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Why fearless Spurs are dangerous threat to Knicks as they brush off Game 1 NBA Finals loss

Knicks vs. Spurs

Victor Wembanyama was strikingly calm.

Stephon Castle was markedly confident.

So what that the Spurs trail the Knicks 1-0 in the Finals? So what that those two guys are 22 and 21 years old, respectively? So what that no one thought they were ready for the league’s biggest stage?

They’ve proved everyone wrong, and they’re hellbent on doing it again.

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) is helped off the floor by teammate Stephon Castle (5) during Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Knicks in San Antonio on June 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The basketball world winced when Wembanyama suffered a concussion in Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round series against the Trail Blazers and needed to enter the league’s concussion protocol. There goes the Spurs’ postseason run.

It rolled its eyes when San Antonio lost Game 1 of its second round series to the Timberwolves. So much for being the real deal.

It started writing the Spurs’ obituary when they faced Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City against the reigning champion Thunder and its two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Welp, it was a good run.

But the Spurs didn’t flinch in any of those moments. They leaned on one another. Their belief in themselves over the last two months has deepened to form a well of confidence form which they now draw after squandering home-court advantage against the Knicks in a 105-95 loss on Wednesday.

Said Wembanyama: “I’m not worried the slightest.”

Added Castle: “We feel like we’re the better team. We didn’t play well, and we still had a chance to win.”

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama speaks to reporters the day before Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 4, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Spurs led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter before they let their lead slip through their fingers in the final six minutes of that period. They were outscored in the fourth quarter, 29-19.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson didn’t even need to watch film to pinpoint where they need to improve. It was obvious. It was glaring.

San Antonio gave up a whopping 50 points in the paint. It had only 16 assists. Wembanyama, who shot 51.2 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from beyond the arc this season, shot a woeful 6-for-21 from the field (28.5 percent) and 2-for-9 from deep (22.2 percent) in Game 1.

Gregg Popovich, who coached the Spurs for 29 seasons and led them to five championships before stepping down after suffering a stroke in Nov. 2024, sent Wembanyama a text after watching the team’s implosion Wednesday night.

The gist?

“I’ve been bad,” Wembanyama said. “And I’m better than this.”

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) puts up a shot against the Knicks during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Spurs weren’t good, and they still had a 95-94 lead with 2:16 left. They let Jalen Brunson score 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. They committed five turnovers in that period while the Knicks had none. They were careless. They were outplayed.

They got in their own way.

That doesn’t instill fear in the Spurs. If they played their best and lost, that might have shaken them a bit more. But this was not that.

Heck, even if that had happened, this Spurs team would likely still believe in themselves.

If there’s anything this playoff run has taught us about them, it’s that they’re unflappable.

The Spurs’ stars might barely be of drinking age, but they’ve proved they’re mature enough to block out noise that can be deafening for players who are accustomed to big stages.

The New York Post front cover for June 4, 2026 featuring the Knicks’ Game 1 win.

Too young? Too inexperienced? They’ve made a mockery of those narratives.

Counterintuitively, it makes you wonder if their youth is their superpower. There’s a certain cockiness that can come with not knowing any better.

Castle was quick to shut that down.

“I don’t know if that’s our youth talking,” he said. “It might just be more of what our character is like. I don’t think we’ll ever change from being this way, having this kind of confidence in each other, no matter how young we are.”

That deep belief in themselves is what has gotten the Spurs through three series. It has gotten them to the championship round earlier than anyone thought possible.

They’ve faced a 1-0 series deficit before. That didn’t faze them.

They dethroned the defending champs who many believed would become the league’s next dynasty. You think they’re afraid of the Knicks?

Wembanyama already indelibly stamped his name into postseason lore with a 41-point, 24-rebound, three-block performance against the Thunder in Game 1 of that series. You think he’s going to get in his head about a mediocre Finals debut?

Think again.

There’s a fearlessness about the Spurs.

No one thought they’d be here this quickly. They have nothing to lose.

And that makes them very dangerous.

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Cameron Boozer Update

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer shoots the ball during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA Draft is in less than three weeks, and the speculation about Cam Boozer is hitting new heights.

Part of it may be gamesmanship, as various front offices try to push players up or down to get their true target.

Subterfuge is actually one of our favorite parts of the whole process. In Boozer’s case, though, we’re not sure that’s necessarily what’s going on.

He’s been through the combine, and he’s done the interviews. Teams have a much better idea of who he is now.

The top three picks, as you probably know, are Washington, Utah, and Memphis, and there’s the consistent rumor that Oklahoma City would like to trade up to get him.

It’s not a bad position to be in, really, other than going to the Wizards. In our opinion, it’s less important to be an early pick than it is to be picked by a stable franchise. Memphis and Utah are remaking their teams, but management appears to be competent. And it would be hard to do much better than OKC.

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Babacar Sane is about to become must-watch television for St. John’s men’s basketball

HENDERSON, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 06: Babacar Sane #4 of G League Ignite reacts after hitting a 3-pointer against the Perth Wildcats as time expired in the first quarter of an NBA G League Fall Invitational game on September 06, 2023 in Henderson, Nevada. Ignite defeated the Wildcats 124-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Last month, St. John’s announced the signing of Senegalese forward Babacar Sane. Rick Pitino was quoted as being “extremely impressed” with Sane’s athletic ability. At 6-foot-8, Sane possesses the prototypical NBA forward frame, but his freakish 7-foot-2.5 wingspan places him alongside NBA champion Kawhi Leonard and Knicks forward OG Anunoby. The Senegal-born forward didn’t take the traditional route to college basketball. Instead, he joined the NBA Academy in Africa and was placed on Dakar Université Club, where he thrived.

Sane ended up joining G League Ignite alongside Pistons guard Ron Holland and other NBA talent. In 75 career games, Sane averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. The consensus around Babacar Sane has always been that he’s a prospect who has the raw tools to become an NBA forward but hasn’t taken that step just yet. Sane possesses freakish vertical jumping while still being able to create his own shot. Granted, his shooting splits across all levels haven’t been eye-popping; Sane has a viable jumpshot.

When watching film across three different continents for Sane, one thing is evident: He’s a phenomenal athlete. Sane’s film shows multiple clips of him finishing above the rim and impacting plays on both ends. Sane should thrive in Rick Pitino’s transition offense. His long strides and grab-and-go ability allow him to cover ground quickly, making him a threat in the open floor.

That downhill pressure often draws multiple defenders, creating open looks from beyond the arc, as seen during the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Sane averaged 13.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in the Intercontinental Cup, and those marks are pretty impressive because most of those G League Ignite players were kind of just looking for their buckets and not making the extra passes.

Sane works more in the off-ball player role, where he finds himself in a bunch of motions and is constantly cutting to the basket. The reason he’s gonna do well in this role at St. John’s is that Babacar has never had a point guard of the same quality as Quinn Ellis in terms of playmaking. Ellis has a special ability to find the right player at the right time, and I could count on multiple occasions how many times I saw a guard miss a wide-open Sane cutting to the rim. If Quinn Ellis can consistently find Babacar in transition or on cuts, this could be a lethal Big East pairing. Sane is nearly impossible to contain once he’s going downhill, and even when defenses do, he still gets to the free-throw line, where he converts at an above-average rate.

One of the big questions heading into this season will be how many minutes Sane will get. In 17 minutes per game at MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, Sane had 16 double-doubles in 28 games and had three games with 20-plus points. So if we adjust Sane’s minutes and he ends up playing 20–25 minutes, he could definitely average around 12 points per game off the bench and could be a big momentum shifter when he checks in.

The make-or-break attribute for Sane and his playing time will be directly tied to his three-point shooting, where he was about average everywhere he played. His jumpshot is not broken; it is actually workable. His base looks good, his arms are tucked in, and he’s not a stiff shooter. So knowing how Pitino gets the best out of all his players, there’s nothing stopping Babacar Sane from becoming Big East Sixth Man of the Year besides himself.

Sane has been a successful international player with Senegal and has been a solid role player on three different continents. But it’s time for him to break out of his shell and live up to the potential most scouts think he has. Look what Rick Pitino did for Dillon Mitchell—he wasn’t an NBA-ready player at the beginning of the season, and now he’s projected as an early-to-mid second round pick.

I’ll say this one last time: Babacar Sane is gonna be must-watch TV at Madison Square Garden with his glamorous dunks and ability to create offense through his movement alone. He is one of many new pieces for the Johnnies this season, and we should all be excited to see how Pitino uses him.

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Sell us on your favorite Wizards draft prospects — not just at No. 1

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: AJ Dybantsa looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It’s June. The second game of the NBA Finals is later today. But here we are, still think about the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23-24, 2026.

FanDuel Sportsbook will say that AJ Dybantsa is the No. 1 pick and so will everyone’s mom, dad, sibling, better half and dog. Even Dybantsa thinks so himself. Ari Alexander of WHDH-TV in Boston (yes, BOSTON) had an interview with him which goes into depth about his thoughts about the Wizards, Utah and where he will be in the draft.

But let’s just take a step back. The Wizards don’t just have the top pick. They have the No. 51 and No. 60 picks thanks to previous trades. It’s possible Washington could trade these picks more higher draft selections or use them for a pick in 2027 or later. That said, let’s assume Washington stays put with the No. 51 and 60 selections.

So this ends up being a harder question, but it’s fun nevertheless. Who are your favorite prospects at No. 51 and No. 60? And yeah, you can always say who your favorite pick is at No. 1 as well. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Maple Leafs' Scouting Director Reveals Plan For 2026 NHL Draft

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a large responsibility in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft as they own the first overall pick.

The Maple Leafs' staff know how important it is to make no mistake with the first overall pick, as opportunities like this don't come around often, even if Toronto selected Auston Matthews first overall just 10 years ago.

GM John Chayka and director of amateur scouting Mark Leach understand the weight of the situation. 

Chayka has travelled to Whitehorse to visit projected first overall pick Gavin McKenna to meet with him. And Leach talked about the extensive and careful plan the Maple Leafs will execute between the NHL scouting combine and the draft taking place on June 26 and 27.

Leach, who has been with the Maple Leafs organization for two years now, was a guest on the NHL Draft Class podcast and discussed how Toronto will tackle the first overall pick.

He was asked if the Maple Leafs will be locked in on who they want to take after the combine wraps up on Saturday.

"It won't be locked in," Leach said. "We will be discussing it. After this week, we'll be rehashing it.

New Maple Leafs Assistant GM Judd Brackett's NHL Drafting History With Wild And CanucksNew Maple Leafs Assistant GM Judd Brackett's NHL Drafting History With Wild And CanucksThe Toronto Maple Leafs hired Judd Bracket as an assistant GM on Monday, and he will oversee amateur and professional scouting. For the last 11 years, he's been the director of amateur scouting, split between the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild. Here is Brackett's history at the NHL draft.

Leach continued about how important it is for the Maple Leafs to really evaluate their options to make sure they get this first overall pick right.

Therefore, the plan for Toronto is not to rush the process or shut any doors too early when it comes to any selection they make in this draft.

"I think in a situation, you want to be able to take the time," Leach said. We have the time, so why not take it to dig back in and keep going over and making sure you're making the right decision for the organization?

"I think anytime you get the No. 1 pick, you have an opportunity to really help change your team," he said. "Those picks don't come along the way every year, obviously. I've been in this business 32 years, first time I ever had the No. 1 pick. ... But it does immediately help your organization take a step."

Maple Leafs 2026 NHL Draft Pick: The Case For Gavin McKennaMaple Leafs 2026 NHL Draft Pick: The Case For Gavin McKennaThe Toronto Maple Leafs are privileged to own the first-overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft. With debate as to who they should select with that pick, here is the case for Gavin McKenna

Leach was eventually asked if it's important to the Maple Leafs to draft a player who can jump right into the lineup for opening night of the 2026-27 season.

"No, it's not imperative," Leach said. "It doesn't have to be, it's not my decision to make, to be frank and honest. It's up to the GM and our coaching staff to make that decision. Our job as amateur scouts is to get the organization the best possible player."

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Surprisingly Big Name Available On Trade Market, Ideal For Canadiens

For a second straight offseason, Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will be hoping to pick up a second-line center, and yesterday, Elliotte Friedman reported that Detroit Red Wings talented center and captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade. This story will have to be closely monitored, as Steve Yzerman, Detroit’s GM, doesn’t necessarily like that kind of request. It took Jonathan Drouin some time to get out of Tampa Bay when he demanded a trade. Of course, back then, Drouin was a youngster who didn’t have much clout in the league, but Larkin is anything but that.

The center is a 6-foot-1, 204-pound, left-shot player who has a 52.7% success rate at the faceoff dot and has put up 643 points in 808 career games. This past year, he put up 34 goals and 33 assists for 67 points in 74 games while spending 20:12 on the ice. Of course, that kind of player is sure to generate a lot of interest on the market, and one could think the price tag will be very high, but Larkin is in the driver’s seat here. The player has a no-trade clause and can therefore pick his destination.

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Would he like to play in Montreal? There’s been no indication one way or another, but there hadn’t been one that Noah Dobson wanted to before last summer’s trade happened either. For a player who has only played five playoffs in 11 seasons in the NHL, a team that just made it to the third round may sound like a very interesting destination.

If Yzerman decides to grant his captain’s request, he will, of course, want a sizeable return, and the Canadiens are one of the best placed teams to provide that. They have prospects, they have roster players and draft picks, and they’ve also got the cap room needed to take on Larkin’s contract.

The 29-year-old pivot will turn 30 at the end of July and is signed for another five seasons at a reasonable $8.7 M cap hit. While he may be a bit older, that would have been ideal; it’s easy to see a scenario in which Hughes is ready to put an attractive package on the table to acquire him.

The Habs could really use a left shot down the middle, and Larkin is the type of player who could help unlock Ivan Demidov’s full potential. He can play on the power play and the penalty kill; he can do it all. His acquisition would take a lot of pressure off Nick Suzuki’s shoulders and give the Canadiens a center line to be reckoned with and a real top-six.

Larkin may just have made it to the top of Hughes’ shopping list, but there are a few sizeable obstacles in the way. Detroit is a divisional rival, and Yzerman would likely prefer to send him elsewhere rather than within his own division, but never say never, as they say.

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Flyers Should Swoop In For Creative Darnell Nurse Trade

With a lack of appealing free agent options at left defense, the Philadelphia Flyers ought to seek out a creative deal on the NHL trade market.

To this point, most defensemen the Flyers have been linked to are right-shot veterans: a short-term stopgap like John Carlson or a late bloomer in Darren Raddysh.

On the left, Mario Ferraro is a fine option, but he is on the smaller side, seeks a long-term contract, and plays a brand of hockey that typically doesn't age well over the years, a la Nick Seeler.

A new name that is about to hit the trade market, however, is none other than Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. This one was a long time coming.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Nurse is 31, comes at a significant cost of $9.25 million against the cap, and is error-prone, much to the chagrin of Oilers fans.

That's fine, but he is still objectively an upgrade for the Flyers, wherever he fits on the blue line, and he won't cost all that much.

According to Sportsnet's Mark Spector, "Conversations with several current and former employees all lead to the same place: the Oilers are ready and willing to trade Nurse as soon as they are able.

"When he realizes that a trade is imminent, however, two sources have told Sportsnet that the Oilers’ preference would be to move Nurse before the start of next season."

The Oilers, who are running out of time to squeeze a Stanley Cup out of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl--they've already gone the distance with Nurse on the roster in two straight years--are assuredly eager to move Nurse's cap hit elsewhere to spread the wealth for their two superstars.

A Flyers Trade for Dylan Larkin Checks All the BoxesA Flyers Trade for Dylan Larkin Checks All the BoxesThe Philadelphia Flyers have no reason to allow Dylan Larkin to slip away to another NHL team after his trade request.

Edmonton badly suffers from a so-so defensive group, which plays behind a forward group totally devoid of passable depth.

Nurse, as a second- or third-pair defenseman, still has positive value, to be clear. He's 6-foot-4, is an extremely fluid athlete, and can play some offense despite taking a clear backseat to Evan Bouchard on power play duty.

Finances aren't a concern for the Flyers, either.

While Nurse has four seasons remaining on his contract, his base salary is $2 million in the upcoming season, and $1.2 million for the final three seasons, accompanied by a $6 million signing bonus for each of the four seasons.

That doesn't help the salary cap, but for the Flyers and Comcast, it's actually a fairly minimal financial commitment, especially when we assume that the Flyers continue to make the playoffs... with the help of Nurse.

The Flyers won't have anyone else to spend big money on anytime soon, either.

After Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are re-signed this offseason, the Flyers will need to re-sign Matvei Michkov next summer, Tyson Foerster next summer, and Porter Martone the summer after that.

For what may ultimately cost them a mid-tier draft pick and/or low-tier roster player, the Flyers can get themselves a Stanley Cup-tested veteran with athleticism and puck-moving ability.

Nurse won't struggle with the Canadian media spotlight or being typecast as a No. 1 defenseman with the Flyers, and he'd make for a solid insurance policy in the event something happens to Travis Sanheim.

And, for further appeal to Flyers fans, Nurse's uncle is Eagles Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb.

At the end of the day, Sanheim, Drysdale, Cam York, Nurse, and Rasmus Ristolainen are a solid group of five defensemen with varying skillsets, and after working some magic this past season, assistant coach Todd Reirden could very well do it again with another new face.

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DitD & Open Post – 6/5/26: Trade Request Edition

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 11: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings skates up ice with the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Little Caesars Arena on April 11, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“Arseny Gritsyuk is seeking a multi-year contract extension with the New Jersey Devils, New Jersey Hockey Now has learned. Fresh off a solid rookie NHL campaign in which he recorded 13 goals and 31 points in 66 games, the 25-year-old Russian winger is looking to capitalize on his strong first season in North America.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

“Unless Hischier’s ask reaches extreme heights – I’m talking second or third highest AAV in the league high – there is no world in which the Devils will even consider a trade. Nor should they.” [Infernal Access ($)]

How might the Devils go about rearranging the bottom end of the lineup? [Devils’ Advocates]

Congrats to Patrik:

Hockey Links

The Hurricanes take Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final:

A major bit of news: Dylan Larkin has requested a trade out of Detroit. [Sportsnet]

Jon Cooper takes the Jack Adams:

“Marcus Foligno walked into the Masonic Cancer Center in Minneapolis with his wife and kids expecting to tour the hospital, and walked out with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.” [NHL.com]

An offseason offer sheet primer here. Who might get one? Who could offer one? [Sportsnet]

On playing with teammates who speak a different language: “Chemistry, I don’t think that has anything to do with language. Whoever it is, you have different chemistry in a different way, (same) language or not.” [The Athletic ($)]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Open Thread: NBA Finals Legacy Project reveals upgraded community center gym

On Thursday, a project involving the NBA, San Antonio Spurs and Emirates unveiled a newly renovated space at Denver Heights Community Center. Jacob Tobey hosted a panel including NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, R. C. Buford, and Spurs players. Attendees involved NBA’s executive vice president, head of basketball operations James Jones, local politicians, families, and attendees of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA basketball camps.

Renovations included roof and ceiling repairs, fresh paint, new court flooring, a scoreboard, backboards, wall tile improvements, technology, and gaming equipment to the center’s gymnasium and multipurpose room.

Following the ceremony, a clinic took place involving local youth. They and the families visited the library and received an introduction to the technology.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Kentucky Wildcats News: Karl-Anthony Towns shines in NBA Finals for his late mother

Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) practices before game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Karl-Anthony Towns has taken full control of the New York Knicks offense this postseason.

NY is essentially playing Towns as a point-center and allowing him to both distribute the basketball but also find his own shot depending on the matchup.

That method has worked incredibly well for the Knicks as they find themselves up 1-0 over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

Not only is Towns playing great offense, though, but he was pretty impactful against the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on Wednesday night at the defensive end of the court.

His two-way ability has shined and in the win, the former Kentucky Wildcat felt his late mother’s presence.

“I don’t know what it was, but I just felt a calm and a peace that, I don’t know, had to be coming from the woman above,” Towns said on ESPN.

“I felt really confident about today, I felt good,” Towns said. “I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here. This is something that as a kid you always dream about. You always hope to be an NBA player, let alone to be in the NBA Finals.

“All day, it was just a weird feeling. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to play my Saturday AAU games and my Sunday AAU games. In a way, it felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun, it was really fun, and it was really comforting.”

His mother passed away in 2020 due to complications with COVID-19. The Knicks will suit up for Game Two of the Finals tonight in San Antonio and are 5.5-point underdogs.

Tweet of the Day

Kentucky will play at a top-15 Virginia Cavaliers team next season!

Headlines

Devin Burkes becomes latest former player to join Kentucky’s baseball staff – KSR

Love it.

NBA eyes interaction between Jalen Brunson, fans in Game 1 – ESPN

Investigation update.

New mock draft has Otega Oweh getting drafted, Jayden Quaintance to the Knicks – KSR

What do we think?

Two fans get lifetime bans over selfie quest at NBA Finals Game 1 – ESPN

Sheesh.

Matt Ponatoski is Two Wins Away from a Baseball State Title – KSR

Pretty awesome.

Packers, WR Christian Watson reach $110.5M extension – ESPN

Big bag.

Pump It Up: Kentucky baseball enters offseason mode – KSR

The latest.

George Pickens’ status for minicamp, plus true competition at left tackle, more – CBS Sports

More drama.

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YouTube Gold: The Great Andrew Toney

BOSTON - 1980: Andrew Toney #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during an NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1980 NBAE (Photo by Ron Koch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Andrew Toney is somewhat overlooked today, which is really a shame.

Drafted out of the University of Lousiana by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1980, Toney quickly established himself as a superb offensive guard.

He was particularly lethal against the Boston Celtics, to the point where Beantown media called him The Boston Strangler.

He was a key part of the 1983 Philadelphia championship team, starting alongside Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving.

Sadly for Toney, his career ran into real problems after about five years. He was having serious pain in his feet, and he and the Sixer disagreed about the cause. Ultimately, he was found to have stress factures in both feet, and the last three years of his career were difficult, personally and professionally. His relationship with the 76ers deteriorated and has never fully recovered.

He retired in 1988, because he never recovered from his feet problems.

His contemporaries knew how good he was. Charles Barkley said he was the best player he ever played with, and since he was teammates with Malone and Erving, that’s really saying something. Larry Bird and Sidney Moncrief thought he was right there with Michael Jordan.

Here are some of his career highlights. Keep in mind that Toney was just 6-3 and most of his scoring was not near the basket. Nonetheless, he shot 50% for his career.

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Andy Farrell signs new Ireland contract to quash any chance of England switch

  • Farrell to remain as Ireland’s head coach until 2031

  • 51-year-old says ‘best is yet to come’ for Ireland

Andy Farrell has signed a new deal to remain as Ireland’s head coach until 2031, removing any chance of England luring him back to Twickenham after next year’s Rugby World Cup. Instead, Farrell has opted to stay put in Dublin and will now preside over Ireland’s next two World Cup campaigns.

Farrell, who led the British & Irish Lions to a series win in Australia last year, has steered Ireland to two Six Nations titles, including a grand slam in 2023, and a historic Test series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand since replacing Joe Schmidt in late 2019. His latest five-year deal ends any speculation about a possible return to English rugby in 18 months’ time.

Continue reading...
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2025-26 Season in Review: Stuart Skinner (and also Tristan Jarry)

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins protects the net against the Edmonton Oilers at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Vitals

Player: Stuart Skinner
Born: Nov 1, 1998
Height: 6-feet 4 inches
Weight: 215 pounds
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Catches: Left
Draft: Third round pick (78th overall) in 2017 by the Edmonton Oilers
2025-26 Statistics: With Edmonton – 23 games (11-8-4 record, 2.83 GAA, .891 save%, 2 shutouts). With Pittsburgh – 27 games (12-9-5 record, 2.99 GAA, .885 save%)
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent on July 1

Story of the Season

For the first time, a joint player review! It’s more like a ‘Penguin veteran goalie’ review day, which was Tristan Jarry when the season started. Jarry played well for the Pens at the beginning of the year (9-3-1 record, 2.66 GAA, .909 save%) only to see a shocking trade made seemingly out of nowhere on December 12th that sent him to Edmonton for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and a 2029 second round pick.

In that moment, the future of the crease in Pittsburgh was changed. Skinner fit into Jarry’s place as part of the goalie rotation with Arturs Silovs, alternating in and out of the lineup almost every other game.

It turned out to be the perfect timing for the Pens to cut ties with Jarry and his onerous contract. The negative patterns of his career – namely injury and second-half decline – ended up repeating once again this season. Within three games of joining the Oilers, Jarry got hurt and was out for nearly a month. Once back, his play steadily regressed and he lost the position of being the Edmonton’s starting goalie by March. Jarry was only called on for one playoff game, where he took an overtime loss in Edmonton’s Game 4 against Anaheim.

On the other side of the equation, Skinner wasn’t tremendous but performed better statistically than Silovs for much of the season. That allowed Skinner to eventually nudge ever-so-slightly to the front of the line to earn being the Pens’ starting goalie at the beginning of the playoffs. Skinner performed fairly well against the Flyers in Games 1 and 2, allowing only five total goals – but his team wasn’t sharp and lost both games. Skinner was shakier in Game 3 where he gave a couple of questionable goals, and four total in another loss. At that point he was benched for the remainder of the series when the team gave Silovs a shot.

Monthly Splits

via Yahoo

Skinner was at his best for the Pens in January, providing some very sturdy play and winning seven of his eight starts. No other month was particularly impressive on paper, but considering the Pens finished three points ahead of ninth placed Washington in the standings an elevated January performance stands out as one of many factors that helped make Pittsburgh into a playoff team. Had Skinner had his fairly usual type of record, say a 4-3-2 January, that would have meant four less points in the standings. There’s no shortage of little variables that all combined to add up to a successful season for the team at large so that period for Skinner could be seen as just as important as anything else an individual contributed along the way (including going back to a 30 save on 31 shot night on 12/30 in a 5-1 win against Carolina that stands out as perhaps Skinner’s finest game as a Penguin).

Charts n’at

Via Advanced Hockey Stats and NHL Edge

The tale of the tape regarding GSAA for the two goalies traded for one another was just about the same until the Olympic break. Skinner ended up being pretty strong at +5.35 GSAA overall in 27 games as a Penguin and +9.05 GSAA on his entire season. Jarry, as tends to be his calling card, fell apart over the second half of the season. Jarry ended up with a -3.41 GSAA for his campaign, a tremendous fall from his +10.2 peak in late-January.

In the end, perhaps fittingly, the story ended the same for both goalies – they each watched from the bench as their respective teams lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Skinner’s advanced numbers might give him a little more credit than his reputation suggests. His save percentage wasn’t impressive but was better than the expectation (dashed blue line in the bottom right). Now with the benefit of time passing by, it’s easy to see he was miscast in Edmonton as a 50-60 game No. 1 starter role he filled from 2022-25. Hopefully on his next team he can slot in as a 1B or backup and he will have a chance to shine in the right situation. Some rumors already are out there that Ottawa may or should be interested in him, which might be a good spot. If I were his rep, I’d probably keep an eye out for what teams like Florida, Tampa and Winnipeg might be looking for as clubs that potentially seeking a secondary goalie option this summer.

As for Jarry, well, there’s no nice way to put it, his declining level of play combined with his contract is a massive issue for the Oilers moving forward. He was brought into be the solution and ended up making the situation even worse than it previously was. Whether it was physical, mental or some combination of both, the change of scenery did little to alter what’s become the downward slope of his career.

Skinner was slightly better than Silovs when it came to high danger save percentage (.775% for the Latvian), though neither were particularly good relative to the rest of the NHL goalies at large. All other things fairly equal, that slight advantage is a big reason on what helped to give Skinner the edge in being named the team’s No. 1 goalie at the start of the playoffs. (For his part, Jarry was pretty strong at high danger shots, stopping 82.5% of them. However, his mid-range and long-range numbers were absolutely atrocious and among the worst in the league.)

Highlights

Questions to ponder

There’s not a lot to question at this point, GM Kyle Dubas made it clear at the end of the season that his “full expectation” is that Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist will be competing for an NHL roster spot next season. It doesn’t take a lot of reading between the lines to figure out that Skinner isn’t a part of Pittsburgh’s plans moving forward in order to open up that spot for a younger goalie to step into it.

Ideal 2026-27

In this instance, Dubas achieved an ideal outcome as far as juggling the Penguin veteran goalie situation. At the beginning of the season they had Jarry’s inconsistent play and $5.375 million annual cap hit on the books through 2027-28, they were able to drop that with no pain and create a clear runway for the Penguins to elevate Murashov into the NHL next season if he’s ready for it.

By making another move to flip Kulak as part of the Jarry return over to Colorado, Pittsburgh now has mined Sam Girard and two future second round picks for what was once Jarry at the start of the season. It’s difficult to imagine anything better than that coming into the year, considering the Pens had waived Jarry with no takers and had to assign him to the AHL in 2024-25. To turn that impediment into actual assets was an impressive feat.

As for Skinner, he should be alright to receive interest on the free agent makr and get to pick his own spot for next year to continue his career. With Jarry, the buzz seems to be that Edmonton will be bringing him back next year.

Bottom line

Jarry did well enough at the start to make Edmonton want to acquire him, Skinner’s play with the Pens was unremarkable but mostly fine splitting starts for the rest of the season. The Pens turn the page on their goalie situation and are primed for the future with new goalies that could perform better than what Jarry/Skinner have given them over the past couple years.

PensburghGrade: C on player performance, A+ for the managerial maneuvering behind it.

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What A Championship Would Mean For Karl-Anthony Towns’ Legacy

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates in the locker room with the Bob Cousy Trophy after winning Game Four of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 25, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Karl-Anthony Towns did not arrive in New York needing to prove he could play, but the Knicks surely enhanced his game, and the partnership saw the Big Bodega reach a stage he could never quite grace during his time in Minneapolis.

If we’re talking legacies, Towns couldn’t have had a better start to building his. KAT was drafted with the No. 1 pick coming off one year of college ball at Kentucky. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year award. Would eventually partake in the All-Star game six times while on his way to earning three All-NBA selections.

And career-wide, Towns never took the pedal off the metal, boasting averages nearing 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists per game while shooting above 50% from the floor and nearly 40% from three.

That is a real résumé, to say the least. Winning an NBA championship with the Knicks, however, would make it read differently and put KAT in a completely different stratosphere.

Ask Towns himself, who has always made the loudest shooting case among modern bigs and has not even been a tiny shy about proclaiming himself an all-time great the GOAT at it.

“Honestly man, I ain’t gotta play like nobody. I’m me. I’m the greatest big man shooter of all time. That’s a fact,” Towns said back in December 2021, while still a Timberwolves hooper. “You can see the stats. I ain’t got to play like no one else. Everyone trying to find themselves to be the second version of me when I’m the first version. I don’t got to be the second version of someone else. I’m already an original. I don’t have to be a duplicate of someone else.”

Like it or not, the numbers surely support the argument. Towns became the first center to win the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2022, has cleared 42% from deep two different seasons separated by seven years, has notched more than 40% of his threes in six of his 11 years in the Association, and he’s now giving the Knicks a kind of frontcourt spacing and playmaking ability that both 1) Knicks fans spent years looking for, 2) pretended they could live without and win in the current basketball economy, and 3) was simply unheard of in KAT Land.

His Minnesota years were never empty, even though the franchise’s struggles made them look meager, and started to build a wrong narrative about Towns’ true talent.

Towns spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves, became the first bona fide face of the franchise after Kevin Garnett’s prime, and helped them reach the playoffs in 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The biggest breakthrough came in 2024, when Minnesota beat the defending champion Denver Nuggets in Game 7 and reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since Garnett’s 2004 Wolves did it.

Then came the homecoming.

Towns grew up in New Jersey, starred at St. Joseph High School and returned to the area with the Knicks via trade before the 2024-25 season. In New York, his numbers carried immediate weight: 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 52.6% from the field, 42.0% from three and 82.9% from the line.

Now he is in the 2026 NBA Finals as a central piece and 1B to Jalen Brunson’s 1A. KAT entered the series averaging 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the playoffs while shooting 57.2% from the field and 48.9% from three, then opened his first-ever finals with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in New York’s Game 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs. That’s all FanDuel needed to turn the Knicks into the new favorites to win the title, listing them at -134 odds.

Speaking of legendary big-man shooters, it’s fair to say that a ring might not place Towns in Dirk Nowitzki’s tier. Dirk still has an MVP award, a Finals MVP, 14 All-Star selections, 12 All-NBA selections, and also won a title in 2011, leading the underdog Mavs team against the mighty Heatless.

But a ring would make Towns a champion in New York, and bulk up an already-packed résumé and help him overtake a few big shooters out there. Outside of Dirk, it’s fair to say that KAT would have done more than enough to consider him a better big-boy shooter than walking-glass Joel Embiid, perhaps the second-best ever only behind Dirk (best shooting PF) and legitimately the No. 1 and undisputed top shooting center in history, breezing past Nikola Jokic.

On top of that, and with a title under his belt, Towns would no longer be just labeled an elite shooting big with a questionable playoff track record and just a few monster regular seasons. He would be the Knicks center who helped end a title drought dating back to 1973 alongside Jalen Brunson and the rest of the Manhattan Mob. He won’t be even remotely close to joining the absolute best centers to ever grace hardwood courts around the L—although he will have a solid case to crack the top-20 easily—but he will once and for all get his name legitimazed and shut all of his naysayers’ mouths in one fell swoop.

And for Towns, that’s all that’s missing.

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Now that everyone’s a Knicks fan, this is what you need to wear

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An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Collection of New York Knicks merchandise including hats, a teddy bear, a basketball-shaped 1800 Tequila bottle, and a basketball, Image 2 shows FOR LIFESTYLE -- IMAGES FROM TEREZ -- Unisex New York Knicks Bomber Jacket Regular price$285.00 --- https://www.terez.com/products/knicks-bomber-jacket-in-team-colors https://www.instagram.com/p/DYk3tqMPlrj/, Image 3 shows A man holding an NBA Finals patch in front of a blue and orange New York Knicks jersey

Blue and orange are pretty popular colors around New York City these days.

For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals, and after a thrilling Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, one thing’s for certain — even if basketball wasn’t your thing before, we’re all Knicks fans now, and we have to dress the part.

Luckily, the world of sports merchandise goes far beyond jerseys and a lot of what’s available looks just as at home on the streets of NYC as it does in the stands at MSG, and naturally, with the Knicks making a run this deep into the playoffs, fashionable merch is in high demand.

Both in store and online, Knicks gear is flying off the metaphorical shelves.

“I feel like we made the best bet ever,” Danielle Snyder, the co-founder of DannijoPro, a premium label that combines fashion and sports fandom, told The Post ahead of Game 2. The brand’s Knicks bestsellers include the Game Day tee, satin bomber jacket and and a letterman half zip with a crocheted collar, but Snyder notes that it’s been difficult to keep things in stock and many of its top products are currently sold out.

Brooke Shields (r) and daughter Rowan Henchy were spotted in DannijoPro Knicks gear during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. courtesy of DannijoPro

She cites “the power of the Knicks brand” as a reason why DannijoPro’s designs have caught on with regular New Yorkers and famous fans alike. Gary Vaynerchuk and Spike Lee have received custom-made pieces from DannijoPro and Brooke Shields and her daughter Rowan Henchy were spotted in DannijoPro at The Garden.

DannijoPro co-founder Danielle Snyder worked on a custom jacket for Knicks superfan Spike Lee. courtesy of DannijoPro

“It’s not just a garment…” Snyder said. “It’s a premium product that’s tied to emotion, experience, a specific roster, historic run.”

Terez, founded by Zara Tisch, is another brand in the premium sportswear space. Its Knicks bomber jackets, baby tees, and crewneck sweaters have been bestsellers throughout the recent postseason run.

“I never knew I wanted to even be in the sports category, but our mission has always been about bringing people together,” Tisch said. “In the male-dominated industries, we need to celebrate the women behind the athletes, the women at home, the women in the field and the women on the team.”

Knicks fans aren’t just searching for new merch; vintage Knicks gear is in-demand, too.

“After last year, which was an incredible run, this year has doubled that,” Michael Spitz, owner/operator at the East Village vintage shop Mr. Throwback, told The Post.

Michael Spitz, the owner of Mr. Throwback in the East Village, says the store has shipped out over 100 online orders in the past week. Emmy Park for NY Post

Mr. Throwback stocks vintage hats, T-shirts and more, in addition to new customs the shop is designing and selling.

“You can’t walk into any other store and find what you want,” Spitz said. “You would need a DeLorean to take it back to 1994 and go to Sports Authority or Champs or Modells and buy it, but you could buy it now.”

DANNIJOPRO

DannijoPro

New York-based label Dannijo, known for statement crystal work, bold silks and powerful storytelling, is taking fandom fashion to a new level with Dannijopro — “a new era for premium fandom.” The officially licensed NBA gear is inspired by the founders’ “love for sport, style, artistry and nostalgia with the power of being on a team.”

While styles are selling out quickly, these are still available in most, if not all, sizes:

  • The Captains Crewneck ($115.00)
  • The Letterman Pull-over ($275.00)
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Terez

terez

Terez is a woman-owned sportswear brand catered toward women “designing clothing the fan wants to wear not only to the stadium, but during their everyday lives,” per founder Zara Terez Tisch. The brand counts Anne Hathaway among its famous fans; Hathaway was spotted at MSG last year in a Terez x Knicks bomber jacket.

While that style is sold out (as are many of the brand’s other Knicks best sellers), these are still available to add to your cart now:

  • Unisex NY Knicks Sweater in Blue Tie Dye ($298.00)
  • Knicks Technicolor Crew ($165.00)
  • New York Knicks Marquee Stripe Crew ($198.00)
  • NY New York Knicks Embossed Crew in Light Gray ($230.00)
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Mr. Throwback

Emmy Park for NY Post

You don’t have to be in NYC to shop vintage from East Village shop Mr. Throwback. The brand’s vintage and custom designs are available to shop online, too. In fact, they’ve been fielding more online orders than normal since the Knicks secured their spot in the NBA Finals.

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New York or Nowhere

New York or Nowhere

It will always be New York or Nowhere, but right now, it’s NBA Finals or Nowhere. The iconic NY brand dropped some new Knicks-inspired designs especially for the Finals, including “The Finals or Nowhere” tee and a “Knicks 6th Borough (Finals Edition)” design.

The NBA Finals pieces are available to preorder now, but if you’re looking for something in stock, these pieces are available in a range of sizes now:

  • Knicks Always Crewneck ($145.00)
  • Knicks Downtown Varisty Jacket ($315.00)
  • Knicks Trophies Hoodie ($155.00)
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Mitchell and Ness

Mitchell and Ness

Mitchell and Ness is one of the leading brands for licensed athletic apparel, and if you’re looking for a vintage jersey, this is the place to get it. In addition to fun New York-themed T-shirts, you can snag jerseys from every era of Knicks basketball, from the ’50s through the early ’10s.

  • New York Knicks Cream Concrete Apple T-Shirt ($50.00)
  • Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks 2010-11 Blue Swingman Jersey ($150.00)
  • New York Knicks Black Hardwood Classics Coffee T-Shirt ($38.00)
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Faherty x Jalen Brunson

Faherty

Ahead of the NBA Finals, Faherty teamed up with current NY Knicks captain Jalen Brunson on a capsule collection with seven pieces.

Most of the pieces in the collab are only available in one size and have extremely low stock, but this hoodie with Brunson’s personal mantra — “the magic is in the work” — is available in nearly every size offered. If you’re looking for a cozy way to show off your Knicks fandom, this might be it.

  • Jalen Brunson High Standard Fleece Hoodie ($198.00)
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Off Season

Fanatics

Founded by NFL wife Kristin Juszczyk, inspired by designs she’d create for herself and other NFL WAGs, Off Season is “a new vision for sports-inspired style” that has expanded into the NBA. Off Season’s Knicks designs blend sport and style seamlessly for your new favorite blue and orange pieces perfect for any season.

  • New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Unisex Track Pants ($185.00)
  • New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Women’s Halter Top ($105.00)
  • New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Unisex Standard Puffer Jacket ($375.00 $265.00)
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Guizio

Guizio, Getty Images

Just a few weeks after the brand went viral when Kylie Jenner wore one of its Perfect Classic Tanks on Celebrity Row, Guizio dropped its New York Forever Shrunken Hoodie ($168) — a cozy, cropped zip-up hoodie in Knicks blue with an orange applique.

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Jill Martin

Jill Martin

Temps are rising in NYC, but if you’ll be watching the games from home, a blanket hoodie from Jill Martin is the perfect way to relax and cheer on the Knicks from the comfort of your own couch. The brand calls it “the best hoodie in the world” and notes it’s “the perfect blend of lounge and streetwear.”

Just in time for the NBA Finals, the brand dropped a new hoodie with a New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals embroidered chest design in four different colors.

  • New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals Unisex Blanket Hoodie ($89.00)
  • New York Knicks Regulation Size Fanny Pack ($49.00)
  • New York Knicks Remix Logo Cropped Sherpa Lounger Jacket ($210.00)
  • New York Knicks Cropped Sherpa Hoodie ($99.00)
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Daphne

Daphne

While “Giggly Squad” host Paige DeSorbo’s fashion line Daphne doesn’t have anything outwardly sporty among its catalogue of “ready to lounge” basics, Knicks fans can get free orange embroidery on white or navy Hannah tees ($68.00) with the code GOSPORTS.

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