Ben Stiller skips Knicks game for Met Gala. Timothee Chalamet doesn't

The Met Gala falls on the first Monday of May every year, which coincides with the NBA playoffs, much to Ben Stiller's dismay. While the New York Knicks superfan rubbed elbows with Hollywood's elite at the Met Gala in New York City, the Knicks tipped off Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden.

"If you can't be at Madison Square Garden watching the Knicks ... this is a great second choice," said Stiller, who added the Knicks will win the semifinal series in six games. "This is an incredible event supporting the Costume Institute and the arts in New York. And we've been here a couple of times."

Stiller and his actress wife Christine Taylor, however, paid homage to the Knicks by wearing orange and blue.

"We are representing for the Knicks. We are wearing our Knicks colors," Taylor said during an interview with Vogue.

Timothée Chalamet opts to watch Knicks win

While Stiller was full of regret for missing Game 1 between the Knicks and 76ers, actor Timothée Chalamet was in attendance at Madison Square Garden.

Chalamet was in his customary courtside seats for the Knicks' 137-98 Game 1 rout ... even while girlfriend Kylie Jenner made an appearance at the fashion spectacle across town.

Jenner is typically a courtside staple alongside Chalamet at Knicks playoff games, but the Met Gala created a scheduling conflict for the couple. There was precedent for Chalamet, meanwhile, as he skipped the Met Gala last year, too, so he could watch the Knicks on TV in a playoff game against the Boston Celtics.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timothee Chalamet attends Knicks game while Ben Stiller is at Met Gala

Ariel Hukporti stepped up with Knicks’ bigs in foul trouble early in Game 1

Rotations are always cut a bit shorter as teams get deeper in the NBA playoffs, but depth players have to stay ready in case their number is called. 

For the Knicks, that was Ariel Hukporti in Game 1 on Monday night. 

Hukporti saw the floor just three times in New York’s first round meeting with the Hawks, but they were forced to turn to him early on this time around. 

Karl-Anthony Towns ended up being okay after an early injury scare, but the big man was forced to the benched after picking up two early fouls against Joel Embiid

Mitchell Robinson came on, but quickly picked up a foul of his own then Philadelphia turned to the Hack-A-Mitch strategy to try to slow the Knicks down, so he was pulled as well. 

Ariel Hukporti entered into his most meaningful minutes thus far these playoffs.

The youngster was ready for the big moment, though, giving New York the big man they needed and holding his own in the tough matchup with Embiid downlow. 

He went into the half as a +10 across his three minutes of action.

Hukporti saw even more time with the game out of reach down the stretch, and he ended up finishing the blowout victory with five points, a game-high nine rebounds, and a +22. 

“I gotta give Ariel credit,” Mike Brown said. “We were in early foul trouble and Ariel came off the bench and he wasn’t expected to play, obviously, and he did a pretty solid job.

“You’re not going to stop a guy like Embiid or [Tyrese] Maxey, you just hopefully make them work without fouling them, and I thought Ariel did a really good job in that area.”

Hukporti will need to stay ready moving forward, as New York may have to turn to him again as they look to keep Embiid in check during this second round series. 

Victor Wembanyama hosts block party, nears rare triple-double vs. T-wolves

For Victor Wembanyama, the 2026 NBA Playoffs are a collection of firsts. Add another one to the list.

Playing in the conference semifinal round for the first time in his career, Wembanyama, the Spurs phenom forward-center, swatted away 7 blocks in the first half Monday, May 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the most ever by a San Antonio player in a playoff half since 1997.

That total was just one shy of Dwight Howard’s record for most blocks in any postseason half in the play-by-play era.

Wembanyama's block party didn't stop there. He was up to 10 before the end of the third quarter.

The 7-foot-4 All-Star now has a unique opportunity to reach a rare points-rebounds-blocks triple-double. He has 8 points and 10 rebounds to go along with his 10 blocks with 2:36 remaining in the third.

Wembanyama started the second half much like he did the first; he dashed past Rudy Gobert for a dunk and minutes later blocked an attempted layup from Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama dazzles with blocks against Timberwolves in Game 1

Hurricanes stay perfect with rally, Taylor Hall OT goal vs Flyers

Taylor Hall scored the overtime winning goal to give the host Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Nikolaj Ehlers scored once and added an assist, while Seth Jarvis tallied once for the Hurricanes, who lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0.

With time ticking down in the first overtime period, Hall drove to the net during a rush led by Sean Walker, had his first attempt stopped, but during the ensuing scramble pounced on a loose puck and got it past Flyer goalkeeper Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime.

It was Hall's first career playoff overtime goal during his seven seasons of post-season play.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen make 34 saves for the Hurricanes, who erased an early two-goal deficit. Jackson Blake collected a pair of assists.

Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier tallied for the Flyers, while Vladar stopped 39 shots.

The Flyers had a golden chance to win with an early overtime power play but could not convert.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday.

The Flyers competed much better than in the series-opening 3-0 loss.

Drysdale's power-play goal opened the scoring at 4:02. Amid a flurry at the net, the puck came out to the high slot and Drysdale stepped in from his point position to bury the chance.

The score marked the first time during this year's playoffs that Carolina has trailed in a game.

It was also Philadelphia's first goal during the opening period of the playoffs, and the first time the Hurricanes surrendered a goal in the first period.

Couturier doubled the lead 39 seconds later with his first tally of the playoffs. From behind the net, Carl Grundstrom slipped a pass to the top the crease and Couturier was on the spot to slip home the chance.

That sparked the Hurricanes and they were rewarded when Ehlers netted his first goal of the playoffs with a power-play tally of his own. Ehlers set up at right face-off dot and hammered a one-timer set up by Blake and K'Andre Miller at 10:21 of the first period.

Jarvis tied the clash with 8:39 remaining in regulation time, joining an odd-man rush and finding the mark after a drop pass from Ehlers as he reached the right circle.

Carolina outshot the visitors, 35-21, through 60 minutes, but the Flyers pumped 15 shots on goal to eight for the Hurricanes in overtime.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes rally past Flyers in Game 2 to stay perfect

Jalen Brunson puts up an easy 35, sparks Knicks to dominant 39-point win over 76ers in in Game 1

It was the kind of game where Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey checked out with 6:03 left in the third quarter and Nick Nurse never put them back in.

It was the kind of game where Jalen Brunson came out scorching and took over from the opening tip, scoring 27 first-half points on 10-of-14 shooting.

It was the kind of game Knicks fans loved. It may not have been as big a blowout as New York's last game, but it also may have been more meaningful.

New York blew out visiting Philadelphia in Game 1 of their second-round series, 137-98, on a night they looked like clearly the best team in the East. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Manhattan.

The Knicks are a team in a groove, winning their last three games by at least 29 points, and in the last two they have shot 61% overall and 44% from 3-point range.

Part of the Knicks fast start and dominance was that the 76ers played like a team with a Game 7 hangover — they looked gassed a quarter into the game. Embiid started 1-of-6 and Maxey 1-of-4. If it wasn't for Paul George hitting 3-pointers, Philadelphia could have been in a much deeper hole earlier.

And that hole was already 23 points at the half, 74-51, leading to an ecstatic crowd reveling in it at Madison Square Garden. Things were going so well that Josh Hart had time to untie Jimmy Fallon's shoe courtside.

In the third quarter, the Knicks just added to their lead out of the gate, and Nurse, wisely, decided to rest his tired stars early and start thinking ahead to Game 2.

In addition to Brunson's hot hand, OG Anunoby had 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and five assists, playing well as the hub of the offense. Mikal Bridges added 17 points as well.

George was the only 76er with a hot hand all night, and while he played just 26 minutes, he led the team with 17 points. Joel Embiid finished with 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, while Tyrese Maxey had 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting.

Expect a better outing from Philadelphia in Game 2, but if the Knicks are shooting like this there might be nothing the 76ers can do.

Knicks dominate on both ends, cruise to 137-98 Game 1 win over 76ers

The Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of their second round matchup on Monday at MSG.

Here are some takeaways...

- The Knicks had a bit of a scare just minutes into this one, as Karl-Anthony Towns went down in significant pain after taking a hard fall coming down from an offensive rebound attempt, but he ended up being okay after staying down for a few moments and remained on the floor following a TV timeout. 

Joel Embiid was also able to get both Towns (two) and Mitchell Robinson (two) into early foul trouble. 

- With Towns sitting, it was Jalen Brunson who carried the load for the Knicks' offense in the early going. It was a mainly back-and-forth opening frame, but the All-Star point guard put together one of his signature barrages scoring nine straight New York points and dishing an assist on a Miles McBride three to make it a four-point game.  

OG Anunoby found his touch late, as well, scoring all of his seven points to close the first quarter up by eight. 

- Finally back on the floor, Towns got into a rhythm for the first time opening the second. The dominant big man was able to take advantage of Embiid resting after playing the entire first quarter, quickly pushing both his point total and the Knicks' lead all the way out to double-digits. 

- New York's defense was tremendous and they continued to get whatever they wanted on the other end. The Garden was rocking and the home team had all of the momentum as they carried their largest lead of the half into the break (23) following Brunson's deep three at the buzzer. 

- The captain was taking advantage of Embiid and Philly's defense in the pick-in-roll, scoring the teams last 11 points to bring his total out to 27, which is the second-most in any playoff half by a Knick in the play-by-play era. 

- It was much of the same for the Knicks coming out of the break, as they continued to put on a defensive clinic and simply could not miss on the other end. This time it was Mikal Bridges' turn to put together a scoring run of his own, as he scored eight straight points at one point in the third to push himself into double-digits, as well. 

- Philadelphia didn't received their first bench points of the game until there was four minutes left in the third. 

- Brunson was relatively quiet in the third with New York's offense clicking on all cylinders, but eight points in the closing minutes of the frame helped him break 30 for the second time these playoffs, and kept the commanding lead above that mark heading into the closing 12 minutes. 

- Both teams emptied their benches with things out of reach to open the fourth. Tyler Kolek took advantage of the opportunity for minutes, knocking down his first three attempts from the field and dishing an assist. Ariel Hukporti chipped in five points, reeled in a game-high nine rebounds, and was a +22 over 17 minutes. 

Hukporti stepped up bug earlier in the contest with both Robinson and Towns in foul trouble.

- As far as the starters, Brunson led all scorers with 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting. Anunoby missed just one of his eight shots as he chipped in 18 points of his own, and both Bridges and Towns finished with 17 each. Josh Hart had just eight points, but also contributed eight rebounds and six assists. 

They shot a whopping 63 percent from the field and 51 from three as a team on the night. 

- The Knicks also did a tremendous locking down Philly's one-two punch, holding Embiid (14) and Tyrese Maxey (13) to a combined 27 points, 15 of which came from the free-throw line. They made just six of their 20 attempts from the field, missed all five of their shots from three, and turned the ball over a total of five times.   

- New York is the first team in NBA history to win three straight playoff games by 25+ points. 

Game MVP: Jalen Brunson

The captain set the tone out of the gate for New York with his tremendous first half. 

Highlights

What's next

New York will look to build off this tremendous effort in Game 2 on Wednesday night at the Garden.

Hall’s OT score helps Hurricanes top Flyers 3-2 to take 2-0 lead in 2nd-round series of NHL playoffs

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes

May 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler (24) battle during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

James Guillory-Imagn Images

RALEIGH, N.C. — Taylor Hall slipped the puck past Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Monday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series in the NHL playoffs.

Hall took a short feed from Sean Walker and carried the puck in on the left side before being knocked to his knees near the top of the crease. But Hall hopped up, corralled the puck and beat Vladar to cap a night that saw the Hurricanes fall behind 2-0 quickly for their first deficit of the postseason.

Seth Jarvis had the third-period goal that forced overtime for Carolina, while Nikolaj Ehlers also scored. Frederik Andersen finished with 34 saves to help the Hurricanes improve to 6-0 in the postseason.

The series shifts to Philadelphia for Thursday’s Game 3.

Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scored in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers, but Philadelphia couldn’t beat Andersen again.

Vladar had 39 saves.

Tuesday's Time Schedule

All Times EDT

Tuesday, May 5

MLB

Baltimore at Miami, 6:40 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 6:40 p.m.

Athletics at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m.

Boston at Detroit, 6:40 p.m.

Minnesota at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Texas at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Kansas City, 7:40 p.m.

Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 7:40 p.m.

Milwaukee at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

N.Y. Mets at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at L.A. Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Atlanta at Seattle, 9:40 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

San Diego at San Francisco, 9:45 p.m.

NBA - Playoffs

Eastern Conference Semifinal - Game 1

Cleveland at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Semifinal - Game 1

L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.

NHL - Playoffs

Western Conference Second Round - Game 2

Minnesota at Colorado, 8 p.m.

PWHL - Playoffs

Minnesota at Montreal, 7 p.m.

_____

Jarvis’ score forces OT in Game 2 of Flyers-Hurricanes 2nd-round series in NHL playoffs

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes

May 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) scores a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

James Guillory-Imagn Images

RALEIGH, N.C. — Seth Jarvis scored midway through the third period to complete the Carolina Hurricanes’ rally from an early two-goal deficit and force overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers in Monday night’s second-round playoff game.

Carolina is chasing a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Jarvis took a feed from Nikolaj Ehlers as the trailer and beat Dan Vladar from the right side at the 11:21 mark to knot the score at 2-2. Ehlers had Carolina’s first goal with a first-period one-timer and the Hurricanes on the power play.

Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scored in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers, whose flurry in the opening 5 minutes put Carolina in its first deficit of the postseason.

Then Vladar spent the rest of regulation flirting with making that 2-0 margin hold up, including twice stopping breakaways by Eric Robinson. And Travis Sanheim came through to back up his goalie with a big second-period play, clearing a puck that had gotten loose behind the netminder in the crease to deny a potential tying goal.

NHL overtime rules explained: Longest games, 2026 OT results

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs mean a major change in the overtime format.

Unlike the Olympics, where 3-on-3 overtime is played even in the gold medal game, the NHL switches things up in the postseason when the games matter more.

There won't be any more 3-on-3 play. It is 5-on-5 instead, just like in regulation play. There won't be any more shootouts after five minutes of scoreless overtime play. There is sudden death, and it could last a very long time.

This postseason, there have been 14 overtime games, including three double-overtime games.

Here's what to know about playoff hockey overtime, including the format, longest games and 2026 results.

How does OT work in NHL playoffs?

If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing rooms for 15 minutes while the ice is resurfaced. Overtime periods last 20 minutes or until someone scores. It's 5-on-5 play (barring penalties). If no one scores in the first overtime, the process repeats and continues until someone scores. The teams change sides for each overtime period. The first overtime is the long change to get back to the bench.

The NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored, such as the goal that ended Game 4 of the Anaheim-Edmonton series or the overturned goal in Game 4 of the Vegas-Utah series.

2026 NHL playoff overtime games

May 4:Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2: Taylor Hall scored at 18:54 of the first overtime for a 2-0 series lead.

May 1:Lightning 1, Canadiens 0: Gage Goncalves scored at 9:03 of the first overtime to tie the series.

April 29:Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (2OT): Brett Howden scored at 5:28 of the second overtime as Vegas took a 3-2 lead on Utah.

April 29Flyers 1, Penguins 0: Cam York scored at 17:32 of the first overtime as the Flyers ousted the Penguins in Game 6.

April 28: Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT). David Pastrnak scored at 9:14 of the first overtime to cut the Bruins' series deficit to 3-2.

April 27: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (OT). Shea Theodore scored at 19:08 of the first overtime to tie the series at two games apiece.

April 26: Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT). Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into the first overtime to give Anaheim a 3-1 series lead.

April 25: Wild 3, Stars 2. Matt Boldy scored at 19:31 of the first overtime as the Wild tie the series 2-2.

April 24: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2. Lane Hutson scored at 2:09 of the first overtime, giving Montreal a 2-1 series lead.

April 22: Stars 4, Wild 3. Wyatt Johnston scored at 12:10 of the second overtime, giving Dallas a 2-1 series lead.

April 21: Avalanche 2, Kings 1: Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal at the 12:16 mark of the first overtime, giving Colorado a 2-0 series lead.

April 21: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2: J.J. Moser scored at 7:12 in the first overtime to tie up the series at a game apiece. It was Moser's first career NHL playoff goal.

April 20: Hurricanes 3, Senators 2: Jordan Martinook scored at 13:53 of the second overtime. He was stopped on a penalty shot in the first overtime.

April 19: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3: Juraj Slafkovsky scored at 1:22 of the first overtime, completing a hat trick.

What are the longest NHL playoff overtime games?

  • 1 - Six overtimes (116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime) in the 1936 semifinals. March 24, 1935. Detroit 1, Montreal Maroons 0. Mud Bruneteau scored the winner.
  • 2 - Six overtimes (104 minutes, 46 seconds of overtime) in the 1933 semifinals. April 3, 1933. Toronto 1, Boston 0. Ken Doraty scored the winner.
  • 3 - Five overtimes (92 minutes, 1 second of overtime) in the 2000 conference semifinals. May 4, 2000. Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. Keith Primeau scored the winner.
  • 4 - Five overtimes (90 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime) in the 2020 first round. Aug. 11, 2020. Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2. Brayden Point scored the winner.
  • 5 - Five overtimes (80 minutes, 48 seconds of overtime) in the 2003 conference semifinals. April 24, 2003. Anaheim 4, Dallas 3. Petr Sykora scored the winner.
  • 6 - Four overtimes (79 minutes, 47 seconds of overtime) in the 2023 conference finals. May 18, 2023. Florida 3, Carolina 2. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner.

Longest Stanley Cup Final games

Eight Stanley Cup Final games have gone to the third overtime. The Edmonton Oilers were part of the longest game when Petr Klima scored at 15:13 of the third overtime for a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in the 1990 Final.

Which players in 2026 postseason have the most playoff overtime goals?

  • 5 - Corey Perry, Lightning
  • 4 - Leon Draisaitl, Oilers (all in 2025 playoffs, an NHL record for one postseason)
  • 3 - Brayden Point, Lightning; Jordan Staal, Hurricanes; Anze Kopitar, Kings; Artemi Panarin, Kings; Matt Duchene, Stars

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket overtime rules, 2026 results and longest games

On This Day: Slava Kozlov Scores 3OT Winner For Red Wings Over Mighty Ducks

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The collective euphoria of having won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years is a feeling Detroit Red Wings fans around the world will never forget. 

It was a long road to get there, starting with a six-game victory over the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs and setting up a date with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. 

The Ducks were in their first playoff appearance, and had dispatched the Phoenix Coyotes in their opening round series. 

However, the dangerous offensive combination of Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne proved to be no match for the Red Wings, who swept through the series in four games. 

And amazingly, three of the four games required overtime to settle a winner.

Less than a minute into overtime in Game 1, Brendan Shanahan broke in on a two-on-one rush with Martin Lapointe, who beat goaltender Guy Hebert for what he described as his first-career overtime goal dating back to his Pee Wee hockey days. 

But Game 2 took nearly two full games worth of hockey to decide a winner. It was Slava Kozlov who finally sent the fans home happy at 1:38 of the third overtime, firing a shot from the face-off circle past goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov, who replaced the injured Hebert.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest newsgame-day coverage, and player features

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Following a regulation Game 3 victory in Anaheim, Detroit punched their ticket to the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche thanks to a double-overtime game-winning goal from Brendan Shanahan in Game 4. 

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PHOTOS: A'ja Wilson, Venus Williams among sports icons attending the 2026 Met Gala

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Venus Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)

Julian Hamilton/Getty Images

Fashion's biggest night has arrived, and several athletes have foregone their pregame getups for elaborate suits and gowns fit for one of the most stylish nights of the year.

The theme of the 2026 Met Gala is "Costume Art," paired with the dress code of "Fashion is Art." As always, the theme was up to interpretation, and this year's carpet showcased creativity in all of its forms.

Tennis legend Venus Williams is co-chair for the event alongside Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman. Venus' sister Serena Williams was among the throng of athletes in attendance, which consisted of icons across a wide variety of sports.

See below for a glimpse into the "Super Bowl of Fashion" and the standout looks of some of sports' biggest stars, including Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, 4x WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, and more.

A’ja Wilson

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: A’ja Wilson attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)

Theo Wargo/FilmMagic

Alysa Liu

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Alysa Liu attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Angel Reese

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Angel Reese attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Dwyane Wade

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Dwyane Wade attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)

Julian Hamilton/Getty Images

Eileen Gu

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Eileen Gu attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Jimmy Butler

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Jimmy Butler attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Joe Burrow

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Red Carpet

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Joe Burrow attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Justin Jefferson

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Justin Jefferson attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)

Julian Hamilton/Getty Images

Lindsey Vonn

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FASHION-CELEBRITY-MUSEUM-METGALA

US alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Naomi Osaka

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Naomi Osaka attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)

Theo Wargo/FilmMagic

Paige Bueckers

The Carlyle Hotel: 2026 Met Gala Departures

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Paige Bueckers leaves The Carlyle Hotel before the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)

John Nacion/Getty Images

Russell Westbrook

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FASHION-CELEBRITY-MUSEUM-METGALA

US basketball player Russell Westbrook arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Russell Wilson and Ciara

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Russell Wilson and Ciara attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Serena Williams

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Red Carpet

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Serena Willaims attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Kevin Mazur/MG26/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Ayesha Curry and Stephen Curry attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Venus Williams

The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" - Arrivals

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Venus Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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It’s time for Playoff Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Game 1

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 17: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 17, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

The Spurs have advanced to the second round of the playoffs and face an unexpected opponent. The Timberwolves didn’t play great for most of the season, finishing sixth in the Western Conference, but used their size and physicality to outperform the Denver Nuggets, despite losing key players during the series. Donte Divencenzo is out for the rest of the season, but he’s already back on the bench cheering on his teammates. Anthony Edwards suffered a scary looking knee injury with a hyperextension and bone bruise in the third quarter of Game 3 in the first round, but he could be back on the court as early as tonight, an unbelievable 9 days after what looked like it could be a season-ending injury.

The Wolves were able to survive through the defensive efforts of Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, who bothered Nikola Jokic so much that he lost his composure more than once, and terrific performances from Jaden McDaniels, and a rotating cast of super subs—Ayo Dosunmu with a record-setting 43 points off the bench in game 4, and Terrance Shannon Jr. with 24 in Game 6.

This should be a much tougher test that the first round matchup against the Trail Blazers, who don’t have the wealth of talent and size on Minnesota’s roster. The Spurs nominally have five players on the roster who can play at the center spot, but it’s pretty apparent that they only want to play Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet when the game is on the line, except in smallball lineups, where Carter Bryant has been playing well. Bryant is dealing with a foot sprain, so it’s imperative for the Spurs that VW1 and LK7 stay out of foul trouble tonight. Rudy Gobert is notably bad at offense, so maybe the Spurs could hide a bad defender on him part of the time, but you still would hate to see Mason Plumlee out there unless the game is already decided.

It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments that Mitch Johnson will make to the Spurs offensive and defensive sets for the Timberwolves. Victor could take advantage of Gobert’s ineptness as a scorer to roam a bit more and create zone of exclusion in the paint for the Timberwolves, which would force them to rely heavily on hitting their outside shots. They’re a pretty good three point shooting team, so that wouldn’t necessarily work out in the Spurs’ favor, unless the perimeter defenders can quickly close out around the three point line.

Game Prediction:

The Spurs go wild from beyond the arc, with Champagnie, Vassell, and Wembanyama all hitting at least eight triples.

San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Second Round, Game 1
May 4, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: Peacock, NBCSN
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Lakers vs. Thunder Game 1 Preview: Does L.A. have a miracle in them?

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 6: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers protects the ball from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Paycom Center on April 6, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The second round series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder begins on Tuesday on the latter’s home court.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 5:30 p.m. PT, May 5

Where: Paycom Center

Watch: NBC, Peacock


In the Lakers’ first round series against the Houston Rockets, pretty much nobody believed in them because it felt like an impossible task to defeat a healthier team without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. They were instantly proven wrong in Game 1 when the Lakers reminded everyone that they can shock the world, and true enough, that’s what they did.

Now in the second round, nobody believes in the purple and gold once again, but for more justified reasons. After all, the Thunder are the only undefeated squad left in the playoffs and made light work of the Suns with an average margin of victory of 14.5 points per game.

It also doesn’t help that Oklahoma dominated Los Angeles four times during the regular season. The Thunder had an average margin of 29.3 points per game, which was the largest regular-season point differential between two teams in the same conference. The Lakers weren’t always healthy in those matchups, which will also be the case again in this series without Dončić for now.

Matchup overview

Besides Dončić, Jalen Williams also won’t be suiting up due to a hamstring injury, so that’s also one less superstar for the Thunder. Despite Williams’ absence, OKC is still very capable of playing at a high level because it has offensive firepower. On top of that, they employ the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 33.8 points, 8.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game in the first round.

As for the Lakers, LeBron James — who averaged 26.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game in the first round —will for sure take charge of the offense once again, but he’s going to need his teammates to take their game to another level again. In fairness to Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, they all played very well in the first round. But it’s going to take more than skill, grit and heart to defeat this Thunder team.

The Lakers as a whole will have to be efficient and sharp on both ends of the floor. They will need to match the Thunder’s pace, aggressiveness and mental fortitude. It’s likely that OKC will expose Los Angeles’ inferior offense as seen in the first round when L.A. failed to score more than 100 points in three games. The Thunder will definitely turn it up on defense and fire away from downtown, where they rank second in the playoffs in attempts per game.

It’ll be up to the Lakers to respond and counter.

The Lakers’ chances

In Tagalog — the native language in the Philippines — there’s a well-known saying that goes “bilog ang bola,” which means that anything can happen in a 48-minute of basketball game. It’s easy to dismiss the Lakers and say that they don’t have what it takes to compete against this Thunder team, but time and time again this season, the purple and gold have proven that they’re capable of surprising us and even pulling off miracles.

That’s not to say that there’s no chance the Lakers get gentlemen swept, but at the very least, they’re still worth tuning in and rooting for. They’ve reached the semifinals and are considered a top-eight team. That alone is worth being hopeful about.

Regardless of the result, there’s a good chance that the Lakers will go all out on this one and hopefully it leads to stealing a game or two in Oklahoma.

Let’s see if the Lakers can pull off a miracle against the Thunder in Game 1 on Tuesday.

Notes and Updates

  • The Lakers’ injury report states Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) are officially out for this one.
  • As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery reocvery) as out.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

Edwards cleared to play for Timberwolves in series opener against Spurs after expedited rehab

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards has been cleared to play Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, returning 10 days after hyperextending his left knee.

Edwards was expected to miss at least the first two games of the series in San Antonio, but the 6-foot-4 guard expedited his rehabilitation to play in the opener.

“He's in,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said 90 minutes before scheduled tipoff.

Finch said Edwards will be on a minutes restriction, but said he was unsure if the 24-year-old will start or come off the bench.

‘Obviously, the way he’s moving and just what percentage of himself does he look like," Finch said in regards to the player's minutes. “Of course, obviously, but he’s looked really pretty good and I’m sure he’ll be a little winded at times, but I know he’s excited and we’re proud to have him back.”

Edwards was cleared to participate in team activities Saturday and upgraded to questionable on Sunday's injury report. He was a full participant in the morning shootaround and was cleared to play following pre-game workouts Monday.

“It will be fun to compete against him,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “I’m glad he’s playing.”

Edwards suffered a bone bruise, in addition to hyperextending his left knee, on April 25 during Game 4 of Minnesota’s opening-round series against Denver.

The Timberwolves also lost Donte DiVincenzo in Game 4 to a torn right Achilles tendon, but won the next two games against the Nuggets to advance.

Edwards was not in attendance during Game 6 while receiving treatment for his injury.

“He loves to play the game,” Finch said. “We dodged a bullet when it happened. He’s done an incredible job. Our medical staff has done an unbelievable job of getting him to this point. And he was super motivated by the fact that we were able to get that first series. I think that was kind of a little bit of an inspiration for him too, just gave him something to work towards.”

Edwards averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 61 games during the regular season. He averaged 36.7 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds in three games against San Antonio this season.

The Spurs were preparing to play against Edwards leading up to the series opener, even though his status was in doubt.

“A player that level in a way takes a lot of the thinking out because you know there is only a handful of players in this league to that level, so you know their game,” Johnson said.

The Timberwolves were 2-1 against the Spurs during the regular season.

San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, named the Defensive Player of the Year on April 20, missed the opening game against Minnesota during the regular season with a left calf strain. Wembanyama averaged 34 points and 8.0 rebounds in two games against the Timberwolves, including 39 points in a 126-123 victory on Jan. 17 in the regular-season finale between the clubs.

San Antonio will be without rookie forward Carter Bryant, who sprained his right ankle during practice leading up to the series.

Minnesota will be without Ayo Dosunmu, who is out with right calf soreness.

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