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Derrick White scores 30, Tatum stays in game after fall and Celtics beat Magic 103-86 in Game 1

BOSTON (AP) — Derrick White scored 30 points, Jayson Tatum had 17 points and finished the game after a scary late fall, and the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 103-86 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.

Payton Pritchard added 19 points off the bench for Boston, which hosts Game 2 on Wednesday night. Jaylen Brown played 31 minutes and had 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting after missing the final three games of the regular season due to a lingering knee issue.

With Boston leading 89-73 with 8:28 remaining, Tatum went up for a dunk and was hit hard by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as he tried to block it. Tatum landed awkwardly on his right side.

He stayed down briefly before eventually rising to his feet, clenching his right hand. After a video review by referees, Caldwell-Pope’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant foul. Tatum subsequently missed the two ensuing free throws but remained in the game.

Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 36 points and 11 rebounds. Franz Wagner added 23 points for Orlando, which has not made it out of the first round of the playoffs since the 2009-10 season.

Orlando led by a point at halftime, limiting a Boston team that set an NBA record for 3-pointers this season to 7 of 15 from beyond the arc in the opening 24 minutes and 16 of 37 for the game.

But the Magic turned the ball over six times in the third quarter and were outscored 30-18 as the Celtics took a 78-65 lead into the fourth. The Celtics’ lead grew as high as 19 in the final period.

For the game, Orlando finished with 15 turnovers which led to 24 Boston points.

Brown, who received injections in his knee last week, didn’t show any noticeable effects of the issue at the outset Sunday. He had an early turnover, but followed that up by stripping Banchero, which White picked up and dropped in for a transition floater. Brown later showed some offensive explosiveness, bursting past Banchero and finishing with a left-handed layup.

Brown had four points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist during the initial seven-minute stretch to begin the game before taking his first rest.

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Devils begin playoffs with 4-1 loss to Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven scored two second-period goals in his first playoff game with Carolina as the Hurricanes beat the Devils 4-1 on Sunday to open their first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Jalen Chatfield scored a first-period goal for the Hurricanes, who carried a 3-0 lead late into the second period and kept consistent pressure on Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom. Andrei Svechnikov added an empty-net clincher late in the third.

Frederik Andersen finished with 23 saves for Carolina, including a key stop on Timo Meier near the crease midway through the third. The Hurricanes also turned away a Devils power play with about eight minutes left to stay in firm control.

Nico Hischier got New Jersey on the board by taking Jesper Bratt’s cross-ice pass and blasting the puck past Andersen during a 4-on-4 chance.

Markstrom finished with 41 saves on what turned out to be a rough afternoon physically for the Devils, who saw defenseman Brenden Dillon skating to the tunnel in the second period, then fellow blue-liner Luke Hughes and forward Cody Glass skating off after a single chaotic sequence in the third.

It was a quality start for Carolina, which had lost seven of its last eight regular-season games since clinching its seventh straight playoff trip on April 3. In that sense, it had been a long wait to get to the playoffs — and be healthy, at that — for the Hurricanes.

Carolina finished with a 45-24 shot advantage.

Chatfield got the Hurricanes off to a quick start with a goal just 2:24 into the game. Then it was a big day for Stankoven, who was the primary return in a trade-deadline deal that allowed Carolina to pivot out of its big-swing January addition of scoring winger Mikko Rantanen.

Stankoven first zipped the puck past Markstrom off a feed from Jordan Martinook, who had forced Hischier into a turnover along the boards at 6:37 of the second. He struck again on the power play, with Stankoven blasting a shot past Markstrom and off the inside of the left post for the 3-0 edge.

Game 2 of the series is Tuesday.

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Clay Holmes feels ‘really good’ about where things are trending after completing six innings for first time

Clay Holmes, the starting pitcher, is settling into a groove. 

The right-hander had a bit of an up-and-down beginning in his transition to the rotation, but he’s been spectacular for the Mets over his past two starts -- the last of which came in Sunday’s series finale victory over the Cardinals. 

Holmes pitched well enough to qualify for a win, but he settled for the no decision. 

He had to work around traffic right away -- as a leadoff walk and a Willson Contreras single put two on with two outs in the top of the first, but he was able to get lefty Alec Burleson swinging to end the inning. 

He retired the next six batters in order before facing more trouble in the fourth, as the Cardinals put two runners on with just one out this time, but he used a punch out and fly out to again dance out of danger. 

St. Louis was finally able to get to Holmes in the sixth, as the red-hot Brendan Donovan led off the inning with a double and came in to score a few batters later after advancing to third on a wild pitch. 

It looked like his day was going to come to a tough ending two batters later as Jordan Walker crushed a high fly to left, but Brandon Nimmo made a terrific leaping catch in front of the fence -- helping Holmes get through six innings for the first time as a Met.

He allowed just the one run on four hits while walking two and striking out six.  

“On a day it was windy and the two-seam was moving, he had to use all his weapons,” Carlos Mendoza said. “The changeup, the four-seam, the cutter, the sweep and slider, and did not shy away from the two-seam when he needed to -- that’s what you call pitching.

“For a guy who is starting to make that transition and when you see it this early, that’s pretty impressive. Just to have the feel for it and his ability to trust the pitches that are kind of new for him -- now that he’s going out there and giving us depth, it’s pretty impressive.”

With each turn through the rotation, Holmes just continues improving. 

The former Yankees closer has now struck out six or more batters in four of his five outings to begin the season -- and he's allowed just one earned run in each of his past two starts, bringing his ERA down to 3.16 on the year.

He’s starting to look more and more like the pitcher the Mets saw during his terrific spring training -- but he also knows there’s still more work to be done. 

“There’s been a lot of growth and a lot of learning on the fly,” Holmes said. “I still feel like I’m hitting my stride a little bit -- you can feel the improvements. I’m starting to get a feel for my stuff and how to use it in this role. 

“I’m starting to bounce back better in between starts, and I just feel like with each time out I’m getting better -- it’s nice to see the work paying off a little bit, but still feel like there’s room to grow here.”

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Rockets fan's disrespectful Steph prediction ages horribly in Game 1

Rockets fan's disrespectful Steph prediction ages horribly in Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Never doubt the NBA’s greatest shooter of all time.

One Houston Rockets fan learned that the hard way during the Warriors’ 95-85 Game 1 win in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday, when Steph Curry proved their pregame prediction wrong with 31 points and a wild barrage of 3-pointers at Toyota Center.

The Rockets fan likely thought Amen Thompson would lock Curry up again like he did in Golden State’s loss to Houston on April 6 — but playoff Steph is a different beast, no matter how he looks in warmups.

“Curry bricking shots [pregame],” the fan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, before Sunday’s game with a video of Curry missing shots — from half court. “He’s scoring 10 points max tonight.”

Not so fast.

The Warriors’ superstar put on a game-high scoring performance with shots from deep that had to be seen to be believed.

In the Warriors’ last regular-season loss to the Rockets, Curry scored just three points on 1-of-10 shooting. While Rockets fans certainly hoped Sunday would be a repeat, Curry’s rookie teammate Quinten Post knew that wouldn’t be the case.

“I’ve played with Steph now throughout the season and I think I’ve never seen a guy being guarded like that by everybody,” Post said Friday. “But what I do think [the Rockets] have is the size and athleticism to back up that aggressive play. But what I do know is that they’re not going to hold Steph to three points again. I know that for a fact. It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before, and he’ll be up for the challenge.”

Curry did just that with a bounce-back performance in Houston on Sunday to give Golden State a 1-0 advantage in the first-round series.

As expected, Warriors fans flocked to the pregame prediction after the game, asking for an update.

Because while playoff wins are sweet, sometimes a ratio is just as good of a victory. And sadly for the Rockets, Curry so far remains their playoff kryptonite.

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After Years Of Disappointment, Maple Leafs Look Ready To Rewrite Their Playoff Story

Mitch Marner and Shane Pinto (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to kick off their 2025 Stanley Cup playoff run, there’s no question that they have the most to prove – and the most to lose.

The Maple Leafs aren’t just playing to get to the second round of the post-seson – they’re playing to keep the team together beyond this season. And they’re playing to keep Buds management intact. 

If they fail and lose in Round 1 to the Ottawa Senators, the Leafs’ core of talent will likely be broken apart and sold to the highest bidder. That’s the potential bad news. But the good news for Maple Leafs fans is that they’re not the same team that has disappointed so often in recent years.

This year’s Leafs are a far better team, and they’re very likely to follow the evolutionary competitive path that other elite teams have followed en route to a long playoff run.

You don’t have to go back far in the annals of NHL history to see teams that have struggled for years in the post-season, only to finally figure out how to thrive. For instance, the Colorado Avalanche began their Nathan MacKinnon era back in 2013-14, but it took them nine seasons to win a Cup. And in the two seasons that followed their 2021-22 Cup win, the Avs once again have failed to get out of the second round.

Colorado didn't make it out of the second round through 10 post-seasons between 2002-03 and 2020-21 before they won the franchise's second Cup. The Leafs, meanwhile, are at 11 straight post-seasons without a Conference final appearance. The Leafs are right around that threshold.

Similarly, the current defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers also had a long and bumpy road that preceded last season’s championship run. The Panthers failed to get out of the first round from 1997-2021. Mind you, they only made it to the playoffs five times during those years. And even when Florida did get into and beyond the first round, they needed another two seasons, including getting to the Cup final and losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, before finally winning it all last season.

It’s clear, then, that the Leafs are aiming to follow the same pattern we’ve seen from the Avalanche and Panthers. Toronto has systematically remade much of their roster – from their goalie tandem to their defense corps to their depth on the wing and their bottom-six group of forwards – and they now have the talent, grit and determination to knock off the Senators and get at least to the second round of this year’s playoffs.

The Buds are tough, patient and resilient in a way Toronto wasn’t in previous years, and they’re going to give the Senators all they can handle and then some.

This isn’t to say that Ottawa is guaranteed to lose to the Leafs in Round 1. The Sens have an up-and-coming core of talent, and they may shock people and upset the Leafs in this looming series.

The Senators were projected to make the playoffs the past few seasons, and failed in the years leading up to this playoff series. Thus, if the Senators do lose to the Maple Leafs, Sens fans are not going to be happy. That said, the Senators are like every other team – Toronto included – in that they probably have to learn how to lose in the playoffs before they learn how to win. And that’s why we’re picking Ottawa to lose to the Leafs this year.

The Maple Leafs may have only one playoff series win since 2005, but that doesn’t mean they can’t and won’t go on a long playoff run this spring. Toronto management has built a Leafs roster that is resilient, speedy and super-skilled, and the Sens are likely to learn the hard way how different this Buds team really is.

A team’s recent history isn’t always likely to repeat itself. Sometimes, a team can evolve for the better and shake off the shackles of the past as it finally gets to experience the glory of a long playoff run. And for that reason, we’re of the opinion that the Maple Leafs are finally going to give their fans a memorable and lengthy playoff experience. And that process will begin with Toronto sending the Senators home in the first round.

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Juan Soto appreciative of Mets fans' support: 'It means a lot'

Struggling a bit to start his career with the Mets after signing the highest-paid contract in MLB history over the offseason, Juan Soto received a standing ovation from the fans at Citi Field on Friday night in an attempt to show their support for the outfielder and help lift him from the doldrums.

Since then, Soto is 5-for-10 with five RBI, including a big 2-for-3 day in Sunday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. The recent hot streak has raised Soto's batting average to .256 and he's shown no signs of slowing down.

"It’s a great feeling when you have the fanbase supporting you when you’re doing bad, when you’re doing good -- it’s just great," Soto said after the game. "I really appreciate what they did. I feel like they don't know how meaningful that is. It means a lot to the players when they do that. It’s really special."

Soto's biggest hit during the four-game series was a two-run double in the eighth inning off reliever Ryan Fernandez that helped secure New York's 7-4 win against St. Louis. The double (which came with two strikes) split the gap in left-center field and had an exit velocity of 106.9 mph, showing off the 26-year-old's opposite field power.

"In the beginning I was trying to go yard, but when he put me in the [two-strike] hole I just tried to put the ball in play. He made a good pitch and I made a better swing," Soto said.

It's a swing that Soto has been working on since the start of the season and it's finally begun to pay off.

In fact, on Saturday manager Carlos Mendoza saw something in the outfielder's swing on a foul ball to left field that he really liked and thought "that's what it is right there."

After talking about it with Soto after the game, both agreed that "something clicked" during that at-bat which has resulted in his recent performance.

"When you see him driving the ball the other way with authority the way he did with that double in the gap, that’s a good sign," Mendoza said. "When he’s going good, that’s the A swing there."

The timing of the standing ovation and Soto's improved production at the plate could just be a coincidence. After all, he wasn't going to struggle all season long.

However, it's true that Mets fans packed Citi Field during the four games over the weekend and have been creating an incredible atmosphere for the players, especially with the calendar still saying April.

And with a 9-1 record at home, it must be working.

"It's been great, this crowd has been unbelievable day in and day out," Soto said. "I really love the support. They've been great since day one, so thank you."

The next challenge awaiting New York will be the Philadelphia Phillies who are set to begin a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Monday. It will be the first time the Mets' division rivals are back in New York since getting eliminated from the playoffs in the NLDS last season.

Even with the Phillies -- who will enter Monday two games back of the Mets in the NL East standings -- potentially extra motivated to avenge their season-ending loss this series, the Mets aren't getting caught up in any of the hoopla that might lie ahead.

"We just gotta focus on what we wanna do," Soto said. "We’re not looking at the standings or anything right now, it’s way too early. We’re just trying to win series. That’s the mindset."

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Devils Lose Multiple Players In Game 1 Loss To Hurricanes

The New Jersey Devils did not get out of Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes unscathed. 

Apr 20, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) controls the puck against Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) during the second period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

In the club's 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes, the Devils lost three players to injury, with one returning in the final minutes of the game. 

Defenseman Brenden Dillon

Defenseman Brenden Dillon left the game with an injury in the second period after colliding with an opposing player and falling awkwardly to the ice. The veteran did not return. 

After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters in Raleigh that his defenseman was eager to get back out there, but the team doctors held him off the ice for precautionary reasons. 

Dillon played 8:53 and led all defensemen with four hits. Entering this series, the 34-year-old had 83 games of postseason experience with the Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, and Winnipeg Jets. 

Defenseman Luke Hughes 

Midway through the third period, New Jersey's youngest defenseman collided with Jesper Kotkaniemi and slid into Markstrom's net. In visible pain, he was holding his arm as he skated off.

Luke Hughes returned to the ice in the final few minutes of the third period and finished the game with the third-most ice time (22:20). 

The Devils have three defensemen on their roster: Seamus Casey, Dennis Cholowski, and Simon Nemec. It is worth noting that none of them have appeared in a postseason game. 

Center Cody Glass

On the same shift that Hughes was injured, Cody Glass was caught in the leg by goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who was attempting to clear his crease. He was immediately helped off the ice by a trainer.

Keefe said there is no update on Glass at this time. 

The 26-year-old played 9:04 and had a face-off win percentage of 81.8%, winning nine of 11 draws. Glass had two hits, one blocked shot, and one shot on goal. 

If Glass is unavailable, the Devils have Nolan Foote, Curtis Lazar, Kurtis MacDermid, and Tomas Tatar as options for the next matchup. 

Game 2 will be at the Lenovo Center in North Carolina on Tuesday night. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes

Hischier’s Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He’s Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied'

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Steph Curry will be reason Warriors win it all, Jimmy Butler confidently states

Steph Curry will be reason Warriors win it all, Jimmy Butler confidently states originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler quickly has learned how important Steph Curry is to the Warriors’ NBA title chances.

Moments after the Warriors stole Game 1 against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, Butler spoke to TNT’s Allie LaForce about Curry’s showstopping 31-point performance.

“Like I always say, Batman comes out of nowhere,” Butler said. “You never see him coming. Then he just falls from the sky, from a building, behind a door and does some incredible things. He’s going to be the reason that we do win it all. We all know that. But we got to protect him at all costs.”

Butler’s acquisition before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline was the jolt Curry and the Warriors needed.

And over the last few games, Butler has been leaning into the “Batman” moniker for Curry, even dubbing himself “Robin.”

Butler will have a lot to say regarding the Warriors making a deep playoff run, but the six-time NBA All-Star is well aware Golden State only will go as far as Curry carries it.

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Brandon Nimmo comes through for Mets with glove, bat in series finale win over Cardinals

Brandon Nimmo’s had a bit of a rough start this season -- but he played a key role in helping the Mets secure their four-game series sweep over the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. 

His first big moment came with the glove. 

With the Mets leading by two in the sixth, St. Louis outfielder Jordan Walker stepped to the plate and crushed a deep fly to left. Nimmo ranged back and made a leaping catch in front of the fence to rob him of a solo homer.

“I thought maybe I had a shot, I just needed to time it up right,” Nimmo said. 

“It was huge for us,” manager Carlos Mendoza added. “I think that ball was gonna be out, I didn’t see the replay but it’s just another good defensive play this year -- that’s what it’s going to take. Really, really huge play from him there.” 

Nimmo then came through again in the later innings -- this time with the bat. 

After the Cardinals rallied to even things up on a Thomas Saggese double in the top of the seventh, the Mets were threatening to answer right back as Francisco Lindor roped a single and Juan Soto drew a five-pitch walk. 

Pete Alonso was unable to come through for what felt like the first time all season, but Nimmo picked him up. 

The sweet-swinging left-hander has been aggressive early in the count to this point in the year -- but with Cardinals reliever Phil Maton pounding the zone with heat, he waited for a breaking ball to pounce. 

Nimmo took two cutters right down the middle before lining a 1-2 curveball back through the box and into center for a go-ahead run scoring single. 

“He always has a good plan, more times than not he’s going to execute,” Mendoza said. 

“Those are big moments and you’re always playing a cat and mouse game,” Nimmo added. “He got ahead quickly and that was good for him, but you just try and never give up on an at-bat and know that you’re just one swing away and try and find the barrel.”

It certainly was a much-needed big hit for Nimmo, who has struggled with RISP to this point. 

Mainly batting in the cleanup spot behind Lindor, Soto and Alonso, he’s driven in just 10 runs thus far with four homers and three doubles -- but, he’s been here before and knows he’s just one swing away.

“It’s no secret I’ve been struggling, but that’s baseball,” Nimmo said. “I saw some video from April of last year against the Cardinals and I was hitting like .200 with two homers and 15 ribeyes at the end of April -- it’s not the first or the last time that I’ll be struggling. 

“You’re just trying to find ways that you can try and help. You never give up, you always go up there with confidence knowing that this next at-bat things can change for you -- you go up there with that mentality and just try and help the team win however you can.”

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Clippers vow to take better care of the basketball after Game 1 loss to Nuggets

Clipper Norman Powell loses control of the ball while driving between Nuggets Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon
Clippers guard Norman Powell loses control of the ball while driving between Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, and forward Aaron Gordon on Saturday in Denver. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

A day later, the Clippers didn’t hide from the primary cause of their demise in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.

Twenty turnovers doomed the Clippers and put them in a 0-1 hole in the best-of-seven series Saturday. Four turnovers in the extra five minutes during overtime left the Clippers proclaiming they must do a better job taking care of the basketball in Game 2 on Monday night at Ball Arena.

“It’s a little frustrating, just because it’s self-inflicted and it’s that we have been really good at this the last few weeks,” Clippers guard James Harden said late Saturday night after Game 1. "But [we’re] even-keeled, you know what I mean? Come back in Game 2 ready to go even better.”

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said they watched film and his staff showed the group how some of the turnovers transpired. Lue said 11 of their turnovers were “unforced errors that were "uncharacteristic” of his team.

Read more:Turnovers haunt Clippers during Game 1 overtime loss to Nuggets

Kawhi Leonard had seven turnovers, including one with 33.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Clippers ahead 96-95 and another during overtime.

It was the turnovers in the overtime that spelled the difference.

Norman Powell turned the ball over with 3:36 left and the score tied at 100.

Harden turned the ball over with 2:08 left and the Clippers down 105-102.

Leonard turned the ball over with 49.3 seconds left and the Clippers down 108-104.

Nicolas Batum gave up his turnover after he took the ball out of bounds and had his pass intended for Harden tipped by Russell Westbrook off Harden’s hand with 9.1 seconds left and the Clippers down 110-107.

“The biggest thing for us was our turnovers and it was the careless turnovers,” Lue said Sunday. “Like, Denver is playing, they are blitzing, they are aggressive, their physicality — so you are going to have 10 turnovers because of that. But you can’t have 20, especially on the road. So a lot of those turnovers were careless. We just got to do a better job of cleaning that up.”

Read more:How do the Clippers match up against the Nuggets entering their playoff series?

The players owned their mistakes and vowed to be better in the second game.

“There’s not much to say,” Clippers center Ivica Zubac said Sunday. “We all know where we made mistakes. There was a lot of unforced turnovers. I mean, a lot of them were forced by them. They played really well after that first quarter. So, we all know we got to be better. We can’t turn the ball over that much, so there’s not much we can say to each other. We all know what’s at stake. We all know where we messed up, so I’m sure everyone will be better next game.”

Another problem for the Clippers was the Nuggets’ offensive rebounding — especially in the overtime.

The Nuggets had four offensive rebounds during the extra period, two apiece by Aaron Gordon and Westbrook.

The Nuggets had 12 offensive rebounds during the game, five by Gordon and four by Westbrook.

Mentally, Lue said, his group is still in a good space. They have room for improvement and they have seen the error of their ways and how they can clean up those issues.

“Yesterday is behind us already,” Lue said. “We got to move on. It was one game and we got to be better in the second game if we want to go home with the series tied up at 1-1 and we understand that. So, just being better all around the board. We know we can do some things better defensively. Offensively, we have the blueprint and we just have to execute it time and time again.”

Harden’s foul problems

To a degree, Lue said, Harden was affected by his foul trouble.

Harden played 42:48. He scored 32 points and was 11 for 22 from the field, four for nine from three-point range and six for six from the free-throw line. He had seven points in the overtime, making all three of his shots.

But Harden finished the game with five fouls, picking up two in the first quarter, three by halftime and four by the middle of the third quarter.

Harden, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound point guard, was assigned to defend 6-foot-8, 235-pound power forward Gordon, and Lue thinks that may have been part of the reason for all the fouls.

“You could see a few possessions where he wasn’t as aggressive," Lue said. "He kind of opened the door, opened the gate a little bit not wanting to get that foul. But we needed him on the floor. So, when he’s down under the basket wrestling with Gordon the whole game, that’s going to happen. We just got to be smart about it. Maybe mix those matchups a little bit more so he’s not on him for the whole game. But I thought he got a lot of them just trying to wrestle around with Gordon and Joker [Nikola Jokic] down on the block.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Knies, Demidov, Byfield Among Difference-Making Young Players In 2025 NHL Playoffs

Matthew Knies (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

The NHL playoffs are where legends are made. A big goal, a statement game or a key moment can help build the hype and legacy of players around the league. Players have earned longer leashes, bigger contracts, and undying love from fans because of the moments they helped bring to their teams in the post-season. 

The 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoffs will feature several marquee matchups in Round 1. We are getting the ‘Battle of Ontario’, the ‘Battle of Florida’ and the ‘Battle of Mikko Rantanen’, to name a few. The Montreal Canadiens are back in the playoffs, the St. Louis Blues are channelling their inner 2019, and we get to see the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings go head-to-head for a fourth-straight year. 

With so many intriguing matchups, let’s take a look at some of the young players on teams across the playoff bracket that could help shape how things go in the first round and beyond.

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have developed a reputation around the league. In all honesty, they have a couple. They are looked at as first-round choke artists. They are often called soft. They get the label of a team that can’t get it done when it matters.

While the style of play and the makeup of the team have changed dramatically this season under new head coach Craig Berube, the biggest difference for the Leafs up front is the development of Matthew Knies, who has spent almost the entirety of the year on the top line. 

His physicality and powerful game have flashed at points in the last couple of years, but this season, we’ve seen him become what the Leafs had always hoped he could.

The massive winger has the bullish strength to win pucks in the corner or around the net, but also the skill to play with players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. If the Leafs are going to handle the Sens with the physicality and grit that they play with, Knies is going to have to be a key piece of that. 

Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators

The feisty Sens are finally in the playoffs and there are a number of young players that could play a pivotal role. Brady Tkachuk is sure to be a monster in the playoff environment. Tim Stutzle should be the high-powered difference maker that the Sens will need to score in the postseason. Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Dylan Cozens are all set to play pivotal roles on this young squad. Although all of that is true, no single player may be more important than Jake Sanderson. 

The team’s 22-year-old No. 1 defenseman has been a force at both ends of the ice. Not only did he put up 57 points on the year, but Sanderson’s defense was heavily relied upon.

Easily their most trusted defender, Sanderson should see big minutes against Toronto’s top players. His mobility and size will allow him to deal with both the skill and heaviness that Toronto has brought this season, but he’s going to have to be at his best if the Sens plan on sending the Leafs home in the first round once again. 

Ivan Demidov, W, Montreal Canadiens

What a debut this kid had. After scoring his first goal and grabbing two points in his debut, his second game was a bit quieter but the reality of the situation is that having Demidov playing minutes for this team in the playoffs is likely the key to seeing them upset the Washington Capitals in Round 1. The Habs have been good for stretches this season, but Demidov’s dynamism and offensive potential are the kind of edge that the Habs need. 

Demidov might be the most purely skilled rookie in the league and he’s only played in two games. He will surely be the front runner for the Calder Trophy next season which could give them back-to-back winners if defenseman Lane Hutson is to capture the award this season. Demidov is the Canadiens' secret weapon heading into the post-season, and he could very well be their most dangerous offensive player. 

Quinton Byfield, C, Los Angeles Kings

A little cross-check from Darnell Nurse isn’t going to deter Byfield from being an impact player for the Kings. Although his season started slow, Byfield was able to hit his stride in the second half of the season, helping solidify the Kings' second line alongside Kevin Fiala. The speed at which the duo played made every shift dangerous. 

The Oilers have beaten the Kings in each of the previous three postseasons with the series progressively getting shorter each year. Byfield was a minimal part of the first series, and in the last two years, he’s been held to four points each, with one goal between the two years.

This year, Byfield is going to be looked to as a key scoring threat for the Kings. They finally seem like they have the firepower to keep up with Edmonton, and Byfield is going to be pivotal in ensuring that they don’t falter. 

Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars are in the unlucky position of being matched up with the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, a matchup that feels worthy of a Conference Final. That means that they are going to need to combat the new and improved depth of the Avs lineup that features newcomers Brock Nelson, Martin Necas and Charlie Coyle.

Although the Stars are going to be relying on former Av Mikko Rantanen for the added offensive punch, Wyatt Johnston could be the key to the Stars winning the heavyweight tilt in Round 1. 

Johnston has been a revelation over the last couple of years with a true coming-out party in last year’s playoffs, putting him on the scene as one of the best young players in the NHL. Johnston brings the ability to elevate anyone he plays with while being highly productive on a lower line. Whether he’s playing with Rantanen or not, Johnston will need to find the level that he was playing at last post-season to help the Stars take down the Avs. 

Jake Neighbours, LW, St. Louis Blues

The Blues are in tough against the Jets, the NHL’s top team this regular season, and they are going to need someone to step up and bring an intensity from both a skill and physicality sense. There are very few players on the roster for St. Louis who can bring that to the game, and Neighbours is one of the best at it. 

He has brought the playmaking that we saw in his junior days, as well as the instigatory nature that makes him a presence on the ice even when his offense isn’t working. Neighbours has found himself playing big minutes for the Blues, playing alongside their top offensive players and bringing the traits that help fill in the gaps with his skilled linemates. Neighbours is exactly the type of player that excels in the playoffs, so it should be fun to see his first foray into the post-season. 

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

The newly signed Buium will be making his NHL debut in the first game of the Wild’s series against the Vegas Golden Knights, playing on the third pair alongside Zach Bogosian. He looks to be playing on the Wild’s power play as well, which is where we could see him make his biggest impact.

Buium is a supremely smooth skater and puck carrier, and his passing is crisp. If he is able to provide added offense with the man advantage, he could help give the Wild an edge. 

The Wild didn’t exactly finish the regular season out firing on all cylinders, but they need to find a way to get things back on track. Kirill Kaprizov is back, and he’s had some runway to get back to his early-season MVP level, which is a welcome sight, but the Wild are still going to need an added edge. Buium’s puck moving and skill could be the edge that they need. 

Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils

Luke Hughes' second full season has been loaded with ups and downs. There have been stretches of play that featured the highest end of Hughes' skillset from a mobility and puck handling standpoint, but his season also saw runs of play where he struggled to assert himself as the go-to blueliner.

Hughes has all of the tools to be an elite puck-moving defender. He is an aggressive, attacking skater who wants to push the pace of the game. Hughes’ passing ability is fantastic at times, threading the needle through traffic to hit teammates on the tape. 

The Devils’ are going to be shorthanded heading into the playoffs against Carolina with older brother Jack Hughes out for the year, top defenseman Dougie Hamilton just returning from injury and Jonas Siegenthaler out for the year on the back end as well. The Devils need to generate offense and Hughes elevating his game to another level in the post-season would go a long way.

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Mets' Vientos misses Sunday's game with groin discomfort, but Alvarez, McNeil close to return

NEW YORK — Third baseman Mark Vientos was out of the New York Mets’ lineup Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals because of groin discomfort.

Vientos exited Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the Cardinals in the fifth, one inning after making a leaping grab to rob Brendan Donovan of a hit.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Vientos was feeling a lot better Sunday.

Brett Baty started at third in the series finale and went 0 for 3 in New York’s 7-4 victory.

The 25-year-old Vientos is batting .167 with two home runs, six RBIs and a .565 OPS. He is 1 for 22 with runners in scoring position, but he went deep on Thursday and Friday for his first two homers of the year.

Vientos had a breakout season in 2024, hitting .266 with 27 homers, 71 RBIs and an .837 OPS. He added five home runs during the playoffs and set a Mets postseason record with 14 RBIs as New York reached the National League Championship Series.

In other injury news, Mendoza said catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil will be at Citi Field on Monday to get evaluated — but “most likely” they will then return to the minors to resume their rehabilitation assignments.

Both players are rehabbing with Double-A Binghamton. Alvarez was the designated hitter Sunday at Reading and finished 1 for 5. McNeil played second base and went 4 for 4, hitting a home run for the second consecutive day.

“We will check with them. Most likely they will continue to get at-bats,” Mendoza said. “I think from Alvy, from the medical standpoint, he’s clear. Now it’s just, continue to work on his timing and things like that. So maybe a couple of more games in Triple-A, and then we’ll see where we’re at. And same thing with Jeff.”

New York opens a three-game series Monday night against the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies.

Alvarez has been sidelined since March 9 with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand that required surgery. He was expected to miss six to eight weeks.

McNeil also got hurt during spring training and began the season on the injured list. The two-time All-Star and 2022 major league batting champion is recovering from a low-grade right oblique strain.

Also, right-hander Paul Blackburn (right knee inflammation) threw 38 pitches over two innings Saturday in a rehab outing for High-A Brooklyn at Aberdeen. He allowed one run and two hits with two walks.

“The reports from yesterday after he came out, he felt good,” Mendoza said.

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Shohei Ohtani returns to Dodgers’ lineup with ‘dad strength’ after birth of daughter in California

ARLINGTON, Texas — Two-way star Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup Sunday for the series finale against the Texas Rangers, activated off the paternity list after his wife gave birth to the couple’s first child in Southern California.

The 30-year-old Ohtani, who didn’t address the media before the game, was in his accustomed leadoff spot.

Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani arrived in Texas late Saturday night.

“To get back here and to be a part of this certainly shows his ability to balance life and work,” Roberts said. “Good to have him back and most importantly I’m happy he and Mamiko have a healthy baby girl.”

Roberts said now that his star is a father, expect some “dad strength” exit velocities.

“Dad strength is real,” Roberts said. “It’s amazing how hard Shohei hits the ball now. So now that he is a father, you might see some 120 exit velos.”

Ohtani missed the series’ first two games, which the Dodgers split, matching the previous two World Series winners. He appeared in all of Los Angeles’ previous 20 games, hitting .288 with six home runs and 21 runs scored (one off major league lead).

“I am so grateful to my loving wife (28-year-old former professional basketball player Mamiko Tanaka) who gave birth to our healthy, beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote on Instagram on Saturday. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

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European football: Orsolini last-gasp bicycle kick dents Inter’s title charge

  • Bologna shock leaders with stunning ultra-late winner
  • Real Madrid score stoppage time winner against Bilbao

A stunning last-gasp goal by striker Riccardo Orsolini gave Bologna a 1-0 home win against Inter in Serie A on Sunday in a blow to the visitors’ hopes of retaining their title.

Treble-chasing Inter stayed top of the standings with 71 points after 33 games but second-placed Napoli are now level on points with the leaders after securing a late 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Monza on Saturday.

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