The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder won the first two games in OKC. The series shifts to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4. The Thunder are 9.5-point favorites with an over/under of 214.5.
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Game 1:Thunder 119, Suns 94 Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107 Game 3: Sat., April 25 at Phoenix (3:30 p.m., NBC) Game 4: Mon., April 27 at Phoenix (TBD) *Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Oklahoma City (TBD) *Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Phoenix (TBD) *Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Oklahoma City (TBD)
They've been outplayed in the first three games of the series, being outscored 11-4 and have only one 5v5 goal. Their offense has been completely stifled, even though they finished the regular season with the third-most goals scored in the league.
The Flyers' neutral-zone trap has really frustrated them in this series, but the Penguins had the right idea to beat it in the first period of Game 3. They dumped the puck deep and went to work down low, with a shoot-first mentality. Their efforts were rewarded with their first lead of the series in the first period before they got away from it in the final two periods, eventually losing 5-2.
Head coach Dan Muse has looked out of his depth in this series and is set to make more lineup changes for Game 4. Ilya Solovyov is slated to come in for Connor Clifton while Arturs Silovs will start in goal over Stuart Skinner.
Muse is also reuniting Egor Chinakhov with Evgeni Malkin after the former was on the third line with Ben Kindel for Game 3. Elmer Soderblom is coming in for Justin Brazeau after the latter replaced the former on Wednesday.
Here's a look at the projected lines and pairs:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Soderblom-Kindel-Mantha
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Girard-Letang
Shea-Solovyov
If the Penguins win this game, they'll return to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Monday.
Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and SportsNet Pittsburgh.
The Detroit Tigers dropped their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, 9-8, in a walk-off on Friday night after building an early lead and sitting through a two-hour rain delay.
On Saturday, they look to even things up behind right-hander Jack Flaherty. Opposite him on the mound for Cincinnati is fellow righty Brady Singer. Here’s a quick look at how they match up.
Detroit Tigers (14-13) vs. Cincinnati Reds (17-9)
Time (ET): 7:15 p.m. Place: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio SB Nation Site:Red Reporter Media: FOX, Tigers Radio Network
Game 28: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 3.47 ERA) vs. RHP Brady Singer (1-1, 5.32 ERA)
In just a handful of games, Munetaka Murakami has completely defied expectations on the South Side. | (Photo by Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images)
I was wrong.
When the White Sox signed Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34-million deal, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that something was wrong with him. A cursory glance at his NPB stats snowballed into a statistical analysis on his hypothetical impact on the 2025 Sox before he even stepped foot in the batter’s box, and ultimately landed on a conclusion that Murakami would be underwhelming.
While my predictions and assessments were grounded in logical projections and modeling, I’ll quote Dodgers and Blue Jays managers Dave Roberts and John Schneider from their latest interview with Jeff Passan: “Baseball happened.”
Murakami’s first 26 games in the big leagues has far exceeded expectations. While he unfortunately has lived up to his expectation of being an all-or-nothing hitter with a 40.3% whiff rate and 32.1% strikeout rate (ranked in the bottom-first and -eighth percentiles), his “all” has been nothing short of historic. Murakami’s healthy .256/.398/.622 slash line and towering 1.020 OPS indicate that he’s already near his ceiling of being the Japanese Babe Ruth.
Before the Sox’s 5-4 win over the Nationals, Murakami’s name was already etched in the history books for tying Shohei Ohtani’s record for most consecutive games with a home run by any Japanese-born player, owning the longest MLB rookie home run streak, and tying the franchise record homering in five consecutive games.
But his 11th home run was different.
Coming off the bat at 104 mph and traveling 415 feet, Murakami’s elegant and seemingly effortless lefty swing on Friday night flipped a switch numerically and emotionally:
Murakami is now tied with Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the most home runs in baseball and ranked among MLB’s Top 10 in wOBA (.430), xwOBA (.433), barrel percentage (25.5%) and hard hit percentage (65.5%). You can’t deny that the stats themselves are impressive, but attitude and passion can’t be boiled down into a single measure. What my math failed to account for is how Murakami’s presence on the team would impact the team’s momentum.
His Statcast 11 run value, measuring run creation, has rubbed off on his teammates and fueled Chicago’s palpable shift in style and grittiness that hasn’t been felt in years. The Sox have won 11 games before April has concluded, marking the first time since 2021 that Sox have finished with double digits in the win column at this point. And in 2021, the Sox went on to win the AL Central for the first time in 13 years. The excitement radiating off the players is felt by Sox fans who have endured anything but for the last three years, and now the rest of baseball is noticing.
For the next two years, Murakami isn’t just here to trend and collect his cash. He’s here to make a statement about himself and the Sox. Even when he invariably faces tough stretches, Murakami has already earned every penny in his contract by simply giving Sox fans hope that this new chapter is finally here. For that alone, Murakami has soared beyond expectations this spring, and I couldn’t be happier that my calculations didn’t account for this.
There are some critical games on tap in the NBA Playoffs tonight, and some of the league’s biggest stars will need to perform at their best if they want to help their teams get back in their respective series.
That includes both Jalen Brunson and Nikola Jokic, who I expect will help their teams climb out of their respective 2-1 deficits.
Let’s take a closer look at these and other spots basketball bettors might want to target today in my NBA player props and NBA picks for Saturday, April 25.
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been as advertised so far, the Thunder continue to benefit from their depth of outstanding players to overwhelm opponents.
That includes center Chet Holmgren, who is averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against the Suns so far.
Holmgren has fired away from 3-point range in this series, hitting twice from beyond the arc in Game 1 and three times in Game 2. That continues a late season trend in which the former Gonzaga standout shot 56.3% from deep during April and hit 3+ 3-pointers in two of his final three regular season contests.
The Suns are one of the better teams in the league at chasing teams off the 3-point line, allowing only 12.3 made threes per game. But that hasn’t helped much against Oklahoma City, likely due to the way the Thunder can deploy threats all over the floor.
I’m expecting Holmgren to continue his barrage from deep and hit the Over.
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC
Prop #2: Jalen Brunson Over 27.5 points
-110 at bet365
The New York Knicks desperately need someone to step up in Game 4 of their series against the Atlanta Hawks, and it's logical to assume that will be Jalen Brunson.
Brunson led the Knicks with 26.0 ppg in the regular season, and has averaged 27.7 ppg so far in the first three games of this series. He’s been remarkably consistent both in usage — shooting between 22 and 26 times per game — and output, scoring between 26 and 29 points in each contest.
Atlanta has played excellent defense throughout the series, punctuated by forcing Brunson into a turnover at the end of Game 3. But that hasn’t prevented Brunson from being productive, and New York is far too strong offensively to not break out, as it ranked second in offensive efficiency in the NBA this year.
I can’t see the Knicks going down 3-1 in this series without a fight, so I’m backing Brunson to hit his scoring total tonight.
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC
Prop #3: Nikola Jokic to record a Triple-Double
+100 at bet365
It’s hardly a reach to bet on Nikola Jokic to put up a triple-double in any given game. He accomplished the feat a league-leading 34 times this season, averaged a triple-double in the regular season, and even recorded one in Game 1 of this series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic hasn’t been quite as effective in the last two games of the series, with Rudy Gobert doing a fairly good job of locking down the center, holding Jokic to 32.6% shooting from the floor and 3-for-17 from 3-point range over the last two games.
That's led to a lot of "think pieces" about how Gobert has solved Jokic. But the Denver Nuggets star has still averaged 25.5 points and 15 rebounds over the past two games, and it’s hard to imagine Jokic won’t come up with a response — perhaps even moving the ball around more if he can’t be as efficient as he’d like to be in his scoring.
At even money, I like Jokic to get back to his all-around excellence by recording a triple-double tonight.
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Roberto De Zerbi had said he wanted no crying in his camp after Brighton scored their late equaliser last week, and it was just as the Wolves fans had started chanting “You’re going to cry in a minute” that the substitute João Palhinha struck the goal that briefly helped Tottenham climb out of the relegation zone and avoid a club record of 16 consecutive league games without a win.
The Spurs manager ran on to the pitch, pumping his fists, after the Portugal midfielder, played onside by the former Spurs defender Matt Doherty, slid in to score after Richarlison had scuffed a shot goalwards when Pedro Porro’s corner fell his way in the 82nd minute.
Eberechi Eze’s early goal was enough to secure a win against Newcastle and keep Arsenal’s title dream within reach
Mikel Arteta’s pre-match thoughts
[On making only one change from the City game] We did a lot of great things, with some connections that we really liked througout the game.
[On how long Bukayo Saka might be able to play from the bench] We will see how the game goes. We have alternatives in the front line to change the game; we’ll use them in the right way.
The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers both feature Top-5 offenses, which were on full display in a 10 run series opener.
My Cubs vs. Dodgers predictions see another high-scoring affair in the cards Saturday night.
Let’s take a closer look at my daily MLB picks for April 25.
Who will win Cubs vs Dodgers today: Dodgers (-140)
Colin Rea has pitched very well for the Chicago Cubs but his two best starts came against an 8-18 Philadelphia Phillies team.
There are also a couple of concerns in his numbers. For one, he ranks 26th among today’s projected starters in soft contact rate. He’s not generating much.
That’s not a great recipe heading into a matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who rank first in hard hit rate against righties this season.
He also ranks 40th percentile or worst in whiffs and K%. He doesn’t miss many bats, and that could lead to problems against a powerful Dodgers offense.
COVERS INTEL:Six Dodgers batters possess a wOBA of .360 or higher against Rea’s pitch mix.
Cubs vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+100)
The Dodgers rank first in average, second in OBP, and fourth in runs per game. They also hit the ball as hard as anybody, and Rea has not induced a lot of soft contact.
Chicago should score plenty of runs as well. They have plated at least six runs in six consecutive road games, and 4+ in eight of 10 away dates this season.
Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki is sporting a 6.11 ERA and allowing more than two homers per nine innings, which doesn’t set up well facing a Cubs team that slots fifth in homers.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:5-3, +1.18 units
Over/Under bets:2-6, -4.72 units
Cubs vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Chicago (+130) | Los Angeles (-150)
Run line: Chicago +1.5 (-145) | Los Angeles -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+100) | Under 9.5 (-120)
Cubs vs Dodgers trend
The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit the Moneyline in 35 of their last 50 games (+6.45 Units / 7% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Cubs vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, April 25, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Cubs starting pitcher
Colin Rea (3-0, 3.00 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.11 ERA)
Cubs vs Dodgers latest injuries
Cubs vs Dodgers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on after striking out during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
The Dodgers offense spent most of the last week wasting an incredible stretch by the starting rotation, coupled with a suddenly vulnerable bullpen having their worst week of the season. That fueled five losses over the last seven games, and now the Dodgers on Saturday turn to Roki Sasaki, the black sheep of the rotation still looking for some semblance of success to build on.
Los Angeles scored eight runs in their last four games, with four of those runs scored on Friday night though none after the fourth inning. The Dodgers inability to tack on runs has cost them dearly during this dismal stretch, which includes three or fewer runs in six of their last 12 games.
Shohei Ohtani is hitless in his last 12 at-bats, has two hits in 20 at-bats since his last extra-base hit, and is 7-for-43 (.163) since his last home run 13 days ago. Teoscar Hernández is also hitless in his last 12 at-bats and two for his last 28. Even Andy Pages after his impossibly hot start has three hits in his last 25 at-bats.
Sasaki has recorded between 12 and 15 outs in his four starts this season, so Saturday sure feels like a day for Jake Eder to soak up some innings in relief and then get optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for a fresh arm on Sunday with four more games in this stretch of 13 games in 13 days.
On this day 21 years ago, Pablo Ozuna scored one of his two runs as a sparkplug from the leadoff spot, helping the White Sox to their best 20-game start in team history. | (Photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo/Contra Costa Times) (MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images)
1951 White Sox slugger Eddie Robinson hit the first rooftop home run by a Chicago player at Comiskey Park. Robinson’s blast was off of Al Widmar of the Browns, in the third inning of an 8-6 White Sox win. It was the eighth all-time home run over the roof.
Robinson hit 29 home runs that year and drove in 117 runs, as the Sox went 81-73-1.
1968 By losing 3-2 at Minnesota despite outhitting the Twins, 12-3, the White Sox fell to 0-10, the worst 10-game start in franchise history. The scoring would reverse the next day, mercifully snapping Chicago’s losing streak.
1969 Speaking of roof shots, 18 years later Buddy Bradford put a home run over the roof, capping a four-run first that put the White Sox ahead of the Twins, 4-1. Minnesota battled back ahead, 5-4, but the home team prevailed on a bases-loaded single from Carlos May for a walk-off win. It seems odd to say for a team that would finish 68-90 and fifth of six in the AL West, but the thrilling victory pushed the White Sox to 8-5 and into their only day in first place all season.
The towering shot was Bradford’s only hit of the game. It was the fourth White Sox roof shot ever, and the 18th overall.
2004 Coming over from the Bulls organization, Brooks Boyer was named White Sox vice president of marketing, replacing the taciturn and aloof Rob Gallas. Boyerimmediately instituted a series of great ad campaigns (including “Sox Pride” and “Win or Die Trying”) that keyed interest, tweaked the Cubs and generated excitement among the fan base. Things have taken a turn since those early salad days, including running popular play-by-play man, lifelong White Sox fan and Chicago native Jason Benetti into the arms of division rival Detroit.
2005 With a 6-0 win at Oakland, the White Sox improved to 16-4 — topping the 1973 team (15-5) for the best 20-game start in franchise history. Jon Garland moved to 4-0 with a 116-pitch shutout, yielding just four hits and a walk against three strikeouts. The Sox offense jumped on Barry Zito, with Pablo Ozuna (2-for-3, two runs, two steals) and Chris Widger (2-for-4, two-run homer) the unexpected standouts.
2014 It was the first big moment in what would be a stellar White Sox career for José Abreu. The Cuban native smashed a two-out, walk-off grand slam off Grant Balfour to beat the Rays, 9-6. The rookie tallied three hits and six RBIs in the game.
Abreuwould cap off his rookie season by garnering the American League Rookie of the Year award from both The Sporting News and the BBWAA for blasting 36 home runs, with 35 doubles, 80 runs scored, 107 RBIs, a .317 batting average and leading the league in slugging percentage (.581).
2016 Relief pitcher Matt Albers threw his 30th consecutive scoreless outing, breaking the White Sox record set by Jesse Crain. Albers’ streak dated back to Aug. 5, 2015 and spanned 33 innings. Ironically, Albers’ streak was snapped in a game several days later, on April 30 in Baltimore, when a José Abreu error caused two unearned runs to cross the plate, charged to Albers.
Bayern Munich fought back from three goals down to clinch a 4-3 win away to Mainz 05, with substitutes Harry Kane and Michael Olise leading a second-half comeback for the Bundesliga champions. Dominik Kohr, Paul Nebel and Sheraldo Becker scored for Mainz in the first half while Bayern, who had made eight changes to the starting lineup that beat Bayer Leverkusen in Wednesday’s German Cup semi-final, had no shots on target until the break.
The Bayern coach, Vincent Kompany, brought on Kane and Olise after the break and their renewed aggression paid off with Nicolas Jackson scoring in the 53rd minute and Olise finding the net 20 minutes later.
The Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday for their ninth win in 10 games, while Philadelphia has lost 10 straight, its longest losing streak since 1999.
The Phillies will get a big boost on Saturday as ace starting pitcher Zack Wheeler makes his first MLB start since last August.
Blood clots forced Wheeler to have a rib removed in September, and it's not clear that he's shaken off the rust and gotten back to 100%.
That's why my Phillies vs. Braves predictions and MLB picks call for a Braves win.
Who will win Phillies vs Braves today: Braves moneyline (-119)
The Atlanta Braves added to baseball's best run differential and have topped five runs in three straight, averaging 6.6 runs over the last five.
The Braves got the win in the series opener, even with their hottest hitter, Michael Harris (.555 in the last seven games), limited to pinch-hitting duty after leaving Thursday's game with quad tightness.
He may play DH on Saturday.
The Philadelphia Phillies hope Zack Wheeler can keep that Atlanta offense in check, but he had a 5.85 ERA in five spring starts with his highest home run rate since 2018.
Even more troubling, his spin and velocity are down significantly.
COVERS INTEL: In his last rehab start, at double-A Reading, Wheeler's fastballs were at 92, with a max of 93, down from 96.1 (four-seamer) and 95.4 (sinker) last season. His sweeper and curve were also slower, and their spin rates were down about 100 revolutions.
Phillies vs Braves Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+100)
The Phillies will have Wheeler on a pitch count, but their key relievers should be rested and able to handle the increased workload.
Braves starter Bryce Elder has a 1.50 ERA this season and a WHIP below 1.000. His strikeout rate is at a career high, while his hit, walk, and homer rates are at career lows.
He's throwing his four-seamer and cutter more instead of relying solely on his sinker, and the result has been increased effectiveness of all three pitches.
Opponents are hitting 30 points lower against the sinker and 80 points lower against the four-seamer. He didn't throw the cutter often enough last year to compare, but foes have just a .200 average against it in 2026.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-8, +0.4 units
Over/Under bets: 9-11, -2.31 units
Phillies vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Phillies -117 | Braves +113
Run line: Phillies +1.5 (-178) | Braves -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-108) | Under 8.5 (+104)
Phillies vs Braves trend
The Philadelphia Phillies have hit the Team Total Under in 8 of their last 10 games (+6.10 Units / 53% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Braves.
How to watch Phillies vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Saturday, April 25, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSP, BravesVision
Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (1-2, 5.06 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA)
Phillies vs Braves latest injuries
Phillies vs Braves weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEVELAND - MAY 22: Head coach Mike Brown talks to Mo Williams #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic during the 2009 NBA Playoffs on May 22, 2009 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers won 96-95. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Wings made of feathers and wax. Flew too high, intoxicated by pride. Sent down crashing by the sun, drowning in hubris inside a dark sea.
Will the Knicks bend, or break?
Here’s the latest before the biggest game since the bounce that changed the Knicks’—now present—future.
On a possible starting lineup change for Game 4: “That’ll be a game-time decision. Like I said (Thursday) night, at this point in the year, anything is on the table — what we do offensively, what we do defensively, what our rotations are, who starts, what we come out with. Everything is on the table. My job is to keep searching, and that’s what we had to do (in Game 3). We found the right combinations. We got a chance to go up three. Couldn’t ask for anything better than that with a minute left in the game, a chance to go up by three, especially with the way we played.”
On not using KAT-Mitch due to matchup concerns: “Because things are matchup-based. If you hypothetically have them both out there, let’s just take their starting five, you put Mitch on Okongwu, put Jalen hypothetically on Dyson Daniels and then you put KAT on Jalen Johnson. And then OG on Alexander-Walker and Josh on CJ McCollum and that’s probably not a good matchup at the end of the day. To play those guys together, it has to fit offensively and it has to fit defensively for it to happen throughout the course of the ball game. At times, it’s a little difficult matchup-wise.”
On paying attention to all details before making a lineup change: “The reality is — any (lineup) decision that I make, I try to think of all the pros and cons. And to back that up, the Charlotte game, I knew he had that streak going on. I threw him out there for five seconds. So everything that I do, I’ll take into consideration for everybody as best I can. And will I whiff sometimes? Yeah. Or will I forget sometimes? Yeah. Or will I say, I know this is going on, but I’m still going to do this or that? Yeah. So anything and everything is on the table. But I try to list the pros and cons for that individual and the repercussions it has throughout the team, whenever I make decisions.”
On the urgency of the playoffs: “The reality of it is, come playoff time, we should be feeling that all the time. There should be a sense of urgency every single possession you’re on the floor. It doesn’t matter who is in front of you or what the score is. You have to play with a level of sense of urgency/desperation, however you want to call it, throughout the course of a ballgame. Even if you’re up 3-0, because I’ve been up 3-0 and when you’re up 3-0 on somebody, they’re playing with a level of desperation, similar to them being a wounded animal, that makes it difficult to close out. That’s definitely something that we want our guys to feel, is that sense of urgency, so that it can be translated to every single possession on the floor when we’re playing in the game.”
On implementing off-ball actions for Brunson: “We called it a few times, you gotta give Atlanta credit. They did a nice job of defending it the few times we called it. But we gotta keep trying to implement it, whether it’s play call or within the flow of what we’re trying to do conceptually on the offensive end of the floor.”
On the need for more paint touches and sprays: “We all have to be aggressive, not just to shoot the ball, but be aggressive to touch the paint on drives. And if you don’t have anything in the paint, you gotta spray it. We haven’t gone anywhere near our sprays that we’ve wanted to in these first three games.”
I’m saying we’re gonna win it. No problem saying it.
On the plus-24 Hart-Brunson-McBride-OG-Towns lineup: “I feel like we were getting stops. Getting some good shots. OG had a couple big threes at the end of the shot clock. Deuce shot the ball well. But I feel like we really played off of our defense.”
Game 3 Last 2-Minute Report has one incorrect non-call: NBA says this should have been an and-1 opportunity for Jalen Johnson: "Josh Hart moves laterally into Johnson's path and does not establish a legal guarding position in Johnson's path prior to the contact" pic.twitter.com/GUoAFC8Pii
On dealing with the defense of Daniels and Alexander Walker: “They both are great defenders. You have to be smart, you have to be kind of tactical in what you do. Just being able to not really focus on what they’re doing but focus on your shot and doing the things that I need to do to make sure I’m comfortable shooting the shots I want to shoot and be in positions I want to be in. But you gotta give them credit. They make things very difficult.”
On the Knicks’ mindset entering Game 4: “We’re playing for our lives.”
On the first-round series urgency: “I would say we’re playing for our lives. I mean, it is a seven-game series and it’s the first to four, but it’s ticking away. We don’t want to leave it up to chance. We don’t want to say we wish we could have or we wish we would have done this different. We want to take every opportunity, every chance we can, and take advantage of it, be together as a team and figure it out.”
On his role coming off the pine: “My job is to come in and play defense and come in and make shots. I want to be at the best ability I can to do it. If I can instill more confidence in my guys for me to let it fly with no hesitancy, I want to do it.”
On playing through pain: “I try not to listen to how I’m feeling day to day. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. If I’m supposed to get a stop, I gotta get a stop. If I’m supposed to make a shot, I gotta make a shot. So I try not to think about it. Reality is, I’ve gotta go out there and perform.”
On defending McCollum in the last defensive play: “I knew they had to go quick. Main thing is, he’s a really good player. I’m not happy with my contest. He made the shot. I feel like if I maybe had bumped him earlier, but trying to get a feel for how the game was being called. I don’t want to put him at the free throw line in a sense like that. Maybe just be more aggressive and make it tougher.”
Stephen A. Smith
On the potential fallout if the Knicks crash out in Atlanta: “There’s gonna be another head coach in New York City if they lose this series. Several players are going to be gone from New York City. I’m so sick of what I’m seeing right now. I love Mike Brown, but I’m very unhappy right now. The New York Knicks are stinking up the joint. Leon Rose, the honeymoon is over. Right now, you’re on the verge of going home. You can’t lose Game 4. You can’t go down 3-1 to the Atlanta Hawks.”
On the Knicks’ struggles against the Hawks: “One minute you’re up 14, you’re losing a game. Another minute you’re down 18, you come back and still lose the game. You’re inventing new ways to lose. This is unacceptable. If the New York Knicks lose this series, heads need to roll.”
On Mitch’s usage: “Knicks Coach Mike Brown is SCARED to get mad!!! He’s to nice of a guy to coach the New York Knicks!!! He would rather play OG at the 5, instead of KAT and Mitch at the 4 and 5. Nice guys finish last Coach!”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 25: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on and blows a bubble of gum against the Minnesota Twins on September 25, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds slugger Eugenio Suárez was a late scratch from the Friday evening lineup in the team’s series opener in Great American Ball Park against the Detroit Tigers. Nathaniel Lowe – who eventually ended up swatting a walk-off dinger – was moved into the DH spot for the game, and the initial hope was that it would merely be a one-off lineup change.
As it turns out, though, Suárez is going to head to the injured list. The back problem is actually an oblique issue, albeit a hopefully minor one, and that’s going to land Geno on the shelf for at least 10 days. So said Terry Francona to Charlie Goldsmith last night.
Francona said Suarez is going to the IL with a low grade oblique.
The Reds have not yet announced a corresponding roster move (or Suárez to the actual IL) just yet, but outfielder JJ Bleday was removed from his game with AAA Louisville early on Friday evening. Bleday slugged 20 homers for the Athletics as recently as 2024 and is off to a roaring start in AAA this year (.341/.462/.659 with 6 homers in 104 PA), and as replacements to the offense go, he’s about as good as one can hope for.
Notably, Suárez hitting the shelf removes a corner infield option from the roster, and instead of backfilling with someone with experience there (such as Noelvi Marte), Cincinnati’s front office is apparently turning to Bleday due to the flexibility of the rest of the roster. Spencer Steer has spent more time in the outfield this year that in previous seasons, but he’s got experience all over the infield if need be. Lowe, too, is an accomplished 1B with a Gold Glove under his belt, and his ability to play there regularly would allow Sal Stewart to play more 3B on days when Francona decides they actually need someone who can swing a bat there better than Ke’Bryan Hayes.
That’s the beauty of building a roster with positional flexibility, I suppose. When one player goes down with injury, it allows the front office to select the best offensive option they can instead of having to go glove-first.
My best guess is that you’ll see Lowe in the lineup at DH or 1B every time the team faces a RHP while Geno is on the shelf. That’s a pretty damn good insurance policy, as we witnessed just last night.
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 24: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All hope seemed to be lost for the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three. With 7:30 left in the quarter, the team was down 15 points on the road, with no offensive rhythm, no defensive resistance, and no Victor Wembanyama. That was until a rookie of all people put the team on his back and, in the blink of an eye (or for half a quarter), turned around the game and perhaps the entire first-round series. Dylan Harper scored 12 points in the third quarter, dominating the Portland Trail Blazers on the way to a 120-108 victory.
He and the rest of the Spurs’ young core flipped the switch in the second half. He, Stephon Castle, and Carter Bryant played huge roles in the win despite all being 21 or younger. It was exactly the type of game the Spurs needed to flip the vibe of the entire series. After the win, San Antonio is a -190 favorite to take Game Four on FanDuel.
San Antonio’s young core will lead Game Three’s player grades. As a quick reminder, these 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.
This was a coming-out party for Harper, who had been relatively quiet in the first two games. The rookie talked the talk and walked the walk in Game Three. There was no fear, as he jawed at the Blazers while shooting free throws or held up three fingers at their bench after making a three-pointer. When Scoot Henderson scored on him, he talked smack right back to Harper before getting a technical (a masterclass in trolling by the rookie). Then Harper went down to the other end and put Scoot and Robert Williams III on a poster.
Harper’s confidence seemed to infect the rest of the team. All of a sudden, they were attacking Portland rather than getting attacked as they had for most of the game. The team started playing with more pace, rushing Portland into bad shots while they got to the basket or created easy shots in early offense. If the Spurs end up winning this series, we’ll likely be talking about Harper’s performance as the pivotal turning point that got them there.
Fox has been under a lot of scrutiny in this series, but I thought he was masterful in Game Three. He did exactly what a veteran guard should do in the playoffs. He pushed all of the right buttons and didn’t do too much to interrupt the Spurs’ offensive flow. When the team’s ball movement got stagnant, Fox tried to get others involved. Late in the fourth quarter, when San Antonio was starting to take their foot off the gas, and Portland went on a 6-0 run, Fox began to take over, sensing the urgency of the moment.
Toumani Camara, the Blazers’ best perimeter defender, has been stuck on Fox since Wembanyama went out. That has actively taken pressure off the Spurs’ other guards. Fox has handled it well by not trying to do too much.
If it weren’t for Harper exploding offensively, we would likely be talking about Castle as the player of the game. He kept the Spurs afloat in the first half while Portland was shooting the lights out. Castle attacked relentlessly, getting to the free-throw line 11 times, knocking down 10 of those free shots. He was efficient from three, knocking down a trio of triples. Castle helped close this one out, hitting some huge shots in the fourth quarter to extend the lead.
Castle has been most impressive on the defensive end. He and Bryant (more on him later) took Deni Avdija out of the game. The Blazers’ best player went 3-15 from the field for 19 points. Avdija is a bowling ball in the paint, going into his defender’s chest over and over again. Castle has held his ground, without fouling for the most part, and went right back at him on the other end. Friday night was a true two-way performance.
Champagnie was far more aggressive in Game Three, and San Antonio needed him to be. He took some movement threes off screens and attempted to attack the basket when Portland overplayed him. Champagnie can’t afford to be one-dimensional offensively, so it’s good to see him attempting to do more, even if the results have been mixed. Ultimately, if Champagnie continues to knock down threes and battle on the boards, he is doing his job.
Vassell hit some big threes on Friday, including one during their fourth-quarter run to extend the lead. That said, his shot selection was a bit mixed in Game Three. He’s taking some tough mid-range jumpers because Portland is guarding him so hard. Vassell is drawing a ton of defensive attention when he is running off screens, and the Spurs’ guards missed him a few times for what would have been open jumpers.
The Spurs’ wing should get a lot of credit for his defensive effort. He’s been locked in on that end, loading up on stocks (steals + blocks) in this series. He’s been a difference maker even when his shot isn’t falling.
My jaw dropped when Kornet hit a corner three-pointer. It was his first made three-pointer since the 2023-2024 season. That highlight aside, Kornet was awesome on both ends. He battled on the boards, grabbing 5 offensive rebounds, including a put-back dunk where he literally snatched the ball from Williams III’s hands. Defensively, he has been positionally sound and protected the paint with two blocks. Kornet is establishing himself as one of, if not the best, backup centers in the league.
Barnes is essentially out of the rotation at this point. He’s not making an impact offensively, and Bryant has been leagues better defensively. I still think there will be a game when the Spurs get a spark from him offensively, but it did not happen in Game Three.
Johnson continues to fight on both ends, but hasn’t had any luck putting the ball in the basket. The Blazers are a tough matchup for KJ. Their bigs are great at protecting the rim, and their wings are big and physical, keeping him from barreling his way to the rim like he normally does. His poor performances are not due to a lack of effort. He’s still battling on the glass and giving it all defensively, even if Portland is trying to target him on that end.
The rookie whom many thought would barely be in the rotation has taken on one of the most important roles in the playoffs. Bryant has been tasked with playing out of position at center. He’s risen to that challenge. Bryant’s effort is a joy to watch. He grabbed 4 offensive rebounds, blocked 3 shots, and played some of his best defense of the season on Advija. Bryant is usually known for being overly aggressive on defense, but in the second half, he did an incredible job of defending Portland’s best player without fouling.
He could afford to be a bit more confident on the offensive end. There are times when he catches the ball and doesn’t really know what to do with it. He’s proven he can hit open jumpers, and needs to be taking them so the Spurs can take advantage of the perks that come with a small-ball lineup. What he has lacked in shot-making, he has made up for in shot creation. Bryant has made a lot of good decisions with the ball in his hands, and he racked up 4 assists in Game Three’s win.
Grade: A-
Inactives: Victory Wembanyama, Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller
Chet Holmgren
Jalen Brunson
Nikola Jokic
COVERS INTEL:
