Pennant Watch. There’s nothing wrong, in and of itself, with the commemorative gift stand-in captain Bukayo Saka will hand over to his opposite number Koke. But that badge. Come on, man. Stand it next to the time-honoured Victoria Concodria Crescit crest and weep. And that’s before we get to the stratospherically sexy Art Deco A-football-C logo. Ever since that fateful rebrand, Herbert Chapman has been spinning elegantly in his grave, nearly a quarter of a style-free century on.
Atletico Madrid’s offering, however, is a thing of timeless beauty. Enrique Collar would have been proud to hand that over. Arsenal are favourites to go through tonight, but they’ve lost this very important pre-match skirmish.
Manchester City did not choke at Everton to hand Arsenal the advantage but it was another reminder the Premier League’s random qualities are still key
For me Clive, it’s all about the Socratic paradox. The wisest man is the man who knows enough to know he knows nothing. I’ve always said that. Or never said it. Or only said it sometimes. One of those. Either way the Premier League title race could have been designed to prove that, in an age of thundering takes and mega-certainties, nobody actually has any idea what’s going on here.
Manchester City’s draw at Everton on Monday night has already been described as The Moment. Advantage Arsenal. This is the consensus. On Tuesday morning, Rob Earnshaw was asked on Sky Sports if this is “the week the season will be decided” and replied: “ABSOLUTELY,” almost before the question had ended. And while you have to admire Rob Earnshaw’s sense of showmanship, there is still a large chance this might not actually be the case.
Across 1,960 career playoff and regular-season NBA games, LeBron James has never been a larger underdog than he is against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ben Fawkes, the 15.5-point Game 1 line represents the largest perceived deficit of James’ illustrious 23-year career.
Key Takeaways
LeBron hasn’t been as large of a series underdog since 2006.
The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets at +550 underdogs in the first round.
Bronny James has +500 odds of scoring 15 points in the upcoming series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are taking on a real-life Goliath in the form of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are -15.5 at home ahead of tip-off in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Los Angeles Lakers are consensus 15.5-point underdogs in Game 1 tonight at the Oklahoma City Thunder.
➡️That would be the biggest underdog LeBron James has been in ANY game in his 23-year career
James is already 11 regular-season games clear of Robert Parish and 39 playoff outings ahead of Derek Fisher for the NBA’s all-time record in career appearances. But while he has won four championships and produced countless unforgettable moments, he has never been a larger underdog than he is tonight.
The Lakers’ +600 moneyline odds at DraftKings suggest they only have a 14.3% chance to steal Game 1 on the road. Notably, they’re still without leading scorer Luka Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury on April 2 against this same Thunder team.
Upsets aren’t impossible. The Lakers overcame huge +550 odds to win their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, eliminating a team they were given a 15.4% chance of beating in six games.
However, in extending their season, they also accepted a date with a team that tormented them during the regular season.
LeBron, Lakers face daunting task
The defending-champion and NBA Finals odds favorite Thunder (-155) went 4-0 against the Lakers during the regular season. Those wins came by nine, 29, 36, and 43 points, and they did not have MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the nine-point victory.
DraftKings has the Thunder at -1600 (94% implied chance) to eliminate the Lakers and move on to the Western Conference Finals. LA is only +900 (10% chance) to continue past the series.
For context, here are all of the opening series odds for the other NBA conference semifinals:
San Antonio Spurs (-525), Minnesota Timberwolves (+350)
New York Knicks (-260), Philadelphia 76ers (+215)
Detroit Pistons (-125), Cleveland Cavaliers (+105)
According to SportsOddsHistory, that makes this the second-most lopsided series of LeBron’s career as an underdog. The only other time he faced a greater deficit was in the 2006 Conference Semifinals, when his Cleveland Cavaliers were +1200 against the Detroit Pistons. Detroit won the series in seven games after falling behind 3-2.
Oddsmakers at DraftKings don’t believe that James has much of a hope of extending the series as he did back in ‘06. There are -320 odds the Thunder cover a 2.5-game spread, meaning they have an implied 76.2% chance of winning the series in four or five games.
Notably, the Thunder enter the series having already swept the Phoenix Suns. They also swept their first-round opponent, the Memphis Grizzlies, before they were taken to seven games by the Denver Nuggets one year ago.
They went on to win the NBA Finals, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
Bronny James prop special
As LeBron looks to add a possible final crowning achievement to his playoff resume, his son, Bronny James, is enjoying his first taste of playoff action.
Bronny finished the first round against the Rockets with 10 total points scored while getting playing time in five of six games. FanDuel Sportsbook published a special market for Bronny to reach 15 total points in the series with the Thunder for +500 odds, suggesting he only has a 16.7% chance to hit the mark.
Bronny had 10 total points the Lakers' series vs. the Rockets 😳
The New York Knicks scorched the nets at Madison Square Garden in the series opener and take aim at a 2-0 lead when they host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night.
My same-game parlay for Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal likes the points to keep flowing, along with standout efforts from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for 76ers vs. Knicks on May 6.
Our best 76ers vs Knicks SGP for Game 2
SGP leg #1: Over 215
The New York Knicks shot 63% from the floor and scored 137 points in the series opener. While I expect New York’s success to come back to earth, its offense throws a lot at Philadelphia, especially with Joel Embiid limping around on defense.
As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they need to promote pace on offense, and I expect the Sixers to do their share of the scoring in Game 2. This total has jumped only two points from the closing number of 213 O/U in Game 1, leaving a low bar for the Over.
SGP leg #2: Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 rebounds
Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging six rebounds for the postseason, but his work on the boards surges in this series. Embiid is being drawn away from the rim and isn’t mobile enough to chase down misses.
Oubre had five boards on eight rebounding chances in Game 1, with New York not missing much. There will be more rebounding chances in Game 2, and Oubre is projected for six or more rebounds after pulling down seven in both regular-season meetings with the Knicks.
SGP leg #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns has served more as a conduit for the Knicks' offense in the playoffs, passing off rather than attacking. However, Philadelphia has to change how they defend KAT.
That means sending smaller players at him up top or sagging off with Embiid. Either way, Towns can find the bottom of the basket, and Game 2 forecasts have him scoring around 22 points.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his 76ers vs Knicks predictions for Game 2.
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New Orleans has been deliberating over finalists Darvin Ham (a Bucks associate head coach under Rivers), Steve Hetzel (Brooklyn assistant), Sean Sweeney (San Antonio associate head coach) and Rajon Rondo (a coaching associate with the Bucks). Mosley has long been believed to be a possible candidate if he became available, but it's unclear as of yet if he'll be added to the list.
Rondo is an interesting name. The four-time All-Star point guard has been out of the league for four seasons and is on the radar of a number of general managers, but is he ready for that leap? It has long been expected in league circles that the Magic's Mosley would move to the front of the line in New Orleans if Orlando moved on from him, which it did. Ham was a former head coach with the Lakers, and his name has come up as a possibility in Orlando’s coaching search.
While New Orleans is narrowing down the field, Portland continues to cast a very wide net, reports Amick.
As league sources said on Monday, the Trail Blazers have cast a net so wide that the list of candidates could be almost 20 coaches long and, in the end, will consist of names procured by both Dundon and general manager Joe Cronin. What's more, league sources say, there is no clear messaging as of yet about a possible timeline on the hiring.
While Tiago Splitter did a good job taking over a team a couple of days into the season (after the arrest of Chauncy Billups on alleged gambling charges) and leading the Trail Blazers to a surprise playoff berth, league sources told NBC Sports he does not appear to be a favorite of new owner Tom Dundon, so the door is wide open. Then there is the lingering money question: Rumors circulated that Dundon was trying to get a coach to take the job for $1.5 million or less — mid-major college coach money — the team has pushed back hard on that. Still, the chatter around the league is that Portland is trying to hire on the cheap, whatever that final number is. As Amick notes, it is thought that the least any coach in the league is making is at least $2 million, in Sacramento's Doug Christie (who is keeping his job).
It appears it could be a while before Portland has a coach.
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock with a star-studded doubleheader. The action tips off at 7:00 PM ET, when Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM ET, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Peacock. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The No. 4 Lakers defeated the No. 5 Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Los Angeles opened the series with a 3-0 lead, dropped Games 4 and 5, then bounced back with a 98-78 road win in Game 6. The win marked JJ Redick's first playoff series victory since he took over as head coach ahead of last season.
Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder defeated the No. 8 Phoenix Suns 4-0, completing a First Round sweep for the third straight season. The Thunder look to become the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since the Golden State Warriors (2016-2017, 2017-18).
The Lakers and Thunder will both be without key players tonight. Luka Doncic has missed the last 11 games due to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Jalen Williams missed the last two games for the Thunder with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Both players are considered week-to-week.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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Anthony Edwards’ improbable return to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup for the team's shocking Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs caused a seismic change in NBA betting odds.
Key Takeaways
Edwards was expected to be out for part or all of the series.
The Spurs are still a comfortable second place in odds to win the NBA Finals.
Teams that go up 1-0 in a playoff series end up winning more than 77% of the time.
FanDuel sportsbook opened with the Spurs, the West's second-place finishers, at -3,000 amid uncertainty over Edwards' future. The Timberwolves' star guard sustained a hyperextension and bone bruise to his left knee in Game 4 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets and was given a two-to-six-week return timeline.
Rumors swirled that there was a chance Edwards could be ready for Game 1, so FanDuel dropped San Antonio to -2,200 on Sunday, a day before the series opener. Oddsmakers pivoted again when it was announced Monday that Edwards was likely to play in Game 1. The Spurs were knocked down to -600, while Minnesota shortened to +450.
The T-Wolves still had a ton of work to do in Game 1. They entered as 9.5-point underdogs without Donte DiVinceno and Ayo Dosunmu against a Spurs team that had enjoyed several extra days of rest and was at home, where it went 32-8 in the regular season.
Despite the Spurs’ advantages, the T-Wolves emerged with a two-point victory as Julian Champagnie’s would-be game-winning 3-pointer clanked off the rim at the buzzer. Julius Randle led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Edwards had 18 points (11 in the fourth quarter) in 25 minutes off the bench.
Victor Wembanyama set an all-time playoff record with 12 blocks to go with his 15 rebounds, but he only scored 11 points on 29.4% shooting.
FanDuel now has the Spurs at -186 (65% implied chance) and the Timberwolves at +156 (39% chance) to win the series. The Spurs are -9.5 favorites again for Game 2.
NBA Finals odds picture
The Timberwolves’ early advantage hasn’t caused a massive change in the championship picture.
The Spurs still find themselves second in NBA championship odds at +470, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (-170). However, they are down from about +340, where they were before their Game 1 loss.
On the flip side, the Timberwolves are sixth of the eight remaining teams in title odds at +3,000. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (+3,500) and Philadelphia 76ers (+7,000) have longer odds.
BetMGM insights shared with Covers on Monday revealed that the Spurs led all remaining teams in tickets (10.9%) and were second in money wagered (16.8%) in the NBA Finals futures market. The Timberwolves were sixth in tickets (5.5%) and handle (5.2%).
Bettors also loved the Spurs to win the Western Conference. They drew 21.3% of bets and 23.3% of the pot, which ranked first and second, repectively, in the West.
The Timberwolves were fourth in wagers (12.6%) and handle (9.5%) of the eight remaining teams.
History favors underdogs
While the Spurs are still favored to win their second-round series, they will have to overcome a strong historical precedent.
Teams that take a 1-0 series lead have won 700 of 901 series (77.1%), according to Land of Basketball. Stripping away all other data points, that would suggest the Timberwolves have -337 odds to win the series, and the Spurs should be +337 (assuming no vig).
Minneosta now has a combined regular-season and playoff record of 3-1 against San Antonio. The teams will meet for Game 2 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The Philadelphia 76ers wrangled just 28 rebounds in their series-opening loss to the New York Knicks. That’ll happen when your opponent knocks down 63% of their shots.
Philadelphia had no answers for a red-hot New York attack and pretty much packed it in by the third quarter, saving its legs for Game 2.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with five boards in the blowout defeat, and our 76ers vs. Knicks predictions like him to keep cleaning the glass.
My NBA picks take Oubre to round up the rebounds on May 6.
76ers vs Knicks Game 2 prediction
76ers vs Knicks best bet: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 5.5 Rebounds (+100)
The New York Knicks’ high action drags center Joel Embiid away from the paint on defense, and his lack of mobility prevents him from crashing the glass.
Oubre will often be the closest defender to the rim, and he’s active enough to contest for rebounds. He hauled in five boards on eight potential chances in just 27 minutes in Game 1.
So far in the postseason, Oubre is averaging 5.9 rebounds on 10.0 chances. New York’s shooting will regress in Game 2, leaving more rebounding opportunities, and Oubre’s projections sit at 6+ boards.
COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.
76ers vs Knicks Game 2 same-game parlay
The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t pick up the pace in Game 1. The Knicks’ hot shooting forced them to start too many possessions from the inbounds.
Philadelphia’s best plan of attack is to avoid the half-court defense by fueling fastbreaks and transition. New York won’t shoot as well as it did in the opener, but its offense is a tough solve for Philly.
Karl-Anthony Towns has been more of a playmaker for the Knicks in the playoffs. But with the 76ers trying to keep Joel Embiid anchored inside, KAT could see smaller checks and more space from the top of the key. He’ll either attack inside or let it fly from mid-range. Projections are as high as 22 points for Game 2.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Over 215
Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 Rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 Points
76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 2
Spread: 76ers +7 | Knicks -7
Moneyline: 76ers +225 | Knicks -275
Over/Under: Over 215 | Under 215
76ers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Knicks make good on big spreads at home. New York is 24-4 SU and 21-7 ATS (75%) when laying more than five points at Madison Square Garden, including 3-1 SU and ATS so far in the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.
How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 2
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tip-off
7 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
76ers vs Knicks latest injuries
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DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Tobias Harris #12, Jalen Duren #0 and Duncan Robinson #55 help up Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you love rock-em-sock-em wars, the last Detroit Pistons series was for you. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not as physical as the Orlando Magic. We may not get a Hagler-Hearns collision in Round 2, but Cleveland presents other challenges.
Cade Cunningham had his playoff coming-out party against the Magic. He will be the best player in this series too, and if his jumper continues to fall, he could play even better. There’s no doubt Jalen Duren wants to have a bounce-back series, and there are signs that he could.
JB Bickerstaff goes head-to-head with his former team. Of course, Cleveland has different schemes and players, but Bickerstaff should know Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley’s tendencies like the back of his hand.
Game vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: 7:00 PM EST
Watch: Peacock/NBC
Odds: Pistons (-3.5)
Analysis
The Cavaliers are coming off a grueling 7-game series with the Toronto Raptors. Toronto had the fifth-ranked defense in the regular season. They and Detroit play a similar brand of fly-around defense.
Detroit is the superior rim-protecting team and has better perimeter defenders. We saw how much trouble Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead gave the Cavs backcourt.
It’s not far-fetched to assume Ausar Thompson, Cade Cunningham, and the other stout perimeter defenders can make it tough for James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Detroit can make it tough, but that is still a lot of firepower. Harden or Mitchell are capable of getting it going after slow starts, so the attention on them cannot waver.
Mitchell in particular is due for a good series. He’s risen in the playoffs historically (27.8 PPG, 7th all-time), but he also has some stinkers. He’s a lot to handle when the shotmaking gets going, but if anybody can make him struggle in back-to-back series, it is Ausar.
Continuing to stay out of foul trouble will be major for the future Defensive Player of the Year. Ausar only had a 2.3 foul percentage (91 percentile) against Orlando compared to 7.4 (3rd percentile) against the Knicks last year. He is the defense-to-offense king, and staying out of foul trouble keeps him on the floor. They’ll need him for closer to 35 minutes per game. He may take some Harden minutes, and Harden is a historic foul drawer.
Harden will always have a dogged defender on his bumper. He may not have the burst he once had, but he is still a PnR maestro and a laser shooter. Harden makes the game easier for their bigs and role players. He can make every pass in the book, and the Cavalier shooters relish sharing the floor with him. Detroit cannot sag off this point guard as they did with Jalen Suggs.
Cleveland’s bigs were a bit more impressive than the guards in some pockets of the last series. Jarrett Allen had a double-double in the third quarter alone in Game 7. Mobley approached the series with more scoring aggression, and his long-range shot was falling (39% on 3.3 3PA).
It’s on Isaiah Stewart and Duren to take away their basketball spirit. We have seen Allen say the playoff lights were too bright. Mobley has disappeared in a series before. Granted Mobley was younger, but these Pistons are certainly the best paint-defense Allen and Mobley have seen on this stage. Take them away and force the guards to create vs a set defense.
On the other side of the ball, Cleveland’s frontcourt is lengthier than Orlando’s, but they don’t play with the same physicality. Cleveland has not shown that they have crisp enough rotations to tag and grab Duren on every roll as Orlando did.
Duren may or may not be his regular-season self in this matchup, but Cleveland is more favorable than Orlando. There are two 7-footers in Cleveland, but maybe physicality can mitigate the height difference a bit. The PnR with Cade may be there a bit more since there is no Suggs flying around causing chaos.
Cade was the big man on campus last series. Orlando has more premier perimeter defenders than Cleveland. The Cavs’ go-to stoppers are Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson. Two very good defenders, but Cade has seen every type of coverage at this point and is a man on a mission. He is going to get his and be him in this matchup.
Role players
Daniss Jenkins found some much-needed rhythm in Game 7. Carry some of that over because Detroit’s offense is more lethal when he makes open shots. Duncan Robinson had highs and lows, but his shooting will be needed as Cleveland has snipers.
Sam Merrill is one of the best pure shooters in the series. He is a mover that the Pistons chasers cannot leave. Tyson only shot 35 percent from 3 vs Toronto, but he is not a role player who you dare to shoot either.
Cleveland has the shooting advantage all around. 42 percent of their playoff shots have been 3s compared to 33 percent for Detroit. Cleveland’s backcourt has off-the-bounce juice, and other role players like Max Strus hit shots. Detroit has a bit more self-creation from its role players.
Tobias Harris was cooking the Magic. He made pivotal shots and was a safety blanket for Detroit’s offense. Can he average over 20 points again? That is asking a lot, but if Duren and Jenkins are better, Detroit won’t be so dependent on its 15-year veteran. Harris will still be a bailout option and may have a favorable matchup if Cleveland elects to stick Mobley on Ausar so Mobley can roam.
Dennis Schröder is one of Cleveland’s self-creating role players Pistons fans know very well. He can be impactful if Kenny Atkinson presses that button. He only played about 14 minutes a game against Toronto, so it will be interesting to see how much run he gets against a team he helped in the offs last year.
Cleveland has the better offense, more star power, but questionable basketball character. Detroit has the defensive infrastructure to do even better than Toronto and an MVP-caliber first option (Barnes was amazing, but Cade is a different animal).
Detroit should view the Cavs as punkable. Bickerstaff had a front row seat to those Cavs postseason flameouts. He knows how and why his former players shrank.
The game plan devised will note every single micro detail on guys like Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen. Film already shows you players’ tendencies, but being with players for over two years reveals tendencies that film can’t show.
The Magic started strong, punching Detroit in the nose in Game 1. The Pistons cannot let that happen again against a team with more firepower. Set the tone early and hold down homecourt. You won 60 games for a reason.
As much as a wake-up call, Cade Cunningham needed to get his lungs back. A collapsed lung is obviously nothing to take lightly, and missing three weeks at the end of the regular season certainly cost Cunningham some cardiovascular health.
But as any endurance athlete would tell you, their lungs can get back into shape after only a week or two of work following some inactivity. It is the blessing of all the preceding training.
Cunningham opened the series against the Magic shooting an ugly 42.4% from the field and 28.6% from deep through four games. No wonder the Detroit Pistons trailed 3-1 in that series.
Cunningham closed the series shooting 54.1% from the field and 11-for-18 (61.1%) from deep in the final three games. No wonder the Pistons swept those games. Cunningham averaged 36.3 points in those three games, desperation the mother of innovation, but also boosted by sheer health.
With his lungs back, don’t bet against Cunningham anytime soon.
Game 1 Prop #2: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
+105 at bet365
For a veteran who averaged 8.5 rebounds this season and 9.2 across his career, this is a modest rebounding prop, right? Yet, Jarrett Allen fell short of this number in five of the seven games the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to get by the Raptors.
And now Allen faces a superior rebounding team, one that emphasizes the offensive glass, one that is significantly bigger than Toronto.
Jalen Duren should make Allen’s life miserable in this series, a harsh truth for Cleveland’s future beyond this month.
Game 1 Prop #3: Tobias Harris Over 17.5 points
+102 at bet365
Not to try to give the Magic more credit than they are due, but their injured roster most of the season obscured their defensive possibilities. It was clear once it was healthy in April, that was a defense to worry about.
Cleveland’s defense is not. From the All-Star Break to the end of the regular season, the Cavaliers’ defensive rating sat at No. 18 in the NBA. None of the 12 teams behind the Cavs made the playoffs proper.
Even the shorthanded Magic sat at No. 12 in that stretch.
Tobias Harris cleared this prop in the last five games of the series against Orlando. Even in the first two, he scored 17 and 16 points. He should, quite frankly, feast against a lackluster defense like Cleveland’s.
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Listen to Orlando front office president Jeff Weltman and it sounds like the Magic are going to run it back with the same core — including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner — next season and bet on better coaching and better health to get them to the top of the East.
That puts a lot of pressure on the Magic's head coaching search. Who is going to step into Jamahl Mosley's shoes and get this team both out of the play-in and the first round? What are the Magic looking for in their next coach? A creative offensive mind? Playoff experience? Weltman wouldn't be pinned down when talking to reporters (quote via Jason Beede at the Orlando Sentinel).
"I don't think we look for a particular trait or a quality. Coaches come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Someone that kind of looks at our team in the way that we feel can help move us forward. Obviously someone who understands where we are on our timeline, that we've kind of tried to get past the growth stages of the rebuild. … I don't have a box to say that we want the next coach to come out of this sort of box."
A few names have surfaced in league circles, though this is all speculation, as Weltman and company have not formally begun interviews.
Here's a quick look at some of the top candidates.
Billy Donovan
This is the name on everyone's lips in league chatter, the guy who seems the best fit for both sides. Donovan left Chicago looking for something different and a team playing in meaningful games, and the Magic are that (a team that was up 3-1 in the first round on Detroit but could not close the door). Donovan also is well-liked by players (which matters after the issues between Mosley and Paolo Banchero), and he got the most out of limited rosters he was handed in Chicago.
There is a bit of a complicated history between Donovan and the Magic. Back in 2007, Donovan did not have a contract extension at the University of Florida, where he had won two national titles, and he was eyeing the NBA. Donovan agreed to leave and become the Magic's new head coach, and on June 1st he signed his contract and was introduced to the media as the guy about to turn things around in Orlando. Then he got cold feet, or realized this was not a situation he liked, or something happened and he asked out. Six days later, the Magic released Donovan from his contract, and he returned to Florida. That's almost 20 years ago and everything is different now, that incident shouldn't impact this one, but it hangs out there.
Tom Thibodeau
The former Bulls/Timberwolves/Knicks head coach wants back in the game and Orlando may be interested, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
League sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. The Magic's defense fell off sharply last season, Thibodeau would turn that around. He's another coach who tends to get the most out of his teams, although his offense has been best when heavy with isolations/pick-and-rolls for a star guard (Derrick Rose, Jalen Brunson). Thibodeau's short rotations and heavy minutes for starters can wear down key players, and the Magic just went through an injury-filled season.
Darvin Ham
The former Lakers' head coach and longtime Bucks assistant has been linked more to New Orleans, but he is a name coming up for every head coaching job now, it seems.
Ham did not do as bad a job as Lakers fans would have you believe. He was 90-74 (.549 winning percentage) in the regular season, and his teams made the playoffs both years, reaching the Western Conference Finals one year, but were always eliminated by Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. That said, Ham the head coach was not very flexible with systems and could get stuck in a rut, trusted certain players even when it was clear it was not working, and his playoff adjustments were lacking and often fell back on "play harder." Is he, like many coaches, better the second time around, having learned some lessons?
Dusty May
You can strike this off the board. Marc Stein at The Stein Line reported that "sources say that the Magic are admirers of Michigan's Dusty May and would have a level of interest if he were indeed available."
Except, coming off a national championship with the Wolverines, nobody thinks May is leaving Ann Arbor. If, for some reason he did decide to jump to the NBA now, May would have interest from Portland, Chicago and New Orleans as well, there is no assurance he would head to Orlando. Still, it's just far, far more likely he isn't going anywhere.
Other names to watch
• James Borrego. He was the interim coach in New Orleans much of this past season and has done a good job considering the roster and injuries. However, Pelicans' management is looking more outside the organization. He's a very creative offensive mind.
• Terry Stotts. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers coach got a lot out of the Blazers in the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum era. He's spent the past two seasons on Steve Kerr's bench with the Warriors.
• Sam Cassell. The popular former player has been an assistant coach for years around the league and has been at the front of the "he should get a head coaching job" line for years. Could the Magic give him the chance?
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago White Sox signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal and placed outfielder Austin Hays back on the 10-day injured list because of a left calf strain.
Grichuk, who elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, should give the White Sox a solid right-handed bat against left-handed pitchers.
The 34-year-old is a career .268 hitter with an .816 OPS, 79 homers and 220 RBIs in 1,569 at-bats against left-handers over 13 big-league seasons, including a .317 average and .940 OPS against them from 2022-2024.
“It kind of came together last second,” Grichuk said before the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. “We were talking to a few other teams and were about to get something done when they came into the mix. It’s a young, exciting team that is playing good baseball, so we felt like it was a good spot.”
The White Sox lost at least 100 games in each of the past three years — including a major league-record 121 losses in 2024 — but they entered Monday with a 16-18 record, thanks in part to the potent bat of new first baseman Munetaka Murakami’s 13 homers and 26 RBIs.
“Any time you get a chance to throw on the jersey and compete and keep playing, it’s an honor,” said Grichuk, a 2009 first-round pick of the Angels who is playing for his sixth team in four years.
“They’ve had some tough years here, but they’re on the up-and-up. They’ve got a lot of good guys, and I’m excited to grind with them.”
Hays missed most of April because of a right hamstring strain. He returned and played three games before suffering a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks.
“With Hays going down, we needed a right-handed outfielder,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “(Grichuk) fit the roster, he was available, and we feel really lucky that we got him. He’s a guy with a ton of experience who has performed really well in his league.”
Former NHL star T.J. Oshie was in the Oval Office on Tuesday, May 5 for an event with Donald Trump, who was signing a proclamation about the Presidential Fitness Test, and the president wanted to get Oshie's prediction for this year's Stanley Cup winner.
"Who's going to win in hockey?" Trump asked Oshie, who played 16 NHL seasons and won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals.
"It's a tough one," Oshie responded with a smile. "Colorado is the favorite. I like Minnesota though."
Other high-profile athletic attendees for the signing in the White House included golf legend Gary Player, Florida men's basketball coach Todd Golden, golfer Bryson DeChambeau and former MLB All-Star Noah Syndergaard.
The Colorado Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular-season team and hold a 1-0 lead over the Minnesota Wild, Oshie's pick, in the second round of the playoffs with Game 2 set for Tuesday night.
NEW YORK — Anthony Volpe has to earn back his New York Yankees job, just like any other prospect.
New York optioned the Gold Glove-winning shortstop to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following the end of a 20-day minor league injury rehabilitation assignment that followed Oct. 14 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
José Caballero, who helped the AL-best Yankees win 14 of 16, started at shortstop for the 34th times in 35 games.
“It’s a surprise, but then also Caballero’s rolling,” said Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who called Volpe and spoke with him for 30-40 minutes. “I think the biggest thing is how the team is flowing right now. It’s kind of tough to move some things around.”
Volpe hit .250 (11 for 44) with one homer and six RBIs in 13 minor league games during his rehab assignment. He is in a 1-for-11 slide.
“Whether he’s ticked off, happy, frustrated, whatever, I know he’s going to grind,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure he’s not thrilled about it and doesn’t necessarily love that idea ’cause I think he’s obviously worked really hard to go through this and going into this, we expected him to be, once this rehab was up, to be here and playing and so that’s obviously changed over the last few weeks. But I think there’s part of him that gets it, too, and Anthony’s a pro.”
New York’s starting shortstop since 2023, Volpe has struggled at the plate, hitting .222 with 52 homers, 192 RBIs and 70 stolen bases over three seasons. His .212 average last year was 144th among 145 qualifiers, his play hampered after he hurt his hurt his left shoulder on May 3.
“He’s going to be more motivated than ever to come back here,” Judge said. “If it’s even him as a utility guy, anything, just to get himself back up here, because besides what he can do on the field, he’s a big part in this clubhouse and this dugout.”
Caballero entered Monday hitting .259 with four homers, 12 RBIs and 13 stolen bases — tied for the AL lead. He was batting .316 in his last 21 games.
Caballero’s seven defensive runs tied Boston’s Wilyer Abreu for third in the major leagues, trailing Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (10) and Seattle second baseman Cole Young (eight).
“We have a lot of really good players right now and competing for real roles and real spots and I think that competition ultimately is going to be a great thing for us,” Boone said. “It doesn’t change how we feel about Anthony or the kind of player we think he is and will be. But in this moment of time we felt like this was absolutely the right thing to do.”
If Volpe remains on option to the minors for at least 20 days, it would delay his free-agent eligibility by a year until after the 2029 World Series. For now, he’ll play shortstop for the RailRiders and not other infield positions.
“If we have those conversations as the days unfold, we’ll have those, but not right now,” Boone said.
George Lombard Jr., a top prospect promoted to Triple-A on April 29, “will bounce around,” according to the manager.
Volpe will follow the path of outfielder Jasson Domínguez, who spent his first 24 games at Scranton and then rejoined the Yankees on April 27 after Giancarlo Stanton strained a calf muscle.
“This has been a tremendous character reveal for Jasson. All he’s done is put his head down and had a smile on his face and worked his tail off and played really good baseball and now is up here earning real time again,” Boone said. “Anthony’s going to have a long career, be a really good player in this league. His next step as a player is gaining that consistency offensively. Even through some of his struggles, I think he’s been a way better player than some of the narratives around him sometimes are.”
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game One on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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
Getting it right starts with getting it wrong. It’s true in math, mental health and Madison Square Garden, where last night the New York Knicks took a 1-0 series lead over Philadelphia with a 137-98 shellacking of the 76ers.
Through all the fits and false starts of this season, there were glimpses. Early on the Knicks were an offensive dynamo but struggled to get stops. Then there were periods of defensive dominance. Early in December, they won nine of 10 games; two weeks later, they dropped nine of 11, followed by an eight-game winning streak. All the while, the hares heard the hype. Cleveland got Harden! Look at Boston not even need Tatum! Detroit! Detroit! Detroit!
All the while, the tortoise kept on keeping on. Over the last four games, the tortoise has mutated into the Ninja Turtles. Leonardo, Michaelangelo and Raphael were Games 4-6 versus Atlanta. Last night the Knicks were Donatello: brilliant, focused, and carrying a big stick.
Jalen Brunson reminded everyone with short-term memory loss who’s the best player in the series East. Karl-Anthony Towns continues to look right at home playing point center. Mikal Bridges is playing like he’s worth 10 first-round picks. OG Anunoby is shooting a playoff-record 99% from the field while locking down anyone within reach. Josh Hart is doing 99% of all the things, and doing them well.
What’s different about these Knicks — than any Knick team I’ve seen in my life — is their depth. Miles McBride looks more in-rhythm. Mitchell Robinson looks springy. Ariel Hukporti was terrific backing up KAT and Mitch, who both committed four fouls. Every Knick played and scored besides Jeremy Sochan. Everyone played like they knew their role and it was the role they were born to play.
Contrast that with the opposition. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined to shoot 11-of-30. The Sixers were -24 in the 3-point battle. New York had 34 assists to 15 turnovers; Philadelphia had 15 dimes and 19 oopsies. Their bench was outscored by 12. Their starters were outscored by 27. And those are just what the numbers say.
The eye test wasn’t any better, which doesn’t bode well for the Sixers, who’ve mostly stuck with a six-man rotation to get this far. Quentin Grimes had a pissiness about him that suggests he still hasn’t gotten over the end of his time as a Knick, when he complained, “It feels like if I don’t hit the shot, I’m coming out. Every shot I shoot probably weighs like 100 pounds if I don’t make it.” Grimes missed three of his four looks last night but did get 24 minutes of run, so hopefully he’s happy.
At least Grimes mostly kept his issues internal. In just four minutes of playing time, Adem Bona committed five fouls (I think all offensive) and three turnovers, and “committed” is putting it gently. He played like the Kool-Aid man high on bath salts, running through every Knick he could. The Knicks, similar to Game 6 in Atlanta, didn’t let up, even with the game decided by the third quarter. There’s a difference between aggression and anarchy.
Quoth LadyKnick: “It is really surreal . . . similar to the ‘90s Knicks, but more on [offense].” This team really is something special. I know, I know, they’re just “quirky” enough to where you can see them losing Game 2. But they’re also doing things we haven’t seen from any Knick team in the past, or any team, period. Sometimes a win is just a win, a 1-0 lead, the home team handling its business. Sometimes it’s something more.
In 1969 the Knicks hadn’t won a playoff series in 16 years. They opened their postseason against the league’s best team that year, the Baltimore Bullets. The Bullets had never had any success, but landing Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld in consecutive glowed them up from rags to riches. The Knicks won Game 1 in Baltimore impressively, then went on to sweep them. It was a statement win, the birth of the Golden Age in club history.
In 1992 the Knicks were a year removed from a sub-.500 record and an embarrassing first-round sweep. They faced the Pistons in the opening round, a Pistons team that had owned the East the prior five years, winning 15 of 18 series. The Knicks won Game 1 by 34, then went on to win a dogfight. It was a statement win, the birth of the Silver Age in Knick history.
What does last night mean? Depends on what happens tomorrow. If the Knicks slip, the Sixers will take the split as “mission accomplished,” and the Knicks will face two games in Philly MSG West. If they win? Then the joyride continues, and hopefully the surreal never stops.
Kurt Helin
COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.
Cade Cunningham
Jarrett Allen