Worldwide Sports News

May 6, 2026

Cavs could be without key reserve in Game 2 vs. Pistons

Feb 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) celebrates with guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers had a tough time getting anything going offensively against the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their second-round series. That task was made more difficult with the loss of sharpshooter Sam Merrill, who was limited to just seven minutes in Game 1 with a hamstring injury.

Cleveland could be without Merrill for all of Game 2. He’s officially listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with a left hamstring strain.

Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!

Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the Donovan Mitchell NBA Jam shirt is HERE.

Merrill has been playing through various injuries this season. A hand injury he suffered near the beginning of the season has required him to ice his hand after games and practices. He’s also been dealing with left hamstring issues off and on, which caused him to miss regular-season games in March and April.

Merrill is one of the toughest players on the team. If there’s any possibility that he could play through the injury, he’ll likely try to.

At the same time, this could be a long series. There’s no point in rushing Merrill back now if there’s a chance that this injury could be in a better place in a week.

Merrill’s shooting has been indispensable for an offense that has been stuck in neutral for much of the postseason. Cleveland’s offense has been 16.8 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the floor compared to when he’s not. That’s due to his shooting and the gravity he has as an off-ball mover.

The Cavs don’t have an easy way to replicate Merrill’s shooting if he can’t go. Max Strus has been good at times this postseason, but this team needs both Strus and Merrill, not one or the other.

This season, Merrill averaged 12.8 points on 42.1% shooting from deep. In eight playoff games, he’s averaged 6.6 points on 37.9% shooting from deep.

May 6, 2026

Ric Flair gets backlash for ripping injured Lakers star Luka Doncic

Ric Flair, the legendary professional wrestler, might have captured the frustration of some Los Angeles Lakers fans over Luka Doncic having been sidelined for the past five weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring injury.

Flair also hit a nerve.

Famous for his signature "woo,'' Flair sounded off on X, writing “Luka, Please Get In The Game! Take A Shot Of Cortisone And Deal With The Pain! They Are Paying You 50 Million A Year, And You’re Not There! WTF! I Hope @JeanieBuss Trades You Next Year. Nobody Wants A Lame Duck On Their Team!’’

Flair got some backlash on his X account, with the Lakers trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0 in the Western Conference semifinals playoff series.

“Buddy this is a real sport you’re talking about,’’ one commenter wrote to Flair. “Not some oiled up play wrestling wearing speedos feeling up on other dudes.’’

Wrote another, “Listen you crusty old grave dodger. The reason why Luka got injured in the first place is because they had him play for NO REASON.’’

And yet another wrote, “I hope Luka knows we Laker fans don’t co-sign this.’’

Did Doncic see the tweet, or was it just coincidence? But the day after Flair's social media post, Doncic talked to reporters for the first time since he injured his hamstring on April 2 in a 139-96 loss to the Thunder.

"It's very frustrating," Doncic told reporters, per ESPN. “I don't think people understand how frustrating it is. All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It's the best time to play basketball.

"It's very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I'm very proud of them. It's been very tough to just to sit and watch them play."

Flair’s tweet also coincided with the Lakers’ 108-90 loss to the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ric Flair tweet attack Lakers star Luke Doncic elicits backlash

May 6, 2026

Luka Doncic says being injured during Lakers' playoff run has been 'very frustrating'

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic said Wednesday he was given platelet-rich plasma injections in Spain in an effort to speed up his eight-week timeline for return from the hamstring injury that has had him sidelined since April 2.

“I went to Spain to do PRP,” Doncic told reporters. “Everybody knows that its one of the best countries to do that. Obviously, you know, we talked with the Lakers doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there.”

Each injection required four days of rest in-between, calling for an extended stay in Spain, he said.

“I know and trust lots of people in Spain that I used to work with before," he said. "I needed four days in between every shot. I did it four times, so that’s why I stayed longer.”

Doncic said he's been running, but he's yet to reintroduce any contact.

The Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinals series 108-90 on Tuesday.

Doncic said it has been hard to watch while knowing he can't yet participate.

“It's very frustrating. I don't think people understand how frustrating it is," Doncic said. "All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It's the best time to play basketball. It's very frustrating to see what my team is doing, I'm very proud of them, but it's been very tough to watch.”

At the same time, the six-time NBA All-Star is aware that coming back too soon would put him at risk.

“It's a tough one for me. I've come back from injuries too soon before, and it wasn't the best result," he said. ”This is the first time I have a hamstring injury. It's not the same like other injuries. You have to be very careful. I'm doing everything to come back."

The Thunder host the Lakers in Game 2 on Thursday night.

___

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

May 6, 2026

Aussie young gun creates history with maiden century as Ponting’s IPL team suffers another loss

South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen smacked 69 to help Sunrisers Hyderabad climb to the top of the IPL table with a convincing 33-run win over Punjab Kings on Wednesday.

May 6, 2026

Cavaliers vs Pistons Prediction, Picks & Odds for Thursday's NBA Playoffs Game 2

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

In theory, this should be the competitive series in the Eastern Conference. By favoring the Detroit Pistons by just a bucket at home, oddsmakers have effectively said the Cleveland Cavaliers should have a legitimate chance at winning this series.

But my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and these NBA picks firmly believe Cleveland has roster problems that should show up again in Game 2 on Thursday, May 7.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2 prediction

Cavaliers vs Pistons best bet: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds (-135)

This same bet was priced at +100 in Game 1, but it still holds value as long as the number remains at 7.5.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ center Jarrett Allen might be borderline unplayable in this series. Detroit Pistons’ center Jalen Duren is too active on the offensive glass for the Cavaliers to play Allen as he struggles finding boards.

Duren snagged seven offensive rebounds in Game 1, directly part of why Allen played only 18 minutes.

Cleveland has plenty of work ahead of it in this series, but that work doubles when giving up offensive rebounds as often as Allen did.

COVERS INTEL: Allen’s struggle against Duren is a known problem for the Cavaliers. Allen was not in any foul trouble in their meeting on March 3, yet he played just 21 minutes while Duren snagged six offensive rebounds.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2 same-game parlay

If Jarrett Allen is going to play less, someone needs to play more. Evan Mobley cannot play two positions at once, though Cleveland would be better off if he could.

Dean Wade saw nearly 28 minutes of action in Game 1, nearly 10 minutes more than Allen did. Wade managed only five points and three rebounds, but his plus/minus was only -4 in those 28 minutes, a palatable thought in a game the Cavaliers lost by 10 points.

Wade might join Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and James Harden by handling a workload in the mid-30s minutes. And that should lend many rebound opportunities.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
Jarrett Allen Under 10.5 points
Dean Wade Over 3.5 rebounds

Cavaliers vs Pistons odds for Game 2

Spread: Cavaliers +3 | Pistons -3
Moneyline: Cavaliers +135 | Pistons -160
Over/Under: Over 216 | Under 216

Cavaliers vs Pistons betting trend to know

Four of the five matchups between these two this season, including Game 1, have gone Under their totals. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pistons.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2

Location	Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date	Thursday, May 7, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Cavaliers vs Pistons latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

May 6, 2026

Sabres Have Big Challenge With Canadiens' Red-Hot Goalie

The Buffalo Sabres kick off their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. This has the potential to be an excellent series between two very talented Atlantic Division rivals.

However, it is clear that the Sabres have a big challenge in front of them heading into the series: solving Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes.

Dobes helped carry the Canadiens past the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first-round series due to his excellent play. In seven games so far this post-season, the Canadiens netminder has a 4-3 record, a 2.03 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage. With this, Dobes undoubtedly is entering this series on a hot streak.

Dobes also ended his series against the Lightning on a strong note. This is because he had a .950 save percentage or better in each of his last three starts against the Bolts. This included him stopping 28 out of 29 Lightning shots in the Canadiens' Game 7 win.

The Sabres will now be looking to end Dobes' hot streak this series. If the Sabres can get the 24-year-old goalie off his game, it would be huge for them as they look to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

May 6, 2026

Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill gets MRI on hamstring and sits out practice after Game 1 injury

DETROIT (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers reserve guard Sam Merrill had an MRI on his left hamstring after injuring it in a Game 1 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

The Cavs held him out of practice Wednesday, a day before they will shoot to even the second-round series in Detroit.

Merrill had one assist and one turnover in six-plus minutes of the opener on Tuesday night.

The 29-year-old Merrill averaged 12.8 points during the regular season and scored in double digits twice in the seven-game, first-round series against the Toronto Raptors.

___

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

May 6, 2026

Trailing 2-0 in series, Flyers hope return home can fuel comeback against Hurricanes

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers turned tenuous postseason hopes into a fashion statement when they wore T-shirts with “3.8%” on the sleeve to start their playoff run — a nod to their chances in March, per an NHL analytics and prediction platform.

Might be time for a new addition — courtesy of updated math — to their wardrobe.

When Travis Konecny missed on a breakaway in overtime of a Game 2 loss at Carolina, the Flyers lost a chance to earn a split on the road.

Most sportsbooks have stamped the Flyers with the worst odds of any of the eight teams left in the NHL playoffs to win the Stanley Cup.

Can “60-1” fit on the other sleeve?

The Flyers indeed are the decided underdog headed into Game 3 against a Hurricanes team that remains unbeaten in the NHL playoffs, thanks two impressive home wins to open the second-round series.

Carolina swept that first-round series against the Senators and never trailed. That series started with a home shutout and then a 3-2 double-overtime win in Game 2. The Hurricanes started this series in similar fashion, first with a Game 1 shutout and then another 3-2 win in extra time on Taylor Hall’s score at 18:54 of OT.

The Flyers host the next two games in the best-of-seven series.

The Flyers wasted a 2-0 lead in Game 2 before Konecny’s miss that became the hot topic — along with the 76ers’ blowout Game 1 loss to New York in the NBA playoffs — on the Philly sports scene.

“I should have finished that,” Konecny said.

Flyers coach Rick Tocchet refused to pin the blame on Konecny and noted in a game that went that long, there were plenty of opportunities to win it.

“There’s a few other guys that had some really Grade A chances,” Tocchet said. “If you’re not getting chances, then you’d be concerned. We had a ton of chances. I’m sure he’s upset. But hey, we need him on Thursday night and hopefully he can connect on Thursday night.”

The Hurricanes have played in the conference finals three times in the past seven years and are facing a young Flyers team gaining footing in the playoffs.

The Flyers became the first NHL team to make the playoffs after being 10 points out with 22 or fewer games remaining, securing Philadelphia’s first postseason appearance since 2020. Then the Flyers beat Pittsburgh in six games in the first round.

The Flyers have learned the hard way that even playing their best — Tocchet believed the Game 2 effort proved to them they can hang with the Hurricanes — might not be enough to outlast the top-seeded team in the East driven to break through and win the Stanley Cup.

The experience, if not the result, has been invaluable to a team that has an average age of just 27 and threw out a Game 2 line with three rookies in 19-year-old Porter Martone, 21-year-old Denver Barkey and 22-year-old Alex Bump. They have 25-and-under core players that include forwards Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras defenseman and Jamie Drysdale.

“It really is huge for the development of the guys,” Tocchet said. “Imagine if we didn’t make the playoffs and these guys never got to experience it? I think going into Game 3, you’ll see more improvement.”

The Flyers are looking for some wins to come with their improvement as they prepare for their first home second-round playoff game since 2012.

“I know the kids were upset last game,” Tocchet said. “But they can’t be upset because they’re going to get another shot it, they’re going to get right back on the ice, and they have a lot of support from the organization and their teammates. I think that’s going to help their development, also.”

Flyers’ Cates out for rest of the series

Flyers forward Noah Cates was ruled out for the series after he was injured in Game 2.

Cates had a career-high 18 goals and 47 points in 82 games this season and has added a goal and four points in the playoffs.

Here come the Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are 6-0 in the postseason and didn’t trail at any point in the first five wins. Yet coach Rod Brind’Amour doesn’t have to look hard for areas that need improvement, such as a power play that hasn’t produced anywhere near like it did in the regular season and a largely quiet start from the top line of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov.

Carolina is 12th among 16 teams in the postseason on the power play. The Hurricanes were fourth in the regular season at 24.9%.

“I think it’s just executing our plays,” Jarvis said. “I think sometimes you have a play, you run it, and then we have a tendency to kind of go a little wild and start moving a little too much. So just kind of getting back to what made us successful in the regular season, which was playing our positions.”

Jarvis broke through for his first postseason goal in Game 2, coming after Brind’Amour shuffled the lines to pair him with Nikolaj Ehlers and captain Jordan Staal.

Brind’Amour also has lamented the number of penalties his team is taking, leading to seven power plays for the Flyers in Game 2.

“I think there’s another level we’re going to have to get to,” Brind’Amour said, “and it’s there for us.”

May 6, 2026

Bayern Munich v Paris Saint-Germain: Champions League semi-final, second leg – live

⚽ Champions League news, 8pm BST kick-off (first leg: 4-5)
⚽ Read today’s Football Daily | And follow us on Bluesky

“I’m a little bored with the hyperbole over the first leg,” writes ~~Jose Mou~~- Tim Smith. “It’s like regular football folk have lost the run of themselves. So, I predict a dull, cagey, 0-1 with a late goal. Of course, I’ll probably be proven wrong within five minutes of kick off.”

“Evening Rob,” begins Andy Gordon. “As Scott’s MBM last week gave us nine goals and all-time classic, if tonight doesn’t meet expectations do we email you with complaints/refund requests?”

May 6, 2026

Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt day-to-day after dislocating right pinky finger

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 05: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks against Rui Hachimura #28 and Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) — Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt can't stop Thunder center Chet Holmgren from dunking during the second quarter of Game 1 on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. Vanderbilt dislocated his right pinky finger when his hand struck the backboard. (Joshua Gateley / Getty Images)

Though Jarred Vanderbilt suffered a gruesome dislocated right pinky injury during the Lakers’ loss in Game 1 against the Thunder on Tuesday, coach JJ Redick said his forward has been listed as day-to-day for the second-round series.

Vanderbilt, who is left-handed, was injured in the second quarter trying to block a dunk by Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, but his hand hit the backboard. Vanderbilt immediately doubled over in pain, as the bone broke through the skin and had to be put back in place.

“They were able to put his finger back together and it’s splinted and he’s day-to-day,” Redick said Wednesday.

The Lakers and Thunder play Game 2 here Thursday night at Paycom Center.

Redick said it was a “reduction” for Vanderbilt, meaning it was a procedure to restore his dislocated finger.

Vanderbilt had his finger taped and had a splint on the finger after the game.

“Yeah. I mean, he's obviously a tough-minded player and person,” Redick said. “It just, he had a full dislocation. So they just put the stuff back together. You know, he'll be day-to-day.”

Redick was asked if it’ll be a pain tolerance issue for his defensive-minded forward.

“Certainly the pain is involved,” Redick said. “From my understanding, it's basically making sure basically the tissue is healed enough. We're obviously going to splint him, but making sure the tissue is healed enough to protect his skin barrier.”

Jaxson Hayes called Vanderbilt’s finger injury “disgusting” because the “whole bone was out of his skin.”

“Obviously, you never want to see one of your teammates go down,” Hayes said. “But, I mean, that was gross. That was really gross.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

May 6, 2026

The NBA draft lottery is almost here. Here are the odds for each team

With the 2026 NBA draft lottery on the horizon, 14 teams will gather in Chicago to hear if they will get the No. 1 overall pick in this class.

Pick Nos. 15-60 are already finalized but the lottery order is yet to be determined. With such a top-heavy class, there are plenty of reasons for fans to get excited even if their favorite team is not called at No. 1 overall.

This year has notable prospects including AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson. So even a top-four pick could change a franchise.

While the future of how the NBA draft lottery will work is currently undetermined based on concerns about tanking, the odds for this year are set in stone. Here is what you need to know, including trade details, for each team picking in the lottery.

1. Washington Wizards

A general view of the Washington Wizards logo on a court mop before the game between the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 14.0%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 52.1%

Most likely draft range: No. 3–5

Worst-case drop: No. 7

Even with the best odds in the lottery, Washington is still more likely to pick No. 5 (47.9%) than anywhere in the top four.

2. Indiana Pacers

Detailed view of the Indiana Pacers logo during the game against New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center.

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 14.0%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 52.1%

Most likely draft range: No. 4-6

Worst-case drop: No. 6

This pick is traded to the Clippers if it falls at No. 5 (27.8%) or No. 6 (20.1%), giving the Pacers a 47.9% chance of losing it.

3. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets NBA Cup logo at center court before tip-off against the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center.

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 14.0%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 52.1%

Most likely draft range: No. 4-6

Worst-case drop: No. 7

The Nets have better-than-even odds at a top-four pick (52.1%) but their most likely individual outcome (26.0%) is still No. 6 overall.

4. Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz logo is seen on a uniform during a time out against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center.

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 11.5%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 45.1%

Most likely draft range: No. 5-7

Worst-case drop: No. 8

Utah has a 45.1% chance to land a top-four pick but its most likely outcome (27.1%) is No. 6 overall.

5. Sacramento Kings

Detailed view of the Sacramento Kings logo during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half at Smoothie King Center.

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 11.5%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 45.1%

Most likely draft range: No. 5-8

Worst-case drop: No. 9

Sacramento’s odds are solid for a top-four pick but the most likely outcome (25.5%) is No. 7 overall.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 9.0%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 37.2%

Most likely draft range: No. 6-8

Worst-case drop: No. 10

Memphis cannot land at No. 5 or anywhere from No. 11 through No. 14.

7. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans)

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 6.8%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 29.3%

Most likely draft range: No. 7-9

Worst-case drop: No. 11

This pick was traded to the Hawks from the Pelicans in the 2025 NBA Draft. It cannot land at No. 5 or No. 6. If it lands worse than Milwaukee’s pick, the Hawks will swap for the Bucks’ selection instead.

8. Dallas Mavericks

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 6.7%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 28.9%

Most likely draft range: No. 8-10

Worst-case drop: No. 12

Dallas cannot land at No. 5, No. 6 or No. 7 overall.

9. Chicago Bulls

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 4.5%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 20.2%

Most likely draft range: No. 9-11

Worst-case drop: No. 13

Chicago cannot land at No. 5 through No. 8 and has a nearly zero chance of falling to No. 12 through No. 14.

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 3.9%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 13.9%

Most likely draft range: No. 10-12

Worst-case drop: No. 14

If the Bucks have a better pick than the Pelicans, which would only happen if Milwaukee jumps into the top four or New Orleans slides to No. 10, the pick is traded to the Hawks. Milwaukee would then receive the Pelicans’ selection. There is an 11.8% chance of that happening. Milwaukee cannot land at No. 5 through No. 8. and holds a nearly 0% chance at No. 13 or No. 14.

11. Golden State Warriors

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 2.0%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 9.4%

Most likely draft range: No. 11-13

Worst-case drop: No. 14

Golden State cannot land at No. 5 through No. 10 with less than 1.0% chance at No. 13 or No. 14.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers)

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 1.5%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 7.2%

Most likely draft range: No. 12-14

Worst-case drop: No. 14

Oklahoma City cannot land at No. 5 through No. 11 with a nearly 0% chance at No. 14.

13. Miami Heat

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 1.0%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 4.7%

Most likely draft range: No. 12-14

Worst-case drop: No. 14

Miami cannot land at No. 5 through No. 12.

14. Charlotte Hornets

Odds to land No. 1 pick: 0.5%

Odds to land top-4 pick: 2.4%

Most likely draft range: No. 12-14

Worst-case drop: No. 14

Charlotte cannot land No. 5 through No. 13. with a 97.6% chance at No. 14, the highest probability of any single outcome in the lottery.

When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC in Chicago at McCormick Place.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA draft lottery odds: Complete breakdown for each team

May 6, 2026

76ers vs Knicks Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 2

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is something that Philly would love to forget and they have a chance to get it right as our NBA player prop projections are ready for Game 2 between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.

By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.

These 76ers vs. Knicks predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Wednesday, May 6.

76ers vs Knicks computer picks for Game 2

76ers	Knicks
George o17.5 points -120	Brunson o26.5 points -105
Maxey o2.5 3-pointers -120	Towns o11.5 rebounds +105
Oubre Jr. u5.5 rebounds -115	Anunoby o17.5 points -110

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

76ers Game 2 computer picks

Paul George Over 17.5 points (-120)

Projection: 20.65 points

Paul George has consistently hovered around his points prop line throughout the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff run, either clearing it or coming close on multiple occasions.

With Joel Embiid ruled out for Game 2, Philadelphia will need more scoring punch from its supporting cast, putting added pressure on George to step up. Facing the risk of going down 0-2, the Sixers will be counting on Playoff P to deliver the offensive lift they need.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet george Now at bet365!/span

Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 3-pointers (-120)

Projection: 3.35 3-pointers

Tyrese Maxey struggled from deep in Game 1, going 0-for-3 from beyond the arc, but he’ll look to quickly rediscover his range in Game 2.

The 76ers guard has been a key spark throughout the postseason, often carrying the offensive load when Joel Embiid has been limited or unavailable.

With that responsibility likely back on his shoulders, Maxey will be counted on once again to provide scoring punch and perimeter production in Game 2.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet maxey Now at bet365!/span

Kelly Oubre Jr. Under 5.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 4.93 rebounds

Everything still circles back to Embiid, and with him ruled out for Game 2, additional rebounding opportunities are likely to open up across the board.

Kelly Oubre Jr. grabbed five rebounds on eight chances in just 27 minutes during Game 1, and while he should see enough volume to stay active on the glass again, there’s still some risk he lands just shy of this line.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet oubre jr. Now at bet365!/span

Knicks Game 2 computer picks

Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-105)

Projection: 28.75 points

Jalen Brunson torched the 76ers for 35 points in Game 1, and he’ll look to keep that momentum rolling back home at Madison Square Garden — a stage where he’s consistently thrived under the spotlight and delivered on this scoring line.

Having cleared the Over in six of his last 10 games, Brunson is well-positioned to replicate that performance in Game 2 as he looks to do whatever it takes to defend home court.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet brunson Now at bet365!/span

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 13.06 rebounds

Karl-Anthony Towns has been a force on the glass throughout the New York Knicks playoff run, but his rebounding output in Game 1 against the Sixers was relatively quiet by his standards.

With the Knicks ranking fourth in the league at home in offensive rebounding (13.1 per game), expect Towns to elevate his presence on the boards in Game 2 with the home crowd behind him.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet towns Now at bet365!/span

OG Anunoby Over 17.5 points (-110)

Projection: 18.83 points

OG Anunoby has had a steady impact for the Knicks throughout this postseason, providing efficient scoring and clearing the Over on this points prop in five of his last seven playoff games.

With the series set to shift to Philadelphia after tonight, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Anunoby deliver another strong outing before the Knicks hit the road.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet anunoby Now at bet365!/span

How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 2

Location	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date	Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

MORE NBA PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

May 6, 2026

Canadiens Likely Making Lineup Changes For Game 1 vs. Sabres

The Montreal Canadiens play Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night. The Canadiens will look to start their series against Buffalo with a win on the road.

Based on the team's morning skate, the Canadiens could have a different-looking roster for Game 1.

As reported by RDS' Patrick Friolet, Brendan Gallagher and Jayden Struble skated with the Canadiens' extras during their morning skate. In addition, Joe Veleno and Arber Xhekaj skated with the main group.

Gallagher, who turned 34 today, has one goal and a plus-1 rating in three games so far this post-season for the Canadiens.

Struble played in all seven games of the Canadiens' first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he had zero points and a plus-3 rating.

If Veleno gets into the lineup, it would be the first playoff game of his NHL career. In 61 regular-season games this year with the Habs, he had two goals, five points, 166 hits, and a minus-12 rating.

As for Xhekaj, he has one assist, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating in six playoff games so far this spring with the Canadiens.

May 6, 2026

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 2, Game 2 – Ducks vs. Golden Knights Gameday Preview (05/06/26)

Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after their morning skate at T-Mobile Arena.

The Ducks felt good about their play in Game 1, despite failing to take a 1-0 series lead. The Golden Knights, despite winning the game, felt that they did not play as well as the Ducks.

"I think we kind of dictated the game for most of it," Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke said. "Especially the first period. We came out a lot better than they did."

"I thought across the board, we had everyone contributing and we had the energy we were looking for and speed and pace" Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "We had some good opportunities, we missed some great chances as well."

While it may be concerning that Vegas was able to win a game where they felt like they weren't at their best, the Ducks believe that they were right in it until the end, just like Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers.

"It's little things, breakdowns," Sennecke said. "That unfortunate call that we thought should have been icing. But it's more of the same."

"I thought we played a good game," Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier said. There's a couple mistakes we need to clean up. Not playing this team in a little bit here, we knew what to expect, but we didn't really know what to expect going into it. It's a good challenge. They've got a great team and it's going to be fun to compete against them again tonight."

May 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) defends his net as a deflection by Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) lifts over the cross bar during the first period of game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

"I think that's what playoffs is," Ducks forward Ryan Poehling said. "Maybe a little cat and mouse where maybe they didn't play their best (in Game 1) and stole one from us. But, from our standpoint, you just know that they're going to come out harder. They're going to make adjustments, they're going to be tougher on us, try to slow us down."

Anaheim's power play went 0-for-4 in Game 1, but Quenneville said he liked the looks they got, also noting that they won't be able to score on the power play every single game.

"They did a good job against us," Quenneville said. "They've got great sticks. The time and space is a lot tighter. We had a couple looks, but at the same time, we had one of those special series in the last one where we don't expect to be scoring at that rate. But I still thought there was enough momentum in our power play opportunities, our possession and zone time that the power play was still effective in what they had to do. It's just a matter, now, of trying to find a goal to get it going."

"Edmonton kind of lets you hang onto it a little bit more," Sennecke said of the opposing penalty kill setup. "Vegas comes with a lot of pressure, so that's just kind of having a good middle release. That's kind of something we went over yesterday and this morning. Winning the draw is a huge part of the power play, I think we went 0-for-5."

Troy Terry will play in Game 2 despite missing the morning skate due to maintenance, which has been the norm for the past month or so. Radko Gudas, who has been out with a lower-body injury since Game 1 of the Oilers series, participated in morning skate for the second consecutive gameday, but will not play in Game 2.

Ducks Projected Lines

Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke
Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier
Jeff Viel - Tim Washe - Ian Moore

Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson
Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Golden Knights Projected Lines

Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden - Mitch Marner - Mark Stone
Tomáš Hertl - William Karlsson - Keegan Kolesar
Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Colton Sissons

Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson
Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak

Carter Hart (confirmed)

Related articles:

Anaheim Ducks Rival Sharks to Draft Second Overall

Beckett Sennecke Calder Trophy Finalist

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas Leads Series 1-0

Belief, Short Memory Can Help Ducks Beat Golden Knights

May 6, 2026

How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander figured out the Lakers defense in Game 1

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 05: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

No team won more games than the Thunder this season. A well-oiled machine with back-to-back 60-win regular seasons flexed its basketball muscle Tuesday night.

While the final score is not entirely indicative of a back-and-forth affair, a dominant team performance nonetheless forced LA back to the drawing board.

Facing the clear-cut deepest team in the league — playing an unconventional 11 guys in the first half — the Lakers’ top item is still the head of this venomous snake in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A game plan of multiple bodies held up for a while before the reigning MVP took out a scalpel and dissected LA’s defense.

SGA scored a modest 18 points with six assists and seven uncharacteristic turnovers. LA used a similar scheme they’ve done with many stars this season, sending help instantly with multiple help defenders and forcing the opponent to play out of rotation.

Marcus Smart was given the on-ball assignment to chase and stick on SGA. Any ball screen was played with aggressive coverages as shown in the clip below. Watch as Lu Dort comes to the screen for his guard, with Jaxson Hayes as the opposite defender.

SGA comes off the screen with downhill intentions. Hayes never leaves him with Smart trailing and four Lakers with a foot in the paint. It forces SGA to throw an errant pass out of bounds.

A few possessions later, watch as he comes to get a screen from Jaylin Williams and Deandre Ayton meets him at the level. SGA leaves his feet to find his open teammate, with LeBron James perfectly anticipating the pass for a transition basket.

While he hit five of them, the purple and gold’s defense held SGA to just seven shot attempts in the first half and more turnovers (four) than assists (three).

OKC, being the problem solver team they are, came up with some answers at halftime to counter. One was having the screen set much higher for SGA, making it harder to send help and creating more space for their superstar guard to operate.

Watch below as Isaiah Hartenstein comes to the screen for SGA almost at the midcourt mark, which sends him downhill into a patented step-back in the mid-range.

Later in the fourth quarter, the Lakers decide to “fire” him on the catch — send two defenders to take the ball out of his hands — and make the Thunder play out of rotation. OKC made crisp passes out of it all night, as shown below, as the ball swung around the court and ends up in the corner for a three from Jared McCain, who connected on 4-7 on the night from long distance.

LA overall held the leading 3-point attempting team in the playoffs to just 13 makes on 30 shots. It was an eight-point game with just under a minute left in the third before the Thunder put the game on ice in the fourth.

There’s no answer for SGA, as he’s shown an ability to break any defense thrown his way and is the heavy favorite to lead his team back-to-back championships.

You have to pick your poison, and sometimes you die either way.

“Tonight was very simple,” SGA said postgame. “Multiple bodies, that means multiple people are open and just trust my teammates from there.”

Even as simple as it was, the game plan and execution were good, but it just wasn’t perfect. Even then, the odds are stacked against you against a team playing with all the answers.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu