Apr 25, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) is escorted off the ice after being checked in the second period against the Ottawa Senators in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn
Marc DesRosiers/Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour is hopeful that winger Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Alexander Nikishin will be ready for Round 2 of the NHL playoffs with extra time off to recover from injuries.
The Eastern Conference’s top seed closed out a first-round sweep of Ottawa, though Ehlers was a late scratch with a lower-body injury. Nikishin was knocked from the second period with a concussion on a jarring hit from Tyler Kleven, leaving Nikishin prone on the ice and struggling to get back to his feet.
The Hurricanes were the first team to advance to Round 2 and next face the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh winner. The Flyers won the first three games, but the Penguins have extended the series to Game 6.
Neither Ehlers nor Nikishin skated with the team returning to practice, though there’s clearly no need to rush them back. Afterward, Brind’Amour said “everything’s trending in the right direction” on Nikishin.
Veteran forward William Carrier took Ehlers’ spot on the third line in Game 4, while Nicolas Deslauriers got his first playoff action since 2022 in taking Carrier’s spot in a testy Game 4 with multiple scrums.
As for the blue liners, veteran Mike Reilly played 42 regular-season games to help the Hurricanes play through the absence of top defenseman Jaccob Slavin for much of the schedule, and is the team’s seventh defenseman.
Additionally, Carolina called up defenseman prospect Charles Alexis Legault — a 22-year-old fifth-round draft pick from the 2023 draft — from the American Hockey League to work with the team.
Edmonton, AB - The Ducks are in a position that they haven't been in for nine years––the opportunity to close out a playoff series. After taking a 3-1 series lead off the back of a controversial call in overtime, Game 5 gives them an opportunity to eliminate the defending Western Conference champions from the past two seasons.
"I think we've had a real good approach going into the playoffs," Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "I know it was something we were striving for at the beginning of the year. The first game (of the series) was a terrible loss. It was very disappointing, and then I thought we felt we had to get better every game.
"I thought last (game), our start wasn't on the pace of the expectations of what we left Game 3 with, but I still thought we got going there later in the first (period) to get ourselves back to get on that pace where we're consistently playing at a high level and looking to improve off of the prior games. We're able to get ourselves back in the game, which was a big chore. (The Oilers) played well last (game). We give ourselves a chance to do what we wanted to do at the start, win four (games), but that's a whole different challenge for us. We're looking forward to seeing how we meet it."
Apr 26, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) faces off against Edmonton Oilers center Jason Dickinson (16) during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
"I think we've been consistent with our effort and just trying to play a full game," Ducks forward Jeff Viel said. "Just focusing shift after shift and game after game and kind of just living in the moment and in the present. Just focusing on our game plan, I think that's been the big thing."
"I think throughout the season with this group, throughout the regular season, that we don't ever feel we're out of a game," Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba said. "Obviously, you don't want to get down. We don't want to play from behind, but I think there's a belief in the group that we have the ability to score. You want to defend better, but I think that it's a good thing to have when you get down a couple, your team still believes you can come back and win a game. I think we've shown that and built that belief throughout the season."
"Our team has the ability to score goals," Ducks goaltender Lukáš Dostál said. "I think we've shown it throughout the year that we have that ability. We have great players on our team that can really score. Even the depth guys, they score the goals. So I think that's kind of how we present ourselves throughout the season. I'm just so glad that we can keep doing it in the playoffs.
"For me, (I) don't want to get scored on early on, but when it happens, I know I've been in that situation many times. Mentally, you've just got to stay ready and you have to make sure that you keep the puck out of the net and the guys score some goals. The momentum kind of shifts at that point to our way."
Apr 26, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) with a shot on goal during the third period against the Anaheim Ducks in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Having their backs up against the wall isn't something the Oilers are unfamiliar with. They erased a 2-0 series deficit last season against the Los Angeles Kings, rattling off five consecutive come-from-behind victories after that. They are 19-5 under head Kris Knoblauch in Games 4-7 during the playoffs. Connor McDavid has 23 points in 15 games when facing elimination. Leon Draisaitl has 19 points in 15 games when faced with the same circumstances.
Speaking of McDavid, he did not participate in Tuesday's morning skate, with Knoblauch calling him a game-time decision during his post-morning skate media availability. Jason Dickinson, who missed Games 2 and 3 with a lower-body injury, also did not participate in the Oilers' morning skate. He too will be a game-time decision.
On the Anaheim side of things, Troy Terry continues to be an absentee from morning skate for maintenance reasons, though the expectation is that he will once again be playing. Captain Radko Gudas, who has not played since Game 1 of this series due to a lower-body injury, has not practiced with the team since then.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after their morning skate at Rogers Place.
Ducks Projected Lines
Troy Terry - Leo Carlsson - Cutter Gauthier Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke Chris Kreider - Ryan Poehling - Mason McTavish Jeff Viel - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Oilers Projected Lines
Matt Savoie - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Kasperi Kapanen Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Josh Samanski - Jack Roslovic Colton Dach -Curtis Lazar -Trent Frederic
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 17: Dennis Santana #60 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates after a 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park on April 17, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Monday night at PNC park the Pirates had a 2-0 lead going into the top of the 9th vs the St. Louis Cardinals. Dennis Santana came in for the save with the 2 run lead and struggled.
Santana allowed a solo home run to Pedro Pages and allowed another solo shot to the very next batter JJ Wetherhold to tie the game. Jose Fermin hit a tie-breaking two-run double to give the Cardinals the lead and then eventually the win.
The blown save by Santana is the eighth blown save of the season for the Bucs which is tied for third in the league with the Chicago White Sox and the Athletics. The Washington Nationals have the most with 10.
The bullpen has been an issue to start the season for the Pirates and Monday night just proved it even more. Dennis Santana was a reliable guy for the first couple of weeks of the season but we are starting to see him struggle and not be a dependable closer anymore.
The starting pitching once again continues to be one of the strengths in Pittsburgh. Monday night was a bullpen game for the Bucs, with Mason Montgomery starting and only pitching one inning. Wilber Dotel pitched four innings and threw well allowing no hits and three strikeouts.
For as good as the starting pitching has been, the Pirates bullpen needs to be better. With how tough the NL Central is, Pittsburgh can’t afford blowing division games like that. Every team in the NL Central is above .500, so every time there is an opportunity to beat a divisional opponent, the Pirates have to take advantage.
If the Pirates want to be a legit playoff team this year, the bullpen has to get close to the level of the starting pitching. If the bullpen cannot improve and become dominant, then it will be another disappointing season for the fans in Pittsburgh.
The Montreal Canadiens were back on the ice of the CN Sports Complex in Brossard ahead of their flight to Tampa Bay this afternoon, and that meant yet another media availability for coach Martin St-Louis. This time, it was kept rather short as the bench boss spent less than six minutes on the podium.
It was towards the end of the availability that Herb Zurkowsky from the Montreal Gazette asked him a rather good question. The veteran writer put it to St-Louis that Max Crozier’s hit on Juraj Slafkovsky was the defining moment of the Habs’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The coach replied:
If you let that moment define the series, you’re putting yourself in a bad spot. Don’t let moments like that define it; rewrite it.
That came out of his mouth pretty quickly, almost as if he had already said those very words not so long ago. If I were a betting woman, I’d put good money on the possibility that St-Louis recently used those words with his players.
No one can argue that the bone-crushing hit that sent Slafkovsky down to the ice didn’t have an impact on the game. The 21,000-plus fans in attendance all gasped. Nick Suzuki looked at his teammate on the ice with worry plastered all over his face, and shortly after that, the Bolts scored their first goal of the game. That was, without a doubt, the turning point of the game.
The good news is for the Canadiens though that the series is not over, it’s all tied at 2-2, which means that someone else can step up and write a brand new story in which the Canadiens benefit from the turning point of a game and if they finish the job, be it in six of seven games, it could then become the defining moment of the series.
When the Canadiens jump on the ice of the International Benchmark Arena on Wednesday night, they’ll be on a mission to rewrite the script and show that the Crozier hit wasn’t the defining moment of the series. It’s up to them to find a way, but watching St-Louis this morning, it’s clear that he expects them to do it.
Allen and Hawkins also all square in last-eight tie
Zhao Xintong battled back to draw level with Shaun Murphy in a thrilling evening of quarter-final action in the world championship at the Crucible.
Zhao, the defending champion, showed his ruthless streak to finish the session with a flourish as the rivals ended deadlocked at 8-8 – the same scoreline for the night’s other last-eight showdown between Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins.
The New York Rangers’ backup goaltending position is vacant heading into the offseason.
After playing three seasons with the Rangers, Jonathan Quick officially retired from the NHL, leaving Chris Drury with a decision about how to move forward at the backup spot.
Called up late in the season, Dylan Garand has positioned himself as the clear frontrunner to replace Quick.
After multiple years playing in the American Hockey League, the Rangers finally gave Garand a look toward the latter half of the 2025-26 campaign, as he started in three games, recording a 2-0-1 record, 1.62 goals against average, and .948 save percentage.
“It was great, such a good experience,” Garand said of his time with the Rangers to close out the season. “Obviously, waited my whole life for an opportunity like this, and yeah, it was everything I dreamed of.”
It remained a question whether or not Garand would ever get a chance to play in the NHL for the Rangers, but he certainly took full advantage of the opportunity once it was presented to him and put himself in a strong position to earn the backup goaltending position come training camp starting in September.
Will Drury bring in a veteran goalie to compete with the 23-year-old netminder?
While praising Garand’s game, Drury emphasized that all options are still on the table, insinuating that he hasn’t necessarily secured the job just yet.
“As far as Dylan, I couldn’t be happier for him, coming up and playing as solid as he did,” Drury said. “I was excited about what we saw, and we're certainly looking at him and among other options as to see who could be backup.”
Since being selected by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Garand has played in 165 AHL games.
Through all of that experience, Garand feels he’s now prepared to take on a full-time NHL role, and the small taste of action he got with the Rangers in the final weeks of the season motivates him even further.
“A lot,” Garand said when asked how much this taste will push him moving forward. “I never want to go back to the American League, honestly. I'm so hungry to be here. I want to be in this league and a part of this organization. There's nothing else like it. It's the best league in the world, so yeah, it's been a great taste. I’m definitely going in the summer very motivated to be back here.”
The Mets have placed right-handed pitcherKodai Senga on the 15-day IL due to lumbar spine inflammation.
In a corresponding move, right-hander Christian Scott was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
Speaking before Tuesday's game, manager Carlos Mendoza said Senga complained about the back issue after his last start. Following an MRI, Senga was given an epidural. He will not throw for seven-to-10 days.
The situation with Senga in the rotation had become untenable, with him being unable to pitch more than 3.1 innings in any of his last three starts.
After Sunday's game, Senga acknowledged his poor performance but was non-committal when asked if he would accept an assignment to Triple-A Syracuse.
With Senga to the IL and Scott up, it stands to reason that Scott will slide into Senga's rotation spot.
What happens when Senga returns remains complicated, though.
The Mets could theoretically move Senga to the bullpen, but that seems like a very poor fit given his routines.
Beyond that, the Mets already have three starting pitchers working in relief roles -- David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Carl Edwards, Jr. They also have Tobias Myers in the bullpen, and he is often relied on for multiple innings at a time.
It has been an up-and-down tenure for Senga in New York.
He burst on the scene with a 2.98 ERA in 166.1 innings in 2023, but missed all but 5.1 innings of the 2024 regular season due to injury.
In 2025, Senga got off to a hot start before suffering a hamstring injury. After returning, Senga struggled, which resulted in a demotion to Triple-A. Senga was unable to right the ship in the minors, and did not return to the majors late in the season, as had been expected.
Senga, with more zip on his fastball than he had last season, was strong in his first two starts of 2026. But he was hit hard in his last three, ballooning his ERA to 9.00.
The 33-year-old has one more guaranteed year remaining on his deal, and is owed $15 million for the 2027 season. There is a conditional club option for 2028 that the Mets will have the ability to exercise if Senga has Tommy John surgery or a right elbow injury that keeps him on the IL for 130 or more days.
MLB Toronto Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
We knew this was happening but it is official. Trey Yesavage has been added to the active roster and will start tonight. Chase Lee was sent back to Buffalo. I’m sorry for Lee, he looked pretty good yesterday, but we knew he was only up for the day. I’m sure we’ll see him again this year, they can send him down 5 times and I’d bet he’ll get there this year.
Yesavage hasn’t been great in his rehab starts, 4 games, 12 innings, 15 hits, 10 earned, 7 walks and 16 strikeouts, but the fastball is where it was last year. He wasn’t going to throw 200 innings this year, so having him miss the first month isn’t a bad thing for the club.f
He was rather amazing in the playoffs, with an ERA of 3.48 over 6 games, 5 starts. In 27.2 innings he allowed 18 hits, 2 home runs, 4 walks and 17 strikeouts. Let’s hope he picks up right where he jumped off.
No pressure Trey. Just that our season is balancing on your right arm.
Shi Davidi tells us that the Jays hitters have seen the fewest pitches per at bat in baseball this year. Whether that is a good or bad thing is up for debate. There are a few of the guys who could do with being a little more selective at the plate. But then some of the more selective hitters are on the IL
It is a tough balance, you don’t want the pitcher to get ahead on the count, but then we have guys swinging at pitches well off the plate. And it isn’t like the guys with great strikezone judgement are tearing things up either. Davis Schneider takes a lot of pitches and he’s hitting roughly what you or I would, so for this season. Well, more you. The only way I’d reach base is if a pitch hit me.
The Los Angeles Lakers defied the odds to beat the Houston Rockets three times in this opening round series. After escaping the sweep, can Houston do the same and rally back from down 0-3?
Game 5 of this Round 1 Western Conference matchup tips off in La-La Land Wednesday and my same-game parlay isn’t counting out the Rockets just yet — even if LeBron James lights up the scoreboard.
Here are my best NBA picks and predictions for Rockets vs. Lakers on April 29.
Our best Rockets vs Lakers SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Rockets +4.5
The Houston Rockets are 4.5-point road pups returning to L.A. for Game 5. While the Los Angeles Lakers have home-court advantage and potentially have Austin Reaves back in action, the Rockets' defense has looked great over the past six quarters.
The pressure is mounting for the Lakers, who watched their role players come back to earth in Game 4. Houston doesn’t go down without a fight on Wednesday.
SGP leg #2: LeBron James Over 23.5 points
LeBron James had a quiet night offensively while also leaving this L.A. offense disjointed, coughing up eight turnovers. James looks to get going early and often in Game 5, and even with Reaves’ possible return, LeBron shoulders the scoring load.
Player projections sit as high as 27+ points from him in Game 5 after scoring 57 combined points in Games 2 and 3. This total of 23.5 O/U is the lowest bar he’s drawn since losing Luka Doncic and Reaves.
SGP leg #3: Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Leading the charge for the Rockets is big man Alperen Sengun. He scored 19 points in Game 4, but with L.A. cleaning up the turnovers and slowing things down, Game 5 is more of a half-court battle, which fits Sengun's style.
He goes after a softer interior for Los Angeles, and his forecast for Game 5 sits as high as 24.5 points. He’s been efficient the past two games, shooting 54% from the field.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Rockets vs Lakers predictions for Game 5.
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo diagnose more losing baseball on the latest episode of The Mets Pod. The guys go long on all of the Mets' problems, from the front office, through the coaching staff, to the entire roster.
Who is to blame, why is it happening, what can be done, and will changes soon be made?
Connor and Joe also go Down on the Farm to check in on the literal ups and downs of Christian Scott, and the recent promotion of top prospect A.J. Ewing to Triple-A Syracuse.
The show wraps up with a Mailbag to answer questions about lack of hitting development, signing veterans to short-term deals, and a fun but also sad scenario for first base.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a tough grind and its one that wears down teams the deeper they go.
For the Carolina Hurricanes, who are headed into the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after sweeping the Ottawa Senators, they're already feeling the effects.
Carolina has seen two players miss time so far this postseason due to injury in both Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Nikishin.
Ehlers was ruled out before Game 4 with a lower-body injury and Nikishin left early in the second period of Game 4 after suffering a concussion following a hit.
Neither player was on the ice with the team when they returned to practice on Tuesday, but Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour is hopeful that they'll soon be back.
"I'm hopeful that both guys will be ready by the looks of it," Brind'Amour said. "With the concussion, everything is trending in the right direction, it just kind of depends on how long we're off for. So it could work in our favor if it is a little longer."
The Hurricanes are currently awaiting their next round opponent, who will be one of either the Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers had a 3-0 series lead, but the Penguins have won two straight to force Game 6 on Wednesday.
So while some may worry about potential rust settling in for the idle Canes, that time will hopefully allow them to recover some key bodies.
They Said It
"It was good, exciting, but I just stay ready," said Nicolas Deslauriers, who drew in for Ehlers in Game 4. "I'm not here to take a spot, so I hope that Fly can come back because he's such a big key for us."
"Definitely scary just seeing the hit," said Seth Jarvis on seeing Nikishin knocked out of the game. "I thought the guys that went over there did a great job at sticking up for him. You obviously never want to see that happen to anyone. Just hoping he recovers fast — he seemed in good spirits today — so hopefully he'll be back for next series."
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The Detroit Pistons’ promising season has come to a screeching halt at the hands of the Orlando Magic defense.
These Magic vs. Pistons predictions and SGP picks put more faith into Orlando’s defense in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.
Our best Magic vs Pistons SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points
Cade Cunningham was having a season that would have made him an MVP finalist, at the least. And then the basketball gods struck at the Detroit Pistons.
Cunningham’s collapsed lung may be healed for him to play against the Orlando Magic in this first round, but missing three weeks of games clearly impacted the point guard’s fitness. That is rather understandable when remembering, ya know, he suffered a collapsed lung.
Cunningham is driving less than ever. Before his injury, he took only 30.8% of his field goal attempts from deep. An adequate long-range shooter, Cunningham is far more productive at the rim.
Getting to the rim is exhausting, however, especially against such a pestering defense, so Cunningham has taken 45.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in the last two games.
SGP leg #2: Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes
Taking so many 3-pointers naturally results in Cunningham hitting multiple, as he's done in three of the four games in this series despite shooting a woeful 28.6% from deep. This is not faith in Cunningham's shot; this is a bet on the volume approach he has resorted to in this series because of dead legs.
SGP leg #3: Magic +9.5
And when your best offensive player is resorting to an inefficient shot on a notable volume of possessions, suddenly your offense is so compromised that a defense-driven team like Orlando can hang around in every game.
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Magic vs Pistons predictions for Game 5.
More Covers NBA Playoff content
NBA Championship odds
Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
NBA Finals MVP odds
See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.
Live NBA Playoff bracket
Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 4: Karim Lopez #1 of the New Zealand shoots the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz during a NBA preseason game on October 4, 2024 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In today’s Dub Hub:
ESPN’s latest mock draft projects the Warriors to pick 19-year old Mexican prospect Karim Lopez with the 11th pick.
The Golden State Warriors failed to make the playoffs, giving them an early start on the upcoming offseason. Their 37-45 record to finish the regular season leaves them with the 11th-best odds in the NBA Draft lottery, making it likely they’ll be picking just outside of the top 10 barring a miracle jump into the top four.
So, with the 11th pick, ESPN’s latest mock draft projects the Warriors to select New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez.
The top overseas-based player in a thin international prospect class, Lopez has a chance to help himself in predraft workouts, where teams will gain a better sense of his physical traits and skill level coming off a positive year in the NBL. Showing progress as a perimeter shooter in those settings would help his case to sneak into the top 10, as he jockeys for position with Ament and Yaxel Lendeborg, two other versatile forwards.
A Mexican-born prospect, Lopez is viewed as one of the top international players in this year’s class. While the global pool isn’t as strong as in previous years, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in the NBL, flashing the size and versatility NBA teams covet on the wing.
For Golden State, the fit is straightforward. Outside of a breakout year from Gui Santos, the roster has long lacked consistent size and depth on the wing — something Lopez could help address as a multi-positional forward with long-term upside.
Still, with uncertainty surrounding Steve Kerr’s future as the head coach, a roster coming off multiple significant injuries, and a mixed track record developing young talent, it remains unclear whether the Warriors will use this selection on a 19-year old project like Lopez. In fact, it’s fair to question if they even keep the pick at all or move it in a win-now deal for one of the league’s disgruntled stars.
Either way, the Warriors desperately need an infusion of size and athleticism, and this draft pick represents their best means of doing that this offseason.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 28th:
Golden State enters an uncertain offseason, with Steve Kerr’s future unclear and a need to consider the long-term health of the roster, still anchored by 38-year-old Stephen Curry. Selecting a younger player such as Lopez, who has the experience to potentially slot in early on his rookie deal, might help mesh the short and long-term goals.
“We don’t have to keep saying championship, championship, championship every day, even though we’ve experienced that,” Curry said. “It’s can we just build the foundation again with what this team needs to do with the way that the game is played now with how fast it is, how young and athletic it is. All of those things. We have to kind of put everything on the drawing board to get back to just being competitive every single night.”
Fast, young and athletic the Warriors are not. Between Steph, Steve Kerr, Draymond Green and a long list of Warriors past, a standard has been built in Golden State. A new foundation, however that might look, needs to be created by getting back to the drawing board.
His chase isn’t over yet. What Curry admitted also can’t be ignored.
Yet according to league and team sources, a heavy front-runner has emerged among the three proposed solutions to curb the widespread tanking problem that put such a stain on this season: Option No. 1, in which 18 teams would be part of the draft lottery (rather than the current 14) and the bottom 10 teams would all have an 8 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. The remaining odds — 20 percent in all — would be divided among the remaining eight teams. In the current system, the bottom three teams all have a 14 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick and the odds decline from there.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. pic.twitter.com/FmgY6vTLjx
“There is not one person within the organization who wants Kerr to walk away, sources said,” Siegel wrote. “Lacob and Dunleavy have both made it known to Kerr that they want him back, as have Curry, Green, and the entire locker room. One of the main reasons Butler feels so comfortable with the Warriors since arriving at last year’s trade deadline is due to the family-like atmosphere Kerr has helped create.”
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 10: A general view of the video board during a ABS challenge against Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees in the fourth inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday, April 10, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I’m writing this before the Yankees take on the Rangers Monday night, so it’s subject to change, but at this moment Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the worst player in baseball when it comes to the ABS challenge system. His 14 percent success rate is the lowest in the sport, and this weekend against the Astros we saw two dreadful examples.
The first one annoyed me — it’s an eight-run game in the ninth inning, this is about as close to stat-padding as you get in baseball. The second failed challenge is somewhat offset by the fact that Jazz notched a single a couple of pitches later, but challenges are limited; once you fail you can’t use it again. Chisholm took away a potential review from another player on a call that wasn’t close.
I think Jazz is a pretty good player but it is perhaps time to concede that a guy with a near-20 percent career K-BB rate doesn’t have a great understanding of the zone. Chisholm makes his money by getting his A-swing off and hitting the ball into the gap, not by owning the strike zone the way a Juan Soto-type would. Suffice it to say, Jazz doesn’t get to challenge except in the most obvious of circumstances.
Chisholm isn’t the only guy that’s hurting the team on the review side of things though. The Yankees sit a tick below league average (47 percent) at hitter-induced challenges at 44 percent, and bang on league average on fielder-induced at 59 percent. For a team that has preached strike zone ownership for about as long as I’ve been alive, they’re sure not making any gains in this part of the game.
Four players have been a net positive in the challenge system, with Aaron Judge of course leading the way. The Yankee captain is 3-for-4 with reviews this year, and you could argue that the three-time MVP has been more cautious than he should be. Then again, he has won three MVPs without the challenge system, so while I’m sure he has the greenlight to review any pitch he deems necessary, it might just end up not being a part of his game.
Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham have gone a combined 5-for-7 so far this year, and if Aaron Judge has a big, emerald-green flag, they have something that’s slightly paler but still very clearly a go. In general, I think challenges should be reserved for times there are men on base, the first pitch of the at-bat, or a potential final pitch. McMahon and Grisham can go outside that band slightly, but not wildly.
Then we have a middle grouping, of guys that have been neutral to slightly bad — the yellow lights. This includes Paul Goldschmidt, Giancarlo Stanton, and José Caballero, the latter of which has called for 10 reviews, the most on the team. I tend to think that Cabby does this as a bit of gamesmanship, in the same way that he refuses to engage the pitcher until the eight-second required mark. Still, these three guys have to sit within tight parameters like discussed above, but as long as they stick to ‘em, they can tap their helmets.
Then there’s the dunce caps. Ben Rice, Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger, and Chisholm have actively cost the team runs with their challenge attempts. They’ve combined to go 3-for-13, which would be a pretty cold weekend series at the plate, and is even worse off when it comes to challenging balls and strikes. For now, unless there’s a deeply egregious call or the entire game can change on the result — a Rob Refsnyder-esque situation — these guys should focus on getting the bat on the ball more than anything else.
