With a need in their starting rotation following Clay Holmes’ broken leg against the Yankees on Friday night, the Mets decided to call up left-handed pitcher Zach Thornton to pitch on Wednesday.
Thornton, who was only promoted from Double-A to Triple-A a couple of weeks ago, met with the media for the first time before Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals and expressed his emotions about his rapid ascent.
“I’m super surprised. I mean, after only two Triple-A starts, I thought I had a little bit more work to do up there,” Thornton said. “But try to win some games here now.”
Thornton, 24, pitched well in those two starts for Syracuse, owning a 2.25 ERA (0.92 WHIP) in 12 innings. In seven starts overall this season, the left-hander has a 3.16 ERA and 40 strikeouts to 12 walks in 37 IP.
With a reputation for not being afraid while pitching, Thornton spoke about his control and attitude on the mound.
“I treat every game the same: I want to go out and compete,” he said. “I’m the ultimate competitor, I’m a strike thrower, so I’m gonna do my best to just compete here.”
“I’m not the biggest guy in the world, so I need to have something good about me, so that’s where my brain comes into play,” Thornton added, referring to his fearlessness.
To go along with his lack of fear, Thornton says he takes a bit of a mathematical approach to pitching – playing the percentages, as he put it. As long as he throws the ball in the zone, he’ll take his chances with whatever happens next as hitters “aren’t hitting .700 these days.”
“I’ll take the .250 percentages,” he said.
It’s safe to say Thornton will be pounding the strike zone in his debut on Wednesday. The left-hander has a 1.11 WHIP in 41 games (33 starts) in his minor league career and mentioned he’s “always hated walking people.”
“I hate giving up free bases, hit by pitches. I hate walking people,” he said. “Same with Carson [Benge] striking out, I hate walking people.”
Spencer Steer (1B/OF Reds): Rostered in 34 percent of Yahoo leagues
I thought about highlighting Steer here in those first couple of weeks after Noelvi Marte went down. That’s not because I thought he was good, but because he was locked back into regular playing time in a great situation in Cincinnati. But I didn’t. And now something kind of odd has happened… Spencer Steer actually has been quite good.
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The 28-year-old Steer was very fortunate to still be in the Reds’ plans for 2026 after three straight mediocre seasons, each a little worse than the one before. It seemed like he might fall into a part-time role against lefties after the Reds signed Eugenio Suárez and decided to keep non-roster first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, but manager Terry Francona still believed in him enough to make him the regular left fielder. A poor first three weeks followed, but Steer is hitting .320/.404/.500 with four homers in 28 games since Apr. 18, and Statcast thinks he’s been quite unlucky, giving him a .550 xSLG way ahead of his actual .454 mark. In fact, Steer is currently 16th in the majors with a .393 xwOBA.
Aside from the 19 barrels, Steer’s exit velocity numbers are more good than great. He hasn’t stunned like J.J. Bleday. But everything is a little better than usual, and that should make him fairly valuable going forward. The Reds play in one of baseball's best ballparks for right-handed hitters, and Steer rarely finds himself hitting lower than sixth in the Reds lineup (he's hit fifth or higher the last eight games in a row). He's still not a particularly exciting pickup, but he's useful.
Dylan Crews (OF Nationals): Rostered in 32 percent of Yahoo leagues
Potentially more exciting is Crews, who is back in the majors after hitting .258/.345/.432 with five homers and seven steals in 41 games for Triple-A Rochester. More importantly for the Nationals, he spent enough time in Triple-A to ensure that he'll finish this season with less than two years of service time, pushing his free agency back by a year.
Crews' Triple-A stint saw him hit the ball harder than ever before but also whiff more than usual. He averaged 94.7 mph off the bat for Rochester, a huge improvement on his MLB average of 89.5 mph. However, that came with a 24.9 percent strikeout rate, which is worse than his MLB average of 22.5 percent. He struck out in just 17.3 percent of his plate appearances during his Triple-A stints in 2024 and '25. If he continues to chase as many pitches in the majors as he was in the minors, it's not going to work out well for him.
Still, Crews rates as an instant pickup in mixed leagues. He's stolen 29 bases in just 116 games as a major leaguer, and it seems like he'll hit for more power now, even if it comes at the expense of batting average. His total of five homers for Rochester wasn't stellar, but he had 10 doubles and was pulling the ball in the air more often of late. He'll probably wind up as the Nationals' No. 3 hitter in short order, partly because they need one right-hander there to break up their string of lefties (Brady House was mostly hitting in the spot before his demotion Monday night). It's probably not going to happen this year, but it's still easy to see him blossoming into a top-20 fantasy outfielder in time.
River Ryan (SP Dodgers): Rostered in 11 percent of Yahoo leagues
One of 2024's biggest breakthrough prospects, Ryan required Tommy John surgery that August just four starts after debuting for the Dodgers. Back this year, he impressed this spring before suffering a hamstring injury with Triple-A Oklahoma City in April and missing a month. Returning to the mound Friday, he touched 100.9 mph on the gun while pitching four innings of one-run ball for the Comets, leading to speculation he might soon join a Dodgers rotation that's lost Blake Snell (elbow) and Tyler Glasnow (back).
Before that happens, though, Ryan still needs to be stretched out a little more. He threw 53 pitches in Friday's outing. He's pitched a total of 11 innings in his three starts for Oklahoma City this season, maxing out at 63 pitches. Encouraging is that he's walked only three batters, since control often lags behind stuff as pitchers return from Tommy John. Ryan is 27, so he might not be treated quite as carefully here as a 23-year-old returning from Tommy John. However, a late bloomer who focused more on hitting than pitching in college, he's never thrown more than 104 innings, and the Dodgers would surely like to see him contribute in October, even if it's as a reliever.
So, Ryan probably will have some mixed-league value this season, but it might be for only a couple of months as the Dodgers try to manage his workload. It's not a bad idea to stash him now in the hopes that he's up in early June. There's no telling whether he'll stay healthy in the long run, but he's an elite talent with multiple strikeout pitches and a strong groundball rate.
Waiver Wire Quick Hits
- Austin Martin is playing regularly for the Twins following Matt Wallner's demotion, and he's looked like a legitimate leadoff option while hitting .303/.425/.387 through 146 plate appearances. There's no power on the way, but he has had some luck on the basepaths lately, converting three straight steal attempts since May 8 after opening the season 4-for-8. He's a decent enough short-term outfield option in leagues in which Steer and Crews are unavailable.
- First baseman Kyle Manzardo seemed like a candidate for a Triple-A demotion last month, but the Guardians chose to stick with him, and after Sunday's two-homer game, he's hitting .295/.367/.591 this month. His .428 xwOBA backs it up, too. His bat speed is up a little, and his average exit velocity has jumped from 87.0 mph in April to 92.2 mph this month.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are one game away from reclaiming the summit of the Western Conference, but they may have to take the first step without their best defenseman.
A Quiet Absence Speaks Volumes
Cale Makar did not take the ice Tuesday, one day before Colorado opens the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena — and in a sport where practices before pivotal games carry outsized meaning, his absence was impossible to ignore.
Martin Necas speaks following practice on Tuesday.
He was the only Avalanche player who didn't skate. Head coach Jared Bednar, appearing alongside general manager Chris MacFarland at a joint news conference, tried to tamp down concern. "No, not yet," he said when asked whether Makar's absence worried him.
Jared Bednar was asked if he was concerned about Cale Makar not being on the ice today for practice.
The qualification "not yet" did just enough to keep the door open on uncertainty.
Makar has been listed day-to-day since missing Saturday and Sunday practices, nursing what appears to be a shoulder ailment he sustained during the second-round series against Minnesota. The moment of injury was hard to miss: midway through the third period of Game 5 against the Wild, Makar absorbed a check, immediately grabbed his right arm, and skated straight to the locker room.
He'd been reaching for that same spot and consulting trainers throughout the game before that. He did return to the ice a few minutes later, but the image lingered. A hip issue has also factored into his availability this spring, a detail that only muddies the picture further. Through nine playoff games, Makar has posted five points — numbers that undersell how thoroughly he controls games from the back end.
Wednesday morning's skate will be the real tell.
Good News Everywhere Else
The injury report elsewhere was decidedly more encouraging. Defensemen Brent Burns, Sam Malinski and Josh Manson — along with forward Artturi Lehkonen — all returned to the ice Tuesday after missing time during the layoff between rounds, per Denver Sports reporter Will Petersen. Bednar stopped short of formally clearing any of them, but their presence at practice speaks for itself.
That depth will matter regardless of Makar's status. Colorado has been nearly flawless through two rounds — going 8-1 with a sweep of the Los Angeles Kings and a brisk five-game dismissal of the Wild.
The NHL's best regular-season team is back in the conference final for the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2022, and Wednesday night at Ball Arena feels like the beginning of something. Puck drop is at 6 p.m.
10 STRAIGHT WINS. THE NEXT 10, NOT SO MUCH: Tonight’s game will be the Cubs’ 10th since the last of their 10 straight wins on May 8 at Texas. They are 2-7 since then. A loss tonight would tie for their worst record in the 10 games following any of their 22 previous double-digit winning streaks in which they played 10 subsequent games. They were 2-8 after winning 11 in a row in 1944. They have gone 3-7 following five double-digit streaks: in 1917 (after 10 wins), 1927 (12), 1953 (10), 1970 (11) and 1998 (10). Following their earlier 10-game streak this season, the Cubs went 7-3 in their next 10 games, tying for their third-best such record. They were 9-1 twice in 1906. They had been 7-3 four times since then, but not since 1945, after 11 wins. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
CUBS vs. BREWERS: The Cubs are 36-35 in second games of series at home vs. the Brewers. They are 18-13 after having lost first games. In all games, the Cubs are 119-111. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
THE BUSCH LEAGUE: Michael Busch, 17 games in May: .339/.493/.607 (19-for-56) with seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, 17 walks and 16 RBI.
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Kerry Wood threw six solid innings and the Cubs defeated the Diamondbacks 6-2 at Wrigley Field. It was the first win of what would become a 12-game winning streak, the team’s longest since a 14-game streak in 1936. It happened 25 years ago today, Saturday, May 19, 2001.
Ben Brown has stepped up after being asked to slot into the rotation when Matthew Boyd was injured.
In two starts: eight innings, one hit, two walks, 10 strikeouts.
That’s really good! Brown also has thrown well in long relief this year. After throwing 65 pitches in his last start against the Braves, Brown is likely going to be asked to go 75-80 pitches and hopefully six innings, as the bullpen has been a bit overworked lately (and not good).
Historically, he’s done very well vs. the Brewers: three starts, 18 innings, 1.00 ERA, 0.778 WHIP, 19 strikeouts. Current Brewers are 8-for-53 (.151) against Ben with 18 strikeouts.
Brown will need to be on his best game tonight because Jacob Misiorowski has been striking out pretty much everyone in sight this year. He has faced 202 batters and struck out 80 (MLB leader). That’s a 39.6 percent strikeout rate which is just ridiculous. He’s also thrown more 100 mile per hour pitches (233) than all other starters in MLB combined (144).
He made two starts against the Cubs last year and allowed six runs (five earned) in eight innings, largely because he issued five walks. He’s cut down on the walks this year, so this will not be an easy game. At all.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Tottenham’s woes in this corner of London are well-documented and long-established. When they made this latest trip to Stamford Bridge, the statistics showed they had won just once since 1990 – a sequence of 40 matches in all competitions.
Never mind. They needed only a point to effectively ensure their Premier League survival, to send West Ham down and draw a veil over this most wretched of seasons. It was a night when the hope pulsed until the last. Chelsea led through goals from the outstanding Enzo Fernández and Andrey Santos and yet Spurs rallied in the closing stages, refusing to accept it was their destiny to prolong the agony into the final round of matches.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 25: Cal Raleigh #29 and Mitch Garver #18 of the Seattle Mariners react after beating the San Diego Padres at T-Mobile Park on August 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Until last night’s win over the White Sox featuring Colt Emerson’s first MLB hit and home run, the vibes were pretty bad in Mariners-ville. And that was before Cal Raleigh hit the Injured List. As Cal himself and many others have said, “Obliques are tricky.” What should the Mariners do while Cal is out? Mitch Garver and Jhonny Peredia, with all due respect, do not inspire a great amount of confidence. Peredia is clearly a great defensive catcher, but has yet to hit much. GarvField is the ABS Challenge guru and is good for one dinger per fiscal quarter, but other than that it’s pretty rough. So I asked THE FEED for some alternative ideas and the FEED responded with some pretty good ideas and takes. Once again, here’s my patented and very scientific Mariners Hot Take Ranking System:
Let’s get into it.
Poster BeHappy1 says, “Is Harry Ford available?
This was a fairly common response/joke around Mariners-ville and honestly…..kinda tempting? (/looks at Ford’s AAA stats so far this season) Okay, well, maybe not. This take is deceptive. It seems inflammatory, BRASH even, but the more you pull it apart, you realize you’ve been BEAVAN’d.
Poster RidiculousNonsense says, “Dan was a catcher! It’s like riding a bike, right? Bring Dan back!”
Obviously a joke take, but a pretty good one just for the mental image alone. Giving this one a BOSIO. Has there ever been a player-manager who was the catcher? Could be the move….
Poster and Staff Writer Connor Donovan says, “I, for one, would love to find a way to grab Bo Naylor from the Guardians.”
Ding ding ding! This is what I want. I don’t care what prospect capital it takes to make this happen, we deserve it. Two Naylors, too furious. We’ve been treated to 26 years of highlights from Griffey Sr. and Jr. played together, right? Think of the brotherly teammates content the Mariners could create with this move! So much potential. Plus, they’ve already been teammates in Cleveland, so it’d be a reunion in more than one way. Give this one a BRASH ranking.
That’s all for this week. Hopefully the Mariners can keep the good vibes going and, I dunno, win some more games? Would be cool, to be quite honest.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly told reporters at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday that Schwarber is feeling "a little better" but "not good enough" to be in the lineup for the back-to-back National League East Division champions.
"He seems a little better, but not good enough (to) obviously be in there. We'll see how it goes as the day goes on," Mattingly said. "Yesterday really was no shot. Today, maybe. ... He may have a shot to hit."
Tuesday's absence from the lineup marks the second straight game that the MLB home run leader could miss due to illness. Trea Turner will serve as the designated hitter on Tuesday against Reds right-handed pitcher Chase Burns in Schwarber's absence, giving Edmundo Sosa the start at shortstop.
Schwarber is in the midst of a historic home run tear, as he has nine home runs in his last 10 games. With his multi-home run game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, May 15 at PNC Park, Schwarber became the first player in baseball to reach 20 home runs this season, and the first player since 2006 to hit at least 20 home runs in the first 45 games of a season, and only the 10th in history to do so.
He's hitting .239 in the month of May with 16 RBIs. He holds a .230 batting average on the season, which is fifth-best among Phillies hitters, and is second in MLB in slugging with a .624 slugging percentage.
"It's almost indescribable to do what he's doing," former Phillies shortstop and five-time All-Star Larry Bowa told USA TODAY Sports.
The Phillies moved to two games above .500 with a 5-4, come-from-behind win against the Reds on Monday night, thanks to a two-run, go-ahead home run from Bryson Stott in the bottom of the eighth inning.
A win for the Phillies Tuesday would give them their seventh straight series win since Mattingly took over on April 28 for Rob Thomson, who was fired after four seasons. It would also make them the second team in Major League Baseball since 1990 to win seven straight series after losing six straight series.
We are a little over a month away from the NBA Draft, and rumors are starting to fly around. Here are some of the latest — and also check out the latest NBC Sports Mock Draft.
AJ Dybantsa not lock to go No. 1
AJ Dybantsa helped his cause at the NBA Draft Combine — he was everything teams expected, and his 42-inch vertical leap solidified him as one of the best pure athletes in the draft. Which is why most teams have the BYU wing on top of their draft boards, projected to go No. 1.
Rival teams don't view Dybantsa as a lock to go first, however, as there has been no true consensus No. 1 among scouts all season. Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson are all expected to receive consideration as the Wizards go through their process.
With all due respect to Boozer and Wilson, if it's not Dybantsa at No. 1, it will be Darryn Peterson out of Kansas — he was the guy on top of draft boards before the season, and scouts have told NBC Sports he still has the highest ceiling of the group. What has dropped Peterson's stock in the eyes of most teams is health concerns in a season where he yo-yoed in and out of the Jayhawks' lineup due to cramping and other injuries. Scouts and front office people have told NBC Sports they want to see Peterson's medical reports, and ESPN's Woo echoes that, also reporting Peterson did well in his combine interviews with teams.
NBA teams are still awaiting the results of Peterson's medical evaluation, which is viewed around the league as the most important off-court piece after he dealt with serious cramping concerns, which he attributed to high dosages of creatine. According to team sources, Peterson came across as quiet but serious in interviews last week and handled that part of the process well, addressing questions about his strange season.
One thing is clear out of the Combine: Those top four — Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson — are considered by teams in their own tier, something Woo and others at the combine report.
Other draft notes
• Aday Mara climbing. One of the winners of the draft combine, Michigan center Aday Mara is climbing draft boards, and it's not out of the question that he could be the surprise pick that disrupts the run on point guards expected in picks 5-8 (Brooklyn at No. 6 reportedly is taking a look). The Spanish native had physical measurements at the combine similar to Zach Edey — 7'3" with a 9'9" standing reach — and he showed during the season (and reminded everyone at the combine) that he moves well for a man his size. • Don't expect Jazz to trade up for Dybantsa. It's easy to see why the speculation started: Dybantsa went to prep school in Utah, then attended BYU for college — a place that owner Ryan Smith, as well as team president Danny Ainge and GM Austin Ainge, all have ties. And, it would be a hit with the fan base. However, multiple reports — including Sarah Todd of The Deseret News — say the same thing: Don't expect the Jazz to move up to No. 1. The price to swap picks with Washington to go No. 1 and ensure the Jazz get Dybantsa is likely a quality young player — the Wizards reportedly really liked Ace Baley a year ago — and another first-round pick. Unless the Jazz rate Dybantsa on his own tier and well above anyone else in the draft — and as noted above, that's not how anybody sees it — then the price is far too steep to play that game. • Kings eye Darius Acuff Jr. The lottery gods were not kind to the Sacramento Kings — again — but they could still land a difference maker at No. 7. Sacramento reportedly is interested in Arkansas' Darius Acuff, reports Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports. There is a real logic to this: the Kings need someone to inspire the fan base (and help them win games), and all you need to know about Acuff is that Allen Iverson says Acuff reminds him of him. He's just fun to watch. Acuff is a dynamic scorer who can play on or off the ball and is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game. • Bucks acting like a team about to get another pick. Milwaukee has one pick in the first round, No. 10, but they are acting like a team that is going to make multiple picks in this draft, reports ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. If, as widely expected, Milwaukee trades Giannis Antetokounmpo before the draft, that will very likely come with a pick this season from whichever team lands the two-time MVP. Consider it another sign that the Bucks are serious about making a deal this time around.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) and center Jarrett Allen (31).
It became an instant meme.
After Jarrett Allen and the Cavaliers were bullied and eliminated by the Knicks in five games in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, his brutal honesty made for an unforgettable quote.
“The lights were brighter than expected,” Allen said at the time.
But now, Allen has a chance for redemption. Here he is, three seasons later — again facing the Knicks, again playing under those bright Madison Square Garden lights. This time around, it’s in the Eastern Conference finals.
“That comment was that comment,” Allen said when asked by The Post at Cavaliers shootaround Tuesday morning ahead of Game 1. “What I said is what it is. For me personally now, I’ve grown, evolved, had a lot more playoff series under my belt, a lot more games under my belt, experience. What I said then was what I said then.”
Both teams are certainly in different spots now. They were both upstarts three years ago, coming off a season (and in the Cavaliers’ case, four seasons) in which they missed the playoffs.
“Everybody’s evolved, everybody’s grown, everybody’s come into their own skin,” Allen said. “Everybody’s just a different person coming here. So it’s good to see how everybody’s grown.”
The Knicks core is now way different — Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have been added to the mix. Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein are all long gone.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) and center Jarrett Allen (31). Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The main Cavaliers figures, though, are the same — Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Allen. They acquired James Harden midseason in exchange for Darius Garland in a move they envisioned to take that core to the next level.
Dean Wade and Sam Merrill were both on the team in 2022-23. But Wade played just 11 minutes in that first round against the Knicks. Merrill did not play at all. Now, they are both key bench pieces for the Cavaliers.
“For most of the team, the core that was there, it was their first time in the playoffs,” Mitchell said Tuesday morning. “We’ve had a few series under our belts [since then]. We didn’t like how it went, obviously. This is different. We’re not here to rehash the past. This is a different scenario. This is something that, even last season, we came into it like, ‘This is our goal, to get to this point, to get to the Finals.’ Not really looking at it like, ‘Man, what happened [three] years ago?’ It’s just the opportunity in front of us.”
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Entering the season, this conference finals matchup was one that many could see coming. The NBA seemed to, at least.
They were scheduled against each other for the NBA’s opening-night game and a marquee Christmas Day game. And they had the two best preseason odds to win the East.
For most of the year, though, it felt more far-fetched. The Cavaliers got off to a rough start, and the Knicks went through their own lulls.
“I think for us, we weren’t saying, ‘It’s gonna be us vs. New York.’ We were really just focusing on ourselves,” Mitchell said. “Especially how we started the year, it was a long road. I think now, it’s more so like we gotta steal the first one. And if we don’t steal the first one, steal the second one. That’s the mentality. It’s just like ‘hey, we’re here, we haven’t come this far just to be excited to be here.’ I think that’s the biggest feeling around the group — that we’re not just like, ‘We did it.’ Now, it’s more so that this is an opportunity for us to play and get to the Finals, and we have to get through these guys to get there.”
New York Knicks fans have been waiting a while for the Eastern Conference Finals to begin, and our Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions and same-game parlay believe it will be a Garden party on Tuesday, May 19.
However, that doesn't mean Donovan Mitchell won't make an impact in Game 1.
Our best Cavaliers vs Knicks SGP for Game 1
SGP leg #1: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 3-pointers
Jalen Brunson has knocked down 40.9% of his 66 3-point attempts in the postseason, good for fourth-best among players with at least 60 3-point shots. Brunson has hit 3+ triples in seven of 10 playoff games, including four of five at MSG.
Opponents have burned the Cavaliers from downtown in these playoffs, especially in the semifinals. Detroit shot just 35.6% from deep in the regular season, and 32.7% in the first round before Cleveland allowed them to hit at a 39% clip in their seven-game series.
SGP leg #1: Knicks moneyline
If not for a pair of one-point losses to the Hawks in the first round, the Knicks would be undefeated in the postseason.
The Knicks have rattled off seven straight victories by an average of 26.4 points. New York has played four fewer games than Cleveland, and its combination of fresh legs, home-court advantage, and stellar play on both ends of the floor will lead it to victory tonight.
SGP leg #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists
Donovan Mitchell’s assists have dropped from 5.7 in the regular season to just 2.9 in the playoffs. However, the Knicks present an easier matchup for him, ranking ninth-worst in assists allowed per game to shooting guards.
Mitchell's playmaking has translated to wins. In 63 total games with at least four assists, Cleveland went 44-19 straight up, including 4-0 in the playoffs.
If Cleveland wants to stay competitive in Game 1, they'll have to try and funnel the offense through Mitchell.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Knicks predictions for Game 1.
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Dec 20, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) tries to drive past Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) during the first half at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
TIMBER! The Brooklyn Nets fell back in the NBA draft lottery AGAIN last week, leaving them at pick number six. However, with the draft almost a month away, there’s no time to sulk. The Nets can still get a homegrown star, and Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings is here to point out who that player is…
In this episode of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:
OG Anunoby was playing some of the best basketball of his career before suffering a right hamstring strain in Game 2 against the 76ers, but a long layoff ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals has given him extra time to recover.
He's been a full participant in practice three days in a row and is probable to play in tonight's Game 1 against the Cavaliers.
Barring a major setback during pre-game shootaround, expect to see him in uniform tonight.
Latest Cavaliers vs Knicks odds
OG Anunoby player props tonight
Sportsbooks have posted player props for OG Anunoby for Game 1, marking his first game in 13 days.
Market
Over 15.5 points
-115
Over 1.5 assists
+120
Over 5.5 rebounds
-115
Over 2.5 threes
+135
Over 1.5 steals
+132
Anunoby is not known for being a prolific passer, but he did log multiple assists in two of his last three games before going down with the hamstring strain.
He may be more eager to keep the ball moving and make the extra pass if he's struggling to find his scoring touch in his first game back. The +120 price makes this even more appetizing.
Pick: OG Anunoby Over 1.5 assists (+120 at bet365)
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Aug 19, 2020; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) warms up in the bullpen before his start against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Once Max Fried hit the IL with an elbow issue last week, the Yankees were in a bit of an awkward spot. They had a former Cy Young award winner nearing the very end of a lengthy rehab process, yet it seemed like he might not be quite ready to fill in now that his co-ace was injured.
But after seeing their erstwhile ace brush 100 mph in his most recent start for Scranton, the Yankees decided they’d seen enough. Gerrit Cole is back.
Gerrit Cole will make his season debut on Friday, per Boone.
Aaron Boone announced today that Cole will make his first start at the major-league level this year on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander is set to throw his first meaningful pitch for the Yankees in over a year and a half.
He looks ready. Cole topped out at 99.6 mph over the weekend and sat 97 mph on his four-seam fastball, higher than his average fastball velocity in both 2023 and 2024. After a gradual ramp-up over the course of his minor-league rehab assignment, Cole ran his pitch count up to 86 in his last start, suggesting he’s close to fully built-up. He also threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium earlier this afternoon that, after Cole came out of it well, likely sealed the Yankees’ decision.
Cole seemed like an obvious option once the Yankees sent Elmer Rodríguez, who made one spot start in place of Fried, back down to Triple-A. Having Cole make one last rehab start in which he pushed his pitch count past 90 might’ve been a nice luxury in a world in which the Yankees led the AL East and had a rotation full of high-level starters. Now, Fried is recovering and the Rays are coming to town with the division lead in hand. Rather than cobble together some sort of bullpen game, Boone will hand the ball to Cole to face Tampa.
It’s been a shaky stretch for the Yankees the last week or two, but they have a chance this week to demonstrably turn the tide. They play host to division rivals all week, and now get their former ace back looking ready to go. It’s time for them to make a move and close the gap with the Rays in the AL East.
DENVER (AP) — The NHL Coaches’ Association said Tuesday it is closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy amid reports that the Vegas Golden Knights have denied multiple teams permission to speak with him about working for them.
Cassidy was fired in late March and is still under contract through next season, so anyone wishing to interview him must get permission from the Golden Knights, according to league rules.
“It is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities,” the Coaches' Association said in a statement. "It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.
Vegas has reportedly not allowed Pacific Division rivals Edmonton and Los Angeles to talk to Cassidy when asked since their seasons ended. Word of the Oilers' interest in Cassidy leaked last week before they fired Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff exit.
It was not clear if teams in the Eastern Conference or elsewhere in the West sought or received permission to interview him.
Cassidy, who turns 61 on Wednesday, guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, helped Boston reach the final in 2019 and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in the pandemic shortened '19-20 season. He was an assistant on Canada's staff at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Vegas is in the West final against Colorado, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon and coach John Tortorella are set to speak to reporters in Denver later Tuesday ahead of Game 1 at the Avalanche on Wednesday night.
So Thielbar has missed almost four weeks. He threw an inning of scoreless relief for High-A South Bend on Saturday, striking out two and throwing 23 pitches.
Today, the Cubs activated Thielbar from the 15-day injured list.
To make room for Thielbar on the 26-man active roster, left-hander Ty Blach, who was just added to the 40-man and 26-man rosters Sunday and threw three scoreless innings against the Brewers on Monday, was designated for assignment. He will likely clear waivers and return to Iowa. This move leaves an open spot on the 40-man roster.
Thielbar will be available for tonight’s game at Wrigley Field against the Brewers. This should be a boost to the bullpen. As always, we await developments.
