Anaheim Ducks sharpshooter Cutter Gauthier has been stymied to start this series against the Vegas Golden Knights, but you need to trust the process.
My Golden Knights vs. Ducks predictions expect the young star to break through on home ice en route to an Anaheim victory.
I dig deeper with my full NHL picks on Sunday, May 10.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win tonight's game.
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 4 prediction tonight
Who will win Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 4?
Ducks: The Ducks have won the expected goal battle in two of the three games. They have the more dynamic offense, and Lukas Dostal outperformed Carter Hart during the regular season. Look for them to get on track in Game 4.
Golden Knights vs Ducks best bet: Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 points (-150)
Cutter Gauthier has been extraordinarily productive in Anaheim, recording 20 points over his last 18 home games.
Gauthier was not held pointless in back-to-back home games over that stretch, and that's something he'll be looking to avoid against the Vegas Golden Knights.
He is yet to hit the scoresheet in the series but appears on the verge of a breakout. The star winger leads the Anaheim Ducks in shot attempts (25), scoring chances (13), and expected goals (1.53) through three games.
He has played more minutes than anybody, and a lot have aligned with Gauthier. The two have shared the ice for 75 minutes across all situations. No forward on the Ducks has spent more time with LaCombe, offering great correlation.
The Ducks have generated more high-danger chances at 5-on-5 than any other team in the second round, a sign they're not in over their heads against the Golden Knights. Look for them to even the series at home.
Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 4 goal scorer pick
Cutter Gauthier (+170)
Gauthier is a goal-scoring machine at home, tallying 17 goals over his last 18 games. The Ducks need to get him producing, so he should see a steady dose of offensive zone starts against lesser competition.
Golden Knights vs Ducks SGP
Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 points
Jackson Lacombe Over 0.5 points
Ducks moneyline
Golden Knights vs Ducks odds for Game 4
Moneyline: Golden Knights -115 | Ducks -105
Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+205) | Ducks +1.5 (-250)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Golden Knights vs Ducks trend
The Ducks are 3-1 as home underdogs in the playoffs. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Ducks.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Ducks Game 4
Location
Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Date
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, Sportsnet
Golden Knights vs Ducks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
STREAKING: The current season is only the fourth since 1901 in which the Cubs have enjoyed multiple double-digit winning streaks — and the first in 91 years. They won 14, 12, 10 and 10 in a row in 1906. They won 11 and 10 in 1910. They won 21 and 11 in 1935. The Cubs had one streak of at least 10 wins in six seasons before 1935 and have had one in 10 seasons since then. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STEALING: The Cubs stole three bases last night. They had swiped three in only two earlier games this season: a 10-2 win at home over Nationals on March 28, second game of season, and a 9-2 win at Tampa on April 8 — 27 games before yesterday. They have stolen two bases twice, March 30 and April 15, and one base in 13 games, for a total of 18 with a steal and 21 with none. Last season, the Cubs stole at least three bases in 19 games, stole two in 23 and stole one in 40, for a total of 82 with a steal and 78 with none. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
BEST IN THE BIZ: This season is just the fifth since 1901 in which the Cubs have had the best record in baseball after their 39th game. The last time, as you might have guessed, was in 2016,. They were 28-11 and the Orioles were second, at 24-15. The Nationals were second among National League teams, at 25-16. The three earlier times came in a span of five seasons in the first decade of the 1900s. In 1903, the Cubs were 28-11 and the Giants were 26-11. In 1904, the Cubs were 26-11, to 27-12 by the Red Sox and 26-12 by the Giants. In 1907, the Cubs were 30-9; the Giants, 28-11; and the White Sox, 27-12. A year earlier, the Cubs had been the best in the NL, at 26-13, but the Athletics of the AL, at 22-10, had a higher winning percentage, .688 to .667. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
THE SEIYA FILES: Seiya Suzuki, last 20 games since April 15: .329/.432/.658 (24-for-73) with three doubles, seven home runs, 12 walks, 15 RBI and 17 runs scored.
Edward Cabrera has been remarkably consistent this year. After starting with two scoreless outings, he has allowed exactly three earned runs in each of his last five starts. So you pretty much know what you’re getting with a Cabrera start.
This will be Cabrera’s first-ever start against the Rangers. So, most of the Rangers have not faced him. One who has, from their common time in the NL East, is Brandon Nimmo (6-for-16, a double, seven walks).
Jack Leiter is the son of former MLB pitcher Al Leiter, and so the first cousin of former Cub Mark Leiter Jr.
Highly touted, he was picked in the first round in 2021 (second overall) by the Rangers.
He had a pretty good year in 2025 (29 starts, 3.86 ERA) but this year has been a bit rough, with a 5.45 ERA and seven home runs allowed in 38 innings.
This will be Leiter’s first-ever start against the Cubs. Only three Cubs (Alex Bregman, Carson Kelly and Nicky Lopez) have ever faced him, and have gone a small sample size 0-for-9.
Please visit our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball. If you do go there to interact with Rangers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 23: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies walks off the court after the game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 23, 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 Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The conversations on who the Suns should look to add to this team continue, and so do these articles, as we have another rendition of Suns Trade Verdict for you all to dissect. This has been a fun series I started, and the responses to the recent articles have shown me that you enjoy them too. In recent pieces, we have looked at power forwards and guards, and today that trend continues.
The fans have asked for this player, and there has been some reporting that the Suns could be interested as well.
The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings have interest in trading for Ja Morant, per @ScoopB
You also add the fact that Ja Morant was seen watching the Phoenix Suns’ Play-In game, and it may look like a connection could be there this offseason.
Ja Morant in a suite at the Suns and Warriors play-in game 👀
Now, Morant did see his former teammate, Desmond Bane, in the playoffs with Jaren Jackson Jr., so this could be him supporting his friends since Dillon Brooks was on his former team. However, it could mean more than many expect.
How could this get done?
Well, for Phoenix, they would be trading for Morant’s $87 million remaining split over the next two seasons. He made slightly above $42 million this year, so for the Suns, finding contracts to match that becomes an issue. One-for-one, they can only do this deal: Jalen Green for Ja Morant. This would require Phoenix to take back more salary.
In most articles, you can trade the salaries of Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to get a deal done, but in this one, the Suns are taking back $4 million that they cannot acquire.
Phoenix can make this deal by adding either O’Neale or Allen with Green to shed salary, something they may consider in this scenario for their impending free agents. They could also add those players or draft capital, even to expand the deal to get something else from Memphis.
Which would make the most sense?
Two of the three options make sense for both parties. The last one does not work as the Suns are giving up too much value for Morant. That then leaves us with either the Suns selling Royce to save money or doing a one-for-one swap.
Personally, I think the deal with O’Neale illustrates the plan, but it is just too much for Morant. If they could somehow get their pick back from Memphis in a deal like this, I’d consider it, but with Memphis tanking and developing players, they will not toss that in.
Therefore, I think the only way this deal gets done as currently constructed is the one-for-one swap: Green for Morant. Even though I think it is the best deal, does it make sense for the Suns to do?
Why does it not get done?
Suns
Sadly, even with all this discussion about wanting Morant, I think the realization sets in about what he can be for Phoenix. Some believe he can be this great playmaker alongside Booker and help alleviate some of those on-ball duties. Morant can also bring the same level of shooting that Green does, shooting mid-range and using his speed and athleticism to attack the basket.
The questions, though, then arise with his three-point shooting. As we know, Phoenix values the three-point ball a bunch, and sometimes lived or died by it this season for Morant, who is a career 31% three-point shooter and is not going to cut it. Now, Green was also not a great three-point shooter, but he did have some success this season. Morant has gotten worse, shooting just 24% this year.
That, added with his injury history, like many other players in this series, also adds a factor. Morant has consistently been injured in his entire career. Just this season, he was out for most of it, playing only 20 games, and even if the Grizzlies wanted to tank, it limited his ability to come back late; it was still an issue. The Grizzlies knew this, and that is why they ended up blowing up their team halfway through; they did not have enough to compete.
Not to mention the off-court issues Morant has had throughout his career. When he was younger, we all know what happened, resulting in suspensions for the young guard. That is something added with his frustrations with two head coaches that really makes you question this move. His reluctance to work with Taylor Jenkins or Tuomas Iisalo suggests he may be difficult to coach, something the Suns might not want to put Jordan Ott through in his second year of coaching.
Grizzlies
For a team in the midst of rebuilding and finding its new identity, Green would be a perfect fit. He would not have the expectations of being on a playoff team, but one where he can grow as a player. Memphis, as well, for how well they can develop young talent, I’m sure, would love to take on this experiment and see where it goes.
Green can be a part of their new young core with Cedric Coward, Cam Spencer, Zach Edey, and whoever the Grizzlies select with their lottery selection this season. This could be a new fun core to look at for the fans after just blowing up their season in the middle of it.
Green’s athleticism would add a layer to this offense that they lacked all year without Morant. Personally, Memphis is one of the best teams for Green to reach his true potential, in my opinion, but I think they want this deal more than Phoenix.
Final Thoughts
Even for someone who believes in second chances for players and not giving up on them early, I think for the Suns, this is the player not to do so. When you look at it, you are adding on money, taking a risk on someone who could cause some waves in the locker room when the chemistry is already good. You also take a risk on his availability. This leaves too many questions with too much baggage for the Suns to actually pursue.
As I stated earlier, if you can expand this deal and add the Suns getting their pick back from Memphis, I’d have to reevaluate it, but to me, the Morant fit would not make sense for the Suns.
What do you think, though? Would you do this deal if you were in the Phoenix Suns front office?
May 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
First Pitch: 1:10 pm CDT TV: Twins.TV Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
Forty games of baseball is probably “enough” games of baseball to feel like you have a sense of the team you’re watching. After 40 games, my sense is roughly the same as it was after 34 games, when I remarked that the team was, in no uncertain terms, “ass.”
Since we last left off, the Twins had salvaged a split against the Blue Jays, then handed the Washington Nationals their first home series win (a la last season’s Colorado Rockies), and got jumped by the Cleveland Guardians on Apple TV. For all the chatter about the relative weakness of the division, Minnesota remains dead last in the American League Central with a 16-23 record, and are dangerously close to being the worst outright team in the league.
That one Detroit/Boston week notwithstanding, the Twins are starting to look like the bits-and-pieces roster that preseason assessments identified.
FUN STUFF, GANG!
Today, Joe Ryan makes one of his last starts on the team. Maybe, at the very least, we can be excited for his future and what it holds. He’s got forty strikeouts so far — one for every game the Twins have played! He didn’t get one per game, though. He doesn’t pitch that often, you silly billy.
Meanwhile, Tanner Bibee is looking to get his first win of the year after an 0-5 record in eight starts to begin 2026. It’s as good an opportunity as any!
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The Lakers will try to avoid a 3-0 deficit when its playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder shifts to Los Angeles tonight.
The game was a tightly contested battle through the first half, with the Lakers actually holding a slim 58–57 lead at the break, but Oklahoma City’s offense overwhelmed Los Angeles in the second half.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back, scoring 22 points in the game. Chet Holmgren also put up a 22-point performance, while rookie Ajay Mitchell provided another significant spark with 20 points and 6 assists.
Toinght’s (May 9) Los Angeles Lakers and OKC Thunder game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch Lakers vs. Thunder for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Lakers game for free.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ABC (plus most channels you’ll need for the WNBA season). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
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You can also tune in to today’s game with fubo’s Pro or Sports and News plans. Live TV plans from fubo start at $44.99 and also include a five-day free trial.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
After getting promoted from Double-A to Triple-A earlier in the week, Mets pitching prospect left-hander Zach Thornton made his Syracuse debut on Saturday afternoon.
In his first start for Triple-A, Thornton pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits, including a home run, and two walks while striking out four. The lefty threw 84 pitches (60 strikes) and was pulled with his team down 3-2.
Rochester, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, got to Thornton in the first inning after two doubles sandwiching a walk scored a run. After a strikeout, Thornton made a nice play on a ball hit to him, throwing home to nab the runner trying to score.
The left-hander allowed two more runs in the third on a two-run shot by Yohandy Morales on a 1-2 sinker to put Syracuse down 3-0. From there, though, Thornton locked in and retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced.
Thornton took the loss as the Mets’ offense was mostly quiet, although No. 9 hitter Jackson Cluff homered to lead off the bottom of the sixth to get Syracuse closer, 3-2. The Mets went on to lose, 7-4, but it was a solid start for Thornton who now has a 3.77 ERA in six starts between Double-A and Triple-A.
With their backs against the wall in a 3-0 series hole, the Philadelphia Flyers have some decisions to make ahead of Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday evening.
Forcing some of those decisions is the absence of forward Owen Tippett, who has been out for the Flyers since Game 6 of the Round 1 series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Despite skating with the team, head coach Rick Tocchet announced Saturday that Tippett won't return for the Flyers just yet, marking his fourth consecutive absence due to an undisclosed injury.
The Flyers are again without Noah Cates and Tippett, which has forced Denver Barkey into the center position with Alex Bump establishing himself in the lineup.
As for further lineup changes, the defense has been a topic of discussion recently, given how anemic the Flyers' power play has been all year long.
Owen Tippett out for Flyers in Game 4 vs. the Hurricanes. Coach Rick Tocchet said there could be other lineup changes, including the possibility of rookie defenseman Oliver Bonk entering the lineup. "He's in the mix to look at."
Jamie Drysdale made a costly gaffe on the hapless man advantage in Game 3 on Thursday night, and Rasmus Ristolainen has offered next to nothing on the second unit.
With those two power play quarterbacks not working, the Flyers figured adding Cam York next to Ristolainen on the second unit would help... it did not.
According to Tocchet, though, prospect defenseman Oliver Bonk, with his one game of NHL experience and half a season of pro experience in the AHL, is "in the mix" to play for the Flyers in Game 4.
Bonk, 21, has power play experience and can do the job in limited minutes, but it's a tough spot for him nonetheless.
Fellow defenseman David Jiricek could also be an option for the Flyers given his talents and power play prowess, though he has not played an NHL game since January, when he was still with the Minnesota Wild.
Jiricek, 22, has two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points in 85 career AHL games, ripped off 13 points in 15 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms post-trade, and has been playing pro since the 2019-20.
The Flyers have some interesting decisions to make in a win-or-go-home Game 4, and it may serve them well to get some prospects into an NHL playoff game, especially against an intense team like the Hurricanes.
A new report shared by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, indicates that the Florida Panthers are at risk of losing their current director of player personnel, Bryan McCabe.
McCabe has been with the Panthers organization since 2012, when he started as a development coach. After one season, he moved to the director of player personnel, a role he has held since.
In his time with the Panthers, the 50-year-old has won two Stanley Cups.
In Friedman’s report, he indicates that New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta, the former Panthers assistant GM, could be interested in bringing McCabe into their organization.
“One of the people I’m curious to see if Mehta will try to add is Bryan McCabe.”
In addition to the Devils, the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in reuniting with McCabe, as he spent seven years of his NHL career in Toronto playing with the new senior executive advisor of hockey operations, Mats Sundin.
“Bryan McCabe, the former Maple Leaf defenseman, has a really good reputation for player development,” Friedman said on the latest 32 Thoughts episode. “Mackenzie Weegar is one of the guys that has credited McCabe in the past for really helping him become the player he’s become.”
Including his time in a developmental role in Florida, McCabe finished his NHL career as the captain of the Panthers, but was traded to the New York Rangers during the season. He spent two-and-half seasons as the captain of the Panthers.
But according to Friedman, McCabe isn’t the only Panthers front office member Mehta might be eyeing.
Braden Birch, the Panthers’ current director of hockey operations, has been with the Panthers since 2016 and has held this title since 2017. Birch, like McCabe, has won two Stanley Cups with the Panthers and has quietly been a crucial part of the Panthers’ success.
“The other guy I heard could be on Sunny Mehta’s radar is a guy by the name of Braden Birch,” said Friedman.
Panthers GM Bill Zito could be a very busy man this off-season, in addition to building his NHL roster, as he has already lost one assistant GM and is now at risk of losing another assistant GM, Brett Peterson, as well as his director of player personnel and his director of hockey operations.
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Two of the biggest reasons for the Montreal Canadiens' resurrection are Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, and they will live up to their budding reputations against the Buffalo Sabres tonight.
My Sabres vs. Canadiens predictions are bullish on the duo as Montreal looks to go up in this key clash.
I explain further with my full NHL picks for Game 3 on Sunday, May 10.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3 prediction tonight
Who will win Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3?
Canadiens: The Canadiens earned a split on the road and outscored the Sabres by a pair at 5-on-5, despite zero production from star Cole Caufield. He won't stay quiet forever, and I see him leading the charge in Game 3.
Sabres vs Canadiens best bet: Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists (-135)
That's highly unusual, as Suzuki recorded an assist on 49.3% of the goals he was on for during the regular season. He also picked up a helper in 62% of all games, and last went more than four straight without one in October.
With linemates Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield set for positive shooting regression, Suzuki is well-positioned to bounce back.
Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3 same-game parlay
Caufield's success goes hand in hand with Suzuki's. The two are attached to the hip at 5-on-5 and on the top power play unit, and one doesn't usually produce without the other. Suzuki has an assist in nine of the past 10 games in which Caufield recorded at least one point.
Noah Dobson has recorded seven shots on 11 attempts through the first two games of this series. He sees a lot of offensive zone faceoffs, and Montreal has a big edge in the dot, leading to easy shooting opportunities off draws.
Sabres vs Canadiens SGP
Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists
Cole Caufield Over 0.5 points
Noah Dobson Over 1.5 shots on goal
Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3 goal scorer pick
Cole Caufield (+165)
Montreal's star sniper scored just once over the past eight games despite generating 18 chances. His shooting percentage during that stretch (7.14%) was barely more than half his career rate (14.20%), a sign the tide should turn sooner than later.
Nick Suzuki has recorded 11 assists over his last 12 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Sabres vs Canadiens Game 3
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, ESPN
Sabres vs Canadiens latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Lakers coach JJ Redick. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
It hasn’t been Oklahoma City’s superstar burying the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. That’s what’s made this series so vexing for the shorthanded Lakers.
After the Thunder dominated the Lakers in minutes without reigning most valuable player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the court in Game 2, flexing their superior depth, athleticism and pace, Lakers coach JJ Redick said the team had to “look at everything.” The second-year Lakers coach is the latest to face a problem that almost no one in the NBA has solved.
How do you stop the inevitable when it comes to the Oklahoma City Thunder?
The defending NBA champions rolled to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals despite relatively quiet performances from Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder put the Lakers in danger of getting swept out of the playoffs for just the 10th time in franchise history.
Playing without Luka Doncic, the NBA's leading scorer, the Lakers can only continue to do what they’ve done all year: adapt.
“The thing I love about the playoffs,” Redick said before the Lakers’ second-round series, “is you only can worry about the task at hand.”
The Lakers have already shown their resilience this postseason by winning a first-round playoff series over the Houston Rockets in six games despite being without their superstar guard and only getting second-leading scorer Austin Reaves back for two games.
When the star guards both suffered regular season-ending injuries against the Thunder on April 2, it looked like a sure disaster. The Lakers were just beginning to show their potential as a team.
Lakers coach JJ Redick gives instructions to guard Luka Doncic during a game in March. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
They grieved through a three-game losing streak. They regrouped. Then they won.
“Going through this series, we could have really folded a little bit and could have had a lot of all type of excuses,” center Deandre Ayton said after the Lakers polished off the first-round series, “but I felt that we came in, JJ didn't give a damn who was out there with him.”
Between shocking trades and major injuries, it’s felt like Redick has coached at least six different teams during his first two seasons. His intense focus can help take the emotion out of any unforeseen circumstance. Whether it’s a blockbuster trade that brought Doncic to L.A. or an untimely injury that sidelines the superstar guard at the most important time of the season, Redick is able to compartmentalize each day’s mission.
“He just stays locked into what he has to do in the moment,” said Stan Van Gundy, who coached Redick in Orlando and is now an analyst for Amazon Prime Video. “He's as focused as anybody you'll run into."
Sometimes Redick’s tasks are simply checking in with certain players. Other times it’s cooking up new plays with the coaches. Redick focuses fully on each one at a time. Learning to prioritize the tasks has kept him more sane during his second season in one of the most high-profile coaching jobs in sports, he said.
“A little more sane,” Redick clarified with a bashful grin.
Reaves isn't buying it.
The Lakers guard still sees Redick combusting on the Lakers' bench after a particularly egregious turnover or a missed assignment. He saved his ire for officials during the Lakers’ Game 2 loss in Oklahoma City during which Redick received a technical foul.
Redick got into heated exchanges with Doncic and Jarred Vanderbilt this season. The video clips went viral, casting doubt on Redick’s relationship with players, especially the moment with Doncic in February. But Redick maintained both were ordinary conversations among competitive people.
Lakers coach JJ Redick reviews his notes before a game against the Utah Jazz in April. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Even after Redick's sideline dust-ups, Reaves knows he can still talk it through with the coaching staff.
"It just shows the care factor,” Reaves said. “Like there's no bad intentions with any of it. … It's a healthy relationship. It's not just with myself, it's the whole team. Everybody can talk to one another. It's not just us to coaching staff, it's player to player, coaching staff to coaching staff, we all hold each other accountable and it's a beautiful thing to see."
In his second season at the helm, Redick set out to make a player-led team culture. Redick and his staff intentionally let players discuss between themselves during timeouts before coaches join the huddle.
For as much spotlight head coaches get in the NBA, a team’s culture ultimately comes down to players, Van Gundy said. What coaches do is acquire and elevate the players who have the cultural traits the team needs. For the Lakers this season, it’s been about adaptability.
LeBron James exemplified the mantra when he shape-shifted from the high-usage star he’s been for more than two decades to the most accomplished tertiary option in NBA history. When Reaves and Doncic were hurt, James turned back the clock again to star in the Lakers’ first-round series win.
The high-impact performances have trickled down the roster.
Rui Hachimura shot a career-best 44.3% on threes during the regular season and 58.6% from three in the first round. Long criticized for inconsistent energy, Ayton reemerged as a postseason force in the first round. Marcus Smart resurrected his career as a tenacious defender at 32 years old. Luke Kennard’s emergence as an emergency point guard was a late-season revelation. Jaxson Hayes was out of the postseason rotation last year and is now an important counterpunch behind Ayton.
"[Redick] has found ways to maximize all of these guys, whether it's through motivation, Xs and O's or both,” Van Gundy said. “He's really, really been impressive in what he's done, and it's not an easy thing to do."
Redick, who never coached outside of his sons’ youth teams before taking the Lakers job, became the first coach to lead the Lakers to back-to-back 50-win seasons since Phil Jackson in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Redick held back tears when general manager Rob Pelinka presented him with the game ball in the locker room on March 31 and showed a video of Redick’s sons, Knox and Kai, congratulating their dad.
When asked about joining a list of Lakers coaches that includes Jackson and Pat Riley, Redick demurred. He doesn’t deserve the mention, he said.
“I’ve got a lot left to accomplish, for sure,” Redick said.
The Carolina Hurricanes became the first team to clinch a berth in the conference finals − and made history in the process.
Beating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Saturday, May 9, they became the first NHL team to sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs since the league went to four best-of-seven rounds for the 1987 playoffs.
Jackson Blake got the game-winner with his second goal of the game at 5:31 of overtime.
The Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round, never trailing in that series and outscoring them 11-5.
The Flyers took leads in Games 2 and 4 of the second round series, but the Hurricanes chipped away both times and won in overtime.
The Hurricanes will face the winner of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series in the Eastern Conference final. That series is tied 1-1.
USA TODAY provided live updates on Game 4 of the Hurricanes-Flyers series. Here are highlights:
They'll wait to find out the winner of the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens series. The earliest that series could wrap up is Game 5 on May 14. Game 7, if the series goes that far, is May 18, so Carolina has a long wait ahead.
They ended a five-year playoff drought and goalie Dan Vladar has another year on his contract. The biggest contract to settle will be Trevor Zegras, but he is a restricted free agent. So are Jamie Drysdale, Emil Andrae and backup goalie Samuel Ersson. Pending unrestricted free agents are depth players, such as Luke Glendening.
Goalie Dan Vladar was the reason the Flyers made the playoffs and he was the reason they got past the Penguins in the first round. He made 37 saves in the Game 4 elimination loss and slammed his stick after the winning goal went in off his glove. His teammates consoled him after the loss.
Dan Vladar held it down the whole way through. Guys wanted him to remember that. pic.twitter.com/1fn0i9NBAc
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 10, 2026
We're heading to overtime. Carolina's Logan Stankoven and Philadelphia's Alex Bump swap goals in that period 99 seconds apart. The Hurricanes are 2-0 in overtime this postseason, beating the Flyers in Game 2. The Flyers are 1-1.
Carolina is on a 3-on-2 rush. Taylor Hall gets around his defender and feeds Logan Stankoven for a quick shot. That's seven goals for Stankoven as he retakes the league lead. Hurricanes 2, Flyers 1
LOGAN STANKOVEN WITH HIS SEVENTH AND IT'S A MASSIVE ONE 😱
He now leads all players in goals in the #StanleyCup Playoffs!
The Hurricanes get the tying goal in that period and nearly a go-ahead one, but Alexandre Carrier was ruled to have interfered with goalie Dan Vladar. Plenty of opportunities for a go-ahead goal, but Frederik Andersen makes a pad save during a 2-on-1 break, the Hurricanes shoot wide on a 3-on-1 break and Christian Dvorak hits the post. Shots are 23-9 Hurricanes.
Mark Jankowski scores 28 seconds after Blake, but the Flyers challenge for goalie interference. The challenge works and the goal is waved off. Hurricanes 1, Flyers 1
Jordan Staal is called for tripping. He's unhappy about the call. Sebastian Aho is called for hooking, so it's 5-on-3 for 40 seconds. Hurricanes kills that and the Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen takes a penalty. Finally, it's back to even strength and still 1-0 Flyers.
The Flyers score the first goal of the game, and it's a big one for the goal scorer. Tyson Foerster had no points in his previous nine games this postseason. The Flyers weren't able to add to their lead as they did in Game 2, so they head into intermission with a one-goal lead.
Tyson Foerster scores to get his first point of the playoffs at 7:50. This is just the second time that the Hurricanes haven't scored the first goal of the game. Flyers 1, Hurricanes 0
The Flyers' task looks daunting but they have rallied from a 3-0 series deficit before. That was in 2010 when they won four in a row after the Boston Bruins had led the series 3-0.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 06: Patrick Bailey #14 of the San Francisco Giants leaves the field prior to the game between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Emma Bronsteader/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s not every day that you see the Guardians making a notable trade before the calendar flips to July. (In fact, I can’t remember the last time the Guardians made a move like this this far in advance of the deadline).
If you missed it (somehow), the Guardians traded for 2-time Gold Glover Patrick Bailey from the Giants. They sent LHP Matt Wilkinson and their 2026 CB-A pick (#29) in return. In a corresponding move, the Guardians optioned Bo Naylor to AAA.
BREAKING: The Cleveland Guardians are acquiring two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher Patrick Bailey in a trade with the San Francisco Giants for the No. 29 pick in this year's draft and left-handed pitching prospect Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson, sources tell ESPN.
Patrick Bailey is a very interesting player. He is, arguably, the best defender in baseball (among all players, not just catchers). He is, by far, the best defensive catcher (although, on a rate basis, Hedges is close). His bat is underwhelming, but then again so are most of our catchers’. Before we get to the defense, let’s talk about his offense. This trade has been relatively polarizing because of his offensive numbers, and because people are (in my opinion) perhaps overrating what we gave up to get Bailey.
Bailey is a switch-hitter, and has been around a 70 wRC+ over his career. However, despite that, he’s put up over 10 fWAR in his first 3 seasons. He has three more years of control (FA in 2030). His chase and whiff rates are around league-average, but his strikeout and walk rates are far below league average. He showed flashes in 2024 of perhaps being a league-average bat, but hasn’t gotten back to that since. In 2024 he sported the highest pull air rate of his career. We all know that’s something the Guardians specialize in with their hitting development, so perhaps there is some more offense to unlock with Bailey. Even if there isn’t, he’s a 3 WAR player on his defense alone. For reference, he’d be 3rd among all Guardians since 2023 in fWAR. That is an incredibly valuable player.
I do wonder if the Guardians think there’s an approach adjustment to be made with Bailey, especially one that prioritizes him pulling the ball in the air. Oracle Park is, pretty much across the board, disadvantageous for hitters, so hopefully the transition to Progressive Field will help. His bat speed has slowly crept up since 2023 (70.1 -> 72.8 this year).
To his defense! Bailey is the best defensive catcher of the 2020s and, with time, could very well become the best defensive catcher of the pitch-tracking era. He ranks first in framing runs, defensive runs saved, and fielding run value among catchers. He’s so good at framing that that becomes almost the entire conversation around him. You can read more in-depth about his framing here. He also excels at something that Guardians catchers have been, well, not great at: throwing out runners.
Apart from the fact that he is elite at framing, throwing out runners and, frankly, all aspects of catcher defense, pitchers rave about his game-calling and leadership, citing him as a big part of the reason they’ve succeeded in MLB. Bo Naylor has really struggled in that aspect. From what I’ve gathered, there are more than just a few Guardians pitchers who do not trust Naylor behind the plate. His ability to manage a game from start to finish has been a problem throughout his career, something that Hedges, for one, is among the best at. Bailey has frequently been able to get the best out of his pitchers. For example, he’s caught Logan Webb 78 times throughout his major league career. Three other catchers have caught Webb >10 times: Joey Bart (30), Curt Casali (26), Buster Posey (19). Webb has performed better with Bailey than with any of the other catchers, including with a future HOFer in Posey. Webb sports a 3.10 ERA across nearly 500 innings with Bailey, over a tenth of a run lower than with any of those catchers. (Vogt caught him 5 times, and Webb had an ERA well north of 7 with him behind the plate).
The Guardians, essentially, traded for a younger, cheaper version of Hedges. This move clearly signals that they are comfortable with where the lineup is right now, and that they are fine with a black hole at catcher with the rest of the lineup producing. I know a lot of people are clamoring about Ingle, but I just don’t think the Guardians are 100% believers in his defense. Catcher defense is, obviously, incredibly important to the Guardians. It’s what they prioritize above all else in catchers. Ingle, they think, clearly isn’t ready to handle calling a game start to finish.
Regardless, Bailey should be extremely fun to watch behind the plate, and the Guardians didn’t have to give up anything that overwhelming for a 3 WAR player.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 08, 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The lead never felt comfortable. It was weird. Ungainly. 7-1. Unsightly. 9-1. The offense was ugly. Stilted. 11-1. We were making more shots than the Wolves, sure, but that felt like a technicality.
14-1.
Keldon hit a three. We still looked off. There were five minutes left in the first quarter and the Wolves had one point. I should’ve been ecstatic but I couldn’t get there. It was like they were building a sandcastle right before the tide was about to come in.
18-3.
It just didn’t feel right. This was a trap. It had to be.
Now, Anthony Edwards ripping off 12 points to close the quarter and bring Minnesota back within one? Yeah, that felt terrible. Punch to the gut. Slap to the face. Pick your metaphor, but it felt bad. It also felt correct. 23-22 was an accurate reflection of whatever that first quarter was.
We’ve seen the Spurs win games in the playoffs with their best stuff. When it clicks, even if only for a half like those games in Portland, they look unbeatable. Everything flows downhill, the defense is impenetrable, and the result feels inevitable.
We’ve also seen this team stall out. They settle for jumpers, they get loose with the passing, and they lose their rhythm. The defensive intensity that is usually their superpower can easily tip over into an over-aggressive, wild, unruly beast that causes as many problems as it solves.
Friday night was an interesting test case for a young team that tends to deal in extremes. What happens when the stakes are high, the crowd is going nuts, and the opponent is just crazy enough to think they can beat you? What do you do when you reach into your bag of tricks, come back empty-handed, and still have three quarters left to play?
The answer, at least for one night, was to weather the storm. A performance that could almost be mistaken for a lack of urgency by some of our more anxious fans (hand up) actually turned out to be something closer to an enviable level of control within a particularly chaotic environment.
Because here’s the thing. The Wolves are good. They’re very good. They’re talented and they play hard and they don’t give a single second’s thought to anyone else’s expectations about the outcome of the game. The Spurs are the higher seed? They’re favored to win? Most people are picking them? The Wolves don’t care. They’re here to compete. They’re going to fight and push and claw their way to the top or die trying.
That said, the Spurs are better than the Wolves. They just are. They have more talent. They’re healthier. They somehow even have an advantage in the (oddly specific but currently trendy) Tall French Guy category. Across the board, the Spurs are just better. I think even most Minnesota fans would give a grim nod to that. But none of that matters once the ball is tipped. The Spurs are a better team and they are also, without a doubt, in real danger of not making it out of this series alive. The Wolves aren’t going to let them skip this step on their way up the mountain. They’re going to hold on tight and drag them back to earth. They’re going to force them to reckon with the questions that a team like the Wolves are capable of asking.
“Are you tough enough?” “Can you win ugly?” “What happens when the calls don’t go your way?” “What are you made of when the game stops being fun?”
All night, I kept thinking something was off with Victor. Like he was pressing too much, trying too hard. Why did he shoot that? What were you thinking on that challenge? Stop dribbling in traffic! I was so focused on the things he wasn’t doing that I sort of lost sight of what was really happening.
Victor Wembanyama got his 5th foul with 6:18 left in the game. Jaden McDaniels sank both free throws and brought the Wolves back within one. The Target Center became a swirling cauldron of noise and excitement.
I wanted to puke.
And all that time, while I’m over here alternating between throwing up in the corner and diagnosing his shot selection, Victor Wembanyama happened to be putting together one of the greatest individual performances in NBA playoff history. 39 points. 15 rebounds. 5 blocks. The fifth player ever to do that in a playoff game, joining Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem, and Shaq. His mastery was so effortless, so nonchalant, that I almost missed it. I was watching a historic performance and my main note was “stop dribbling in traffic.”
Go back and watch the Spurs in that moment, though. No one is panicking. No one looks scared. Mitch Johnson doesn’t for a moment consider taking Vic out. He trusted him to adjust accordingly, and he trusted what he was seeing from his team. This wasn’t a situation where the Wolves had broken contain and were charging away from their handlers. This was a team that had its opponent by the horns and, even though it continued to buck, was going to slowly and methodically wrestle it to the ground.
This was a team in control.
Two days ago, after the Spurs dismantled the Wolves in Game 2, a reporter asked Victor Wembanyama about the experience gap. About all the chatter. About what a performance like that said about their inexperience versus everyone else’s experience.
“It says we don’t care,” he said.
Before Game 3, someone asked Mitch Johnson the same question from a different angle — whether the Spurs’ youth was actually an asset in these playoffs. He responded: “Experience used in its best form is very valuable — so is youth and athleticism. But if you flip those, and people don’t use experience to its full potential, then it becomes kind of a hollow world that may not deliver the return people expect from it.”
Now, I don’t know exactly what all that means. But I know it sounds sexy and mysterious. And I also know that on Friday night in Minneapolis, this young, inexperienced Spurs team answered every question the Wolves had the nerve to ask.
After the game, Wemby said: “I’ve really been waiting since I’ve been in the league to live those moments, those high stakes games. That’s what I love. I’m built for this. I love this more than anything else.”
I was worried the Spurs had built their castle out of sand. I’m starting to think they’re made of sterner stuff.
Takeaways
This is a happy occasion. We’re floating around on the magical bubbles that appear every time the Spurs win a playoff game. Hooray! Honk honk honk! Go Spurs Go! Because we’re all having a good time and in such a good mood right now, I’m not going to focus on the looming suspicion that a missed free throw is going to absolutely break our backs at some point.
In that same spirit of togetherness and collective joy, we’re also not going to talk about Mitch Johnson’s challenge problem. You know, the problem where he’s bad at challenges? It’s a problem! We’re not going to talk about it!
Carter Bryant continues to be a revelation. I’d trust him with my life. He seems up for any assignment, any role, any situation, and Mitch Johnson seems to take particular delight in deploying him specifically to annoy the other team. What I love most is that he keeps shooting. He’s never scared to pull the trigger, but he’s also never forcing it. He’s not taking bad shots, he’s just taking shots. No fear. Carter Bryant. Who knew?
Beyond Wembanyama levitating around the court all night, the combination of Castle and Fox were the two hands on the steering wheel keeping this thing in line every time it threatened to veer off. Steph bore the brunt of Minnesota’s physicality without turning the ball over and distributed the ball efficiently. He took his time. He found the open man. It was a really mature and measured performance from the young man. He only got in one almost-fight! Proud of him!
Fox was equally impressive in different ways. It would be easy for him to fall into the trap of trying to force things and, for the most part, he’s managed to avoid that. He grabs the reins when necessary, hunts for pockets of space and, above all else, never lets the defense forget about him. It’s all very potent.
WWL Post Game Press Conference
It feels like most members of the Spurs organization are taking some time to get slightly philosophical in their press conferences these days. Is anything on that level speaking to you right now?
Yeah, for sure. I want to talk about how annoying I find Chris Finch.
The Wolves head coach?
Yeah, that guy. I didn’t think a single thought about this man until about five days ago and now, if I saw him on the street tomorrow, I think I’d have no choice but to throw hands.
Why? He seems like a perfectly innocuous character.
He’s wearing Chuck Taylors. And he has these massive beaded bracelets on his left wrist. It’s awful.
Really? That bugs you?
It’s totally out of character for his whole vibe. He’s a 56 year old man with a head full of grey hair. He should be managing an investment portfolio or something. Rocking Chucks and bracelets like he’s trying to be some dimestore Billie Joe Armstrong knockoff out there on an NBA sideline. Coaches used to wear suits. They used to look like Pat Riley. This whole thing makes me sick.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 01: Yandy Díaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field on May 01, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers couldn't be more relieved to be back home as they look to shift the momentum in their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where our NBA player prop projections have identified several strong value opportunities.
By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.
He's cashed in modest 18 and 22 point performances in this series and with the Lakers fighting hard to save their seasons while at home for Game 3, they may push SGA to give more than the usual lately to get him to clear this points prop line.
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Ajay Mitchell Over 3.5 assists (-130)
Projection: 3.73 assists
Ajay Mitchell has elevated his play during OKC’s dominant playoff run, and he’s made this assists line look easy against L.A. with 4 and 6 dimes in Games 1 and 2.
Expect him to keep thriving in his role as a key facilitator and continue stacking assists in Game 3.
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Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 rebounds (-135)
Projection: 9.52 rebounds
Isaiah Hartenstein has been just as impactful on the glass as his teammate Chet Holmgren, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down as the Thunder push toward a potential back-to-back title run.
He’s cleared this rebounds line in four of OKC’s six playoff games, and with a 3-0 series lead within reach, expect Hartenstein to stay active and continue piling up boards.
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Lakers Game 3 computer picks
LeBron James Under 22.5 points (-112)
Projection: 21.78 points
Over the last five home games, opposing starting power forwards have averaged just 11.0 points per game against the Thunder — the third-fewest in the league — making this a tough scoring matchup for LeBron James.
While he’s cleared this points line in both Games 1 and 2, it’s reasonable to expect OKC to tighten up defensively as they push for a commanding 3-0 series lead.
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Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists (-160)
Projection: 3.90 assists
Marcus Smart has been the heart & hustle of the Lakers’ playoff push, and an 0-2 deficit won’t change the energy he brings to the floor. This assists line feels modest given how active he’s been as a facilitator.
He’s recorded 7 and 5 assists through the first two games of the series, and with Game 3 carrying added urgency, expect Smart to elevate his playmaking in an effort to keep the Lakers within reach.
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Luke Kennard Over 1.5 3-pointers (+110)
Projection: 1.99 3-pointers
From beyond the arc, the Lakers have been elite, knocking down 40.5% of their threes over the last 10 games — the second-best mark in the league. Still, they’ll need more from Luke Kennard, who has cooled off over the past five playoff outings.
After going 2-for-3 from deep in Game 2, this could be the spark he needs to regain his rhythm and get back to clearing this prop line.
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How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 3
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
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