“Sick,” McCollum wrote on X early Saturday. “Knicks have been a different team since this moment.”
McCollum taunted the Madison Square Garden crowd with big shots and gestures as the Hawks stole Game 2 of their series against the Knicks. Then he hit the game-winner in Game 3 in Atlanta to give the Hawks a 2-1 series edge.
Karl-Anthony Towns dunks during the Knicks’ Game 2 win. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
The Knicks haven’t lost since, winning three straight to close out the Hawks, sweeping the 76ers and Cavaliers, and taking a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals with back-to-back wins in San Antonio.
McCollum faded in the final three games of the Knicks-Hawks series. Josh Hart, his former Trail Blazers teammate, took the main assignment of defending McCollum, whose averages dipped to 11.3 points on 39.5 percent shooting from the floor over three straight losses.
McCollum had been bargaining to join the likes of Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, P.J. Brown and Trae Young as Knicks’ playoff tormentors.
The Knicks are now two wins away from winning the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostCJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks fights for the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks’ last possession of their most recent loss ended with a turnover by Jalen Brunson. In the Finals, Brunson has shaken off two poor shooting games to become the first player since at least 1971 to score the final go-ahead points in the last two minutes of back-to-back games, per ESPN.
De’Aaron Fox tried to get in Brunson’s head late in Game 2 with a face-to-face staredown after committing a foul along the sideline, but Brunson didn’t take the bait. His father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, wasn’t having it.
Jun 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Alex Call (12) dumps a cooler of ice water on first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) after hitting a walk-off home run Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
It was Freeman’s fifth walk-off hit with the Dodgers in the regular season, and his first home run. But you might remember that the first baseman has also authored two of the most famous World Serieswalk-off home runs in history as well. All told, Freeman has 20 career walk-off hits in the regular season and postseason, putting him in very rare company.
Baseball Reference has full play-by-play data dating back to 1910, and in the 117 seasons in the database the Dodgers have hit 224 walk-off home runs, a tad under two per year on average. Since moving to Los Angeles, they’ve averaged about 2.4 walk-off homers per regular season.
Only once did the Brooklyn Dodgers hit a walk-off home run in a 0-0 game. On May 2, 1955 at Ebbets Field, Carl Furillo took Gene Conley of the Milwaukee Braves deep in the 12th inning, but that was a two-run shot that also scored Jackie Robinson. Conley started that game for Milwaukee and went the whole way, as did winning pitcher Carl Erskine with his 12 scoreless frames. Furillo pushed Brooklyn’s record to 16-2, on their way to a 22-2 start and a runaway pennant on their way to the franchise’s first World Series championship.
Freeman’s 1-0 walk-off winner was the first by the team since Yasmani Grandal did in the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 3, 2015 in the 13th inning, the latest in the game any of these home runs were hit. The Russell Martin home run on August 13, 2006 finished off a classic 10-inning tilt on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball featuring Greg Maddux needing only 68 pitches in his eight scoreless innings in a duel with future Dodger Jason Schmidt when he still had intact shoulder ligaments.
Five of these nine 1-0 home runs came in extra innings.
Player
Date
Opponent
Pitcher
Inning
Tommy Davis
Jun 18, 1962
Cardinals
Bob Gibson
9th
Eric Karros
Sep 20, 2000
D-backs
Byung-Hyun Kim
9th
Gary Sheffield
May 12, 2001
Braves
Matt Whiteside
9th
Paul Lo Duca
Sep 27, 2002
Padres
Jeremy Fikac
10th
Russell Martin
Aug 13, 2006
Giants
Vinnie Chulk
10th
Matt Kemp
Jun 1, 2010
D-backs
JC. Gutiérrez
10th
Yasiel Puig
Jul 28, 2013
Reds
Curtis Partch
11th
Yasmani Grandal
May 3, 2015
D-backs
Evan Marshall
13th
Freddie Freeman
Jun 5, 2026
Angels
Kirby Yates
9th
The Dodgers’ last two games have been decided on walk-off home runs, with a loss on Thursday before Friday’s win. Los Angeles still has not played an extra-inning game this season, the only MLB team in 2026 who has yet to play beyond nine innings.
More than a month after the Senators were eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, owner Michael Andlauer still finds himself thinking about what might have been.
He's still not fully over the first-round loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
"It's never over, because you look at it and they're still playing," Andlauer said Friday at the Senators' alumni golf tournament at the Canadia Golf and Country Club . "You look at it and think 'what if?' (Game 2 of the Cup Final) went into overtime. In our Game 2, how many posts, crossbars or open chances did we have? 'What if,' right?"
But those lingering thoughts haven't changed his big picture outlook. If anything, Andlauer sounds more convinced than ever that the Senators are doing things the right way and headed in the right direction.
"I think as a fan, I'm happy where we're going," he said.
Looking back on this season, Andlauer believes his club was stronger than last year's squad. While the Senators' playoff run was even shorter this year, Andlauer admired how his group rallied to earn a wild-card while pushing through so many battles.
"We went through a lot of adversity this season, including in the playoffs, with how many injuries we had on the D-core, and we persevered."
That resilience is something Andlauer clearly values, along with the positive culture that's been created by GM Steve Staios and head coach Travis Green.
Asked what the team needs to do to take the next step, Andlauer didn't talk about adding a specific kind of player or making a splashy move.
"I think continue to stay focused," he said. "I think Steve and his staff are doing a fantastic job of continuously improving. It's a very competitive league. (We need to) stay on track and continue to believe, make sure that the culture is right, that we care, and that we're willing to work harder than our competition."
Staios and his amateur staff have been in Buffalo at the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine over the past week. The combine allows GMs to get a closer look at most of the best young prospects eligible for the NHL Draft later this month.
Until recently, the 2026 combine was an event that the Sens could easily have skipped because they didn't have a first-round pick. It was the NHL's punishment for their role in the 2021 Evgenii Dadonov trade controversy. But in March, after all this time, the league decided to let Ottawa pick in round one after all, though it will be 32nd overall.
"It's good for us. It's good for our organization. It's good for our fans," Andlauer said. "I think we had to show the league what kind of organization we are, a new owner and everything, just to make sure that (the league knows) we're good corporate citizens. And I think maybe a little persistence went a long way."
The league's condition was that the pick could not be traded. When asked if they could make the pick and immediately trade the selected player to another team, Andlauer wasn't sure but felt like they probably could.
Meanwhile, with the salary cap set to spike over each of the next few seasons, Andlauer fielded questions about player payroll, and his answer should be encouraging for Senators fans.
"This is a passion of mine," he said. "Whatever it's going to take to bring a Cup to Ottawa."
That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be throwing money around in free agency. In fact, Andlauer thinks the market may not offer many attractive options that make sense.
"Because there's not enough free agents, I think people are going to want to do trades. And the fact that the cap is going up, I think there's going to be people who are going to look at that as an opportunity."
Andlauer emphasized that there's no urgency to change the game plan that has brought the Senators back to the playoffs the past two years, but he doesn't rule out offseason improvements either.
"I think there are areas that (Staios) wants to improve on," Andlauer said. "And he's focused on those things."
So, to summarize Andlauer's hockey views on Friday: He believes the Senators are stronger than they were a year ago, offseason changes are possible, he's prepared to spend what's required, he's happy to have his first-round pick back, and management has his full support.
One suspects that if the Senators fail to emerge as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in the next couple of years, it won't be because the owner failed to do his part.
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to stay hot tonight when they host the Los Angeles Angels.
Yashinobu Yamamoto is having a strong season for the defending World Series champs, and my Angels vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks break down why his team is set to cruise as heavy favorites on Saturday, June 6.
Who will win Angels vs Dodgers tonight: Dodgers -2.5 (+104)
When Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz doesn’t have his sinker working, he reverts to a four-seam fastball that opponents are posting a .241 ISO and a 53.5% FB% against in 2026.
Kochanowicz’s strikeout rate, chase rate, and xERA all rank in the 16th percentile or worse. An inability to miss bats is simply inviting trouble from this patient Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, which has the highest hard-hit% and third-lowest GB% over the past two weeks.
I'd play this runline to -105.
COVERS INTEL:Opposing hitters registered a 26.6% soft contact rate vs. Yamamoto over the past month — the highest rate for any pitcher with at least 20 IP in that span.
Angels vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+100)
Despite expecting Kochanowicz to get pummeled, I’m expecting the game flow to lead to a lower-scoring affair.
Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto has thrived at avoiding contact this season, boasting a 29.9% whiff rate driven by his nasty fastball/splitter combo. His stellar command has also led to a 5.6% walk rate ranking in the 90th percentile.
The Angels have the eighth-highest K% vs. RHP over the past two weeks, and aside from Mike Trout, I don’t see many matchup advantages. The Dodgers will put up runs, but not enough to carry the total by themselves.
Take the Under to -110.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-14, -5.94 units
Over/Under bets: 14-9, +4.28 units
Angels vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Angels +290 | Dodgers -360
Run line: Angels +2.5 (-132) | Dodgers -2.5 (+104)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-120) | Under 8.5 (+100)
Angels vs Dodgers trend
The Angels have hit the game total Under in 10 of their last 15 road games (+4.50 Units / 27% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Angels vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Angels vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, June 6, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
ABTV, SportsNet LA
Angels starting pitcher
Jack Kochanowicz (2-4, 5.23 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-4, 2.86 ERA)
Angels vs Dodgers latest injuries
Angels vs Dodgers weather
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.
The New York Mets will look to extend their winning streak to three games as they visit the San Diego Padres tonight.
Griffin Canning hasn't found his rhythm on the mound this season, and I'm backing New York to get the better of him once again in my Mets vs. Padres predictions.
Read on for my full breakdown and free MLB picks for Saturday, June 6.
Although New York Mets starter Nolan McLean (3-4, 4.21 ERA) has gone through a rough patch himself, his underlying numbers look good. The hard-throwing righty is striking out 10.4 batters per nine innings while holding opponents to a .291 xwOBA.
I expect the Mets to hit Canning hard and like them to win at -130 or better.
This is a matchup between what might be the league’s two worst offenses. The Padres (.289) and Mets (.292) are at the bottom of the league in wOBA, take up the worst two spots in OPS, and both have a heavy lean to the Under this year.
The Padres are dead last in run production (3.79 per game) and struggle against McLean’s signature pitch, pulling just 9.7% of sinkers in the air. Even if the Mets fare better against Canning, the Under is the clear play for me, and I’d back it to -120.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-15, -4.66 units
Over/Under bets: 8-16, -8.40 units
Mets vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Mets -124 | Padres +106
Run line: Mets -1.5 (+134) | Padres +1.5 (-162)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Mets vs Padres trend
San Diego is 0-5 SU in Canning’s last five starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Padres.
How to watch Mets vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Saturday, June 6, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
SNY, Padres.TV
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (3-4, 4.21 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Griffin Canning (0-4, 7.16 ERA)
Mets vs Padres latest injuries
Mets vs Padres weather
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.
Apr 19, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the batting helmet of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
I’m putting this together early, cause I’m running off to get a scan on this foot that I did something to. It is feeling much better today, but the doctor wants to see what I did. It was the strangest thing
Spencer Miles is actually getting the start today. Simeon Woods Richardson will likely get his first action as a Blue Jay. Beyond that, the leverage arms all should be available.
I thought there might be a roster move before the game today, but not yet anyway.
Apparently Chris Bassitt appreciated the video tribute yesterday:
Caught up with former #BlueJays, Chris Bassitt, and asked him about his video tribute. Said he got choked up watching it:
“This whole place is too emotional for me… This place will always be the most special place for me… My son is Canadian!..there are so many different ties”
For all the trade and free agency rumors flying around, this simple truth remains: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the first domino that has to fall. Before LeBron James chooses to stay or go in Los Angeles, before Ja Morant finds a new home, before any other major moves, Antetokounmpo will have to be traded (or, not traded, if you're still a Bucks fan holding out hope... and good luck to you if you are).
Where do things stand with Antetokounmpo? Here are the latest reports.
Oklahoma City is not interested in an Antetokounmpo trade. Not for Chet Holmgren, not for anyone.
As much as fans looked at Holmgren against Victor Wembanyama and thought the Thunder needed to do something dramatic, that's a short-sighted and outsider's view. Antetokounmpo is seven years older than Holmgren, hasn't been able to stay healthy long enough for a playoff run in years, and would be even more expensive than Holmgren on a team about to get hit hard by the tax aprons. Plus, you think the Thunder want to take the ball out of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's hands?
OKC believes — I would argue rightfully — that if Jalen Williams (All-NBA a season before) and/or Ajay Mitchell had been healthy, they would be playing the Knicks in the Finals right now. The Thunder have decisions to make about Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort and Kenrich Williams this summer, but Antetokounmpo is not part of the plans.
Giannis concerned about Miami roster
Miami is the frontrunner to land Antetokounmpo, but kind of by default. OKC is out. Cleveland is not interested. The Knicks are two wins from an NBA championship, they are not blowing up this roster. While people speculate about a Jaylen Brown trade to bring Antetokounmpo to Boston, there's no evidence that there is any fire there.
But Antetokounmpo has his concerns about Miami and what the roster would look like after a trade, something Sam Amick of The Athletic talked about on the Dan Patrick Show. "The noise is tied to Miami, but there's also some intel, discussion, kind of understanding, that Giannis has questions about what that Miami roster would look like on the other side of a deal. You don't want to gut your roster and go to the place you're excited to be in and then have a hard time contending for a championship."
A Heat trade for Antetokounmpo likely involves a combination of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and multiple first-round draft picks. That would leave Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and maybe Norman Powell if they can re-sign him. Is that roster any kind of a threat to New York, Boston, a healthy Indiana, or even Cleveland?
The problem is, if Antetokounmpo wants out of Milwaukee, he may have to trust Pat Riley and the Miami front office to build out a contender — and that's not a bad bet, it's one of the best front offices in the league. But it's not walking into a contender on Day 1.
Antetokounmpo's problem is that what he really wants may not be available.
The Stanley Cup Final shifts to Sin City tonight as the Vegas Golden Knights play host to the Carolina Hurricanes at T-Mobile Arena for Game 3.
Carter Hart and the Golden Knights will look to rebound after blowing a late 2-0 lead in Game 2, while the Hurricanes aim to seize their first series lead of the SCF.
Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET as our Covers experts break down their top NHL picks and predictions for tonight's matchup.
img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL. (not available in Ontario)
The Carolina Hurricanes have also dominated 5-on-5 possession with a 63.3 Corsi For percentage through the first two games of the series.
I am anticipating tidier work from Hart in the Vegas crease in Game 3.
He’s dipped to an .855 SV% with -2.49 GSAx to start the Stanley Cup Final, after all, so I’m fully expecting the statistical pendulum to swing back in Hart’s favor Saturday.
This prop has my attention at a -130 price, and I’d also play it at Over 27.5 saves to -120.
Todd Cordell's expert pick: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 0.5 points
Price: -125 at BET99
Pavel Dorofeyev has yet to record a point, but all the numbers under the hood are encouraging.
The Golden Knights have won the chance battle during his minutes, and he’s been plenty involved in the offensive zone.
Dorofeyev ranks second on the team with six chances through two games. Of the seven Golden Knights with at least four opportunities, he is the only guy who hasn’t picked up a point.
He’s skating on the top line and power-play unit, creating plenty of looks, and Frederik Andersen is struggling.
I like him to break through in Game 3. Bet to -135.
Chris Faria's expert pick: Logan Stankoven anytime goal scorer
Price: +240 at BET99
Logan Stankoven has been one of the Hurricanes’ biggest breakout stars this postseason with a team-leading 10 tallies.
Eight of his goals have come at even strength, where he leads all players this postseason in shots (43). His 18 high-danger chances at even strength are tied for sixth among all skaters, and he’s had one in each game of the Final so far.
Stankoven is part of Carolina’s dangerous second line, which has been the best trio in the series. They controlled 74% of expected goals in Game 2 and 63% in Game 1.
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.
MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 01: Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, June 1, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After an offensive explosion on Friday, the San Francisco Giants are back at it today, hoping to make it three straight games with a double-digit run total … and more importantly, four straight games with a win.
Taking the mound for San Francisco is right-hander Landen Roupp, who makes his 13th start of the season. The 27-year old is 5-6 on the year, with a 4.22 ERA, a 2.82 FIP, and 72 strikeouts to 27 walks in 64 innings. His last outing was his worst of the year, as he gave up eight runs in four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. Roupp had back discomfort in the game and a notable dip in velocity, so it’s worth keeping an eye on him in this one.
For the Chicago Cubs, it’s right-hander Ben Brown. The 26-year old began the year as a reliever, but has transition into a starting role lately. In 17 appearances, he’s 2-2 with a 1.92 ERA, a 2.23 FIP, and and 53 strikeouts to 15 walks in 51.2 innings. In five starts, he’s been even better, going 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA, a 1.80 FIP, and 29 strikeouts against seven walks in 26 innings. He was excellent in his last start, holding the St. Louis Cardinals to just one run in seven innings.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 13: Matthew Liberatore #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians at Busch Stadium on April 13, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds will play the second game of the weekend series Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium. For the Cardinals, it’s Matthew Liberatore on the mound as he’ll take on Reds starter Nick Lodolo. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm and the TV broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv. Still no JJ Wetherholt in the starting 9.
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball over New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Coming off a tough Game 1 loss in this NBA Finals, the Spurs looked to even the series in Game 2 versus the New York Knicks. The Spurs started hot, outscoring the Knicks 34-25 in the first quarter. However, their offense turned ice cold. They had their worst statistical shooting quarter of the season, and got outscored 31-18 by New York. Facing a four-point deficit, the Spurs came out flat in the third quarter and got outscored again. This time, they were outscored 28-23 and faced a nine-point deficit heading into the final frame. In the early part of the fourth quarter, the Knicks managed to build a 14-point lead with over five minutes remaining. The Spurs countered with a 14-0 run and tied a game that was slipping away.
The last couple of minutes were back-and-forth buckets, but with one minute remaining, Victor Wembanyama took the lead with an and-one layup. The Spurs were now up by two, but Jalen Brunson countered with a tough midrange jumper over Devin Vassell. After the Spurs’ timeout, Wemby missed a midrange jumper, and the Knicks called timeout. Brunson missed a jumper on the other end, and Wemby got the rebound. Unfortunately, Wemby took a dribble and threw the ball to Stephon Castle, whose back was turned. Brunson got the steal and was fouled by Wemby. After splitting the free throws, the Spurs had one last chance to cement their comeback. The final play was a De’Aaron Fox and Wemby pick and pop, which resulted in a missed midrange jumper. The Spurs ultimately lost 105-104, and now face a 0-2 deficit for the first time since 2018.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 29 points (11-21 FG), nine rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists. After a lackluster Game 1, Wemby struggled in the first half of Game 2. After halftime, he dropped 12 points in the third and had key buckets in the fourth. The key was aggression and not settling for contested jumpshots. As for several times this season, youth and inexperience would leak out. It unfortunately happened late in the game for Wemby. That turnover, immediate foul, and missed game-winner will haunt him unless he and the Spurs can find a way to win this series.
Downhill jam! Wemby catches the dump off pass from Keldon Johnson, and he jumps in for a one-handed slam!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 20 points (8-12 FG), five assists, three rebounds, one steal, and a block. After a forgettable Game 1, Fox bounced back in Game 2. He shot 66% from the field and got others involved with his playmaking. His 20 points are also the most he’s scored in a playoff game since Game 6 vs Minnesota (May 15th). Hopefully, this lights a fire for his next two performances in New York.
D3’AARON! Fox drains the rainbow three in the first quarter!
Dylan Harper dropped 15 points (6-12 FG), six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. It has been said multiple times during this postseason, but Dylan is playing like a seasoned veteran. The way he finds a way into the paint with his handles and finishing ability has to make Spurs fans excited for what’s in store for his career. He was also huge during the 14-0 run. He already became the youngest player in NBA history with double-digit points in a Finals game, and he just broke the record for most points scored in a single postseason by a rookie.
NASTY! Dylan crosses over Landry Shamet and detonates at the rim with a two-handed slam!
Stephon Castle dropped 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Steph was tremendous on defense, especially when guarding Brunson. However, he was struggling on the offensive end. He shot 35% from the field and had some key turnovers. During the 14-0 run, Steph was on the bench. Presumably, he looked hurt before he was subbed out, but came back in late to guard Brunson. The 21-year-old will have to stay poised on both ends in a loud Madison Square Garden crowd.
ST3PH! Castle knocks down the corner trey early in the second quarter!
Devin Vassell dropped 14 points (3-7 3PT, 3-3 FT), nine rebounds, five assists, and a block. Dev had a nice bounce-back game by shooting 42% from three-point land. He had the same amount of rebounds as Wemby and got into his playmaking bag. Dev has played like a playoff riser this entire postseason, and he will look to provide the x-factor cushion for Games 3 and 4.
D3V! Dev gets the Spurs on the board first with an open three from the top of the key!
For the first time in franchise history, the Spurs face a 0-2 deficit in the Finals. Even though the way this team fumbled at the end, you have to be encouraged by the way they battled back after being down 14 with around five minutes left. They looked dead in the water, they were getting outplayed, and still they managed to take a two-point lead with under a minute left. Even though it looks bleak, this series is not over yet. Even though it is not an elimination game, Game 3 is a do-or-die game for this young team. On Monday night, Spurs fans will see what this team is made of.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs have their work cut out for them as they travel on the road to Madison Square Garden, down 0-2. Game 3 is this Monday at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on ABC.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 01: Luinder Avila #58 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 01, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals dropped last night’s contest 5-3 to the Twins after a disastrous, 4-run bottom of the 6th inning. It evens the four-game series at a game apiece, with the Royals taking Thursday’s contest 8-6. On the season, the Royals are 3-2 against the Twins. They are 3-5 on the current 10-game road trip.
Luinder Avila takes the ball this afternoon to try and get the Royals back in the win column. Avila is coming off his best start as a major leaguer on Monday in Cincinnati. Avila went 5 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, and walking 4, but striking out 5. In his career against the Twins, Avila has thrown 2 scoreless innings, striking out 4 batters.
It’ll be a different lineup than usual behind Avila, Salvador Perez, who has been struggling is out of the starting lineup, and Maikel Garcia, who has pinch hit the last two games after pulling his hamstring, will start as the designated hitter today and bat cleanup. Josh Rojas, Thursday’s hero, starts at 3rd today.
As for the Twins, Joe Ryan toes the slab today. Historically, he’s basically Nolan Ryan against the Royals, but the last two times the Royals have hit the ball really well against him. However, both of those games were in Kansas City. In his last start, Ryan gave up 4 runs over 6 innings to the White Sox but struck out 9 batters. Yesterday, Ryan turned 30 years old.
Royce Lewis was recalled this morning from Triple-A after a rough start with the club; however, he’s always mashed against the Royals, and he was mashing in the minors too. Outfielder James Outman, who started in centerfield on Thursday was designated for assignment as the corresponding move. Byron Buxton is not in the starting lineup this afternoon after leaving the game last night in the 3rd inning after crashing into the wall.
Here is the Twins full starting lineup behind Ryan.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws a pitch in the fourth inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The Royals led 3-0 after four innings. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Something I wrote in Friday night’s recap keeps parading through my mind. This team was constructed to be a team with a high floor and enough talent to play consistently above-average, but without top-end potential outside Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans. The flaw with this build shows in road trips like the one they’re currently on. They have played 9 games, and they have gone 4-5. They could win this afternoon and have a 5-5 road trip. That would be a successful road trip for most teams, but for a team that has endured the losing the Royals have, it simply wouldn’t be enough even to begin to help them dig out of the hole they’ve fallen into.
A lot of Royals fans have expressed that this season feels worse than many of the losing seasons we have endured. Part of that is the weight of expectations. But part of it is that it’s so hard to shift your mindset from wins not mattering to individual performances mattering. If the Royals lose today but Noah Cameron throws six shutout innings, and Carter Jensen crushes a couple of extra-base hits, that’s a good day. Speaking of which.
Noah Cameron has completely turned his season around over his last four starts. Beginning with a textbook quality start in St. Louis, he has pitched 24 innings with 24 strikeouts, with only 14 hits and 3 walks, leading to 6 runs over his last 4 starts. That’s good enough for a 2.25 ERA, a 1.78 ERA, and a 2.25 FIP. That’s a 23.9% K-BB%, which would rank fifth in MLB, right behind current AL Cy Young frontrunner Cam Schlittler. Obviously, the sample size is small. But it’s growing every week, including seven one-hit innings (with the one hit being a home run), eight strikeouts, and one walk in an eventual loss to the Reds his last time out. One of the best starts of his young career.
The Twins will counter with rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp. FanGraphs ranked him ahead of the season as the Twins’ third-best prospect and said he had one of the best sliders in the sport. However, they also think he’s just a reliever long term. The 5.26 ERA through eight starts suggests they might not be far off the mark. He has never given up fewer than 2 runs in a start, and he has never gone more than 6 innings. His last 3 starts saw him allow 4, 6, and 6 runs. He has perhaps been a bit unlucky with a terrible 54.7% LOB rate – what will happen when the immovable baserunners meet the unstoppable run-giver?
He has trouble getting any of his pitches into the zone, which actually leads to him getting a decent amount of chase from hitters anxious to put their bats on the ball. He doesn’t get a lot of whiffs, though, and the contact he gives up is pretty hard. The slider, as you might imagine, is his most thrown pitch, but his most effective pitch has actually been the curveball he throws half as often. His changeup rates well, but hasn’t produced positive results as of yet. The four-seamer and sinker are both very hittable, so those are the pitches Royals hitters should be looking for.
Lineups
Salvador Perez is out for the second day in a row, which should certainly raise some questions as to his availability after taking a foul ball off his hand in Friday night’s contest. If you were wondering, Elias Díaz moved on to the Rangers organization which leaves Luke Maile and Luca Tresh as the guys the Royals could consider adding to the roster if Sal needs an IL stint.
Maikel Garcia made his return to the lineup as a DH yesterday, and even though it looked like he was often swinging without his lower half, he’s in there playing the field today. Jac Caglianone left early in yesterday’s contest with shoulder soreness after crashing into a wall Friday night. He’s still out today, but against a left-handed pitcher, it’s unclear if he would have played anyway.
Honestly, both of these lineups are looking pretty thin. So expect some fireworks, I guess.
Jun 5, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton (8) watches play against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images | Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
First Pitch: 1:10 pm CDT
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
Avila. Ryan. Titans of the game.
With the series split, the Twins will try to grab the inside track towards a weekend victory, and close the gap on their 30-35 record as they attempt to keep .500 within fighting distance.
They’ll do so with Royce Lewis returned to the roster after an inarguable tear at Triple-A St. Paul. He is finally the player to bump James Outman off the roster, and will get the start at second base in what might be the beginning of his last chance as a Twin.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 4: Austin Wynns #16 of the Atlanta Braves looks on in the third inning during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park on June 4, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr.Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves and their offense kept rolling last night as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates. They will attempt to do it again as Spencer Strider takes on Braxton Ashcraft. The one area that was concerning is that Michael Harris was removed near the end of the game last night with it being in question if he will play today.
It looked like he was slated to play today, but we did not know until the lineup was officially announced.
Braves manager Walt Weiss said Michael Harris has some minor back tightness. Weiss added he’s pretty confident Harris will be back in the lineup Saturday.
The last two days Walt Weiss had a lineup that was almost the same but just flipped a few spots, so today it was interesting to see if he would take the same approach, or possibly have Harris DH to give him a little extra rest to be safe. In the case of Harris DHing or not starting at all, we could assume that Eli White would possibly get the nod for CF. In a bit of sad news, Harris was not getting the start today after all.
One thing is for certain, Mauricio Dubón needed to stay in the lineup with his clutch hitting. So far this season he is hitting .358/.414/.623 with runners in scoring position. Prior to seeing the lineup card we could assume that if Harris was the DH or not in the lineup at all, where Dubón plays would be in the air. CF was on the table with White struggling, and that is the route that Weiss went to allow Yastrzemski to get the start.
Austin Wynns will be making his first start as a Brave today which makes sense since Kim is getting the start at SS and Harris is out. The Braves will need the offensive boost.
The Pirates and their offense have been surprising to say the least. They have scored the fourth most runs in MLB. To put that in perspective, they have scored ten more runs than the fifth best Yankees. The offense has been heavily aided by offseason pickups Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn. Lowe has fifteen HRs and an OPS of .864 while O’Hearn has nine HRs and an OPS of .852.
Oneil Cruz is also having his best year offensively as well with fourteen HRs and an OPS of .818.
COVERS INTEL:
Carter Hart o26.5 saves
Logan Stankoven anytime goal scorer
