Draymond Green, who typically jumps on “Inside the NBA” as a guest analyst when his Warriors season is over, took a low blow at NBA legend Charles Barkley on Wednesday night.
“Sports are for young people. You hope to have a great, long career, but nobody wins when they’re 37, 38,” Barkley said on the ESPN show.
Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical.
In his 4 years in Houston, Chuck averaged 16-12-4, including averaging 18 & 12 during a run to the Western Conference Finals.
“I think the goal is just to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” Green replied.
Barkley spent the final four seasons his Hall of Fame career with the Rockets from 1996-2000, battling injuries while not scoring like had in the past.
When co-analyst Kenny Smith asked what that meant, Green doubled down on the statement.
“Did you see it? I saw it,” Green said.
Fox Sports television host Nick Wright detested the segment.
“Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical,” Wright said before crushing Green’s argument.
Draymond Green took a serious low blow at Charles Barkley. ESPN Inside the NBA
The Rockets went 57-25 in Barkley’s first season, grabbed the second seed in the Western Conference and were eliminated by the Jazz in six games in the conference finals, though many think they would have advanced to the NBA Finals had Barkley not been injured at the end of that series.
Injuries began to pile up on Barkley from there, as he played just 62 of a possible 164 games in his final two years in the league in his age-36 and age-37 seasons, respectively.
He still averaged a double-double in each season, averaging 16.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, although his points average marked Barkley’ lowest output with any of his three teams.
Even in Barkley’s toughest season in Houston, though, he averaged 14.5 points and 10.5 points per game, which clears Green’s career-highs for any season.
Charles Barkley’s career fizzled out with the Rockets from 1996 to 2000. Sporting News via Getty Images
“Draymond continues to recreate history,” Wright said.
Green, 36, was between the ages of six-year-old and 10-year-old when Barkley played the backend of his career with a Rockets team that included aging Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
The Warriors forward, a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Michigan State, where he also played some college football, has previously said that Steve Kerr didn’t make his career, as many think.
“As much as he’s done for me in basketball, a part of me thinks he’s hindered me in my career and what I could have become,” Green said.
Rivers clapped back at him, saying that he was “disrespectful” to Kerr and his situation.
“You were the luckiest basketball player, I think I’ve ever seen,” Rivers said. “You were drafted to a franchise with a Hall of Fame front office, Hall of Fame coach, the greatest shooter of all time and perhaps a top-five player of all time. Not to mention one of the most lethal scorers of all time and arguably a top-10 player of all time, Kevin Durant — the same guy you chased off because you talk too much. Steve Kerr made your career. How dare you?”
When looking forward to next season, Green added that Jimmy Butler was going to miss a big chunk of the campaign, as will Moses Moody, which represents $75 million of their payroll.
“The goal is always to compete at a championship standard … as you get older, you have to redefine what success is,” Green concluded. “Still the most sellouts in the NBA. Still, the most nationally televised games in the NBA. And you just want to give yourself a chance.
“Success might not be, at this point, a championship. That’s the way it goes.”
It’s even tougher when you have to do it on a cold, windy night.
Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta knew exactly what he’d be facing going in, though, and he tired to stay as prepared and loose as possible throughout Wednesday’s outing.
“It was crazy weather,” he said postgame. “I knew what I was facing, though. I knew it was going to be a little crazy so between innings I was riding a bike to keep myself warm and ready to go.”
That resulted in Peralta gutting his way through five scoreless innings of work.
The Rockies did do a good job of making him battle, as he threw a total of 91 pitches on the night, but he held their offense in check and left with a big-advantage still in place.
Peralta only struck out one, but limited Colorado to four hits and a pair of walks.
“I think it was good,” he said. “I was hoping to get into the sixth inning, but it was crazy -- my pitch count was a little high, but other than that I thought it was pretty good.”
“He found a way,” Carlos Mendoza added. “On a day where they put fouled off tough pitches and put together good at-bats, he gave us five and kept us in the game -- he attacked even when he got behind, so it was a good outing.”
Peralta pitched well enough to earn his second Mets win, and his first since Opening Day against the Pirates.
“It feels really good,” he said. “It’s funny because [Luis] Torrens was just asking me like ‘how long have you been pitching without a win?’ And I told him it was Opening Day and he was surprised -- me too.”
New York has suddenly found its footing a bit following the brutal stretch of play, going home victorious in three straight games and locking up back-to-back series to open the road trip.
“This is what I expected,” Peralta said. “This is who we are, we have to keep it that way.”
During Tuesday's installment of the "Show Me Something" podcast, Cunningham reacted to Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese's "NBA Playoffs love triangle"
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has entered the chat.
During Tuesday’s installment of the “Show Me Something” podcast, Cunningham reacted to Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese’s “NBA playoffs love triangle,” as Reese’s boyfriend, the Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., and her ex, the Pistons’ Jalen Duren, clashed and guarded each other in the first-round playoff series.
Reese previously reshared videos of Carter dunking on Duren to her Instagram Story, which sent NBA Twitter into a frenzy.
Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream poses for a portrait during WNBA Media Day at Gateway Center Arena on May 4, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“Something had to have happened for [Reese] to keep, I don’t know, wanting to embarrass him in some way,” Cunningham said.
“Or nothing happened,” said West Wilson, who is Cunningham’s co-host and “Summer House” star in the middle of a public cheating scandal.
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., right, beats Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) to a rebound during the first half in Game 7 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. APDetroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) dribbles the ball against Orlando Magic center-forward Wendell Carter Jr. (34) in the second quarter during Game 6 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center on May 1. Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
“Then move on, worry about current boyfriend,” Cunningham replied.
Wilson added that Duren, whose production dipped in the series, is “in his head.”
The Pistons center averaged 19.5 points in the regular season but that has dipped to 10.6 points over eight postseason games.
Detroit advanced after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit.
Reese and Carter tend to keep their relationship private.
Duren and Reese were a rumored couple in the summer of 2024, when the pair shared videos on social media from what seemed to be a similar vacation setting.
They never confirmed the relationship publIcly.
“A messy NBA storyline involving Angel Reese and her ex, the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren vs. current boyfriend, the Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., … while they’re literally guarding each other in a playoff series,” the description of the “Show Me Something” video read.
Let’s run the table on a short slate with action throughout the day, starting in the afternoon. There are a few clear pitcher fades and favorable winds blowing out, making MLB player props ripe for the taking.
After initially targeting Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Bobby Witt Jr. on the matinee slate, I'm capping things off with Miami Marlins infielder Otto Lopez in a favorable matchup against a flailing Orioles pitching staff.
Here are my favorite MLB home run predictions for Thursday, May 7.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
+760
Bobby Witt Jr.
+452
Otto Lopez
+670
💲Today's HR parlay
+29283
Home run pick: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (+760)
I want a left-handed New York Yankees bat this afternoon with 9-mph winds blowing out to right field at Yankee Stadium. MacKenzie Gore is a lefty, but left-handed hitters are actually taking him deep at a higher rate than righties. He also carries the third-highest HR/FB rate among all starters on today’s slate.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has already taken Gore deep in a small nine-at-bat sample. He homered Tuesday, and three of his 11 hits over the last 12 games have left the yard. His bat-tracking metrics are checking every box as well, ranking among the top Yankee hitters in BlastContact% while posting strong marks in swing speed, SqUpContact%, and Ideal Attack Angle.
There’s also a useful stat that measures attack direction — the horizontal angle the ball comes off the bat, essentially tracking pull vs. late contact — and Chisholm’s +8-degree mark points to heavy pull-side barrel contact that plays perfectly with the short porch and the wind.
The fair price for this +EV homer is around +580.
Time: 12:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES, Rangers Sports Network
Home run pick: Bobby Witt Jr. (+452)
The wind is howling out to center at Kauffman Stadium at 15 mph, and Slade Cecconi is a great pitcher fade. The Cleveland Guardians starter has allowed five HRs over the last three starts and a whopping 26 hits over those 16 innings. His Ks are down, and the walks are up, leading to an increase in HR/9.
Bobby Witt Jr's fair price to go yard this afternoon is around +390. It's tough to go wrong with any of the big Kansas City bats today with this setting and matchup.
This is also a great spot to stack some HRRBI for the Royals, and there could be runs as KC starter Seth Lugo is coming off a season-high 103 pitches, and there might be three arms unavailable in the Royals' bullpen.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Royals.TV, Guardians.TV
Home run pick: Otto Lopez (+670)
The Miami Marlins have a circled matchup today against lefty Cade Povich and an overworked Baltimore Orioles bullpen. I have Povich rated as a Bottom-5 starter on the slate, and his spot with the Orioles could disappear once Trevor Rogers returns.
Povich lasted just 12 outs in his last start while allowing two home runs, and if he can’t cover innings again, Baltimore will have to lean on a bullpen that may be without three arms, including closer Rico Garcia. That entire relief group owns a 7.84 ERA over the last two weeks, and 47 innings is more than enough sample size to take seriously.
This Baltimore bullpen is bad.
I’m going back to Otto Lopez, who sat yesterday but will likely lead off against the southpaw. He’s been crushing lefties this year with a 1.004 OPS.
Lopez has a hit in nine straight games with five extra-base hits during that stretch and is playing some of his best baseball of the season with 20-HR potential. He could get five plate appearances today and multiple cracks at that Baltimore bullpen.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Marlins.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 10-61, -9.41 units
Today’s HR parlay
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Bet Now +29283
Bobby Witt Jr.
Otto Lopez
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.
Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford (2) steals second base against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Despite their recent winning ways, the Phillies offense is still struggling to produce runs on a consistent basis. There hasn’t been much power to be found outside of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh is still the only other hitter who has been anything close to consistent.
Perhaps the Phillies should look to alternative methods to help boost their offense. In Rob Thomson’s time as manager, the Phillies stole the ninth most bases in baseball with 503. Bryson Stott had the most on the team over that span with 103. Trea Turner is second despite joining the team in 2023 with 88 steals. The team was mostly efficient at stealing too, only being caught 102 times, good for a success rate of around 80%.
However, the Phillies entering Wednesday were 19th in stolen bases this year with 21. Stott and Turner haven’t run often so far, combining for just nine steal attempts, but neither have been caught yet either. In addition to those two major threats from previous years, the Phillies also now employ another major stolen base threat in Justin Crawford. Crawford stole 46 bases last year while only being caught 11 times at Lehigh Valley, but so far in the majors he’s only swiped three bags and has already been caught twice. He has not quite found his footing yet as a base stealer in the majors.
Outside of those three, Brandon Marsh would be the next logical candidate. He’s swiped all three bags he’s attempted this season after swiping seven on eight attempts in 2025. J.T. Realmuto has been an underrated base stealing threat in years past and he totaled eight on ten attempts last year, but it’s likely the Phillies will not ask him to steal as often in order to preserve the 35-year-old catcher’s legs. Bryce Harper stole 12 bags last year while being thrown out twice but has already been thrown out once on three attempts this season.
So, should the Phillies attempt to steal mores bases? Is it a good way to try and find some offense? Or are they better off not running into outs with the few baserunners they actually have?
Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez (3) pours gatorade onto Miami Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2) after sweeping the Atlanta Braves in the series on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at loanDepot Park in Miami. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Well, they got the series loss out of the way. Not surprisingly, it came in a series where the games weren’t really managed with urgency on the pitching side. Now, the season standings are what they are, so I can get soft-pedaling things, though it’s not actually any more enjoyable to watch in the moment than if the standings were more dire. But, it’s not like the team’s first series loss was some kind of devastating blow.
Right now, getting swept also wouldn’t be a devastating blow. But, we also don’t know that the Braves will get swept any time soon. Do you think they will? If so, when? Who’s gonna achieve it?
The 2024 Braves didn’t get swept until early May… by the Dodgers… on a road trip to Seattle and Los Angeles… after losing a series to the Mariners.
The 2023 Braves actually got swept in late April by the Astros.
The 2022 Braves were never swept.
The 2021 Braves were swept in their first series of the year… as were the 2019 Braves. Both happened in Philadelphia.
The 2020 Braves were only swept in a two-game set in Games 19 and 20 of that shortened season. A funny thing there was that they were swept at Yankee Stadium, and then later that month, swept the Yankees in two games at home. The team only participated in one other sweep the rest of the way.
The 2018 team also lasted until early May, where they were swept at home by the Giants.
I keep telling you that there’s something special about this Cubs team.
Maybe if they keep pulling out wins like the one Wednesday night against the Reds, you’ll believe me. I almost have no words… oh, wait, I’ve got about 1,700 words to describe Wednesday’s amazing comeback win.
After the team had one of their worst innings of the entire season, blowing a two-run ninth-inning lead and … well, I’ll get to the rest of that… the Cubs tied the game up, got a solid scoreless inning from a pitcher who had just arrived and was only there because of yet another injury, then won the game on a walk-off walk issued to Michael Busch. The Cubs’ 7-6, 10-inning win was their eighth in a row and their 14th straight at Wrigley Field.
Caught your breath yet? Let’s rewind to the beginning of this bonkers game.
Colin Rea walked the first batter of the game, TJ Friedl. That almost never winds up being a good thing, and it wasn’t in this case, as Friedl moved to second when Rea threw a pickoff attempt away and scored on a single by JJ Bleday.
The Cubs wasted no time in taking the lead back. The first two Cubs in the first grounded out, then Alex Bregman singled.
Perspective: This was the Cubs’ 37th game of the year. Last year — when Happ hit 23 home runs — he hit his ninth in the team’s 75th game. The homer was the 182nd of his career, moving Happ ahead of Alfonso Soriano into 12th place on the franchise home run list. Next up: Hack Wilson, 190.
The Reds threatened in the third. Two singles put runners on first and third with nobody out. Rea struck out Bleday, then with the infield in, Busch made this good play [VIDEO].
Rea served up a home run ball to Matt McLain in the fifth to make the score 4-2. Rea was finally lifted with one out in the sixth after putting runners on by a walk and a single. He got one out on a ground ball, then Jacob Webb was summoned. Webb’s been pretty good lately and he got out of the inning with a pair of ground outs — the second, though, required this slick grab from Bregman [VIDEO].
The Cubs had a chance to extend the lead in the seventh. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Swanson began the inning with singles, but Nico Hoerner hit into a double play. Craig Counsell sent Matt Shaw up to bat against left-hander Sam Moll, but Terry Francona countered with Pierce Johnson, so Counsell sent Michael Conforto up to bat for Shaw. That’s something you used to see a lot, but not now with three-batter minimums and four-man benches.
Anyway, Conforto could not replicate his heroics of Monday; he grounded out to end the inning.
Phil Maton threw a 1-2-3 eighth. That’s good because, well, the Cubs need good relievers they can trust right now, what with all the injuries.
Tip o’ the cap there — that could have been a double or triple, instead it was a 402-foot out.
Then, the ninth. If I can be permitted to second-guess Counsell a bit, Webb had thrown only 14 pitches to record five outs. Perhaps he could have thrown the eighth and Maton the ninth. I agree with Counsell on not using Daniel Palencia on back-to-back days, yet, coming off his injury.
So it was Corbin Martin to try to save this game. Friends, you know he did not do that. He served up a leadoff homer to Spencer Steer, then allowed singles to Will Benson and pinch-hitter Tyler Stephenson. That was it for Martin, and Hoby Milner came on to protect what was now a one-run lead.
McLain attempted a bunt. Milner thought he had a play at third, and he might have, only he hesitated just for the tiniest moment and Benson was safe. Milner then struck out pinch-hitter Dane Myers, only to see Bleday hit a single, tying the game.
Suzuki made a nice grab, then fell down. What you can’t see on the clip is that he flipped the ball to PCA, whose throw was too late to prevent two runs from scoring on Elly De La Cruz’s sacrifice fly.
The four-run ninth was a disaster, one of the Cubs’ worst innings of 2026, as noted above.
Did that matter? No, it did not!
Busch led off and was called out on strikes on a pitch overturned on a challenge. Then Kelly singled.
With one out, the Cubs had a chance to walk it off in regulation, but Swanson popped up and Hoerner grounded out.
On to the 10th and Milner walked the first Reds hitter he faced. Now there are runners on first and second with nobody out. Trent Thornton was summoned. Raise your hand if you knew, when this day started, that Thornton would be pitching for the Cubs in this very high-leverage situation. (No, no you did not, he’s only there due to the injury to Matthew Boyd.)
Thornton did his job exceptionally well. He got Steer to hit into a double play. Pinch-runner Blake Dunn wound up on third, where he was stranded when Thornton got Benson to ground out. Thornton is 32 and signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in January. He’s had some decent years in the past in Toronto and Seattle, and this outing, well, the Cubs need that “next man up” theory to hold and it did in this inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, Miguel Amaya was sent up to bat in the DH spot, for Conforto. Remember that Shaw had already been used, the only other bench bat was Nicky Lopez. Amaya was being sent up to sacrifice the placed runner (Nico), and he did so successfully. So now Hoerner’s on third with one out. The Reds chose to intentionally pass Bregman. Happ, though, struck out for the second out in the inning. The Reds then decided to intentionally pass Suzuki. You don’t see this sort of thing often in walk-off situations anymore; teams think it’s too big of a risk when, as was the case here, a walk ends the game.
Busch, who was the wak-off hero Tuesday, was the hitter. He ran a 3-0 count. One more ball and the Cubs win. The fourth pitch was close, and it appeared Busch had challenged — but the umpires didn’t allow it. Counsell came out for a discussion, but the game continued. As it turned out, the pitch was a strike, so the challenge wouldn’t have done anything. A very close pitch, but a strike:
Just can’t say enough about this team. Even with that awful ninth, you had the feeling that somehow, this Cubs team would come back and win, and so they did. From BCB’s JohnW53:
Last night’s win made Monday-Wednesday just the fourth time since 1901 that Cubs have had three straight walk-offs vs. the same team:
Aug. 16-18, 1932, vs Braves Aug. 28, 30 and 31, 1932 vs Giants Sept. 27-28, 1943 vs Giants (doubleheader on 28th).
They have had three straight walk-offs vs. different teams since then, most recently in 2009.
The injury to Boyd, noted above, will have some ripple effects, obviously. Javier Assad likely slots back into the rotation, and for now, Thornton takes his bullpen place. We’ll discuss over the next days and weeks where Jed Hoyer might go for starting pitching help. As for the pen, I’d think this game might be the end of Corbin Martin’s Cubs career — after starting out this year reasonably well (including a save against the Dodgers!), Martin’s last three outings have resulted in one total inning pitched, six hits, four walks, two home runs and six runs allowed for a 54.00 ERA. I’m not sure who the Cubs could add today to replace Martin — Ethan Roberts, currently on rehab assignment, threw an inning for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.
There will be more on WPA in Heroes and Goats at 10 a.m. CT, but check out this game’s chart (Bluesky link):
17 total wins 10 comeback wins 9 wins after allowing the first run 6 one-run wins 4 walkoff wins 4 wins after trailing in 8th or later 3 extra-inning wins
No other MLB team in the modern era has done all of that over any 20-game span. pic.twitter.com/65oRrdidb5
The Cubs now lead the NL Central by 3.5 games over the second-place Cardinals and five games over the Brewers, Reds and Pirates.
The Cubs will go for nine in a row, 15 straight at Wrigley, and a four-game sweep Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and Rhett Lowder goes for the Reds. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network (and MLB Network outside the Cubs and Reds market territories).
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 30: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the fourth quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggetsin Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 30, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a helluva run. Five first-round exits, two semi-finals defeats, a conference finals heartbreak, and, right in the middle of it all, ultimate glory. Nine years of playoff basketball. 47 wins and 42 losses—more than a season’s worth of postseason action.
Now, for the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Milwaukee Bucks are on the outside looking in. But that doesn’t mean they should switch off. If anything, they should be paying even closer attention, using these playoffs to determine what holds up under the bright lights—and what direction their off-season should take.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
What happened?
As expected, the Thunder wrapped up this series quickly, winning all four games by an average of 17.3 PPG even with Jalen Williams playing just two games. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the rout with 33.8 PPG and 8.0 APG on 55% shooting, while Dillon Brooks led the Suns, averaging 26.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG (shooting .459/.438/1.00).
What matters?
Despite the loss, which again was expected—not every team can be stacked with first-round studs—it’s the Suns that offer Milwaukee guidance. And it’s for two primary reasons. One, coaching matters. After an unsuccessful year under Mike Budenholzer in 2024-25 where the Suns went 36-46, rookie head coach Jordon Ott was instrumental in the Suns winning nine more games and moving from 11th to 7th in the Western Conference standings despite the roster having arguably less talent. With the Bucks having already signed Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach, that box seems to be checked. Two, the right veterans can make all the difference. For all his perceived warts, Brooks was phenomenal for the Suns this year, leading a culture shift that helped transform Phoenix from the 27th ranked defence to the 9th. What does this mean for the Bucks? It’s not always the big names that make the most difference. Castoffs, malcontents—take a look at them. Hard.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
What happened?
The Spurs took care of the Blazers in a gentleman’s sweep. Wemby averaged 21.0 PPG on 58.3% from the field and a shocking 53.8% from deep; dude is a real-life cheat code. The Blazers were led by Deni Avdija and, somewhat surprisingly, Scoot Henderson, with both combining to average nearly 40 PPG over the five-game series.
What matters?
Although the series ended in five games, many of the games themselves were much more competitive than people would have thought. Portland’s size appeared to be the factor that kept them in most of the games. At 6’3” (but 207 lbs), Scoot Henderson was really the smallest player the Blazers played. Of course, they also had Jrue at the other guard spot, but their wing group of Camara, Avdija, Grant, and Sharpe, along with Clingan in the middle, was a real headache for the Spurs at times. The key takeaway here is that, well, size matters…
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
What happened?
After going up 3-0 without the services of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (until Game 5), the Lakers let the Rockets back into the series by winning two straight games, but finished the job in Game 6. The series was closer than that, though, with the Rockets pulling off the choke of all chokes in Game 3, up six with about 30 seconds left, and turning it over twice to allow the Lakers to tie the game. In the end, Houston, like so many teams before them, got LeBron’d; the 41-year-old (!) averaged 23.2 PPG, 8.3 APG, and 7.2 RPG over the series. Remarkable.
What matters?
The main takeaway from this series is that balance is key. I think during the regular season, people (including me) can be led to believe that if you build an elite defence, offence can be secondary, and you can still go far in the playoffs. But when the playoffs roll around, we always learn how much half-court creation still matters. Could you imagine if the Rockets had an Austin Reaves-type during that series? It would have helped greatly. But they were stuck with a fleet of defense-first guys and forced to play the 6’1” Reed Sheppard (a second-year guy) into the ground each game to grease their clogged-toilet offence.
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
What happened?
What a series! If you didn’t see unfold in real time, do yourself a favour and watch the tape. After holding serve in the opening game, Denver lost home court thanks to an all-around team effort by Minnesota in Game 2, with ex-Buck Donte DiVincenzo perhaps the biggest difference maker with momentum-shifting play after play (and 16 points, seven boards, six assists, and a team-high +20). Of course, he’d go on to tear his Achilles in the opening minutes of Game 4, a game in which Anthony Edwards also played his last minutes of the series—and Ayo Dosunmu officially arrived (43 points), giving the Wolves a 3-1 lead.
But when the Nuggets won Game 5 and Dosunmu played his last minutes of the series, a comeback seemed inevitable. Jaden McDaniels, however, would have none of it. The six-year pro put up a career-high 32 points to go along with 10 rebounds—while seat-belting Jamal Murray to just 4/17 shooting—Rudy Gobert continued to earn some much-deserved respect back, and Terrence Shannon Jr. came out of nowhere (24 points and six rebounds) to send the Nuggets home.
What matters?
Having beaten the Nuggets in two out of three recent playoff series, including the last two, the Wolves demonstrated that building a roster to “beat the best” works. Dig deeper and it’s apparent just how valuable two way wings with length are. Not only was McDaniels the MVP of this series, he also averaged 22.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 3.0 stocks per game (with zero turnovers and 75% shooting) to close out the Nuggets in Games 6 and 7 of their 2024 Conference Semi Finals win. In fact, the only time this iteration of the Nuggets have beaten the Wolves in the playoffs was in 2022-23 when McDaniels didn’t play due to injury.
Now, the Bucks aren’t going to suddenly luck into McDaniels in the offseason, but they do have a similarly-built Ousmane Dieng—both are listed as 6’9”, 185 lbs—and absolutely should force-feed him all of McDaniels’ tape. At just 22 years old and having only played 166 career games, Dieng is certainly still mouldable. Plus, it’s not as if he hasn’t shown some defensive chops (see his blanketing of Devin Booker in March). The other takeaways? It’s time to get back to the gritty defensive team the Bucks used to be and make opponents feel them. And belief is perpetually underrated. Instil those and you’ve got a shot.
Do you agree with our assessments, or is there something we missed? Add your two cents in the comments.
On April 27, the NBA announced its list of early entrants for June’s 2026 draft. Only that list was much smaller than in years past.
The total number announced in April sat at 71 players. That’s 33% lower than the 106 who filed last year — and nearly 80% lower than the all-time high of 353, set just five years ago in 2021.
The figure is so low that you have to go back to 2012 to find a year with fewer early entrants. In 2012, the NBA announced a list of 66 players. Since then, it never dipped below 75.
Until this year.
The drop is hardly unexplained. In July 2021, the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era began, which allowed college players to earn money in amounts previously impossible.
Since then, the number of entrants into the NBA draft has steadily dwindled — every year since 2021 has seen the early entry list drop by at least 14%.
It’s also worth noting that a 2016 rule change by the NCAA allowed players to sign up for the draft, and then later withdraw and keep college eligibility. After that change, the number of early entrants rose sharply in the next five years to the 2021 figure of 353 players.
However, the NIL era has meant that some players can earn more by staying in school than they might as a late draft pick, two-way player or undrafted pro.
“For a lot of these players, it’s more money than they could make. Way more money than making a G League roster,” Brian Meehan, an economics professor at Berry College with a research interest in the economics behind NIL’s effects on draft prospects, told USA TODAY Sports. “Even if they’re on a two-way contract, staying in school and playing for a team with lots of collective money is more lucrative.”
A paper which Meehan co-authored, published in 2025 in the Journal of Sports Economics, found that 81% of draft-eligible prospects in The Athletic’s top 100 prospects list entered the draft in 2021, the final year before NIL deals took shape. By 2022, right after the start of the NIL era, the share dropped to 52%.
“If you forgo the eligibility and you go into the NBA draft and you’re undrafted, you don’t make a roster, or you’re a late second-round pick, and you don’t have a guaranteed contract. That’s a risky place to be for a person who maybe just completed a first or second year in a college program,” Meehan added.
The 2026 NBA draft will be held on June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. If a player wants to retain their college eligibility, they’ll need to withdraw from the draft by May 27.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 06: Starting pitcher Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 06, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cole Ragans exited after just 3 innings, in last night’s 3-1 loss.
After just 58 pitches thrown across three innings, starter Cole Ragans exited the Royals’ 3-1 loss to the Guardians on Wednesday with left triceps and elbow soreness. He’ll undergo further testing and evaluation on Thursday to determine the severity and next steps.
Ragans said he felt tightness creep into the back of his left triceps and just above the elbow throughout the third inning. He got out of a jam that had runners on first and third with two outs with a popup to get him through his third scoreless frame, but when he got back in the dugout, he alerted the Royals’ coaching and training staff of the tightness.
“It got to a point where I didn’t feel like I needed to push it anymore,” Ragans said. “Talked to [pitching coach Brian] Sweeney and all of them, and figured that was the best decision.”
Carlos Estevez made his first rehab outing yesterday in Omaha… it didn’t go well.
Three batters into the outing with Triple-A Omaha, Estévez was exiting with shoulder discomfort, motioning to his right arm as a trainer came out for a mound visit.
Estévez was traveling back from Indianapolis, where the Storm Chasers were playing, on Wednesday. He’ll undergo further testing and evaluation on Thursday, manager Matt Quatraro said after the Royals’ 3-1 loss to the Guardians on Wednesday night.
He averaged 90 mph with his four-seam fastball on Wednesday – a pitch he averaged 95.9 mph with last season. His changeup registered at 81.2 mph, while his slider clocked in at an 81.4 mph on average.
Eric Cerantola, who made his MLB debut last night, was tabbed as a prospect with future closer potential.
Cerantola spent all of 2025 with Triple-A Omaha and found some success, posting a 4.04 ERA and 29.6 percent strikeout rate over 49 innings. He’s returned to the International League for this season and been even more dominant (1.42 ERA, 33.3 K%) and a big reason is that he took his slider — which was already his primary pitch, and a dominant one — and improved it by adding about five inches more drop and cutting some of the gloveside break. He’s thrown the slide piece 56.8 percent of the time, and opponents have a .069 average and 59.2 percent whiff rate against it. He also shows a mid-90s four-seamer.
“In high school, Hammond was a standout, two-way talent. As a pro, he’s hitting only—but he’s really hitting. He jumped straight to Low-A and has been one of the most productive players on his team and in the Carolina League overall. If he develops the way the Royals hope, he could be a true five-tool talent.”
Kevin O’Brien of Royals Keep talked about how the Royals have won the Isaac Collins/Nick Mears trade.
O’Brien also talks about the Royals starting rotation.
The Yankees (25-12) and Rangers (17-19) meet this afternoon in the Bronx to close out their four-game series.
Nathan Eovaldi was the story last night. The veteran shut down the Yankees’ bats, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out eight over eight innings as Texas rolled to a 6-1 win. Corey Seager and Evan Carter each drove in a pair of runs to pace the attack for the Rangers. Aaron Judge mashed his 15th home run of the young season to account for New York’s run.
First pitch today is 12:35 p.m. EDT. One the bump for New York will be Paul Blackburn (1–1, 3.21 ERA) while the Rangers will send out MacKenzie Gore (2–2, 4.67 ERA). As far as hitters to watch, of course keep an eye on Judge who has launched six home runs in his last ten games. Josh Jung was 0-5 yesterday to snap his 13-game hitting streak. The third baseman is hitting .323 for the season.
The Yankees hold a 3–2 edge in the season series.
Lets dive into tonight’s 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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Rangers
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The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Rangers
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-149), Texas Rangers (+123)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+135), Rangers +1.5 (-163)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Rangers
Pitching matchup for May 7:
Yankees: Paul Blackburn Season Totals: 14.0 IP, 1-1, 3.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 9K, 4 BB
Rangers: MacKenzie Gore Season Totals: 34.2 IP, 2-2, 4.67 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 45K, 18 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Rangers
MacKenzie Gore has not pitched into the sixth inning in any of his last 5 starts
Trent Grisham is 5-31 (.161) over his last 8 games and 6-39 (.154) over his last 10
Cody Bellinger is enjoying an 8-game hitting streak (13-30)
Jasson Dominguez is 0-8 in his last 2 games
Cory Seager is 5-20 (.250) in May
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Rangers
The Rangers are 10-11 on the road this season
The Yankees are 13-6 at home this season
The Yankees are 22-15 on the Run Line this season
The Rangers are 19-17 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed an MLB-low 14 times for Texas this season (14-20-2)
The OVER has cashed 17 times for the Yankees this season (17-18-2)
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: Yankees vs. Rangers
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Yankees and the Rangers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line
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The New York Yankees will look to win a series this afternoon when they face the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers grabbed a bit of a surprising blowout win last night, giving them their first win of this series. That won’t repeat here.
Read all about it in my Rangers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, May 7.
Who will win Rangers vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (-135)
There’s a pretty big matchup problem for MacKenzie Gore here. He’s posted a 90th-percentile strikeout rate in the early season, showing his ability to miss bats. That will give him success against parts of this New York Yankees lineup.
The rest, though, will be a problem.
He pairs his strikeout prowess with a walk rate in the Bottom 25% of the sport and a 12th-percentile barrel rate. That combo will punish him sooner or later when facing a lineup that is bottom in chase rate and Top 3 in both barrel plus hard-hit rate.
On the other side, I’m always a fan of backing Paul Blackburn — filling in for Ryan Weathers — as I view him as one of the more underrated pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons. Why? Contact suppression. He doesn’t give up many barrels, which should play well here. I’d take this to -155.
Rangers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-105)
Despite scoring 10 runs over the last two games, this isn’t a Rangers lineup that puts up crooked numbers by design. Blackburn’s breaking ball and offspeed pitch both grade above the 80th percentile by run value, which should provide dividends against this weak offense.
As mentioned, Gore’s strikeout ability will keep a large portion of this Yankees offense from stringing stuff together too often as well.
Texas and New York also feature two of the strongest run-suppressing bullpens in MLB, ranking 1st and 3rd, respectively, in reliever ERA.
I’d play this to -120.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-12, +1.6 units
Over/Under bets: 16-10, +7.72 units
Rangers vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Rangers +123 | Yankees -149
Run line: Rangers +1.5 (-163) | Yankees -1.5 (+135)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-115) | Under 8.5 (-105)
Rangers vs Yankees trend
The New York Yankees have hit the Moneyline in 12 of their last 15 games (+7.85 Units / 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Yankees.
How to watch Rangers vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026
First pitch
12:35 p.m. ET
TV
RSN, YES
Rangers starting pitcher
MacKenzie Gore (2-2, 4.67 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Paul Blackburn (1-1, 3.21 ERA)
Rangers vs Yankees latest injuries
Rangers vs Yankees weather
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.
The uncertainty surrounding two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee should be resolved within the next month.
At an introductory news conference Wednesday for new head coach Taylor Jenkins, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam addressed the issue hanging over the franchise's head this offseason: Trade the 10-time All-Star or try to re-sign him to a new deal?
"I just think before the draft is a natural time," Haslam told reporters. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's (GM Jon Horst) job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."
Antetokounmpo has expressed a desire to remain in Milwaukee, even though he could become a free agent next summer. However, he's stated his preference is to play for a team that's committed to winning a title. That doesn't describe the Bucks last season, who went 32-50 as their star forward battled injuries and frustration with his playing time.
The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October. However, if he doesn't sign, free agency looms at the end of the season.
"We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis – at all – and always knew where he stood," Haslam said. "And I think he always knew where we stood. We've had those kind of conversations since the season was over.
"So sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he's going to play somewhere else."
May 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) dribs in against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Coming off a heartbreaking Game 1 defeat, the Spurs eyed revenge against the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series. Carter Bryant returned from his ankle injury, so the Spurs were back at full strength. After a tough shooting first quarter for both teams, the Spurs managed to take a seven-point lead into the second quarter. The Spurs stepped on the gas and started to outplay Minnesota on both sides of the ball. They forced multiple turnovers and outscored the Wolves 35-18 to take a 24-point lead into the half. In the third, the pressure somehow kept escalating. The Spurs continued to dominate the pace and ramped up double teams for Anthony Edwards and others. They outscored the Wolves 39-28 in the third and put the game completely out of reach in the early fourth. The Spurs ultimately won 133-95, and tied the series 1-1.
Stephon Castle led the way with 21 points (6-10 FG, 9-9 FT), four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Steph fought off tough defenders and forced his way into the paint. With several slashing finishes and midrange jumpers, Steph also got to the free-throw line and drained all nine of his attempts. With his frame, Steph is interchangeable on both sides of the ball. He was active in the passing lanes and continues to play terrific on-ball defense. With the series shifting up north, the 21-year-old is playing as if he has already been here before.
BLOW-BY JAM! Steph fakes out Mike Conley and has a clear path for a monster slam!
Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 19 points and 15 rebounds, along with two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Although it is not a triple-double with blocks, Wemby had a much better offensive game: shooting just under 50% from the field and splashing two threes. He managed to get two rejections (which, at this point, feels like a disappointment) and was deterring Wolves players from attempting shots in the paint. A balanced Wemby is unstoppable, as he continues to be an opposing coach’s nightmare to gameplan. Wemby is just as adaptable on either side of the ball, and he will be ready for what Chris Finch throws at him next.
UFO APPROACHING! Wemby plays solid defense, then runs the floor and skies in for the one-handed putback slam!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 16 points, two assists, and two steals. Fox faced a lot of criticism for his Game 1 performance, and he owned up to it postgame. He then started hot in Game 2, nearly matching his scoring total from Game 1 in the first quarter alone. He shot 50% from the field, and even drained a pair of threes. Due to the score of the game, the box score may not look like an out-of-this-world performance, but it definitely was the spark plug to kick the team into high gear.
INSTANT OFFENSE! After the Wolves’ bucket, Fox takes the inbounds pass and immediately zooms it to a cutting Carter Bryant for the destructive poster slam!
Julian Champagnie dropped 12 points (4-6 3PT), three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. After laying a goose egg in the first half, Julian dominated the third quarter. All of his threes came in the third, including a sequence that will make any Spurs fan smile. He drained a wing three, rejected Edwards’ shot out of bounds, and then drained another three after Fox picked Julius Randle’s pocket. Julian was one of the best three-point shooters in the league this season, and performances like this have Spurs fans thinking about Danny Green comparisons.
Dylan Harper dropped 11 points. seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. After leading the Spurs in scoring with 18 in Game 1, Dylan picked up right where he left off. He dished out dimes, was active on the boards, and made crazy dribbles with finishing moves. Night in and night out, Dylan continues to play like a seasoned vet. Anytime he brings the ball up the court, his playmaking instincts kick in, and it continues to make Spurs fans feel spoiled.
Dunker spot! Dylan finds an open Luke Kornet as the defense collapses, and it results in a two-handed finish!
UNGUARDABLE! Dylan catches the pass from Steph in transition and puts on a show. He spins off of Jaylen Clark, puts a move on Terrence Shannon Jr., and finishes while floating in the air!
Devin Vassell dropped 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Throughout his first playoffs, Dev has played like a playoff riser. His numbers might not wow the casual fan, but the effort he has shown on both ends of the floor has given the Spurs an extra boost. He always seems to make the extra play that is appreciated by the fans, and in this game it was this ridiculous no-dip catch and shoot three.
All in all, this was a much-needed bounce-back win. After coming out flat in Game 1, the silver and black ramped up the defensive pressure and finally started to generate easy looks that were executed. Harrison Barnes even poured in 12 points off the bench. Keldon Johnson dropped a near double-double with nine points and 10 boards. For context: Seven players finished in double figures, and 14 out of 15 scored (Poor Plumlee)! It was a total team effort and domination that has given the team and its fans confidence heading into Game 3 in Minnesota.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
Game 3 heads to Minneapolis this Friday at 8:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video.
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Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Bobby Witt Jr.
Otto Lopez
COVERS INTEL: Blackburn’s contact suppression is best highlighted by 
