San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.
The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.
The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.
The Timberwolves' 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Devers has homered in back-to-back games after cracking a 93.2-mph sinker from Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski into a 399-foot fly ball just over center in a 5-2 win on Friday, May 8.
The Giants are now 15-23, but still at the bottom of the NL West standings. Devers hasn't had the best start to the 2026 season. He entered Friday with a batting stat line of .221/.265/.329.
After Friday, Devers has a .229 batting average, .271 OBP and .354 SLG in 37 games. He's accounted for four homers, 12 runs and 16 RBIs in 2026.
But his recent games could be a sign of good things ahead for Devers and the Giants. Over his last seven games, Devers has registered a .350 batting average, slugging 7-for-20. In that span, he hit two home runs and had 5 RBIs on a .391 OBP, .750 SLG and 1.141 OPS.
San Francisco hasn't had the ideal start to the season. It came with attention, not necessarily expectation, with the team taking a chance on signing a manager with zero major league experience.
The Giants hired Tony Vitello, whose previous experience came as a successful collegiate baseball coach at the University of Tennessee. He won a national championship in Knoxville.
But the 'black and orange' could see brighter horizons coming soon with their win against the Pirates.
Devers playing up to his $27.5 million contract in 2026, could be a sign things are turning around. San Francisco will need him. The Giants have Devers under contract until 2033, paying him $28.5 million per year.
Devers balling out makes nearly everyone in the Bay Area happy. Let's see if this is the version of Devers that keeps showing up for the Giants.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 06: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 06, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The noise inside Target Center swelled with every passing minute Friday night, the kind of playoff atmosphere designed to rattle inexperienced teams. Anthony Edwards started for the first time since he returned from a knee injury he suffered in the second round against the Denver Nuggets and every basket he scored sent the crowd into another frenzy.
The noise inside the arena swelled with every passing minute Friday night, the kind of playoff atmosphere designed to rattle inexperienced teams. Instead, Victor Wembanyama stood calmly in the middle of it all. And when the game tightened in the fourth quarter, when Minnesota smelled momentum and the arena leaned forward waiting for a collapse, the Spurs’ superstar answered every challenge himself.
Wembanyama delivered 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks as San Antonio escaped with a 115-108 Game 3 victory over the Timberwolves, reclaiming control of the Western Conference semifinal series in the process.
For a moment early on, it looked like the Spurs might cruise. San Antonio burst out of the gates with an 18-3 run, moving the ball crisply and defending with a physical edge that silenced the crowd almost immediately. Wembanyama controlled everything near the rim, while Stephon Castle pushed the pace and found open shooters before Minnesota could settle defensively.
Both the crowd and Timberwolves looked stunned as head coach Chris Finch called a timeout. But playoff games rarely stay comfortable for long and Minnesota responded with a big run to cut into San Antonio’s lead in just five minutes. Edwards slowly dragged Minnesota back into the fight. He attacked the basket relentlessly, hit difficult jumpers through contact and fed energy into the home crowd with every possession. Naz Reid came off the bench firing. Jaden McDaniels battled for loose balls and second chances.
The comfortable Spurs lead was gone, replaced by the kind of tense back-and-forth battle that tests poise more than talent. Every time San Antonio threatened to create separation in the second half, the Timberwolves answered. Edwards turned transition opportunities into highlight plays. Reid knocked down corner threes. The crowd roared louder with every stop.
With the Spurs leading 102-100, a moment when inexperience usually shines, Wembanyama took over completely.
First came the three-pointer that quieted the building. Then a soaring finish at the rim. Then another defensive stop that reminded everyone why Minnesota struggled to attack the paint all night. Possession by possession, the 7-foot-4 star suffocated the comeback. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, delivering every answer San Antonio needed while the Spurs calmly closed the game at the free-throw line after struggling there for much of the night.
Castle quietly orchestrated the offense throughout the chaos, finishing with 13 points and 12 assists. De’Aaron Fox added 17 points despite an uneven shooting night, while Devin Vassell chipped in key baskets during a critical third-quarter stretch.
But this night revolved around Wembanyama. The sense that even in one of the loudest environments imaginable, with momentum slipping and the Timberwolves surging, the Spurs never truly panicked because their best player never did.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, the crowd that spent most of the night roaring sat mostly silent.
The Spurs had survived Minnesota’s best push. And now, they are two wins away from the Western Conference Finals.
Game Notes
Victor Wembanyama joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal among players who have recorded 35+ PTS, 15+ REB, 5+ BLK in a playoff game.
San Antonio missed eight free throws on Friday night. While it did not hurt them in Game 3, it will lead to a loss against a team like Oklahoma City or New York. They will need to fix that if they want to continue down the road in their playoff journey.
Minnesota dominated the second chance points: 30-12
In desperate need of someone to step up and carry their extremely shorthanded offense, Mark Vientos continues to be the man for the Mets.
Vientos has enjoyed a strong start to the road trip, and he delivered again on Friday.
The slugger opened the scoring in the ballgame, crushing a third pitch slider from Ryne Nelson 401 feet deep to left-center for his fifth home run of the season.
New York’s offense went silent after that, until Vientos was able to come through once again in the latter innings.
After Devin Williams pieced together a eight-pitch bottom of the ninth, Vientos immediately cashed in the ghost runner, ripping the first pitch he saw for a go-ahead double.
Carson Benge immediately followed that with a big insurance run, and then Tobias Myers put the finishing touches on the victory with a 1-2-3 bottom-half.
“It felt pretty good,” Vientos said postgame. “I felt like the at-bats I put together were pretty good, I’m just happy that I was able to come through in both of those spots.”
The righty slugger has finally started to look more like himself at the plate after a dreadful spring training and start to the regular season.
He’s now hitting .261 with three doubles, three homers, five runs scored, 10 RBI, a .333 on-base percentage, and a .855 OPS over his last 13 games.
“The more he gets the results, the more you’re going to see that,” Carlos Mendoza said. “When he gets going he gets locked in and mentally it helps him big-time -- he’s a very good hitter and it’s good to see him getting results.”
“I feel good right now for sure,” Vientos added. “Just gotta keep stacking the days and continue to be consistent.”
May 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates a solo home run with Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers clawed and scrapped their way to some offense against Chris Sale to get the better of the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in Friday night’s series opener between perennial National League powerhouses at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers had only five hits in seven innings against Sale, but made them count. Teoscar Hernández singled and Kyle Tucker doubled him home in the second inning. Miguel Rojas reached on an error in the fifth inning, then with two outs Shohei Ohtani singled him home for the first Los Angeles lead of the evening.
Then, Freddie Freeman and his newer closed stance provided insurance with a solo home run in the sixth inning, his third consecutive game with an extra-base hit, and fourth in the last five.
That was Freeman’s first home run since April 6, snapping a string of 114 plate appearances without a long ball. Freeman now has 100 home runs with the Dodgers, the 37th player to hit that many with the franchise.
“I would have taken a broken-bat bloop against Chris,” Freeman said. “He’s one of the toughest left-handed pitchers you can face. He’s coming from behind you.”
All three Dodgers run-scoring hits off Sale were by left-handed batters, against whom Sale had allowed only seven hits in 38 at-bats all season before Friday, none with anyone on base.
“That guy was phenomenal. He’s one of the game’s best and has been for quite some time,” manager Dave Roberts said of Sale. “For us to scrounge and scrape and get a couple of points, was big.”
Holding velocity through the game has been an issue for Sheehan this season. He threw a fastball 97 mph in the first inning, his fastest pitch of the year, and averaged 96.1 mph in the opening frame. Sheehan’s average velocity still waned in his start, down to 92.4 mph in the fourth inning and 93.1 in the fifth. But he was effective enough to induce 14 swinging strikes (eight on the fastball) and strike out seven, with just one walk.
“There’s certainly some things we’re trying to figure out and tap into to increase [velocity], but at the end of the day it’s about getting outs,” Roberts said before the game.
Sheehan got 14 outs, and was pulled in a 1-1 tie with two outs in the fifth with runners at the corners and lefty Matt Olson at the plate. Southpaw Alex Vesia got Olson to fly out to end the frame.
After the game, Roberts said, “I thought Emmet threw the ball as well as he’s been throwing the ball all year, as far as stuff, compete. He did everything we had hoped.”
Friday’s stellar matchup was close throughout, and also featured a few defensive highlights. Austin Riley doubled to the left field wall in the fourth inning, but a perfect relay from Hernández to Rojas to Will Smith nailed Michael Harris II at the plate, an out call upheld by replay review.
In the bottom of the fourth, a sure single to shallow left field by Tucker was instead plucked out of the air by shortstop Jim Jarvis in just his second major league game. Charley Steiner on the Dodgers radio call said of the spectacular catch, “It was as if he was diving into the pool.”
Vesia stranded Sheehan’s two runners in the fifth. Kyle Hurt allowed two singles before pitching a scoreless sixth. Will Klein stranded a seventh-inning walk, then was pulled after a leadoff single in the eighth, trying to pitch a second inning. Brock Stewart walked a batter of his own, then stranded those two runners to finish the frame.
Tanner Scott however pitched a clean ninth to close out the win, earning his third save of the season.
Friday particulars
Home run: Freddie Freeman (4)
WP — Alex Vesia (1-0): 1 up, 1 down
LP — Chris Sale (6-2): 7 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 7 strikeouts
Brothers, the longtime NBA ref, and Finch got into it during a timeout, with players and staff holding Brothers back, while Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards walked Finch away.
"I'm not sure I've seen players hold a referee back from their head coach before..." a reporter began to ask after the game, before Finch cut in: "Pretty unprofessional, huh?"
Finch said he was frustrated over what he perceived as an intentional delay in being granted a timeout.
"I wanted the timeout. I had called it 3 seconds earlier and I wanted the timeout," Finch said. "I said 'I want my 3 seconds back,' ... because he clearly heard me. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play ... almost cost us a turnover. So, and then, you know, he lost it.
"Then I went to ask him where the ball was going to be taken in and he screamed at me for that. So, completely unprofessional behavior by him."
Chris Finch on his interaction with Tony Brothers:
"I wanted the timeout and I said I want my 3 seconds back. He clearly heard me. He lost it. Then I went to ask him where the ball was gonna be taken in and he was screaming at me for that. So completely unprofessional behavior… https://t.co/2EzXqtpM7spic.twitter.com/zLImoRFTAX
PHILADELPHIA – If you're waking up on Saturday morning feeling good about the Knicks’ prospects in this postseason, you can thank Mikal Bridges.
Bridges' defense on Tyrese Maxey has one of the biggest factors in this Knicks-Sixers series.
Maxey is averaging 18.6 points over three games against the Knicks -- that’s 10 points fewer than his regular-season average, he’s 2-for-12 from beyond the arc, and has 12 turnovers.
That’s nearly double his regular-season average.
Bridges isn’t the only Knick defending Maxey, but he’s drawn the assignment most often, and he’s aced it.
“He’s doing an amazing job. That’s a tough task, a tall order. The way he is able to maneuver and navigate screens, do all those things, and on top of that, give us good shots, good minutes and a good quality of executing on the offensive end is great,” Josh Hart said after New York’s Game 3 win.
Bridges is chasing Maxey all over the floor; defending him on and off the ball, stifling his backdoor cuts.
While doing all of that, the much-maligned Bridges has also found a way to impact the other end of the floor.
He had 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting in Game 3. That’s four straight games with at least 17 points. He’s hit 69 percent of his shots in that span.
Quite a bounce back from Game 3 of the Hawks series, when Bridges went 0-for-4 with four turnovers.
“Kal is one of those guys, I never worry about him because he’s going to bring it every game. He’s going to take each matchup personal,” Hart said. “When he gets into that mindset and that mode he’s a heck of a player.”
ROBINSON ROLLING
You may not see it in the box score, but Mitchell Robinson impacted Game 3 in a big way on both ends of the floor.
Keeping possessions alive on the offensive glass. Forcing the Sixers to chase him into the paint as a roller in pick-and-rolls. Defending Joel Embiid. A mind-bending dunk on Joel Embiid.
The Knicks outscored the Sixers by 16 in Robinson’s 19 minutes.
Maybe most importantly, he made four of his eight free-throw attempts. He went 2-for-4 when Philadelphia intentionally fouled him late in the third quarter.
“It feels real good,” Robinson said after the game.
Robinson was in the gym at 9:30 on Friday morning, working on his free throws with Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton.
The work obviously paid off. One element helping Robinson from the line? Spinning the ball before his attempt.
“Once I do it, instead of rushing it it kind of gives me a quick little breath and then go into it instead of just flinging it up there,” Robinson said.
“It helps a lot,” he said of the spin. “Keeps the ball not moving in my hand once I catch grip and just go into it.”
Freddie Freeman belts a solo homer in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the Braves on May 8, 2026 in Los Angeles. AP
On the other, a red-hot Atlanta Braves squad that arrived in Los Angeles tied for the most early-season wins in the majors.
Both teams possess high-powered offenses, with the Braves leading baseball in runs scored and the Dodgers topping all clubs in OPS.
Both teams have talented pitching staffs, the Dodgers ranking second in ERA and the Braves led by former Cy Young winner Chris Sale.
On Friday, they each topped it off by turning one spectacular defensive play after the next.
“Tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said, “was a typical sort of October game.”
A typical game, with a typical result, as the Dodgers did what they usually do in high-profile matchups by grinding out a 3-1 win to take the series-opener at Dodger Stadium.
“For me, it’s a pretty good win,” veteran infielder Miguel Rojas said. “Because it keeps telling us that we are ready for the big picture.”
Friday was decided on the margins, ultimately coming down to one costly mistake and one big swing.
Chris Sale allowed three runs, two earned, over seven innings in the Braves’ loss to the Dodgers. AP
With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, Braves rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis –– fresh off a stunning diving catch in the bottom of the fourth and his first career hit in the top of the fifth –– airmailed a throw into the dugout that put Rojas on second base.
Three batters later, Shohei Ohtani snuck a two-out ground-ball through the infield for a go-ahead RBI single.
“Two-out hits, we gotta get those,” Roberts said. “Especially against a guy like Sale.”
In the sixth, the Dodgers would stretch their advantage, when Freddie Freeman capitalized on a rare misfire from the 37-year-old left-hander. In a 0-1 count, Sale left a fastball over the heart of the plate. With his biggest swing in weeks, Freeman clobbered it to center for his first home run since April 6.
“I would’ve taken a broken-bat bloop against Chris,” Freeman joked. “Probably the toughest lefty you’re going to face in this game as a left-handed hitter.”
Shohei Ohtani snuck a two-out ground-ball through the infield for a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ win over the Braves. AP
That was enough to give the Dodgers (24-14) some breathing room. And after a 4 ⅔-inning, one-run start from Emmet Sheehan, they got 5 1/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen to close it out.
It started with Alex Vesia, who stranded a pair of runners he inherited from Sheehan in the fifth. Kyle Hurt came on next, gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the sixth, then escaped the jam in his highest-leverage appearance so far this season.
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From there, Will Klein and Brock Stewart built a bridge to the ninth inning. Then, Tanner Scott emerged for his third save.
“You gotta prevent runs and use the arms in the ‘pen that you got,” Roberts said. “And we prevented runs tonight and got just enough hits.”
There were other key moments mixed in along the way. Like a perfect relay play from Teoscar Hernández and Rojas to gun down a runner at home in the fourth. Or Rojas winning a foot race to second base –– despite playing through some leg pain he suffered earlier in the game –– before absorbing a collision with a baserunner. Or Dodgers pitching holding the Braves (26-13) to just a 1-for-10 mark with runners in scoring position overall.
And though the Dodgers didn’t exactly solve Sale in a seven-inning, seven-strikeout start, they ultimately didn’t have to. Instead, they were simply a little better in every other phase –– finding a way to win on a night full of shades to the fall.
After a 4 ⅔-inning, one-run start from Emmet Sheehan (above), the Dodgers’ relief corps combined for 5 1/3 innings of scoreless ball in their win over the Braves. AP
What it means
That, when facing premier competition, the Dodgers can win in a number of ways.
After all, the team was out-hit 9-5 on Friday. Sale easily outshined Sheehan, who continued to battle fluctuating fastball velocity, on the mound.
Yet, as the club has done so often over the past two Octobers, they prevailed nonetheless.
“We obviously put together a really quality, quality game played today,” Freeman said.
Who’s hot
The Dodgers got on the board Friday courtesy of Kyle Tucker, who continues the slow process of turning his season around.
With two outs in the second, Tucker was facing a 1-2 hole against Sale when he got a shin-high slider over the outer edge of the plate.
He was early with his swing, but rode the pitch out and somehow got the barrel to it, pulling a double down the right-field line to erase an early 1-0 deficit.
The hit marked Tucker’s seventh double in his last 14 games (a stretch that also includes a home run), and helped him raise his batting average to .288 in that time.
The Dodgers got on the board Friday courtesy of Kyle Tucker, who continues the slow process of turning his season around. AP
The $240 million signing is still hitting just .254 on the season with a sub-.750 OPS, but he’s at least been contributing more regularly since being dropped down the lineup.
Who’s not
With Mookie Betts out on a rehab assignment and set to rejoin the Dodgers on Monday, a potentially difficult roster decision is on the horizon.
In a rare chance to start Friday, utilityman Santiago Espinal didn’t exactly help his cause.
While Espinal worked a couple long at-bats against Sale, he only turned one of them into a hit. And even then, he got himself thrown out trying to stretch for an ill-advised hustle double on an opposite-field line drive.
Espinal, a former All-Star looking to revive his MLB career with the Dodgers this year, is now batting just .200. It’s possible that, when Betts returns, the Dodgers will opt to send one of Hyeseong Kim or Alex Freeland back to the minors, where they could get more regular playing time.
But both of them have been productive lately, raising the possibility that the Dodgers could cut Espinal loose in the next few days.
Up next
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will make his season debut Saturday night, after missing the start of the campaign recovering from offseason shoulder fatigue. The Braves will turn to former All-Star Spencer Strider, for what will be only his second start of the year since returning from an oblique strain.
PHOENIX — The Mets waited until the 10th inning to start the party Friday night.
After totaling only two hits over the first nine innings, they awoke from their desert siesta with an energetic extra frame for a 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
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“It’s a good thing we stayed locked in until the last inning,” Mark Vientos said of the team’s extended wait for hits.
Vientos and Carson Benge each delivered run-scoring doubles in the 10th before Tobias Myers got the final three outs for his first major league save. The Mets won for the fifth time in seven games on the road trip, capitalizing on a strong Nolan McLean start and bullpen performance behind him.
Vientos’ double against Kevin Ginkel leading off the 10th — he homered earlier — brought in the automatic runner. Benge, moved up to fifth in the lineup for the first time in his major league career, doubled on a 1-2 slider to provide the cushion.
“I am always confident at the plate — I feel good right now for sure,” Vientos said. “I just have to continue to be consistent.”
In a rebound performance from his shortest start of the season, McLean allowed one earned run on three hits, one walk and a hit batter over six innings with six strikeouts, departing after 100 pitches (matching a season high). McLean lasted just four innings against the Angels in the Mets’ loss last Saturday.
“My job is to get as deep into the game as I can every time I go out,” McLean said. “I was disappointed last time out against the Angels not doing that, so it was pretty important to do today.”
He began the day tied for fourth among NL pitchers with 51 strikeouts, seventh in WHIP (0.94) and ninth in opposing batting average (.184).
Mark Vientos rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of the Mets’ 3-1, 10-inning win over the Diamondbacks on May 8, 2026 at Chase Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Vientos’ third homer on the road trip gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second. Vientos hammered a cutter from Ryne Nelson over the left field fence for his fifth homer this season. He hit two against the Angels on Sunday before going 1-for-12 in three games in Colorado.
“The more he continues to get results, you are going to see [confidence] from him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “This is a guy that when he gets going, he gets locked in mentally.”
Nolan Arenado took McLean deep on the second pitch in the bottom of the inning to tie it 1-1. The blast was the first allowed by McLean in his last three outings.
Francisco Alvarez singled leading off the third, but was left stranded as Bo Bichette’s shot to the right field fence was snagged on a jump by Corbin Carroll for the final out. Alvarez’s single was the Mets’ last hit until Vientos delivered in the 10th inning.
Carson Benge celebrates after hitting an RBI ground rule double in the 10th inning of the Mets’ road win over the Diamondbacks. Getty Images
McLean plunked Carroll leading off the fourth before getting Adrian Del Castillo to ground into a double play and retiring Arenado.
In the fifth, McLean walked Gabriel Moreno with one out, but struck out Jose Fernandez and retired Jorge Barrosa to keep the game tied. The D’backs were without Katel Marte — a late scratch because of illness — adding Fernandez to the lineup at second base.
Ildemaro Vargas’ single in the sixth was only the D’backs’ third hit against McLean. On his 95th pitch of the night, McLean retired Carroll before concluding his night by striking out Del Castillo.
Benge walked with two outs in the seventh, snapping a streak of 14 straight retired by Nelson following Alvarez’s single.
Juan Morrillo entered following the walk to Benge and got Marcus Semien to pop out on the first pitch.
Luke Weaver walked Moreno with two outs in the seventh and Fernandez singled following a delay (Luis Torrens got smacked with a foul ball off the face mask and was examined).
Nolan McLean celebrates after recording the final out in the sixth inning of the Mets’ 10-inning road win over the Diamondbacks. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Weaver walked Barrosa to load the bases before retiring Perdomo to escape.
Brooks Raley got two fast outs in the eighth before allowing a single to Ryan Waldschmidt in his first major league at-bat. The lefty retired Arenado for the third out.
Devin Williams needed just eight pitches to retire the side in the ninth. Mendoza was asked if he considered sticking with his closer for the 10th rather than use Myers, who worked a perfect inning.
“We talked about it,” Mendoza said. “But then at the end, how much we have been using these guys, I just decided to go with Tobias there, but we did discuss it.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 08: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs knocks the ball away from Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 08, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 3 between the Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs got off to a weird start at Target Center. Minnesota had an incredibly difficult time putting the ball in the basket, missing its first 12 shots and committing four turnovers, going down 11-1 to start the game.
The Wolves didn’t get their first field goal until nearly seven minutes into the game when Rudy Gobert put back a miss by Anthony Edwards. Before that basket, the Wolves were down by 15 points and seemed to be trending toward a second straight blowout loss.
Just like it has so often this season, though, the Wolves immediately turned it around. They closed the quarter, making seven of their last eight shots while on a 19-5 run.
The last make came at the buzzer from Edwards to put his team down by just a single point.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 9, 2026
The Timberwolves opened the second quarter with buckets from Edwards and Naz Reid, suddenly up by three points. Edwards scored a total of 13 points in the first quarter and 19 in the first half. More importantly, for the first time in this series, he looked like his superstar self.
In the previous round against the Denver Nuggets, that would be the point in the game when their opponent would fold. The Spurs, instead, stopped the slide right there and took the lead back late in the second quarter.
The Wolves weren’t satisfied with just one buzzer-beater in the first half, though, as Jaden McDaniels knocked down a left-wing 3-pointer to send the game into halftime with a tied score.
In the second half, the two teams leaned into their advantages. The Spurs pushed the ball multiple times off of made baskets by the Wolves and blitzed Edwards with two defenders to get the ball out of his hands.
The Wolves used their strength advantage to outscore the Spurs 30-12 on second chance points while draining eight 3-pointers in the second half to keep the game close.
The game remained incredibly close until the final moments of the game. Following a Finch timeout with five minutes left, and a dustup with Crew Chief Tony Brothers, the Wolves found themselves down two with the ball. The game swung on the next couple of possessions.
Coming out of the timeout, Edwards missed a contested stepback 3-pointer while Dylan Harper beat Julius Randle backdoor to put the Spurs up by four. The next possession, Ayo Dosunmu missed a floater, and after a timeout of their own, Wembanyama drained a turnaround fadeaway over Gobert to put his team up by six.
The Timberwolves responded with a 3-pointer from Reid, only for Wembanyama to hit the dagger on the other end as he put in his third make from deep of the game to put the Spurs back up by six.
The Wolves fought back but were never able to get the game close again, falling 115-108 in Game 3 and dropping the series 2-1.
Wembanyama was incredible in this game as he put up 39 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks (the first of which should have been called a goaltend) while holding the Wolves to just 38 points in the paint. 16 of Wembanyama’s points came in the fourth quarter.
Edwards has his best game of this postseason with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists while playing 40 minutes in the game.
Randle was the sore spot in this game for Minnesota, as he had 12 points on 3-12 shooting and did not have a single assist in the game. McDaniels also had a poor shooting night as he went 5-22 from the field en route to 17 points.
This series was always going to be a tough, incredibly tough one for the Timberwolves. They are missing one of their starters, Donte DiVincenzo, his replacement, Ayo Dosunmu, is not 100 percent, and they are going up against a 62-win team with a seven and a half foot alien.
The Wolves have played well in this series. The 38-point loss in Game 2 is an obvious disaster, but in Games 1 and 3, they have shown the ability to beat this Spurs team.
What will be required from them now, if they want to win this series, is that they will need to play better than just good. They will need to play great and will need to do it for an entire 48 minutes three more times in the next four games.
They can’t fall behind double-digits early because the offense doesn’t know what to do, they can’t let the Spurs beat them down the floor multiple times after made shots, and they need to execute better down the stretch when the opponent is hard-doubling Edwards.
In this era of Timberwolves basketball, they have always responded after games like these last two. Whenever it seems like a series or a season is slipping away, they come back with their best basketball.
Game 4, like it usually is, will be a big swing point in this series. A loss might signal the end of the season, while a win puts the Wolves in a good spot to advance to their third consecutive Western Conference Finals.
The blueprint is there for the Wolves to get back into this series; now they just have to execute.
Up Next
This Timberwolves-Spurs series resumes on Sunday with Game 4 on Mother’s Day as the Wolves look to even up the series at 2-2. The game will begin at 6:30 PM CT, and fans can watch the game on both NBC and Peacock.
MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for the San Antonio Spurs, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line, adding five blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs won their second straight game after dropping the opener at home.
De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and 12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating.
Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them alive after a woeful start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10 from 3-point range in the pivotal third quarter.
Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama’s fifth foul with 6:18 left and brought the Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the Spurs never trailed in the second half despite never leading by double digits.
Wembanyama didn’t flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid’s pushed San Antonio’s lead to six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another one near the end of the shot clock on the next possession that hit the rim and Wembanyama rebounded.
Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by returning from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee after just one week to make the start of the series, had 22 points in the first half to help them snap back from an early 18-3 deficit.
The Wolves missed their first 12 shots and didn’t get a basket to go down until Rudy Gobert’s putback with 6:52 had elapsed, but unlike in the 133-95 drubbing they took in Game 2 on Wednesday they had the defensive intelligence and tenacity at the ready to make up for the long shooting lulls.
Edwards hit a buzzer-beating 31-footer at the end of the first quarter, and McDaniels swished a 3-pointer from the wing to end the first half with a 51-all tie.
McDaniels and Julius Randle were the most affected by Wembanyama’s presence, unable to get their short-range and rim-attacking game going. They shot a combined 8 for 34 from the floor.
PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 08: Mark Vientos #27 of the New York Mets reacts during the game between the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday, May 8, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Julia Jacome/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 in ten innings in Phoenix, coming out on top of a pitchers’ duel in the desert.
The Mets and Diamondbacks traded solo homers in the second inning and the scoring came to a screeching halt after that. Mark Vientos launched a towering shot to left center in the top of the second off Ryne Nelson and the Diamondbacks responded via a Nolan Arenado blast off a Nolan McLean sinker in the bottom of the frame.
Both starting pitchers settled into a nice rhythm after that. Corbin Carroll made an excellent play up against the wall in right field on a deep Bo Bichette fly ball in the third that kept the Mets from building any momentum. But Nolan McLean put forth an incredibly strong effort, striking out six in six solid innings, yielding just the one run on three hits.
The Diamondbacks’ best chance to pull ahead came in the seventh inning against Luke Weaver, who entered the game in relief of McLean. The Snakes mounted a two-out rally against Weaver that began with a walk to Gabriel Moreno, aided by a smart challenge by Moreno on the second pitch of the plate appearance, which was called a strike, but turned out to be outside by a fairly significant margin. Jose Fernandez singled and then Jorge Barrosa walked to load the bases and put the go-ahead run 90 feet away, but Weaver escaped the jam, inducing an inning-ending ground ball off the bat of Geraldo Perdomo.
The Mets had a crisp defensive game and no play was better than the diving play by Marcus Semien to rob Arenado of his second hit of the night in the eighth. With two outs and the go-ahead run on first base, Semien laid out to quash the rally and help Brooks Raley through a scoreless eighth. Devin Williams followed with an impressive 1-2-3 ninth punctuated by a strikeout to send the game to extra innings. Meanwhile, the Mets’ bats were quiet against the Diamondbacks’ bullpen until the tenth when they finally broke through.
Mark Vientos got things started by ripping the first pitch he saw from Kevin Ginkel into left field to score the ghost runner Brett Baty and give the Mets the lead. Vidal Bruján then came in the game as a pinch runner for Vientos. Carson Benge followed with a ground rule double to left-center to score Bruján and extend the Mets’ lead to two runs. Marcus Semien kept the rally going with a heads up bunt single down the third base line; it was a perfectly executed bunt that caught Nolan Arenado unaware, as he was playing back. Ginkel then finally recorded the first out the inning via a strikeout of MJ Melendez and Jonathan Loáisiga came in the game. The Mets still seemed poised for a huge inning when Semien stole second base to put runners on second and third with still only one out, but then Francisco Alvarez hit a grounder back to the mound and Carson Benge was nabbed at home for the second out. And Luis Torrens grounded out to third to end the inning, but the Mets had their first lead since the second.
Tobias Myers came into the game in the bottom of the tenth tasked with protecting the two-run lead and successfully did so to earn the first save of his major league career. Myers retired the Diamondbacks in order, including two strikeouts to emphatically close the door on the Mets’ fifth victory in the last six games as they attempt to claw their way back to .500. The Mets will try for their third straight series victory tomorrow night with their ace Clay Holmes on the mound, facing off against the struggling Merrill Kelly.
Big Mets winner: Mark Vientos, +44% WPA Big Mets loser: Juan Soto, -14% WPA Mets pitchers: +68% WPA Mets hitters: -18% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Mark Vientos’ RBI double in tenth, +38.3% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Nolan Arenado’s game-tying home run in the second inning, -10.9% WPA
With the Mets and Diamondbacks tied at one apiece in the bottom of the ninth, Devin Williams came on and needed just eight pitches to push the game to extra innings.
New York’s offense had gone quiet since the top of the fourth, but they wasted no time cashing in their ghost runner, as Mark Vientos doubled on the first pitch of the 10th.
Carson Benge then continued his recent hot-stretch at the plate, tacking on a huge insurance run with a ground-rule double into the left-center gap.
With a two-run advantage and a low pitch count there had been some thought that Williams would come back out for the save, however, that wasn’t the case.
Carlos Mendoza instead called upon Tobias Myers.
“We talked about it,” the skipper admitted. “But then at the end with how much we’ve been using these guys so far this year, I just decided to go to Tobias -- but we did discuss it.”
And in the end, the decision paid off, as Myers needed just 10 pitches to set the Diamondbacks down in order in the bottom of the tenth and secure the victory.
It was a much-needed bounceback outing after the righty after he was knocked around by the Rockies for four runs in just 0.2 of an inning his last time out.
This was also Myers’ first career save.
“He showed the ability to bounce back,” Mendoza said. “I like his ability to throw strikes, I like the changeup against lefties, the fastball at the top, and he’s been really solid for us no matter what we’ve asked him to do.
“Whether it’s an opener, as a multi-inning guy, today getting the last three outs -- it was just good to see.”
NRL coach undecided on plan for next season in light of medical condition
Rugby league veteran turns spotlight on return to form in Wests Tigers clash
Craig Bellamy is staying private about his illness, the veteran Melbourne coach wanting the spotlight to remain on the Storm rather than his health.
Bellamy fronted the media at AAMI Park ahead of the Storm’s Sunday afternoon clash with Wests Tigers, with the side looking to stop a record-extending seven-match losing streak.
Smokies catcher Owen Ayers (6) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Birmingham Barons at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tennessee., on May 7, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Right-hander Frankie Scalzo Jr. was promoted to Triple-A Iowa from Double-A Knoxville.
I-Cubs catcher Christian Bethancourt went on the bereavement list.
Starter Doug Nikhazy didn’t fool anyone early, as he gave up two runs in the first on two solo home runs and four more in the second on a grand slam. But he settled down and pitched two more scoreless innings. His final line was six runs on six hits over four innings. Nikhazy walked three and struck out three.
Ryan Jensen threw the fifth inning and got the win. He allowed a two-out walk, but no other baserunners. Jensen struck out two.
Vince Velazquez came out to pitch the next three innings and allowed just one run from the sixth to the eighth innings. But then Velazquez came out to pitch the ninth. Then this happened.
The injuries just keep coming. Vince Velasquez was making his first appearance with the @IowaCubs since his outing at Dodger Stadium on April 25. He just went down in a heap after throwing a pitch in the top of the ninth. Immediately stood up and walked into the dugout.
So Velazquez ended up being charged with four runs on two hits and five walks over 3+ innings. Gabe Klobosits came on to relieve Velazquez and he allowed two inherited runners to score, one batter whose walk was charged to Velazquez to score, and two more runs of his own. But Iowa’s six-run lead in the ninth was enough to withstand a five-run top of the ninth.
Left fielder Owen Miller homered twice tonight. The first one was with two on in the fourth. The second one was a solo home run in the eighth. It was his first two home runs of the year. Miller went 3 for 5.
Center fielder Justin Dean connected for a solo home run in the fifth. Dean was 2 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored. The home run was Dean’s second this season.
Catcher Eric Yang also homered with the bases empty in the sixth, his second on the campaign. Yang went 1 for 5.
Third baseman Pedro Ramírez was 3 for 4 with a double and he was hit by a pitch. Ramírez scored twice and drove home one.
First baseman Jonathon Long went 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored two runs and had two RBI.
Shortstop Scott Kingery was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.
The Knoxville Smokies swept a doubleheader from the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 8-1 and 3-2.
Brooks Caple had a strong Smokies debut, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings. Caple allowed two hits, walked two and struck out six.
Marino Santy took over for Caple in the fourth and got the win. Santy allowed one run on two hits over 2.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one.
The Smokies scored eight runs in this game on only one hit, thanks to ten walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches. At one point in the fourth inning the Smokies were winning 5-0 and being no-hit. But catcher Owen Ayers cleared the basses with a three-run triple, the only hit of the game for Knoxville. Ayers was 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored once.
In game two, Dawson Netz completely shut down the Barons for five innings. He gave up no runs and no hits. He did walk two while striking out six as he improved his record to 2-0.
Tyler Santana pitched the final two innings and the no-hitter was broken up with a leadoff single in the seventh. Santana ended up giving up two runs on three hits over two innings as he picked up the save. Santana walked one and struck out one.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu had an RBI single in the third inning (where a second run scored on an error) and an RBI single in the fifth. Nwogu was 2 for 3.
Starter Kevin Valdez gave up two solo home runs to Bobby Boser. Otherwise, his final line was three runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings. Valdez walked two and struck out one.
The win went to Kenyi Perez, who relieved Valdez in the fourth. Perez faced six batters. Five of them he struck out. He walked the other one.
Ethan Flanagan was on the mound after that for a four-inning save. Flanagan allowed seven runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Left fielder Christian Olivo had a magic night in South Bend. Olivo was a perfect 4 for 4 with a walk and two home runs. The first one was a three-run home run in the fifth and the second one was a two-run blast in the sixth. Olivo now has four home runs this year. Olivo had six total RBi and scored three times.
Second baseman Alex Madera was 3 for 5. He scored twice and drove in two.
Right fielder Leonel Espinoza went 2 for 5. He scored once and had one run batted in.
Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 5 with one run scored.
Dominick Reid turned in a dominant start. He allowed no runs on just one hit over five innings. Reid walked no one, although hid did hit two batters, and struck out six.
Daniel Avita pitched the next three innings and he permitted two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out five.
The win went to Jordan Henriquez, who retired all six batters he faced in the ninth and tenth innings. He struck out four.
The Pelicans blew this game open with a four-run top of the tenth. Center fielder Alexy Lumpuy plated the automatic runner with a single. Lumpuy went 2 for 5 and scored once.
But the big blow in the tenth was a two-run double by second baseman Jose Escobar. Escobar was 2 for 5.
Both Pelicans runs in regulation came on solo home runs. Left fielder Darlyn De Leon homered in the second inning. He went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
In the third inning, right fielder Josiah Hartshorn cracked his fourth home run of the year. Hartshorn went 2 for 4. He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base.
Kaleb Wing’s second pro start didn’t go as well as the first. Wing took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over 4.2 innings He did strike out eight and walked only two.
