During the Spurs’ Game 4 loss to Minnesota in their second-round series, Wembanyama was tossed with 8:39 left in the second quarter after whacking Reid in the face after fighting for possession.
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama commits a flagrant foul against Timberwolves center Naz Reid during Game 4. Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Status alert: Victor Wembanyama has been ejected Sunday after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul. pic.twitter.com/G02YylonQE
The hard contact from the 7-foot-4 center sent Reid to the floor, though he was fine to continue playing and finished the game with 15 points in 31 minutes.
With Wembanyama sidelined for much of the contest, the Timberwolves took their chance to even the series, winning 114-109.
Anthony Edwards finished with a game-high 36 points, while Wembanyama was forced to leave the floor with just four points in 12 minutes.
While Wembanyama will be available to play in a pivotal Game 5, his wallet may take a hit as a result of his actions on Sunday.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he believes “there’s a chance” the reigning Defensive Player of the Year gets fined for his elbow.
Nonetheless, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended Wembanyama for sticking up for himself amid a perceived lack of protection by the referees from the Timberwolves’ physical play.
Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after he was ejected for a flagrant foul during the first half of Game 4. AP
“I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that,” Johnson told reporters.
“… But he’s going to have to protect himself if [the refs] are not. The amount of physicality that people play with, with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself.”
The Spurs will welcome Minnesota back to San Antonio on Tuesday night for a pivotal Game 5.
As Adou Thiero was standing in front of the scorer’s table at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City early in the second quarter of the Lakers’ Game 2 loss to the Thunder, a familiar face followed Thiero’s path with a message.
Luka Doncic, the team’s star player who’s been sidelined since April 2 because of a strained left hamstring, made the walk from his seat on the Lakers’ bench to the scorer’s table before putting his arm to Thiero.
“He just told me to go out there and play hard, just do what I do and don’t overthink anything,” Thiero said of Doncic’s message. “Just kept it simple and trying to lighten the pressure on me.”
Lakers rookie Adou Thiero has found himself in the rotation in Games 2 and 3 against the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
Thiero had a team-high eight rebounds in 13 minutes – five defensive rebounds and three offensive boards – and four points.
“[I] prayed for moments like these and worked for moments like these,” Thiero said, “Just to get that opportunity has been special; go out there and do what I can for the guys.”
After spending the majority of the season in the G League, Adou Thiero now finds himself defending the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the postseason. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Thiero has felt the shift in focus and energy during the 19 combined minutes he played in Game 2 and Game 3 compared to when he’d get playing time in the regular season.
“It’s definitely very intense,” Thiero said. “You got a loud atmosphere. Everybody is into it. Every possession, leave it all out there. It’s very intense. I felt the change in pace and everything as soon as I got out there.”
Thiero’s inexperience showed when he was called for a moving screen while trying to initiate a dribble handoff with Rui Hachimura late in the third quarter.
Or other moments when he passed up shots, with his energy and hustle masking the fact the No. 36 pick in the 2025 draft only played 149 minutes across 25 regular season games before the playoffs.
“They told me I did a lot of good things, but there’s still a lot of things I need to work on, which, granted, I haven’t gotten that many reps. But still gotta be disciplined with what we’re doing as a team and keep picking up our principles.”
But if the Lakers hope to compete with teams like the Thunder, or even the Spurs, in the future, they need to develop players like Thiero into quality rotation players.
Thiero had only played 149 minutes across 25 regular season games before the playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
Thiero, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward who impresses with his leaping ability and athleticism, not only represents what the Lakers lacked for most of the season, but also an advantage the Thunder and Spurs have over the Lakers.
The Lakers have lacked inexpensive, younger talent that they’ve developed who can be counted on to step up when needed.
Austin Reaves was once that player, but is 27, now five years into his NBA career and is set for a big pay day this offseason.
Max Christie, who the Lakers drafted in the second round in 2022, was turning into that type of player before they included him in the trade for Doncic last winter.
Both of the Lakers’ draft picks from 2023, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis, are no longer in the NBA.
Their 2024 picks, Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, have only played against the Thunder when the game results were essentially decided. James was in the rotation during the first round against the Rockets while Reaves was sidelined.
Selected with the 36th pick in the 2025 draft, the Lakers need to see if Thiero can emerge as a part of their rotation next season. AP
Compare that to the Thunder, who have multiple younger players on rookie scale contracts or inexpensive deals (Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell)) who have contributed to the 3-0 series lead they had going into Monday, and it’s clear the Lakers are missing out on an important factor for team building.
It’s why they need Thiero to get this playing time.
The Minnesota Wild are looking to even their second-round NHL playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4. The Avalanche won the first two games in Denver before Minnesota won Game 3 5-1. The Colorado Avalanche are favored by 1.5 goals with the over/under set at 6.5 goals.
How to watch Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Milwaukee.
The Bucks’ on-again, off-again relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo has entered a new chapter.
As was the case in February, when the Bucks ultimately decided to hold on to the Greek Freak, Milwaukee’s front office will reportedly be looking for a “young blue-chip talent” and/or a sizable package of draft picks.
The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly “open for business” on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade calls once again AP
Antetokounmpo, 31, has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee and helped lead them to a championship in the 2020-21 season.
Talks between the two sides never materialized, as ESPN reported, while contenders like the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Celtics and Lakers are all said to have made calls on Antetokounmpo at this year’s deadline.
Antetokounmpo has just one more guaranteed year on his contract before a player option kicks in the following season.
Novak Djokovic (l.) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (r.) attend a EuroLeague game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Monaco in Athens, Greece on April 30, 2026. Euroleague Basketball via Getty
After Antetokounmpo reportedly expressed an openness to leaving Milwaukee last May, the team decided to hand a $108.7 million deal to Myles Turner in the summer to try to build a contender around their star player.
However, the Bucks never got going this season and looked to be heading for the exit with Antetokounmpo this winter.
That didn’t come to fruition, though, setting up for an awkward last few months of the season as the Bucks finished 32-50 and ultimately parted ways with coach Doc Rivers.
The Bucks will be juggling Antetokounmpo’s future with their plans for the NBA draft, after landing the No. 10 pick in Sunday’s lottery.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to complete a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in their Western Conference semifinals series. The defending NBA champion Thunder won the first three games by an average of just under 20 points. Oklahoma City will advance to the West finals with one more win. Oklahoma City is favored by 10.5 points with an over/under set at 214.5.
How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers
Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers +406 (18.9%) / Oklahoma City Thunder -552 (81.1%)
Over/Under: 214.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Thunder 108, Lakers 90 Game 2:Thunder 125, Lakers 107 Game 3:Thunder 131, Lakers 108 Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)* Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 21: Jakob Junis #16 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field on April 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for May 11, 2026 against the Arizona Diamondbacks: starting pitchers are Jakob Junis for the Rangers and Michael Soroka for the D-Backs.
The Rangers, who haven’t allowed a run since the seventh inning of Friday’s game, find their scoreless streak in greater jeopardy now that Nathan Eovaldi has been scratched. Texas is going with a bullpen game fronted by Jakob Junis. Cal Quantrill, the long man — and also the last Ranger pitcher to give up a run — threw 70 pitches on Friday, so he’s likely unavailable.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 2B
Seager — SS
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Pederson — DH
Osuna — 1B
Higashioka — C
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -126 favorites.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Detroit Pistons in Game 4. The Cavs won Game 3 after the Pistons took the first two games in Detroit. Cleveland is favored by 3.5 points. The over/under is set at 213.5.
How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers -167 (60.0%) / Detroit Pistons +140 (40.0%)
Over/Under: 213.5Series schedule, results
Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101 Game 2:Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97 Game 3:Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109 Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13) Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)* Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*
The Los Angeles Lakers' season ending at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in a disappointing — albeit expected — four-game sweep has most in the basketball world asking: Will LeBron James retire?
King James enters the summer as a free agent after completing his contract with the Lakers. Set to turn 42 years old in mid-December, LeBron averaged 20-plus points for a 23rd straight season, to go with 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game across 60 regular-season games. He elevated his game once again in the playoffs to average 23.2/6.7/7.3 over 10 games.
Will he return to the Lakers (or another team) to chase a fifth championship ring? We make our NBA picks for the offseason's hot-button topic below.
Will LeBron James retire?
Traders at Kalshi, one of our best prediction market apps, are giving LeBron James a 25.6% chance of announcing his retirement before the 2026-27 season following the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The market has drawn $429,529 since it opened on June 14. James was initially given an 11% chance of retiring before the 2026-27 campaign. It peaked at a high of 46% in mid-January but has dipped again.
The Lakers failed to make the third round of the playoffs for a third straight year. But James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves can keep this team competitive for several more seasons.
Percentages courtesy of Kalshi.
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LeBron James' contract
LeBron James completed the final year of a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers that carried a $59.5-million cap hit this season, according to Spotrac. The 23-year NBA veteran has reportedly not yet made any decisions on his playing future.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” the 41-year-old James said, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press. “I’ve got a lot of time now.
“I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
LeBron's son Bronny James averaged 2.9 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 rebounds per game over 42 games in the regular season, and averaged 5.3 minutes per game in the playoffs — he didn't play in Game 4 against the Thunder. Bryce James took a redshirt year as a freshman at Arizona, and will need to wait until at least the 2027 NBA Draft.
How old is LeBron James?
LeBron James, now done his 23rd NBA season, is 41 years old, and will turn 42 in December. The first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft played at least 45 regular-season games each year of his career. He played 60 games this season and didn't miss a playoff game.
Prediction
Despite several NBA teams likely to have interest in pursuing James as a free agent this offseason — including the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and potentially the Los Angeles Clippers — I firmly expect James to call it quits before next season.
A $100 investment on James to retire at a Yes price of 22 cents at Kalshi would return a profit of $355.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Do you know the craziest part of the Lakers’ second-round playoff series against the Thunder?
There’s such a wide chasm between the two teams that it has all-but-nullified what would’ve been a burning question in every other series involving LA.
Would things have been different had Luka Doncic played?
Without knowing it then, the Grade 2 hamstring strain Luka Doncic suffered on April 2 was the last time he took the court this season. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic, who has been sidelined since April 2 because of a strained hamstring, was a top-five MVP contender. He led the league in scoring (33.5 points), was third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). He became the second player in NBA history to score 600-plus points in March alongside Michael Jordan.
Would a generational talent like that have swayed things?
Nope. And it’s very obvious.
So obvious that pundits have hardly postulated about the question on talk shows. Journalists haven’t really mulled over it in columns.
The Thunder are that good.
Even without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City looks like a juggernaut and the favorites to win the NBA title again. AP
Sure, the Lakers would’ve had an easier time scoring if Doncic had been on the court.
But it still wouldn’t have been enough.
The Thunder’s top-rated defense would’ve collapsed on him and they still would’ve had ample depth to swarm everyone else.
It’s really incredible.
Players one through five on the court for Oklahoma City at all times are gnats, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell.
The Lakers’ offense simply wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.
Wallace has discombobulated Austin Reaves. Dort has frustrated LeBron James. Luke Kennard has only made a dent in one game this series. Really, Rui Hachimura has been the only Laker who has consistently shot well.
As for the other end of the court?
Doncic would’ve been a defensive liability. He would’ve been yet another target for the Thunder to attack with their dribble-drives, alongside Austin Reaves and Luke Kennard, who have basically been rendered unplayable together this series.
Doncic has missed the entire postseason after leading the NBA in scoring during the regular season. NBAE via Getty Images
Get past them?
Deandre Ayton has been largely ineffective patrolling the paint.
Chet Holmgren has had his way down low. Mitchell has had his way everywhere.
The Lakers one bright spot on the defensive end is they’ve stunningly held Gilgeous-Alexander to 21 points a game this series, a marked dip from the postseason-leading 33.8 points he averaged in the team’s first-round sweep against the Suns, but that hasn’t even made a dent.
The Thunder are simply too deep, They have no holes.
Meanwhile, they took a floodlight to the Lakers’ roster, exposing their many deficiencies.
This was no surprise. The Lakers lost their four regular season games to the Thunder by an average of 29 points. When Doncic was on the court, nothing changed for them. And nothing would’ve changed now.
With Doncic on the sidelines, the Lakers trail the Thunder 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals heading into Monday’s Game 4. Getty Images
As for Lakers coach JJ Redick, when asked if he has thought about how differently things could’ve looked if Doncic had been on the court, he didn’t hesitate.
“Never,” he said.
He likely didn’t want to waste his time on hypotheticals. He had too much on his plate. But we all know this wasn’t a burning “what if” question anyway.
Even an MVP-contender couldn’t have plugged the Lakers’ problems.
They need to remake their roster. They need to have a huge offseason. It’s obvious they can’t compete against the reigning champions. They can for a quarter. Maybe two. Three on a good day. But they simply aren’t deep enough to sustain that effort for an entire game.
If they had Doncic, they likely would’ve won one game.
But the outcome of this series wouldn’t have changed.
Even though he wasn’t available for the end of the season, the Lakers are expected to build around Doncic in the offseason. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
René Cárdenas waves to the crowd as he is inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame on Aug. 17, 2024. (Kevin M. Cox / Associated Press)
René Cárdenas, the first radio announcer to broadcast major league baseball games in Spanish to a domestic audience while with the Dodgers and who helped start Spanish-language broadcasts for two other teams, died Sunday in Houston. He was 96.
The Dodgers announced his death Sunday night, noting his 21 years — over two stints — with the team starting in 1958. The broadcasting pioneer also served as the Houston Astros' first Spanish-language announcer starting in 1962.
Cárdenas called games for 38 seasons with the Dodgers, Astros and Texas Rangers and paved the way for Jaime Jarrín, who joined the broadcast team in 1959 and served as the Dodgers' broadcaster for 64 seasons.
"He was indisputably one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball radio broadcasting, and he opened the door for other broadcasters to reach the major leagues," Jarrín told The Times in Spanish on Monday morning. "He was a total professional, truly."
Cárdenas was born on Feb. 6, 1930, in Managua, Nicaragua. His grandfather, Adan Cárdenas, was president of the country from 1883 to1887 and is recognized for introducing baseball to Nicaragua in the late 19th century while his uncle, Adolfo, played on the first national team.
But Cárdenas became more adept at describing the action and before he left high school, he was not only writing for La Prensa, Nicaragua’s leading newspaper, but also broadcasting games for Radio Mundial, the capital city’s top-ranked station.
“He had a very original style,” Edgard Tijerino, a Nicaraguan sports journalist, told The Times' Kevin Baxter in 1995. “It was a way of broadcasting that nobody here in Nicaragua had. The people of my generation remember him with fondness and still value the work he did.”
When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn ahead of the 1958 season, they partnered with KWKW-AM (1330), the only Spanish-language radio station in L.A. at the time, to broadcast the games in Spanish. Cárdenas was hired as the lead play-by-play announcer while Jarrín shadowed him that first season before settling in as the No. 2 announcer. During that time, Cárdenas was part of the first Spanish broadcast of the World Series in 1959 and the All-Star Game in 1961.
Before the 1962 season, Cárdenas moved on to serve as the lead play-by-play announcer for Houston's new team, then known as the Colt .45s. He chronicled the team's first 14 seasons, during which the team moved into the Astrodome and were renamed the Astros in 1965.
Cárdenas returned to Nicaragua in the late 1970s to live in semi-retirement, but political unrest in the country, in the form of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, forced him to flee and eventually return to the United States. The rebels’ final push to victory would take them right past the front door of Cardenas’ three-quarter-acre hacienda.
“They were fighting around my house every night. We used to go under the bed every single night for months,” Cárdenas told The Times in 1995. “We were in a war without being soldiers.”
Cárdenas, who became a U.S. citizen in 1963, had his house, life savings and many priceless mementos from his broadcasting career seized.
After working with Texas Rangers, Cárdenas returned to the Dodgers for the 1982 season. By this point, Jarrín was firmly in place as the team's lead Spanish-language play-by-play announcer — particularly in the wake of Fernandomania the season before, when Jarrín's profile was raised as Fernando Valenzuela's interpreter during his media interviews.
"It was explained to him by our producer, 'You can't come back as the No. 1 announcer because Jaime is established, he has many years as the lead announcer and he is beloved by the community,'" Jarrín said Monday. "René said, 'I don't care, I'll come back as the No. 2 with Jaime. I just want to come back to the game of baseball.' He was determined to return to the Dodgers.
"It was during that time that we established a close-knit friendship and we were well-received by the community as a broadcast duo."
Cárdenas worked with the Dodgers through the 1998 season and moved back to Houston, where he wrote for multiple outlets and then broadcast Astros games on the radio in 2007 and on TV in 2008, setting another first at the time: the only MLB team with a standalone Spanish-language broadcast featuring dedicated cameras and Spanish-language graphics separate from the English-language broadcast.
Fifty years after his first broadcast with the Dodgers, Cárdenas remained a pioneer.
He was nominated several times for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award, including last year, but did not receive enough votes for induction. He is in the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame, the Broadcasters Wing of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and in the Astros' team hall of fame.
"I think what hindered him was that he didn't fully establish himself with the Dodgers," Jarrín, one of three Latino broadcasters in the Baseball Hall of Fame, said of Cárdenas' chances of enshrinement. "He was away for many years. So that lack of continuity may have hindered him, possibly. Because professionally, he is deserving of being in the Hall. I would love it if he got inducted posthumously because he was a broadcasting pioneer and a true professional."
Sunday night’s duel between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres wasn’t for the faint-hearted. There were big hits, elbows, punches, and stick whacks. It wasn’t pretty, unless of course you're into that kind of hockey, in which case, you probably loved it. Still, the deeper we got into the game and the more frequent the incidents became, which makes sense given how much of a one-sided affair it was becoming.
There was, however, one moment that prompted a collective horrified gasp from the filled to the rafters Bell Center, the moment when Beck Malenstyn collided at full speed with Jakub Dobes. By that time, the score was 3-1 Montreal, and the Sabres were seriously feeling the pressure. When Malenstyn battled with Zach Bolduc to reach the net, he saw an opportunity to get to Jakub Dobes, to shake him up and get him off his game. The jump right before the impact, as well, made it look like the Sabres forward might have been a WWE in a previous life, as if he was jumping off the third rope for a flying elbow.
Somehow, that play only led to a two-minute goalie interference call, and while the Canadiens took advantage of that opportunity to make it 4-1, that moment in the game, that hit on Dobes, will not be forgotten or forgiven. On Monday afternoon, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Malenstyn had been fined $3,515.63, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the play. That’s a slap on the wrist considering how disastrous that incident could have been for the Canadiens. Habs fans will remember all too well what kind of effect an injury to a team’s number one goaltender can have in the playoffs; some still have nightmares about the Carey Price-Chris Kreider incident.
Chris Kreider Bowls into Carey Price https://t.co/pfmivWN40p via @YouTube Remember this. They will try to do it again to Dobes.
Malenstyn wasn’t the only one to be fined on Monday afternoon. Arber Xhekaj also encountered “the wrath” of the Department of Player Safety for roughing Sam Carrick in the dying seconds of the game. At 19:56, there was a melee in the corner, and Alex Carrier was outnumbered by two Sabres. The gritty defenseman intervened and pulled Carrick off Carrier, then proceeded to give him one punch to the jaw, which sent him down to the ice. It will be interesting to see if a Sabres player will dare try to “keep Xhekaj accountable.” Just like Malenstyn, the rugged defenseman was fined $3,385.42.
Delhi Capitals rode on blistering half-centuries from skipper Axar Patel and David Miller to mount a record chase and keep their qualification hopes alive following a stirring three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings on Monday.
Just eight days earlier, the potential of these Philadelphia 76ers was on full display — they had vanquished their heated rivals from Boston in seven games, sending the Eastern Conference betting favorites home for the summer. The young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe had been fantastic, Paul George was healthy and making big contributions, and a dominant Joel Embiid in the paint made the difference. The vibes could not have been better.
Sunday, the vibes around the 76ers could not have been much worse after they were dominated by the Knicks and swept out of the playoffs. Philadelphia lost the four games in the series by an average of 22.5 points per game (including an ugly 30-point blowout in Game 4 that felt over after the first quarter). Joel Embiid missed a game due to injury and could not push around the Knicks frontcourt like he did the Celtics, and when the Maxey/Edgecombe backcourt was off, as it was in Game 4, things fell apart fast.
The jobs of Morey and head coach Nick Nurse are expected to be evaluated entering the offseason, multiple league sources told The Athletic. As of Sunday's elimination, team sources said ownership has not made final decisions on either and is likely to take a few days to assess before making any major calls...
"Internally, the volatility of this year cannot be ignored heading into the offseason. From a tumultuous trade deadline to late-season frustrations between players and coaches that nearly derailed a shootaround, tension simmered throughout the year. On many nights, the team barely knew who would be available."
The report details tensions between Embiid and the front office, and the frustration that the only move made at the trade deadline was to send away Jared McCain to get under the salary cap (Philly did get the No. 17 pick in this upcoming draft as well, but that's not helping Embiid on the court this season). McCain has thrived in Oklahoma City, including scoring 18 off the bench in a playoff game against the Lakers.
Then there was the tension around whether Embiid would play on April 1 on the road in Washington — Embiid expected to play, the team listed him as out, and the following meeting almost derailed the entire shootaround that day, Jones reports. (Embiid did not play that night.)
All of this was just part of the drama in Philadelphia this season. As Joel Embiid put it:
"So, we just gotta get better from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better."
That has to start with Embiid — he played in 38 games this season and, while he rushed back from an appendectomy to be on the court for the playoffs, still missed a game against the Knicks. Embiid hasn't played in six straight games since December of 2023.
Philadelphia has to decide what to do with a very expensive player who is still elite when he is on the court but can't be counted on to play consistently, even in the playoffs. While the logical step may be to pivot and get younger, building around Maxey (the team's clear best player now) and Edgecombe, it's not that simple — Embiid is almost untradable. He is guaranteed $188.3 million over the next three seasons (the last one is technically a player option, but he's going to pick that up or want to be extended off of it). Paul George is guaranteed $54.1 million next season and has a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28. Because of the health concerns around both of them, the only way to trade the 76ers veterans is to add first-round draft picks or young players as sweeteners in any deal — and it would take more than one pick.
All of that means this core is likely the 76ers core again next season, and likely at least one more after that. If Embiid can't play consistently, how good can the 76ers really be?
That question may fall to a new coach and head of basketball operations, because owner Josh Harris is stepping back and looking at everything.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 10: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by Joc Pederson #3 and Josh Jung #6 following a two run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field on May 10, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Season Record: 19-21
Week Record: 3-3
Series Record: 5-7, 1 split
GAME 35: 4-7 LOSS @ NEW YORK YANKEES GAME 36: 6-1 WIN @ NEW YORK YANKEES GAME 37: 2-9LOSS @ NEW YORK YANKEES
GAME 38: 1-7 LOSS vs CHICAGO CUBS GAME 39: 6-0 WIN vs CHICAGO CUBS GAME 40: 3-0 WIN vs CHICAGO CUBS
So the Rangers pitched 20 innings (and counting) of shoutout innings this weekend. And managed to get some hits with runners in scoring position. All good things that hopefully continue and get the Rangers on a roll.
However, something that has been proven over the last few seasons, something both myself and the Rangers broadcast has pointed out, once Corey Seager gets out of his funk, the rest of the lineup will follow. And his funk is bad.
I believe he had a similar start last year, he turned it around in May and then stayed hot but right now he’s looking lost in most plate appearances.
In the seventh inning of Sunday’s game, the At Bat app popped up a surprising stat for Seager, his wiff rate last season was 27.9% and this year its up to 35.9%. League average is 25.3%. So if you feel like he’s swinging and missing a lot more, you are not wrong. Its especially frustrating and prevalent considering Texas has the lowest chase rate in Spring Training.
Offensive upside? Both Josh Jung and Ezequiel Duran have both figured it out at the plate and have been the most reliable and consistent bats in the lineup.
And maybe playing the Arizona Diamondbacks will trigger some of that magic from the World Series and the team can start turning it around? Here’s hoping at least!
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson is among the most consistent offensive presences in the NHL, and while he came up empty in Game 3, he hasn't gone back-to-back games without a point since early April.
My Ducks vs. Golden Knights predictions expect Carlsson to find his way back on the scoresheet tonight.
Let’s dive in with my NHL picks on Tuesday, May 12.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the game airing on ESPN and Sportsnet.
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5 prediction
Who will win Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5?
Ducks: The Ducks have won the 5-on-5 scoring chance battle 80-59 through four games, and have outchanced the Golden Knights in three of those four games.
Although Carter Hart has played decently, I don’t trust him to hold up against this lethal Anaheim offense.
Ducks vs Golden Knights best bet: Leo Carlsson Over 0.5 points (-170)
The Anaheim Ducks have created plenty of opportunities with Leo Carlsson on the ice, generating 94 shot attempts, 50 scoring chances, and 4.45 expected goals. That has translated to two goals.
Carlsson is a career 14.7% shooter — and plays with great players at 5-on-5 and on the power play — so there’s no reason to expect these looks to continue being wasted.
That’s especially true facing Carter Hart, who posted an .891 SV% and allowed 4.2 more goals than expected during the regular season.
Look for Carlsson, who has been held pointless in consecutive games just twice over the last four months, to get back on the scoresheet in one of the best Ducks vs. Golden Knights player props on the board.
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5 same-game parlay
Troy Terry flies under the radar because of all Anaheim’s terrific young players, but he quietly sits tied for the team lead in points during the playoffs. He leads their forwards in assists, but also trails only Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier in shots.
He’s a dual-threat weapon, and one strongly correlated to Carlsson.
Shea Theodore has blocked multiple shots in eight of 10 playoff games during this run, and has averaged 2.9 along the way. The Ducks play at a fast pace and generate a lot of volume, which helps increase Theodore's floor and ceiling.
Ducks vs Golden Knights SGP
Leo Carlsson Over 0.5 points
Troy Terry Over 0.5 points
Shea Theodore Over 1.5 blocked shots
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5 goal scorer pick
Cutter Gauthier (+180)
Gauthier has emerged as one of the best and most consistent goal scorers in the NHL. He finds himself in a four-game drought, which is his longest since the calendar flipped to 2026.
He leads the Ducks in shot attempts and scoring chances during this series, a sign he will break through sooner rather than later.
Ducks vs Golden Knights odds for Game 5
Moneyline: Ducks +135 | Golden Knights -155
Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 (-180) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+155)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)
Ducks vs Golden Knights trend
Leo Carlsson has six points over his last six games against Vegas. Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV
Date
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, Sportsnet
Ducks vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
