seam fastball, which averaged 96.1 mph on Sunday. Snell induced seven swinging strikes against Round Rock, three on his fastball and two on the curve.

After the home run, Snell allowed only one hard-hit ball, but that was a 96.7-mph groundout in the third inning.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Friday in St. Louis, after watching Snell throw a bullpen session at Busch Stadium, told reporters that Snell would need at least one more rehab start after Sunday before getting activated off the injured list.

Snell in his first rehab start for Class-A Ontario pitched into the second inning but didn’t record any outs in the frame on April 22 in San Jose. He threw 32 pitches and allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and a walk. The left-hander was much sharper on Tuesday in Ontario, with six strikeouts in three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit to his 10 batters faced, and induced 11 swinging strikes.