SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: Jase Bowen #4 of the San Diego Padres takes the field during the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Petco Park on June 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds (31-33) at San Diego Padres (33-31), June 8, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST
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NBA legend Michael Jordan was hit hard by the death of former teammate Stacey King, who died at 59 after a serious fall at his home on Saturday.
“I’m deeply saddened to learn of Stacey’s passing. We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball,” Jordan said in a statement. “My thoughts are with Stacey’s family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.”
Jordan, 63, and King spent four seasons and change together after King was drafted by the Bulls No. 6 overall in the 1989 NBA Draft.
Stacey King (left) and Michael Jordan during a 1991 Bulls game. NBAE via Getty Images
Jordan had already risen to stardom in the NBA, but had yet to win his first championship.
King, who played mainly as a reserve with the Bulls, helped Jordan three-peat as champion between 1991-’93.
The forward’s best year in Chicago was his rookie season, when he averaged 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
“We are grateful for everything Stacey gave to the Chicago Bulls and to the city he proudly called home,” the Bulls said after King’s death. “His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the memories he helped create, and the enduring place he holds in Bulls history.
Basketball legend and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan was spotted enjoying a luxury Mediterranean getaway alongside his wife. BACKGRID
After 31 games with the Bulls during the 1993-94 season, King was traded to the Timberwolves.
He spent the next five years bouncing between the Heat, Celtics, and Mavericks.
After retiring from the NBA, King became an Emmy-winning color commentator for NBC Sports Chicago and the Chicago Sports Network.
Chicago Bulls television announcer Stacey King attends the first half of an NBA basketball game. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
He also had his own podcast called “Gimme The Hotsauces,” named after one of his iconic calls.
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said. “His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans… We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion that he brought to our organization, our broadcasts, and our fans every day.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 02: Kyle Harrison #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts during action against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at American Family Field on June 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a three-game sweep in Colorado, the Brewers finish up their western road trip with a preview of the future for the Athletics. They are heading to Las Vegas to play three games in the ballpark of the Triple-A affiliate.
Kyle Harrison leads off the rotation for the Brewers in this series. Despite his stellar season, Harrison has had to shine in the shadow of Jacob Misiorowski so far. His last start came against the Giants, where he allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings while striking out 12. That one run came on a solo home run in his final inning. He has faced the Athletics once in his career, and that came with his first appearance with the Red Sox. In that game, he pitched three scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and the only baserunner he allowed was a hit by pitch.
For the Athletics, Jeffrey Springs makes the start. He is in his ninth season in the majors, and his second season with the Athletics. Springs has had an OK year, posting a 4.37 ERA and 4.98 FIP over 13 starts, along with a 7.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. He has allowed at least four runs in six of his starts this season, including four of his last five (though one of those had three unearned runs). In his last start, he allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Cubs, though the Athletics won that game in extra innings. Springs has taken several losses, and the Athletics have only won two of the last nine games he’s started. This is his third career start against the Brewers. They faced him last year in Milwaukee, when they hit him for six runs on five hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings.
Before tonight’s game, the Brewers made a couple of roster moves. Joel Kuhnel has been added to the active roster after being acquired from the Athletics over the weekend. To make a roster space for him, Craig Yoho was optioned back down to Triple-A Nashville. He pitched two good innings on Friday, but will have to wait for another chance later. Also, Jake Woodford cleared waivers and was outrighted to Nashville, but elected to become a free agent instead. Finally, right-handed reliever Carlos Rodriguez, who has been with the Brewers since May 24 but hasn’t appeared since May 30, was placed on the 15-day IL with an undisclosed injury.
After using a Sunday lineup yesterday, the Brewers have most of the regulars back in the lineup. The top five of Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Jake Bauers has become standard now, with manager Pat Murphy using that top five for the 10th time in the last 13 games (including tonight). With a left-handed pitcher on the mound, Andrew Vaughn gets the start at first. While Murphy is getting the right-handed batters into the lineup, Garrett Mitchell gets the start since his splits against LHP are much better than Sal Frelick. Luis Rengifo and Joey Ortiz round out the lineup.
First pitch is at 9:05 p.m., with a first pitch temperature forecast of 96 degrees. The game will be on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
By all indications, it appears as though the relationship between Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings could be coming to a close.
Last week, it was released by NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman that Larkin had requested to be moved from the Red Wings, who selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and later made him the 37th captain in team history in 2021.
Whether or not Larkin's trade request was meant to go public so quickly remains unknown, but once it leaked, there was no way it was staying under wraps.
Friedman, who initially reported Larkin's trade request on Thursday afternoon, offered his latest speculation on the ongoing saga.
"I think people hoped that it would stay quiet, but it's too big," Friedman said. "Like, there was no way that was staying quiet. Pierre LeBrun reported the other day that the Red Wings have been given a small list of teams."
As also reported by longtime beat writer Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press, the alleged three teams that Larkin would accept a trade to include the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights, a short list that would greatly complicate matters for GM Steve Yzerman.
However, Friedman also speculated on the chances of the Dallas Stars or even the Anaheim Ducks potentially entering the fold.
"I've heard Minnesota, I've heard Dallas," Friedman said. "I have to believe the two Florida teams, and I've not heard Anaheim, but I've had people say to me, 'Anaheim's a team that could do it."
"But I think he wants to go into a situation where they're primed to win."
Larkin has multiple connections to players on his reported three-team trade list, and they're all teammates from the gold medal-winning Team USA roster from the Milan Winter Olympics: Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy (and GM Bill Guerin) of the Wild, Jack Eichel of the Golden Knights, and Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers.
But if Yzerman feels that he isn't able to get an adequate trade package in return from one of the aforementioned teams, it could lead to an awkward and drawn-out situation with no specific timeline of being resolved.
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Sunday marked a full-circle moment for Mike Brown.
One day before Game 3 at Madison Square Garden — the first NBA Finals game at The World’s Most Famous Arena since 1999 — Brown was asked about his first experience at the arena as Knicks head coach.
“I was like, holy crap, I can’t believe this is where I’m going to be coaching,” Brown said. “The biggest thing was when I got to the bench where we sit, and I kind of turned and looked at the crowd; I saw my wife and family, like, three rows back, I was like, dang, thanks, Mr. Dolan; that’s pretty nice.
Ben Stiller and Head Coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks smile during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 7, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“Just obviously the building, but more importantly when you get in and you look, for me, I see my family right there, then obviously all the stars. It makes it feel different than almost any other building you’ve been in.”
Brown’s relationship with those stars has grown from that moment to Monday, which was expected to be one of the most star-studded and electric atmospheres in New York City history.
For starters, there was a time his wife, Carolyn, was too starstruck to approach Ben Stiller.
“Ben Stiller was over there,” Brown said earlier this postseason. “I don’t think I’ve ever met Ben, but he was over there, and she was like, ‘Ben’s over there.’ I was like, ‘Go get a picture. I’m sure he’ll take a picture with you.’ [She was like], ‘No, I can’t do it.’ ”
Fast-forward to Sunday. Stiller was in attendance at Knicks practice, filming as much content as he could. Brown said Sunday was when he first officially met Stiller.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown during Sunday’s practice at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
As Brown walked off the podium following his press conference, he embraced Stiller and the two sent a message to Carolyn. They looked like two peas in a pod.
“When you see him next time, approach him,” Brown said with his arm around Stiller. “He’s gonna take a picture with you.”
Another celebrity was in attendance at Brown’s press conference: Fat Joe. Brown has become tight with the rapper this year, sharing what he describes as a friendship.
More Coverage on the Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals
“A great day for me today,” Brown said as the press conference got started, before any questions could be asked. “For the first time, I got a chance to meet Ben Stiller. I actually gave him a handshake and a hug. And I got my man Fat Joe sitting in the back. This is a great day for Mike Brown.”
When Brown was done answering questions from the media, Fat Joe chimed in and yelled at Brown that he hates his shoes. It’s part of a long-running joke between the two about Brown’s preference to wear old-school P.F. Flyers.
“He used to kill me about my shoes,” Brown said. “He used to kill me. He’d try to tell me I need to get some Nikes because they got more cushion and all this stuff.”
But Brown did not listen to Fat Joe’s advice. His P.F. Flyers have become a good luck charm for him, so much so that Fat Joe changed his tune.
“I need you to keep them on, Coach,” he said, adding that if the Knicks win the championship, he wants an autographed pair from Brown.
Brown began his Knicks tenure having to fill Tom Thibodeau’s shoes. Now, though, he has celebrities obsessing over his own.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
When: Monday, June 8 at 8:30 PM EST
How to watch: ABC
Betting Line: NY -1.5 (subject to change), O/U 216.5 (subject to change) via FanDuel
Suns general manager Brian Gregory speaks during his introductory news conference on May 6, 2025, in Phoenix. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The NBA Draft is drawing near, and with it comes the question of whether the Phoenix Suns will stay put at No. 47 overall or once again look to move around the board. This is an organization that has shown a willingness to be aggressive on draft night.
Since Brian Gregory arrived two offseasons ago, before eventually assuming the role of general manager last offseason, Phoenix has consistently sought opportunities to maximize its draft capital. Two years ago, the Suns maneuvered around the draft board to acquire Ryan Dunn. They then used assets gained during that process to move up in the second round and select Oso Ighodaro. Last year followed a similar pattern. The Suns traded Kevin Durant and acquired the 10th overall pick, a selection Phoenix originally held. They used it to draft Khaman Maluach, then turned around and utilized additional draft assets from the Durant trade to move up to No. 31 overall, where they selected Rasheer Fleming.It was a masterclass in draft navigation.
That’s what makes this year’s draft so interesting. The Suns may only own the 47th pick at the moment, but recent history suggests they’re never content to simply sit back and let the draft come to them. If Brian Gregory and the front office identify a player they believe in, they’ve shown a willingness to get creative in order to go get him. That’s something worth remembering as draft night approaches.
It’s not a foreign concept to think the Phoenix Suns could be moving around the draft board when the NBA Draft takes place on June 23 and 24. This is no longer the James Jones era, when draft picks often felt more like an annoyance than an opportunity. That said, moving up the board comes with a cost. If the Suns want to climb from No. 47, they’ll likely have to sacrifice future draft capital to do it.
And that raises an important question. Is now the right time? For a team that doesn’t have the luxury of cap flexibility working in its favor, is it wise to add another young player whose salary could create additional financial challenges?
Take the 17th overall pick as an example. If Phoenix were to execute a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder and acquire that selection, the rookie would carry a cap hit of roughly $4.6 million for the 2026-27 season. Realistically, what is the path to meaningful minutes for that player next season?
That’s part of the equation. Every dollar matters for a team trying to bring back Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and potentially Mark Williams. The Suns are walking a delicate line between adding youth and maintaining continuity. It’s a balancing act.
On one side sits the desire to inject more young talent into the organization. On the other sits the reality of the cap sheet and the importance of keeping together the core pieces that helped establish the team’s identity last season.
What should the organization do? Should they move up the board and invest further in youth? Or should they stand pat at No. 47, select a player who is likely destined for a two-way contract, and continue focusing on continuity while preserving financial flexibility? That’s the question facing Phoenix as draft season approaches. That’s the question we have before you today.
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour has made his decision on which goalie will start Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, June 9.
But he's not revealing whether Frederik Andersen or Brandon Bussi will play against the Vegas Golden Knights.
"It's the only suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold onto," he told reporters on Monday, June 8. "It seems to have taken a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it."
Andersen, who has started every playoff game, didn't take part in practice on Monday. Brind'Amour said it was a maintenance day.
The reason the starting goalie is even a question is because Brind'Amour pulled Andersen for Bussi during the Hurricanes' Game 3 loss.
Brind'Amour inserted Bussi at the start of the third period. The backup goalie stopped 18 of 19 shots in the third period and two overtime periods, allowing only Shea Theodore's fluke goal.
Making the case for Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen as the Game 4 starter:
The case for Brandon Bussi starting Game 4
He looked great in his first action since mid-April. He quickly had to face red-hot Marner on a penalty shot and stopped him, allowing the Hurricanes to rally.
Bussi can't be blamed for the lone goal against him.
He's rested while Andersen has played a lot and hasn't been as strong as he was in earlier rounds.
The case for Frederik Andersen starting Game 4
Go with what got you here. Andersen was stellar in sweeps in the first two rounds. He rebounded and won after his lone loss in the conference finals, plus his Game 1 loss in the final.
Though Andersen might want the fourth goal back, the second goal was an own goal tipped in by his defenseman. On the third goal, the Hurricanes gave Marner too many chances.
Andersen was clipped in the head by Ivan Barbashev on the second disallowed goal, but Brind'Amour said he's fine. The goalie has two days off between games, and that and the skipped practice should give him enough rest.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided some injury updates prior to Monday’s series opener in Cleveland…
On Jasson Dominguez…
Dominguez will continue his rehab assignment in Triple-A this week.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is off on Monday night, but the young outfielder will be back out there when the team returns to action each of the next two days.
Dominguez is scheduled to play four-to-five innings, then the Yanks will see how he's feeling after that.
The 23-year-old went hitless with three strikeouts across seven at-bats over his first two appearances last week.
Boone said that the Yankees still don’t have a set number of games he may need.
Dominguez, of course, has been sidelined since suffering a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder making a great catch into the left-center field fence on May 7.
On Giancarlo Stanton…
Stanton, on the other hand, could be a bit closer to returning.
While the team doesn’t have an exact timeline on him either, Boone is hopeful that he may be able to return sometime during the next homestand.
The Yanks visit the Guardians and Jays, before returning to the Bronx to host the White Sox and Reds next week.
Stanton will continue his running progression and throwing program in New York over the next few days after logging his first two live BP sessions over the last week.
The oft-injured slugger has now missed a total of 39 games after straining his right calf jogging to second on a walk during a game in late May.
Getting him, and eventually Dominguez, back in the mix would be a huge boost for the Yanks lineup with Aaron Judge set to miss a significant amount of time.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 25: Carmen Mlodzinski #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The MLB trade deadline is under two months away, and teams already need help in certain areas.
Nowhere is that reflected more than in the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen.
Through 66 games of the season, the Pirates are 34-32. With 96 games left, the bullpen is the largest Achilles heel and must be addressed for the Pirates to be a true contender.
ESPN insider Jeff Passan released his first trading deadline piece last week, identifying the buyers, sellers, and teams in between.
Passan labels the Pirates in the “Could Acquire… But” category, needing to answer important questions.
“Barring a rough June — which is not entirely out of the realm of possibility with upcoming series against the Braves, Dodgers, Mariners, and Phillies — the Pirates will add at the deadline,” Passan said.
Since writing his piece, the Pirates were swept by the Atlanta Braves and outscored 15-8. Evan Sisk replaced Bubba Chandler with one out in the seventh inning and inherited the bases loaded. One of the Bucs’ best relievers allowed a bases-clearing double to Michael Harris.
The three runs were all Atlanta needed to win 3-2.
Passan feels comfortable with Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and the Pirates’ rotation, while admitting the bullpen needs help.
“Their rotation is already good enough to have squeezed Mlodzinski out,” Passan said. “Their bullpen could use another power arm, though Gregory Soto, Mason Montgomery, and rookie Wilber Dotel are high-octane options.”
He thinks the Pirates could deal Carmen Mlodzinski in a potential trade. It’s important to note this was written before Mlodzinski delivered four innings of one-run ball in his first outing after moving to the bullpen, to help the Pirates defeat Houston on Thursday, 5-1.
Passan identified Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers as a potential replacement for Henry Davis or Endy Rodriguez and add a most consistent hitter behind the plate. Jeffers is hitting .295 with a .408 on-base percentage, seven homers, and 26 RBIs.
Passan believes the objective of the Pirates season is to make the postseason. It’s true, and it would mark the first time Pittsburgh is back in the playoffs since 2015. Pirates fans may be thinking more.
To do so, the Bucs need to acquire a bullpen arm… or five, more so than a catcher.
The bullpen owns a 4.14 ERA, fifth worst in the National League, a number helped by occasional opener situations with Carmen Mlodzinski. It also has a collective 1.32 WHIP and has allowed 118 earned runs, fourth worst in the NL.
Aroldis Chapman has been rumored to be the most likely reliever traded at, or even before, the deadline.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Pirates are aggressive in their pursuit of relief pitching.
In 20 games, Chapman has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. Over 19.2 innings, Chapman owns a 0.46 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts.
He has completed 13 saves for the 27-36 Red Sox, last place in their division, and significantly underperforming.
Fellow Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock also would make sense. Whitlock owns a 3.20 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 19.2 innings.
He was a key piece for Team USA’s bullpen in the World Baseball Classic and set the table for Mason Miller to close the ninth inning. Whitlock is expected to rejoin the Red Sox on Tuesday after battling a knee injury.
Relief pitching will be at a premium for the Pirates and likely other clubs as the August 3 deadline nears. It’s also the least expensive compared to impact bats and top-to-middle-of-the-rotation starters.
The Pirates need a bounce back against the Los Angeles Dodgers, hosting the defending champions for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday night.
De'Aaron Fox of San Antonio Spurs R competes during the final game 2 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Images)
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Is it over? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?1 Hell no! It’s not over. The Spurs are in a bad spot, down 2-0 and going on the road to Madison Square Garden, where there will be a lot of distractions, many of them having nothing to do with basketball. It’s going to be a challenge for both teams as try to play their best basketball and win a game in a legendary arena. The Spurs haven’t played a complete game in the series, but they had a terrific second half in Game 2 until the final seconds when their inexperience betrayed them with an inopportune turnover in the final seconds gave the Knicks a chance to retake the lead late, a lead that they held onto when Wembanyama’s midrange shot rimmed out as time expired.
The Spurs will need more than two good quarters tonight, and Victor Wembanyama will need to get more than 4 shots in the first half to pull out a road win. De’Aaron Fox has been looking healthier as the series goes on, and if he could get some of his lift back on his shots, it’s going to be helpful. The Knicks were a little off in the first game, but got everything going in the second game, and it wasn’t just Brunson, who was mediocre until crunch time, it took great games form Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns to pull out the win. Even Josh Hart, who had a goose egg in the scoring column, made some critical plays with rebounding and assists.
The Spurs will need more from their bench tonight, and Keldon Johnson needs to contribute more than the 3 points he scored in Game 2. It’s going to be do or die tonight. The Spur have had an incredible year so far, but they can keep it going with a win tonight and Wednesday. If the Spurs get this to a 3 game series with home court advantage, I like their chances. GO SPURS GO!!
The Germans did not, in fact, bomb Pearl Harbor. [Forget it, he’s rolling.] But that’s the opening line in Bluto’s [played by John Belushi] famous speech in the movie Animal House, where he convinced the members of Delta Tau Chi [aka Animal House] to engage in a really futile and stupid gesture to counter the actions of Dean Wormer.
Game Prediction:
Jalen Brunson get the final shot and misses it, and doesn’t even draw a foul, which is the first time that’s happened, ever. As far as I can tell.
San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Game 3 June 8, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Streaming: ESPN TV: ABC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
Oct 4, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green (14) dribbles against Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson (55) during the first quarter of game three of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images
Another day, another player who played in the bubble telling everyone how impressive that title was.
This time, it was Danny Green who sat down and talked about the team’s entire 2019-20 season in a video for Bleacher Report. It was a great video that included lots of anecdotes about the season, but it also included him presenting the case for that ring being the toughest of his career.
“It was by far the hardest championship that I had to achieve. To make that adjustment playing through COVID, having your family and friends not really there, not being able to even celebrate it properly. We went to the same restaurant that we go to every day and celebrated as a team but, after that, no real parade. So, it was just different. In the bubble, a lot of different things were going on where the walls start closing in on you mentally and emotionally. It was a hard-fought win. Also the physical task of every other day playing, which wears on you. By far the hardest because, again, mentally taxing.”
To add further credence to Green’s case, he’s someone who has won multiple rings in multiple places, so this is a statement that holds some weight. He also contended that, even if the bubble — and a global pandemic — didn’t exist, the Lakers would have won the title, calling it an “iconic, legendary team.”
Game 5 game-winning shot
Green didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room, either, when talking about the Finals. Prior to the Lakers coming out victorious in Game 6 against the Heat, Green had a shot to end the series and win a title in Game 5.
The shot missed and Green and the Lakers had to regroup. Green talked about the shot and the moment in the interview. The biggest takeaway was that he didn’t realize how much time was left when he took the shot, admitting he rushed it as a result.
Even after that missed opportunity, he said the vibe around the team was that they would bounce back and win in Game 6. Fortunately, that turned out to be the case.
Anthony Davis’ game-winner vs. Denver
To get to the Finals, the Lakers had to go through the Nuggets. That memorable series included one of the long-lasting highlights of Anthony Davis’ career.
In Game 2 with the Lakers down one, AD knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Instead of being tied in the series 1-1, the Lakers took a 2-0 lead and used that to go on and win the series.
Green talked about that shot and what it did for both the Lakers and Nuggets.
“With that game-winner, it gave us the momentum and confidence and everything we needed and also kind of put them in a — like that’s a devastating play to experience on the other side. When you lose by a game-winner, it’s really hard to bounce back from it. That was the play that, pretty much, I think, won us the championship. No disrespect to Miami. Miami was a very good team but I think this was the hardest overall team that we faced during that playoff run.”
The whole interview is worth a watch, if for no other reason than to take a trip down memory lane.
Evans becomes first men’s player to come out since Ian Roberts in 1995
Former Roosters and Eels player had struggled with suicidal thoughts
Former prop forward Kane Evans says a weight has lifted from his shoulders after he became only the second male NRL player to come out as gay. In an emotional interview with Channel Nine’s 100% Footy, the 131-time NRL player said he had struggled with addiction, suicidal thoughts and experienced homelessness as he grappled with his sexuality.
“I had three goals in life,” Evans said. “And it was to play NRL, to buy my parents a house, and then I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age. I know that I’m gay. But I went down every other avenue to sort of build up these walls. To be someone, to escape who I am.”
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 05: De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York juggernaut keeps rolling on, as the Knicks won both games in San Antonio to make it 13 straight postseason victories. The series now shifts to Madison Square Garden, where tickets on secondary market are going for $10k and the blood of a firstborn child. The last time a team came back from down 0-2 to win the Finals was 2021, when Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks over the Phoenix Suns. A starter on that Suns team? Mikal Bridges. Could history repeat itself for the Sixer-for-less-than-an-hour?
Honestly, the Knicks just look like the team of destiny right now. The Spurs’ young squad looked a little shook by the big moment and that was when the games were in San Antonio. Now the crowd will be going bonkers in the Garden. Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing great against Victor Wembanyama, who has had a much tougher time against the stronger Towns than Chet Holmgren in the previous series. We haven’t even seen a dynamite Jalen Brunson game yet. He shot just 7-of-25 in Game 2, after 12-of-31 in Game 1 (albeit with an incredible fourth quarter to carry the Knicks across the line). The Spurs have the stable of tall, athletic guards to throw at Brunson defensively, but you still assume he has at least one huge game, even in a less-than-ideal matchup.
What do you think? Do the Knicks take care of business back home or can the Spurs return the favor and steal a game on the road? Let us know in the comments and follow along with all the Game 3 action.
Game Details
When: June 8, 8:30 p.m. ET Where: Madison Square Garden Watch: ABC Radio: ESPN Radio Follow:@LibertyBallers
