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Knicks upend Hawks in Game 5: Tracking winners, losers in pivotal contest

NEW YORK — This was, for both the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, the most pivotal game of the season.

Granted, every postseason game is paramount, but Game 5s in the NBA playoffs when both teams enter tied at two games apiece are particularly crucial. Historically, the winner of Game 5s when tied at 2-2 go on to win the series 82% of the time.

For New York, it will come down to the plan on offense, and how coach Mike Brown deploys All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the latter of whom posted a 20-10-10 triple-double in Game 4 on Saturday, April 25.

The Hawks will need to play quickly and emphasize transition offense; through the first three quarters Saturday, Atlanta had failed to score a single fastbreak point.

The Knicks outscored the Hawks 36-25 in the fourth quarter en route to a 126-97 victory and a 3-2 lead in the series.

Here are the live winners and losers from Game 5 between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks.

RANKINGS: Biggest surprises so far in first round of NBA playoffs

WINNERS

Jalen Brunson

From the time the game started to the time he was subbed out when the result was decided, Brunson took 31.5% of New York’s shot attempts. Normally, that’s a rough distribution, but Brunson shot it with efficiency, going 15-of-23 for a game-high 39 points.

Brunson was the only Knick to shoot more than 8 field goal attempts and carried the team’s offense. He also went 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Since Game 4, the Knicks have found ways for Brunson to be off the ball more than he had earlier in the series, and that has paid dividends. Until the Hawks show they can slow him down, it’s something that’s likely to continue.

“Jalen was great,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the game. “His screening is great, his pace is great. We’re just trying to move him around as much as we can so that they can’t catch a rhythm on him.”

New York’s early shotmaking

The Knicks made four of their first five shots and 8-of-12 to start the game. The Knicks were clearly intending on playing quickly and decisively, and that made a big difference. New York shot 58.5% in the first half.

Karl-Anthony Towns

So far, so good for Towns, who scored 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first half. He has also added 8 rebounds and 4 assists. He finished the game with a double-double – 16 points, 14 rebounds – while also adding six assists, two steals and two blocks.

OG Anunoby’s rebounding

He has significantly improved his impact on the glass throughout the playoffs, and the first quarter was no different. Anunoby recorded a team-high 7 rebounds in the period. After three quarters, he cracked double-figures and posted 10 boards.

He also added 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting and impacted the game on defense and in hustle plays that do not necessarily show up on box scores.

“I work very hard,” Anunoby said after the game. “We have a great team, my teammates are finding me and I’m playing with a lot of force.”

New York’s defensive intensity

The Knicks were extremely active on defense, jumping passing lanes and using active hands to cause deflections. That prevented Atlanta from getting easy shots, and led to 10 turnovers for the Hawks.

Dyson Daniels

He hasn’t been as engaged on offense, and his shot selection has felt forced at times in the series, but the Hawks clearly wanted to get Daniels going early. He scored the first two Hawks buckets of the game. Because Daniels hasn’t been a threat, Atlanta’s offense has suffered at times. And because Brunson is guarding him, it’s a matchup the Hawks can exploit.

By the first media timeout, with 6:42 left to play, Daniels was already 3-of-3 with 6 of Atlanta’s 8 points. That matched his point totals from Games 2 and 4 and surpassed his total from Game 1 (4). By halftime, Daniels had 10 points, and he finished with 17 on 7-for-11 shooting, making it his highest-scoring game in the series.

Mitchell Robinson

As he does sometimes, he has made an instant impact off the bench. Robinson first swiped a ball on defense that went off of CJ McCollum’s knee for a Hawks turnover. Seconds later, he slammed down a putback jam. Robinson finished with seven points and six rebounds while going 3-for-3 from the floor.

LOSERS

Hawks are losing two key battles

Points in the paint and bench points were an issue for Atlanta. After the first half, New York had a 40-22 edge in the paint, and its bench had outscored Atlanta’s by 6 points. The Knicks continued that advantage in the second half, ending the game with a 60-42 points-in-the-paint edge. They also dominated the Hawks in second-chance points 20-6 and fastbreak points 13-4. New York's bench finished with 38 points, while the Hawks had just 24.

“We can get kind of caught up in individual performances — you always need those — but we need to look at it collectively,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder told reporters after the game. “Everybody needs to make plays for each other. When we’re playing well, that’s what it looks like.”

CJ McCollum

He was Atlanta’s hero in Games 2 and 3, but the Knicks have thrown extra bodies in their attempt to defend McCollum. Because of that increased ball pressure, McCollum has just 4 points on 2-of-9 shooting through three quarters. He has also missed all three of his free throw attempts. He finished with just six points on 3-of-10 shooting (0-for-2 on 3-pointers) and missed all three of his free throw attempts.

Jonathan Kuminga gets in early foul trouble

He was a massive spark off the bench in Atlanta’s two wins in the series, and the Knicks have looked to attack Kuminga on defense. He was called for a pair of early fouls. He did, however, have a massive alley-oop dunk midway through the period but finished the first quarter 2-of-7 for 4 points.

Hawks’ early 3-point shooting

Atlanta shot the ball just 1-of-8 (12.5%) from beyond the arc in the first quarter, which limited Atlanta’s operation.

Hawks aren’t getting to the line nearly enough

It’s true that the Knicks are outplaying Atlanta in most facets of this game, so add one more: free throws. The Knicks have been more aggressive about drawing contact when attacking in the paint. New York went 25-of-34 (73.5%) from the line, while the Hawks were a measly 10-of-17 (58.8%).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks beat Hawks in Game 5: Score, stats, winners, losers, analysis

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Pastrnak, Swayman come up clutch as Bruins beat Sabres to extend series

Pastrnak, Swayman come up clutch as Bruins beat Sabres to extend series originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

With the Bruins facing elimination in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Sabres, they needed their two-best players — David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman — to lead the way Tuesday night in Buffalo.

They delivered with an excellent performance in a 2-1 victory at KeyBank Center that extends the series to a Game 6 in Boston on Friday night.

Pastrnak really struggled in the two previous games in Boston. He was held without a point in those matchups, and in Game 4 he had only one shot. The superstar right wing played much more aggressively in Game 5 with a team-leading seven shots, and the final one resulted in the winning goal to help Boston stave off elimination.

Pastrnak did a great job to drag his left skate to stay onside, and then he beat Sabres goalie Alex Lyon with a fantastic move.

It was Pastrnak’s second career playoff OT goal. The first came in Game 7 of the 2024 first-round series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“What a nice finish by him,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said postgame. “I’m just very happy because this guy puts a lot of pressure on himself and he wants to be the difference, and today he was.”

The Bruins had a 23-11 edge in shot attempts, a 12-4 advantage in shots on net, a 14-4 lead in scoring chances and a 6-1 differential in high-danger chances during Pastrnak’s 19:46 of even-strength ice time in Game 5, per Natural Stat Trick.

Scoring in big games is nothing new for Pastrnak. He has scored in four of the six Game 7s he’s played in his career. And he also has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 15 games in which the Bruins were facing elimination.

The Bruins have scored only four goals over the last three games. They need to increase their scoring output to have a real chance to win this series, and as a five-time 40-goal scorer, Pastrnak has to lead that charge.

Pastrnak wouldn’t have had a chance to win Game 5 if Swayman didn’t stand on his head all night. He gave another fantastic performance with 26 saves on 27 shots (.963 save percentage). He saved an impressive 1.96 goals above expected, and he stopped all five high-danger shots sent his way.

“He’s been great in every game,” Sturm said. “Believe it or not even last game, if it wasn’t for him it was 10-0 after the first period. He’s a big competitive guy and he showed it again today. Big moments, big games, he wanted the big guys to show up and he’s one of them, and he did it. He made a few really good saves. He was awesome.”

Swayman made a couple clutch saves late in the third period when the Sabres were making a strong push in search of the winning goal. He also made a huge stop on Sabres forward Alex Tuch shortly before Pastrnak’s winner.

The Bruins have had a tough time scoring on Lyon since he entered the series in the third period of Game 2, which has put an enormous amount of pressure on Swayman to be almost perfect each night. And so far, he’s been the Bruins’ top player in the series, and it’s not even close.

He has a .911 save percentage through five games, which is skewed downward by the team’s awful 6-1 loss in Game 4. If you take out that game — which wasn’t his fault by any means — he has a .937 save percentage in the other four matchups combined.

Swayman is the No. 1 reason why the Bruins exceeded expectations and made the playoffs this season, and he’s the No. 1 reason why they are still alive in this series.

And he’ll need to be the Bruins’ best player the rest of the way if they are going to complete what would be a historic series comeback.

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Miles McBride is easing the Jalen Brunson Knicks burden

The Knicks have been at their best when Jalen Brunson (left) and Mile McBride are on the court together.
The Knicks have been at their best when Jalen Brunson (left) and Mile McBride are on the court together.

The numbers jump off the page. 

When Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride play together, the Knicks often thrive.

Entering Tuesday’s Game 5 clash against the Hawks at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks had a net rating of 29.5 points when Brunson and McBride were on the floor together this postseason.

The Knicks have been at their best when Jalen Brunson (left) and Mile McBride are on the court together. Getty Images

That net rating was the highest among the top 12 two-man pairings with the most minutes played across the first four games of this first-round series. 

The Knicks were excellent on both sides of the ball — with a 120.9 offensive rating and 91.5 defensive rating. 

“Try to make his job as easy as possible, as well the rest of the teammates out there,” McBride said of playing with Brunson. “Anytime I’m on the floor, I try to make everybody’s lives easier, whether that’s on the defensive or offensive end. Just bringing whatever I have, whatever my talents are, whatever I see in the game, and do it.”

McBride had a rough start to the postseason, clearly still rusty after missing 28 games in the regular season following sports hernia surgery.

But he was much closer to his best in Games 3 and 4, recording 16 and 13 points, respectively, on a combined 8-for-16 shooting from 3-point range. His workload was also up, playing 31 and 23 minutes. 

Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride, celebrating during the Knicks’ Game 4 2 win, entered Tuesday with a the Knicks had a net rating of 29.5 points when they were on the floor together this postseason. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It’s notable because in both games, McBride was on the floor for most of the second half in place of the benched — and struggling — Mikal Bridges. 

“He’s been playing great,” Brunson said of McBride. “To be able to use him in certain actions and play off-ball and obviously his shooting capability, the way he plays defense and everything, he does a lot for our team. So, I think regardless of who’s on the floor, he’s gonna do a lot of great things.”

McBride, as one of the quickest Knicks, has played a pivotal role in helping the team counter the Hawks’ pace. 

And, more so than Bridges, he’s been able to take some of the creating burden off Brunson, who is facing constant double-teams and full-court pressure.

Though not a natural point guard, McBride — perhaps more than anyone else on the roster besides Brunson and Josh Hart — is capable of bringing the ball up the court, which allows Brunson to collect it in the half-court and avoid some wear and tear. 

With Brunson and McBride on the floor, the Knicks are also having them set screens for each other in guard-guard actions, something the Hawks hurt the Knicks with earlier in the series. 

“We’ve done it before and previous seasons, in the playoffs past,” McBride said. “It’s just whatever I see in the game, try to get in it and if it’s working, keep going back to it.”

Coach Mike Brown praised Brunson’s screen-setting ability to make that possible. 

“The thing about him, he’s a great screen setter,” Brown said. “He has a really good change of pace where he slips and stuff like that which can cause confusion.”

Amid the constant chess match that goes on during a series, Brunson and McBride have been a winning move.

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Warriors mock draft round up

Yaxel Lendeborg walking off the court.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the second half of a game against the UConn Huskies in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’re still nearly two months away from the 2026 NBA Draft when, presumably, the Golden State Warriors will add some more young talent. There is, of course, always the chance that the Warriors trade the draft pick in an effort to add a star to the roster, but the most likely outcome is that on June 23, the Dubs add a young player in the lottery.

The playoffs may be the big story in the NBA right now, but for the 14 teams that weren’t invited to the dance, all eyes are on the draft (except, if we’re being honest, for the Warriors, where all eyes are on Steve Kerr’s decision).

Things could get interesting in a hurry for the Warriors, as the lottery hasn’t yet occurred … and while the Warriors are unlikely to move up, they do have a 9.4% chance of earning a top-four pick in a draft that has, well … about four big names.

We’ll have to wait nearly two weeks to see if the Dubs get lucky, but for now we’ll assume that they stay in place, and get the No. 11 pick in the draft. So who might they pick?

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo released his latest mock draft on Tuesday, and has Golden State selecting New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez, who averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game a year ago, while shooting 32.6% from three-point range. Lopez just turned 19 years old, and Woo notes that “Selecting a younger player such as Lopez, who has the experience to potentially slot in early on his rookie deal, might help mesh the short and long-term goals.”

Over at The Ringer, they think the Warriors will take Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon Jr., a do-everything guard known for his winning style. Philon averaged 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game last year while being named an All-American, and also shot 39.9% from distance. The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann describes Philon as a, “Gritty and wiry lead guard who, despite having a ‘right play’ mentality, is willing and able to call his own shot and cook at all three levels.“

SB Nation’s own Ricky O’Donnell just released his latest mock draft, and he sees Golden State going with a more experienced option, Michigan senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg. While old for a draftee (he’ll turn 24 before the 2026-27 season starts), Lendeborg is one of the most accomplished players in the draft. After three years in community college, Lendeborg spent three more years in the NCAA, including this most recent season at Michigan, where he won a national championship, was a consensus first-team All-American, and was the Big 10 Player of the Year, while averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, and shooting 37.2% from distance. Lendeborg is a tremendously versatile player, who will likely be able to play from Day 1 given his age and experience.

As for Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, he also sees Lopez going to the Warriors at No. 11. O’Connor likes Lopez’s versatility on the Warriors, and notes that, “Draymond Green could actually be quite a good mentor for Lopez, given they’re both hard-nosed players who make a winning effort at all times on the court.”

Hopefully the Warriors strike gold in the lottery and don’t end up with any of these players. But as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Green have proven, you don’t need to be at the top of the draft to land a franchise-altering talent.

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Three Best Fits If The St. Louis Blues Trade Jordan Binnington

At the moment, the St. Louis Blues haven’t decided just yet whether they are ready to move on from Jordan Binnington.

Reports indicate that the Blues will explore their options, and if he does hit the market, the Blues will have plenty of buyers. 

The 32-year-old is an experienced goaltender, having won a Stanley Cup, a 4 Nations Face-Off gold medal, and an Olympic silver medal, but 25-year-old Joel Hofer outperformed him throughout the 2025-26 season and is poised to continue improving and lock down the No. 1 role.

With all that being said, let’s visit three destinations where Binnington could thrive.

Florida Panthers

There may not be a better fit for Binnington’s character than the Florida Panthers. The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions thrive on being considered the villains, and Binnington is no stranger to the hate of NHL fans.

Besides culture fit, Binnington aligns with the Panthers’ timeline. Reports indicate the Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky are far off in negotiations, and his time in Florida could be over. 

The Panthers’ roster is filled with players in or around 30 years old, like Binnington. The Panthers not only want to return to the playoffs but also go on a deep run again, and Binnington has the pedigree to do so.

Should The Panthers Target Blues' Jordan Binnington If Sergei Bobrovsky Walks In Free Agency?Should The Panthers Target Blues' Jordan Binnington If Sergei Bobrovsky Walks In Free Agency?The Florida Panthers may have a new No. 1 goaltender for the first time since 2019 if Sergei Bobrovsky leaves in free agency. Could St. Louis Blues' Jordan Binnington be the answer for the Panthers?

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers and Binnington have been linked numerous times, but this season, the links were the strongest. Ultimately, the Oilers went in a different direction, trading for Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The move has failed miserably, and the Oilers might be in the market for another starting goaltender. The goaltending position in Edmonton comes with a lot of scrutiny, and no goalie is mentally stronger to handle that pressure than Binnington. 

The Oilers need to do everything they can to convince Connor McDavid that they can win a Stanley Cup, and acquiring Binnington, a netminder he’s had success with at the international level, could be a positive step toward that goal. 

Jordan Binnington Keeping Open Mind Regarding FutureJordan Binnington Keeping Open Mind Regarding FutureSt. Louis Blues Stanley Cup-winning goalie wants to discuss future team plans with GM-in-waiting Alexander Steen, management team with one year remaining on current contract

Carolina Hurricanes

Although Frederik Andersen put on a phenomenal display for the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, goaltending remains a weak point for this contending team. 

All three goaltenders the Hurricanes used this season had save percentages below .900. Additionally, Andersen is set to become a UFA.

Binnington could come to the Hurricanes and bring the snarl they’ve lacked, while being a calming force in the crease. Binnington is at his best when the stakes are highest, and the Hurricanes need a goaltender who can deliver in those moments. 

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NBA finalizing anti-tanking proposal — here are the sweeping changes league wants

The stage for the NBA Draft Lottery, with
The NBA Draft Lottery will likely see some significant changes next year.

The NBA’s new draft lottery proposal is here. 

The league is pushing an expanded “3-2-1 lottery” that would increase the number of teams from 14 to 16, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

The new system, which must be approved by NBA owners on May 28, is aimed at curbing tanking and would punish teams that finish with a bottom-five record. 

Under the proposal, “teams that do not qualify for the playoffs or play-in tournament but stay out of the relegation zone (spots four through 10) would receive three lottery balls each,” per Charania.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media following the Board of Governors meetings on March 25, 2026 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. NBAE via Getty Images

The teams with the three worst records would go to the relegation zone, meaning they “would have just two lottery balls but have a floor of the 12th pick, while the rest of the 13 lottery teams could fall as far as the 16th pick.”

Teams that undergo long-term tanking efforts would be punished as well. 

If approved, teams couldn’t win the lottery in back-to-back years or get three straight top-five picks. 

As tanking chatter grows louder around the NBA, the commissioner’s office is exploring a new way to make losing less appealing.

“We should have a system where you should hate to lose,” commissioner Adam Silver reportedly said on a recent conference call. “It shouldn’t be a badge of honor. Losing should be uncomfortable.”

The NBA Draft Lottery will likely see some significant changes next year. Anadolu via Getty Images

The current system sends 14 non-playoff teams to the lottery, where the franchises with the worst three records each have a 14 percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick. 

The odds of winning the No. 1 pick decrease gradually for the other 11 teams outside the top three, from 12.5 percent for the team with the fourth-worst record to 0.7 percent for the team with the 14th-worst record.

“Incentives need to be fixed,” Silver said last month. “We will fix them. I’m looking forward to that.”

In March, Silver said the league will likely “need to do something more extreme than” previous changes with teams exhibiting “overt behavior… that prioritizes draft positioning over winning.”

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NBA Playoff Tuesday discussion

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Chat about tonight’s NBA playoff games here. Sorry I’ve been busy all day!

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NCAA remains on track to expand to a 76-team March Madness bracket for next season

The NCAA is still deliberating expanding March Madness on both the men's and women's sides to 76 teams for next season — a much-expected development that's been in the works for years.

The NCAA released a brief statement Tuesday in the wake of an ESPN report that cited unnamed sources saying a decision to add eight teams to the bracket is a mere formality that's expected in May.

“Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, and no final recommendations or decisions have been made at this time,” the statement said.

Earlier this month at the Final Four, NCAA President Charlie Baker said the committees would, in fact, return to discussing the expansion once this year's tournament was over.

The tournaments have been at 68 teams since 2011, when four play-in games were added to the beginning of the first week of play. The new format would add eight more at-large teams and take eight more teams out of the main bracket for play-in games.

The expansion isn't expected to generate a lot more income because it will only add games early in the first week. The current TV deal runs through 2032 and could be tweaked slightly.

Regardless of finances, the expansion would give power conferences more chances to place teams in the bracket — a growing concern as those conferences seek more power and control over college sports in the era of name, image and likeness compensation and the transfer portal.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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"It Means So Much To Me": Trey Augustine Reflects On Being Part Of The Red Wings' Organization

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The Detroit Red Wings are fortunate to have two of the NHL's most intriguing goaltending prospects in their system, one of whom is expected to make the jump to a full-time role in Detroit next season. 

Sebastian Cossa (15th overall, 2021 NHL Draft) and Trey Augustine (41st overall, 2023 NHL Draft) are both currently with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins, and fans are understandably excited at the thought of one (or even both of them) being an eventual brick wall for the Red Wings at some point in the near future. 

Augustine, who hails from the Detroit suburb of South Lyon, played for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Plymouth and attended Michigan State University. 

He has since joined the Griffins on an amateur tryout after completing his time in the collegiate ranks.

Having grown up in Michigan as a Red Wings fan, routinely attending games at Joe Louis Arena, getting a chance to suit up for the club would be nothing short of living out a childhood dream.

“It means so much to me and my family as well,” Augustine explained recently to WILX reporter Ben Shockley, reflecting on the significance of joining the Red Wings organization.

“Me and my Dad used to go to games at Joe Louis Arena all the time, seeing Jimmy Howard, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg play,” he added. “I mean, growing up in Michigan, I've always been a Red Wings fan. Hopefully one day, I'll get to wear the Winged Wheel.”

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

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While with the Spartans, Augustine became the goaltender in school history to win the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top player at his position, and was also named a First Team All-American two consecutive years. 

Additionally, he won back to back Big Ten Goaltender of the Year awards, and was also a 2026 Hobey Baker Award Top Ten Finalist. 

Making the adjustment to life in professional hockey has been smooth so far, and Augustine hopes that he'll eventually see some playing time. 

"It's been good so far, it's a little different than Michigan State, but it's been good to get my feet wet," he said. "Looking forward to playing hockey down the stretch." 

"There are a bunch of new guys, but they're all great and helped me feel like part of the team, which is awesome. " 

Schedule Announced For Grand Rapids Griffins Playoff Clash Vs. Manitoba Schedule Announced For Grand Rapids Griffins Playoff Clash Vs. Manitoba The Grand Rapids Griffins, who established new AHL highs this season, have released the schedule for their upcoming postseason clash against the Manitoba Moose.

Right now, Augustine is third on the Griffins' goaltending depth chart behind Cossa and Michal Postava. While his competitive side wants to see as much playing time as possible, he's also voiced his support for his teammates while standing at the ready if he's called upon. 

"Obviously, I'd like to play every game, but they're a great team with two great other goalies," Augustine said of Cossa and Postava. "I'll just do anything I can to help them be ready to go, and obviously put myself in a position where if I'm called to play, I'm ready."

"Obviously, we're trying to win the Calder Cup here, and the coaches are gonna play who they think will give the team the best chance to win the game, and I'm going to do everything I can to help support that," he continued. 

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With Tyran Stokes commitment, Kansas just pulled off offseason’s biggest win

The top men's college basketball recruit has made his decision.

Forward Tyran Stokes committed to Kansas, he announced on "Inside the NBA" on Tuesday, April 28 in a major get for Bill Self and the Jayhawks.

It's been a major sweepstakes as programs awaited to see where Stokes would choose to play college ball, as he was the last major prospect yet to announce his decision. He is the consensus No. 1 recruit in the country per 247Sports and ESPN. The Seattle-native chose Kansas over other contenders in Kentucky, Oregon, Louisville and Southern California.

The newest Jayhawk is also a contender to be the top overall pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.

At 6-7 and 230 pounds, Stokes has displayed elite skills on both sides of the ball to make him one of the top high school players in the country. He has the ability to handle to ball on the perimeter while also dominating near the bucket, all while maintaining a stout defensive game with the ability to create steals.

In his senior season at Rainier Beach (Seattle), he averaged 31 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals per game while leading his team to a state title. He also had one game where he scored 63 points.

What Tyran Stokes means for Kansas

By choosing the Jayhawks, Self also secures another talented recruiting class that includes two five-star prospects in Stokes and guard Taylen Kinney, and brings a major boost to Lawrence after concerns about the future.

Tyran Stokes during the McDonalds All American Boys Game at Desert Diamond Arena.

There was speculation Self could retire after Kansas was eliminated in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the fourth straight season the Jayhawks failed to advance to the Sweet 16. However, he decide to return for his 24th season, and he gets another top recruit in the process after last season's team featured Darryn Peterson, who declared for the NBA draft..

Peterson was one of several players that have left Kansas, which includes Flory Bidunga, Melvin Council Jr. and Bryson Tiller.

Stokes gives Kansas a chance to improve its March fortune, trying to compete for another national championship since winning it all in 2022. In addition to Stokes and Kinney, other recruits include four-star rated players in center Davion Adkins, forward Trent Perry and guard Luke Barnett. Kansas also got additions in the transfer portal in Keanu Dawes (Utah), Christian Reeves (Charleston) and Leroy Blyden Jr. (Toledo).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyran Stokes commits to Kansas basketball, Bill Self: What it means

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Playoff Game Thread: Knicks vs Hawks, Game 5, April 28, 2026

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 25: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts after a collision to his knee against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of game four of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Knicks (2-2) host the Atlanta Hawks tonight at Madison Square Garden in Game Five of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. A win puts either team one victory away from advancing to the second round.

Tip-off is 8:00 pm EST on NBC and Peacock. This is your game thread. This is Peachtree Hoops. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be shining ambassadors of Knicks fandom. And go Knickerbockers!

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A mind-blowing batch of stats from an unlikely 76ers comeback vs. the Celtics

A mind-blowing batch of stats from an unlikely 76ers comeback vs. the Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

I hope you didn’t turn the TV off when the Celtics were up 13. 

The Celtics went up 63-50 a couple minutes into the third quarter Tuesday night in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference First-Round series at TD Garden.

The rest of the game? Sixers 63-44.

It added up to an improbable 113-97 Sixers win,  reducing the Celtics’ lead in the best-of-seven series to three games to two.

You want stats?

We got stats!

THEY SCORED 11 POINTS: The Celtics have played 400 home playoff games in franchise history, and their 11 points Tuesday night are the 4th-fewest they’ve ever scored in the fourth quarter of a home playoff game. They scored nine against the Bucks in 1983, 10 against the 76ers (Syracuse Nationals) in 1954 and 10 vs. the Pacers in 2005. It’s their 5th-fewest in any game in 754 all-time playoff games. It’s their fewest 4th-quarter points vs. the 76ers in any game – regular season or postseason – in 36 years, since they had nine in a 97-93 76ers win at Boston Garden in 1988. The 76ers’ 17-point 4th-quarter advantage – 28-11 – is the 5th-largest ever against the Celtics in a playoff game and it’s tied for the 76ers’ 2nd -largest ever. Their only larger 4th-quarter playoff margin was 18 points (32-14) in a win over the Heat in their 2018 Eastern Conference 1st-round game at American Airlines Arena.

BIGGEST LOST EVER: The Celtics led 86-85 going into the fourth quarter before losing by 16 points. That makes this the Celtics’ worst loss ever when they led going into the fourth quarter. Their previous biggest loss after leading going into the fourth quarter was 15 points when they led the Pistons 73-71 in Game 3 of their 1989 Eastern Conference First-Round series before losing 100-85 at Boston Garden. It was also the 76ers’ biggest postseason win after trailing going into the fourth quarter. They won three games by eight points after trailing after three quarters, most recently in 1982, when they trailed the Celtics 90-88 going into the fourth quarter of Game 2 of their 1982 Eastern Conference Finals series at Boston Garden before winning 121-113. The Celtics were 46-5 in their last 51 playoff games when they had the lead going into the fourth quarter and 60-5 all-time vs. the 76ers when leading in the playoffs going into the fourth quarter.

MAGIC FROM JOEL: Joel Embiid shot 0-for-5 from 3 but 12-for-23 overall from the field for 52 percent. He’s only the second player in NBA history to shoot over 50 percent from the field and score 33 points in a game where he took at least five 3’s and didn’t make any of them. In 2017, Kyrie Irving was 0-for-7 in the Cavs’ loss to the Golden State Warriors but shot 16-for-29 overall (55 percent). Before this series, only 12 Sixers had ever shot 0-for-5 in a playoff game. In this series, three 76ers have done it a total of four times – Kelly Oubre in Game 1, V.J. Edgecombe in Games 1 and 3 and Embiid in Game 5. 

76ERS OWN TD GARDEN: After beating the Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 last Tuesday and again in Game 5 Tuesday night, the 76ers have won back-to-back games in a series in Boston for the first time in 58 years. In 1968, they beat the Celtics 115-106 in Game 2 of their Eastern Division Finals series at Boston Garden and four days later won 110-105 in Game 4. They wound up losing that series in seven games. Last time the 76ers won any two games in a row in Boston was in 1980 and 1981. They won Game 5 of their 1980 Eastern Conference Finals series 105-94 and a year later won Game 1 of their 1981 Eastern Conference Finals series 105-104.  They won the 1980 series and lost the 1981 series.

HOW ABOUT THAT 4TH QUARTER? In the fourth quarter, the Celtics shot 3-for-22 from the field for 14 percent and 1-for-14 from 2-point range for 7 percent. They had 29 possessions and made three baskets. In the fourth quarter alone, Neemias Queta was minus-16, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White were both minus-14 and Jayson Tatum was minus-9. Tatum, Brown, White and Queta shot a combined 1-for-15 in the fourth quarter. For the 76ers, V.G. Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes and Paul George were all plus-16 an Embiid was plus-16. The 76ers shot 9-for-17 in the fourth quarter for 53 percent. And how about this: In the fourth quarter alone, Maxey and Edgecombe – two guards – combined for nine rebounds, five for Maxey, four for Edgecombe. Maxey and Embiid each had as many baskets in the fourth quarter as the Celtics.

HE’S ALMOST 36: George, who turns 36 on Thursday, had 16 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals, becoming the 5th-oldest player in NBA history to reach those benchmarks in a playoff game. The only older players with 16, 9, 7 and 2 are LeBron James, Kareem Jabbar, Steph Curry and Scottie Pippen.

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? Andre Drummond made his only 3-point attempt, and he’s now 4-for-6 from 3 in the series. That’s more 3’s than he had in five regular seasons from 2021 through 2025 combined (three). 

GRIMES FROM ARDMORE! Grimes made four 3’s in just 24 minutes, the 2nd most 3-pointers in franchise history by a player in 24 or fewer minutes. Buddy Hield made six against the Knicks in 2024. Grimes’ four 3’s is also 3rd-most in 76ers history by a player off the bench. In addition to Hield in 2024, DeAndre Melton made five off the bench in Boston in 2023.

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NCAA bans 2 former Fordham basketball players for their roles in point-shaving scheme

Two former Fordham basketball players were permanently banned by the NCAA on Tuesday for their roles in a point-shaving scheme that was the subject of a sprawling federal indictment unsealed in January.

According to the NCAA's Division I Committee on Infractions, Elijah Gray and Will Richardson each agreed with a bettor to throw a game against Duquesne on Feb. 23, 2024, in exchange for $10,000 to $15,000. Gray cooperated with NCAA investigators, while Richardson did not, the NCAA said.

Gray was one of more than two dozen people accused by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania conspiring to fix games. He has agreed to plead guilty in that case, and his sentencing is scheduled for July.

Gray told NCAA investigators that, although he conspired to underperform during the game, he ultimately reneged on the agreement, played with his usual effort and was not paid by the bettor. Fordham beat Duquesne 79-67.

Although he did not follow through with the scheme, Gray “agreed that he violated ethical conduct rules by providing information to a known bettor” and “expressed remorse for his actions,” the NCAA said.

Gray's attorney did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press. Richardson declined to comment when reached by ESPN.

Both players transferred after the 2023-24 season, with Gray going to Temple and then to Wisconsin. Richardson transferred to Albany. Neither player has competed since the 2024-25 season.

According to the NCAA, the bettors who approached Gray and Richardson about fixing the game did so under the guise of being agents who could help them secure name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.

Gray told the NCAA he had no further communication with the bettor who asked him to fix the game, but he told investigators that Richardson remained in communication with the person.

Richardson knowingly provided false information to investigators during an October 2025 interview, the NCAA said.

___

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Bruins coach Sturm rules out Arvidsson for Game 5 of first-round series against Buffalo

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins

Apr 23, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) skates against Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) during the third period of game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Boston Bruins will be without second-line forward Viktor Arvidsson when they face elimination in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Buffalo on Tuesday night.

Without disclosing the nature of the injury, coach Marco Sturm said Arvidsson did not travel with the team. Arvidsson was hurt after being checked by Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson in the first period of Boston’s 6-1 loss on Sunday.

The Bruins trail the series 3-1, with Arvidsson scoring twice in Boston’s 4-2 victory in Game 2.

Sturm said forwards Michael Eyssimont and Alex Steeves are among the options to make their series debuts. The coach added veteran defenseman Henri Jokiharju will replace Jordan Harris and play his first game of the series.

“I think we are excited to bounce back,” Sturm said. “We want to show that last game that’s not really us.”

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Report: NBA puts forward new "3-2-1" expanded lottery proposal to curb tanking

Adam Silver and the NBA's quixotic quest to end tanking reached a new level of complexity on Tuesday when the league unveiled a new plan to the 30 league GMs on a conference call.

This new "3-2-1" system — named after how many ping pong balls each team would get, depending upon their finish — would expand the lottery to 16 teams, according to reports by Shams Charania at ESPN and Sam Amick at The Athletic. Here is how the new system would break down:

• The teams with the three worst records in the league would fall into a "relegation zone" and be penalized by only getting two lottery balls, not three like other teams that missed the playoffs. Those three teams would have a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick, and in this system could fall no further than 12th. Meaning the team that was the worst the season before could well draft 10th, 11th or 12th.

• Teams that missed the playoffs but were not one of the worst three — teams four through 10 at the bottom of the standings — would get three lottery balls and an 8.1% chance at the No. 1 pick.

• Teams that finish as the No. 9 and 10 seeds in each conference will each get two lottery balls.

• Teams that lose the 7-8 play-in for each conference get one lottery ball (2.7% chance of landing the No. 1 pick).

• Teams cannot win the No. 1 pick in consecutive years or have three consecutive top-five picks.

• Going forward, teams could not protect picks in slots 12 through 15.

• The NBA would have expanded authority to regulate and discipline tanking teams and potentially remove some of their lottery balls.

• This system would expire in 2029, at which time it could be extended, modified or scrapped entirely.

This or any new system put in place would need to be approved by a vote of the NBA owners, which is scheduled for May 28 at the Board of Governors meeting. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, "the key points of the framework have a majority of the support from teams."

Is it a good plan?

The fact that it took me eight bullet points to try to explain the system says a lot.

Look at it this way: If this new proposed system were in place this season, the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder (which controls the LA Clippers pick), Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets all would have the exact same lottery odds as the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings.

Is that the point of the draft?

The league's argument for its plan is a good one is that it incentivizes its worst teams to win and avoid the "relegation zone," so teams will not all-out tank. The league has been focused on that exact point (seemingly almost exclusively).

The problem with that theory is that these are not quality teams choosing to lose, they are bad teams — some certainly trying to be worse to improve lottery odds, but not good to start with — that need good players to turn things around. This proposal makes it harder for those struggling teams to get the best players.

All of this would change future lotteries for which picks were traded, assuming they would be under the old system or something close to it. This could dramatically mess with the value of picks.

This entire new plan is Silver and the league office reacting to a year when a lot of teams chose to focus on the draft because it is particularly deep. If the NBA did nothing, tanking would be far less of an issue next season because the draft class is not considered nearly as deep or as talented.

The NBA owners can tweak and modify any system put in front of them, but they will have to be pushed by their GMs to do so. It's going to be an interesting month to see how that plays out.