Steph Curry hamstring injury progression, next step outlined by Shams Charania

Steph Curry hamstring injury progression, next step outlined by Shams Charania originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors will provide an official re-evaluation of Steph Curry on Wednesday, but per ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania, the 37-year-old superstar is taking steps toward returning.

“I’m told his progression going into [Monday] was really like jogging, some movement into his jump shooting over the weekend,” Charania said on “The Pat McAfee Show” roughly nine hours before the Warriors host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series. “I think the next step is trying to get him to the point where he can run fully, sprint fully, cut fully, take contact fully. Until you get to that point, there’s not like a safe way to bring him back from a hamstring injury, and that organization is obviously, I think, been very measured and careful bringing back players from these significant, soft tissue muscle injuries.

“And Stephen Curry said the other day, this is the first muscle strain of this kind that he’s ever dealt with in his 16-year NBA career. So I think they’re going to take a careful approach the next two days, I think it’s to see, can you ramp him up into running and cutting and sprinting, but they got to win tonight.”

Curry sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain early in Game 1 against the Timberwolves on May 6.

The Warriors won Game 1 even without Curry for most of the contest, but they were blown out in Game 2 and coughed up a fourth-quarter lead in Game 3 at Chase Center on Saturday.

Charania previously reported that the earliest Curry could return is Game 6, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 18.

But the Warriors must win Monday or Wednesday night before they can even start thinking about a potential Game 6.

The good news for the Warriors and Dub Nation is that Curry is making progress, even if it’s slow.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Former Hurricanes Forward Is Red-Hot Right Now

Nino Niederreiter (© Tim Fuller-Imagn Images)

The Winnipeg Jets fell to the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their second matchup by a 5-2 final score. With this, the Jets are now down 2-1 in the series and will aim to tie it back up on the road in Game 4. While the Jets lost, former Carolina Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter did his part to try to get them a victory. 

At the 10:07 mark of the second period, Niederreiter scored to tie the contest up at 2-2. The former Hurricanes forward's goal was a nice one, too, as he received a great feed from Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey before beating Stars goalie Jake Oettinger with an excellent snap shot.

With this goal, Niederreiter has extended his point streak to three games, where he has two goals and an assist over the span. In addition, he now has four goals and six points in his last six contests. Thus, the former Hurricane is certainly hot right now for the Jets.

During his tenure with the Hurricanes, Niederreiter was impactful because of his secondary scoring ability and tenacity. He is providing just that for the Jets this post-season, and now ranks second on Winnipeg with four goals and fourth on the team with six points in 10 playoff games. 

In 234 games with the Hurricanes over four seasons from 2018-19 to 2021-22, Niederreiter posted 69 goals, 137 points, 287 hits, and a plus-53 rating. His time with the Canes ended when he signed with the Nashville Predators during the 2022 NHL off-season. 

Recent Hurricanes News 

Carolina Hurricanes Have Golden Opportunity In Game 4Carolina Hurricanes Have Golden Opportunity In Game 4After a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in a big way in Game 3. The Hurricanes put together a strong effort in Game 3, defeating the Capitals by a 4-0 final score. Hurricanes Provide Positive Update On Injured PlayersHurricanes Provide Positive Update On Injured PlayersCarolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour delivered some positive news on the injury front Sunday afternoon. 'That Was Textbook Hurricanes Hockey': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Frederik Andersen On Game 3 Win'That Was Textbook Hurricanes Hockey': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Frederik Andersen On Game 3 WinThe Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals 4-0 in Game 3 at Lenovo Center Saturday night to take a 2-1 series.

Royals at Astros Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 12

It's Monday, May 12 and the Royals (24-18) are in Houston to take on the Astros (20-19). Michael Wacha is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Ryan Gusto for Houston.

Houston has won three of the last games, including yesterday's 6-0 shutout win over the Reds to follow up the 13-9 shootout on Saturday. Kansas City has lost two straight games by a combined 13-2 after going on a season-high seven-game winning streak.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Royals at Astros

  • Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Time: 8:10 PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, SCHN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Royals at the Astros

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (-103), Astros (-116)
  • Spread:  Astros 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for May 12, 2025: Michael Wacha vs. Ryan Gusto
    • Royals: Michael Wacha, (2-4, 2.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Astros: Ryan Gusto, (3-1, 2.93 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.2 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Royals and the Astros

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Royals and the Astros:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Kansas City Royals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Astros

  • The Royals have won 6 of their last 7 games on the road
  • The Under is 22-12-1 in the Royals' matchups against American League teams this season
  • The Royals have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.32 units
  • Houston has the sixth-fewest homers this season (33 in 39 games)
  • Kansas City has hit the fewest home runs this season (27 in 42 games)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Brewers at Guardians Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 12

It's Monday, May 12 and the Brewers (20-21) are in Cleveland to take on the Guardians (23-17). Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Ben Lively for Cleveland.

Cleveland has dropped two straight games, including Sunday Night Baseball's showcase to the Phillies, 3-0. The Guardians are 8-4 over the last 12 games but are 1-3 over the last four series openers. Milwaukee broke a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Rays yesterday but has struggled offensively with four or fewer runs scored in eight of the last 10 games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Guardians

  • Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Time: 6:10 PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, CLEG

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Brewers at the Guardians

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (-134), Guardians (+113)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Guardians

  • Pitching matchup for May 12, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Ben Lively
    • Brewers: Freddy Peralta, (4-2, 2.18 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Guardians: Ben Lively, (2-2, 3.46 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Guardians

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Brewers and the Guardians:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Guardians

  • The Brewers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against AL Central teams
  • The Brewers' last 3 road games have stayed under the Total
  • Kyle Manzardo leads Cleveland with 9 home runs (tied for 8th in MLB)
  • Jackson Chourio has 7 homers for Milwaukee this season (tied for 40th in MLB)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Nationals at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 12

It's Monday, May 12, and the Nationals (17-24) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (19-21). Jake Irvin is slated to take the mound for Washington against Grant Holmes for Atlanta.

The Braves are coming off a 4-3 walkoff loss at the Pirates and a 2-1 series loss at that after taking three out of four against the Reds. For the opposite dugout, the Nationals have lost five straight games getting outscored 37-10 and losing by two or more runs in all five.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Nationals at Braves

  • Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Time: 7:15 PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, FDSNSO

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Nationals at the Braves

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+145), Braves (-173)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for May 12, 2025: Jake Irvin vs. Grant Holmes
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin, (2-1, 3.94 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
    • Braves: Grant Holmes, (2-3, 4.58 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Braves

Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Braves in this game and the series:

"Atlanta is two games under .500 and thought they would reach that with the Pirates series, but lost twice by a combined two runs. This is another good series matchup against a Nationals team that has lost five straight games getting outscored 37-10 and losing by two or more runs in all five. I would consider the Braves -1.5 every game of this series for +100 or better or the Braves series price."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Nationals and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Nationals at Braves

  • The Braves have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against National League teams
  • Each of the Nationals' last 4 road games with the Braves have stayed under the Total
  • The Braves have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight home games
  • James Wood is tied for 7th with 10 home runs this season
  • Austin Riley has a team-high eight homers for Atlanta (Tied for 30th in MLB)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery

Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A high-stakes date on the 2025 Sixers calendar has arrived.

Here are the essentials ahead of the NBA draft lottery:

When and where is the lottery?

The event will begin Monday at 7 p.m. ET in Chicago on ESPN. Jared McCain will represent the Sixers.

What do the Sixers need to keep their first-round pick?

The Sixers’ first-rounder this year is top-six protected because of the 2020 trade that sent Al Horford to the Thunder and brought Danny Green to the Sixers.

If the Sixers’ pick does not convey to the Thunder in 2025, it will become top-four protected in 2026 (and 2027, in the event the Sixers wind up with very high selections for two consecutive years).

As far as the Sixers’ 2025 outlook, it’s simple: A top-six lottery draw means they own their first-round pick. Anything outside of the top-six means they don’t. In that scenario, the Sixers would only have their second-rounder, which is No. 35. 

The odds 

The team’s top-six odds are 63.9 percent. 

Here’s a rundown of the Sixers’ chances at every pick between No. 1 and No. 6:

  • First: 10.5 percent 
  • Second: 10.5 percent 
  • Third: 10.6 percent 
  • Fourth: 10.5 percent 
  • Fifth: 2.2 percent 
  • Sixth: 19.6 percent 

How do the Sixers view this draft? 

Though Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is always open to trades, there’d clearly be plenty of logic in using a top-six pick.

“Definitely best player available,” Morey said on April 13 of his approach. “It has to be that in the draft for sure, but we see the pick as sort of a tool to upgrade the team. It will matter if it’s one, two, three, four, five, six or we just have the pick in the future. That could also happen. It’s just a tool to make the team better, but there’s obviously a good chance we take someone. 

“In that case, it will just be the best player. I’ve never shied from that.”

The Sixers have generally done well on draft nights during Morey’s tenure. 

They’ve made (and kept) first-round picks in three years under Morey, drafting Tyrese Maxey (No. 20), Jaden Springer (No. 28) and McCain (No. 16). The team’s second-rounders with Morey in charge have been Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Charles Bassey, Filip Petrusev and Adem Bona. 

Who are the best prospects? 

As always, experts’ opinions vary on the draft’s leading players. However, Cooper Flagg will be No. 1 anywhere you look. Flagg was fantastic in his freshman year at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals. And the 6-foot-9 forward doesn’t turn 19 years old until December. 

Two Rutgers products are projected to go very early in the draft: Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Harper’s a big, crafty lefty lead guard. Bailey’s a 6-foot-10 shotmaker capable of draining tough jumpers. 

Other names regularly found in mock draft top 10s include ultra-athletic Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, sharpshooting Duke wing Kon Knueppel, high-scoring Texas guard Tre Johnson and 7-foot-2 Duke rim protector Khaman Maluach. 

Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery

Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A high-stakes date on the 2025 Sixers calendar has arrived.

Here are the essentials ahead of the NBA draft lottery:

When and where is the lottery?

The event will begin at 7 p.m. ET in Chicago on ESPN. Jared McCain will represent the Sixers.

What do the Sixers need to keep their first-round pick?

The Sixers’ first-rounder this year is top-six protected because of the 2020 trade that sent Al Horford to the Thunder and brought Danny Green to the Sixers.

If the Sixers’ pick does not convey to the Thunder in 2025, it will become top-four protected in 2026 (and 2027, in the event the Sixers wind up with very high selections for two consecutive years).

As far as the Sixers’ 2025 outlook, it’s simple: A top-six lottery draw means they own their first-round pick. Anything outside of the top-six means they don’t. In that scenario, the Sixers would only have their second-rounder, which is No. 35. 

The odds 

The team’s top-six odds are 63.9 percent. 

Here’s a rundown of the Sixers’ chances at every pick between No. 1 and No. 6:

  • First: 10.5 percent 
  • Second: 10.5 percent 
  • Third: 10.6 percent 
  • Fourth: 10.5 percent 
  • Fifth: 2.2 percent 
  • Sixth: 19.6 percent 

How do the Sixers view this draft? 

Though Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is always open to trades, there’d clearly be plenty of logic in using a top-six pick.

“Definitely best player available,” Morey said on April 13 of his approach. “It has to be that in the draft for sure, but we see the pick as sort of a tool to upgrade the team. It will matter if it’s one, two, three, four, five, six or we just have the pick in the future. That could also happen. It’s just a tool to make the team better, but there’s obviously a good chance we take someone. 

“In that case, it will just be the best player. I’ve never shied from that.”

The Sixers have generally done well on draft nights during Morey’s tenure. 

They’ve made (and kept) first-round picks in three years under Morey, drafting Tyrese Maxey (No. 20), Jaden Springer (No. 28) and McCain (No. 16). The team’s second-rounders with Morey in charge have been Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Charles Bassey, Filip Petrusev and Adem Bona. 

Who are the best prospects? 

As always, experts’ opinions vary on the draft’s leading players. However, Cooper Flagg will be No. 1 anywhere you look. Flagg was fantastic in his freshman year at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals. And the 6-foot-9 forward doesn’t turn 19 years old until December. 

Two Rutgers products are projected to go very early in the draft: Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Harper’s a big, crafty lefty lead guard. Bailey’s a 6-foot-10 shotmaker capable of draining tough jumpers. 

Other names regularly found in mock draft top 10s include ultra-athletic Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, sharpshooting Duke wing Kon Knueppel, high-scoring Texas guard Tre Johnson and 7-foot-2 Duke rim protector Khaman Maluach. 

Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor

Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA’s GOAT is coming to NBC.

Michael Jordan will join NBA on NBC coverage for next season as a special contributor, the company announced Monday.

Jordan starred for the Chicago Bulls throughout the 1990s, when NBC aired NBA games. NBC was the home of the NBA Finals from 1991 to 2002, with Jordan’s Bulls winning six titles over that span.

The announcement came at NBCU’s Upfront presentation Monday. Composer John Tesh took the stage for a live performance of his iconic “Roundball Rock” jingle before a video message came in from Jordan.

“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”

NBA coverage will return to NBC next season as part of a new media rights deal, with games and telecasts also available to stream on Peacock. It will be the first time since 2002 that the league will be on NBC.

NBC has made several announcements for its coverage next season, including Carmelo Anthony, Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller joining the network. Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle have been revealed as play-by-play announcers, and more hires are expected to be shared in the coming months.

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Bradley offers pointers to Liverpool’s future, Forest at risk of losing stars and Watkins epitomises Villa’s sunny outlook

Late-season at Anfield, a welcome show of spirit in a comeback from Arsenal became the tale of three full-backs. Following an early booking, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who began sketchily, found the measure of Mohamed Salah. There may be no tougher discipline for a defender in 2025. Does “MLS” have a long-term future as a defender or is his broad skillset better suited to midfield? The same questions have long been asked of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose second-half arrival gave rise to a loud, vicious barracking, rancorous accusations of treachery that will grab headlines. If not unprecedented – Steve McManaman received similar treatment in 1999 – it was shocking to hear the Kop’s open contempt for one of their own, though one who has dared to flee the Merseyside nest. Before Alexander-Arnold’s arrival, Conor Bradley staked claims to be a first-teamer with typical ferocity in the tackle and speedy overlaps. He was also booked. As his replacement arrived to boos, the Kop pointedly sang the youngster’s name. John Brewin

Match report: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Match report: Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea

Match report: Manchester United 0-2 West Ham

Match report: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester

Match report: Tottenham 0-2 Crystal Palace

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Can watching sport really improve your wellbeing? The science suggests it can | Sean Ingle

Couch potatoes and die-hard fans rejoice; all that time and money spent on your sports addiction may just be worth it

And still the feast goes on. Since Rory McIlroy won a Masters for the ages, fans with multiple satellite TV subscriptions – and irregular sleeping habits – have been able to gorge on an extraordinary amount of dramatic sport. Seesawing shifts in momentum? Late twists? Huge shocks? We’ve had them all.

It says something when Barcelona’s epic 3-2 victory against Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey final was only their third-most exciting match in the past month; and when my sober-eyed colleague Robert Kitson describes Northampton’s 37-34 Champions Cup win at Leinster as “one of the all‑time great knockout heists”.

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Pacers win to edge closer to Conference final

Indiana Pacers' Myles Turner reacts during Sunday's game
Myles Turner made four out of four three-pointers for the Pacers [Getty Images]

The Indiana Pacers overcame the first-quarter ejection of guard Bennedict Mathurin to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 and go 3-1 up in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.

A win for the Pacers over the top seeds in game five in Cleveland on Wednesday (00:00 BST) will see them reach a second straight conference final.

Mathurin left the game with four minutes and 32 seconds left in the opening period after a punch to the chest of De'Andre Hunter.

At that stage, the Pacers led 22-10 and they were 38-23 at the end of the quarter before outscoring their rivals 42-16 in the second to hold a 80-39 advantage

The total was a Pacers franchise play-off record for points in a half.

Pascal Siakam scored 21 points for the Pacers while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 as they bounced back from a heavy 126-104 loss in game three.

"This is a group that plays better through adversity," said Turner. "We got punched in the mouth last game, we had a hell of a response. The starters set the tone and the bench picked it up the rest of the game."

The Cavaliers were without six-time All Star Donovan Mitchell in the second half after he suffered an ankle injury - the 28-year-old will have an MRI scan on Monday to see if he can play on Wednesday.

Thunder level series in 'disgusting' game

Elsewhere, Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Denver Nuggets 92-87 to level their Western Conference series at 2-2.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points with six rebounds and six assists to lead Oklahoma City, while NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Denver.

The game tipped off approximately 38 hours after Denver's overtime win in game three and both sides showed signs of fatigue with Nuggets coach David Adelman describing Sunday's encounter as a "really disgusting basketball game".

He added: "Give their team credit, those guys made plays, made enough plays to push them over the edge and win the game."

The Nuggets overcame a poor start to lead 53-52 midway through the third quarter and led by eight points early in the fourth.

But the visitors regained the lead thanks to a Cason Wallace three-pointer with 8:35 to play and held on until the end.

The Thunder host game five on Wednesday (02:30 BST).

India’s Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: ‘I’ve given everything I had’

  • Sachin Tendulkar leads tributes to former captain
  • Kohli: ‘I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude’

The former India captain Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 36-year-old’s decision comes the week after Rohit Sharma, who succeeded Kohli as skipper, also retired from the red-ball format and a month before India start a five-match Test series in England.

The 36-year-old Kohli amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, putting him 19th in the all-time list for runscorers and behind only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar among his fellow Indians.

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Door open for overseas Wallabies to take on the Lions, says Australia coach Joe Schmidt

  • Players like Samu Kerevi, Pete Samu and Will Skelton in frame
  • Squad of up to 40 players to be picked before first Test in Brisbane

Such is the magnitude of the challenge and occasion that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to ditch his no overseas-based players selection strategy for the blockbuster series against the touring British and Irish Lions.

While not picking talent from outside of Australia is not strictly a set-in-stone policy, Schmidt has made clear his preference to mostly overlook Wallabies stars playing offshore, or heading overseas.

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Top fantasy baseball prospects: Jacob Misiorowski strikes out 11, Jac Caglianone keeps hitting

A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.

That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.

1. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

2025 stats: 35 G, .302/.423/.476, 5 HR, 3 SB, 28 BB, 33 SO at Triple-A Worcester.

If there’s a negative to how Anthony has been playing since the start of May, it’s the lack of extra-base hits. And by lack of extra-base hits, I mean an entire lack, as he hasn’t picked up a single one in that time frame. That’s not ideal, but he’s gone 12-for-37 (.324) and drawn seven walks during those games, and getting on at a .422 clip is nothing to sneeze at. On the contrary. The Red Sox have some, well, roster issues right now, but unless a certain former third baseman wants to become a current first baseman, it’s a little hard to see a roster spot for Anthony in the coming days. It should be by the end of the month, and he’s well worth rostering now so you don’t miss out.

2. Jordan Lawlar, INF, Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 stats: 37 G, .336/.413/.579, 6 HR, 13 SB, 18 BB, 39 SO at Triple-A Reno.

Lawlar was due for some struggles, and the fact that he’s hit just .267/.283/.333 since the end of April and still has these kind of stats tells you just how good the former first-round pick has been. Like Anthony, he hasn’t been able to go deep since the calendar turned, but he has added three doubles. The D-Backs may want Lawlar to get on another run before they decide to bring him up to the highest level and there’s no obvious roster spot, but it’s pretty obvious Lawlar is ready to face MLB pitching again. Fantasy managers should pounce on it as soon as the Diamondbacks make that call.

3. Matt Shaw, 3B, Chicago Cubs

2025 stats: 18 G, .262/.392/.415, 1 HR, 3 SB, 13 BB, 9 SO at Triple-A Iowa; 18 G, .172/.294/.241, 1 HR, 0 SB, 10 BB, 18 SO at  Chicago (NL).

Shaw failed in his time with the Cubs to open the year. Those who watched Shaw play know that, and those who didn’t can just look at those stats. But you know how this works. You know how hard baseball is. You know how many young players faltered to begin their career and still went on to become excellent players. Shaw started out slowly after being demoted to Triple-A, but the infielder has turned a corner and been a solid contributor since May began. Shaw isn’t guaranteed to help fantasy rosters in 2025, but there’s obviously enough talent for him to be a contributor in redraft leagues this summer. He wouldn’t be on this list if that wasn’t the case.

4. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2025 stats: 7 G, 28 IP, 2.25 ERA, .160 BAA, 11 BB, 41 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis. 

Chandler was due for a bad start, and he had one Wednesday against Columbus. He went just 2 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on five hits, and while he did strike out five, he also issued four walks. Considering how dominant he was prior to that start -- he had a 1.42 ERA bump up to 2.25 due to the struggles -- it’s hard to be too concerned about it. Chandler’s stock was high coming into the year, but the stuff and command have seen it rise so much that many believe he’s now the best pitching prospect in baseball. Even pitching for a bad baseball team like the Pirates, there’s still a great chance he’s relevant in 2025.

5. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

2025 stats: 8 G, 42.1 IP, 1.49 ERA, .148 BAA, 18 BB, 54 SO at Triple-A Nashville. 

Chandler struggled in his last outing. Misiorowski did the opposite. He was able to work 6 2/3 innings while allowing just two hits without giving up a run, and he struck out a season-high 11 batters against just one walk. It’s nice to see him bounce back from the four free passes he gave up in the outing before, but even that one saw him give up just one run. The Brewers have dealt with a plethora of injuries in their rotation, and while Aaron Civale and Brandon Woodruff have a chance to come back soon,, it’s hard to imagine that Misiorowski isn’t one of their best options. The risk with the command is real, but so is the reward with electric swing-and-miss stuff.

Around the minors:

Jac Caglianone lost the race to Nick Kurtz to be the first big bat from 2024 to make the majors, but to say he’s impressing in the minors is quite the understatement. Over his last 10 games, Caglianone is slashing .410/.477/.795 with five homers and drawn five walks for good measure. The Royals offense is playing better -- it would be hard to play much worse -- but it’s hard to argue that Caglianone doesn’t make them better right now. I seriously considered him for the final spot in this week’s list, and if you wanted to argue he should be rostered over those two pitchers -- or even Shaw -- I wouldn’t argue with you for too long.

Jonah Tong was a seventh-round pick back in 2022 who didn’t receive much fanfare before 2024, but he posted a 3.03 ERA while reaching Double-A last season, and things have gone well for the right-hander in 2025; particularly as of late. He threw 6 2/3 perfect innings for Double-A Binghamton on Saturday, and he did it while striking out 13 hitters. His low-to-mid 90 mph fastball plays up because there’s so much deception in his delivery, and he complements that heater with a plus curve and solid slider. Command is an issue at times, but Tong’s ability to miss bats gives him a chance to be a mid-rotation starter -- maybe more -- in the coming years.

When the Nationals drafted Elijah Green with the fifth pick in 2022, the hope was that his elite athleticism would translate into making him a potential star. That athleticism still shows up, but the translation hasn’t been good. That’s an understatement, unfortunately. Over his last 10 games Green has whiffed 20 times in 37 at-bats, and he’s hitting an unusable .157/.242/.259 with a whopping 58 strikeouts in 108 at-bats over 30 games. It’s worth pointing out that Green struck out 206 times in 2024, so this isn’t new. It’s just disappointing it hasn’t gotten better. There could be some sellers' remorse for those who move on from Green in dynasty leagues, but there’s just too many issues here to bet on him becoming more than organizational depth at this point. I hope I’m wrong.

Hey. Remember Everson Pereira? You’d be forgiven if you don’t; there are a lot of baseball players to remember and Pereira only played 40 games last year because of internal brace surgery. He also missed a couple of weeks in 2025, but he’s made the most of his time on the field with eight homers and a .951 OPS over 24 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Strikeouts are always going to be an issue for Pereira, but he has plus power from his right-handed bat, and the 24-year-old also has above-average speed that gives him a chance to steal 15-to-20 bases -- possibly more -- in his best seasons. The Yankees don’t have room right now, Pereira may force his way into their plans, and if not, he could be a player to watch if he was to be moved at/near the deadline.