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DraftKings Pays $1.7 Million Parlay After Spurs Win West

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A DraftKings bettor won more than $1.7 million from a $2,500 parlay that was capped off by the San Antonio Spurs winning the Western Conference finals.

The four-leg parlay, valued at +68,528 odds, contained legs from the Winter Olympics, national title game, and NBA postseason.

Key Takeaways

  • The parlay had a cash-out value of under $300,000 after the Spurs fell behind 3-2 against the Thunder.

  • The ticket began in February when the Winter Olympics were still in progress.

  • DraftKings believes that the Spurs are NBA champions in waiting. 

DraftKings’ $1.7 million parlay was one of the top stories to follow during the conference finals. The +68,528 odds translated to a 0.15% implied chance and would pay $686.28 for every $1 wagered.

Two of the four legs - Team USA to win Gold in hockey at Milan-Cortina and Michigan to win the college championship - had already cashed before the NBA playoffs began. The Spurs still needed to beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Knicks needed to take out the Eastern Conference preseason favorite Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The bettor, known as “Parlay Prince,” didn’t face any trouble with the Knicks, who swept the Cavaliers out of the playoffs in short order. That was far from the case in the Western Conference finals, which went down to the wire in Game 7.

DraftKings provided updates of cash-out values that were offered over the last week as the Spurs and Thunder exchanged blows. The offer dropped as low as $293,273.26 and sat at $612,212.95 heading into the final game. 

Despite the Thunder being favored, the bettor opted not to cash out or place a hedge bet, making Game 7 a truly all-or-nothing event. 

While many online users slammed “Parlay Prince” for their stubbornness, he ended up walking away with the full prize after the Spurs won Game 7, 111-103.

“All you gotta do is believe, and if you believe it, you can achieve it,” Parlay Prince said in a video recorded at the Thunder’s arena after his ticket cashed. 

Tracking NBA Finals odds

Neither the Spurs or Knicks were expected to reach the NBA Finals. 

BetMGM valued the Knicks at +2200 in NBA Finals odds when the playoffs began, while sportsbooks agreed the Thunder were at least 2-to-1 favorites to beat the Spurs in the conference finals. 

With the Spurs or Knicks soon to be crowned NBA champions, the league is about to experience for the first time an eighth different champion in as many seasons. DraftKings believes the team in waiting is the Spurs, who are -205 (67.2% implied chance) to win the Finals. The Knicks are +170 (37% chance).

Despite the Spurs being in pole position, the Knicks have and are continuing to make up ground. San Antonio was -225 in hypothetical lookahead lines before Game 7, meaning they lost 2% probability since they were crowned Western Conference champions.

DraftKings’ users are going against the grain. Although series betting splits aren’t publicly available, 59% of tickets and 70% of the handle in the Game 1 moneyline market are on the Knicks. An additional 55% of bets and 53% of the money are on the Knicks at +4.5, according to DraftKings Nation.

Ready for Game 1

This is the second time that the Spurs have met the Knicks in the NBA Finals. The first time occurred in 1999, when Tim Duncan led the franchise to its first title over the only 8-seed ever to reach the championship.

Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns wore a shirt promoting the ‘99 Finals ahead of his first game with the Knicks after he had been traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024. He will now star in the rematch 27 years later.

DraftKings has the Spurs at -198 moneyline odds (66.4% chance) and the Knicks at +164 (37.9%) in Game 1, which will take place in San Antonio. Both teams are undefeated in Game 1s in the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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DraftKings Posts Hypothetical Celebrity Row Odds for NBA Finals at MSG

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What are the odds that President Donald Trump will sit courtside at an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden? Wonder no more.

DraftKings' director of sports operations Johnny Avello has listed hypothetical odds on which celebrities will be spotted on celebrity row when the New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Finals.

Key Takeaways

  • Mainstays Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothee Chalamet own the shortest odds.

  • Zohran Mamdani (+5,000) and Taylor Swift (+6,000) are among the long shots.

  • Odds are not available for betting and only for entertainment purposes.

The list of celebrity names goes 60 deep and includes noted Knicks fans Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothee Chalamet (-25,000), media personalities Mike Francesa (+400) and Howard Stern (+1,000), and the aforementioned President.

Trump has said he plans to attend a Finals game at MSG.

"I think I'll be going to one of the games," the President said in May. "I was invited by numerous people, and (owner James Dolan), and I think I'll be going."

But will he sit courtside? DraftKings lists the odds of that happening at -125, a near coin flip.

All eyes on New York City

The Knicks are returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and haven't won a championship since 1973.

With the Knicks' championship drought and New York's place as the largest media market in America, all eyes will be on their series against sophomore star Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

Celebrity row looked a little different the last time the Knicks were in the Finals.

Sure shots and long shots

The sure bets include director and diehard Knicks fan Spike Lee, comedian and New York native Tracy Morgan, Stiller, and Chalamet at -25,000 odds. Chalamet's girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, comes in a shade below at -20,000. 

Knicks legends Walt Frazier (-20,000), Patrick Ewing (-20,000), Larry Johnson (-15,000), and John Starks (-12,500) follow them. 

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The long shots include musician and New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen (+40,000), fashion staples Emily Ratajkowski (+50,000) and Calvin Klein (+50,000), and former Knicks great Charles Oakley (+100,000). Oakley infamously was arrested and banned from MSG by Dolan. He did attend Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland to watch the Knicks sweep the Cavaliers.

Springsteen may not be favored on the oddsboard, but he has an ally in Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose.

The odds are not available for wagering on DraftKings Sportsbook and are only for entertainment purposes.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Austin Reaves emerges as Lakers’ top priority in telling LeBron James sign

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows The Lakers reportedly view Austin Reaves as a bigger priority than LeBron James this offseason, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, grabs a rebound away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during the first half of Game 4 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Image 3 shows President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center
Austin Reaves, Rob Pelinka, LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers have made no secret of their long-term vision since acquiring Luka Dončić. The franchise’s focus is building its next championship contender around the 27-year-old superstar, and that strategy could have major implications for both LeBron James and Austin Reaves this offseason.

According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, Reaves has emerged as a higher organizational priority than James as free agency approaches.

The Lakers reportedly view Austin Reaves as a bigger priority than LeBron James this offseason. AP

“If it comes down to whether you’d rather pay Austin $40 million per year for the next five years or LeBron $40 million for one year, they’re going to prioritize the long-term contract,” Buha said. “Austin is more of a priority for the Lakers than LeBron.”

The reasoning is straightforward. Reaves is entering his prime at 28 years old and fits alongside Dončić’s timeline.

After averaging a career-best 23.3 points and 5.5 assists during the 2025-26 season, Reaves has evolved from an undrafted role player into one of the franchise’s foundational pieces.

President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center Getty Images

The Lakers have also publicly expressed their desire to keep him. President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka recently stated that the franchise wants Reaves’ “odyssey” in Los Angeles to continue, while Reaves himself told TMZ he wants to “run it back” with the Lakers.

That doesn’t mean James is no longer wanted. The Lakers still hope the NBA’s all-time leading scorer returns for a 24th season.

Reaves has repeatedly spoken about his close relationship with James and said it would “mean the world” to continue playing alongside him.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, grabs a rebound away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during the first half of Game 4 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series AP

Still, the franchise’s priorities appear clear. Dončić is the centerpiece, Reaves is viewed as a long-term co-star, and James, despite his legendary status, is operating on a year-to-year timeline.

For the first time in decades, the Lakers’ future may matter more than their past.

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Members of Cavs ‘brain trust’ reportedly make stance known on possible Mobley for Giannis swap

Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) throws a pass beside Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

If you have been up to date on the Giannis Antetokounmpo summer sweepstakes, you would know that the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the teams being floated as a destination for the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar.

In an article by Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, he describes where the Cavaliers’ ‘brain trust’ lands on a potential trade centered around Evan Mobley for Antetokounmpo.

“The Cavs love Mobley, they believe in him and there are multiple members of the Cleveland brain trust that would be vehemently against a Giannis-Mobley swap
(Mobley) is viewed as not only a future star but also a proverbial safety net when it comes to another rebuild.”

There has been a lot of discourse around Mobley as the player to be moved if the Cavaliers want to reshuffle the deck. It would make sense if the Cavaliers were angling for a win-now mentality. With a soon to be 37-year-old James Harden and a will be 30-year-old Donovan Mitchell, you can’t have this two-timeline sort of mentality.

Everyone wants to point to the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 title and how they were able to navigate this, almost impossible feat. However, when you look at that championship from a 3,000-foot view, you would notice that in 2026, no one considered as a young building block really panned out. It was the old guard that made that title team who they were, Golden State would soon offload all those players (Jordan Poole, James Weisman, Jonathan Kuminga, etc.) to try and keep their core (Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green) relevant.

If the Cavaliers brass reportedly already is thinking about “safety net(s),” they may be setting themselves up to blow up this nucleus sooner rather than later. A half-in, half-out mentality will hamstring whichever direction the franchise would prefer to go.

To achieve either a rebuild or trying to improve their title odds, the Cavaliers need to go all in. By acquiring a veteran Harden at last deadline, there was a clear signal of going for the title now. If they decide not to move Mobley because they are thinking about the future, they’re likely not maximizing their current title window.

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Marlins vs Nationals Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 1

Miami (26-34) and Washington (31-29) meet for the second series this season as the Marlins won the first series, 2-1. The three-game series will be at Nationals Park and the final stretch of a nine-game road stand for Miami.

The Marlins enter on a season-long five-game losing streak. Miami has been outscored 35-11 in that span and scored one run in four out of five games. Miami is hitting .222 in those five games (22nd), while the pitching staff has a whopping 7.19 ERA (27th).

Washington has won two straight and six of the previous eight to stay afloat and over .500. The Nationals' pitching rotation has a 3.36 ERA over the last 13 games (8th), while the offense has the third-most home runs (20) in that stretch.

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 the how to catch first pitch, 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 Marlins at Nationals

  • Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park 
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

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 Marlins at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Washington Nationals (-144), Miami Marlins (+119)
  • Spread: Nationals -1.5 (+141), Marlins +1.5 (-171)
  • Total: 8.0

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Nationals

  • Monday's pitching matchup (June 1): Cade Cavalli Meyer vs. Sandy Alcantara
  • Nationals: Cade Cavalli 

2026 stats: 59.2 IP, 3-3, 3.62 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 68 Ks, 21 BB

  • Marlins: Sandy Alcantara 

2026 Stats: 75.1 IP, 3-4, 4.66 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 52 Ks, 21 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Nationals’ CJ Abrams is hitting .294 with 63 hits and 116 total bases over 214 at-bats
  • The Nationals’ Nasim Nunez is hitting .189 with 32 hits and 42 strikeouts over 169 at-bats
  • The Marlins’ Otto Lopez is hitting .326 with 75 hits and 105 total bases over 230 at-bats
  • The Marlins’ Kyle Stowers is hitting .221 with 30 hits and 44 strikeouts over 136 at-bats

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!

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

  • The Mets are 24-35 ATS, ranking fifth-worst
  • The Marlins are 26-34 ATS, ranking eight-worst
  • The Mets are 29-25-5 to the Under, ranking ninth-best
  • The Marlins are 36-21-3 to the Over, ranking second-best

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

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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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 Marlins and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Nationals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Nationals at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.0

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Even without Cal Raleigh, the Mariners have used power and pitching to move in front in the AL West

The AL West may have missed its chance to leave the Seattle Mariners behind.

Seattle has been under .500 for most of the season, but now the Mariners (31-29) lead the division after six straight victories. They’ve made this run without slugger Cal Raleigh, who was hitting .161 when he went on the injured list.

It doesn’t take much to shake up the standings in the AL West. The Mariners’ streak included a three-game sweep over the Athletics. The A’s were in first place, but have lost seven of their last nine. Houston has won eight of its last 12 to pull back into contention, just 4 1/2 games out of first place. The whole division is separated by 8 games, the top three teams by 2 1/2.

Despite Raleigh’s absence, the Mariners are fourth in the American League in home runs, but pitching is what has driven this recent run. Seattle has held opponents to two runs or fewer in five of its last six games.

The same five starters have made 57 of Seattle’s 60 starts. Bryan Woo (3.44), Logan Gilbert (3.69), George Kirby (3.77) and Emerson Hancock (2.78) all have ERAs among the top 25 in the AL. Luis Castillo (5.53) lags behind the other four starters, but lately Seattle has been using him in sort of a tag team with Bryce Miller, with one starting and the other coming out of the bullpen.

In a 9-2 win over the Athletics, Castillo pitched four scoreless innings and then Miller threw the last five. Against Arizona, Miller started and went five innings, then Castillo worked the last five and Seattle won 3-2 in 10.

Trivia time

The New York Yankees scored 13 runs in the third inning in their 13-8 victory over the Athletics. The Yankees actually went hitless in the other eight innings.

Anthony Volpe became the third player in the last 50 years to have two hits, two runs and two steals in an inning. Who were the other two?

Bonus question: Volpe nearly got to bat three times in the inning, but he was on deck when the third out came. Who was the last player with three plate appearances in an inning.

Performance of the week

Jacob Misiorowski struck out 12 in seven two-hit innings — throwing 57 pitches of at least 100 mph — as the Milwaukee Brewers beat St. Louis 5-1. Milwaukee went on to sweep three straight from the Cardinals, and the Brewers now lead the NL Central by 4 1/2 games over St. Louis.

Comeback of the week

The Orioles trailed by four with one out and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth. Toronto never got another out, with Jeff Hoffman allowing the next six hitters to reach base before Connor Seabold issued a bases-loaded walk to Adley Rutschman that tied the game. Pete Alonso followed with a single to give Baltimore a 6-5 win.

Toronto’s win probability was 99.3%, according to Baseball Savant, before Hoffman hit a batter and allowed a triple, a single, a double and two walks.

The Orioles went 7-3 on their homestand against Detroit, Tampa Bay and Toronto. That included a walk-off win over each of those teams and a three-game sweep of the AL East-leading Rays.

Trivia answer

Detroit’s Alan Trammell had two hits, two runs and two steals in the bottom of the first on Sept. 20, 1983, against Baltimore. Seattle’s Mike Cameron pulled it off in the top of the seventh on May 16, 2002, against Toronto.

Bonus answer: Boston’s Johnny Damon had three plate appearances in the bottom of the first on June 27, 2003, against Florida. He had a single, a double and a triple as the Red Sox scored 14 runs in the first.

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Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott's wife reveals death threats she received about their child

Tanner and Maddie Scott stand on a blue carpet in front of a white backdrop
Tanner and Maddie Scott attend Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: "Dodgers Comedy Night" at Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. (Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for Netflix)

The Tanner Scott redemption story took a dark, twisted turn Saturday night.

Not because the Dodgers reliever gave up three runs in the eighth inning to the Philadelphia Phillies, blowing a save opportunity and getting tagged with his first loss of the season. Getting knocked around happens.

But comments directed toward Scott’s wife on social media afterward were beyond alarming. Maddie Scott reposted vile comments from one user in particular that threatened not only her and her husband, but also their newborn son.

“When did it stop being a game?” Maddie Scott wrote on an Instagram story that has expired but was captured by the New York Post. “I don’t speak out often. Ever actually. I promise you, you don’t know what it’s like unless you’re living it.”

Read more:Plaschke: Ryan Ward becomes an unlikely star in memorable Dodger Stadium debut

The answer to her rhetorical question is layered. Maybe baseball stopped being a game when her husband signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2025 season, elevating expectations.

Maybe the end came seven years ago when a Supreme Court ruling led to sports gambling becoming legal. Or maybe fun and games ceased some 20 years ago when Facebook, Twitter and Instagram launched and anonymous threats could be dispatched by anyone with an account.

Death threats directed toward athletes have become disturbingly frequent. Without giving oxygen to the threats by repeating them, Scott is hardly the first pitcher whose family has been targeted after a loss.

Liam Hendriks of the Boston Red Sox, Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros, Tayler Saucedo of the Seattle Mariners and Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees are among those who have endured online attacks in the past year.

Scott took heat last year when he pitched poorly in his first season with the Dodgers. Expected to become the team’s closer, the left-hander had an MLB-high 10 blown saves and did not pitch in the postseason.

This year, however, Scott has bounced back admirably. Even after the loss Saturday, he has a sparkling 2.19 earned-run average and five saves.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Max Kellerman draws wild Steph Curry-Chet Holmgren parallel after Spurs-Thunder

Max Kellerman draws wild Steph Curry-Chet Holmgren parallel after Spurs-Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Max Kellerman certainly has a thing for Steph Curry hot takes.

The co-host of the “Game Over” podcast, alongside Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul, dipped his toe into the waters again on Monday. Discussing the San Antonio Spurs’ Western Conference finals Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kellerman compared Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s dominance of Thunder center Chet Holmgren with LeBron James’ performance against Curry in Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

“What Wemby did to Chet, in a way, is what LeBron did to Steph, in [Game 6 of the 2016 Finals]” Kellerman said, referencing a viral moment in which James blocked Curry’s shot and appeared to stare him down afterward. “[James] blocked the shot and screamed on [Curry] and Steph
had his head hung. There was something in that moment where it was like
no, you’ve got to respond, you can’t let someone scream on you like that.”

Paul, whose Klutch agency famously represents James, pushed back with an “I don’t know about that, Max” as Kellerman began to make his argument.

“Now, Steph was a young player back then,” Kellerman conceded. “LeBron had been there before, right? The Steph Curry I saw against Kawhi [Leonard in the 2019 NBA Finals] and in 2022 when he was the Finals MVP
I think if that Steph is in that series, maybe the Warriors win because Steph can hit those shots. But I felt like LeBron let him know, and Steph believed it, ‘I’m the best player in the world.’”

There are, of course, several significant differences between the two situations ten years apart. Primarily, Curry scored 30 points and hit six of his 13 three-point attempts in that Game 6, while Holmgren finished with just 4 points in his team’s Game 7 loss.

And while no one knows what the future holds for Oklahoma City, any psychological advantage James might have gained in 2016 likely evaporated as the Warriors won NBA championships against him in each of the following two seasons.

For all of his records and accomplishments, the most remarkable thing about Curry might be the eyebrow-raising takes he inspires (shout-out Phil Jackson.)

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Fact focus: Special teams could determine the Vegas-Carolina Stanley Cup Final

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes looks even in a lot of ways, with very little margin for error.

Vegas has won 12 of 16 games in the playoffs, including a sweep of Colorado in the West final, while Carolina has taken 12 of 13. They’ve allowed the third-fewest and fewest goals against, respectively, while each scoring more than three goals a game.

So, what will make the difference in a series between NHL powerhouses? Look no further than special teams.

Stifling penalty kills

The Hurricanes’ penalty kill is clicking along at a 92.5% success rate, allowing four goals and scoring once shorthanded.

“Carolina’s been an elite penalty-killing team for years now and that’s part of their identity and that comes from their puck pressure and their sticks, their discipline — all that kind of stuff,” goaltender-turned-NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider said. “Vegas will have its work cut out for itself.”

Vegas has been elite itself. The Golden Knights allowed six power-play goals through three rounds and scored four times short-handed.

Brayden McNabb, who has been around since the team’s inaugural season in 2017-18, has been a key cog of that, logging more than 45 total minutes of ice time on the kill. Three other huge pieces are players general manager Kelly McCrimmon brought in midseason.

Goaltender Carter Hart, whose presence alone has been scrutinized, has stopped 64 of 70 shots while an opponent is on the power play. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, acquired before the Olympic break, and center Nic Dowd, an addition on the eve of the trade deadline, along with McNabb have been among the first guys over the boards on the penalty kill.

It has been old reliable for the Hurricanes, with defensive defenseman Jaccob Slavin skating over 56 minutes short-handed. Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s team plays with a particular structure all the time, and this is where it is most effective as long as the three or four guys on the ice in front of goalie Frederik Andersen are on the same page.

Polarizing power plays

Vegas’ power play has scored 11 times in 46 opportunities, good for 24%. Captain Mark Stone and winger Pavel Dorofeyev have four apiece, while centers Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl each have six power-play assists.

“I find the Vegas power play to be more threatening,” Schneider said. “Can Carolina quiet Vegas’ power play and force them 5 on 5 in order to beat them?”

The better question is can Carolina’s power play keep up? It is 7 of 56 in the playoffs, a 12.5% rate that has gotten the job done against Ottawa, Philadelphia and Montreal.

Vegas, as Brind’Amour said, is “a different animal.”

“Carolina’s got a good power play, don’t get me wrong, but I think that could be a bit of a wash and Carolina’s going to have to try to generate more 5-on-5 offense than rely on their power play like Vegas should,” Schneider said.

What to expect

Given these teams’ ability to put the puck in the net at even strength, there will be an emphasis on discipline. Stay out of the box and play 5 on 5, where the Golden Knights have scored 34 goals and the Hurricanes 30.

Vegas has averaged a little under four minor penalties a game to Carolina’s five. That makes every power play even more valuable, with much of the games becoming a test of two teams with demanding coaches who don’t let a lot of the details slip.

“They play the right way,” Slavin said. “They play a very similar style to us. It’s going to be who can do it better and who can stay on it longer? But it’s going to be an awesome series.”

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Giants vs Brewers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants begin a four-game set tonight, with San Francisco looking to build on Sunday's offensive explosion.

However, my Giants vs. Brewers predictions are targeting Milwaukee's pitching to dominate the series opener amid their impressive form. 

Find out more in my MLB picks for Monday, June 1. 

Who will win Giants vs Brewers today: Brewers moneyline (-140)

The Milwaukee Brewers turn to Shane Drohan, who owns a 2.63 ERA this season, and posted a 2.05 FIP in May. While he's expected to work only a few innings, Milwaukee can comfortably turn the game over to one of baseball's best bullpens. 

The Brewers' relievers have allowed just a 6% barrel rate this season and enter Monday's contest rested after only two bullpen arms were used on Sunday.

The San Francisco Giants don't have the same luxury. The Giants' bullpen owns a 4.88 xERA and 5.40 xFIP over the last week, while Landen Roupp rarely works deep into games.

Milwaukee's bullpen advantage should prove decisive. I'd play this pick up to -155.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Milwaukee's bullpen has held opponents to a .245 BABIP over the last seven days.

Giants vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-120)

My secondary lean is the Under. While the Giants exploded for 19 runs against Colorado on Sunday, that outburst heavily inflates their recent offensive numbers.

Milwaukee's pitching situation remains strong, with Drohan expected to cover the opening innings before handing the ball over to one of baseball's best bullpens.

Roupp has also held his own recently, posting a 2.71 FIP across his last two starts. With Milwaukee's elite relief corps entering rested and San Francisco's offensive form potentially overstated, this game could be lower-scoring than expected.

I'll play this to -130. 

Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 20-14, +5.21 units
  • Over/Under bets: 20-13, +3.40 units

Giants vs Brewers odds

  • Moneyline: Giants +133  | Brewers -138
  • Run line: Giants +1.5 (-163) | Brewers -1.5 (+156)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+108)  | Under 7.5 (-113)

Giants vs Brewers trend

The Giants have hit the team total Under in 26 of their last 40 away games (+10.15 Units / 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Brewers.

How to watch Giants vs Brewers and game info

LocationAmerican Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
DateMonday, June 1, 2026
First pitch7:40 p.m. ET
TVFS1
Giants starting pitcherLanden Roupp
(5-5, 3.30 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcherShane Drohan
(2-1, 2.63 ERA)

Giants vs Brewers latest injuries

Giants vs Brewers weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Blues Sign Pending RFA Goaltender To A Two-Way Deal

The St. Louis Blues have signed goaltender Will Cranley to a one-year, two-way contract extension, Blues president of hockey operations and GM Doug Armstrong announced today. 

The 24-year-old was a 2020 sixth-round pick of the Blues and has spent the past three seasons bouncing between the ECHL and the AHL, and was set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) on July 1. 

The 2025-26 season was Cranley’s best season to date. In the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, he posted a respectable .892 save percentage in 10 games, while in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades, he recorded a .915 SP in 18 games. He had previously never posted a save percentage above .900 in either the ECHL or AHL.

His AHL career numbers show a .890 SP in 13 games and a .896 SP in 74 ECHL games. 

Prior to joining the Blues organization, Cranley was a netminder in the OHL, where he posted a .881 SP in 117 career games across five seasons. 

St. Louis Blues Have Seven RFAs This Off-SeasonSt. Louis Blues Have Seven RFAs This Off-SeasonThe St. Louis Blues will have seven restricted free agents this off-season, highlighted by Jonatan Berggren and Matthew Kessel.

While his numbers have never been eye-catching and often look rather disappointing, Cranley boasts a 6-foot-4 frame and is still quite young for a goaltender. He may never make it to the NHL, but organizational depth in the minor leagues is valuable, and retaining homegrown talent in that role is a necessity. 

Cranley’s contract will see him paid $850,000 at the NHL level, with a minor league salary of $95,000, according to Puckpedia. Due to his age and lack of NHL experience, Cranley will become a Group 6 RFA at the end of the 2026-27 season. 

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Unlucky 13: Tanner Bibee has longest win drought to start a season in Cleveland franchise history

CLEVELAND — For one inning, it appeared as if all the breaks were going the way of Cleveland starting pitcher Tanner Bibee.

Despite giving up a leadoff homer for the second straight game, the right-hander left with a lead for the first time in 13 starts this season and finally got run support as the Guardians led the Boston Red Sox 4-3 going into the seventh inning.

Instead, Bibee had a front row seat as the bullpen had one of its worst innings of the year as Boston rallied for a 9-4 win.

That put Bibee at the top of a couple of lists no starting pitcher wants to join.

Boston’s six runs in the seventh inning en route made Bibee the 12th opening day starter since 1976 to make at least 10 starts and not earn a win before June, according to Sportradar.

He has the most starts without a win before June and is the fourth with at least 12. The others were Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (2025), Miami’s JosĂ© Ureña (2018) and Atlanta’s Carl Morton (1976).

Bibee also is the first pitcher in Cleveland’s 125-year franchise history to go winless in his first 13 starts.

“I’ve said this in the past. I don’t have any control over it. All I can do is go out there, try to throw up some zeros and whatever happens, happens,” said Bibee, who is 0-7.

Bibee’s seven losses are tied for the second most among among the 12 opening day starters. His 4.57 is the fourth lowest.

“Wins and losses don’t matter for starting pitchers. It’s not a stat that means anything. So I know he’s not worried about it and we’re definitely not worried about it,” catcher Austin Hedges said.

Bibee bounced back after Jarren Duran connected on the fifth pitch of the game and drove it into the right-field stands, the fourth time he gave up a leadoff homer this season. He allowed only one hit in the second through fourth innings before the Red Sox loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Mickey Gasper tied it at 2-all with a sacrifice fly to drive in Marcelo Mayer and Wilyer Abreu’s RBI single gave Boston a 3-2 lead.

However, the Guardians rallied.

Cleveland scored twice in the bottom of the fifth on JosĂ© RamĂ­rez’s RBI double after Boston left fielder Masataka Yoshida lost track of the fly ball in the sun. Chase DeLauter’s single drove in RamĂ­rez. They loaded the bases with two outs when Stuart Fairchild struck out and unsuccessfully challenged the called third strike.

That left the Guardians without a challenge for the rest of the game, which would come back to haunt them.

Bibee retired the Red Sox in order in the sixth. He threw 90 pitches, including 62 strikes, and allowed three runs and six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

The Guardians bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Tim Herrin seemed poised to escape a bases-loaded jam with a fastball on the outer corner to Abreu on a full count, but home plate umpire Austin Jones called it a ball, allowing Connor Wong to score and tie it at 4-all.

The inning unraveled as Boston had three straight hits and added five more runs to take control of the game.

Cleveland has the third-worst challenge rate on ABS at 44.4% (59 for 133). The league average is 52.6%.

“I mean, it’s frustrating, but that’s on us. We shouldn’t have lost our challenges. It’s what they’re there for, and we’ve got to take accountability and be better at it,” Hedges said.

Bibee was a fifth-round pick by Cleveland in the 2021 amateur draft. He went 22-12 with a 3.25 ERA in his first two seasons in the majors and was second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2023. He was also the third Cleveland pitcher since 2000 with at least 10 wins in each of his first two seasons in the big leagues. Hall of Famer CC Sabathia (2001-02) and Shane Bieber (2018-19) are the others.

However, Bibee is 12-18 with a 4.33 ERA in 44 starts since signing a five-year, $48 million contract during spring training last year.

“We haven’t scored a lot of runs when Tanner’s been on the mound, even in some of the starts in which he’s pitched exceptionally well,” general manager Chris Antonetti said. “I think as we look forward, we’ll start to see more of those outings in which he’s pitching more effectively than maybe some of those other hiccup.”

Bibee remains confident he can turn his season around. Manager Stephen Vogt said Bibee’s changeup showed improvement after he allowed seven runs in three innings against Washington.

He has six quality starts this season with the latest being the fourth in his past five games.

“You want to win games, but I feel like it’s important to know pitching; you’re playing a completely different sport than the other nine people in the field. So it’s just figuring out what the kind of self-evaluation of it,” Bibee said.

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PSG now stand alongside some of Europe’s best-ever, but with caveats

The origin of PSG’s largesse and the effect it’s had on their domestic game can’t be ignored, even as we appreciate the team’s stunning quality

Since 1990, only one side had ever successfully defended the Champions League – Real Madrid, who won three in a row between 2016 and 2018. Paris Saint-Germain’s victory in the final on Saturday elevates them to a new tier of the pantheon. No bad side has ever won the European Cup or Champions League, but only great sides have ever retained it.

Arsenal pushed them much closer than Inter had in losing in the final the previous year, and there is always something slightly unsatisfying about a victory on penalties, but the quality of this PSG cannot be denied. They put six past Bayern in the semi-final – their superiority far greater than the one-goal aggregate margin would suggest. It was a similar story in the quarter-final, in which a 4-0 aggregate victory didn’t really reflect how much better they were than Liverpool. And while Chelsea may think they were slightly unlucky to lose the first leg of their last-16 tie away to PSG 5-2, the 3-0 result in the second leg was a devastating assertion of authority: three goals scored by an almost bored opponent apparently just as they felt like it.

This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition.

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How the Spurs got back to the NBA Finals

May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with guard Dylan Harper (2) in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Back in August, in the midst of the Spurs third oïŹ€season with Victor Wembanyama, I wrote about the state of the franchise and how the Spurs were progressing on their way back to the top of the proverbial NBA ladder.

Since the summer of 2022, the San Antonio Spurs have gone through four phases of the NBA life cycle; The Teardown, The Rebuild, The PlayoïŹ€s and The Contenders.  In August, the storied franchise was sitting at the start of The PlayoïŹ€ phase after seven years without a postseason appearance. Brian Wright and the front oïŹƒce made the requisite moves to signal they were ready to break their playoïŹ€-less streak.  What happened next was unforeseen by everybody, even by the most optimistic of Spurs believers.

On Wednesday night, the five-time NBA Champions will be hunting for their sixth when the basketball world assembles in the Alamo City for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.  So how did one of the youngest and least experienced teams go from a playoïŹ€ hopeful to a championship favorite in the span of just ten months?  Let’s take a look.

The emergence of the new best player in basketball

It’s hard to call it an emergence when once upon a time on NBA Draft lottery night, the great Adrian Wojnarowski called Victor Wembanyama “the greatest prospect in team sports history”, but after a blood clot halted his second season in the league, Wemby came back with a vengeance this year.  All-Star, All-NBA first team, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defense first team and third in MVP were just some of the accomplishments that the French phenom accumulated in his age 22 season.

What allowed the Spurs to make it to their seventh NBA Finals was that in the biggest games and on the biggest occasions, they had someone who not just only embraced the responsibility of the moment but demanded it. From his game-winner against the Phoenix Suns to clinch their playoïŹ€ spot, to his 39-point performancein Game 3 in Minnesota, to his masterpiece of a Game 1 against the defending champions, every time San Antonio has called, Vic has answered.

There’s been a lot of reasons the Spurs have exceeded expectations but none bigger than the 7’5” alien.

The fearless duo that doesn’t care how young they are

Were the Spurs lucky last May when for the third straight time, the lottery gods blessed the franchise with another top 4 pick (which, under new lottery reform, won’t happen again for anyone else)? Yes, but that’s not for them to worry about. They just did what they were supposed to do and added guard Dylan Harper, the second-ranked prospect, to their already young talented core.

At the same time, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle was out to prove a point. The two guards were like two peas in a pod with not just how they played on the court, but in their drive for success. Castle made a major leap in year two, becoming a more eïŹƒcient scorer while levelling up his already elite perimeter defense.

For Harper, after an up-and-down start in his first forty-one games, the flip switched for the New Jersey native, and with each passing week he was becoming a star in front of our eyes. Unstoppable getting to and finishing at the rim, under control with the ball in his hands and a stern and reliable defender.

But the biggest point of diïŹ€erence that turned the league on its head was the improvement from three-point range from the two young guards. From shaky shooters to 40% in the blink of an eye, and their confidence was as high as ever to finish the regular season.

A lot of questions were then asked heading into their first playoïŹ€ run. Would they be able to meet the moment? Would they wilt under the pressure? Would they get figured out? The answer is a resound YES. Every time they have met with someone or something in front of them, they have just gone right through them, literally.

Buying in with only one goal in mind

To win any championship, everyone must be on the same page. If one person goes rogue, it can shift the dynamics, and there goes your chance at glory. You need selfless players who are willing to sacrifice personal numbers and recognition for the betterment of the team.

This Spurs team has good people. There’s De’Aaron Fox, who for five years was a 25-5-5 guy but has routinely sacrificed to help the growth of the aforementioned fearless duo.  Then there’s the longest-tenured Spur Keldon Johnson, who has averaged 22 points a game in this league, buying into his role as a sixth man. And don’t forget Devin Vassell, who has had a million diïŹ€erent roles over his six seasons, but has never complained once and now makes all the winning plays.

It doesn’t take just one player. It takes a village, and the Spurs have one heck of a village. With Wemby ascending to the top of the mountain, Castle and Harper breaking the mold of what young guards should look like, everyone embracing their role for the good of the team, and Mitch Johnson and his coaching staïŹ€ rising to the occasion, everything clicked into place and here the Spurs are, back at the top of the NBA ecosystem.

So what now? Well, in the words of the legendary Tim Duncan:

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Injuries don’t explain why the Royals are this bad

May 30, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) comes up with a leg injury during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images | Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

The 2026 Kansas City Royals are an indisputably bad baseball team. On pace for an eye-watering 102 losses, they have one of the worst bullpens and one of the worst offenses in baseball. They run into a bunch of outs on the bases. They have lost 16 out of their last 19 games one month after losing 11 of 13. This isn’t just a good team playing poorly. We crossed that Rubicon a long time ago.

The big question: why? Why is the team bad, especially when lots of people thought that the Royals would be competitive – maybe even a playoff team – this year? Well, after such a protracted string of losing, general manager J.J. Picollo finally talked to MLB.com about all the losing. And wouldn’t you know it, but no one’s at fault here. Everyone’s doing great. According to Picollo, the front office accomplished their goals in the offseason.

“We felt like there’s a core here that we could rely on for offense,” Picollo said. “Surrounding them with a deeper, better group and more balanced group was the goal. I think we did that.” 

Oh, and it’s not the coaching staff at fault either, either. They’re doing a great job, and besides, changing staff in the middle of the year doesn’t do anything, silly. 

“I have a lot of confidence in our staff,” Picollo said. “You can go back and look at all the historical research on changing coaching staffs. There’s not a lot of strong data on changing coaching staffs mid-season leading to what you need to do. It appeases the fanbase because you’ve made a change, but we have to be logical in our thinking.” 

We’ve already established that the front office did a great job assembling the team, so player quality isn’t the issue here. What about player attitude and teamwork and camaraderie? The good news is that’s not a problem, either.

“Is the work getting done?” Picollo said. “Are the [coaches’] conversations productive with the players? Are they still eager to get to the ballpark and learn and work and play? Are they motivated? Right now, all of my observations are: Yes, they are. If anything, they’re saying, ‘I’ve got to be more accountable, I’ve got to be better. I’m the one not executing.’” 

At this point, we’re getting pretty thin on reasons why the Royals are on a 102-loss pace in June. According to Picollo, it’s not the front office, it’s not the coaches, and it’s not the players. No one is responsible for the state of Royals baseball right now. So if no one is responsible, something else must be at fault. And I fear we are going to hear more and more excuses about this being an injury-bit season, especially after Maikel Garcia’s hamstring injury from Saturday’s game. 

It is true that the Royals have had their fair share of injuries this season. Closer Carlos EstĂ©vez pitched one game this year and has been sidelined with injuries since. Second baseman Jonathan India had season-ending shoulder surgery at the end of April. Starting pitcher Cole Ragans first went on the injured list in early May and had a setback during rehab. Fellow starting pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list in mid-May, too. Newly acquired reliever Matt Strahm hit the injured list in mid-May, as did Nick Mears a few days ago. And though we don’t know how long Garcia could be out, hamstring injuries are fickle and he could be out anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. 

But I don’t buy this excuse and you shouldn’t either, even though I’m sure the team will use it for why they’re selling at the trade deadline and at the end of the year when the Royals finalize a 90-something loss season. 

The main reason is that the Royals have had objectively fewer injuries compared to other teams. Spotrac keeps a list of total players, total days, and cash total per days missed for the injured list by team. Kansas City ranks 20th in total players on the IL (10, median of 14), 20th in total days missed on the IL (392, median of 518) and 19th in cash total per days missed ($8.49 million, median of $11.1 million). 

And the other reason is that most of the guys who have landed on the injured list are players who the Royals should have expected not to stay healthy all year. Estevez is 33 and his fastball velo has been declining since 2022. Strahm is 34 and his fastball velo has also been declining since 2022. India’s shoulder injury was well known to the club, and he’s only averaged 131 games played per year prior to this season. Ragans only made 13 starts last year. Bubic only made 20 starts last year. 

Are injuries a factor to this season? Yes they are. But the Royals don’t play in a vacuum; they are playing other teams who are also dealing with injuries, and most other teams have had more injuries. But the Royals have backed themselves into a corner here with answering the core question of why they’re bad. According to Picollo, the Royals may have the second worst record in all of baseball despite a solid roster, good coaching, and prepared players. It doesn’t add up.