PHILADELPHIA - As the Knicks prepare for Game 3 against the Sixers, OG Anunoby’s status was still to be determined as of Thursday evening.
That fact alone tells you that the Knicks avoided all worst-case scenarios on Anunoby’s hamstring injury.
The general feeling on Anunoby’s hamstring strain? Optimism. He is considered day-to-day. But he’s not day-to-day, as in ‘he’s really out for 10 days.’ Anunoby is truly day-to-day.
There was optimism in the Knicks locker room that Anunoby will be able to play either in Game 3 on Friday or Game 4 on Sunday.
My personal opinion: sit Anunoby on Friday and see what happens in Game 3. Then base your decision for Sunday’s Game 4 on what happens Friday.
If you are up 3-0, isn’t it prudent to give Anunoby extra time to heal?
Based on conversations earlier Thursday, I think people on all sides of the injury believe Anunoby’s absence will be counted in days and not weeks. (A quick aside: I know that is a triggering phrase for those who followed the Julius Randle shoulder rehab in 2024. Just to be clear: SNY never reported that Randle would be out for weeks and not months.)
Back to Anunoby.
The Knicks are fortunate that, barring a setback, Anunoby will be back on the floor soon. He has arguably been the most impactful player of their postseason. The wing has defended at a high level and is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. The Knicks have outscored opponents by an average of 14.75 points per game when Anunoby is on the floor.
ALL HAIL MIKAL
It’s probably gone under the radar, but Mikal Bridges has been playing at a high level lately. In the Knicks’ last three playoff games, Bridges is averaging 19.4 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal per game.
He's also been a key part of the Knicks’ strong defense in that stretch.
“If there is one player that I wanna make sure that I mention, it’s Mikal Bridges,” Mike Brown said at the end of his opening statement to the media after Game 2. “You’re not stopping Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese, he had a great game. He had 26 points. But Mikal tried to make him work, especially in the second half, for every point he got…And then on top of that, Mikal hit some big shots for us down the stretch, especially when we looked a little discombobulated offensively. He got to his spot and knocked down some big shots. So great game on both ends of the floor for Mikal.”
Bridges has certainly turned things around from earlier in the postseason. He played an average of 20 minutes in Games 3 and 4 against Atlanta, going scoreless in one game and scoring eight points in the next.
In the second half of Game 2 on Wednesday, Bridges helped hold an injured Maxey to 3 of 9 shooting and nine points.
“It started with Mikal. I feel like he's just been great for us at the point of attack,” Miles McBride said after the game. “And, you know, the team's been locked in. He's a tough player. And, you know, for Mikal, he's going to just keep going at him, but, you know, Mikal’s a great player. He's going to step up every time.”
NYC HOOPS
Great basketball event in New York City this weekend: the annual Hoops Showdown founded by Johnny Rodriguez. The event started in 2016 as a four-team tournament and has since hosted more than 200 Division I players and 20 players who were drafted into the NBA. (That group includes Naz Reid and Nick Richards.)
PHILADELPHIA — It doesn’t sound like Joel Embiid will get his wish.
Xfinity Mobile Arena may sound like Madison Square Garden Southwest on Friday night.
Ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series are dropping, and a large portion of tickets bought off secondary markets went to residents of New York City and New Jersey, according to Kyle Zorn, the director of content for TickPick, a ticket resale marketplace.
In fact, 59 percent of tickets purchased on TickPick for Game 3 are linked to New York and New Jersey, while just 22 percent are connected to Pennsylvania
The Knicks took a 2-0 series lead with wins at MSG. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After Philadelphia advanced to the second round Saturday, Embiid pleaded with 76ers fans not to sell their tickets, to avoid a repeat of two years ago when Knicks fans took over the Philly arena.
The 76ers mimicked the Pistons plan from a year ago by limiting tickets to residents of the Philadelphia area.
A message on the team’s website read: “Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside [of the] Greater Philadelphia area will be canceled without notice and refunds given.”
“Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support,” Embiid said then. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.
“Knicks fans travel, they buy tickets. There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”
Fans outside MSG after the Knicks’ Game 2 win. Christopher Sadowski for NY Post
But with the 76ers in a big hole in this series, and Embiid’s health a question mark again — he missed Game 2 due to ankle and hip injuries and is questionable for Friday’s Game 3 — it appears their fans are losing faith.
Zorn said that up to 3,400 tickets are now available on TickPick for Game 3, and 5,000 for Game 4 on Sunday. Furthermore, prices have dropped heavily. At the start of the series, the get-in price for Game 3 was $272. Now, it is $165.
Those are far cheaper than the prices for the first two games of the series at the Garden.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid reacts while on the court in the first quarter of Game 1. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Overnight [after Game 2], we saw a huge spike in the amount of inventory being listed. Had the series gone 1-1, or if it went 2-0 Philadelphia, you would see a decrease in inventory or a stable amount of tickets on site,” Zorn said. “That is very telling. A lot of signs are pointing to there being a large percentage of fans coming from New York.
“I would expect a majority of those tickets being put up for sale coming from season ticket holders or anyone who purchased tickets from that initial on sale that was restricted to Philadelphia geolocations,” he added.
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) with head coach Jordan Ott against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
It didn’t take long for Phoenix Suns first-year head coach Jordan Ott to get the respect from NBA players. According to The Athletic’s latest player poll, Ott finished fifth in most impressive NBA coach, only behind Joe Mazzulla, Mark Daigneault, J.B. Bickerstaff, and Erik Spoelstra, all coaches who have either led their teams to 60-win seasons or won a championship.
The most impressive coach in the NBA, according to NBA players, per @TheAthletic
In Ott’s first season as an NBA head coach, he led the Phoenix Suns to a 45-37 record, good for the 7th seed in the Western Conference. They earned the eighth seed via the Play-In tournament, where they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
Going into the season, Phoenix was projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA after trading away Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal in the offseason.
After the team went 11-5 in January, Ott received his first career Coach of the Month award after the team beat both the one-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons in a 30-day span.
Throughout the season, NBA coaches praised Ott for his work with the Suns, including Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Before becoming the coach of the Suns last year, Ott was an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He enters this offseason as the first coach to retained their status with the Suns’ organization since Monty Williams in 2023.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the speculation and discussion was fun for a little bit, today ended the flirtation with the Arizona Cardinals getting a 42-year old Aaron Rodgers.
Not that anything is official, but Ian Rapoport is reporting he will be with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026.
This coincides with Josh Weinfuss reporting that the Cardinals will make Jacoby Brissett their starter for the 2026 season and are working towards a contract that reflects that.
The Cardinals have named Jacoby Brissett as QB1, per @joshweinfuss.
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) May 7, 2026
Now the question becomes how much will that contract adjustment reflect his play and being an NFL starter for the team expected to be one of the two worst in the league?
Brissett since 2024 is 2-15 as a starter, and has helped the New England Patriots and Cardinals land top five NLF Draft picks in back-to-back drafts.
While high picks are invaluable, how much will that be worth to the Cardinals, especially with Carson Beck in tow and the Cardinals needing to find out what they have in Beck unless Brissett finds a way to start winning games.
The real question becomes, how many games do you expect Brissett to start in 2026 and what is that worth to the Cardinals as a organization?
On this episode of The Dodgers Post, Jack Harris and Dylan Hernandez wrap up the Dodgers’ recent road trip to St. Louis and Houston and review the state of some early predictions they made at the start of spring training.
Much can still change, of course, with the season only 20% complete.
But already, the guys were feeling good (or, more often, not so good) about the picks they made for Shohei Ohtani’s season stats, players who would be better or worse than they were in 2025, and who would draw the most ire from the fan base.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow, off to a 3-0 start, left Wednesday’s game after the first inning with a lower back injury.Getty Images Despite hitting just .248 so far this season, Shohei Ohtani leads MLB in ERA at 0.97.AP
Lastly, they look ahead to a potential postseason preview series coming up this weekend, when the MLB-leading Braves visit Dodger Stadium for a high-profile three-game set.
All that and more on this latest edition of Dodgers Post.
With the Mets and Colorado Rockies tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning on Thursday, manager Carlos Mendoza turned to veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to keep the score intact.
However, things went sideways fast.
Kimbrel let up back-to-back singles and then walked Willi Castro to load the bases with no one out. New York was out of challenges, so Kimbrel or Francisco Alvarez couldn't challenge what was called ball four on a full count, as the pitch looked to clip the top of the zone. After that, Kimbrel allowed a grand slam to Jake McCarthy down the right field line as the Rockies took a 6-2 lead.
Mendoza and Kimbrel both thought reviews would reverse the call as the ball appeared to land in foul territory beyond the RF pole, but the call stood. Kimbrel said he was "hoping it was foul," but took the blame for missing on a couple of pitches that cost the team.
"On the home run pitch, it was just location. I was trying to go up and I yanked it down," Kimbrel said. "It really all started with the leadoff guy. I got ahead of him, tried to bury a breaking ball, left it up, gave him an opportunity to put it in play and got a hit. And then the hit-and-run.
"Just really, right there with first and third was trying to get a strikeout. Felt like I did, they didn't feel like he went on the check swing. Then it turned into a walk, which turned into a grand slam."
Mendoza was asked about the decision to go to Kimbrel, noting Luke Weaver was unavailable, and explained what he saw from the veteran right-hander.
"They were aggressive, especially on his fastball," Mendoza said. "Back-to-back singles to start the inning, and then obviously there was a walk there. Again, I think they were just pretty aggressive on his fastball. Got too much over the plate and they took advantage of it."
As for the grand slam being fair or foul, Mendoza said there wasn't a good camera angle to change the call on the field.
"It was close, especially from our angle," Mendoza said. "I couldn't tell. Whatever they called on the field, I was pretty sure it was going to stand. And then we called down, and Harrison said the same thing, there's not an angle there that you could tell fair or foul. It just didn't go our way there."
New York will look to put the loss behind them as they travel to Arizona and faces the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Betts has been dealing with an oblique injury that’s kept him out of action since April 4.
Betts has seen limited action this season, playing in just eight games. He's gone 5-of-28 at the plate with seven runs, seven RBIs and two home runs. He's walked four times.
The eight-time All-Star is scheduled to be in Oklahoma City for a rehab assignment with the organization's Triple-A affiliate. An announcement from the Oklahoma City Comets' official social media account states that Betts will play on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9.
The Dodgers have compiled a 17-12 record in the 29 games played without Betts. The Dodgers remain at the top of the National League West standings with a 23-14 record, splitting their last 10 games with a 5-5 record.
Welcome to The California Post’s weekly Dodgers recap, where baseball writers Dylan Hernández and Jack Harris review the week that was, hand out very official awards and take stock of the state of the season.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Justin Wrobleski (1 start, 6 innings, 0 runs this week; 5-0, 1.25 ERA this season)
Getty Images
The Dodgers can’t demote Justin Wrobleski, can they?
By continuing his spectacular early-season run, the 25-year-old Wrobleski might have saved his job. Blake Snell should be activated from the injured list following a rehab start this weekend. If back problems don’t force Tyler Glasnow to skip his next start, someone from the group of Wrobleski, Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki will be pushed out of the rotation.
As harder throwers with larger frames, Sheehan and Sasaki look more like prototypical frontline starters, but how can you argue with the results? In the five games Wrobleski has started this season, he has a 0.56 ERA.
His most recent victory was Sunday in St. Louis, as he blanked the Cardinals over six innings to snap the Dodgers’ four-game losing streak. The Dodgers’ scuffling offense wasn’t terrible in that game but didn’t light up the scoreboard, either. The 4-1 win marked the sixth game in a row in which the Dodgers didn’t hit a home run.
Once again, Wrobleski’s inability to miss bats was a storyline, as the left-hander became the first Dodgers pitcher in 25 years to pitch six shutout innings without registering a strikeout. Wrobleski continues to be viewed with suspicion, as evaluators around the game wonder if his pitch-to-contact style is bound to get him in trouble.
“I’m out there trying to get outs,” Wrobleski said. “However I get them, that’s great.”
As long as he gets them, he’s here to stay, regardless what happens with Snell and Glasnow in the next week.
“Every start he makes, I feel good about us winning a game,” manager Dave Roberts said. “So that’s most important.”
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Andy Pages (10-for-25, 3 HR, 8 RBIs this week; .336 average, .945 OPS, 8 HR, 33 RBI this season)
Getty Images
In a lineup full of superstars and former MVPs, Pages might be becoming the team’s most pivotal hitter.
Consider: In the club’s 23 wins this year, he has eight home runs, 32 RBIs and a 1.097 OPS. In the team’s 14 losses, he has no homers, one RBI and a .680 OPS.
Another way to think about it: When Pages has an RBI, the team is 13-1. When he doesn’t, they are 10-13.
So, is it really, as Pages goes, so do the Dodgers? With so many others having scuffled this year, it has at least felt that way.
Which made this week a refreshing return to form for the 25-year-old slugger. After watching his blistering start to the season cool off over a 19-game stretch in which he batted .221 with a .556 OPS, Pages rebounded with back-to-back three-hit games Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the first one, he had three singles. In the next, he hit three homers. Guess which one the Dodgers won and lost.
“[I’m] just having a lot of confidence in what I’m doing up there,” Pages said through an interpreter after Wednesday’s game. “And being optimistic that the plan and the approach is going to come with results.”
Indeed, Pages said his refined approach this year, which helped him bat over .400 through his first 19 games, was tested during his recent cold spell –– when he felt like he “was hitting the ball well and hitting the ball hard, just not finding a lot of holes.”
“I was just trying to stay confident in that approach,” Pages added. “Keeping that mentality that things were going to come and turn in the right direction.”
Based on this last week, which has also seen Pages record a hit in eight straight games, they have once again. It could be a major boon to the Dodgers’ efforts to reignite their offense.
PROSPECT OF THE WEEK
Mike Sirota (7-for-14, 4 HR, 6 RBIs this week; .329 average, 1.157 OPS, 6 HR, 15 RBIs in High-A this season)
During a doubleheader with the High-A Great Lakes Loons last week, the 22-year-old Sirota had a career afternoon.
He homered three times between the two games and reached base in six of his eight plate appearances.
It was the kind of performance that epitomized Sirota’s potential, as a versatile outfield prospect whom the Dodgers acquired from the Reds for Gavin Lux a couple offseasons ago.
The Northeastern University product impressed in his first season with the club last year, hitting .333 with 13 home runs between Single- and High-A before a knee injury ended his campaign in July. This year, he seems to be picking up where he left off, standing out as one of many talented outfielders in the club’s farm system off to a hot start.
FUTURE DODGER OF THE WEEK
(Where we identify a potential Dodgers’ future acquisition –– sometimes far-fetched, sometimes not)
Tarik Skubal, Tigers (ETA: 2027)
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Skubal was previously mentioned in this section, but his entry has to be updated.
The prediction last time was that the Tigers would be out of contention by the trade deadline and would trade the impending free agent in August. Skubal recently underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow and might not return before the trade deadline, which decreases the chances of the Tigers dealing him.
Ironically, the procedure could actually increase his chances of pitching for the Dodgers. If Skubal doesn’t look like his usual self upon his return, teams might be reluctant to offer him the monster deal he was expected to sign before his injury. The Dodgers could have an opportunity to sign Skubal to a short-term deal with a record-breaking average annual value.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Are the Dodgers out of their offensive slump?
They sure hope so, after snapping a recent 5-9 slide (in which they averaged barely four runs per game) by winning three of their last four on this week’s road trip (while averaging more than six runs per game).
The recent 3-1 spurt also included three 10-hit performances, matching the number they had in their 14-game rut previously. They also finally started hitting some homers again, racking up five during a three-game series in Houston after hitting just three in their prior 12 contests.
The real answer to this question, however, will likely come this weekend when the Dodgers host the Braves (26-12), MLB’s joint-winningest team. In that series, they will face former Cy Young winner Chris Sale, former All-Star Spencer Strider and early-season breakout star Bryce Elder.
This tough task will truly show if the Dodgers are back on track at the plate.
Former NBA star Lamar Odom is celebrating 100 days sober — sharing an uplifting message with his nearly 1 million Instagram followers.
“There are days I don’t think I could make it,” the former Lakers star wrote Thursday. “But with God’s grace, the love of the people around me, and a commitment to myself, I’m still standing.”
Lamar Odom celebrated 100 days of sobriety on Thursday. Javiles/Bruce / BACKGRID
Authorities claimed they pulled him over for going well over the posted speed limit of 65 MPH and he allegedly reeked of marijuana during the ensuing traffic stop.
They also stated he failed subsequent field sobriety tests. The criminal case against him remains ongoing.
It’s unclear if the incident sparked Odom’s abstinence from substances, though he was nonetheless clearly proud of how far he’s come since the run-in with cops.
Lamar Odom played seven seasons for the Lakers in his NBA career. Getty Images
“To anyone out there fighting their own battles — whether it’s addiction, depression, or just trying to find your way — keep going,” Odom wrote on Thursday. “Better days are ahead. I promise. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!”
Odom’s issues with substances have been well-documented — a Netflix film titled “Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom” recently dropped and it delved deep into the topic and how it related to his near-death experience in Nevada as well as his high-profile relationship with Khloe Kardashian.
Odom himself has also brought up the matter recently during a February appearance on Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady’s “Cousins” podcast. He explained to the NBA icons he used to have “cocaine summers,” and he believed it all ultimately cost him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
“I should be where y’all at,” he said.
In wrapping up his Thursday post, Odom asked his fans for their continued prayers.
“I appreciate every single one of you,” he said. “Thank you!!!”
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is less than two months away. Due to this and the draft lottery now passed, The Athletic's Scott Wheeler recently released his first 2026 NHL Mock Draft.
In it, Wheeler predicted that the Sabres will end up selecting forward Ryan Roobroeck as their first-round pick this year.
Roobroeck is a fascinating prospect who has shown plenty of promise at the OHL level. This was especially the case during the 2024-25 season, as he recorded 41 goals, 46 assists, and 87 points in 64 games with the Niagara IceDogs.
Roobroeck also had strong offensive numbers for the IceDogs during this season, posting 30 goals, 28 assists, and 58 points in 49 games. With numbers like these, it is clear that the 6-foot-3 winger has good upside.
While the Sabres are cementing themselves as legitimate contenders, it is still important for them to boost their prospect pool as they enter their window. Taking a gamble on a big prospect like Roobroeck would make sense for Buffalo if he is still available because of it.
It will be interesting to see if Roobroeck ends up becoming a Sabre at this year's draft. However, for now, the Sabres' focus is beating the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 6: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every now and then, you see something that’s just hard to put into words.
A specifically timed (and context-dependent) moment of humor. An unusual sequence of events. A coincidence bordering on a glitch in the Matrix. And one of the first things you do is look around and see if anyone else is around to share in the moment. And yet, somehow, that is almost never the case.
It’s as if the moment was plucked from the immensity of the cosmos and placed there just for you, and you alone.
Depending on the event, it can be the sort of thing that makes you question your sanity and your senses. You’re not even sure that you should share the story because it’s so outlandish.
That’s not what last night was.
When I was in my early 20’s, I helped run a print and copy shop in New Braunfels.
In contrast to the otherwise humble appearance of the shop, it did quite a lot of business (from both corporate and individual sources), and this led to a steady stream of customers entering and exiting the building.
The printing industry has a way of attracting a wide breadth of eccentricity. Just about everyone has ideas, but only those most certain of their vision pursue having that vision printed out.
I will, for instance, never forget the lady who wanted know if we could print on oversized tortillas for a retirement party (and brought them with her). Or the gentleman who regularly paid a pretty penny for mounted full-scale blueprints of his favorite science-fiction star ships. Or the one and only time I received a request for a combined quinceañera+baby shower invitation. Oh, the stories I could tell.
The point being that any given day one might encounter an architect with unusual CAD drawings that required multiple blueprints to be taped together, or an artist upset at how the color printer can’t perfectly replicate the vivid shades of their artwork off of the glass, or the recently bereaved wife of a Lombardi-era Green Bay Packer needing assistance duplicating treasured keepsakes.
Or, an extremely suave gentleman, with two ladies in tow, dressed head-to-toe in a robin’s-egg blue colored suit, topped off with a cane and matching short-brimmed fedora.
I can recall with ease a great number of oddities and peculiarities from my time in the printing industry, but anomalies and foibles are the expected within that arena, rather than the exception. For every eccentricity I can recall, there are dozens more that have faded from memory.
But I will, never, ever forget the first time I encountered The Copy Pimp.
In all fairness to the gentleman in question, I never did get confirmation of what his occupation actually was. But each Tuesday, without fail, about an hour before closing, he would enter the shop in the company of those two ladies, bring me a new (and somewhat chaotic looking) flyer, and inquire as to which copier would be best suited to reproduce them.
I would then set up any needed manual adjustments on the copier of his choice and produce a test print for his review. He would then thank me, in a tone as smooth and rich as molasses, and sit down in a chair at the nearby customer kiosk, to supervise the ladies who would then take over the copying.
Sometimes he would come lean against the counter and ask me about pricing, and the ins-and-outs of the industry. About profit margin, foot traffic, custom work, bulk discounts, even who some of our biggest clients were — always asked with impeccable manners and the insight of a businessman.
“That is no kind of return, Sonny,” he once remarked when I told him that the profitability ratio of public-use copy machines was roughly pennies-on-the-dollar. “Y’all need to mark that up. Get your worth.”
When I replied that their purpose was really just to bring people into the store, he grinned appreciatively and saluted the intelligence of the owner by remarking that that was “…a proper honeypot.”
By this point we had a routine down. The song and dance really didn’t require much conversation, though he seemed to thrive on the ritual of it. I’d been witness to what (I believe) was his entire ensemble rotation. All pastels in green, blue, orange, pink, and a yellow suit that I only saw him wear once, the week after Easter.
The problem was, in sharing these stories with my coworkers, I found that no one else had ever encountered him.
Each mention brought forth an eye roll, and it was starting to concern me. Seeing someone that no one else has seen, after all while, starts to become concerning.
The problem, I reasoned, was a matter of timing. There were only seven us to begin with, counting the owners. By the time the Copy Pimp arrived, just before closing time, there were only two of us. One (usually me) working the front of the store, and the other (usually my coworker Drew) working in the back on our most time-sensitive or skill-specific jobs.
Convinced that this was the issue, I told Drew that I would come let him know the next time the Copy Pimp was in the store. The next Tuesday, at six o-clock, no one showed up.
Nor the following Tuesday. Nor the Tuesday after that. Until finally, almost a month later, the man himself finally appeared, clad in his signature robin’s-egg blue. It remains one of the few times that I have, without exaggeration, seen another person completely freeze, and their jaw literally drop.
As it turned out, the gentleman in question (who I estimate to have been about 60) had experienced a bad bout of pneumonia, which he explained as he very genteelly introduced himself to my stunned compatriot.
It was all I could do not to actually elbow Drew in the ribs after weeks of self-doubt and him giving me an incredibly hard time about my ‘delusions’.
And that is almost exactly what watching the Spurs last night felt like.
I almost radiated smugness as I watched the Spurs all but dismember one of the best remaining teams in the Western Conference bracket.
I watched with pride as they ruptured Minnesota’s vaunted defense with a dizzying series of Fox and Wemby pick-and-rolls that knocked them so off balance that they were left vulnerable to the battering drives of Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson, who worked the interior like a boxer works the body to open up avenues to the face.
I beamed with vindication as Minnesota players twisted themselves into all kinds of shapes in their attempts to avoid San Antonio’s titan-tier rim protector, after so many comments about goaltending and attacking the rim without fear, irrespective of his smothering presence.
And I outright chuckled as I watched Champagnie, Barnes, and even Lindy Waters III start raining threes down on the Timberwolves’ last gasp at a comeback rhythm.
This was the vision that I’d had for this team all year. Even the year before, before all the parts were assembled.
In the previous two seasons something big would go wrong to affect the overall win total, and there I would be, insisting that there was more to this team than that. That I could see it. That the underlying metrics were hinting at it. That there was greatness being shrouded by the heavy veil of timing.
And then, for at least one night in the playoffs, almost every single thing went right. And everyone was seeing it with me at the same time. And no one in their right mind could deny it. This team is special. The most special kind of special. Maybe it won’t result in a title (yet), but it’s more than just untapped/unrealized potential.
Months later, one of the owners admitted to me that she knew exactly who I was talking about (who wouldn’t), after I caught her having a conversation with our pastel-garbed patron. He’d been coming there for years, but she thought it would be fun to pull my leg a little bit.
I sometimes wonder if the universe-at-large shares that same sense of humor.
Before the end of the game, I compared it to the clinching blowout of the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals, without Tony Parker and the Nephew-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
It turns out I was just one point off when it came to margin of victory.
I have seen so many highs in my 30-ish years watching the Spurs play basketball and have written about so many lows in the years after. And while there are certainly moments that stick out, so many more have blurred together. I confess that I’ve sometimes wondered what highs there are left for someone who’s seen so much undeviating victory.
But last night I saw The Copy Pimp. And so, I hope, did you.
Takeways
There were a lot of (reasonable) questions about how to cover/scheme for Julius Randle defensively entering the series. And after more-or-less defending Randle straight up in Game 1, to less than desirable results, the Spurs opted to double him and force him to pass the ball. A smart strategy considering passing is sometimes not a thing he likes to do. But just as revelatory was the defense that Keldon Johnson played against him during his minutes on the court. Over the years Keldon has (deservedly) been taken to task for his defense, but one thing we haven’t talked about a lot here is how good his defense has been since the arrival of defensive guru Sean Sweeney. I don’t know what Sweeney slipped into Keldon’s Wheaties, but last night was arguably his most impressive performance of the season on that end, and his hard-fought rebounds were critical in the earlier portions of the game, before the Spurs sent the Wolves into a death spiral. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: even when Keldon’s shot isn’t falling, he finds a way to contribute meaningfully. If this team wins a title, I think he’s getting a jersey in the rafters.
Last time I talked about my desire for Carter Bryant and Harrison Barnes to get into some kind of alternating rotation, and I don’t know if Mitch has been reading my articles, but it was great to see them splitting a kind of timeshare in this one. Usually time shares are pretty scammy, but this one really profited the Spurs, as Bryant was able to use that youthful athleticism to make Randle’s life harder, and Barnes was able to go harder than usual with those legs getting some rest in spite of the challenging assignment. If only they could be combined into one player, because Bryant brings the youthful stamina, and Barnes has the shot he needs. They combined for 14 points and +18 each. More of that, please.
Because we rarely see him, it’s easy to forget that Lindy Waters is the kind of player who can soak up real minutes without serving as a negative. He played heavier minutes in both Golden State and Oklahoma City, and he’d be within rights to feel like he’s deserving of more somewhere else. If that’s his mindset, though, no one has heard a peep about it, as he always seems ready to do his job when the time calls, which is knock down threes and play hard. He did both in equal measure last night, ensuring that the starters and heavy-minute backups could get a bit of extra rest without worrying about the lead. Those guys are important, and they’re on every team that has success. Goodness forbid that the Spurs suffer an injury that necessitates giving him more playing time, but it’s good to know he’s ready just in case. That’s classic Spurs behavior, and you love to see it.
The NCAA will expand its DIvision I basketball tournaments from 68 to 76 teams next season. The change isn't expected to radically disrupt the familiar bracket for most casual fans. Here is a breakdown of some key numbers to know:
0 — The number of mid-major schools that advanced past the first weekend of either tournament the last two seasons.
1 in 9.2 quintillion — The estimated odds against picking a perfect bracket even before adding eight games to the mix.
4 — Games matching No. 12 seeds and No. 16 seeds in the opening round.
8 — The number of teams being added to each tournament (men and women). It's also the number of new games being added to each tourney.
15 — The number of years since the NCAA last expanded the tournaments (from 64 to 68 in 2011).
120 — Total number of games for the two tournaments over seven days between the bracket announcement and the conclusion of the secound round.
131 — As in $131 million, the amoung of new revenue the NCAA expects to share with tournament participants under the expansion.
300 — As in $300 million, the extra funding the NCAA expects to get from new advertising opportunities tied to expansion, including the addition of liqour ads that had largely been off limits.
2032 — The year the current $8.8 billion broadcast deal between the NCAA and partners like CBS, TNT and others expires, raising the potential for more change.
350,000 — As in $350,000, the value of a NCAA-distributed "unit' for a men's team that reached the tournament.
May 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles defended by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the second half during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Perhaps even better than taking Game 1 of the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers is that the Detroit Pistons best player, Cade Cunnigham, didn’t actually play that well until the closing minutes when he needed to put the game away. The fact that the Pistons were able to walk away with a 111-101 win despite a subpar offensive showing from Cade. If you remove the final 5 minutes of crunch time, the star point guard was just 5-of-17 with equal parts turnovers and assists — four. The Pistons were thriving because so many other players were performing so well. Jalen Duren had more freedom than against the Magic, the ball was moving more freely side to side, which opened up shots for Duncan Robinson and driving lanes for Daniss Jenkins. Yes, the Pistons might not be able to rely on a plus-9 free-throw advantage tonight, but this might also be a much better Cunningham performance. If the Pistons can play as loose on offense, as intense on defense, and Cade unlocks more of his game, the Pistons could be up 2-0 by the end of the night. They will need to continue to force Donovan Mitchell and James Harden into tough looks while at the same time not losing sight of Cleveland’s big men or its roster of reliable shooters. But Detroit certainly has the defense capable of answering that call.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Prime Video Odds: Pistons -3.5
The Lakers have been without their leading scorer since April 2 when he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in a loss against the Thunder. Doncic missed the Lakers' remaining regular-season games and start of the postseason, including a first round, 4-2 series win against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers advanced to face the Thunder in the conference semifinals, where they are down 1-0, following a 108-90 loss in Game 1 on May 5.
Doncic has been seen shooting at Lakers' practices. He told reporters after their Wednesday practice that he is doing "everything he can" to get back on the court and join the team in the playoff battle amidst a championship chase.
"I'm feeling good and working out every day, trying to come back," Doncic told reporters. "Right now, I'm running, but I haven't done any contact."
Luka Doncic’s first press conference since he injured his hamstring on April 2. He said his timeline to return to the #Lakers was 8 weeks. He’s ramping up. But still a ways to go. pic.twitter.com/Qux41bcTO0
