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Game Thread: June Swoon
GameThread: Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins, 6:40 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (26-39) vs. Minnesota Twins (30-37)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Twinkie Town
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (2-0, 1.74 ERA) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (5-2, 3.56 ERA)
| Player | G | IP | K% | BB% | GB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melton | 3 | 20.2 | 11.4 | 7.6 | 42.2 | 3.73 | 0.4 |
| Bradley | 11 | 60.2 | 26.8 | 10.0 | 35.2 | 3.47 | 1.2 |
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YANKEES AT GUARDIANS, Cole vs. Cecconi, discussion
Here’s the Yankees lineup:
Here’s the Guardians lineup:
Let’s go, Guardians!
Dodgers at Pirates game chat
A six-game road trip through the central divisions commences. Will Smith was scratched on Saturday with a stiff neck, and still remains out of the lineup for a third straight game over the last four days.
Tuesday game info
- Teams: Dodgers at Pirates
- Ballpark: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
- Time: 3:40 p.m. PT
- TV: SportsNet LA
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Ranking Giannis Antetokounmpo's top 5 landing spots amid trade rumors
It’s becoming more apparent by the week — by the day? — that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on the move this offseason.
Months of speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee have led to this point, with Antetokounmpo set to enter the second-to-last year of his contract. And if Antetokounmpo is indeed preferring to play elsewhere, the Bucks may opt to move him if they sense he has no interest in signing a long-term extension with the franchise.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said recently that he expects resolution in the matter prior to the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 23.
Here’s a ranking of the five best landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo, based on fit:
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Is this a case where Cleveland would be willing to part with Evan Mobley? It seems that would be required for this deal to work, and the Cavaliers have given every indication that they want to run this group back after reaching the Eastern Conference finals.
On paper, this would present an interesting — if not forced? — pairing of stars at different points in their careers. Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are each talented scorers. All do best when the ball is in their hands, and adding Antetokounmpo would require each to sacrifice parts of their games to make it work.
That said, it’s clear the Cavs need to tweak parts of their roster, as the Knicks blew past them in the conference finals, and Antetokounmpo certainly is a dangerous player. It might take some time, however, for it to all jell.
4. Portland Trail Blazers
This was a bit of a surprise addition to the list of suitors, given that Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to play out East. The Trail Blazers were a surprise this season under interim coach Tiago Splitter, who embraced his team’s youth and athleticism.
While turnovers were an issue, Portland looked to play quickly, and Deni Avdija blossomed into a first-time All-Star. The big question here is whether Antetokounmpo would really sign a long-term extension with the franchise. If the Trail Blazers get any indication that he’s not interested in that, it doesn’t make sense for Portland — which would still be significantly behind contenders in the West like the Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Lakers and Rockets — to take a two-year flier on Antetokounmpo.
There’s also the matter of new owner Tom Dundon, whose first few months at the helm have been marked by cost-cutting measures.
Interestingly, assuming both would remain in Portland with any trade, this deal would reunite Antetokounmpo with Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, a pair of guards he called teammates with the Bucks for multiple seasons.
3. Boston Celtics
For years under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have opted to roll out an offense in which all five starters can space and shoot the ball. That changed this season when Boston traded away Kristaps Porziņģis and let Al Horford walk in free agency. And while Neemias Queta provided value as a rim-running big who could protect the rim, Antetokounmpo is not an accurate perimeter shooter.
Another area where this is something of an awkward fit is pace. Antetokounmpo is the premier fast break player in the NBA. With his size, strength and agility, no one in the league is better at scooping up boards and then going coast-to-coast. The Celtics, however, are far more deliberate in the half-court. Boston ranked dead last in pace this season, generating just 95.58 possessions per 48 minutes.
And while Antetokounmpo can create offense in the half-court, it’s his ability to run the floor that makes him special. The positive is that, with shooters all over the floor around him, Antetokounmpo would likely see his assists numbers climb.
2. Orlando Magic
This is one based on familiarity. The Magic named Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney as their next head coach after firing Jamahl Mosley. And Sweeney is intimately familiar with Antetokounmpo, after Sweeney spent four seasons in Milwaukee (from 2014-18) as an assistant coach, most of that under then-coach Jason Kidd.
Sweeney was credited with helping elevate Antetokounmpo as an offensive force and a perennial All-Star; Sweeney’s first season in Milwaukee was Antetokounmpo’s second in the NBA, and Antetokounmpo’s first two All-Star selections came in Sweeney’s final two seasons with the Bucks.
The Magic struggled at times to incorporate a cohesive offense with both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, given that both often required to be on the ball to shine. By swapping one of them with Antetokounmpo, that should allow the remaining player to play a little more freely, given that Antetokounmpo has a very different skill set from both.
The big concern here, however, is shooting. Orlando struggled significantly from the perimeter, and Antetokounmpo only deepens that issue. Either way, if it is indeed the Magic, Sweeney will know exactly what to do with Antetokounmpo.
1. Miami Heat
This is a pair that would seemingly satisfy all parties, assuming Milwaukee does have an interest in Miami’s assets. For one, this is reportedly Antetokounmpo’s preferred destination. For another, Antetokounmpo’s agent, Alex Saratsis, is also Heat captain Bam Adebayo’s agent. Presumably, the two would be in lockstep for their vision about what the pairing could look like on the floor.
The Heat also embraced pace this season, leading the league in the stat, at 104.22 possessions per 48 minutes. Antetokounmpo would give Miami the premier downhill threat in the NBA to work with.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, one of the league’s top basketball minds, would suddenly be coaching his best player since he had LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in their primes. Miami, much like Orlando, would be suited to add a perimeter shooter or two to fill out the roster.
And Antetokounmpo, who reportedly wants to be on the East Coast (given its proximity to Greece) and in a city with a vibrant community, would seemingly have no issue signing an extension with the Heat.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking Giannis Antetokounmpo landing spots amid trade rumors
Mariners place RHP Cooper Criswell on 15-day injured list, recall Nick Davila, acquire RHP Carson Fulmer for depth
It’s a tough break for Criswell, who’s been dutiful with Seattle to the tune of a 3.52/3.76 ERA/FIP, generating groundballs at an exceptional 60.2% clip and covering 30.2 frames in 26 appearances. While a recent poor outing set the stage for a walk-off loss in Detroit, by and large Criswell has been a stellar bridge on days where the bullpen needs length. That is all the more vital with Seattle utilizing a six-man rotation instead of the piggy-back approach, leaving the bullpen shorthanded by current tastes at all times. Davila has been sharp with the Rainiers, and has yet to yield an earned run in the bigs, though his peripherals are that of a man hiding a horseshoe somewhere, and it’s not in his hands or mouth.
Today’s move came along with a contemporaneous deal, wherein Seattle traded for veteran RHP reliever Carson Fulmer, who’d been with Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirates system. Fulmer was not on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster and thus won’t need to be placed on Seattle’s, however the move is the sort that seems likely to include such an addition soon. Bearing no relation to RHP Michael Fulmer who debuted in 2016 as well and won AL Rookie of the Year with the Tigers, Carson Fulmer has nonetheless carved a similar path of longevity at the big league level across several organizations. Fulmer was even a Mariner briefly, signing a minor league deal in the spring of 2024 with a Spring Training invite before being released.
Most recently with the Anaheim Angels in the bigs, the 32 year old occupied a mixture of roles from mop-up to mid-range relief and even starting from 2023-25. He’s managed a 5.44/5.27 ERA/FIP in 256.2 innings, however, with -0.2/-0.5 bWAR/fWAR and a pedestrian 8.1% K-BB ratio. Part of what’s kept clubs coming back to Fulmer is a pedigree as a Vanderbilt ace who was selected 8th overall in the 2015 draft by the Chicago White Sox. He’s lost several ticks on his fastball since then, and struggled with command at every level and stop on his journey, but the repertoire he boasts can be hard on hitters when located well.
Michigan duo headline latest Warriors mock draft roundup
In today’s Dub Hub:
- Michigan prospects Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara headline latest Warriors mock draft roundup.
- NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson makes the Warriors to trade down for more picks in this year’s NBA Draft.
- Victor Wembanyama scores 32 points as Spurs beat the Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, 115-111.
The 2026 NBA Draft is just two weeks away, and the Golden State Warriors continue to explore their options with the No. 11 overall pick. As draft boards begin to crystallize, several prospects have emerged as popular selections for Golden State in recent mock drafts.
Here’s a roundup of who various draft experts believe the Warriors will take:
- The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Forward
- SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Forward
- The Associated Press’ Aaron Beard and Brian Mahoney: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Forward
- CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
- Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O Connor: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
- ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel: Cameron Carr, Baylor, Wing
- Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman: Karim Lopez, New Zealand, Forward
- Tankathon: Nate Ament, Tennessee, Forward
The most common names linked to the Warriors come from NCAA national champion Michigan, with both small forward Yaxel Lendeborg and center Aday Mara appearing in multiple mock drafts. Given the Warriors’ longstanding need for positional size and frontcourt depth, it’s not difficult to understand the appeal.
Lendeborg may be one of the older prospects in this draft class at 23 years old, but he could also be among the most NBA-ready. The 6-foot-9 versatile forward averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while helping lead Michigan to a national championship. With a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan, Lendeborg offers the size, athleticism, and defensive upside that could allow him to contribute immediately for the Warriors.
Meanwhile, Mara has emerged as one of the fastest-rising prospects in this year’s class. The 7-foot-3 center measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach at the NBA Draft Combine, providing the type of size the Warriors have lacked for years now. Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 66.8 percent from the field last season. While his length and rim protection already make him an intriguing option, one of Mara’s most underrated strengths is his passing ability. Mara averaged 2.4 assists per game with the Wolverines last season, showcasing a willingness to facilitate which should bode well for his potential fit within head coach Steve Kerr’s offense.
Regardless of who ultimately hears their name called by the Warriors on draft night, this postseason has only reinforced Golden State’s need for an injection of youth, size, and athleticism. Several prospects in this range could help address those concerns, but Lendeborg may be the one to watch most closely given his experience and ability to contribute from Day 1.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, June 9th:
Warriors News:
2026 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Latest intel and updates for all 60 picks with 2 weeks until draft | ClutchPoints
Along with Carr and Mara, Burries, Hannes Steinbach, and Yaxel Lendeborg are other names commonly brought up as targets for the Warriors around the league. Ament and Flemings are among the two players Golden State would give serious consideration to if they fell out of the top 10. Speaking of Lendeborg, he has a scheduled upcoming workout for the Warriors, a source said. How he performs during this workout will greatly impact whether he is truly in play for the Dubs, as he has been a hard read as of late.
How Warriors can create their perfect path in first round of 2026 NBA Draft | NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s also why the Warriors should get greedy. The best path forward for the Warriors isn’t somehow moving up in the draft. The real best outcome would be leaving the first night of the draft with multiple first-round picks.
So, what’s the easiest way for that idea to come true? There are two teams that have two first-round picks this year: The Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets. Let’s start with OKC.
Warriors players give advice to their younger selves
NBA News:
Finals Film Study: Victor Wembanyama finds way to rim in Game 3 | NBA
In Game 3, Wembanyama set 35 ball-screens, the third-highest total in his 19 playoff games. Of the 35, 16 of them had two players on the weak side.
But late in the second quarter, right after the Knicks took their first lead of the game, the Spurs found something with two players on the strong side. Julian Champagnie was in the left corner, and Harper was in the left “dunker” spot (on the baseline, just outside the paint). That left Devin Vassell (deep in the right corner) as the lone Spurs player on the weak side as Wembanyama set a ball screen for De’Aaron Fox.
With Vassell so far away, the Knicks had nobody to tag Wembanyama as he rolled into the paint. Both Jordan Clarkson (Vassell) and Josh Hart (Harper) collapsed into the paint after Wembanyama caught the ball, but now the Knicks were a little scrambled.
Thunder GM Sam Presti fires back on free-throw narrative around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
How long can the Warriors reign as the most recent repeat champions last?
They lost the crown the next year against the Toronto Raptors. A year later, James returned to the finals and this time emerged victorious, now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Giannis Antetokounmpo, years before discontent with the Milwaukee Bucks would brew, hoisted the trophy in 2021, and then the Warriors snuck back in for a surprise revival in 2022. In 2023 it was the Denver Nuggets, and in 2024 the Boston Celtics.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Mets vs. Cardinals: Lineups, broadcast info, and open thread, 6/9/26
Mets lineup
- Carson Benge – RF
- Bo Bichette – SS
- Juan Soto – LF
- Jared Young – 1B
- A.J. Ewing – CF
- Marcus Semien – 2B
- Brett Baty – 3B
- MJ Melendez – DH
- Francisco Alvarez – C
Freddy Peralta – RHP
Cardinals lineup
- JJ Wetherholt – 2B
- Iván Herrera – DH
- Alec Burleson – 1B
- Jordan Walker – RF
- Lars Nootbaar – LF
- Masyn Winn – SS
- Jimmy Crooks – C
- Nolan Gorman – 3B
- Nathan Church – CF
Dustin May – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10pm EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
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Mariners Game Preview #68, 6/9/26: SEA at BAL
Ah, it’s that time of the season.
The Mariners will roll out… a lineup to face the Orioles on Tuesday in Birdland. Victor Robles is leading off. Ryan Bliss, Rob Refsnyder, and Patrick Wisdom each get a start. Cole Young is at short. Not ideal! But hey, this isn’t the worst lineup the Mariners have brought to Baltimore.
Logan Gilbert gets the start. This is shaping up to be something of a down year for Gilbert. His FIP is 4.17, and he’s been much worse on the third time through the lineup. That said, we’ve seen him dominate at times, too. The Mariners could certainly use that today.
Cal Raleigh made a rehab stop in Tacoma this afternoon and hit a couple homers. Kate Preusser has the update on Raleigh for your pregame reading.
Lineups:
Game Info:
Game Time: 3:35pm PDT
TV: Mariners.tv
Radio: Old Reliable
Panthers Have Six Options For Their Fourth Line; Who Should Make The Opening Roster?
Although the Florida Panthers’ 2025-26 season was filled with injuries and led to them missing the playoffs, there were some upsides.
With players like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, and Anton Lundell missing extended periods of time, it allowed players like Cole Reinhardt, Cole Schwindt, and Sandis Vilmanis to earn advanced roles in the Panthers bottom six.
Additionally, it allowed players like Jesper Boqvist, A.J. Greer and Evan Rodrigues to move up in the lineup.
As we enter the 2026 off-season, the Panthers’ top nine, barring any trades or free-agent moves, feels pretty solidified.
Down the middle, it will see Aleksander Barkov man the top line, with Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett centering the middle six. On the left wing, it will be Carter Verhaeghe, Eetu Luostarinen, and, if re-signed, Mackie Samoskevich, with Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brad Marchand skating on the right wing.
That leaves just three roster spots on the fourth line with several players more than deserving of earning a spot.
To begin, it seems like Greer is all but done in Florida. He’s expected to hit the UFA market, and while that doesn’t rule out re-signing, teams will likely be eager to offer him a contract the Panthers can’t match.
With Greer out of the picture, that leaves the Panthers with Rodrigues, Boqvist, Vilmanis, Schwindt, Reinhardt, and Jonah Gadjovich. Veteran center Tomas Nosek is a UFA, but he remains a possibility on the fourth line. Of the six players mentioned, Schwindt is the only player in need of a contract, but he is a pending RFA, so the Panthers own his rights.
So that leads us to the question: who should start the season on the fourth line? Each player has a case, so let’s mull it over.
Dylan Larkin Has Panthers On Short List Of Potential Trade Partners, But What Would Florida Have To Give Up?As Detroit’s captain seeks a fresh start, the Panthers’ ninth overall pick becomes a vital chip in potentially acquiring the elite center.Rodrigues is the most experienced player in the group and has shown the versatility to play up and down the lineup. He’s been a part of the Stanley Cup-winning teams and has earned every right to start the season in the lineup.
Vilmanis is a young, physical winger with a nice scoring touch. He demonstrated plenty of excellent traits in his 19 games with the Panthers, but his performances in the AHL, Olympics, and World Championships truly showed everything he brings to the table. A homegrown talent who is just 22 years old makes a lot of sense to keep in the lineup.
Schwindt earned the trust of Paul Maurice very quickly, as he had with the Vegas Golden Knights and Bruce Cassidy previously. He’s a defensively responsible center with a solid physical frame.
Panthers Have Eight Arbitration Eligible PlayersHeading into the 2026 off-season, the Florida Panthers have eight players who are eligible for arbitration. Reinhardt and Boqvist bring very similar elements. They are both speedy left-handed winger who look to push the pace. Reinhardt had a strong showing with the Panthers at the end of the season, scoring six goals and eight points in 15 games. As for Boqvist, his offensive numbers were underwhelming, notching just four goals and 13 points in 73 games, but he has the versatility to move to the middle of the ice and play a safe game for the Panthers.
Finally, Gadjovich had his season derailed by a major injury. After just 10 games, Gadjovich went down with an injury and never returned to the lineup. Gadjovich plays a different game from the players already mentioned. While they bring speed and skill, Gadjovich is a hard-nosed player looking to mix it up physically as often as he can. He won’t ever light it up offensively or surprise you with a game-changing play, but he plays his role and does so efficiently.
Luke Kunin and Nosek remain options to be re-signed, but after a difficult first season with the Panthers for Kunin, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them go their separate ways. As for Nosek, injuries hampered his season, and at 33 years old, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Panthers go in a different direction.
Should Panthers' Sandis Vilmanis Be A Full-Time NHL Player In 2026-27?Following a successful 2025-26 season that was split between the NHL and AHL, the question that arises is where Florida Panthers winger Sandis Vilmanis should play next season.An NHL team is allowed to carry 23 players on its roster. Forwards take 12, defensemen occupy six, and two are taken by goaltenders, leaving three healthy scratch spots. Of the six players mentioned, only Vilmanis is waiver-exempt, which likely means he’s destined to start the season in the AHL, even if he is more than deserving of being on the opening-night roster.
If the fourth line is a combination of Reinhardt, Rodrigues, and Gadjovich, Boqvist and Schwindt would start the season as healthy scratches, likely alongside another defenseman, such as Donovan Sebrango.
It will be a tough decision for coach Paul Maurice, but having too much depth is never a bad thing.
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Tuesday evening Orioles game thread, vs. Mariners, 6:35 PM
Last week’s good vibes around the Orioles have been partly erased by three stupid losses in a row, but it’s too soon for this team to throw in the towel. After dropping Game 1 of this homestand against the Mariners last night, the Orioles will try to even the series against righty Logan Gilbert with lefty Trevor Rogers on the mound.
It no longer needs to be said, but it’s been a disappointing start to the season for Rogers (3-6, 6.29), who was so brilliant, with a sub-2.00 ERA in 19 starts last season. The lefty has shown signs of life over his last two starts, though, throwing five scoreless each time before hitting a wall. He ended up surrendering four runs in six innings to Toronto two outings ago, and one run in 5 ⅔ versus lowly Boston last week. Hey, it’s better than getting bombed out of the first inning, right? The Mariners have not hit lefties well this year, so perhaps Rogers can keep up his nascent streak of effectiveness. He has history with Victor Robles (3-for-10 against him lifetime), Julio Rodríguez (2-for-6), Randy Arozarena (3-for-9), Mitch Garver (0-for-5) and Josh Naylor (2-for-5).
As for Seattle’s starter, Logan Gilbert has been a model of consistency for the Mariners over parts of six seasons. In five of six of those years, he posted an ERA below four, including this one (4-4, 3.79). This year, Gilbert’s peripheral stats tell an interesting tale: on the one hand, the righty is a leader in fastball velo, strikeouts and walks, but he’s also sustaining some of the hardest contact in the league: his average exit velocity of 90.7 is in the bottom 13th percentile of pitches. It looks like the trouble lies with his fastballs: hitters are slugging .629 against his four-seamer and .655 against his cutter. Time for O’s hitters to swing hard, sounds like. Very few current Orioles have faced Gilbert: Taylor Ward, who used to face him as an Angel, is 6-for-22, Leody Taveras is just 2-for-17 (although both hits were homers), Pete Alonso is 1-for-6 and Gunnar Henderson is 1-for-8.
Orioles lineup
- Taylor Ward DH
- Gunnar Henderson SS
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Colton Cowser LF
- Leody Taveras CF
- Coby Mayo 3B
- Jackson Holliday 2B
- Tyler O’Neill RF
- Sam Huff C
Mariners lineup
- Victor Robles RF
- Julio Rodríguez CF
- Randy Arozarena LF
- Josh Naylor 1B
- Rob Refsnyder DH
- Patrick Wisdom 3B
- Mitch Garver C
- Cole Young SS
- Ryan Bliss 2B
What history says about 2-1 NBA Finals leads: Spurs, Wemby have hope
The 2026 NBA Finals have reached a critical juncture based on past champions.
The San Antonio Spurs struck back and took Game 3 over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden after the Knicks won the first two games of the series in San Antonio. A pivotal Game 4 awaits in New York on Wednesday, June 10, with history suggesting the winner could have a big advantage in the pursuit of a title.
This is the 64th time in league history that the NBA Finals has featured one team winning two of the first three games, and there's been an inordinate amount of volatility in these situations in recent years. But there's still just one team ever to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
With that in mind, USA TODAY Sports combed through the NBA record books to examine all the NBA Finals since they began in 1950 to determine any trends and patterns that have emerged when a team leads the series 2-1. Here's a look at five storylines that emerged:
1) Home teams have an advantage, but not as much lately
Home teams are 29-32 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals when the series sits at 2-1, while road teams have won eight of the last nine Game 4s of an NBA Finals where one team won two of the first three games.
Though the team that's leading the best-of-seven series 2-1 after Game 3 has gone on to win the NBA Finals 49 of 63 times, the team trailing 2-1 after three games has won the NBA Finals three of the past four times it has occurred (2025, 2022, 2021).
2) The Knicks have been here before
The New York Knicks are more than 50 years removed from their last NBA championship, but that title in 1973 came under similar circumstances. The Knicks had a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden and won, then captured their second NBA championship in four years in Game 5.
The Knicks also had a 2-1 series lead in 1970 when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA title, though New York lost Game 4 on the road in that series. The Knicks trailed 2-1 in the series when they lost in the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999.
3) Only 7 teams have pulled off what Spurs must to win NBA Finals
There are seven teams to successfully pull off what the San Antonio Spurs must do in the NBA Finals — overcome a 2-1 series deficit facing Game 4 on the road in the NBA Finals. Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors did it twice during their recent championship run (2015 and 2022). Before that, LeBron James and the Miami Heat won the 2013 NBA championship over the Spurs in that fashion.
The 1984 Boston Celtics with Larry Bird, the 1978 Washington Bullets and Bill Russell's 1957 and 1962 Celtics' teams also won championships facing the scenario the Spurs are now dealing with entering Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
None of those teams, however, lost the first two games of the NBA Finals at home like San Antonio this year.
4) Could Wemby emulate Bill Russell's early NBA Finals loss?
Russell faced a 2-1 series deficit in his first two NBA Finals appearances and four times overall during his remarkable run with the Boston Celtics in which he won the NBA championship 11 times in 13 years.
He had a 3-1 record in those respective Game 4s, with the lone loss coming in 1958 when the Celtics lost the NBA Finals to the St. Louis Hawks. During Russell's rookie season the year before, he and the Celtics overcame a 2-1 NBA Finals deficit by winning Game 4 on the road against the Hawks.
5) LeBron James and 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers stand apart
A team that's leading the NBA Finals by a 2-1 series advantage and and then wins Game 4 has only failed to win a championship once. In 2016, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first (and only) team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals when they defeated the Golden State Warriors for the title. The Warriors won Game 4 on the road that year.
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had a 2-1 series lead in five of their six NBA Finals appearances and went 3-2 in Game 4 in those situations. They, of course, never lost an NBA Finals series.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks should be wary of 2-1 NBA Finals lead given recent history
Brewers Reacts Survey: Which prospect would you like to see called up?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
We’re back with our first Reacts Survey in a while, and this week, we’re asking fans about which prospect they’d most like to see called up to the majors first.
After inking shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt (MLB No. 63, team No. 4) to an eight-year deal back in early April, the Brewers signed outfielder Luis Lara (MLB No. 91, team No. 5) to a seven-year deal this week, giving the team two prospects signed to long-term deals before they’ve even set foot in the majors. Not to be overshadowed, utility prospect Jett Williams is actually ranked higher than both of those guys at No. 57 overall and No. 3 in the organization (behind only MLB’s No. 1 prospect Jesús Made and No. 16 prospect Luis Peña).
Williams, 22, is hitting .224/.338/.355 with five homers, seven doubles, four triples, 28 RBIs, 42 runs, and 12 steals in 60 games at Triple-A Nashville this season; Pratt, 21, is hitting .248/.360/.391 with five homers, six doubles, four triples, 29 RBIs, 29 runs, and 16 steals in 53 games; and Lara, 21, is hitting .338/.447/.500 with seven homers, eight doubles, two triples, 27 RBIs, 49 runs, and 18 steals in 56 games.
With multiple players at the major league level struggling — Luis Rengifo and Joey Ortiz in the infield, Blake Perkins, Sal Frelick, and Garrett Mitchell in the outfield — is it time for one (or multiple) of Milwaukee’s top prospects to get the call? Who would you most like to see?
Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!
Diamondbacks @ Marlins discussion
Back onto the East coast go the Diamondbacks, starting in Miami for a road-trip which will see them come back to Phoenix by way of Cincinnati. While the Marlins are below the D-backs in the standings, it’s the result of a rather unusual split in the fishes’ record. They are actually better against teams at or above .500, than against opponents with losing records. Miami have gone 19-19 for the former, but only 12-16 against the latter. They have taken series from the Dodgers – on the road, no less – and the Cardinals, and split six games with their Florida siblings, the AL East leading Rays. But they were swept by Detroit, and lost to both Minnesota and Baltimore.
I took a look at the overall standings. Unsurprisingly, most teams do better against weaker opponents. The average win percentage is 124 points better against teams below .500 (.438 vs. 561 – and before you ask, rounding). The Marlins are 71 points worse. The only team with a bigger gap in that direction are the Rangers: they are 19-14 against winning teams, but 14-19 facing losing ones, a whopping 170-point reverse split over what’d be expected. And the team with the largest split on the other side? Well, that would be your Arizona Diamondbacks.
Right now, the D-backs are 11-23 versus opponents at or above .500. That’s exactly the same record as the woeful Angels, who are dead-last in the AL West, and only three teams have a worse win percentage. But against losing teams? 23-8, the best record in the majors. All told, that’s a massive split of 418 points: .324 vs .742. With the Marlins guaranteed to be below .500 for the entire duration of the series, we’re hoping that’s trend which will continue – on our side of the ball at least. If the Marlins want to cool off against winning teams through Thursday, that would be very much appreciated.
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The shocking Jalen Brunson stat in up-and-down NBA Finals for Knicks star
The Knicks wouldn’t be here without Jalen Brunson.
But they just might be better with him off the court in this NBA Finals.
The Knicks have been outscored by 13 points in 110 minutes with Brunson on the floor through three games against the Spurs, a jarring development for a team built around its star point guard’s playmaking.
Brunson is still putting up plenty of volume, but he’s struggled against a tough San Antonio defense with a stable of athletic guards and wings to throw at him.
Heading into Game 4, Brunson is shooting just 37 percent overall and 31.8 percent from 3-point land.
Turnovers have been an issue as well, with Brunson giving the ball up at least four times in all three games.
Outside of his 27.3 points per game, Brunson’s impact on the offensive end has been limited, having dished out just 13 total assists thus far in the Finals.
Brunson’s defense, which has never been a strength of his game, has been a problem as well.
His 110.8 defense rating is the third-worst among players with at least 15 minutes per game played in this series.
The Knicks’ thrilling Game 2 win overshadowed what was a rough performance from Brunson, who was a minus-10 while shooting just 7-for-25 from the field with 20 points.
He was a Knicks starter worst minus-9 in Monday’s Game 3 loss with 32 points on 11-of-25 shooting.
Brunson admitted after the game that the Knicks’ offense could be better, especially down the stretch.
“I liked some of the looks, but I also think we were pretty stagnant. There’s definitely things that we can learn from,” Brunson said of the fourth quarter.
“Especially with our approach when we start the game and with the way we start the half, I don’t think we did well and I don’t think I did well either.”