Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs stand before the Knicks' first NBA title since the 1973 season after San Antonio's 111-103 Game 7 win Saturday at the Thunder dethroned reigning-champion Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals, setting the stage for a matchup that has New York laser-focused as prep begins for Wednesday's opener.
"They're a special team," Miles McBride said. "Obviously, they have a Defensive Player of the Year -- obviously, a great organization -- and they've got a lot of great young guys. So, we're just excited for this matchup."
While the Knicks exude confidence with 11 straight playoff wins and two postseason series sweeps en route to winning the Eastern Conference, the Spurs are on a run of their own after they rallied from 3-2 and won the best-of-seven set with OKC and back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
"It's going to be tough," Mike Brown said. "They're well-coached. They have an, obviously, tremendous player in Wemby. They're quote-unquote young, to a certain degree, but they have some really good veterans on the team that kind of uplift the young guys and give the young guys a lot of guidance. So, they've got a nice mix of players on their team and they're a team that comes out really aggressive and hits first, their crowd is into it and we've just have to go make sure we try to match or exceed their physicality to start the ballgame while leaning on our standards.
"The group has been resilient the whole year and we've got to keep sacrificing, we've got to keep playing with a competitive edge, we've got to stay connected, got to keep believing in each other and what we're trying to do out on the floor and if somebody's slipping in this area, that area, we've got to make sure that we help get them back on track by holding them accountable. So, all those things are going to come into play, playing a talented, well-coached team like the Spurs."
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama jumps off the page as the 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Western Conference Finals MVP, and New York's focus figures to start there, but the Knicks are not sleeping on the depth and balance behind him, which includes rising stars with local ties.
"They're young, athletic, physical -- they can do a little bit of everything," Josh Hart said, "can shoot the ball, finish at the rim, defend at a high level. So, obviously, Wemby's going to get a lot of attention in terms of game plan and media and that, but you can't sleep on guys like De'Aaron (Fox) or (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper, (Julian) Champagnie because if you do that, it's going to be a long series. So, we've got to give those guys the respect that they deserve and come out focused."
The Edmonton Oilers have reached the point where every offseason move has to thread a needle, or whatever.
They need to improve. They need to get younger. They need to stay competitive around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And they need to do it without a whole lot of cap space or draft capital.
The funny thing is, the future Edmonton has been trading away for years isn't really the future anymore. Some of those first-round picks would already be in Bakersfield. A couple might even be pushing for NHL roles. Instead, the Oilers are once again looking for creative ways to patch holes around an expensive core.
And if there's one area that still feels unsettled, it's the blue line.
If Stan Bowman decides to make a significant move this summer, three names jump off the page.
Let's start with the one that makes the most sense.
Jacob Trouba.
A few years ago, this would've been a much tougher sell. His contract was bloated, and his offensive numbers didn't match his reputation. There were nights where the game seemed to be moving faster than he was.
But hockey players age, roles change and expectations shift.
The version of Trouba available now isn't being asked to carry a defensive core. He's being asked to bring something Edmonton has lost.
A little menace.
There was a time when Darnell Nurse played with a certain snarl. Opposing forwards knew they'd pay a price around the crease, and scrums didn't end until Nurse decided they were over.
But that version shows up less and less these days.
If you were building a playoff defenceman in a lab, he'd check a lot of boxes. Right shot, good skater, competitive, moves the puck, plays tough minutes, and doesn't need to be sheltered.
Every contender would love to have him. Which is exactly the issue.
The moment Andersson becomes available, the line forms quickly.
The Oilers would undoubtedly have interest, but interest and ability aren't always the same thing. Edmonton has spent years moving picks and prospects in pursuit of immediate help. That's understandable when you're chasing Cups. It's also why acquiring a player like Andersson becomes difficult.
Right-shot defencemen don't grow on trees. Neither do affordable ones.
He moves the puck well, skates efficiently and can handle a serious amount of minutes on any given night. Those players tend to become more valuable the deeper a team gets into the playoffs.
The Oilers know that better than most.
Of course, before Edmonton can realistically add anyone, there's the uncomfortable conversation.
Maybe that's Darnell Nurse, whose contract continues to grow past his game. To be clear, Nurse is still a useful NHL defenceman, and the problem isn't whether he can play. It's whether he's providing value relative to the cap hit.
Or maybe it's Mattias Ekholm.
This is where hockey gets cruel.
Ekholm is still smart enough to defend half the league. He cares more than most defencemen on that team, but there were stretches this season where you could see the clock ticking.
The legs are always the first to go, and teams chasing a Stanley Cup in the next two years have to make tough decisions.
The Oilers don't need a complete makeover on defence. They need another option, another layer of defenceman who can pressure offence without creating problems.
Of the names available, Andersson is probably the best player. Raddysh might be the best value.
But if Edmonton is looking to change the personality of its blue line, Trouba is the most interesting fit.
Because for all the skill on this roster, there are still nights where the Oilers look a little too easy to play against.
Trouba wouldn't solve every problem. He'd just make sure the other team had a few more of their own.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers during the first inning of a 9-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Not a cake or a ribbon-wrapped present, but the Dodgers celebrated manager Dave Roberts’ 54th birthday with a 9-1 win over the Phillies on Sunday. The Dodgers ended their homestand with a 5-1 record despite their six-game winning streak ending the night before.
“You’re gonna get beat at times, it’s gonna happen,” Roberts said. “But I do think with the talent that we have, if we focus and play like we’re capable of, we should win series, regardless of home, road.”
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-4) held the Phillies hitless over the first three innings thanks, in part, to the defense.
Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh tried to steal second in the second inning, but he took off too early. Yamamoto swung around and tossed the ball to Alex Freeland, who nabbed Marsh’s hands.
Yamamoto, much like Roki Sasaki the night before, threw his pitches faster than normal. But the elevated velocity didn’t seem to affect his performance beyond extending at-bats. Despite throwing his four-seam fastball 1 mph faster than usual, the pitch resulted in a strike 76% of the time.
“During the preparation this week towards today’s game, I was always having a great feeling, and then I think I was able to get myself pretty ready,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “I was prepared. ... And then I was getting into the game with confidence.”
Philadelphia’s Trea Turner and Alex Bohm each clubbed singles in the fourth inning, but little came to fruition. When Roberts pulled Yamamoto in the sixth, he had blanked his opponents with 10 strikeouts, four hits and two walks.
“He just didn’t have that great command of the fastball, which I think led to some deeper counts,” Roberts said. “Didn’t take on any damage, but it just led to a higher pitch count. So tried to get him into the sixth inning, which we did, but I didn’t want to push him too much further.”
Freddie Freeman scores off a single by Kyle Tucker in the third inning Sunday against the Phillies at Dodger Stadium. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Yet no one — not the Phillies (30-29) nor the Dodgers (38-21) — had a harder game at the plate than home plate umpire Sean Barber, who had nine ABS challenges, three of which were upheld.
Two overturned calls in the first inning helped Yamamoto settle into the game, catcher Dalton Rushing said.
“I’ve worked on that recently to kind of understand the corners to give us the best advantages we can,” Rushing said. “To be able to help him out like that was great. The command was a little touchy in the first, compared to where he’s usually at, so just to be able to kind of, quote-unquote, save him a little bit with those two challenges, I think it allowed him to settle in.”
Yamamoto agreed: “That was a good challenge, because I believe I was hitting my spots. So that was a great challenge.”
The Dodgers had 13 hits, and the runs followed. In the second, Alex Freeland’s RBI double bounced off the center-field wall. As Philadelphia’s Justin Crawford rushed to track it down, Max Muncy sprinted around third and slid into home, avoiding the tag by catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Realmuto left in the bottom of the fourth inning with a left wrist contusion from a pitch that had hit him earlier in the game. He will undergo further testing, according to the team.
Kyle Tucker took a step toward overcoming his recent struggles with a third-inning RBI single down the first-base line. The ball skidded against the dirt and deflected off the base over Bryce Harper’s head. Freddie Freeman scored.
Tucker was one for his past 17 at Dodger Stadium before he finally connected off Phillies starter Andrew Painter (1-6).
“Today was a good day,” Roberts said. “Obviously, that [single], got a little lucky on, but the double over the right fielder’s head, García, that was a good swing. I just thought today, took some really good swings, got some good counts, chased a sweeper down below on his last at-bat, but, yeah, I thought today looked more of who he is.”
From there, the Dodgers kept scoring.
Ryan Ward receives a sunflower seed shower from teammate Andy Pages after hitting a home run for the Dodgers on Sunday. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Ryan Ward and Freeland each homered to right field. It was Ward’s first home run in his first game at Dodger Stadium. Alex Call, who pinch-hit for Ward in the fifth, also drove in two runs with a single to shallow center left field.
“I’m just uber-excited for Ryan Ward,” Freeland said. “I don’t think there’s anybody that deserves it more than him. So to share that moment with him is special.”
Andy Pages scored in the sixth inning on a Freeman sacrifice fly, and Muncy homered in the seventh.
“It just speaks to how we’re playing,” Roberts said. “I expect to go out there, regardless of opponent, and play well. You know, on the heels of last night, to be able to bounce back like we did was a good thing and a good sign for our club. But I just like the way we go about things, and to be able to give guys days off, and backfill with other guys, and for those guys to step up, that was great.”
Bryson Stott put the Phillies on the board with a home run in the ninth. By then, though, the Dodgers had already wrapped the bow on Roberts’ birthday gift.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts high-fives left fielder Ryan Ward after a 9-1 win over the Phillies on Sunday. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers activate Jack Dreyer
The Dodgers activated reliever Jack Dreyer from the injured list and, in a corresponding move, optioned Paul Gervase to triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dreyer had been one of the Dodgers’ most consistent relievers before he missed 13 games with left shoulder inflammation. In 20 appearances, he held a 2.08 ERA with five earned runs and 24 strikeouts.
“Really excited to be back, obviously to do what I can to help the team,” Dreyer said. “Feeling great, so just ready to go whenever my number is called.”
Blake Snell, recovering from surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, is throwing plyo balls but is not on a throwing progression yet like closer Edwin Díaz.
May 31, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Daniel Susac (6) misses a tag on Colorado Rockies infielder Kyle Karros (12) at home in the second inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
“I had a root canal on Thursday and I’m not sure which was worse,” said Rockies commentator Jeff Huson about today’s baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants.
The Rockies entered today’s game with a series win already wrapped up and a chance to sweep a scuffling division rival. Instead, they lost to the Giants in what might end up being the worst game of the 2026 season.
On a combined 396 pitches, there were a combined 25 runs on 35 hits and six errors—though most of those runs and hits were from just one team. The game lasted a grueling three hours and 38 minutes to become the longest nine-inning game the Rockies have played this season. It was also one of the longest nine-inning games played in the league so far in 2026.
TJ Rumfield was a late pre-game scratch with shoulder soreness, the pitching was unpleasant, the offense could have been better, and ultimately Rockies fans were left with a game they’d love to forget to finish out what has been a largely unpleasant month of May.
A truly spectacular pitching meltdown
With the Giants scoring 19 runs on 25 hits and three Rockies errors over a total of 216 pitches thrown, this afternoon was easily the worst overall pitching performance of the season.
Starting pitcher Tanner Gordon lasted just three innings and threw 75 pitches with only two strikeouts. The Giants opened up the scoring in the first inning with a double—the first of many—a walk, and a single to score their first run and it was all downhill from there. Back-to-back doubles in the second inning plated another run, though it was in this frame that Gordon notched his only two strikeouts of the game.
With just a two run deficit heading into the third inning, it looked like the ship could still be righted. Gordon allowed a single but no other baserunners in what would end up being the only scoreless inning of the game for Rockies pitching.
Gordon started the fourth inning by giving up his fourth double of the game and then hitting catcher Daniel Susac in the (helmeted) head to end his afternoon. He was replaced by bullpen lefty Brennan Bernardino, who immediately threw a ball into the outfield checking a runner to have both runners advance. He then gave up a single, a walk, and a sacrifice fly for another two runs to score. Both runs were credited to Gordon.
The fifth inning is where things completely fell apart. With a close 4-3 ballgame, Zach Agnos—sporting a newly grown beard—took the mound. Things got ugly quick.
The Giants sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the fifth inning. Agnos gave up five extra-base hits—three doubles, a triple, and a home run—with a grand slam following an intentional walk to load the bases sealing the Rockies’ fate. Six of the seven runs allowed by Agnos came with two outs and his ERA for the season jumped to an ugly 7.78.
The Rockies sent out Keegan Thompson, Juan Mejia, and finally Brett Sullivan to finish the game in mop-up duty. All three gave up multiple hits and multiple runs.
Feared catcher reliever Brett Sullivan was finally made to look mortal, giving up his first two earned runs of the season. It was his fourth appearance as a reliever in ten days.
Hard and loud contact was ultimately what the Giants brought to the table against Rockies pitching. Of their 25 total hits, 13 were for extra bases: nine doubles, a triple, and three home runs.
What offense would have been enough?
In another world, the Rockies could have won this game and swept the Giants with a generally decent outing from their bats. The Rockies scored six runs on ten hits and drew five walks against San Francisco pitching while their defense committed three errors. However, there’s not a lot you can do when the pitching staff gives up 19 runs and you don’t capitalize on the many opportunities you had available to you.
The Rockies had at least one baserunner in every inning except for the ninth—which, by then everyone from the Rockies to the Giants to the Umpires were ready to call it a day. In several innings they had multiple baserunners. However, they ended the day going just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left ten men stranded. They also had just three extra-base hits compared to the Giants’ 13.
For what it’s worth, a few Rockies hitters did have genuinely solid days at the plate. Tyler Freeman went 3-for-4 with a walk and a double, Kyle Karros went 2-for-4 with a walk and a double, and Troy Johnston went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Infielder Chad Stevens drew two walks despite going hitless, and backup catcher Braxton Fulford had just one hit but used it to drive in two of the Rockies’ six runs.
Up Next
The Rockies are back out on the road with a series against another basement dweller. With a record of 23-27, the Los Angeles Angels are just one win above the Rockies and the Detroit Tigers for the worst record in Major League Baseball.
California games also mean late start times. Tomorrow’s series opener will kick off at 7:38 PM MDT with a match-up between struggling veteran lefty Kyle Freeland and right-handed Angels ace José Soriano.
The Canadian captain was named the tournament's best forward by the International Ice Hockey Federation directorate. He also was one of the three forwards named to the media all-star team.
Celebrini, who turns 20 in June, ranked second in the tournament with 14 points, one behind Switzerland's Sven Andrighetto. He was tied for the second-most goals with six.
He had one of the plays of the tournament with a long backhand flip pass that led to a Dylan Holloway goal against Finland.
Captain Canada Macklin Celebrini feeds Dylan Holloway for the go ahead goal in the first period. Former #SJSharks defender Dylan DeMelo with the secondary assist. Canada up 2-1 in #MensWorlds Semis pic.twitter.com/MIM5FKfuzQ
— TEAL TOWN USA - A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TEALTOWNUSA) May 30, 2026
Celebrini was named captain before the tournament and held the position even after the arrival of Sidney Crosby.
Canada, which was upset by Norway in last year's quarterfinals, won its seven preliminary round games and beat the defending champion United States in the quarterfinal.
But it lost to Finland in the semifinals and to Norway in the bronze medal game to finish without a medal for the third year in a row.
Celebrini also represented Canada in the last year's world championships and in the Olympics.
Pablo May 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) slides past Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) for a run in the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
Call it what you like: Dodger Stadium, Chavez Ravine, Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium if you’re a pedant or obligated by branding contracts. It’s a special place. I visited for the first time earlier this month to catch an installment of the age-old showdown between the Dodgers and their former citymates in black and orange, and soon found myself overwhelmed. The history of the place— the almost-tangible presence of the many greats who called the ballpark home, the almost-audible echoes of the crowds roaring at yet-another championship as Vin Scully voices their joy in his immortal tones—knocked me flat, left me dizzy. There was no doubt about it: the sheer presence that fills Dodger Stadium had sent me into delirium.
Actually, I was just dehydrated. One popsicle and two rapidly-chugged bottles of water later, and I was feeling normal. Still impressed by the stadium, sure: it’s genuinely great. But perhaps not quite so magical as woozy eyes might make it look. The Phillies, unfortunately, were left as woozy as I was, not by Dodger Stadium magic or dehydration, but by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and some unforced errors.
The start of the game was an exercise in frustration for the Phillies. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper both struck out looking on pitches that were initially ruled balls and became strike three upon being challenged by Dodger backstop Dalton Rushing. Sandwiched in between was a groundout from Trea Turner. It didn’t get much cheerier when Shohei Ohtani hit a single that soared just over the outstretched glove of Bryson Stott. And it didn’t get any nicer for Phillies fans when Andy Pages skied a ball to deep center. But Justin Crawford, taking the mood of the Phillie faithful into his capable hands, dashed, leapt, caught the ball, and slammed into the wall. His cap flew off, his sunglasses were knocked askew, and the ball remained securely in his glove. After that, the Phillies got to engage in the age-old game of turnabout as J.T. Realmuto turned a Freddie Freeman walk into a backwards K via a challenge. The inning wrapped up without a run.
Brandon Marsh walked to open up the second, then got tossed out at second when he jumped before Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched. The Dodgers had better results with their baserunner in the second, as Max Muncy singled and was plated by a double to center from Alex Freeland. Andrew Painter recovered nicely, with a strikeout of Ohtani to end the inning.
The Phillies continued to get some bad luck as the Dodgers got the better bounces. In the top third, Realmuto was hit by a pitch, which would later see him pulled from the game. In the bottom third, Freeman singled, advanced to second on a Mookie Betts groundout, then scored when Kyle Tucker hit a weak grounder that bounced awkwardly off of first base, over Harper’s glove, and into right. But luck, like the wheels of the Dodger Stadium Express, eventually turns(it does not, however, turn for the people who eschew said bus in the hopes that parking near the stadium will work out. They’re doomed). In the top of the fourth, Turner hit a bloop single that fell perfectly between a trio of descending Dodgers. Alec Bohm singled too, but it came to naught.
And it turned out the luck hadn’t changed so much after all: in the bottom fourth, Ryan Ward saw a slider from Painter that was about as spicy as the garlic fries they serve at Dodger Stadium— which is to say, not very. He sent it skyward, where it found the Phillies bullpen for what was his first career homer. It’s a lovely thing to see a milestone like that, unless it’s from the other team, in which case it’s just frustrating. That’s just a momentary frustration, though. The injury to Realmuto, who was pulled prior to the start of the bottom fourth, might be a longer one. Hopefully not. Rafael Marchán replaced him. Then Freeland saw a splitter that he rather liked, and sent a roundtripper to a similar spot as Ward did. The Tinseltowners took a 4-0 lead, Tanner Banks came into replace Painter, and the Phillies desperately hoped for a narrative change.
For a moment, it looked like they got one. Márchan singled in the top fifth, and Crawford doubled to center-right, with the ball landing just past the reach of a sliding Pages. But neither could be brought home, and the Phillies wrapped up their portion of the fifth with a run column as empty as my wallet after I purchased the $80 Ohtani-endorsed skincare for sale at the Dodgers team store.
Note: this is a joke. Not the part where the Dodgers sell that, which they do, or the part where they charge $80 for it, which they do. I did briefly consider actually buying it to turn into some sort of bit for this recap, but while I truly appreciate you, dear TGP reader, I still couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Just like I couldn’t buy that skincare, the Phillies couldn’t buy a break. In the bottom fifth Betts walked, Tucker doubled, and both scored when pinch-hitter Alex Call hit a fly ball that dropped perfectly between the onrushing Phillies.
Yamamoto walked Harper, struck out Marsh, and then finished his day (4 hits, 0 runs, 10 K). Will Klein was the choice from the bullpen, and, despite being more hittable than Yamamoto, soon thwarted the Phillies. They put two aboard, but neither came home, in part because a Bryson Stott bloop found a sliding Pages’ glove, with the latter turning the page from his earlier failed catch.
Pages then rubbed it in by hitting a popup that Stott couldn’t quite chase down, the ball bouncing away and becoming a triple. Pages promptly scored on a sacrifice fly.
As the Phillies entered the bottom of the seventh, they replaced Turner with Edmundo Sosa, and Harper with Garrett Stubbs. Muncy homered. That gave the Dodgers their eighth run. In the bottom eighth, Nolan Hoffman loaded the bases (walk, single, walk), with none out. The damage was limited, with the Dodgers plating only one more.
The bottom ninth saw the Phillies finally score, via Stott solo shot. There was to be no grand comeback, but the moment was appreciated.
The Phillies are 30-29. They return to action Tuesday at 6:40 for a series against the Padres.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After suffering a deflating loss on Saturday, the Dodgers bounced back behind a dominant performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, taking the finale 9-1 and securing a series win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies were the first to strike on Saturday with a home run from Alec Bohm in the second inning. The Dodgers were the first to strike on Sunday in the bottom of the second as Alex Freeland lined a two-out, RBI double to make it a 1-0 lead. Kyle Tucker brought the lead to two in the bottom of the third with a two-out RBI single to snap an 0-8 skid in the series.
Ryan Ward bounced back after striking out against Painter by crushing a hanging sweeper 108 miles per hour into the Phillies bullpen for his first major league home run, extending the Dodgers lead to three to begin the bottom of the fourth.
Alex Freeland followed up Ward with a home run of his own— his first since being recalled from Triple-A— to give him two RBI in as many at-bats, helping extend the lead to four and chase Painter out of the game.
The Dodgers early scoring spree was ample support for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as he began his afternoon with a pair of strikeouts against Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the top of the first inning. Yamamoto was working on a no-hitter briefly until he allowed a bloop single from Trea Turner to begin the top of the fourth. The Phillies had two men on base in both the fourth and fifth innings, but Yamamoto managed to work around the traffic both times.
Yamamoto was not able to throw a quality start for the first time since allowing five earned runs against the San Francisco Giants on May 12, but he struck out a season-high 10 hitters while tossing his first scoreless outing all season and his first since his final regular season start last year against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Alex Call came in to pinch hit for Ward with the left-hander Tanner Banks on the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning, and he answered the call with a two-run single to give the Dodgers a six run lead. After Andy Pages reached on a bloop triple to shallow right field in the bottom of the sixth, every single Dodger in the starting lineup reached base at least once on Sunday. A sacrifice fly from Freddie Freeman extended the Dodger lead to seven.
Max Muncy joined in on the offensive barrage with a monster solo home run against Chase Shugart in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it an 8-0 lead. It was Muncy’s 14th home run on the year— reclaiming the team lead— and it was his 129th home run hit at Dodger Stadium, placing him just one home run behind Eric Karros for the most by a Dodger at home.
Freddie Freeman’s second sacrifice fly of the game to give the Dodgers their final run. They were three outs away from a shutout victory, but a home run from Bryson Stott against Jonathan Hernández put the Phillies on the board late.
It is the first time since May 2023 that the Dodgers have won a regular season series against the Philadelphia Phillies at home. With the San Diego Padres getting swept by the Washington Nationals, the Dodgers increase their division lead to 5 1/2 games.
Game particulars
Home runs— Ryan Ward (1), Alex Freeland (3), Max Muncy (14); Bryson Stott (6)
The Dodgers head out to Arizona to begin a four game set with the Diamondbacks on Monday (6:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Emmet Sheehan faces Eduardo Rodriguez.
The Yankees secured back-to-back series wins Sunday when they took their three-game set at the Athletics with a 13-8 victory in the finale, rebounding from Saturday's 6-4 loss.
Takeaways
New York (36-23) was one run shy of a franchise-record 14 runs in the third inning when it batted around twice on its way to 13 runs, 11 hits -- eight singles, two doubles and one triple -- and four walks that spanned three A's pitchers. The 43-minute top half started on Paul Goldschmidt's RBI single with the bases loaded and none out, and Cody Bellinger's two-out edition to follow Ben Rice's two-run triple capped the Yankees' scoring frenzy. After New York scored one run in the first eight innings of Saturday's defeat, it found its stride with a breakthrough that added some needed cushion.
Will Warren allowed three unearned runs in the first inning to put the Yankees in an immediate hole but subsequently bounced back with five scoreless frames. He ended his six-inning start with six hits allowed while striking out five and walking three on 82 pitches (51 strikes). Warren lacked his best stuff but dug deep to earn his seventh win at 7-1 and lower his ERA to 3.22.
Warren's replacement, Tim Hill, allowed three runs or more for the second time since surrendering three in a short-lived relief appearance during last Friday's 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Hill (4.03 ERA) entered the seventh inning with a 10-run lead but gave up two homers while struggling to locate pitches. Fortunately for New York, the A's (28-31) create too much of a mountain to climb.
The Yankees match the AL East-leading Rays (36-20) with 36 wins entering June. After a three-game skid between May 20-21 losses against the Toronto Blue Jays and the aforementioned May 22 defeat against Tampa Bay, New York has won six of its past seven games as it enters the new month with a six-game homestand on the horizon.
Who's the MVP?
Rice, whose start as the Yankees' designated hitter in the second spot of the batting order -- behind Goldschmidt, who started at first and led off -- featured four RBI during a 2-for-5 afternoon. Before Rice's aforementioned triple, his two-run double earlier in the third inning tied the game at 3-3 and ignited the rally.
The Yankees take Monday off before Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. opener with the Cleveland Guardians starts a three-game series that spills into Wednesday and Thursday. New York's six-game homestand subsequently continues Friday through Sunday with a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox.
Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (7-2, 1.50 ERA) and Guardians LHP Joey Cantillo (4-2, 3.57 ERA) are set to start Tuesday.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after he hit a home run against the Athletics in the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park on May 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
That was one of the stranger games of baseball you’ll see. If you came in blind and I told you that the Yankees would give up eight runs while only scoring in a single inning, and Sacremento pitching faced the minimum in every other inning, you’d probably bet that they lost their Sunday rubber match with the Athletics. Except, it was a really, really big inning, a historically big inning. Thirteen men crossed the plate in the top of the third, and New York finished this road trip 5-1 after a 13-8 victory over the A’s.
We were all frustrated by the start of the game. The Yankees went down quietly in the top of the first, and Trent Grisham couldn’t find second gear on a dying quail in center field:
Bad defense leading to a crooked number, in a West Coast game on a getaway day in an MiLB stadium. There were a lot of reasons for the more superstitious to believe this was going to turn into one of those games. Instead, we got to see something no Yankee fan had seen in more than a hundred years.
How do we even start? Anthony Volpe singled and stole second, before Max Schuemann and Austin Wells both worked walks to load the bases. Down three, with the bases drunk and nobody out, my thought was “You’ve gotta tie the game here.”
Paul Goldschmidt did his job, an infield single and the Yankees were able to capitalize on Jacob Lopez’s failure to cover first; 3-1. Then came Ben Rice, to knot us up:
I’m thinking, “Great, fantastic, exactly what the team needed to do.”
I’ve watched a lot of baseball, you figure they’ll maybe tack on another run or two, little bit of a cushion for Will Warren. The club pushed another run across in an eerie echo of the Grisham blunder two innings prior:
But then something started to happen. The Yankees kept getting hits, and when they weren’t getting hits it was because José Caballero walked with the bases loaded, ahead of Trent Grisham making up for that first-inning error:
Volpe completed the bat-around with another single, scoring another run. Schuemann pitched in a two-run double. Austin Wells walked again!
Side note — if there’s anyone in the Yankee org that passed along my “Austin Wells stop swinging” advice earlier this weekend, I appreciate you.
The leadoff hitter Goldschmidt was the first Yankee retired in the frame, after a dozen men safely reached base. I can only imagine the ribbing the veteran must have received on returning to the dugout, the crack in the chain of baserunners. Rice picked up the old man with a triple that scored two more runs:
Cody Bellinger would add another run on a single, and Cabby notched the last hit in a historic frame before Grisham was finally retired.
The Yankees sent 18 men to the plate, scoring 13 runs. The franchise record in a single frame is 14, set in the 1920 campaign. I suppose it is mathematically possible that someone in the stadium today or watching the YES broadcast was around for that, but the old adage that when you go to the ballpark, you have a chance to see something you’ve never seen before certainly rang true in Sacremento today.
Suzyn Waldman noted on WFAN that 45 minutes is the decision point during a rain delay, where teams remove whatever pitcher was in at the time the skies opened up and go with a bullpen arm. The top of the third lasted 42 minutes, with Will Warren jogging down to the outfield bullpens in an attempt to stay warm. As impressive as the offense was, perhaps equally as impressive was Warren needing just 11 pitches to work the bottom of the inning, and five the bottom of the fourth — the platonic ideal of the quick, shutdown inning after an explosion like that.
Warren ended up going six innings, with zero earned runs allowed. He pretty clearly pivoted to “pitching to the scoreboard” after the third inning, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the 5:3 K:BB ratio. Tim Hill was the first bullpen arm used, likely since with such a significant lead Aaron Boone needed someone who could keep the ball in the strike zone. While Hill did that, he didn’t exactly keep the ball in the yard, giving up two home runs and taking it from a ten-run game to a six-run affair.
Fernando Cruz also allowed a run in the eighth, an RBI double off Nick Kurtz’s bat. David Bednar, in need of work after five days off, was called upon in the ninth and put a pair of men on, before finally closing it out and sealing a series win. The Yankees didn’t even get a hit outside of that mammoth third, but it was mammoth enough that we’ll remember it for a long time.
The club gets a much-appreciated day off tomorrow as they fly home from the West Coast, and then we get Cam Bump Day on Tuesday. Cleveland comes to town for a three-game set, and Cam Schlittler gets the ball for the first round against lefty Joey Cantillo. Tuesday’s action starts at 7:05pm Eastern.
He was one of the heaviest-hitting defenseman the Detroit Red Wings have ever had, and he played a key role in their most recent Stanley Cup-winning season of 2007-08.
Now, Niklas Kronwall is getting some well-deserved recognition, having recently been inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Additionally, former Red Wings forward Tomas Vanek was also announced as an inductee.
Kronwall was selected by the Red Wings in the first round (29th overall) of the 2000 NHL Draft while playing for Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League, and would eventually make his NHL debut in the 2003-04 season.
Injuries limited him in 2005-06, though he would eventually appear in 68 games the following season.
2007-08 was his true coming out party, as reached career highs in goals scored (seven), assists (25), and would later contribute 15 assists in 22 postseason games, helping the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup.
He'd eventually play 953 career NHL games, all with Detroit, finishing his career with 83 goals and 349 assists, while also contributing five goals and 42 assists in 109 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Representing Sweden internationally, he won a gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2006 World Championship,. as well as a silver medal in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Not only could he chip in offensively, but he also became known for his thunderous body checks that eventually became known as being "Kronwalled".
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The Vancouver Canucks are ushering in a new era with their changes to their management group. Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin are out, with Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Ryan Johnson taking their places. With it comes the hope that Vancouver’s culture will undergo a shift.
The first head coach to take up a role under the old management regime was Bruce Boudreau. The veteran NHL coach spent around one year with the Canucks before being fired mid-season in 2023 in a drawn-out process that resulted in Vancouver receiving backlash. Rich Tocchet later came in to take Boudreau’s place.
Earlier today, Boudreau gave his thoughts on how the team’s new management team will differ from the old group, not shying away from his critique of his former Vancouver colleagues.
“I think [Johnson and the Sedins] are going to be so much better than to have Jim there and Patrik Allvin, who did whatever Jim wanted anyway, so it didn’t really matter if Patrik was there or not,” he said on the Fellowship of the Rink podcast.
While his tenure with the Canucks wasn’t long, Boudreau did get to work with both Johnson and the Sedins at some points during his time with Vancouver. The former Canucks head coach had ample praise for Johnson, who had been the Abbotsford Canucks’ GM during Boudreau’s time with Vancouver.
“He was the only one that was easy to talk to. The only one that would have a conversation where you weren’t worried that, ‘what do I have to say now,’ to make sure that it doesn’t get back to anybody,” he said. “It makes you feel comfortable to talk to him.”
Oct 24, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau on the bench against Carolina Hurricanes in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Boudreau was also quick to celebrate the Sedins’ promotion, citing their commitment to the organization and willingness to be involved on all levels as an indicator that they should do well in the roles they have taken up.
“They would go to Abbotsford, they would go on the ice, they’d show the kids faceoffs, they would show our guys faceoffs,” he said. “The players in both Abbotsford and Vancouver felt comfortable to talk to them because they weren’t judging you outwardly. They weren’t sitting there and making public statements about you that didn’t need to be made.”
In Boudreau’s time as head coach, the Canucks posted a record of 50–40–13, including a 32–15–10 stretch during the final 57 games of the 2021–22 season. During the first half of the 2022–23 season, in Boudreau’s final 46 games with the Canucks, Vancouver put up a record of 18–25–3. The longtime NHL head coach registered his best season record with the Washington Capitals in 2009–10 (54–15–13).
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PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 22: Mikal Bridges #25 talks to Bismack Biyombo #18 of the Phoenix Suns during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 22, 2022 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Finals are set. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will face off against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in a finals that will break historic NBA clichés. Either an inexperienced team will prove you don’t need experience to win a title, or that you can win a championship with a small guard that isn’t the greatest shooter of all-time (Steph Curry) leading your team in the modern NBA. Can’t forget about those Bad Boy Pistons of course!
No matter the income, a former Phoenix Sun will be victorious and win their first NBA title for the first time since Ish Smith did it with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 19: Landry Shamet #14 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 19, 2022 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If the Spurs win, Bismack Biyombo, who played on the Suns from 2022-2023, will get a ring, as will Mason Plumlee, who was on the team in 2024-25. If the Knicks win, both Landry Shamet, who was on the Suns from 2021-2023, and Mikal Bridges, who started his career in Phoenix in 2018 until he was traded for Kevin Durant in the franchise-altering deal in 2023, will get a ring. Biyombo, Shamet, and Bridges were all members of the franchise’s most successful regular season in team history, the 2021-2022 season, where Phoenix had the best record in the league and went 64-18.
Bridges, who started alongside Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Jae Crowder, and Deandre Ayton as a part of the 2021 Finals squad, had his best year as a member of the Suns in the 2021-2022 season, averaging 14 points per game on 53% shooting from the field and 37% from deep, and received All-Defensive First Team honors. Bridges didn’t miss a single game during his time as a Sun and holds the longest active streak for most games played in the NBA.
Shamet, playing a reserve role, mostly came off the bench for the team in his two seasons. The best moment of his Phoenix career came in the 2022-2023 campaign in the Western Conference Semifinals, where he hit five threes in Game 4 and scored 19 to help the Suns tie the eventual NBA Champion Nuggets 2-2 through four games.
Biyombo appeared in just 97 total regular-season games for the team over his two years, filling the role of third-string center, filling in mostly when the team was dealing with injuries or was shorthanded after the Durant trade. And Mason Plumlee had the shortest stint of them all, starting 21 of his 74 games while with the Suns. Although he was known to get into a scuffle or two.
Steven Adams and Mason Plumlee have both been ejected.
Whether the Knicks win and Shamet and Bridges are champs, or the Spurs do and Biyombo and Plumlee are, a former Phoenix Sun will have helped hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time in a few years. The Finals start Wednesday, June 3rd, at 5:30 Arizona Time on ABC.
May 30, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) reacts after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The train just won’t stop rolling, folks. The Atlanta Braves went into this series with the Cincinnati Reds following an emphatic bounce-back series win against the Boston Red Sox and looking to ensure that this road trip would be a winning one as well. It was especially encouraging to see Ronald Acuña Jr. deliver a big hit for the first time in what felt like ages during that final game in Boston and I’d imagine that we were all hoping that this would keep on going as the team switched venues from Fenway Park to the Great American Ball Park.
As it turned out, to say that Acuña kept it going would be an understatement. It is legitimately not hyperbolic to say that Acuña looked like an MVP-caliber hitter again over the course of these three games in Cincinnati. Now granted, Acuña (and the Braves as a whole during this current era) have usually had a good time swinging the bat in this ballpark but what happened over the course of this weekend was something akin to watching a supernova go off right in front of your eyes. Let’s get into this series to see exactly how things turned out on what ended up being a typically loud series on the Buckeye side of the Ohio River.
Ronald Acuña Jr. picked up exactly where he left off in Boston as he crushed a leadoff dinger to get the Braves on the board first. In fact, Reds outfielder bake Dunn was the only reason why it didn’t get worse for starting pitcher Chris Paddack and the Reds in the first inning as Dunn robbed Michael Harris II of a dinger and then unleashed a laser to get Matt Olson out at second base after Olson tried to leg out a double.
With that being said, that didn’t stop the Braves from continuing their early onslaught once the second inning rolled around. Atlanta loaded the bases with nobody out to get the top of the second started and they eventually ended up cashing in three runs from it in order to take a 4-0 lead. That was all the damage they’d end up doing to Paddack and in fact, this was a tight game after five innings after the Reds launched two solo homers off of Grant Holmes in the fourth inning and then added a third run to Holmes’ line after Didier Fuentes gave up an RBI single to Sal Stewart to make it just a one-run lead for the Braves.
Fortunately, Yunior Marte suffered the same fate as Chris Paddack in that they both gave up four runs. Marte surrendered all four of those runs in one inning, though, as the first four Braves who came to the plate in the sixth all reached safely. Michael Harris II, Jorge Mateo (who has been lowkey heating up lately) and Mike Yastrzemski all delivered the big RBI shots that resulted in the Braves taking a five-run, 8-3 lead. Didier Fuentes sat down the side in order in the sixth inning and Atlanta’s bullpen clamped down from that point forward in order to make sure that 8-3 was how it ended.
The long ball played a major factor in Atlanta’s success in picking up yet another series, as the Braves clubbed four homers in this one. Half of those came off of the bat of Ronald Acuña Jr., who appears to be on the start of a real heater. The Braves actually trailed after two innings thanks to JJ Bleday taking advantage of a hanging curveball from Martín Pérez for a two-run homer but after that, the homers were exclusively reserved for the Braves.
Acuña’s first dinger of the game came in the third inning as it tied the game up at two runs apiece. Two innings later, Jorge Mateo hit his third dinger of the season to put the Braves in front (now mind you, Mateo hit one (1) homer in 43 games last season) and then Acuña followed that up by reaching third base without swinging the bat following a walk and two stolen bases. He didn’t score but it’s also another sign that Acuña may be rounding into MVP form — plus it was pretty cool to see so I had to mention it.
Anyways, Matt Olson sent one out for a solo shot in the seventh inning to give the Braves some breathing room and then Acuña put the icing on the cake with a bomb in ninth inning to make it a three-run deficit. Thanks to Martín Pérez throwing another solid five innings and Atlanta’s high-leverage bullpen quartet of Tyler Kinley, Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias combining for four scoreless innings with just one baserunner allowed between the four of them, the Braves ended up cruising to their 40th victory of the season. Folks, that’s 40 victories before June — PHEW!
The good news to report from this one is that Ronald Acuña Jr. continued to absolutely light it up at the plate. Acuña reached base four times in this one and in fact, the very first pitch he saw from Nick Lodolo during this game ended up landing in the right field seats for his fifth home run in four games. As far as the plate production goes, the Reds will surely not miss seeing Acuña for the rest of this season!
The bad news is that the Braves couldn’t really string together enough offense to deliver a big inning that could’ve potentially turned the tide in this one. The Reds responded with an RBI double from (none other than) JJ Bleday in the first inning to tie it up and then Bleday hit liner out to right for another double that gave the Reds the lead in the third inning. As a matter of fact, the Reds basically just wore out Acuña out there in right field as Will Benson’s double in the fourth inning ended up turning into another run scored for the Reds as Acuña had a devil of a time trying to retrieve the ball. Spencer Steer went first-to-home as a result and the Braves were in a 3-1 hole.
That was the second of five straight innings where the Reds added exactly one run to their tally. Despite another Jorge Mateo home run in the fifth inning and a sacrifice fly from Austin Riley in the sixth inning, the Braves were unable to keep pace with Cincinnati and found themselves dealing with a three-run deficit once the ninth inning rolled around. Atlanta was able to get a rally going in the final frame which saw Acuña drive in another run to make it 6-4 while also getting themselves into a bases-loaded situation with two outs. Having Matt Olson at the plate was about as good as what the Braves could ask for but unfortunately, Olson grounded out to third and the Braves ended up having to settle for a series win instead of a sweep.
So, that’s another series win, another successful road trip and another wildly successful month of baseball for the 2026 Atlanta Braves. They’ve now won or split 15 of 17 series that they’ve played so far and they’re the first team to win 40 games this season. They’ll be the only team with at least 40 wins for at least a few days since the only other team that’s knocking on the door of 40 wins is none other than the Dodgers, who have 37 wins. The Rays and Yankees aren’t too far behind with 36 and 35 wins and then you have the Brewers with 35 wins as well and the Guardians are continuing to practice witchcraft over there with 34 wins of their own.
No matter how you slice it, the Braves are red-hot and they aren’t showing too many signs of stopping. For reference’s sake, the Nationals have gone 20-13 over their past 33 and they’re still firmly in the rear view mirror. The Phillies are starting to recover from their rough start and yet they’re right there wit the Nationals in terms of distance behind the Braves. No current divisional leader has a bigger cushion at the top of their division right now than the Braves do and it’s tough to imagine that changing any time soon.
It also sure helps that Ronald Acuña Jr. is showing some loud signs that he’s getting right again. The Braves have been successful with Acuña kind of treading water (for his standards) and now it’s fun to imagine what this team can do with Acuña firing on all cylinders like he’s capable of. It was clear that the offense needed some sort of a spark after Drake Baldwin went down with an oblique injury and ever since the series finale in Boston and throughout this series in Cincinnati, Acuña has provided that spark for this team and it’s been truly exciting to witness.
Now, the Braves will get a day off on Monday before kicking off the June slate with a six-game homestand against the Blue Jays and Pirates. With the way this team is continuing to play, they can reasonably believe that they’ve got a very good shot of winning any and every series they play in, which is some rarefied air to be in this deep into any given regular season. Plain and simple, this is a very fun baseball team to watch right now and hopefully it’ll continue for a good, long while — especially if Acuña can keep on lighting it up as the Braves return home.
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 13: Matthew Liberatore #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 13, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ali Overstreet/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will try to rebound and win the series Sunday night when Matthew Liberatore takes the mound for another national broadcast. Jordan Wicks will get the start for the Chicago Cubs. First pitch is set for 6:20pm central time as the game will be watchable on NBC/Peacock.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer shoots a free throw during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cameron Boozer is one of the most NBA-ready players in the Draft. At 18, he has the build and height of Karl Malone, standing 6’9” in his gym socks and weighing in at an imposing 253 lbs. He averaged 22.7 points and 10.1 rebounds a game in a grueling ACC and March Madness schedule, starting all 38 games as a freshman. Through it all he brought consistency and maturity beyond his years and displayed an SGA-like demeanor. As his coach, Jon Scheyer, noted, “[Cameron] bring[s] it every day…bring[s] the same energy, the same preparation, regardless of what just happened…[H]e’s coming back the same way, [with the] same mentality…to dominate in every aspect” (Brian Stultz, Duke Wire, 2/27/2026).
This should be music to every Jazz fan’s tired ears. This kind of consistency and dominant confidence is largely the opposite of what we’ve watched over the last two seasons. Throw in the family connection to the Utah Jazz, with Cameron’s father, Carlos, spending six seasons playing with the Jazz and returning as a scout in the team’s front office last year, and it raises the hope that Boozer Jr. will stick around longer than just the length of his rookie contract.
Detractors (I hear you) will say, “Yes, that’s fine, but he’s not the most athletic prospect.” Admittedly, Cameron will face some challenges, especially on the defensive end, matching up against more athletic bigs. But if the Jazz are going to rebound from two of the worst seasons in their history, it will take more than highlight reels. It will take consistency, buy-in, and a super-charged work ethic, all of which Boozer has in spades. He’s the kind of player who does whatever it takes to help his team win. While carrying the scoring and rebounding load for Duke last year, for example, he also made his teammates better, dishing out a team high 4.1 assists per game.
All well and good, (you say), but don’t the Jazz have a lot of forwards already? Wouldn’t adding a dynamic guard like Darryn Peterson be a better fit? Sometimes putting too much emphasis on fit stops teams from taking the best player available. Great players find ways to make an impact and demand minutes. Look at Dylan Harper, the number two pick in last year’s draft. He was chosen by the Spurs, a guard heavy team with De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell standing in the way of him playing significant minutes. But Harper has played himself into being a significant part of the rotation, averaging almost 26 minutes a game in the Playoffs. As a bruiser in the paint who can wear down opposing defenses, consistently score and grab rebounds, and open up the court for his teammates, I can see Boozer carving out an important role for himself as the Jazz set their sights on post season success.
As far as NBA comparisons, Alex Golden of SI compares Boozer to a young Kevin Love or Al Horford. Not the sexiest evaluation perhaps, but consider what these two veterans achieved in their careers. Both are NBA Champions, Love with the Cavs and Horford with the Celtics. Both flirted with double doubles in points and rebounds early in their careers, are known as great team players and adapted their skill sets to the needs of their teams. And if the Jazz draft Boozer, he would have the benefit of learning from Kevin Love himself, as well as veterans like Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic.
Considering the skills and physical attributes Boozer already has as an eighteen-year-old, his ceiling is understandably high. A current player comparison may be Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic or Alperen Sengun of the Rockets, who have similar builds and imposing skill sets, and are still ascending in their own right. We have to go back a few years to find Jazz comparisons: Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer, who played for the Jazz the last time they reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2006-2007 season. Of course, if we want to push the ceiling up to Sistine Chapel proportions, we could mention the greatest power forward in Utah Jazz history, who delivered 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds a game at Louisiana Tech before being drafted 13th by the Jazz in 1985. Whatever Cameron Boozer’s ceiling turns out to be, let’s hope that if the team does draft him with the second pick, he, like the Mailman, will get to reach that ceiling in a Jazz uniform.
