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Spurs vs. Thunder player grades: San Antonio’s bench struggles in Game Three loss

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 22: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs gestures in front of Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 22, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the first time in the Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs trail the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a wild Game One victory, the Spurs lost two straight, including a 123-108 loss at home in Game Three. It was a game defined by the Thunder’s dominance. San Antonio started the game on a 15-0 run, and managed to lose the game by 15, a 30-point swing for OKC.

If you want a stat that sums up a lot of the game, it’s this one: OKC’s bench outscored San Antonio’s bench by 53 points (76-23). When Victor Wembanyama sat out, the Thunder went on huge runs. Even with him in the game, Oklahoma City’s bench was able to score from outside. Meanwhile, the Spurs couldn’t find any consistent offense as they continue to deal with injuries to key players like De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper.

The Spurs enter Game Four needing to win a game to prevent the Thunder from taking a 3-1 series lead. San Antonio is -126 favorites on FanDuel to defend home court and tie the series at 2-2 in Game Four. They’ll need to find a way to score against Oklahoma City’s swarming defense and get contributions from their bench to stay in the series.

Before looking ahead to Game Four, let’s grade the performances from Game Three. As a quick reminder, player grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.

Victor Wembanyama

39 minutes, 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 8-for-15 shooting, 2-for-5 threes, +4

Wembanyama continues to be the Spurs’ most consistent offensive threat in this series. However, since the Thunder decided to guard him with a big man, Wembanyama has struggled to reach the scoring heights we saw in Game One. He’s being forced to hurt the Thunder on the perimeter, where he isn’t nearly as effective. He keeps getting pushed further and further away from the hoop and is stuck taking some tough shots.

Defensively, Wembanyama has to stick to what makes him great. Too many times, he is being pulled onto the perimeter to contest Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s mid-range jumpers. While he’s away from the paint, the Thunder can find lanes for drives or kickout angles for threes. It’s also limiting Wemby’s impact on the boards, as he grabbed just four rebounds in the loss.

Grade: B

De’Aaron Fox

31 minutes, 15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, 7-for-14 shooting, 1-for-6 threes, +9

You have to hand it to Fox for playing through what appears to be a significant ankle injury. He went down in the third quarter, and it looked like it might be the last time we see him in the game. But he gutted it out and came back into the game, clearly hampered.

Fox is giving them some nice offensive juice off the dribble, getting into the paint with speed and creatively finishing around the Thunder’s defense. The problem is he didn’t make a lot of his outside shots, which OKC dared him to take, and he turned the ball over four times. If he can play smart with the ball, push the pace, and make some outside shots, the Spurs will have a better chance to win Game Four.

Grade: B

Stephon Castle

35 minutes, 14 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 1-for-8 shooting, 1-for-5 threes, -17

It looked like Castle struggled to adjust to Fox returning to the lineup. He corrected his turnover issue, but his offense was way off, making just one shot in the game. Defensively, he looks like he may be letting his emotions get the best of him. He is clearly frustrated with the officiating and is fed up with SGA’s ability to get to the free-throw line. He’s fouling too much and complaining about most of the foul calls. Castle is the Spurs’ most physical player, and he’s paying for it a bit with how he guards. He’ll have to play smarter defense if San Antonio wants a chance to win the series.

Grade: C+

Julian Champagnie

35 minutes, 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 fouls, 4-for-10 shooting, 2-for-8 threes, -4

Not only was Champagnie struggling to hit threes, but he missed several defensive rotations. Champagnie would often overhelp off a shooter to help Wembanyama in the paint (he’s the Defensive Player of the Year and doesn’t need help) or sell out to stop a Gilgeous-Alexander drive and leave a player wide open for a kickout. The Spurs need him to make open shots, and they can’t afford major defensive mistakes. The margins in this series are razor-thin and those miscues will snowball as they did in Game Three.

Grade: C

Devin Vassell

36 minutes, 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 4 fouls, 6-for-12 shooting, 3-for-6 threes, -5

Vassell was arguably the most impactful Spur in Game Three. His shooting was always there when the Spurs needed it, and he was excellent defensively. He’s risen to the moment in this series in a way that makes him look like an untouchable part of the Spurs’ core moving forward.

I also appreciated Vassell sticking up for Castle when he got fouled hard in transition two times in a row. San Antonio has to fight back a bit against some of the physicality they are seeing from OKC.

Grade: A

Dylan Harper

17 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 2-for-7 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, -13

Harper looks like he is really struggling through an injury, even more than Fox. He doesn’t have the same level of explosion that he had in the first game of the series. That led to a pretty meh night from the rookie, who was inefficient scoring the ball, and didn’t make a huge impact defensively. Harper’s strength and athleticism give the Spurs an advantage in the backcourt. If those attributes are severely hampered by his injury, it’s hard to see them winning this series.

Grade: C

Keldon Johnson

12 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 1-for-5 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, -23

Johnson was borderline unplayable in Game Three. He provided no offense, and he continues to be a liability defensively. It feels like we’ve been saying the same things about KJ all playoffs. San Antonio needs his fire and energy to emerge. In a “must-win” Game Four, maybe we see Johnson return to his Sixth Man of the Year form.

Grade: D

Luke Kornet

13 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 2-for-3 shooting, -18

Kornet is in a tough position backing up Wembanyama. When he’s in the game without him, the Thunder are attacking the rim every chance they get. It’s not so much that Kornet is a bad rim defender; it’s just that Wembanyama is so good that it’s almost like a lid has been removed from the rim when he exits the game. That said, Kornet has to hold his ground better to give the Spurs a chance. Wembanyama is already playing more minutes in this series than he has in his entire career.

Grade: D

Harrison Barnes

3 minutes, 0-for-1 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +2

Barnes hasn’t gotten much run in this series, but I wonder if he may get an increase in minutes moving forward. The Spurs need another shooter and someone who can create some offense on the wing. Barnes has regressed quickly this season and hasn’t shown the ability to be a strong rotational piece in quite some time. But these are desperate times for San Antonio, and Barnes has shown some of the skill set that they need against OKC.

Grade: Incomplete

Carter Bryant

10 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 1-for-3 shooting, 1-for-2 threes, -10

Bryant isn’t quite ready for a series like this. He can’t put the ball on the deck in a meaningful way, and he fouls way too much to be impactful defensively. All the youthful energy in the world isn’t enough to make up for some of those shortcomings against a great OKC team.

Grade: C-

Jordan McLaughlin

2 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, +/- 0

McLaughlin went from being in the rotation in Game Two to playing in garbage time in Game Three.

Grade: Incomplete

Lindy Waters III

2 minutes, +/- 0

Waters got some cardio in for two minutes at the end of the game, but didn’t make an impact.

Grade: Incomplete

Bismack Biyombo

2 minutes, +/- 0

Biyombo touched the floor against his former team, but didn’t do much.

Grade: Incomplete

Kelly Olynyk

2 minutes, 3 points, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 1-for-1 shooting, 1-for-1 threes, +/- 0

Olynyk was very involved in his two minutes. He knocked down a corner three.

Grade: Incomplete

Mason Plumlee

2 minutes, 2 points, 1 assist, 1 block, 1-for-1 shooting, +/- 0

Plumlee got a shot to go at the rim and a block in his limited playing time.

Grade: Incomplete

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Avalanche vs Golden Knights Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's NHL Playoffs Game 3

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  • UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win this game.

The Colorado Avalanche may be stuck in a 2-0 series deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights, but play hasn't been as lopsided as all that.

My Avalanche vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks are buying the visitors, particularly star Nathan MacKinnon, on Sunday, May 24.

As an added bonus, Cale Makar will finally make his series debut in hopes of pulling Colorado within a game.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3 prediction

Who will win Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3?

Avalanche: The Colorado Avalanche have won the high-danger chance battle 26-14 through two games. They have a clear edge in quality scoring chances but converted on only 4.41% of their shots, which is a big reason why they trail 2-0. Healthy Cale Makar or not, the Avalanche have too much firepower to continue converting at such a low rate.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights best bet: Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 shots (-135)

We've seen a dip in Nathan MacKinnon's shot outputs against the Vegas Golden Knights, but a lot of that stems from missing the target.

MacKinnon hit the net on 58.66% of his attempts during the regular season and 46% over the first two rounds. He's sitting at 33% against Vegas, a low number that is not going to sustain itself.

MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in offensive zone starts this series, putting him in favorable situations to generate shots. 

I like him to fire away in essentially a must-win Game 3, and would play the Over up to -160.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3 same-game parlay

The Avalanche hold edges in attempts, shots, chances, and high-danger looks. They've scored on 4% of their shots, Vegas has scored on 13%, and that's the difference.

Cale Makar's injury definitely factors in, but Colorado was the highest-scoring team in the league during the regular season, and both of their goaltenders drastically out-performed Carter Hart.

The tide should turn if the Avalanche continue to generate the bulk of the chances, which is to be expected with their backs up against the wall.

Eight of the last nine Avalanche games have featured 6+ goals, and shooting regression should help push this one Over.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights SGP

  • Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 shots
  • Avalanche moneyline
  • Over 5.5

Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3 goal scorer pick

Nathan MacKinnon (+105)

I'm backing MacKinnon to have a strong volume game, and his shot outputs correlate heavily with his goal scoring.

MacKinnon found the back of the net in 62% of his games when attempting seven shots or more this season, and he has attempted at least seven shots in five of his last six.

The Avalanche desperately need a win, and will rely heavily on MacKinnon to lead the charge. That means a ton of offensive zone starts, and extra ice time, for the Rocket Richard winner. 

Avalanche vs Golden Knights odds for Game 3

  • Moneyline: Avalanche -135 | Golden Knights +115
  • Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+180) | Golden Knights +1.5 (-220)
  • Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)

Avalanche vs Golden Knights trend

Nathan MacKinnon has recorded 4+ shots in 11 of his last 14 games against the Golden Knights. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Golden Knights.

How to watch Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3

LocationT-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
DateSunday, May 24, 2026
Puck drop8:00 p.m. ET
TVESPN, Sportsnet

Avalanche vs Golden Knights latest injuries

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NHL Rumors: 2 Sabres Free-Agent Winger Targets If Alex Tuch Walks

The Buffalo Sabres are entering the off-season with some big decisions to make. One of them is with Alex Tuch, as the 30-year-old forward is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA).

If the Sabres are unable to re-sign Tuch and he tests the free-agent market, the Sabres will undoubtedly need to add another forward to their roster. Due to this, let's look at two pending UFAs the Sabres could pivot to if Tuch does not sign an extension with Buffalo.

Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken 

Bobby McMann could be an interesting target for the Sabres to pursue if Tuch ends up not re-signing. The 29-year-old just had a strong season split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken. In 78 games, he recorded 29 goals, 46 points, and 165 hits. With numbers like these, he could be a good energy player for the Sabres to add to their top nine. 

Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings

Could the Sabres finally bring Patrick Kane home to Buffalo? If the 37-year-old winger ends up not re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings, he could be a player worth bringing in on a one-year deal. His best days are behind him, but he is still an impactful offensive contributor. In 67 games this season with Detroit, he posted 16 goals and 57 points. With numbers like these, the three-time Stanley Cup champion could be a nice pickup for Buffalo. 

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Is A Jump In Talent Nigh?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Gage Jump #79 of the Athletics throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a spring training game at Las Vegas Ballpark on March 07, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Angels defeated the Athletics 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This season’s first 2 months have always been about treading water. The A’s have a gloriously average squad that has been, well, average : Since April 10th, the A’s have been been between 1 game under .500 and 3 games over .500 each and every day.

The ability to stay neck and neck in the standings with their competitors has been enhanced by Seattle floundering (Mariners like fish, after all) under .500. And so the A’s approach Memorial Day where they would have hoped to be: in or near 1st place with a roster that is poised to improve.

Will Memorial Day bring said improvement in the form of a “high upside” starting pitcher? One can rely only on tea leaves, not on any formal announcements, at this point. Here’s what we know:

– JT Ginn will start tonight against the Padres trying to build on his sensational 8 no-hit innings in Anaheim and hoping to avenge the disappointing final 4 minutes of that start.

– Jacob Lopez is on turn for Sunday afternoon’s game in San Diego. Lopez is fresh off of a shaky start in which he was handed a 6-0 lead and could not complete the 4th inning. His season ERA now stands at 6.14.

– The A’s have been non-committal around Sunday’s SP, offering multiple possible paths and stating that bullpen usage Friday and Saturday could even inform the decision at the 11th hour. Those paths include Lopez taking his normal turn, an “opener” with Lopez to follow, or a “bullpen game”. Really the only option the A’s seem to have ruled out is calling up a new SP — it seems the current group will handle the game in some way.

– Gage Jump pitched on Wednesday, so he is not on turn to pitch until Monday at the earliest. So he has never been an option for the Padres series but would be ready for any of the games with Seattle. Jump’s start Wednesday was his best of the season: 7 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K.

What does this all suggest might be in the cards? Certainly there are very banal outcomes still on the table, such as that Lopez makes the Sunday start as the A’s continue to hope he rediscovers his 2025 form and the rotation stays on turn with Aaron Civale opening the Seattle series on Monday.

Or … are the tea leaves suggesting that Lopez is headed to the bullpen to give the A’s a valuable long relief arm and lefty option, making room for Jump to debut as an electric and unknown arm the Mariners have to face in a big head-to-head showdown? (I say “big,” even though it’s still May, because the path to the AL West crown runs through Seattle and this represents 3 of 13 “two game swing” games.)

The A’s would have to make a corresponding move on the 40 man roster to call up Jump. The obvious casualty would be Jose Suarez, since shifting Lopez to the bullpen would give the A’s a second lefty. Also, Suarez just isn’t anything special and was a stopgap pickup at best — or least that’s how it should be.

Coming into the season the A’s hoped Luis Morales would give them a plus arm at the front of the rotation, allowing Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs to settle into more mid-back of the rotation roles. That just didn’t work out, but without question it would buoy the A’s chances to contend significantly if they could find and insert a plus arm into the rotation.

The best hope for this has always been Jump, a top prospect in MLB and the only top A’s pitching prospect who is a step away from the big leagues. It was has been, since Jump’s solid spring training showing, not a matter of “if” but rather “when” he would join the 2026 rotation.

Is that time now? If so, Happy Memorial Day indeed.

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Anthony Edwards responds to backlash over congratulatory handshake with Spurs during game

With 8:01 left in Game 6 and the Timberwolves trailing the Spurs by 33, Minnesota coach Chris Finch threw in the towel and pulled his starters. When that happened, Anthony Edwards did something in-game usually reserved for postgame: he walked over and dapped up the Spurs players, congratulating them on their win.

That drew an instant backlash from former players and fans who didn't like the fact he did that during the game, including Dirk Nowitzki and Udonis Haslem on the NBA on Prime postgame show.

Edwards addressed the controversy in a video posted to his YouTube channel.

"Yes, eight minutes in the game, but we're not going back in the game," Edwards said. "When you win a playoff series, everybody's celebrating at the end of the game, so they're gonna be smiling while I'm pissed off, and we just lost.
"So I was just like, 'S***, let me go and congratulate these boys, because I ain't trying to be kiking with you all after you all whooped my a**.'"

Edwards then said his real preference would have been not to congratulate the Spurs (or any team that beats him) at all.

"Then what would they have been saying about me? That would have been a whole other conversation," Edwards said.

Edwards is an intense competitor who had to take away from that series what everyone else watching — including Minnesota management — saw in those six games: San Antonio was a flat-out better roster and team, and the Spurs are still very young and just getting better. That would frustrate anyone.

At the end of the day, if it didn't bother Edwards' current teammates, then it doesn't matter. If it did bother them, a couple of veteran team leaders need to have a conversation with Edwards during the offseason in a calm setting, and then everyone can move on. Ultimately, this is great sports talk show content that will not matter in the Timberwolves locker room next season.

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George Russell wins F1 Canadian GP sprint but leaves Kimi Antonelli furious

  • Mercedes pair clashed with both drivers out in front

  • Toto Wolff tells Italian to ‘stop the radio moaning’

George Russell won the sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix but only after his championship battle with Kimi Antonelli reached an angry flashpoint. The Mercedes pair clashed for the lead on track and the teenage Italian was left demanding the British driver should be penalised.

Such was the febrile atmosphere that their team principal Toto Wolff intervened, telling Antonelli to “stop the radio moaning”.

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Game Thread: Winning the series will have to go through our aces

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 19: Drew Rasmussen #57 and Shane McClanahan #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays look on prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on May 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Go Rays!

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Cardinals vs Reds Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's MLB Game 2

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The weekend series between the Cardinals and Reds will finally start with a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, May 23. The foul weather changed the pitching matchup for the nightcap, and injured list moves on both teams have tweaked the rosters.

The results of both lean in Cincinnati’s favor, as my Cardinals vs. Reds predictions and MLB picks for Game 2 explain.

Who will win Cardinals vs Reds tonight: Reds moneyline (-105)

Andre Pallante was initially scheduled to start for the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, but with the rain, the Redbirds flipped the rotation.

The Cincinnati Reds will now face his 95th percentile breaking ball and 89th percentile ground ball rate in Game 1.

That pushes the more hittable Kyle Leahy to the nightcap. Leahy is in the Bottom 20% in MLB in fastball and offspeed run value, and allows more hits, walks, and homers than Pallante.

The Reds also get Eugenio Suarez back, while the Cardinals placed outfielder Nathan Church on IL.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Opponents have a .584 OPS in their first appearance vs. Leahy, which rises to .821 the next time up, and 1.177 the third time up.

Cardinals vs Reds Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-105)

The Over/Under cutoff is high, but it’s earned in this game. The bullpens will be taxed in the second game of a twin bill, and Leahy will be challenged by a Reds order hitting 25% over league average across the last two weeks.

St. Louis has been struggling on offense, but the Reds will start former top pick Chase Petty, called up for the doubleheader and ready to make just his fourth MLB start.

He’s allowed four home runs and 10 walks in 11 2/3 big-league innings and was struggling at Triple-A Louisville, with a 6.32 ERA and 1.628 WHIP.

Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 15-19 -3.28 units
  • Over/Under bets: 19-19 -1.51 units

Cardinals vs Reds odds

  • Moneyline: Cardinals -110 | Reds -110
  • Run line: Cardinals +1.5 | Reds -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5

Cardinals vs Reds trend

The Reds have hit the Over in 28 of their last 40 games (+14.55 Units / 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Reds.

How to watch Cardinals vs Reds and game info

LocationGreat American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
DateSaturday, May 23, 2026
First pitch7:15 p.m. ET
TVFOX
Cardinals starting pitcherKyle Leahy
(5-3, 3.94 ERA)
Reds starting pitcherChase Petty
(0-0, 4.76 ERA)

Cardinals vs Reds latest injuries

Cardinals vs Reds weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Mets news: Mets call up Jonathan Pintaro, send down Zach Thornton

Feb 24, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jonathan Pintaro (91) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Ahead of their second game against the Marlins this weekend, the Mets recalled right-handed relief pitcher Jonathan Pintaro. In a corresponding move, the Mets optioned left-handed starter Zach Thornton to Triple-A Syracuse.

Pintaro, in his age 28 season, appeared in one game last season for the Mets, giving up two earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. He’s having a nice season in Triple-A thus far, appearing in 15 games and pitching to a 2.81 ERA with 32 strikeouts to 12 walks and allowing one home run.

Here is how our Steve Sypa described Pintaro’s aresenal of pitches in our season preview:

The right-hander throws fastballs nearly 75% of the time, mixing in a high-spin cutter, a mid-90s fastball, and a low-90s sinker. He supplements those pitches with a mid-to-high-80s changeup that gives him a north-south option and a low-to-mid-80s sweeping slider that gives him a horizontal option.

Thornton, a soft-tosser in his age 24 season, made his major league debut on Wednesday evening against the Nationals. Thornton was stung by a first inning three-run home run off the bat of C.J. Abrams, but he settled in nicely after that, allowing just three more baserunners over the next two and two-thirds innings.

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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Saturday

Apr 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The bad news was Friday night’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds was rained out. The good news is that means a doubleheader today. For game 1, it appears that the Cardinals will have Andre Pallante make the start while the Reds will have Friday’s planned starter Chris Paddack on the mound. Note that Bryan Torres is set to start in left field for St. Louis. First pitch for game 1 is scheduled for 12:10pm central time in Great America Ball Park.

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    Former Senators Head Coach Signs Up For Another Tour Of Duty With 67s

    Former Senators head coach Dave Cameron will be back for another OHL tour of duty.

    After signing a two-year extension this week, Cameron, who's 67, will continue to be the 67's head coach for a 6th and 7th season, which will surely give some of our readers an excuse to resurrect the nonsensical "6-7" internet meme for a day or two. 

    Under Cameron this season, Ottawa had a fine year with 47 wins and 100 points but they ran into an equally good Barrie Colts team in the second round, losing in five games.

    Cameron told TSN 1200 radio this week that coming back was a pretty easy decision.

    "Your best chance for success is the people you work for," Cameron said. "I can't say enough about the organization here in Ottawa and the staff with Jan, Norm and Paul (GM Jan Egert, and assistant coaches Norm Milley and Paul Stoykewych). It's just been a real pleasure to work (here). And throw on top of that, knock on wood, I've been blessed with good health and energy."

    Cameron was asked by 67's play-by-play man Kenny Walls how long he wants to keep coaching for.

    "Yeah, obviously, when you've been at it as long as I have, the discussion about when you're going to retire is something you do annually," Cameron said. "So, for me, your challenge when you're coaching at the OHL level is your energy level.

    "Because I'm at the point where I'm not ready to do anything half-heartedly. And the big thing in that is you have to have good energy, and I love getting up in the mornings. I love going to the rink. I love hockey."

    Those are three pretty solid reasons to return.

    That love of hockey goes back to his playing days, growing up in PEI, where Cameron won a spot on his hometown University of PEI hockey team. There, he caught the attention of the New York Islanders, who took him in the 8th round of the 1978 draft. 

    In 1981, the Islanders traded Cameron and Bob Lorimer to the Colorado Rockies for the Rockies' first-round pick in 1983, and the Islanders used it to select some guy named Pat Lafontaine. Cameron spent the 1981-82 season with the Rockies and then two more after they moved to New Jersey and became the Devils.

    As for Cameron's coaching path, it's taken him from PEI Junior B to the Colonial Hockey League, the OHL, AHL, NHL, and a two-year stop in Austria.

    His NHL coaching experience lies primarily with the Senators, and that connection began all the way back in 2001. 

    That was the year Eugene Melnyk bought the team Cameron was coaching, the OHL's Toronto St. Michael's Majors. Cameron stayed in the role for another three seasons.

    A year after Melnyk bought the Senators in 2003, Cameron shifted to Binghamton to run the Sens AHL bench for three seasons. In 2007, he moved back to Melnyk's OHL team, now called the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, and spent four seasons there.

    When the Sens hired Paul MacLean as their head coach, Cameron got his first NHL coaching work as MacLean's assistant in 2011-12, which was also the season Melnyk sold his OHL team.

    When MacLean was fired mid-season, three and a half years later, Cameron got the job and guided the Senators to the playoffs that season via the famous Hamburglar Run.

    Apr 7, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators head coach Dave Cameron speaks with his players leading into the last minute of play in the third period against the Florida Panthers at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Panthers 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
    Apr 7, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators head coach Dave Cameron speaks with his players leading into the last minute of play in the third period against the Florida Panthers at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Panthers 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

    As he did with so many good people in this town, Melnyk then threw a grenade on his relationship with Cameron the following year.

    The volatile owner didn't just fire Cameron in 2016; he told the media a few weeks before that one of Cameron's opening night lineup decisions was "stupid." Cameron's firing was the first official act of Pierre Dorion, who had taken over as GM a few days earlier.

    "It was hurtful," Cameron said about Melnyk's comments. "I didn't think there was any need for it. I felt like I was fired for three weeks, every day,"

    But that was ten years ago, now water under the bridge. And as Dave Cameron begins to think about a 16th season as a coach in the league, life in the OHL today suits him just fine. 

    Steve Warne
    The Hockey News 

    This story was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. Click on the latest headlines below to read the latest stories there:

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    Oilers Fans Left Wondering ‘What If’ Former Prospect Shines Again at Memorial Cup

    For the third straight year, Sam O’Reilly has made his mark on the Memorial Cup stage. The former Edmonton Oilers prospect scored a highlight-reel backhand goal as his Kitchener Rangers cruised to a 5-0 shutout victory over host Kelowna on Saturday, improving to 4-0 in the tournament.

    O’Reilly, now a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, continues to thrive after being traded by Edmonton in a deal that saw the Oilers acquire Isaac (Ike) Howard. The gritty two-way center was named OHL MVP and OHL Playoffs MVP this season, cementing his reputation as a big-game performer who excels in the dirty areas, wins battles along the wall, and contributes offensively in key moments.

    Meanwhile, Howard hasn't been able to cement a role in the NHL, which is what the Oilers were hoping might happen when they acquire him. 

    For Oilers fans, the performance comes with a familiar 'what might have been' feeling.

    Edmonton traded O’Reilly last summer, and at the time, many viewed it as a reasonable futures exchange. However, watching O’Reilly dominate the Memorial Cup once again has some supporters second-guessing the decision.

    The 20-year-old has now tallied a goal in three consecutive Memorial Cup appearances, showcasing the compete level and clutch ability that made him a prospect many thought had a bright future in the Oilers system. Projecting as a reliable middle-six center with top-six upside, O’Reilly’s development path now belongs to the Lightning, and games like this remind fans that Edmonton might have lost another key part of their future. 

    While Howard remains a promising piece with high-end skill, O’Reilly’s continued success at junior hockey’s premier event serves as a reminder of the difficult choices NHL teams must make when trying to get better more quickly.

    Oilers fans are left to wonder: could O’Reilly have been part of Edmonton’s future core?

    Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

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    Pirates vs Blue Jays Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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    Jesus Sanchez has been quietly heating up this month, and I expect him to continue swinging a hot bat this afternoon. 

    Read on to see why with my Pirates vs. Blue Jays predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, May 23. 

    Pirates vs Blue Jays predictions

    Pirates vs Blue Jays best bet: Jesus Sanchez Over 0.5 hits (+100)

    Jesus Sanchez has been quietly consistent recently, currently sporting a five-game hitting streak, while going Over his 0.5 hits total in nine of his last 10 outings. 

    Sanchez owns a .333 average against the four-seam fastball and a .294 average against the sinker, the two pitches that Paul Skenes uses the most. 

    Additionally, Sanchez is just one of three batters in the Toronto Blue Jays lineup to have a hit against Skenes in their career, going 1-for-3 with a double.

    Covers COVERS INTEL: Sanchez has a .283 xBA, which ranks him in the 87th percentile in all of baseball. 

    Pirates vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

    Another Blue Jay swinging a hot bat is Daulton Varsho. I’ll take Over 0.5 hits for the Jays outfielder, who has eclipsed this total in eight of his last 10 outings with a .324 batting average in that stretch.

    The Pittsburgh Pirates are 21st in OPS vs. lefties this year, so Patrick Corbin could get through most of his start unscathed. He'll eventually give way to a Blue Jays bullpen ranked seventh in xFIP this month.

    Pirates vs Blue Jays SGP

    • Jesus Sanchez Over 0.5 hits
    • Daulton Varsho Over 0.5 hits
    • Pirates team total Under 4.5
    img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
    Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

    Pirates vs Blue Jays home run pick: Jesus Sanchez (+725)

    Lets continue with the Sanchez train and bet a quarter unit on him hitting a home run tonight. 

    Homering off Skenes isn’t easy, but Sanchez has been a consistent hitter for the Blue Jays and has some pop in his bat, ranking in the 69th percentile in average exit-velocity. 

    He also owns a 46% hard-hit rate and a .467 xSLG against the four seamer, Skenes’ most used pitch.

    2026 Transparency record
    • Best bets: 23-27, -0.55 units
    • SGPs: 10-40, +0.60 units
    • HR picks: 8-42, +2.15 units

    Pirates vs Blue Jays odds

    • Moneyline: Pittsburgh -155 | Toronto +130
    • Run line: Pittsburgh -1.5 | Toronto +1.5
    • Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

    Pirates vs Blue Jays trend

    The Blue Jays have covered the F5 run line in seven of their last eight games (+5.90 Units / 63% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Blue Jays.

    How to watch Pirates vs Blue Jays and game info

    LocationRogers Centre, Toronto, ON
    DateSaturday, May 23, 2026
    First pitch3:07 p.m. ET
    TVSportsnet, SportsNet Pittsburgh
    Pirates starting pitcherPaul Skenes
    (6-3, 2.62 ERA)
    Blue Jays starting pitcherPatrick Corbin
    (1-1, 4.23 ERA)

    Pirates vs Blue Jays latest injuries

    Pirates vs Blue Jays weather

    Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
    Not intended for use in MA.
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    Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros preview, Saturday 5/23, 1:20 CT

    Today’s roster move: Here

    Saturday notes…

    • SEVEN WOULD NOT BE HEAVEN: The Cubs have not lost a seventh consecutive game since July 14, 2022, when they were beaten at home by the Mets, 8-0. They have played 610 games since then, winning 327, for a percentage of .536. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
    • STREAKING THE WRONG WAY: In their six straight losses, the Cubs have held only two leads, both last Sunday at the White Sox. A 4-1 cushion lasted from the middle of the fourth inning until the bottom of the fifth. An 8-7 lead in the middle of the 10th ended on a one-out homer in the bottom. They have not led in their last four games and in 16 of all 22 losses. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
    • WHERE ARE THE RUNS?: Since the last game of their 10-game winning streak, a 7-1 win at Texas on May 8, the Cubs have scored 31 runs in 12 games. Eighteen came in two games and 13 in the remaining 10, with no more than three in any of the 10. They scored 0-2 runs in the first five of the 12 games and have scored 0-3 in the last four. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
    • TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs and Cardinals went scoreless through nine in St. Louis. In the 10th, Javier Baéz hit a two-run homer. The Cardinals came back with a run in the bottom of the inning but Craig Kimbrel struck out their last two hitters and the Cubs won 2-1. It happened five years ago today, Sunday, May 23, 2021.

    Cubs lineup:

    Astros lineup:

    Colin Rea, RHP vs. Kai-Wei Teng, RHP

    Colin Rea’s last start was pretty bad, so let’s try to ignore it. (Yes, I know you can’t really do that.)

    In fact, over his last five starts Rea has posted a 7.04 ERA and 1.913 WHIP and has allowed four home runs in 23 innings. Yikes, do better, Colin.

    Last year against the Astros, June 28, 2025 in Houston, he allowed two runs in five innings. That would be an improvement over recent outings.

    Kai-Wei Teng, a native of Taiwan, originally signed with the Twins back in 2017 and was traded to the Giants two years later. He made 12 appearances (seven starts) with the Giants in 2024-25 and the results were pretty bad (7.30 ERA, 1.697 WHIP).

    He was traded to the Astros for a minor leaguer last offseason and had thrown mostly in relief before recently being added to Houston’s rotation. Last time out, May 16 vs. the Rangers, he threw five shutout innings and 76 pitches.

    He has never faced the Cubs. The only Cub who’s ever seen him is Michael Conforto (0-for-1).

    Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

    Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

    Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

    MLB.com Gameday

    Baseball-reference.com game preview

    Please visit our SB Nation Astros site The Crawfish Boxes. If you do go there to interact with Astros 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.

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    Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges on Knicks needing to continue 'playing desperate' ahead of ECF Game 3 vs. Cavaliers

    Ahead of Saturday's pivotal Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 between the Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges said team's mindset is to continue "playing desperate" despite their 2-0 lead in the series.

    "We got to execute at a high level, have that desperation that we had in Philly and Atlanta," Towns said. "We just got to, obviously, shoot the ball well."

    "We just got to keep playing desperate," Bridges added. "I know it's easier for the team that's down 0-2 to play more desperate, but that can't be us. Keep doing what we've been doing. All playoffs, just staying desperate no matter what the situation is. To us, it's 0-0."

    While New York has won the first two games of the Conference Finals by a combined margin of 27 points, the contests have been closer than meets the eye. The Knicks trailed by 22 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1 before Jalen Brunson went on a scoring tear to force OT and steal the win, and they were down again after the first quarter of Game 2, but dominated the second and third quarters to earn the 16-point victory.

    One of the keys to the Knicks' first-round and semifinal series wins over the Hawks and 76ers was Towns quarterbacking the offense. After going down 2-1 in the first-round matchup against Atlanta, Towns averaged 8.6 assists and posted two triple-doubles over the final three games. His assist numbers continued to guide the team against the Sixers, averaging 7.5 assists per night in the four-game sweep. 

    With Cleveland having a bit more size to match up better defensively against Towns, New York's style of play has changed. Brunson is back in charge of the offense, dishing out six assists in Games 1 and another 14 dimes in Game 2. Luckily that change in playing style does not bother Towns, as the former No. 1 overall pick made it clear he'll do "whatever it takes" to help New York win.

    "I've always said I'm willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to impact winning and help this team win," Towns said. "That's the blessing of our group. We have multiple ways and systems that we can utilize to help us get the win. And I've been happy because we continue to win, so there's nothing to be sad about." 

    Towns was asked if he thinks that lack of selfishness helps makes the Knicks' offense more dangerous, saying it shows the team's character and allows for them to be great.

    "I think that the guys in the locker room, the characters, they speak so highly on the court and off the court, is what makes us special," Towns said.

    For New York to continue its pursuit of reaching the NBA Finals, Towns said the team needs to keep trusting each other and displaying their "cohesiveness." 

    "At the end of the day, regardless if we're home or away, it's about us executing and being disciplined in our gameplan. So that's the most important thing," Towns said. 

    Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals tips off at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.