Arsenal crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City draw

Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time since Arsène Wenger’s Invincibles in 2004 after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth.

Arsenal’s squad and staff, including Mikel Arteta, gathered at the training ground in Hertfordshire to watch the game, with Declan Rice posting a picture on Instagram within minutes of the full-time whistle of him with Kai Havertz, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly and William Saliba. “I told you all .. it’s done,” wrote the England midfielder in reference to his “It’s not done” battlecry after Arsenal lost to City last month.

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Yankees' Gerrit Cole to make 2026 debut on Friday against Rays

Gerrit Cole will make his 2026 season debut in the Bronx on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. 

When Elmer Rodriguez was optioned following Sunday’s Subway Series loss to the Mets, it opened the door for Cole potentially getting the nod. 

And Yankees manager Aaron Boone made it official on Tuesday afternoon, telling reporters that Cole will start on Friday. 

Cole, who had Tommy John surgery in March 2024, has made six rehab appearances, pitching to a 4.66 ERA with 28 strikeouts and three walks in 29.0 innings. 

The Yankees were considering having Cole make one more rehab start, but it appears that the former Cy Young winner is ready to go. 

NBA Playoff Tuesday discussion

May 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts during the second half against the Detroit Pistons during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Today is Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Here’s the game:

  • Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks — 8:00 PM ET (ESPN)

That’s the only playoff game tonight — Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Adam Foote Becomes Third NHL Coach Fired Since Islanders Hired Pete DeBoer

On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks announced that they had relieved Adam Foote of his head coaching duties along with his staff. 

This marked the third head coach to be fired since the conclusion of the 2025-26 regular season, with the Toronto Maple Leafs firing Craig Berube after their GM change, and the Edmonton Oilers letting go of Kris Knoblauch. 

It also marked the sixth coach to be fired since the calendar changed over to 2026. 

With 40 games to go in the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets fired Dean Evason.

With eight games to go in the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy.

And with four games to go, the New York Islanders fired head coach Patrick Roy.

The difference between the Islanders' situation and the rest of the hirings that came after the firing is who they hired.

The Blue Jackets got Rick Bowness out of retirement. The Golden Knights got John Tortorella, but only for the remainder of the season, as of now. 

The Islanders got Pete DeBoer, who would have been the top choice on the market this summer, had he made it there. That's the biggest reason why general manager Mathieu Darche didn't wait until season's end to make a coaching change.

"Guys like Pete DeBoer don't stay on the market very long," Darche said. "His pedigree, I mean, he went to five of the last six conference finals. He's had success everywhere he's been. He's a very structured coach. I know with Hockey Canada, I've got a lot of friends on that group, he was in charge of the (defensive)-zone structure, of the (defensemen) and a lot of the systems. So, at this time, I think it's what we need moving forward."

Would DeBoer have loved to coach Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers or Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs if given the change?

As the owl says in the famous Tootsie Roll commercial, "The world may never know."

All the Islanders know is that they got their guy, someone they hope can lead the Islanders back into the playoffs after missing the last two postseasons. 

 

Trail Blazers layoff 70 employees in another cheap move by new owner

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 02: Tom Dundon, Portland Trail Blazers owner, speaks during a press conference at Moda Center on April 02, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tom Dundon purchased the Portland Trail Blazers from the estate of Paul Allen in March of 2026. Dundon has been a successful owner in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes, but his cost-cutting methods have been shocking since taking control of a beloved NBA team.

Dundon low-balled head coach Tiago Splitter after he guided the team to the playoffs for the first time in five years, and has reportedly been offering perspective head coaches a starting salary around $1 million, far below NBA norms. He wouldn’t let players on two-way contracts travel for the playoffs. Now, Dundon is doing mass layoffs on the business side for the Trail Blazers that will reportedly cut about 70 jobs.

Sean Highkin covers the Trail Blazers as well as anyone at his newsletter, The Rose Garden Report. Highkin previously broke the news of two-way players being unable to travel for the postseason, and now he’s reported the layoffs on the business side.

Layoffs in pro sports don’t happen all that often. Some of the employees impacted after been with the team for decades, including insider Casey Holdahl, who started in 2007. If you’ve consumed NBA coverage on the internet over the last 20 years, you have probably come across Holdahl’s byline.

On Tuesday, he announced he was among the affected by the layoffs.

More names will be announced in the coming days.

Dundon’s Carolina Hurricanes are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s unquestionably built a successful hockey team, and will reportedly make a deep investment in winning once he sees proof of concept. Dundon is quickly learning there’s a much higher degree of scrutiny in the NBA, and his methods are already being judged. Perhaps Dundon will be able to find a successful head coach for half the cost of the lowest-paid coach elsewhere in the league. Maybe he’ll eventually get the Blazers to championship contention like he did with the Hurricanes.

For now, there will be healthy skepticism about his brazen cost-cutting moves. This is clearly a trend in the early days of Dundon’s Blazers ownership, and I wouldn’t expect it to stop here. Follow our legendary Trail Blazers community Blazer’s Edge for more coverage of the team and Dundon’s ongoing cheapness.

Martin activated, Collyer optioned

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Chris Martin #31 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Athletics in the bottom of the fifth inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on April 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Texas Rangers have activated pitcher Chris Martin from the injured list, the team announced today. To make room for Martin on the active roster, the Rangers have optioned pitcher Gavin Collyer to AAA Round Rock.

Martin landed on the injured list in mid-April after allowing 6 runs in 6.1 innings over 8 appearances in the first three weeks or so of the season. He has been with Round Rock on a rehab assignment, and made three appearances for the Express. In the first, on May 12, he faced six batters and allowed four hits, including two homers. In the second, on May 15, he faced six batters and allowed four hits again, though no homers this time. In the third outing, on May 16, he retired all three batters he faced on a total of seven pitches.

After the unexpected bullpen game yesterday, the Rangers needed to get a fresh arm up. Collyer pitched each of the previous two days, and so was going to be unavailable today. That, along with his having options available, meant he was the odd man out. Collyer did a respectable job in his first taste of major league action, putting up a 2.84 ERA and a 3.09 xERA in 12.2 innings over 14 games. If Collyer can stay healthy and throw strikes at Round Rock, he should be up again later this year.

How to watch Cavaliers vs. Knicks NBA Playoffs Game 1 for free: Start time, livestream

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Donovan Mitchell shoots a free throw during an NBA game, Image 2 shows New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) gestures after making a three-point shot

The battle for the East officially begins tonight as the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

The Knicks are entering the series well-rested as their last game, a 144-14 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers to sweep them in the second round, was over a week ago on May 10. OG Anunoby, who got injured early in the series with the Sixers, is likely to play tonight after sitting out the last two games.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, played just two days ago in Sunday’s Game 7 against Detroit. Both of the Cavs’ playoff series so far have gone to seven games.

The Knicks haven’t advanced to the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven’t won it all since 1973. The Cavaliers are in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time without LeBron James since 1992 and have never made the Finals without James on their roster.

NBA Eastern Conference Finals: what to know
  • What: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks, Game 1
  • When: May 19, 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, New York)
  • Channel: ESPN
  • Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)

Game 2 in the series is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. ET.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks start time:

Game 1 between the Cavaliers vs. Knicks Eastern Conference Final is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET tonight, May 19.

How to watch Cavaliers vs. Knicks for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE

If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription, you can try a Sling Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.

Knicks-Cavaliers second round playoff schedule

  • Game 1: Tuesday, May 19 (8 ET, ESPN)
  • Game 2: Thursday, May 21 (8 ET, ESPN)
  • Game 3: Saturday, May 23 (8 ET, ESPN)
  • Game 4: Monday, May 25 (8 ET, ESPN)
  • Game 5: Wednesday, May 27 (8 ET, ESPN)*
  • Game 6: Friday, May 29 (8 ET, ESPN)*
  • Game 7: Sunday, May 31 (8 ET, ESPN)*

* if necessary

TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.


Boston Celtics Daily Links 5/19/26

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The sneakers worn by Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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

HeraldCeltics draft pick, ex-two-way player reportedly seeking to play at LSU

Stephen A. Smith fires back at Jaylen Brown: ‘Be careful what you wish for’

Globe The Celtics need to take a big swing this offseason, maybe even something Giannis-sized

Celtics fans voted NBA’s ‘most obnoxious’ in anonymous player poll

Shams Charania expects Celtics’ pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry into ‘this offseason’

Here’s why the Celtics should trade Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo

NBA’s proposal to reform the draft lottery in an effort to combat teams tanking should be swatted, Wemby-style

Victor Wembanyama has 41 points, 24 rebounds and Spurs top Thunder in double OT to open West finals

CelticsBlog CelticsBlog exit interview: Jayson Tatum’s return was the best moment of the 2025-26 season

Jaylen Brown’s gripe with ‘clickbait’ speaks to a larger crisis in sports media

CLNS MediaWhat Should the Celtics do this Offseason? | You Got Boston

NBC Sports BostonWest Finals are a reminder of why Celtics must explore all paths this summer

NESNNick Wright Has Crucial Reminder For Stephen A. Smith Amid Jaylen Brown Beef

Bird Gets Flowers in All-Time NBA Ranking — Lakers Fans Won’t Like It

Why Western Conference Finals Game 1 Was Brutal Reality Check For Celtics

Insider Suggests Celtics May Have Already Checked In On LeBron James’ Free Agency

Kendrick Perkins Piles On Jaylen Brown Hate, Leaks Texts From Former Celtics’ Players

NBA Insider Reveals Massive Update On Celtics’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Pursuit

Mass LiveFormer Celtics two-way wing signs with LSU, hoping for NCAA return

Celtics’ 2020 draft pick in talks to play for LSU for $5 million

Celtics WireFormer Celtics short-timer RJ Luis to join Yam Madar at LSU

Shams: Celtics had interest, made a call about Giannis trade

Should the Boston Celtics sign Pritchard to a contract extension?

Will Joe Mazzulla show growth after the Celtics postseason loss?

What would a Giannis trade look like for the Celtics?

Today in Boston Celtics history: Kevin Garnett, Bill Fitch born

The AthleticNBA Players Tiers 2026: Dylan Harper, Jarrett Allen and stars in their role in Tier 4

Boston Sports Journal Simone: Spurs-Thunder proves how tough a spot the Celtics are in

BSJ Live Q&A: Simone on Celtics/NBA, 8:00 p.m. Tuesday 05.19.2026

Hardwood Houdini Celtics fans must swallow their pride & root for the Knicks in the ECF

Jaylen Brown’s looming contract extension may be x-factor in potential Giannis trade

Rajon Rondo could be unanticipated missing piece in Celtics’ puzzle this offseason

LeBron to Boston pipe dream may not be that crazy if latest report is true

NBA player poll reveals a stunning expectation for Giannis’s NBA future

Cavaliers’ playoff success makes Celtics humiliation look even worse

Celtics draft and stash guard is finally coming overseas, just not how you’d think

Celtics coach turned rival could take over chastened Eastern Conference foe

Chowder and ChampionsCeltics’ latest draft workout could help solve major frontcourt problems

CLNS Media/YouTube What Celtics Need to TRADE to Get Giannis Antetokounmpo | Celtics Daily

Locked on Celtics Victor Wembanyama FORCES Boston Celtics to RETHINK Championship Window?

Hoops Rumors Eastern Notes: Wizards, Brown, Celtics, Pacers

The Sports HubCeltics lead multiple categories in The Athletic’s NBA Player Poll

Celtics Chronicle A Deep Dive Into Boston’s Cap Situation W/ Yossi Gozlan

The Sporting News Celtics urged to acquire $186 million ex-Lakers star forward, NBA champion

Celtics may have unexpected, albeit logical alternative to pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo

HeavyCeltics’ Jaylen Brown Takes Parting Shot at Sixers After Knicks Sweep

NBA Free Agency 2026: Jalen Duren, James Harden Lead Big Board Updates

Jaylen Brown Sends Strong Message to the Knicks Ahead Conference Finals

Celtics Add ‘High-IQ’ Forward In Latest Mock Draft

Celtics Trade Pitch Swaps Jaylen Brown for Antetokounmpo After Report of Unrest in Boston

ForbesBiggest Offseason Questions For Eliminated NBA Playoff Teams

SI .com NBA Mock Trade: Rockets Acquire MVP Candidate in Blockbuster Deal

Awful AnnouncingStephen A. Smith threatens to expose Jaylen Brown: ‘Careful what you wish for’

Basketball NetworkJayson Tatum on his lifelong connection with hip-hop legend: “That is family…That’s my guy”

Stephen A. Smith questions why Jaylen Brown gets fewer endorsements than Jayson Tatum: “This is not to malign or insult”

“Sprinting back on defense is a skill” – Jaylen Brown explains how pace-and-space changed the NBA

AL .comLSU signs former St. John’s star who played in 3 Celtics preseason games in 2025, reports say

BET Jaylen Brown Put a Target On His Back By Calling Stephen A. Smith A Clown

Celtics RoundtableHere’s How ESPN Sees Boston Celtics Handling Two Picks in Latest Mock Draft

Is Former Boston Celtics Draft Pick Trying to Play College Basketball?

Last Word on SportsLeague-Leading Offensive Rebounder Is The Shocking Solution To Celtics’ Biggest Weakness

Bleacher ReportKendrick Perkins Reveals Former Celtics Players’ Texts on Jaylen Brown on Video Amid Stephen A. Beef

Fan Recap Celtics Blockbuster Plans Just Got Louder

BasketNewsJaylen Brown extension not an offseason priority for Celtics

Clutch PointsJaylen Brown takes shot at Sixers for effort in Knicks series

Hoops WireNBA Rumors: Wizards, No. 1 pick, Celtics, Jaylen Brown, Pacers

St. Louis Blues Set High Asking Price For Veteran Defenseman

Just days before the NHL trade deadline, reports revealed that the Buffalo Sabres were willing to match the St. Louis Blues’ high asking price for veteran defenseman Colton Parayko.

The deal ultimately fell through when Parayko exercised his no-trade clause to decline the trade. Parayko went on to finish the season with the Blues and formed a steady partnership with rookie Theo Lindstein.

Although Parayko wasn’t traded during the season, some insiders have indicated that the Blues could revisit Parayko trade discussions in the off-season. 

Parayko just completed the fourth year of the eight-year, $6.5 million AAV contract he signed with the Blues. The 33-year-old will have the no-trade clause on his contract until the end of the 2027-28 season, after which it will become a modified 15-team no-trade clause. 

While Parayko has the right to decline a trade, the Blues can still attempt to move him to a team he might be willing to go to. 

A recent report from TSN’s Bruce Garrioch indicates that the Ottawa Senators could be one of those teams that make a push to acquire him. 

That won’t be easy for the Senators, or any team interested in acquiring Parayko, as Garrioch reports that the Blues are asking for a high-end prospect and a first-round pick. 

Report: Jordan Kyrou Remains Available For Trade; Blues Looking For 'King's Ransom'Report: Jordan Kyrou Remains Available For Trade; Blues Looking For 'King's Ransom'Jordan Kyrou is back in the trade rumor mill, as a new report by TSN’s Bruce Garrioch says the St. Louis Blues are looking for a “king’s ransom” in exchange for Kyrou.

Parayko brings a skill set that very few players in the NHL can match. Standing 6-foot-6, Parayko is a solid defender, capable of using his size to protect the front of the net. Additionally, he moves well enough to defend the rush and move the puck fairly efficiently.

But Parayko also brings a wealth of experience from playing at the highest level. Parayko has skated in 800 NHL games, won a Stanley Cup in 2019, and recently represented Canada at the Olympics and the 4 Nations Face-Off. 

Parayko has been a leader on the Blues for quite some time now, and could be a candidate to take the captaincy if soon-to-be-GM Alexander Steen elects to keep him on the roster. 

Whatever happens with Parayko, all that is for certain is that he will help whatever team he ends up with. Whether he stays with the Blues as they attempt to regroup and make the playoffs in the coming years, or joins a Stanley Cup contender. Either an NHL club is better off having Parayko than not. 


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Report: Bruce Cassidy’s Interview Status With Maple Leafs Unclear Despite Golden Knights Withholding Permission From Oilers, Kings

The Toronto Maple Leafs are searching for their next head coach after Craig Berube's dismissal on May 13.

Former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy remains to be seen as the No. 1 coaching candidate available. To the point where the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings have sought permission to speak to Cassidy.

However, the Golden Knights have withheld permission for those two teams to contact him. Part of that could be related to those teams being division rivals to Vegas.

As for the Maple Leafs, a recent report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman seems to imply that Vegas, to this point, has not denied a permission request from Toronto.

"Vegas is not inclined to give permission to Edmonton or LA. We will see about Toronto," Friedman reported on X.

Even though the Golden Knights fired Cassidy in March, he still has one more year on his contract with the organization. So, even if he's been dismissed, Vegas still have the contractual rights.

Cassidy stood behind Vegas' bench for just shy of four regular seasons and coached the team through three post-seasons. He won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in his first year coaching them in 2022-23. 

David Carle Among Three First-Time NHL Head Coach Candidates For Maple LeafsDavid Carle Among Three First-Time NHL Head Coach Candidates For Maple LeafsWith Craig Berube out, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in search of a new head coach, with multiple reports suggesting they'll look for a fresh candidate. Here are three first-time NHL head coaches who could be considered for the Maple Leafs' 42nd head coach in franchise history.

He also helped the Knights to two Pacific Division titles. This past campaign would've marked a third occasion, but John Tortorella replaced Cassidy with eight games left in the year, finishing the regular season for Vegas.

When Maple Leafs GM John Chayka faced the media following his decision to fire Berube, he revealed that the organization's search for a new head coach will be vast. Some days later, reports suggested that Toronto would be looking for a "fresh" candidate rather than a veteran bench boss in the coaching carousel.

Report: Cassidy 'Extremely Unlikely' To Be Maple Leafs' Next Head Coach, Fresh Face in PlayReport: Cassidy 'Extremely Unlikely' To Be Maple Leafs' Next Head Coach, Fresh Face in PlayThe Toronto Maple Leafs will be searching for a new head coach this off-season. However, Elliotte Friedman believes that Bruce Cassidy won't be the bench boss that the Maple Leafs ultimately decide on. Instead, they may look for a fresh face to be Toronto's 42nd coach.

Friedman even went as far as to say that it would be "extremely unlikely" for the Maple Leafs to decide on hiring Cassidy as the 42nd coach in franchise history.

Regardless of the probability of a Maple Leafs and Cassidy marriage, the Golden Knights have not denied any requests from Toronto's brass.


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Braves place star catcher Drake Baldwin on 10-day IL with strained oblique muscle

MIAMI (AP) — The Atlanta Braves placed star catcher Drake Baldwin on the 10-day injured list Tuesday because of a strained right oblique muscle.

The reigning NL Rookie of the Year played in the series opener against the Miami Marlins on Monday but was replaced after his third plate appearance in the sixth inning of Atlanta’s 12-0 loss.

“Everyone deals with this,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday. “It’s part of a major league season. Virtually every team is going to deal with their fair share of injuries. It’s tough when it happens to your best players. You’ve got to find a way to get through it and guys have to step up.”

Weiss added that Baldwin initially felt a slight discomfort after his second at-bat but not painful enough to warrant his removal.

“He felt a little more after the last at-bat. I took him out of the game after that one,” Weiss said. “Obliques are obliques and they’re never fun to deal with.”

Baldwin has returned to Atlanta, where he will undergo an MRI and additional testing.

The 23-year-old Baldwin has followed a standout rookie season with impressive offensive numbers through his first 48 games. Baldwin began Tuesday with a team-leading .303 batting average and 57 hits, and is tied with Matt Olson with a team-high 38 RBIs.

Last season, Baldwin became the first catcher since Buster Posey in 2010 to win Rookie of the Year. Baldwin hit 19 homers and drove in 80 runs, receiving 21 of 30 first place votes.

Baldwin’s removal coincides with the return of five-time All Star Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña, the NL 2023 MVP, had been sidelined since May 2 because of a left hamstring strain. He was activated Monday and will hit leadoff as designated hitter on Tuesday.

“I guess, if there is a silver lining, we replace Baldwin with a guy like Ronald Acuña,” Weiss said. “Not many teams get to do that. That’s the good news there. But truth be told — we’re losing arguably our best hitter. Drake has been unbelievable.”

The Braves selected the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Gwinnett. Tromp and Sandy León will split the starts at catcher during Baldwin’s absence.

The historic stat that predicts a Spurs series win

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Victor Wembanyama #1 and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs react during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 18, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder will go down as one of the most epic playoff games for both the Spurs and NBA — something this rivalry has had a knack for generating over the last 15 years. The young Spurs led most of the time against the defending champions despite no De’Aaron Fox but still found themselves having to overcome their own mistakes to pull it out in double-overtime.

They were able to do so with a series of insanely clutch plays and historic stat lines, all while reaching many milestones both in franchise and NBA Playoff history, and we’re about to go through all if them that I could find (many courtesy of Spurs stat guru Jordan Howenstine). But first, we’ll start with the one that may matter the most when looking at the long-term outlook of this series, courtesy of Michael C. Wright of ESPN:

The Spurs are the fifth team in NBA history to win five of their first six games against the team that owned the best record in the NBA that season. The previous four all won a playoff series against the team that had the best record.

In other words, no team has beaten an opponent in 5 of their first 6 match-ups in a season and gone on to lose a playoff series to them. Of course, there is the added quirk of one of those five games being the NBA Cup Semi-finals, so it’s not like the Spurs swept the Thunder in the regular season or are up 2-0 to start the series, but history is still on their side.

Now we move on to stat milestones specific to Game 1. Without Fox, the Spurs trotted out the youngest starting lineup in Conference Finals history, averaging just under 23 years old. That beat out the Portland Trail Blazers 1977 championship team’s starting lineup by 279 days.

This was also the Spurs’ first road win in Game 1 of the Conference Finals since 2005, when they beat the Suns in Phoenix Game 1. (We all know how that turned out!)

Next up is Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 41 points on 14-25 shooting, 24 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks in a career-high 49 minutes of action. He had already become the first player since Chris Webber in 2002 to have double-double at halftime in his first ever conference Conference Finals game with 14 points and 10 rebounds (and the first Spur since Tim Duncan against OKC in 2012), and by the end he was the youngest player to post a 40/20 game in playoffs history, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as the second Spur after David Robinson.

But it didn’t end there. He’s also the first player since Dirk Nowitzki in 2003 to have 25+ points and 15+ rebounds in his first Conference Finals game (which was against the Spurs, and some may forget he missed most of that series). He was also only the second player 22 or younger to post 30+ and 20+ in playoff game since the 1976 merger, along with Moses Malone in 1977, and the first to do it in his first Conference Finals game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1960.

Then we have Dylan Harper, whose rookie star keeps shining brighter the deeper we get into the playoffs. He got the start with Fox out, posting 24 points on 8-20 shooting (albeit 0-7 from three), 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 steals. (And perhaps just as importantly, just 1 turnover to help mitigate Stephon Castle’s 11 on the night. If Fox sits again for Game 2 — which may be a strategic move since it’s no longer a must-win game, although I personally take every game extremely seriously — the ball needs to be in Harper’s hands more.)

His 7 steals beat out Dejounte Murray, who had 5 against the Warriors in Game 4 in 2017, for the Spurs rookie record for a playoff game. He also joined some elite Spurs company with Alvin Robertson, Avery Johnson, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard as the only Spurs with 6+ steals in a playoff game.

At the NBA level, he became just the second rookie to record 20/10/5/5 (steals) in a playoff game, with the other being Magic Johnson, and the first to post 20/10/5/7. But it wasn’t just a historic rookie stat line: since steals began being recorded in 1973-74, he joins Larry Bird and Julius Irving as the only players to post that stat line in the playoffs AT ALL!

The Spurs could hardly have asked for a better start to the series. Of course, nothing is set in stone, and they must remain focused and not get too high or confident while working for three more wins because it won’t be easy. Thunder fans will point to how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could have been much better on offense, and they would be right. At the same time, the Spurs certainly could have been better themselves (especially from three, where they shot just 13-43), likely won’t be giving up 21 turnovers again (especially if Fox is back), and it would be a stretch to think the Thunder get 31 points and 8 threes from Alex Caruso again, who is a very erratic shooter.

Regardless, this is just the start of what should be an amazing series. Game 1 has already gone down in Spurs history as one of the best performances we’ve seen (which is saying a lot), but it will only carry so much weight into the future if the Spurs don’t take this series. We can all revel in it today, and then tomorrow, it’s back to work.

Make sure to add any more milestones I may have missed in the comments below! (It’s quite the rabbit hole to go down and almost impossible catch them all.)

Shohei Ohtani back to two-way duty? Dodgers' plan for star unveiled

Shohei Ohtani, that two-way playing unicorn, may actually get a chance to both hit and pitch when his turn in the rotation comes up on Wednesday vs. the San Diego Padres.

According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani will probably hit and pitch next time he is on the bump amid a season when he is not only struggling for consistency on offense but has also seen his status as both pitcher and hitter become a rare occurrence, with the slugger regularly sitting as DH on days he pitches.

The Dodgers' skipper said on Tuesday that the "plan" for the series finale in San Diego is to have Ohtani hit the same game he is set to start, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

The news comes during a crucial slate down south for the boys in blue, who find themselves 0.5 games back of their NL West counterparts after dropping Monday's game, 1-0.

The two teams do battle once again on Tuesday night, with the Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan set to pitch against the Padres' Griffin Canning.

Shohei Ohtani stats, record

Ohtani has been dominant on the mound this season, posting a minuscule 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 50 strikeouts over 44 innings pitched.

To prove he is indeed mortal, Ohtani has had a pedestrian time at the plate in the early goings, at least by his standards.

The DH has an .850 OPS with 7 home runs and 24 RBI through 43 games. By contrast, he enjoyed a 1.180 OPS with 15 home runs during the month of May last season. Though he has picked it up of late, going 5-for-10 and driving in eight over the last week.

Whether he can pick up the pace with the additional ABs on the days he pitches will be answered shortly.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani could hit and pitch as Dodgers look to shake things up

Carmelo Anthony invites Jeremy Lin on podcast to address years-long Knicks beef

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin and Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony looks on against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 22, 2012, Image 2 shows Man in blue sweatshirt with glasses gestures with his hands
Carmelo Anthony said he wants to "clear the air" with his former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin more than a decade after "Linsanity" took over New York in 2012.

Carmelo Anthony said he wants to “clear the air” with his former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin more than a decade after “Linsanity” took over New York in 2012.

During Monday’s installment of the “7PM In Brooklyn” podcast, Anthony invited Lin to come on his podcast to “speak the truth” — but Anthony offered no other explanation.

“Jeremy Lin, I’m giving you my invite to come sit on the couch,” Anthony said.

“Let’s have a conversation, let’s clear the air on a lot of bullshit that’s out there please. And I love what you’re doing right now, man … Come speak the truth.”

Knicks faithful know that rumblings of a reported feud came about during Lin’s rise to fame during the 2011-12 season.

At the time, Lin led the Knicks to 10 wins in 13 games when he averaged over 22 points and nine assists after the Knicks called him up.

Anthony was dealing with a groin injury at the time.

After that season, Anthony made waves when he called Lin’s Houston Rockets contract offer — three years and $25 million — “ridiculous,” which led to reports that he was jealous of Lin’s fast success and it was disrupting what he was trying to build in New York.

New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin and Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony looks on against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 22, 2012. REUTERS

Anthony has discussed the matter on multiple occasions.

During a May 2024 installment of his podcast, Anthony and Baron Davis, who was a member of the 2012 Knicks team, said they were supportive of Lin’s fame behind closed doors.

“People always talk about … nobody liked the Linsanity … personally me, you get what I’m saying? They throw that out there,” Anthony said. 

Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony #7 and Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin #7 during the first half on November 14, 2013. Anthony J. Causi

“But people don’t know that, behind the scenes, we were very supportive of this.

“… Linsanity could have been a $100 million business easy and I’m trying to get this through to him,” Anthony recalled. “He was like, ‘Nah, I’m not brought up on that, my parents. But I respected that. I hear that, matter of fact, bring your parents in here, let us talk to them… It was [happening] so fast.”

Davis added, “Yeah, he wasn’t trying to hear that s–t from nobody.”

New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, right, holds Jeremy Lin’s hand as he leaves the game after fouling out during the fourth quarter of an against the New Jersey Nets on February 20, 2012, at Madison Square Garden in New York. AP

Lin acknowledged “the theory” that Anthony being jealous played a part in his Knicks exit — but declined to “feed the speculation train” in a 2022 interview with the Daily Beast.

“I know, and I’m saying this truthfully, that there were multiple points of opposition completely outside of Melo within what was going on, and once [head coach Mike] D’Antoni resigned, there was already opposition within the organization — whether it was the coaching staff that took over or certain members of the front office,” Lin said.

“But there was definitely, from what I’ve heard or gathered in the few years after, it wasn’t all as rosy as people thought it was. I don’t know who to attribute it to, but I know there were multiple points of opposition.”

Lin had stints with the Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks and Raptors after going undrafted out of Harvard.

He was part of the 2019 Raptors team that won the franchise’s first championship. 

Lin later went on to play for the Beijing Ducks.

Jeremy Lin of Beijing Ducks prepares for free throw during a preseason game against Jilin Northeast Tigers in Beijing, China on October 1, 2019. ZUMA24.com

He most recently played for the New Taipei Kings of the P. League+ in Taiwan, alongside his brother Joseph Lin.

Lin announced his retirement from professional basketball in an Instagram post last August.

Dodgers vs Padres Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 19

The Padres (29-18) beat the Dodgers (29-19), 1-0 on Monday night. thanks to a first inning home run by Miguel Adujar. San Diego looks to win the series Tuesday at Petco Park.

Los Angeles' five-game winning streak was snapped in the loss as the offense couldn't get going. The Dodgers managed five hits and 10 strikeouts to five walks in the loss. Three of the five hits came from the top of the lineup via Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. The Dodgers are 3-3 since Betts has come back to action.

San Diego is riding a four-game winning streak, their second longest of the season. The Padres offense scored 15 total runs in the two games prior to the Dodgers, but only managed one yesterday. The Padres have now shutout four teams and the following game, San Diego has lost the previous three. Will that streak continue versus the Dodgers tonight?

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 Dodgers at Padres

  • Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
  • Time: 9:40 PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park 
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • 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 Dodgers at the Padres

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-163), San Diego Padres (+135)
  • Spread: Padres +1.5 (-122), Dodgers -1.5 (+102)
  • Total: 8.0

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Padres

  • Tuesday's pitching matchup (May 19): Emmet Sheehan vs. Griffin Canning
  • Dodgers: Emmet Sheehan

2026 stats: 41.2 IP, 3-1, 4.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 49 Ks, 12 BB

  • Padres: Griffin Canning

2026 Stats: 11.0 IP, 0-2, 10.64 ERA, 2.18 WHIP, 14 Ks, 9 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Padres’ Miguel Andujar is hitting .298 with 39 hits and 66 total bases over 131 at-bats
  • The Padres’ Jackson Merrill is hitting .202 with 35 hits and 49 strikeouts over 173 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .299 with 53 hits and 91 total bases over 177 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .265 with 44 hits and 48 strikeouts over 166 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 Dodgers at Padres

  • The Padres are 21-25-1 ATS and to the Under this season
  • The Dodgers are 21-27 ATS and to the Under this season
  • The Padres are 7-4 ATS and 6-5 on the ML as a home underdog
  • The Dodgers are 14-9 ATS as a road favorite, ranking second-best
  • The Padres are 6-5 to the Over as a home underdog

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Padres

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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 Tuesday's game between the Dodgers and the Giants.

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

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