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It’s THREE changes for Southampton. Kuryu Matsuki, Shea Charles and Ross Stewart come into the side.
After the first leg, Luke Ayling of Middlesbrough was asked about the spy scandal. He was at Leeds when similar occurred under Marcelo Bielsa. He said he was “pleading the fifth”. Then, he said the players know nothing about that sort of thing.
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Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died on Tuesday afternoon. He was 29 years old. ESPN reporter Shams Charania broke the news.
Clarke spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies after being the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Clarke’s journey to being a first-round pick was an inspiring story: he spent two seasons at San Jose State where he had a broken three-point shot, transferred to Gonzaga and blossomed after sitting out a year.
Clarke’s NBA career was plagued by injuries. He only played two games this season. Clarke tore his left Achilles tendon in March 2023, suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee in 2025, and then was limited by a calf strain this season. He suffered from knee synovitis just before this season.
Clarke was arrested on drug and speeding charges last month. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit, and trafficking a controlled substance.
The Grizzlies confirmed Clarke’s passing:
Clarke was born in 1996 in Vancouver, Canada. This is a shocking loss for the Grizzlies, and the NBA community. Clark’s cause of death is not known at this time. This story will updated as it develops.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, his sports agency announced in a statement released on Tuesday, May 12. He was 29 years old.
Clarke's sudden death comes almost six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies.
"We are beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke," Priority Sports said. "He was so loved by all of us here, and everyone whose life he touched. He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family. Our hearts are so broken as we think about his mom, Whitney, his entire family and all of his friends. From high school to San Jose State to Gonzaga to the Grizzlies, Brandon impacted everyone who was part of his life."
Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga and enjoyed initial success in the league, earning all-rookie honors while averaging a career-high 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with Memphis in 2022.
But Clarke's career had been derailed in recent years by injuries. He played in just six games during the 2023-24 season due to a torn Achilles and missed all but two games this past season due to calf and knee ailments.
Clarke then allegedly led Cross County Sheriff's Office deputies on a miles-long chase on April 1, with speeds reaching over 100 miles per hour, and was found with over 230 grams of kratom in his possession, an arrest affidavit obtained by The Memphis Commercial Appeal said.
Kratom is an herbal extract from a tree that grows in Southeast Asia, according to the Mayo Clinic. At low doses, Mayo Clinic said it acts as a stimulant. At higher doses, it has been reported to reduce pain and anxiety. Though it legal in some states, kratom is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in Arkansas.
Clarke's cause of death is unknown at this point.
This story will be updated as more details become known.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies player, dies at 29
If you have remained a Cleveland Cavaliers fan since LeBron James departed the franchise for a second time back in 2018, you would know that, despite the varying degrees of success the team has endured since then, the main question on everyone’s mind has been whether and when LeBron would end his career in the Wine and Gold. As the Los Angeles Lakers were just swept in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, interest in LeBron’s final destination in his career is once again at the forefront of many minds.
In an interview with 92.3 The Fan, Bill Reiter joined and described the current situation between the Lakers and LeBron James. Reiter distilled the situation between LeBron and the Lakers to the current dynamic of the locker room. “I know that they (LeBron and Luka Doncic) don’t get along very well”. Reiter then went on to elaborate on what is causing this rift. “He doesn’t do well in a locker room that is toxic…LeBron wants to be the guy and Luka wants to be guy”. Reiter described the current situation as “awkward” and “weird”.
The dynamic of any locker room appears to be decided by LeBron. Reiter went on describing “he (LeBron) is the sun, the physics of any locker room he is a part of, and bend to his will. Bend in a good way when he is happy, and bend in a bad way when he isn’t.”
This is where the Cavaliers enter the picture as a team, where this would “bend in a good way.” Reiter posed that “being in Cleveland with James Harden, who he is close to, and being with Donovan Mitchell…who loves LeBron, would be a happier situation for LeBron.”
This isn’t the first time that the two have been linked for this reason. It has always made sense why Cleveland would be alluring to LeBron. The team has been in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference for the better part of a half-decade. The roster is built to contend for championships. It feels like, especially with Harden now in the picture, that the players on the roster would be appealing to LeBron James.
There would obviously be various hoops to jump through for this reunion to take place. It is not a simple cut-and-paste LeBron from LA to Cleveland. However, there will be tons of offseason discussion where these various routes will be discussed in further detail.
Right now, LeBron says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do next season. It’s something he’s going to discuss with his family.
As the Cavaliers are currently battling with the Detroit Pistons tied at 2-2, the Cavaliers will keep their eyes on moving on to battle the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Until then, quotes like these simply acknowledge that the Cavaliers appear to have various approaches available if they bottom out in the postseason.
The 2026 NBA playoffs action continues tonight on NBC and Peacock as Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves go head-to-head with Victor Webanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
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The series is tied 2-2 after Minnesota's 114-109 victory on Sunday. The Timberwolves outscored the Spurs 34-25 in the fourth quarter, led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 16 of his 36 points in the final period. It was the Spurs' first road loss of the playoffs.
IT'S WHAT HE DOES!!!!! pic.twitter.com/gVlGgMPaM2
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 11, 2026
Wembanyama was ejected with 8:39 remaining in the second quarter for a Flagrant 2 foul after throwing an elbow to Naz Reid's jaw, but he will not face any further discipline and will play tonight.
The winner of this series will take on the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
RELATED:What NBA playoff games are on today?
RELATED:Timberwolves vs. Spurs Game 5 predictions: Odds, stats, trends and best bets for May 12
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Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ four-game elimination from the NBA Playoffs, LeBron James is still widely expected to return for a record 24th season.
Leading prediction platform Kalshi gave James a 23% chance of playing another professional season, regardless of team.
The Lakers were the largest underdogs of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That played out as it was expected to, as the defending champs swept the purple and gold out of the playoff bracket.
About an hour after the season-ending loss, James told reporters that he did not know if he would be back for another year.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” James said. “[I’ll] go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then, when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
"I don't know what the future holds for me."
— ESPN (@espn) May 12, 2026
LeBron addresses questions about retirement after Year 23 comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/TE78ENnOax
Kalshi’s market peaked at a 50% chance on June 30, 2025. Its highest mid-season value was 46% on Jan. 13, from which point the expected likelihood steadily declined.
Although James turned 41 on Dec. 30, he is still a spry youth compared to Kevin Willis — the oldest player to take an NBA court in the modern era — who was 44 years and 224 days old when he played his final game in 2007. “The King” would need to play in a game four seasons down the line in 2030 to steal the record.
Kalshi’s prediction markets aren’t limited to whether or not James will retire. Users can also predict which team’s colors he will don next season, if he doesn’t walk away.
Staying with the Lakers or retiring is the market leader with a 49% probability, determined by real-time input from the Kalshi user base. Reuniting with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third stint is the obvious second choice with a 33% chance.
The only other outcome with a probability greater than 10% is the Golden State Warriors, who have a 14% chance. The Warriors were reportedly interested in trading for James, who is friends with Draymond Green off the court, and won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics with Stephen Curry as the starting point guard.
The San Antonio Spurs (6%), New York Knicks (5%), and Los Angeles Clippers (2%) are the remaining teams with an expected chance greater than 1%.
A possible retirement year with the Spurs would allow James to mentor Victor Wembanayama, although he wouldn’t team up with coach Gregg Popovich, for whom James previously said he wanted to play.
The Knicks were in the running to land LeBron ahead of “The Decision” in 2010, have made back-to-back conference finals, and are in a market capable of supporting LeBron’s superstardom.
Links to the Clippers likely stem from their coach, Tyronn Lue, who won a championship with James in Cleveland in 2016, and since James wouldn’t have to relocate.
The upcoming NBA season is expected to begin in early October, meaning that there could be several months before James announces a decision on his future.
In the meantime, the Thunder are still dominating NBA Finals trading markets. Their 64% expected chance to win the championship is at the top of the board, followed by the Spurs (19%) and the Knicks (14%). The Detroit Pistons (4%), Cavaliers (3%), and Minnesota Timberwolves (2%) are all comfortably behind.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
The headlines from Game 4, where Cleveland tied its series with Detroit, were Donovan Mitchell exploding for 39 second-half points and a 22-0 run to start the second half that helped the Cavaliers pull away for the win.
To Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, there was more to the story — Cleveland shot 34 free throws in Game 4 to 12 for Detroit. Mitchell himself had more free-throw attempts (15) than the entire Pistons team, a Detroit squad known for its physical play and for drawing fouls.
"It's unacceptable. It is," Bickerstaff said after the loss, via the Associated Press. "There is no way one guy on their team should have more free throws than our team. We're not a settling for jump shots team. We didn't do enough to help ourselves, but ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed."
Bickerstaff was going to get his money's worth with the fine that is assuredly coming, so he wasn't done, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com.
"We drive the ball, attack the paint. So, what was done out there tonight, it's frustrating, but we can't allow that to be the reason why, because we didn't play well enough and play to the best of our capabilities.
"But again, you look at the foul count, you look at the disparity, and that's hard to overcome, and you wonder the reason why. It's interesting since (Cavaliers coach) Kenny (Atkinson) made his comments publicly about us, the whistles changed in this series."
Atkinson complained about the balance of whistles after the first two games, when the Pistons shot a combined 55 free throws to the Cavaliers' 43.
Coaches complaining to the press about calls going against them in a playoff series is a playoff tradition that goes back further than when Phil Jackson was doing it during the Jordan era in Chicago. The hope is to plant a seed in the minds of the officials calling the next game, to get them — even subconsiously — to tweak how the game is called.
Both Bickerstaff and Pistons star Cade Cunningham said that the referees were not why they lost Game 4 — that was the inability to slow Mitchell and a poor start to the second half. Now it's all about Game 5 on Wednesday, and Bickerstaff will gladly pay the fine if it helps his team in that critical showdown at home.
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A pivotal Game 5 takes place at Frost Bank Center tonight between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs tonight.
Our NBA player prop projections have you covered for all the action, with two five-star plays!
If you're looking for more NBA picks, look no further than our Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions for May 12.
 Timberwolves |  Spurs |
|---|---|
| Gobert o7.5 points -120 | Champagnie o8.5 points +100 |
| Dosunmu o12.5 points -112 | Fox o17.5 points -112 |
| Reid o11.5 points +100 | Castle o4.5 rebounds -155 |
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
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Projection: 9.75 points
This is one of two five-star plays our model found for this game, showing an EV edge of 23.91%. Rudy Gobert has scored 10+ points in back-to-back outings, playing 30+ minutes in each.
He should see a similar workload tonight with Wemby back after his ejection.
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Projection: 14.78 points
Ayo Dosunmu has become a pivotal part of the Minnesota Timberwolves' rotation, even drawing the start in Game 4. Our projections see him turning up the heat after three underwhelming performances.
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Projection: 13.51 points
Naz Reid provides a perfect scoring punch for the Wolves off the bench. He's eclipsed this total in six of his last seven games, finishing with exactly 11 in the other outing.
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Projection: 10.54 points
This is the second five-star play for tonight's game, sitting with an EV edge of 24.32%.
Before two mediocre outings, Julian Champagnie was going to work. With Wembanyama expected to play the full game, it'll open up more catch-and-shoot opportunities for Champagnie — who is hitting threes at a 49% clip in the playoffs.
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Projection: 19.73 points
De'Aaron Fox plays a pivotal part in the San Antonio Spurs' success, and they'll need him to be at his best tonight. He just scored 24 points in Game 4, and he's on track to play after going through the afternoon shootaround.
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Projection: 6.17 rebounds
Stephon Castle puts his 6-foot-6 frame to good use, averaging 4.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He's eclipsed this line in two of four games against Minnesota, finishing with exactly four in the other two.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Castle Now at bet365!/span
| Location | Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX |
| Date | Tuesday, May 12, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC/Peacock |
Not intended for use in MA.
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Two-time champion to help Draper in grass-court season
Sinner equals Djokovic record following win in Rome
Andy Murray will make his return to tennis as part of Jack Draper’s coaching team during the grass-court season, following Draper’s decision to part ways with his coach Jamie Delgado.
“I am very grateful for everything Jamie Delgado has done for me over these past six months, said Draper in a statement. “He is a world-class coach and a great man. In the interim, I will continue to be supported by the excellent team at the LTA, with the addition of Andy Murray, who will be supporting me throughout the grass-court season.”
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In some alternate NBA timeline, Victor Wembanyama was suspended for his katana-like elbow on Naz Reid. In that dimension, the Western Conference semifinals look very different.
But in our universe, the league isn't holding out one of its biggest superstars for Game 5 between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. San Antonio remains a massive favorite at home tonight with the inside track to the conference finals.
Wembanyama will be on the floor tonight, impacting the game as only he can, and these are my best NBA picks surrounding Victor Wembanyama props for May 12. Be sure to also read our Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions.
Victor Wembanyama best bet: Victor Wembanyama Under 27.5 points (-112 at bet365)
Prior to his Game 4 ejection, Victor Wembanyama was coming off a 39-point explosion in Game 3.
That boosted his scoring total to 26.5 O/U heading into Game 4 and has tonight’s points prop trending up to 27.5 O/U.
Wembanyama’s absence after getting the hook on Sunday was definitely felt on the defensive end, but the San Antonio Spurs managed well without him on offense.
Guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper picked up the scoring slack, and that takes pressure off Wemby to shoulder the load as he returns to the lineup.
If there wasn’t already a target on the 7-footer, there’s a glowing red laser dot on him in Game 5. The Minnesota Timberwolves are pissed the NBA didn’t suspend him for an obviously calculated elbow to the neck of beloved forward Naz Reid.
Just how Minnesota treats Wembanyama tonight remains to be seen, but it won’t pull any punches. If this were the NHL playoffs, we’d see the gloves come off the instant the puck dropped.
Wembanyama started Game 4 shooting 2-for-5 from the field, scoring off the dribble and on an alley-oop toss. Outside of Game 3, the T-Wolves have done a solid job on Wembanyama.
Taking out that 13-for-18 outing, he’s shooting just 37.8% in the other four showings, with outputs of 11 and 19 points in the first two games of the series.
Player projections for Game 5 range from 25.1 to 29.2 points from the lanky Frenchman, but most models come in shy of his current scoring total of 27.5 points. My number flirts with 26 points, giving the nod to the Under.
Another thing to consider: Given the sizable spread, San Antonio may pull away in the second half. If the score gets out of hand, it could get chippy.
If I’m Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, I’m not playing my franchise player any more than I have to and protecting him from garbage time shenanigans.
Spurs moneyline
Victor Wembanyama Under 27.5 points
Victor Wembanyama Over 12.5 rebounds
San Antonio returns to Texas as 10.5-point home chalk. The Spurs are 12-3 straight up as double-digit home faves this season, as well as 18-5 SU when coming off a loss.
The T-Wolves aren’t going to play nice with Wembanyama after his elbow on Reid, and you can expect the veteran team to needle the youngster in an effort to frustrate and throw him off his game. The bulk of scoring projections come in short of 27.5 points
Wemby will still battle on the boards and with his interior presence pushing Minnesota to the outside — where it’s shot poorly — there will be plenty of rebounding chances for the 7-footer to snap up.
He grabbed 15 boards in each of the first three games and is forecasted for as many as 15+ rebounds tonight.
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Day one of the NBA Draft Combine is in the books, and the measuring tape doesn’t lie, but apparently, college sports information departments do. Seventy-three prospects were invited to Chicago to put their bodies under the microscope. By the end of the measurement session, a handful of guys walked out with their stock firmly on the rise, while others are quietly hoping teams don’t look too hard at the numbers. Here’s who won the day, and who didn’t.
The measurements didn’t break the internet, but they didn’t need to. Johnson checked in right at his listed 6’9″, 250 lbs, and backed it up with a 6.5-inch wingspan advantage and a 39-inch vertical. Then he went out and posted the group’s best Pro Lane Agility time. Johnson is already a highly-regarded prospect, and these numbers give teams every reason to keep moving him up their boards over the next six weeks. Don’t be surprised if he sneaks into the top 10 by draft night.
This was the best-case outcome for Acuff. The knock on him all season has been size and well… defense. Coming in at 6’2 with a 5-inch-plus wingspan goes a long way toward answering the size question. Acuff’s combination of elite playmaking and now-verified length makes a legitimate case for him going as high as fifth overall. The question is whether he can use these tools to be a net natural defender at the next level.
Seven-foot-three barefoot. Second-highest standing reach in combine history. That’s it. That’s the tweet. Mara has been one of the fastest-rising names in draft circles all season, and he just gave every front office another reason to love him. A top-ten landing feels less like a projection now and more like a floor.
In a draft class starved for legitimate big men, Cenac may have just put himself into the lottery conversation. The size is real, the length is real, and a 41.5-inch vertical is the kind of number that makes scouts forget about everything else on the page. Teams looking for a high-upside center have their answer. Cenac is going to be a name everyone knows by draft night.
It’s been a wild ride for Flemings — from afterthought to can’t-miss top 5 pick, all in one season. The combine didn’t kill his stock, but it put a dent in it. A 6’2 point guard with a 6’3 wingspan gives teams pause, especially the ones that prioritize positional length. He’ll still land in the lottery, but the teams that had him climbing toward the top five are going to take a harder look. One bad measurement session doesn’t erase what he did on the court, but it complicates the conversation.
Coming in under 6’1″ when you’re listed at 6’3″ is never a good look. Anderson’s physical profile is now a problem, and it’s going to cost him on draft night. The good news: a 6-inch-plus wingspan and a 40.5-inch vertical tell a story that pure height can’t. There’s a team that’s going to fall in love with that athleticism and take a shot on him, but the mid-first-round buzz might be fading.
This is the one that stings. Allen was already slotted comfortably in the mid-to-late first round, and a clean combine week could have pushed him higher. Instead, his official measurements came in well short of Alabama’s listed 6’8″, 205 lbs., the kind of discrepancy that sets off alarm bells in front offices building around specific positional fits. The path forward isn’t obvious. He could go back to school, bet on himself, and enter a 2026 class with far less top-end talent. Or see if a team falls in love with his workout and gets the promise he needs to stay in the draft.
LIV in race against time to survive without PIF funding
McIlroy: ‘I was hearing about this in March, April time’
Rory McIlroy has revealed he heard rumblings of impending trouble for LIV Golf weeks before Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed it would withdraw funding for the circuit. The Masters champion believes the PIF approach highlights the danger of sport becoming reliant on anything that can be affected by world affairs.
LIV is engaged in a race against time to survive with PIF, which has bestowed more than $5bn (£3.7bn) on the tour, to exit at the end of 2026. News of that, which emerged in the immediate aftermath of McIlroy’s successful defence at Augusta National last month, shocked those within LIV but not the Northern Irishman.
Continue reading...LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has said it consistently all season long: He doesn't know what's next for him.
He doesn't know if he will play another season, and if so, whether it will be with the Lakers or another team. He — and the people around him — have consistently said he had not come close to making that decision.
Minutes after his 23rd season ended, that hadn't changed.
"I don't know what the future holds for me, honestly, as it stands right now tonight," LeBron said after his Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Thunder. "I've got a lot of time now. I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota: I'll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do."
LeBron is now a free agent and faces two major questions: Whether to return to the NBA, and if the answer to that is yes (as many around the league expect), will it be with the Lakers or another team?
The question is not can he still help a team — he answered that emphatically this season. LeBron, at age 41 and in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, showed he is still one of the top players in the game and an All-Star. For the season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists a night, shooting 51.5% from the floor.
"It's amazing what he's doing out there at this age," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's very impressive. It's hard to put into words. He's not very old in the grand scheme of life, but for the NBA, he's pretty old, and he doesn't seem like it out there. He was a force. He was the top of the scouting report all series. His size gave us issues at times. He was impressive out there. I'm not sure we'll see anything like that again, his longevity and his greatness."
This season was unlike any other for LeBron: He battled more injuries, missing the first 14 games with sciatica and only playing in 60 total (ending his record streak of making 21 All-NBA teams), and for much of that season playing as the Lakers' third option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. LeBron also got to share the court again with his son Bronny, including playing in the playoffs together.
With Doncic (hamstring) out for the playoffs and Reaves (oblique strain) missing most of it, LeBron stepped back into the role of primary shot creator and led the Lakers in an upset of the Houston Rockets and into the second round. In the playoffs, he averaged 23.2 points a game with 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.
"I was put into some positions that I never played in my career before. Actually, in my life," LeBron said of this season. "I've never been a third option in my life. So to be able to thrive in that role, for that period of time, and then have to step back into the role that I've been accustomed with over my career or my life playing the sport, and be able to thrive under that, and just my teammates allowing me to lead them under extreme circumstances, that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career."
On the podium after the emotional loss, LeBron sounded like many great, aging athletes before him, including Lakers' legend Kobe Bryant: His love of the game is still there, but his decision whether to retire or continue is more about his whether he remains willing to put in the incredible and increasing amount of work it takes to get his aging body ready to play at this level for another season.
"I think for me, it's about the process," LeBron said. "If I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five-and-a-half hours before a game and start preparing for a game. Give everything I got, diving for loose balls, doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play. Showing up to 11 o'clock practice, I'm here at eight o'clock, preparing my body, preparing my mind, preparing to practice, to put the work in.
"So I think for me, I've always been in love with the process and not the aftermath. Okay, we won that game, or won a championship, like I've always enjoyed the process more than the outcome. So that will be a big factor.
"And also, have a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter, that's a big factor; my 19-year-old son entering his second year at Arizona and my wife as well. So they're a huge factor in any decision I've made, so they'll be a big part of it as well."
LeBron isn't going to be rushed into a decision, but it's also one he essentially needs to make in the next couple of months, while teams are still shaping and forming their rosters for next season. By the middle of July, that process is largely finished for teams.
He just doesn't know what that decision is yet.
You can feel it in the air.
It’s the rest-and-wait scent.
Here’s the latest from across Knicks nation.
On closing out series with composure and preparation:
“Closeout games are the hardest games to play, because of the level of desperation from the other team, especially when you’re on the road and you factor in your opponent’s home crowd — so, I give our guys a lot of credit. I give my staff a ton of credit. My staff has been unbelievable from top to bottom. They’ve been really, really, really good in our preparation and making sure guys understand what we need to do so that they can stay focused on the details at hand.”
On the team’s mentality entering the Eastern Conference Finals:
“I think it’s really great to see our team in this mindset. The feeling that we’ve got a lot more work to do. To see us not really relaxing, looking at these next days as days to realign ourselves and get ready for the next challenge, I think it speaks volumes about this team where we’re at mentally, we understand collectively that the job’s not done and we have to get our bodies freshened up so we can get ready for the next series.”
On how this year’s mood differs from last season’s:
“To beat a great team like Boston last year, obviously we were very excited. This year we just have another year with each other. We — I don’t know. It’s just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there’s a lot more work to do. And as soon as you start relaxing is when you lose in the playoffs. It’s great to see our guys kind of hungry for the next challenge.”
On using the layoff to reset physically and mentally:
“We’ll take these days. We’ll take [Monday] to heal our bodies, heal our minds — especially me, myself, especially the mind part, mentally, and get back to work on us, on our game plan, our offensive execution, our defensive execution. Continue to find ways that we can get better so we start that next series and we’re at our best version of the year.”
On why reaching the conference finals isn’t enough for this Knicks team:
“That’s what we expect to do. I feel like this group is special. We can’t take it for granted. It’s something special to do. Obviously this fan base has been wanting this, but we have to stay locked in. Getting to the Eastern Conference finals isn’t the final goal.”
On his growth after feeling his fit in the NBA was uncertain earlier in his career:
“I just felt like my back was against the wall. The only way I could get out of it was to fight and just trust myself.”
On admitting the real reason behind his “Golden Child” tattoo:
“Yeah, but a lot of other people have called me that so it worked out. Shoutout to my sister.”
On feeling like Miles got away with things growing up:
“I would do something. I’d get in trouble for it. … Miles does something — he could do the exact same thing, and no one bats an eye. And I was just like, ‘Yo. He’s doing the same thing! I’m calling it out.’ And he would just look at me and kind of chuckle, because he knew he got away with it.”
On his reaction to the “Golden Child” tattoo:
“I swear to you, he got this as a middle finger to me.”
On Miles’ refusal to admit the real reason for the tattoo:
“He would never admit he was doing it to piss me off. He would say he’s doing it because my grandma calls me this or my brother gave me that nickname. Like, ‘It just feels right.’ Some Miles bull—- answer.”
On believing there was some truth behind the rivalry:
“It’s probably a little true, to be honest with you. Like, he probably does like the nickname that I gave to him, because things have gone pretty well for him. But I swear to you, there is a small piece of him that is like, ‘Yeah, Trey, take that. I’m the golden child.’”
On how this postseason run feels compared to last year’s:
“I think the way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was very — I don’t want to say celebratory, but it was — it hit a little bit different than here. It’s just, we’re approaching the business as normal and we gotta make sure we’re locked in and focused on the next team.”
On the team’s current flow and continued hunger:
“It just didn’t happen overnight. It was a process of trial and error and figuring things out, figuring out where everyone wants the ball, new system, new coaches, stuff like that. So I think we’re in a good little flow state right now, but we’ve got to make sure we continue to get better and not be complacent.”
On using the extended break to recover:
“It’s good. I think we’re all a little banged up, so you know — get some treatment, some rest and recovery. Watch the other games and be ready.”
On playing with urgency even while holding a 3-0 series lead:
“Being able to play desperate even being up 3-0. Shoutouts to everybody: Shoutouts to the coaches and everybody who played tonight.”
On staying afloat while OG Anunoby recovers:
“We’re gonna hold it down for OG and do whatever it takes and hopefully give him some more time to heal up, but next man up. We’ve got a lot of talent on this team, a lot of smart IQ guys and we’re gonna hold it down for OG and anybody else who gets hurt.”
On the impact of shooting coach Peter Patton on the Knicks’ performances:
“He’s the man. There’s some guys that get it, understand the nuances of shooting. The reality is it’s very nuanced. It’s not as cookie cutter as a lot of people might think like, ‘Have your elbow in a certain position’ and ‘You need more arch,’ and those kind of cliché things that you hear a lot. But Peter is very good at picking up on subtleties and nuances from person to person. My stuff is different from Mikal [Bridges’], and his stuff is different from Jose [Alvarado’s]. He understands that. And he’s good at not being overbearing and doing too much. Just finding ways to give you a couple things to hang onto to think about, to pay attention to. Cause the reality is a lot of guys in here were really good shooters. How can you marginally kind of move the needle? And he’s been really helpful. He’s been great.”
On the level of difficulty increasing in the Eastern Conference Finals:
“It gets real again in the next round for the Knicks. Cleveland and the Pistons have caused problems for the Knicks this year.”
On how he views the Knicks’ path to the conference finals:
“Whoever they play next is a very difficult series.”
On whether anyone in the East can slow the Knicks right now:
“They’ve shown me they are ready. And I have to disagree with both guys, I think they’ll breeze through whoever the next opponent is if they play like this.”
On his ultimate prediction for New York:
“Knicks going to the finals.”
On his belief that the Knicks can finish the job:
“Philadelphia 76ers, my condolences. We’ll talk about them later. New York Knicks going to the finals. I think they can win the championship. Yes, I do.”
On the Knicks’ chances if they reach the NBA Finals:
“1,000 percent. I’ll say, once you get to the finals, anything can happen. I still think OKC would be favoured. But still, they could put up a fighter’s chance. By the way, I know that we’ll talk about this later, but you have Cleveland, then you have Detroit. If I’m the Knicks, I want Detroit. I’ll say it.”
On wanting a shot at the Pistons and Cade Cunningham:
“I know because Cade Cunningham is a Knicks killer. And J.B. Bickerstaff, we want all the smoke with that team all the time. You haven’t seen this version of us. OK, I want that back. I want a chance to redeem myself. I’ll take Cleveland or Detroit, doesn’t really matter.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates (22-19) welcome the Colorado Rockies (16-25) to town for a three-game series at PNC Park.
Paul Skenes takes the mound for Pittsburgh as the Pirates are 5-3 when he pitches. Pittsburgh is coming back from a West Coast trip (3-3 record) and a series loss to San Francisco. The Pirates have won three straight at home and hitting an MLB-best .283 at home with the fifth-most walks (94).
Colorado is coming off two straight losses and are 2-7 in the month of May. The Rockies are 8-14 on the road this season, but rank in the upper half of the league when it comes to batting average (.239), home runs (21), and doubles (35). Michael Lorenzen is pitching for Colorado and the Rockies are 3-6 when he starts and 1-4 on the road.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Pirates
2026 stats: 42.0 IP, 5-2, 2.36 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 46 Ks, 7 BB
2026 Stats: 39.0 IP, 2-4, 6.92 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 26 Ks, 12 BB
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