Basketball bettors can party like it’s 1999 when the New York Knicks collide with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Game 1 finally gets going Wednesday night in Texas, and if everything is bigger in the Lone Star State, then I’m going big with my Knicks vs. Spurs same-game parlay.
I like New York to keep it closer than oddsmakers expect, leaning on their two biggest stars to make a stand in San Antonio.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for Knicks vs. Spurs on June 3.
Our best Knicks vs Spurs SGP for Game 1
SGP leg #1: Knicks +4.5
The New York Knicks have been patiently waiting for 10 days for the NBA Finals. I’m buying into “rest” over “rust”, especially after the Knicks came out flat in Game 1 of the ECF following an extended break. Fool me twice, right?
Jalen Brunson leads the 3-point barrage. The Spurs did a great job dulling an attacking SGA, but Brunson is a better outside threat, and if San Antonio plays passive perimeter defense again, he’ll make the most of the extra space. Brunson did shoot 10 for 24 from distance (42%) in three meetings with San Antonio this season.
The Spurs also lack size to throw at Brunson, who has had to shoot over longer defenders in past series. With Wembanyama packing the paint, New York has to hit from outside to create space, and Brunson’s projections lean toward three triples in Game 1.
SGP leg #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns has been a conduit for the Knicks’ offense in the postseason, thriving as a passer at the top of the key. He’s averaging double his regular-season assists and has dished out five or more dimes in nine of his last 11 postseason games.
Projections top out at 3.5 assists from KAT, but with Wembanyama likely checking Josh Hart, in order to hang around the rim, Towns faces smaller defenders than what the Cavs threw at him, and can easily see open cutters in space over the top.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs. Spurs predictions for Game 1.
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Back then, the team looked a lot different. Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were the names to know. Now, it's young guns like Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, and, of course, Victor Wembanyama.
However, the players aren't the only thing that's changed in San Antonio. The coaching staff has also shifted. While legendary head coach Gregg Popovich is still involved with the organization as the team's President of Basketball Operations, sideline duties have been passed to Mitch Johnson, Popovich's 39-year-old former assistant.
Don't let his youthful age fool you. Johnson has learned from the best of the best and has clearly taken those lessons to heart. Here's what to know about the coach at the helm of the San Antonio Spurs ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Johnson took over head coaching duties on November 2, 2024 last year, coaching 77 games for the team after Popovich suffered a mild stroke ahead of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Johnson has been with the team since 2016, working directly under Popovich since 2019 prior to his promotion to head coach.
He was not officially named head coach until after the 2024-25 season, once Popovich had been promoted to his current full-time position. Before being forced into interim coaching duties, Johnson was held in high regard around the NBA as one of the best young assistant coaches in the league.
His 77-game stint as interim head coach wasn't his first time taking over for Popovich. Johnson had taken over twice before for various reasons. Per USA TODAY's Lorenzo Reyes, Johnson coached the team during a contest in May 2021 when Popovich attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Spurs' legend Tim Duncan. The Spurs lost that game 140-103 to the Phoenix Suns.
Johnson earned his first win as a head coach in March 2023, when Popovich was forced to miss a game due to an illness. The Spurs would defeat the Indiana Pacers, 110-99.
Is Johnson a former basketball player?
Yes. Johnson played four seasons with Stanford University, averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game during his collegiate career. Johnson also had a brief professional stint in the G League with the Tulsa 66ers. He never reached the NBA.
Johnson is also the son of two-time NBA All-Star John Johnson.
How has Johnson performed as head coach of the Spurs?
This is Johnson's first season as the official head coach of the team. He's obviously done very well. Taking into account the previous 79 games Johnson served as head coach for the organization without the official title, Johnson boasts a 95-66 regular season record with a 12-6 postseason record.
Has a rookie head coach ever reached the NBA Finals?
Many times, in fact. While some fans may not consider Johnson a true rookie head coach, he is still not the first to lead his team to an NBA Finals appearance.
Since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, six head coaches have led their teams to the NBA Finals in their first season:
1980: Paul Westhead, Los Angeles Lakers
1982: Pat Riley, Los Angeles Lakers
2015: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
2016: Tyronn Lue, Cleveland Cavaliers
2019: Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
2022: Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics
Of those six, only Udoka has failed to win the title after reaching the NBA Finals.
Would Johnson be the youngest head coach to win an NBA Finals?
While very young, Johnson would not be the youngest in history. That honor belongs to Joe Mazzulla, who won a title with the 2024 Boston Celtics at just 35 years, 353 days old.
Johnson would be the fifth-youngest, though. Currently 39 years, 186 days old, Johnson would surpass Tom Heinsohn, who won his first title with the 1974 Celtics at 39 years, 259 days old, regardless of how many games it could potentially take the Spurs to win the 2026 NBA championship.
Here are the four coaches who won their first titles at a younger age than Mitch Johnson (age listed in parentheses; years-days):
The NHL All-Star Game is going to look a little different next season.
On Tuesday, the league unveiled the format for the 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend, which is set to take place Feb. 5 and 6 at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York.
The All-Star Game itself will feature five different teams: the United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden and what the league is calling a “world” team which will be comprised of international players from countries outside of the other four nations.
And yes, the league likely is making this transition based off the success of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Each of the five teams will be made up of 11 players, with nine skaters and two goalies.
Based off comments from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly during a press conference ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, it does not sound like Russian players will be included with the “world” team, not until a time if/when the IIHF allows Russia to compete again.
The NHL will select 30 players from each of the five teams for fans to vote on in order to create the rosters, with the 2027 NHL All-Star Fan Vote officially opening in December.
Fans will select eight players for each of the five teams, leaving the NHL and NHLPA to jointly select one forward, one defenseman and one goaltender to fill out each squad.
All five teams will play four 5-minute games as part of a round-robin tournament, and then the top two teams will advance to a 10-minute final match. The tournament will follow a point system of two points for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. There will only be overtime for the final match.
The winning team will take home a cool $2 million prize.
Additionally, the NHL All-Star Skills competition is undergoing some changes as well.
There will be eight total events and only ten players will participate.
All players will all be 25 years old or younger, with each participant selected jointly by the NHL and NHLPA.
The first six events are pretty traditional: Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Passing Challenge, One-Timers, Stick Handling and Accuracy Shooting.
After that, the top four players advance to a shootout, where they’ll have to face the All-Star goaltenders, and then the top two competitors will battle in the last event, which is called the Obstacle Course Finale.
The player crowned Skills Competition champion will be awarded a prize of $1 million.
So, in a nutshell, there’s your All-Star Weekend for next season.
Assuming the Florida Panthers aren’t decimated by injuries again, it’s reasonable to think that there could be some solid South Florida representation at the annual gathering of talent.
Interestingly, just as it was when the NHL held its 4 Nations Face-Off, the Panthers are likely to be represented by only those same four countries.
Looking at potential All-Star candidates from Florida’s current roster, Matthew Tkachuk and Seth Jones could easily get tapped by Team USA, and it’s not hard to imagine youngster Mackie Samoskevich making a case for himself to be a part of the 25-and-under Skills Competition.
The Panthers have several Canadians on their roster who could easily receive All-Star consideration with strong showings next season.
Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad have all participated at the NHL All-Star Game before, and we’ve seen what happens when Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe get going.
Florida has one of the deeper Finnish contingents in the NHL, as evidenced by their representation at both 4 Nations and this year’s Winter Olympics.
With the All-Star rosters being quite limited in size, though, it’s likely that only a fraction of Florida’s Finns receive consideration.
Obviously that includes Panthers captain and world class two-way center Sasha Barkov, who also captains the Finnish National Team. Fellow Florida centerman Anton Lundell continues to improve and impress year-over-year, and he could easily find himself on the short list of potential All-Stars should he continue on that path and have a strong start to his season.
Team Sweden will take a good look at Panthers blueliner Gus Forsling, as he has grown into one of the top two-way defensemen in the game.
Again, considering its an All-Star game with a limited roster, Forsling could end up an odd-man out among some very good Swedish defensemen such as Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin and Erik Karlsson.
Now keep in mind that plenty of things could change between now and next season, though.
Florida’s roster could end up looking a bit different depending how things shake out between the NHL Draft at the end of the month, free agency opening on July 1 and the days and weeks that follow.
Let us know in the comments below which Panthers players you think will be heading to Long Island for next season’s All-Star festivities.
Photo caption: Feb 3, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Team McDavid center Sam Reinhart (13) of the Florida Panthers skates during the warmup before the 2024 NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
The Good Guys’ offense ran on Sam Antonacci energy, as the rookie spark plug went 4-for-4 in a dominant win over the Twins. | (David Berding/Getty Images)
After two frustrating losses to begin the series, the White Sox responded exactly how good teams are supposed to: They punched back.
Erick Fedde spun five shutout innings, the offense piled on 12 hits and eight walks, and the Sox steamrolled the Twins. Sure, they lost the series, but they leave Minnesota with a +11 run differential and at least a little dignity restored.
The Sox jumped all over Taj Bradley from pitch one. Sam Antonacci singled, Miguel Vargas walked, and Andrew Benintendi slapped a base hit, and suddenly the sacks were packed with nobody out. Colson Montgomery, who had a rough game, whiffed on three pitches, but Chase Meidroth worked an eight-pitch walk to push home the first run and keep his on-base streak alive at 17.
Rookie Jacob Gonzalez delivered the big blow of the frame, slapping a single the other way to plate two more.
The Twins then gift-wrapped another run on a soft Tristan Peters grounder and some classic Minnesota bumbling. The Good guys were up 4-0.
Fedde could have pitched in slippers with that early cushion. The righthander, finally in the win column, was on cruise control. He mowed down the first 11 Twinkies and breezed through three innings on just 30 pitches. Minnesota didn’t sniff a baserunner until he walked Trevor Larnach with two outs in the fourth, and didn’t surrender a base hit until Luke Keaschall finally broke up the party with two gone in the fifth. The veteran’s final line: five scoreless, two hits, a walk, two Ks. Efficient, effective, and with 61 pitches, he barely broke a sweat.
The Sox kept loading the bases and then leaving them there, stranding runners in the second, third, and fourth. Montgomery had a day to forget with four strikeouts, seven left in scoring position, and a golden sombrero for his troubles.
The South Siders finally broke it open in the sixth, thanks to some generous Twins defense. Rikuu Nishida reached on an error, took second on another, and Antonacci cashed him in with a double for 5-0.
The bullpen relieved Fedde after five frames and ensured there would be no drama. Grant Taylor took care of the sixth and seventh, mowing down six of seven and picking up three Ks. Chris Murphy cleaned up the last two, dodging a couple of late baserunners to lock down the shutout.
The bats added some finishing touches in the eighth. Antonacci doubled again, Vargas singled him home, and Benintendi put the cherry on top with a two-run Benny Bomb to right-center. 8-0, let’s go!
Antonacci, Vargas, and Benintendi did the heavy lifting at the top, combining to go 7-for-10 and reaching base 13 times. The offense also did exactly what was discussed in our game thread: they were patient and worked the free passes. Eight walks later, Minnesota’s pitchers were begging for mercy.
Despite the big lead, the Sox went just 5-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left a pile of runs on the table, but after the first two games, nobody in the clubhouse was about to gripe. The guys gets a breather on Thursday, then it’s off to Philly for the weekend.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 15: Nyara Sabally #8 high fives Head Coach Sandy Brondello of the Toronto Tempo during game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 15, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 15: Nyara Sabally #8 high fives Head Coach Sandy Brondello of the Toronto Tempo during game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 15, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Starting to head in the right direction? The New York Liberty took on the Phoenix Mercury last Friday night at Barclays Center and came away with a grimy win. A win’s a win and this team needs them in the worst way, so they’ll take what they can.
The opponent tonight is making a pretty good first impression. The Toronto Tempo have gotten off to a good start and improved to 5-4 on the season after beating the Seattle Storm on May 30.
Where to follow the game
USA Network is the place to be. Tip after 7:30 p.m. ET.
Injuries
Marine Fauthoux is making progress, but won’t be playing. Sabrina Ionescu is dealing with a back injury and the team hopes to have her back soon. She’s out tonight.
Temi Fagbenle and Isabelle Harrison are out.
The game
Tonight promises to be a special night. The Liberty will welcome Isabelle Harrison, Brian Lankton, Olaf Lange, and Sandy Brondello back to Brooklyn! They were all members of the 2024 championship squad and had plenty of great memories here in New York.
“It’s going to be great,” Breanna Stewart said. “It’s going to be really welcoming for her. I think that the fans obviously love [her] and will always show respect to her anytime she comes back.”
There will be plenty of tributes, hugs, and good feelings tonight.
On the court, the Liberty will look to slow down an old nemesis. Marina Mabrey has fit in well with her new team and has historically given the Liberty fits over the years. Marina has a great chance to make the All Star team this year and can take games over at a moment’s notice. Having Leonie Fiebich and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton back should give the team two plus defenders that can battle with Marina for 40 minutes.
We’ll get to watch two rookies shine tonight. Kiki Rice recently moved in to the starting five and has done incredibly well in her new role. Rice is shooting 40 percent from three point range and keeping her turnovers to a minimum. As the Tempo continue building for the future, youngsters like Rice will play a big part in their success.
For New York, Pauline Astier has done an outstanding job substituting for Ionescu in the starting five. Astier’s finishing ability at the rim has been a revelation and helps the Liberty offense maintain a balanced attack. Teams have been going under on screens against her, and she’s made them pay to the tune of 47.1 percent from three point range. You wonder when the scouting report will reflect what she’s doing every night. For the Liberty’s sake, they hope everyone remains late to the party.
It’ll be interesting to see how many fans choose to attend tonight’s game vs. who stays home to watch the Knicks face off vs. the Spurs in San Antonio. The Liberty are averaging 16,259 for the season, second in the WNBA to the Golden State Valkyries. That’s 92.6% of Barclays Center capacity. Last Sunday, the Libs drew an SRO crowd of 17,622, a season high so far. In theory, fans will be able to both go to the game then race home to catch the second half of the NBA Finals Game 1. Libs start at 7:30 in Brooklyn, Knicks vs. Spurs an hour later in San Antonio.
Player to watch: Nyara Sabally
Hey, we know her! Liberty fans got to watch Nyara Sabally save the day in the 2024 Finals and be a positive presence in the community throughout her time in Brooklyn. When Sabally was taken by the Tempo in the expansion draft, it was a sad day for New York but a happy one for Toronto fans who get to watch a young center grow into becoming a solid player. Having her coach from New York has made the transition to Toronto easier and the support she’s received everywhere in her career has been incredibly valuable
We scrummed with Nyara Sabally after shootaround. I asked her a couple of questions about her Toronto experience.
Q: Lot of expansion players that are selected talk about how they feel really wanted when they get to that new home, and how they feel really encouraged knowing that…
Of all the people who get cheered in this homecoming, Sabally’s might be the loudest.
Nyara will match up against her vet tonight. Jonquel Jones is the centerpiece of the Liberty’s attack and when she is engaged on both sides of the ball, the Liberty’s potential is limitless.
From the Vault
Got a doubleheader today. First up, let’s revisit Nyara Sabally’s finest night and the greatest day in Liberty franchise history
And later tonight, the NBA Finals will begin in San Antonio as the Spurs look to end the New York Knicks’ dream run. It’s the Knicks’ first Finals appearance since 1999. Who did they play then? Funny you should ask that…
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 29: AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abdoul Sow/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Not to fear, Braves fans, the starting rotation’s depth is soon to get stronger.
AJ Smith-Shawver will be facing hitters soon, the final step before beginning a rehab assignment. He is throwing high intensity bullpen sessions currently and is not too far behind Hurston Waldrep (who made his first rehab start Monday) according to #Braves MGR Walt Weiss.
While we are waiting for the return of some more helpful hands like Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, Smith-Shawver is another young dominant arm that is expected to make an impact in Atlanta’s rotation.
After suffering a torn UCL that cut his strong stint (3.86 ERA) short last May, he’s making significant progress in his high-intensity bullpen sessions and looking to take the final step in facing live hitters before he’s assigned to rehab and find his way back in Atlanta’s clubhouse.
Waldrep started his rehab stint this past Monday, so the two are not far behind in each other in terms of progression.
It isn’t often that a pitcher gives up a game-tying run and receives a long and loud standing ovation.
But it isn’t often that a pitcher accomplishes what Cristopher Sanchez did over the last month plus.
The gifted Phillies left-hander saw his scoreless streak rise to 50 2/3 innings – fifth-best of all-time – in the team’s 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
Sanchez, who did not allow a run in five starts in the month of May, began the game with six scoreless innings before allowing a pair of two-out hits and a run in the top of the seventh inning. Ty France doubled down the left field line and scored on a base hit by Jackson Merrill. That hit tied the game at 1-1 but J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber had Sanchez’ back. They both clubbed solo homers in the bottom of the inning to put the Phillies ahead and get Sanchez the win.
Sanchez, who leads the majors with a 1.46 ERA, passed Hall of Famer Bob Gibson (47 consecutive scoreless innings in 1968) on his way to fifth place on the all-time list. Sanchez walked just one and struck out eight in seven innings of work. He appeared frustrated with himself after giving up the two hits and losing his scoreless innings streak in the seventh, but the Citizens Bank Park crowd of 40,453 sure appreciated him. As France reached home plate, the entire ballpark rose to its feet and saluted Sanchez with hearty applause.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sanchez had been named National League Pitcher of the Month for May. He pitched 39 scoreless innings over five starts in the month. He struck out 45 and walked just three.
While impressed with Sanchez’ streak, teammates have come to expect greatness from him. The 29-year-old Dominican finished second in the NL Cy Young voting last season.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t think a lot of us are talking about it,” Bryce Harper said of the streak before the game. “It seems simple and normal for him to go out and there and pitch and do his thing, so we’re not thinking about it too much.
“He’s a super special pitcher and person, as well. Nothing against the streak or anything, but he’s been doing it for so long, it feels like he’s been on a streak the last couple of years. It’s just all come together for him and it’s a lot of fun to be part of. It’s really cool.”
After the Phils went up, 3-1, in the bottom of the seventh, the Padres cut the lead to one with a run against reliever Brad Keller in the eighth. Jhoan Duran protected the one-run lead in the ninth for his 14th save.
Sanchez improved to 7-2 on the season and the Phillies improved to 32-29. They are now 16-16 at home, heading into Thursday afternoon’s series finale. The Phils and Padres have played five times over the last week with the Phillies winning all of them. Three have been one-run victories.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, first in the NL West with a 39-22 record, face the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are third at 32-28 record in a key divisional matchup. The Dodgers are favored with a -193 moneyline compared to the Diamondbacks' +160. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Shohei Ohtani for Los Angeles, with a 0.82 ERA, and Zac Gallen for Arizona, with a 5.16 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 31: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after reaching second base on a sharp fly ball to left field to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field on May 31, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics, third in the AL West with a 29-31 record, face the Chicago Cubs, who are fourth in the NL Central at 32-29. The Chicago Cubs are favored with a -125 moneyline compared to the Athletics' +105. Starting pitchers are Jeffrey Springs for the Athletics, with a 4.07 ERA, and Colin Rea for the Chicago Cubs (4.70 ERA).
Don't rule out the Los Angeles Dodgers adding more firepower at next month's trade deadline.
Despite their gaudy payroll, NL West leaders are down two major pieces of the rotation with Blake Snell (loose bodies in left elbow) and Tyler Glasnow (lower back spasms) both on the IL for the foreseeable future.
One name that the Dodgers have been attached to on the rumor mill for some time now is Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, and as manager Dave Roberts joked to USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale, Los Angeles may be the only team with a strong enough farm system to pull off a hypothetical deal for the back-to-back Cy Young winner.
"They would go ballistic," Roberts told USA TODAY, laughing. "But we would have the prospect capital to do that. We are one of the teams that could do that with the Tigers."
Armed with the No. 2-ranked farm system in the league and five top-100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, there's no shortage of options the Dodgers could use to entice Detroit to part ways with Skubal, if the TIgers were to deal him.
The Dodgers' top prospects include Josue De Paula, who's hitting .320 with a .958 OPS and eight home runs in 49 games with Double-A Tulsa, Zyhir Hope (.296 with 11 homers and .871 OPS), Eduardo Quintero (their 2025 Minor League Player of the Year) or Mike Sirota, who's hitting .349 with a 1.035 OPS in 12 games since being called up to Double-A.
Skubal's currently on the IL with loose bodies in his throwing elbow, an injury the Dodgers are all too familiar with right now with both Snell and closer Edwin Díaz. Skubal, however, is closest to a return out of all three. According to MLB.com's Jason Beck, he threw 64 pitches in a four-inning simulated game at Tropicana Field on Monday and could go on a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend.
The Carolina Hurricanes dropped Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, losing 5-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Despite a strong start, Carolina couldn't fend off Vegas' push and eventually made the critical mistake in the final minutes.
Here are 7 takeaways from the loss:
1. Top Line MIA
The Hurricanes' top line has struggled to find consistency all postseason and now, on this stage, that effort is just not going to cut it.
They just haven't been as dominant as we're used to seeing them and they've just been unable to really sustain offensive pressure.
"They've got to play in the other teams end," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "They're too much one and done and not even one and it’s not a lot of time. So they got to get a little more offensive zone time. Kind of like that last shift they had. That was one of the shifts you could say, "Okay, there you go. That's how it needs to look." So we need them to get going."
The trio have only combined for two 5v5 goals all postseason and while they were at least strong defensively in the early rounds, they're now struggling to contain their opponents as they were one of the worst defensive lines for Carolina in Game 1.
The line had just a 48.16 expected goals for percentage, the highest expected goals against total and surrendered the most high-danger chances to Vegas.
"When it goes your way, it's never easy, but it may be easier," Aho said. "There's also a part that we almost sometimes try to do too much instead of just letting the game happen and come to us. So there's being that too a bit of it. So I think it's just go out there tomorrow with the highest confidence possible, both just kind of play the game and trust it'll happen. Obviously, like I said before, you've got to be a little bit smarter as well."
2. Second Line Continuing To Show Up
On the flip side, Carolina's best postseason trio, Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall, were once again the team's best line.
Everyone is expecting them to fall off at some point, but they just continue to show up for the team.
They had a 15-6 edge in chances in their 5v5 minutes in Game 1 and they were the line on the ice for Shayne Gostisbehere's tying goal in the third period.
Unfortunately, they were also out there for the eventual game-losing goal as well though, one of the few mistakes the line made.
"A lot of what happened was self-inflicted, but they're a good team, so they can force you into some bad spots and maybe some bad situations," Hall said. "This is going to be a good series. This is two teams that are playing their best at this time of year. If we can manage some of the plays a little bit better, some of their physicality and some of their guys that aren't physical but do some amazing things out there, we'll be OK."
3. Nikolaj Ehlers Is A Difference Maker
It's abundantly clear that Nikolaj Ehlers is a big game player.
He's been great for Carolina all year long, but this postseason has seen him rise again and again in the moment.
Game 1 was a great showing for him as he utilized his speed and dynamism for the games opening two goals. He also had a screen in front for Jordan Staal's goal and all game long he looked like he was taking over the game.
"He might have been the most dynamic player out there," Brind'Amour said. "Certainly got us two goals on his own. I mean, that's a special player and he's been like that all playoffs all year for us."
"I think it's been a really good fit for him right away," Hall said. "I think the style that we play and his speed, he's not a physical guy, but he can forecheck really well and he creates turnovers. So, I think stylistically it was a really good fit for him and I think he was excited to get somewhere new and have a new opportunity. He's a really easygoing guy that can fit in well with any situation and we've really enjoyed playing with him and getting to know him."
4. Turnovers Galore
The two teams combined for 34 turnovers in Game 1 as both forechecks gave the defenses hell.
Both Carolina and Vegas are forecheck heavy teams that thrive in disrupting the other teams exits.
The Hurricanes were very effective at it, especially in the first period, and the Golden Knights were good in the second and third.
There was no real feeling that one team was much better than the other, it was just that in the end, the Hurricanes made one more mistake than the Golden Knights did.
"Just some of the things execution-wise we can do a better job of, key points being breaking out the puck," said Sean Walker. "You look at most of their goals, they were scored from the inner slot there on quick plays. That's something we'll be looking to shut down next game, for sure."
5. Shortside Hart
The Hurricanes seem to making a conscious decision to attack Carter Hart from the left side of the ice.
Three of the Hurricanes' goals in Game 1 came from that side of the ice and the bulk of their shots were also from that side of the ice.
Perhaps it's a one-game oddity or where the Vegas defense is weaker, but it's still an interesting trend to keep an eye on as the series moves on.
6. One More Save
While you can't really put the blame on Frederik Andersen for any of the goals against, being that they were mostly in-alone looks in and around the slot, but at this stage, you need a guy to make improbable saves too.
Andersen had to make a few big ones for Carolina, but everyone needs to step up their game at this stage and bail guys out if need be.
The veteran netminder has been so good for the Hurricanes this postseason, but they need him to elevate just a little bit more.
"Listen, you're playing hard hockey," Brind'Amour said. "That's what it is and you're going to make mistakes because the other team forces you to make them. They made some mistakes too. If you want to be on a positive, go with 30 seconds before we gave up the game winner, Jarvy has the exact same shot, the exact same spot. It doesn't go in, they come down and they get it there. Is it a one play game? I don't know. We got to he better. We were not as good as we need to be if we're going to win. And there's certainly areas we got to clean up, but we're still right there.
7. Power Play Has To Produce
Another sore spot this postseason has been the power play's struggles.
For a unit that finished the regular season as the fourth best group, the way they've fallen off in the playoffs has been puzzling to say the least.
Part of it probably ties into the top line's offensive struggles, being that they're three of the main guys on that top unit, but they have to find a way to be difference makers, especially with how Vegas' man advantage looks.
Even if you don't score, you have to build momentum not kill it, sort of like how the Golden Knights' fourth goal came about.
After the power play expired, they kept the pressure on and found a way to get a goal.
"It's definitely something that we want to fix and fix quickly," Hall said. "I don't think it was about turning down shots. It was more about execution, more about being a touch more patient in spots. We had some shots blocked, some shots that really didn't need to be taken at that time. You've got two minutes. I know you want to be a shooter, but with the way they're killing, they're giving us room to move the puck around and create space and we have to do that, obviously, a lot better than we did."
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One of the Montreal Canadiens' goals this off-season should be to add another right-shot defenseman who is capable of playing top-four minutes. When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba stands out as an interesting potential option for the Canadiens to consider.
If the Canadiens signed Trouba, he would give them a hard-nosed defenseman with plenty of experience. This would not be a bad thing for a Canadiens club that is entering its Stanley Cup window.
If the Canadiens signed Trouba, he would be a candidate to play on both their second pairing and penalty kill. Yet, even if he had a bottom-pairing role for the Canadiens, he would still have the potential to provide their roster with a nice boost if successfully signed.
Trouba showed this season with Anaheim that he is still capable of providing a bit of everything from the point. In 81 games this season with the Ducks, the 6-foot-3 defenseman recorded 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points, 143 hits, and 149 blocks. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to provide the Canadiens with a bit more offense from the point. Yet, his physicality and toughness are the main reasons why Montreal should consider pursuing him.
With Trouba being 32 years old, a three-year deal is probably the longest that the Canadiens should consider signing him for. He still has some good hockey left in him, and it will be intriguing to see if the Canadiens sign him this summer from here.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 02: A detail shot of the Philadelphia Phillies jersey with a patch commemorating Lou Gehrig Day worn by Bryce Harper #3 during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game during the 2025 NBA Emirates Cup Final on December 16, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the NBA season finally barrels toward its conclusion, we’re down to the final stage of the journey. After an 82-game regular season and nearly two months of playoff basketball, there are, at most, seven games remaining. Standing at the finish line are two teams with very different stories but one fascinating connection to Minnesota basketball.
On one side sits the San Antonio Spurs, the team that ended the Timberwolves’ season in May and spent six games methodically demonstrating why so many people believe Victor Wembanyama is destined to dominate the NBA for the next decade. On the other side are the New York Knicks, led in part by the former face of the Timberwolves franchise, Karl-Anthony Towns, whose blockbuster departure from Minnesota in 2024 remains one of the defining moments of the franchise’s recent history.
If you’re wondering where Wolves fans are likely to stand during this series, I don’t think it’s particularly complicated.
They’re standing with KAT.
You don’t spend nearly a decade carrying a franchise through some of its darkest years and then suddenly lose the support of an entire fan base because you got traded. For all the frustrations that occasionally accompanied Towns’ tenure in Minnesota, for all the playoff disappointments, for all the debates about whether he could ever be the best player on a championship team, it’s easy to forget what he actually meant to this organization.
When Towns arrived, the Timberwolves were still wandering through the post-Kevin Garnett wilderness. The franchise was largely irrelevant nationally. Playoff appearances were a pipe dream.
Towns became the bridge. He wasn’t the player who ultimately turned Minnesota into a perennial contender, that distinction belongs to Anthony Edwards, but he was the player who kept the franchise afloat long enough to reach that point.
He endured coaching changes, front-office dysfunction, roster overhauls, the Jimmy Butler saga, the Tom Thibodeau era, the Rudy Gobert trade fallout. Through all of it, he remained remarkably loyal to a franchise that often gave him more headaches than help. So yes, Wolves fans are spending June cheering for a former player. It’s understandable, and frankly, it’s deserved.
What makes this Finals particularly fascinating is that it feels like two completely different basketball realities colliding.
The Knicks have spent the last several weeks looking like a team of destiny. Everything has worked. Everything.
They stormed through the Eastern Conference with an efficiency that bordered on absurd. The Hawks, 76ers, and Cavaliers put up minimal resistance. In the rare moments where New York was challenged, they displayed the kind of confidence and momentum that tends to accompany teams that believe they’re on a special run.
The city is alive. Madison Square Garden is operating like a basketball cathedral again. It’s been 53 years since New York last won an NBA championship. The drought has lasted so long that it has almost become part of the franchise’s identity. And now they’re four wins away from ending it.
The problem is that reality has a funny way of crashing through fairytale stories, and that reality currently wears a Spurs jersey.
As impressive as New York has been, we should probably acknowledge something that’s being glossed over a little bit. The Knicks road to the Finals was not exactly lined with basketball murderers. They had the privilege of facing the 6th, 7th, and 4th seeds on the way to the Finals. That’s not meant to diminish what New York accomplished. You can only beat the teams in front of you, and the Knicks did exactly that. In fact, they didn’t merely beat those teams. They dominated them.
But now they’re stepping into an entirely different weight class.
After eliminating our talented, but injured Timberwolves, the Spurs marched into the Western Conference Finals and knocked off Oklahoma City, a team many people believed was destined to win the championship. The Thunder entered the postseason looking like the league’s final boss. They had the MVP. They had elite depth. They had home-court advantage. They had youth. They had experience. They had seemingly everything.
And yet here we are, with the Spurs are representing the Western Conference.
While the Knicks have looked dominant, San Antonio has looked dangerous. The Spurs possess a player who can completely distort the geometry of basketball. Every generation gets a player who forces us to rethink what basketball is supposed to look like. Kareem did it. Jordan did it. LeBron did it. Steph did it. Wembanyama feels like the next entry on that list.
So what happens in this series? Honestly, I think there are only two outcomes. The first is the one every basketball fan is hoping for. Six or seven games full of momentum swings, last-second shots, Garden crowds losing their minds, and Wembanyama doing alien things. The type of Finals people still talk about five years later.
The second possibility is far less exciting. The Knicks’ magic carpet ride crashes into reality. The Spurs’ talent advantage becomes overwhelming. Wembanyama takes control of the series, and what looked like a dream run suddenly turns into a fairly quick conclusion.
I genuinely don’t know which outcome we’re getting. That’s what makes this matchup fascinating. One team arrives carrying the hopes of an entire city that hasn’t celebrated a title since 1973. The other arrives carrying what increasingly feels like the future of the NBA.
Either way, Wolves fans will spend the remainder of this season cheering for Karl-Anthony Towns. Nearly two years removed from the trade, Towns remains one of us. And if he somehow ends up holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy a few weeks from now, there are going to be a lot of people in Minnesota smiling right alongside him.
