New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 212.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Knicks lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks look to clinch the series over the Philadelphia 76ers in game four of the Eastern Conference second round. The Knicks defeated the 76ers 108-94 in the last matchup on Friday. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. led the 76ers with 22.
The 76ers are 9-7 against division opponents. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.9 fast break points per game led by VJ Edgecombe averaging 8.0.
The Knicks are 14-3 against opponents from the Atlantic Division. New York is third in the Eastern Conference allowing just 110.1 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.
The 76ers average 12.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up (13.9). The Knicks average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than the 76ers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Quentin Grimes is scoring 13.4 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey is averaging 24.4 points and 4.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 4-6, averaging 102.0 points, 38.8 rebounds, 21.0 assists, 5.4 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points per game.
Knicks: 7-3, averaging 115.6 points, 43.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.6 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: None listed.
Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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.
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.”
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.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and sealed the game with big buckets late to the delight of roaring Knicks fans, leading New York to a 109-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night for a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
With 2016 and 2018 Villanova national championship banners hanging in the rafters, the so-called Nova Knicks all took turns taking the fight out of the Sixers in the fourth quarter, turning a four-point lead into another double-digit victory
Josh Hart had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges added 23 points, pushing the Knicks and first-year coach Mike Brown within one victory of their second straight conference finals appearance.
The Knicks have the luxury not to rush back forward OG Anunoby, who’s averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason. He sat out with a strained right hamstring and remains day to day.
Joel Embiid scored 18 points for the Sixers in his return after he missed Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.
SPURS 115, TIMBERWOLVES 108
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for San Antonio, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a victory over Minnesota.
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.
Game 3 between the Knicks and 76ers was physical, as you would expect from a series between these two rivals, especially with their recent playoff history.
While the first two games had their share of high-intensity moments, the opening few quarters of Friday's matchup felt like the pressure was turned up to 11. Both teams were jawing at the officials for every foul and no-call, and that includes Sixers star Joel Embiid.
Embiid, of course, is often seen as the villain whenever the Knicks and Sixers meet, and Friday was no exception. After he missed Game 2, the big man returned to the Sixers to try and stave off a 0-3 hole in the series. And while Embiid provided what he could in his 35 minutes (18 points, six rebounds, five assists), it just wasn't enough as the Knicks won 108-94.
After the game, Embiid was asked a gamut of questions regarding the loss. Then he was asked about the officiating and whether he felt the refs were letting some fouls go.
"I’m not sure. Maybe it was let go on our end," Embiid said. "They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We're not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the ground. So, yeah, I don't know.
"I guess it's good when New York wins, so we've just got to have that mentality of just not fouling, I guess, and being smart enough to not put ourselves in a position where they're going to take advantage of it."
Joel Embiid was asked about the way tonight's game was officiated and whether or not the officials let more things go tonight:
"They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We're not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the ground. I don't know.
While the Knicks did wind up shooting 32 free throws to Philly's 16, New York did not shoot a free throw until the second quarter. Mitchell Robinson shot four thanks to the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy the Sixers used.
But Embiid wasn't the only one asked about the officiating. Karl-Anthony Towns, who committed five personal fouls, was asked and intimated his frustrations. One moment in particular saw Embiid called for a foul under the basket when both big men collapsed to the ground trying to box each other out. Philadelphia would challenge and win, reversing the call and giving Towns his third foul in the second quarter and forcing him to the bench.
Towns was asked whether he was surprised by the reversal, and he answered, simply, "I'm not surprised at anything anymore."
In Game 1, the Sixers had the free-throw advantage, 34-17. The next game saw was more even when Embiid wasn't playing, as the Sixers had a 28-25 advantage from the charity stripe.
How will the officiating be in Game 4? The Knicks will look to close out the series on Sunday in Philadelphia while the Sixers hope to force Game 5.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 3: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on March 3, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Mother’s Day is probably the most consequential Mother’s Day in Utah Jazz history (I haven’t checked, I’m guessing, okay). The thing the NBA doesn’t realize is that it’s going to be consequential for the entire league, as well.
Utah, even if they somehow lost their pick this year, would still be a playoff contender. While the league was punishing the Jazz for doing things everyone else was doing, the Jazz were doing something only Jazz fans saw: playing winning basketball.
Utah started the season with a blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers and went on to post some impressive wins throughout the season. Here are some playoff teams Utah won against: Clippers, Suns, Celtics, Rockets, Pistons, Spurs, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Heat, and Warriors. Each one of these drove me crazy throughout the season, by the way. And the reason they had to start tanking earlier than the apparent unspoken rules allow was that the Jazz had a breakout season from Keyonte George and improved play across the roster. Utah had Cody Williams looking like a rotation player, they found a real player in Blake Hinson, they revived Jusuf Nurkic, and even had games where Kevin Love shot the lights out and turned needed losses into wins. Nothing this season was predictable, but the one thing that was consistent was the level of effort demanded by Will Hardy, along with an offense that consistently set players up to succeed.
The biggest question is the defense, but adding Jaren Jackson Jr., who will play alongside Walker Kessler (potentially), and that should, at the very least, create an identity of rim protection and size if they’re combined with Lauri Markkanen as well. There’s a very reasonable expectation that Utah’s defense should at least be top-15 with the personnel on the floor. Can Will Hardy lead them to that? Utah’s size will go a long way to making that happen.
But there’s some real upside with this roster that makes next year fascinating. What if Keyonte George takes another leap? What if Walker Kessler signs a contract he and the Jazz are happy with and plays at an all-defense level? What if the defense is better than expected and is in the top-10?
Those are the questions we’re asking before we even get to the lottery, which brings up the biggest question of all.
What if the Jazz win the lottery?
You add a star to this core, and you have a team set for far more than just the playoffs. The Jazz go from playoff team to borderline contender, maybe more. They may not be quite ready to win the finals, but that’s not out of the question. And that’s the thing that makes this lottery so important. The variable is crazy here, and the NBA is not ready for just how good the Jazz will be.
The question for you is, how good do you think the Jazz will be if they win the lottery?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 8: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 23.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 14.5 Paul George – 10 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Dominick Barlow – 3 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain – 3 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers returned home for an all-important Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday night vs. the New York Knicks. The Sixers come into this one staring at a 2-0 series deficit, after a heartbreaking loss down the stretch of Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Joel Embiid, who was absent from the lineup on Wednesday due to ankle and hip injuries, returned to the lineup for tonight’s game as the Sixers looked to avoid going into a 3-0 series hole. Knicks star wing OG Anunoby, who has been fantastic in this postseason on both ends of the floor, was out for this one as he suffered a hamstring strain in the closing minutes of Game 2. Reminder that teams that go down 3-0 in a series are 0-160 in NBA history. All hands-on deck for the Sixers as they looked to keep their hopes of a deep postseason run alive.
The Sixers got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. The energy in the building was palpable. Paul George poured in 15 first-quarter points to pace the Sixers. The Knicks called an early timeout as the Sixers got back-to-back monster slams from VJ Edgecombe midway through the fourth quarter. New York closed the quarter well to get the deficit to 31-27 at the close of the first.
All the hard work the Sixers did to get a lead in the first quarter was undone in the second as the Knicks dominated the second quarter. New York pummeled the Sixers on the glass including pulling down 10 offensive rebounds in the first half. The Knicks won the period 33-21 to take a 60-52 lead into the halftime break.
The Sixers couldn’t make up any ground in the third quarter. They generated a ton of open looks in the third quarter but missed the mark on a large sum of them. The Knicks got to the foul line at will and knocked down timely threes. The Knicks led 85-76 after three quarters. The Sixers had one quarter to try and save their season.
The Sixers continued to miss open look after open look in the fourth and the Knicks continued to stay the court and knock down shots when they could create good looks. Same story as the fourth quarter of Game 2. The Knicks would go on to win the game and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Time for Bell Ringer.
Kelly Oubre: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 7-for-15 from the field
Oubre has played very well in this series despite constant criticism from the fan base. He has been one of the few Sixers that has showed up in a manner that was required for the Sixers to have a chance in this series. Oubre’s cutting has been his best attribute as he has played extremely well off the gravity of the Sixers’ stars.
But statistically, the winner of Game 3 goes on to win the series most of the time and as the conference semifinals shifted to Minnesota, it was the Spurs who took a 2-1 series advantage with a 115-108 win against the Timberwolves on Friday, May 8.
Each team's superstar put on a show.
Victor Wembanyama scored an efficient 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. He also pulled down 15 rebounds and blocked five shots and nabbed a steal in 37 minutes for San Antonio.
"I think we showed some strength, you know, during this game, some relentlessness," Wembanyama told reporters after the Spurs' win. "But we got to prove to ourselves that we can sustain that."
Wembanyama became the fourth player in NBA history with at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a playoff game, joining Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.
"It's good to be along with the big fellas," he said. "I had to resort to some things that Hakeem taught me in this fourth quarter, many things, but especially that spin fade away over Rudy (Gobert)."
Anthony Edwards carried the T-Wolves with 32 points on 12-of-26 shooting, including three 3-pointers and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Edwards added 14 rebounds, six assists and a blocked shot.
The Spurs, as a team, narrowly outshot the Wolves from distance, 36% to Minnesota's 35%. The Wolves outrebounded San Antonio, 54-48. It's been the Spurs who have dominated the inside, leading 46-38 in points in the paint.
"They got somebody who's 7-6 on the floor, and he takes up a lot of space. So just trying to, you know, figure out ways to find an open man around him, because in the paint he was just everywhere," Edwards told reporters postgame.
He added: "I feel like we did it. Had a good dose of that throughout the whole game, I think. I went in the locker room and told the guys like, we had a bunch of great looks. I feel like we had a bunch of great looks. And if we make our shots, we win this game."
The Spurs held a 15-point lead but the Timberwolves climbed their way back into it. In the end, San Antonio prevailed. The two meet in Game 4 on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Spurs vs. Wolves Game 3 highlights
Here's the Game 3 highlights between the Spurs and Wolves:
Have yourself a night Larry Eugene Fikes III! | Nebraska Athletics
The question Nebraska fans had running through their head before the first pitch against Iowa tonight was whether or not this Cornhusker baseball team would be able to put last week’s dreadful performance behind them. Haymarket Park has been very good to this team this season and Big Red fans filled the seats to find out.
One would think that with the top two hitting teams in the conference facing off, crooked numbers would dot the scoreboard, particularly with a nearly perfect night for baseball and surprisingly, only a whisper of wind.
Carson Jasa had a Carson Jasa start to the game and was lucky to come out of unscathed. Joshua Overbeek booted a hard shot hit right at him by lead-off batter Kooper Schulte and then for a minute it looked like Jasa shrugged it off as the next two guys were put out. However, when Jasa is on the mound, you never know what might happen. In this case, two consecutive hit batters to load the bases. Not to worry though as Matthew Delgado flew out on a lazy fly ball to Mac Moyer in centerfield.
After going down in order in the first inning, Nebraska took advantage of Hawkeye starter Tyler Guerin’s control issues in the bottom of the second inning. Case Sanderson led it off with a four-pitch walk, though he was forced out on a ball hit by Jett Buck on a nice play by the Hawkeye third baseman Jaixen Frost. With Buck on first, Guerin then walked Drew Grego.
With runners on first and second, Overbeek slashed a double the opposite way down the third baseline to score Buck. Big Red was looking for a big inning with two runners in scoring position and one out. That was not to be as Rhett Stokes struck out and pitcher Guerin saved two runs by snagging a line shot by Trey Fikes to end the inning.
Jasa found is groove and was unhittable in the second and third innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced. In the fourth inning he worked around a hit and a walk, thanks in large part to a timely 6-4-3 double play followed by his fifth strikeout of the game to end the inning.
In the meantime, Nebraska put a second run on the board in the bottom of the third when Mac Moyer started a new hitting streak with a single, followed by a stolen base. Will Jesske and Dylan Carey both hit balls that had a good chance to be hits but instead were outs due to the outstanding play of Frost at the hot corner. With two outs, Case Sanderson hit a nice line drive to leftfield that scored Moyer. Nebraska was up 2-0.
Iowa missed a golden opportunity in the top of the fifth, and Jasa did what Jasa does. The Hawkeyes had two runners on base thanks to a hit and a walk with their three-hole hitter Miles Risley at the plate. The two of them faced off in an eight-pitch battle with Jasa falling behind 3-0 before battling to ultimately get a swinging strikeout, bringing Cornhusker fans to their feet in appreciation of his toughness.
With that 105-mph smash back to the pitcher in the second inning at the front over everyone’s mind, Trey Fikes led off the fifth with another hard-hit ball, this time down the third baseline for a double. That brought Coach Rick Heller out of the dugout to take the ball from Guerin and pull in another righty, their top arm out of the bullpen, Kyle Alivo.
Mac Moyer greeted Alivo with his second base hit of the game, moving Fikes to third base. Will Jesske then hit a sacrifice fly to right that put Nebraska’s third run on the scoreboard. Carey followed with a single and the Cornhuskers looked to break it open. That would have to wait as Alivo struck out Sanderson and Buck back-to-back to end it. After five innings, Nebraska held a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Jasa was back in the zone, sitting the Hawkeyes down in order with a groundout to Sanderson at first base and two strikeouts. Once again, the crowd showed their appreciation and hoped the Cornhuskers could find a couple of insurance runs
Joshua Overbeek was plunked by Alivo with one out and then Rhett Stokes struck out looking. With two outs, can you say Larry Eugene Fikes the 3rd have yourself a day! After crushing the ball twice already, Fikes went yard over the leftfield wall for a two-run homer – his first of the season – to put the Cornhuskers up 5-0.
Jasa pitched the seventh inning before calling it a night, leaving without surrendering a run and recording nine strikeouts, two walks and three hit batters. He threw 106 pitches and dropped his ERA to 3.31. The young man from Colorado has handled the pressure and solidified himself as the Friday starter.
After roughing up Alivo, the Cornhusker offense saw a different righthander in the bottom of the seventh inning, Nick Terhaar. He walked Will Jesske, which brought Iowan Reed Strohmeyer in to pinch-run. Terhaar then struck out Carey, but hit Sanderson to put two on with one out. That was basically repeated as Buck struck out and then Drew Grego earned a walk. That brought Overbeek to the plate with bases loaded and two outs. Hitting from the left-side, Overbeek laced a single that scored two.
Rhett Stokes, who had struggled up to this point in the game, fooled everyone in the ballpark pushing a two-out bunt toward shortstop that no Hawkeye could get to in time to make a play. That drove in Grego, putting the Big Red up 8-0. Fans in the stands were feeling a run-rule ending, especially after Fikes was hit by a pitch to once again load the bases. However, they’d have to wait for a bit as Mac Moyer’s sharp hit to third base was gloved and Frost stepped on the bag to force out Stokes.
Caleb Clark came in relief of Jasa and got the first two Iowa batters to fly out to rightfield. But the Canadian couldn’t close it out, hitting the next two batters. Coach Rob Childress came out of the dugout and called for Tucker Timmerman. He ended it by striking out pinch-hitter Ben Swails.
When Max Buettenback stepped into the batter’s box against Ty Mikkelsen to pinch-hit, there was a sense of anticipation and he delivered, crushing a Roy Hobbs-esque home run well over the rightfield wall. With the lights flashing and the crowd on its feet, Nebraska was one run away from ending it. That came quickly two pitches later when Dylan Carey hit is own towering home run to rightfield. Ball game! Nebraska 10, Iowa 0.
The Cornhuskers answered the question of whether they could come back in a big way. They showed their grit, grinding in the early going with a run here and a run there. They felt the energy of the crowd of 7094 and came up big in the moment late in the game, scoring seven runs in the final three innings. They played solid defense and made plays when they needed to.
This was a good first step into the weekend, but anyone who follows college baseball knows that Iowa is led by one of the best coaches in the game. While they have not faced the level of competition as Nebraska this season, they have won their last two series, including one against Illinois. Rick Heller will have his team ready to play and will put out their best pitcher tomorrow to put one in the win column.
The same two teams will be back at it tomorrow at 2:00. Ty Horn will return to his role as a weekend starter and will face-off against Maddux Frese and his 2.56 ERA. A win tomorrow will secure a top-four finish in the conference standings and the all-important top-four position in the tournament.
Nebraska had 12 hits tonight, one less than all three games last weekend.
Reed Strohmeyer, who came in the came to pinch run for Will Jesske in the seventh inning, looked across the diamond tonight at his older brother Kellen. The two Strohmeyers are graduates of Dubuque Hempstead High School.
Trey Fikes had a huge game going 2-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI. Not bad for a catcher known more for his defense!
Mac Moyer, Dylan Carey, and Joshua Overbeek all had two hits. Overbeek had three RBI.
Apr 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel (28) hits a single during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Royals broadcast Ryan LeFebvre has a handful of topics he likes to bring up as often as he can. Leadoff walks late in the game, pitchers catching popups, whether a catcher has an advantage when facing a pitcher he’s caught before. But one of the things he brings up a lot that I actually kind of appreciate is the idea of a “circle your scorecard” moment. This comes from Ryan’s own practice of circling what he believes are key plate appearances in a game where the outcome helps define the winner of the game.
You can go ahead and put a big old circle around May 8 on your 2026 calendars. If the Royals play into October this year, this game will be a big part of the reason why.
That’s enough of me pontificating; let’s talk about how the game went.
Kris Bubic was fighting his control for most of this game. Ultimately, he only gave up 3 runs in 5.2 innings, which is the next best thing to a quality start. But he walked 4 and only struck out 5. His fastballs, in particular, were all over the place.
That’s way too many in the middle of the zone and way too many nowhere near the zone. But still, he did his job.
Nick Mears came in, allowed the inherited runner to score, and then escaped. He almost escaped without allowing the runner to score thanks to some slick defense by Isbel – more to come – and Bobby Witt Jr., but Carter Jensen was unable to hang on to Bobby’s relay. The throw beat Dillon Dingler to the plate fairly easily, but you can’t tag a runner out if you don’t have the ball. And that felt like the ballgame.
Luinder Avila followed him out of the bullpen and had a clean inning, John Schreiber pitched the eighth, and, thanks to Kyle Isbel – who we will talk about more in a bit – running all over the dang place, escaped unharmed.
Lucas Erceg’s first pitch was a middle-middle fastball that got launched into right-center for a leadoff double, but he caught a break when Zack Short popped up a sacrifice bunt attempt. Scarily, the break almost ended up being his knee as he and catcher Elias Díaz collided while both sliding to attempt to catch the ball – Díaz made the play anyway, but Erceg stayed on the ground for a few minutes and ultimately stayed in the game.
Erceg’s fastball velocity was down around 95 tonight – even before the collision – so things were pretty touch and go. He got Kerry Carpenter to fly out for the second out, but he ended up walking Kevin McGonigle to face Colt Keith, who had hit the walk-off single against Erceg and the Royals in the heartbreaker in Detroit. This time, though, Erceg coerced him to hit a pop-up on the infield, and the Royals’ bats had a chance in the ninth.
So, yeah, I guess we need to talk about the offense. Keider Montero got the start tonight, and the Royals tagged him for four runs in six innings last time they saw him. They’ve been hitting better, so you might have hoped they’d get to him even more tonight. Sadly, it was not to be. Montero ended up pitching six innings of one-run ball.
The Royals had three barrelled balls, only one turned into a hit. Of the 17 balls the Royals put in play, 7 were considered hard hit and turned into outs. The Royals only got three hits, and all were .800 xBA or better. The Royals couldn’t get anything to fall. Then, in the seventh, AJ Hinch caused Ryan to cite one of Denny’s favorite things to pick on. He summoned a reliever despite the fact that Montero, outside back-to-back smash hits from Jac Caglianone and Isaac Collins with two outs in the second inning, had been absolutely dominant. Denny’s point – which is a point you’ll hear anyone who has watched baseball for very long make – is that every time you bring in a fresh reliever, even if he’s been good all year, you risk that this time he just doesn’t have it. Denny and Ryan compare it to spinning a roulette wheel. I’ve compared it to making a parlay bet.
Now, at first, it seemed Hinch was doing just fine. Tyler Holton came on to face Carter Jensen, Caglianone, and Collins, and he got them 1-2-3. But then, just as I was beginning to whine on social media about how much I hate the Tigers, he called upon his second closer out of three, Kyle Finnegan, who had a 0.51 ERA entering the night. When he left, it was 1.53, and the wheels fell off fast.
Michael Massey, leading off, took a splitter that didn’t quite dive out of the zone and drove it into left-center for a leadoff double. Kyle Isbel – we’re still not done talking about him – drove him in with a single. Wencéel Perez, who had driven in the go-ahead run back in the sixth inning, let it go under his glove, and Isbel managed to go all the way to third. We didn’t even have time to start arguing about whether Kyle should have tried to score before Maikel Garcia smashed a line drive right back at the centerfield camera to single Isbel home and tie the game.
Bobby Witt Jr. walked after he finally challenged a fastball just off the outside edge that had been frustratingly called a strike against KC most of the night, and that they had let go unremarked. The Royals had runners at first and second, no one out, for Vinnie and Salvy.
Now, Vinnie and Salvy have been doing better lately. Vinnie, in particular, had a couple of really good swings earlier in the game against Montero. One of them would have been a home run in 14 parks, but was a flyout at Kauffman. But the Tigers called in another lefthander, Brant Hurter, and Vinnie had a 3 wRC+ against lefties coming into tonight. As Matthew Lamar pointed out on social media, this is what Lane Thomas is in KC for.
Salvy, even at his hottest, doesn’t belong in the middle of a big league lineup anymore. We’ve talked about this ad nauseam, so I don’t need to reiterate it. But Vinnie grounded into a double play, and Salvy did everything he could to make an out but was ultimately forced to take a walk. Finally, Lane Thomas was called upon to pinch hit for catcher Carter Jensen – that’s why Díaz was in in the ninth – and he grounded out to end the threat. The game felt over again. Especially after the previously described first pitch from Erceg in the ninth.
In the bottom of the ninth, things continued to go poorly. Hurter was left in to face Caglianone, Collins, and Massey. Cags got a hittable pitch, but one he needed to go the other way with; instead, he hit a soft liner to right for an out. Collins struck out looking. Then Nick Loftin pinch-hit for Massey.
Now, I wasn’t a fan of this move. There were already two outs and we were surely going to want Massey’s glove in the tenth. Even if Loftin got on, Kyle Isbel – almost there! – was next up and against a lefty, that didn’t seem worth bothering with. Loftin had a really good at-bat that ended with him smashing a double into the left-center gap. Great, here comes Izzy to face the lefty.
Isbel did exactly what he should do with that pitch when facing that pitcher, and it was jsut enough to walk off the game.
The Royals now only need to win one of the next two games to be able to claim a successful homestand. No one in Kansas City would complain if they replicated each of their past two weekends and swept the dang thing. But, either way, it will all start again tomorrow night.
Michael Wacha (3.05 ERA) will take the mound for Kansas City. The Tigers started the day with TBA as their starter, changed it to Ty Madden at some point this evening, and now it shows old friend Burch Smith (1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings of relief in only his second big league season since 2021) taking the ball first. Regardless of who starts the game, it – like Sunday’s contest – is likely to be a bullpen affair. Lots of opportunities for AJ Hinch to come up snake eyes in his roulette parlay. The Royals just need to be ready to leap on it at least as well as they were tonight.
May 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley (20) watches his three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Luke Raley’s done a lot of things in his career. He’s the rare Mariner who can both get to the third deck in right field and also routinely bunt for a base hit. He burst into fans’ hearts in 2024 by doing exactly that. But something he’s never done is hit a grand slam. At least, it was something he’d never done until tonight.
It was the second time the Mariners had loaded the bases in just the first three innings. The first time, they were turned back after driving in just a single run on a Cole Young HBP. But this time, Luke Raley would torch a fastball at 113 mph off the bat into the Mariners’ bullpen.
Mariners fans in the Chicago crowd would come up with a few of the balls hit into the stands tonight, but Raley’s lucky this one went to the pen. Eduard Bazardo ran it down and affectionately dusted it off for presentation to Raley after the game.
Another thing Raley’s never done is drive in seven runs in a game, which is hardly a surprise, given that only a dozen Mariners had ever done it before. At least, it was something Raley’d never done until tonight. But in the top of the seventh inning, Luke Raley matched the 372 feet of his prior home run with his second of the night.
After an injury-riddled 2025, Raley has been hitting the ball so hard this season that he’s got a 149 wRC+ despite striking out more than a third of the time. That comes from the kinds of full-effort swings that he just couldn’t get to while nursing a sore oblique throughout last summer. He’s also taken over the team lead in home runs with 8 and RBIs with 23.
Of course, RBIs aren’t really an individual achievement, as they require your teammates to get on base in front of you. “I was blessed that the bases were loaded,” Raley said after the game. So he’ll probably buy a Chicago steak dinner for Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford, who accounted for four of Raley’s RBIs, with each man quietly reaching base three times tonight. For setting up Luke Raley’s achievement with little fanfare, Randy gets tonight’s Sun Hat Award for individual contribution to a game (edging out J.P. with a stolen base).
Like Luke Raley, Julio Rodríguez has done a lot of things in his career too, such as being one of just three Mariners with at least 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases. But one thing he’s never done is get off to a hot start. At least, it was something he’d never done until this season. For despite struggling through the first week of 2026, Julio’s started his take-off earlier than usual this year. Since April 8, he’s got a 152 wRC+. So yes, he took a minute to get going, but unlike in prior years, it really was just a minute. He kept that going tonight, going yard for the sixth time.
This home run highlights a mechanical change that’s led to Julio looking much more comfortable in the box this year. After keeping his bat pretty straight up and down, he’s now resting it almost parallel to the ground with just a little waggle until the pitcher starts his motion. The result is a more fluid motion that just goes straight into the swing rather than backing the bat up first. Whether the mechanics are actually better is above my pay grade. But the results are not: He’s never had a wRC+ this high by May 8 before.
Josh Naylor has done a lot of things in his career too. And Josh Naylor always looks fucking sick.
May 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) is visited on the mound by pitching coach Jordan Tiegs (83) and catcher Danny Jansen (9) during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers scored a run but the Chicago Cubs scored seven runs.
The Rangers introduced Elvis Cam tonight with Elvis Andrus manning one of the television cameras for an inning or so. It was a cute idea to see a Rangers legend and fan favorite covering the “action” but then they ended up forcing the poor guy to film the most wet fartiest game possible as Texas was pummeled by an actually good team while cosplaying as the junior varsity Anaheim Angels or whatever those City Connect uniforms are.
The Rangers didn’t have a hit until the fifth and luckily for them their second hit scored a run otherwise they would have been easily shut out.
Meanwhile, tonight’s starter Kumar Rocker couldn’t make it out of the fourth inning again as he endlessly went to 3-2 counts and collected just 11 outs for his 87 pitches to put the bullpen behind the eight ball to begin this series.
The Rangers are a season-worst four games under .500.
Player of the Game: Maybe statistically history’s worst big leaguer Justin Foscue drove in the only run if you’re curious just how much the rest of the lineup should feel embarrassed.
Up Next: No matter how we feel about it nothing can stop the fact that the Rangers and Cubs will play again tomorrow with RHP Jack Leiter set to take the mound for Texas opposite RHP Edward Cabrera for Chicago.
The Saturday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 6:05 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
There have been a few times this season where bench players who were out of the rotation stepped up when called on, and in Game 3 against the 76ers, Landry Shamet delivered for the Knicks.
The guard led the Knicks' bench in scoring with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three. He was also a game-high plus-20 in the Knicks' 108-94 win, which gave them a commanding 3-0 series lead.
"Landry hasn’t played a drop all playoffs," Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the win. "The first game, he was in the rotation, second game a little bit, and then he was out. Six, seven games that he hasn’t seen significant minutes on the court. Landry was huge for us tonight. Huge for us on both ends of the floor."
With OG Anunoby out with a hamstring strain, Shamet was moved up in the rotation and was given big minutes.
When the Sixers took a 31-27 lead after a physical first quarter, Shamet helped turn the tide. He began the second quarter with Karl-Anthony Towns as the only starter and was on the floor for most of the run that helped New York flip a 12-point deficit into a 12-point lead.
"We talked about it the last few days. We knew they would," Shamet said of withstanding the Sixers' play early. "Coming back home down 2-0, you're going to have a sense of desperation. That was coach’s sentiment this week... They played really well, scored the ball really well early. We weren't as physical as we needed to be. Made a couple of adjustments and picked up our physicality and presence defensively, and it helped us."
From the final minutes of the first quarter -- which saw Shamet hit a three to cut the Knicks' deficit to just four points -- and through the second, Shamet scored nine total points in a combined 13 minutes.
"We needed a spark when they hit us in the mouth and Landry gave it to us," Brown said. "It was a big game on the road and it didn’t phase him. It was a lot of fun to watch."
On Friday, Shamet played 26 minutes. That's more than the first two games of this series (20). And while he received some minutes in the blowout wins against the Hawks in the first round, Game 3 against the Sixers was the most meaningful of Shamet's playoffs so far this season, and it's not easy. For a player who was once in the rotation to turn it on when the team needs them, especially in the postseason.
But the Knicks and coach Brown continued to show their faith in Shamet and others like Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado, who have seen their minutes go up and down this year, has paid off.
"As a coach, you love to see it. Sometimes you start Landry, sometimes you start [Mohammed Diawara]…at the end of the day, coming from me, that I have confidence in them," Brown said of players being ready. "Not only that, your number can be called at any time and you need to be ready. They’ve done a good job of keeping their mind and staying present in whatever we’re doing. It’s showing whenever they get the opportunity. It’s shown with Jordan, it’s shown with Jose and it’s shown with Landry...Just a fantastic job by Landry tonight."
"Landry is the ultimate professional," Josh Hart said of Shamet's play. "Being out of the rotation and giving us big minutes offensively and defensively."
"Just stay ready. Your number’s called, you just stay ready," Shamet said. "Felt good to be out there with my teammates. Felt good to get a win. We got one more in a matter of hours, really."
With Anunoby's status for Game 4 on Sunday still unknown, Shamet could receive more opportunities. If Friday's win is any indication, Shamet will be ready if when needed.
