After the Knicks bludgeoned the 76ers in Game 1, fouling was the one area he specifically noted they had to improve. It seemed like a footnote in what was otherwise a historic blowout.
But in their 108-102 Game 2 win Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, it became a central storyline. It had Brown doing math at the podium while questioning the officiating.
“We have to try to do something about it, because they’re killing us from the free-throw line in this series,” Brown said. “I know it’s only two games, but they had 34 [free throws in Game 1] and 28 tonight. So let’s add them up now. That’s 62, and we had 17 and 25, so that’s 42, right? Forty-two to 62. So, we have to do something right. I have to do a better job addressing it. Hopefully, it can get evened out a little bit more throughout the course of the series, but it’s tough to win a ballgame if you’re getting beat from the free-throw line like that versus a really good team.”
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona gives chase during the third quarter on May 6, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Karl-Anthony Towns was in foul trouble all night and played just 27 minutes as a result. Without Mitchell Robinson (illness), it forced Ariel Hukporti into action.
But Hukporti committed four fouls in seven minutes. That left Brown with no other choice than to go with Landry Shamet or Jeremy Sochan in small-ball lineups.
“I think it was KAT’s third or fourth foul where [Tyrese] Maxey came off him,” Brown said. “I’m not sure what’s a bump and what’s not a bump, but up by half-court, I gotta go back and I gotta watch that, because you can literally call somebody getting bumped every time down the floor if you want to. And so, for KAT to pick up his third or fourth foul that way — I can’t remember which one it was — that was tough. But we have to try to keep leading with our chest and show our hands and hope they don’t call it. They’re really, really good, especially Maxey. Man, he’s one of the quickest guys in the league with the basketball. And when he sees an angle, he’s going at you 100 miles per hour.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“And he’s good as you’re trying to turn — when you’re turning to step-slide with him, you’re exposing your shoulder and your arm, and as soon as he sees you turn and he sees your arm right here, he’s flying into you and it’s giving the officials an opportunity to call a foul.”
The Knicks had a clean injury report heading into Game 2 before Robinson was downgraded to questionable with the illness hours before tip.
He warmed up like normal and was considered a game-time decision.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 06: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles against Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 06, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves came into Wednesday night’s Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs with a chance to get greedy. After taking Game 1 104-102, the Wolves had the opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before even playing a game at Target Center.
Instead, the Timberwolves never gave themselves a chance.
The Wolves came out of the gates playing an incredibly undisciplined basketball. They turned the ball over on their first three possessions of the game and never found their composure from there.
From the start, it was a complete turnaround from the first game of the series. The Timberwolves lacked ball movement, took terrible shots, and continued to turn the ball over at an unsustainable rate.
Somehow, the Wolves only trailed 24-17 after the first quarter. The game didn’t stay close for long, as after Jaden McDaniels picked up his third foul early in the second quarter, the game fell apart for Minnesota on both sides of the ball.
Jaden McDaniels picked up his third foul with 9:49 left in the second quarter.
At that time, the Spurs were up 30-22.
After that, San Antonio closed the quarter on a 29-13 run.
The Timberwolves finished the first half with 35 points, their lowest of the entire season, regular season or playoffs. They went 14-47 from the field, 2-15 from beyond the arc, and turned the ball over a total of 11 times.
On the other end, the Wolves gave up 34 points in the paint alone and trailed by 24 points going into the halftime break.
The second half wasn’t any more friendly for Minnesota as the Spurs got dunk after dunk following countless Timberwolves turnovers. The Wolves never mounted any sort of comeback, and by early in the fourth quarter, the benches were in for both teams as the Wolves fell 133-95 in Game 2.
The Wolves had five players in double-figures with no player scoring more than 12 points. Anthony Edwards had an especially poor night as he never looked fully healthy or engaged with the game. He finished with 12 points while missing eight of his 13 shots to go with four turnovers. The Wolves lost the 24 minutes Edwards was on the court by a team-worst 33 points.
Edwards was far from the only player who performed poorly, as not a single player had a quality performance as the team finished with a staggering 22 turnovers while shooting less than 40 percent from the field.
The Spurs were led by Stephon Castle’s 21 points, with Wembanyama and Fox having bounce-back games after poor performances in Game 1. Wemby put up 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Fox scored 16 points on only ten shots.
“They just kicked our butt in every aspect of the game tonight,” Chris Finch said after the blowout loss. “Offensively, defensively, it didn’t matter. They took it to us, and we didn’t really respond very well.”
Finch was later asked what he said to the team after a game like this, and he responded, “I told them we just got punked.”
Following their Game 1 victory, the Timberwolves deservedly received a ton of praise nationally. With a shorthanded roster, they dismantled Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets, and, for at least one game, were doing the same to Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
While losing this game is far from a death knell, there is only so much margin for error against a team of the quality of this Spurs squad. Rather than putting their foot on the gas pedal, Minnesota played like a team that had accomplished its goal and appeared content bringing the series back home tied 1-1.
In their previous two postseason runs, Minnesota has thrived when it’s been the underdog and has often let go of the rope when they start to receive recognition for its positive play. It’s impossible to truly know if that was the case in this one. Regardless, the stark difference in the Wolves’ play over the last two games stands out.
The Spurs, unlike the Nuggets, responding with a quality performance should not come as a surprise. They won 62 games for a reason. Now, it’s on the Timberwolves to do the same after getting embarrassed tonight.
Up Next
The series now shifts to Minnesota, where the Timberwolves are 3-0 this postseason. Game 3 against the Spurs on Friday begins at 8:30 PM CT and will air on Amazon Prime.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 6: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs had their backs to the wall, so they had a Game 7 mentality from tip-off, and they cruised their way to the finish line against the ravenous Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs are now going on tour and the winner of a Game 3 in a best of seven series when it’s tied advances 73.7 percent of the time, per the NBA’s Facts and Figures.
Both sides were implacable, defending the lane like it was a scared temple and neither had much breathing room until the levy broke for the Spurs in transition. San Antonio’s defense was more potent, holding them to their lowest output of the season (35 points) in the first half, which included a stretch where it forced Minnesota into a stream of bad shots.
Usually, even playoff games with a large difference get close, but the Spurs didn’t permit such shenanigans because Victor Wembanyama’s help defense was omnipresent, despite 10 less blocks, and his teammates were just as unforgiving, hounding the ball before it crossed half court and controlling the boards.
Observations
These types of butt-kickings usually come with a warning for children. This one got so of hand, that even Kelly Olynyk and Lindy Waters III got dusted off, and they’ve barely played since ‘Nam.
The first half of the third quarter was the sloppiest spurt for the Spurs as they did a poor job of defending without fouling. Still, it didn’t hurt them as much as it could have because the Timberwolves were having the same problems putting them on the line, and Julian Champagnie swished four 3-pointers.
Stephon Castle, who fouled out in Game 1, may have picked up some unnecessary penalties and turnovers, but he played with more controlled aggression. All six of his shots were logged in the lane, and he was immaculate at the line on nine attempts. Additionally, as shown against Deni Avdija and Bones Hyland in this game, he plays with a fearlessness that the team feeds off.
Guarding Julius Randle and Naz Reid, two tanks, has been problematic at times because one of them usually joins the other or Rudy Gobert while the Spurs mostly use four perimeter players around Wemby. Most players matched up with them are at a disadvantage since Randle and Reid have the edge on the boards and in reach to disrupt shots. Yet, Keldon Johnson was able to hold up well in his minutes with Randle, and the Spurs were able to neutralize their impact by sending help quicker at them.
Jaden McDaniels is slimmer, but he is the new age Bobby Jones, who was famously a stud athlete and top-notch defender for the Philadelphia 76ers in the ‘80s. He gave ball handlers fits and zig-zagged to his spots, but his impact was offset by the grip the Spurs took on the game, and he picked up five fouls.
Even without eye-pooping stats, De’Aaron Fox was a key figure in the first-half avalanche because he was playing with more intensity, and the team did a nice job of screening for him on curls. This matchup is a difficult one for him because of the length and lateral quickness Minnesota has, so he could be used more as a decoy as the series progresses.
Carter Bryant gave the team good minutes with his hustle in transition and backpedaling. Since he’s got a bigger frame, there may come a time in this series where it’s best for the Spurs to use him over Julian Champagnie, a leaner player.
The Mets broke out the bats at Coors Field, beating the Colorado Rockies, 10-5, thanks to 15 hits by the offense.
Here are the takeaways...
-- For a stadium that most pitchers loathe to pitch in, Freddy Peralta loves it. The right-hander entered the game 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four games (three starts) at Coors Field and he improved those numbers with five scoreless innings on Wednesday night.
Peralta did it despite traffic on the bases for most of the night, escaping jam after jam and relying on his defense to make plays behind him as he only struck out one batter, which is highly unusual for the pitcher who began the night with a career 11.1 K/9 rate.
With the Mets up 8-0, Peralta was pulled after 91 pitches (56 strikes) and lowered his season ERA to 3.12.
-- Offensively, Juan Soto, leading off for the second straight game, got New York going in the first with a leadoff home run off Michael Lorenzen, who shut out the Mets over seven innings at Citi Field a couple of starts ago. It was Soto’s first career leadoff homer as he’s only batted first four times in his career.
-- After the home run, Lorenzen kept New York at bay until the fourth inning, when the Mets teed off against the right-hander. Carson Benge had the biggest hit of the frame with a two-run single that extended New York’s lead to 3-0.
Benge, who homered on Monday, has had a terrific road trip and has been much better at the plate after a rough start to his career. The rookie finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored and raised his batting average above the Mendoza line (.202) for the first time since March.
-- But Benge wasn’t the only Met to swing a good stick against Colorado. Marcus Semien (4-for-5), Francisco Alvarez (2-for-4), Bo Bichette (2-for-5), Brett Baty (2-for-4) and MJ Melendez (2-for-2) all had multi-hit games to help knock Lorenzen out after 5.0+ innings.
In fact, New York doubled its lead in the sixth by putting up a four-spot with three of those runs charged to Lorenzen. Alvarez and Bichette each had run-scoring singles during the frame with Soto adding another with a sacrifice fly and Tyrone Taylor reaching on an error that brought home a run.
-- Tobias Myers, who hadn’t allowed an earned run in his last nine innings, began the bottom of the sixth inning and just didn’t have it. The right-hander was greeted immediately with a solo shot by TJ Rumfield before back-to-back, hard-hit doubles drove in another.
After a mound visit by pitching coach Justin Willard, Myers retired the next two hitters, but Jake McCarthy launched a two-run homer that got the Rockies closer at 8-4. Another hard-hit single by Edouard Julien extended the inning and knocked Myers out of the game. Myers surrendered four earned runs on five hits (all with exit velocities above 95 mph) and saw his ERA rise to 3.57.
-- Brooks Raley would come in and finally put the inning to bed with a strikeout. The lefty also pitched a scoreless seventh inning and has been amazing to start the year with his 1.29 ERA. Luke Weaver looked good in the eighth inning and Sean Manaea was tasked with finishing things off in the ninth, but the left-hander could only get one out before he was yanked with the bases loaded and a run already in after he hit a batter with the bases full following three-straight singles. Devin Williams came in and got the final two outs via strikeout to pick up the save.
-- Semien capped off his incredible night offensively with a two-run blast in the top of the ninth inning and was a triple shy of the cycle and was the first Mets player to tally four hits in a game on the year. He also made a nice play in the field on a ball with a tough hop to get a force out.
-- With the win, the Mets no longer have the worst record in MLB as they are now percentage points better than the Rockies.
Game MVP: Mets lineup
It's hard to pick one player when the Mets racked up 10 runs on 15 hits, although it's nice to see Semien have a good game at the plate after such a rough beginning to his tenure in New York.
76ers forward Paul George (8) defends against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter.
Few players can be so infuriating. Few players can be so dominant.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ brilliance eventually overpowered his long-standing demons in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, as the 7-footer overcame his latest bout of foul trouble and picked apart the Joel Embiid-less 76ers front line, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 27 minutes in the 108-102 win at Madison Square Garden to help give the Knicks a 2-0 series lead.
Through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Towns is shooting 59.7 percent from the field — 13-for-19 through the first two games against the Sixers — with 10.5 rebounds per game.
Karl-Anthony Towns battles for a loose ball with Paul George in Game 2 on May 6, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
And after averaging 3.1 assists over the first 11 seasons of his career, the new point center, who recorded his first two playoff triple-doubles (and came up 3 assists shy of a third) against Atlanta, has averaged 7.8 assists in the past five games — all Knicks wins.
“I just want to [make] the right plays when the ball hits my hands, whether that’s driving, passing, taking the shot or slowing down our offense to get us organized,” Towns said. “I just want to impact winning, and I was able to do that.”
Even with Mitchell Robinson (illness) out in Game 2, Towns remained undisciplined, getting called for a moving screen 30 feet from the hoop barely two minutes into the game. Towns then picked up his second foul with 4:29 left in the first quarter, forcing Mike Brown to turn to rarely used Ariel Hukporti for early minutes.
“That’s tough to try to combat when Mitch is out,” Brown said. “He’s an important player for us. It’s no secret we need him on the floor. He just has to avoid unnecessary fouls.”
Less than a minute into the second quarter, Towns picked up his third foul, sending him to the bench until the second half, having played less than nine minutes.
“I don’t ever want to lose the physicality,” Towns said. “That’s done us well. I’ll look at the tape. I’ll get better, more disciplined. I don’t want to put my team in that position again, so I gotta do a better job.
“For better, for worse, I may not have been able to play many minutes in the first half, but I tried to use that as an advantage to have a more rested body than everybody else on the court and try to be a spark plug for our team coming out of halftime.”
76ers forward Paul George (8) defends against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Towns took over when the second half began, opening with a 3-pointer, before adding a 3-point play and a spin move that set up a kiss off the glass. He made each of his first six shots.
Even when he was fouled and threw up a prayer that resulted in the ball getting stuck below the shot clock, Towns knocked it down on his first swing with a mop to cheers, following several failed attempts by Philadelphia big man Andre Drummond.
“I wanted to get the game going,” Towns said. “I already had a hot hand.”
Still, Towns — who came out after picking up a fourth foul late in the third quarter — happily took a back seat in the fourth quarter. He attempted just two shots, but pulled down nine rebounds in the final quarter, along with two assists.
Whatever the case may be, the Sixers did not seem to take to it kindly, and it led to a feisty verbal exchange that saw Sochan need to be yanked back by a fellow teammate.
Edgecombe had to be moved back from the situation as well and seemed to be shouting something of his own in Sochan’s direction.
Nothing more transpired from there.
Jeremy Sochan, who played one minute in the Knicks win, tried to talk trash to VJ Edgecombe after the buzzer. pic.twitter.com/hPafCMA46U
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 7, 2026
The two apparently had an interaction in the fourth quarter, when Sochan attempted to “troll” Edgecombe while he was talking to an official, according to ClutchPoints’ Kris Pursiainen.
The moment seemed to highlight the fierceness of Game 2 between the rivals and set the stage for Game 3 at Xfinity Mobile Arena as the series shifts to the City of Brotherly Love.
Following the game, Edgecombe told reporters that what he took away from the first two games was that “it’s going to be a dogfight.”
“I think that’s what it is. It’s going to be a dogfight,” he said. “They’re a really good team, and it’s going to come down to the wire almost every game.”
Sochan wasn’t the only person Edgecombe had a notable interaction with.
Spike Lee & VJ Edgecombe going back & forth after the 76ers rookie hit Knicks captain Jalen Brunson in the face while attempting a steal off the inbound. pic.twitter.com/CtywDMylbj
Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) drives past New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Sixers rookie appeared to get into a verbal sparring match with Knicks celebrity superfan Spike Lee.
The well-known movie director was quite animated during the exchange, while Edgecombe seemed to remain unfazed.
The Knicks will travel to Philadelphia for the next two games of the series before things move back to the Big Apple, if necessary, for Game 5 on Tuesday.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner shakes hands with former Atlanta Braves during a"Field of Dreams" ceremoney to commemorate the last regular season home game to be held at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Ga 23 September. The stadium is scheduled to be torn down at the conclusion of this season. The Braves will move to Olympic Stadium next year. (Photo credit should read DOUG COLLIER/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Well the Braves finally lost a series, losing a 3-game series to the Mariners in Seattle, with a one-run loss and a two-run loss. It is pretty impressive that this far in the season, it took a lot to go wrong for them to lose a series by two small-margin losses like this. On Monday, of course, the pitching depth was essentially non-existant, resulting in JR Ritchie being left in the game too long and today the Braves might have had a better shot at coming back if it weren’t for some really egregious baserunning from Jorge Mateo. This is a good team folks and let’s hope for a good showing against that scary Dodgers team this weekend.
On year ago, the notion of the Pittsburgh Penguins trading their 2026 first-round pick would have been met with understandable and unabashed criticism.
Of course, it's not hard to see why: One year ago, the Penguins were waiting for word on the New York Rangers' decision on the first they surrendered to Pittsburgh, and the Rangers chose to keep their 2026 first instead of their 2025 first. One year ago - and this still holds true - folks were talking about how many impact, franchise players would headline the 2026 class. And, one year ago, most of the hockey world thought the Penguins would be one of the teams vying for a precious spot in the top-five, potentially even possessing the most lottery balls.
Well, one year later, a playoff berth and a much later draft selection have certainly changed a few things.
With the NHL Draft Lottery concluded - and the Toronto Maple Leafs winning it to get the first overall pick - the Penguins will select 22nd overall in this year's draft, which will take place Jun. 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. It's a far cry from the top-five, where almost everyone thought they would be drafting going into the 2025-26 season.
Then, they were a top-10 team in the NHL for most of the season, and they made the playoffs. Yes, they were finished off in the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers - even if they made the series interesting by forcing a Game 6 after going down 3-0 - but with some up-and-coming talent on the way and some veterans still playing at a very high level, it stands to reason that the Penguins can build on what they accomplished this season.
So, there's the million dollar question: Will the Penguins mobilize this summer? And, if so, will they deal their 22nd overall pick for a young player?
Typically, a team in the midst of a rebuild, even if the Penguins did make the playoffs this season, isn't exactly in a position to leverage those higher-value assets. But, the Penguins are in a bit of a unique situation.
For starters, their veterans are still playing at a very high level. Sidney Crosby just clinched his 21st consecutive season above point-per-game. Evgeni Malkin - whose future for next season, as a UFA, has not yet been decided - was above point-per-game for the first time in three years. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell matched their paces from last season. Anthony Mantha, another UFA, led the team in goals. And Erik Karlsson played some of the best hockey of his career since his days as an Ottawa Senator nearly a decade ago.
On the surface, some may say that the Penguins are too reliant on their veterans. But they have some key young pieces who should be breaking through on the NHL roster - or, in some cases, have already broken through - sometime next season.
Ben Kindel made the team as an 18-year-old, was the third-line center all season long, has mature details in his game already, and will only continue to grow in terms of production. Egor Chinakhov, 25, only scratched the surface of his potential as an impact top-six winger after being traded to the Penguins by the Columbus Blue Jackets in late-December, as he registered 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games.
Then, there is 22-year-old goaltender Sergei Murashov, who had another really solid professional campaign in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) and figures to graduate to the NHL from the AHL next season. There is also defenseman Harrison Brunicke, 20, who broke the NHL roster out of training camp at 19, eventually found himself back on his junior team, is playing top-pair minutes for WBS during the playoffs, and is the highest-upside defenseman in their system. He should also push for a full-time NHL roster spot next season.
And that's not even counting other peripheral players like Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, Owen Pickering, and Tanner Howe, all of whom will be in the mix over the next two years.
Finally, there's the potential of the trade market this summer.
Even with the cap rising by $8.5 million next season, there are still some teams who are either in cap trouble or are heading in the wrong direction organizationally. The Dallas Stars will try to figure out a way to sign pending-RFA superstar forward Jason Robertson, but that may expose other high-upside young pieces such as defenseman Thomas Harley and forward Mavrik Bourque.
The Leafs - despite winning the lottery - have one of the league's worst farm systems and a captain in Auston Matthews that isn't sure about his future in Toronto with two years remaining on his contract. Even if not Matthews, players like Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson could become available. St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas could also be on the market, even though he'd probably cost a king's ransom.
The Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens have a surplus of young blueliners and, in an effort to take the next step in contention, may covet a good veteran player like Rakell or Rust. There is even some potential turmoil in Edmonton, although the Oilers are unlikely to put their two best players on the market this summer.
Even if the free agent market is rather thin this summer, the trade market could have a lot of opportunity, and that's not something that happens very often in the NHL. If an opportunity arises to acquire a young impact talent that could help the Penguins in both the short-term and the long-term, they have to take advantage of that.
They also have a high second-round pick thanks to the Winnipeg Jets, so there won't be an overwhelmingly large talent gap between where they're picking at 22 in the first round versus picking at 39 in the second. And they have another second-round pick at 54.
Obviously, there are bound to be many other teams in on these players, should they become available, so the acquisition cost isn't going to come cheap. A high-end player like Robertson would cost the Penguins at least Rust or Rakell, the first-rounder, and a high-value prospect like Brunicke at a starting point. And that's only a starting point, as it would certainly take at least another prospect and/or an NHL rostered player, plus a few other picks.
And, even if not a Robertson-level talent, someone like Harley would still cost quite a lot. But it's something they should still be able to execute.
The beauty of the Penguins' situation - and what actually makes it pretty advantageous - is the fact that they have a high volume of draft capital, a high volume of viable prospects, and more cap space than anyone else in the NHL. So, even if the Penguins lack some of the higher-end blue-chip prospects other organizations possess, they have so much more flexibility in terms of building out a high-volume package that could push deals over the finish line.
They can tack on picks. They can tack on a prospect or two. And they can take on some salary or a bad contract to help cap-strapped teams like Dallas clear out more space. All of these things do add up, and they could spell the difference in terms of setting themselves apart.
The Penguins and GM/POHO Kyle Dubas have positioned themselves nicely to make a big splash because they have those "extra assets." They have that peripheral prospect talent, mid-round draft capital, and cap space that other teams don't. And they have enough of those things that giving up a few of them for a star player or a rising young player wouldn't be a detriment to their future.
If there is a summer to leverage their first-round pick in a trade for a legitimate young talent, it's this summer. Since they're not going to land a lottery pick, they may be better off landing a sure talent using that first-rounder as leverage rather than hoping that the pick turns into one of the guys they could have traded for.
May 6, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the Montréal Canadiens in game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Bowen Byram and Ryan McLeod scored on consecutive power-play opportunities in reviving Buffalo’s anemic special-teams unit, and the Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday night.
Josh Doan and Jordan Greenway also scored for Buffalo, which was making its first second-round appearance since 2007, and first overall in 15 years. Alex Lyon stopped 26 shots and improved to 4-1 since taking over the starting duties in Game 3 against Buffalo’s opening-round opponent Boston.
Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach scored for Montreal, which appeared slow to find its legs three days after defeating Tampa Bay in Game 7 of its first-round series. Jakub Dobes finished with 12 saves, and allowed four goals after allowing a combined two in splitting Games 6 and 7 against the Lightning.
Montreal has yet to win consecutive playoff games this postseason, and was coming off a series in which all seven games were decided by one goal, including four in overtime.
Buffalo hosts Game 2 on Friday night, before the series shifts to Montreal on Sunday.
The Sabres were the more rested team, having had four days off since beating Boston 4-1 in Game 6 on Friday.
“I like the quick start we got off to. I know we can be a lot better,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, noting he thought Buffalo looked disjointed at times. “There’s a couple situations in the game that we gave them a little bit of momentum.”
Doan opened the scoring 4:31 in by converting Zach Benson’s pass to cap a 2-on-1 after Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson fell and turned over the puck in front of his bench.
McLeod made it 2-0 by converting Benson’s pass through the crease on Buffalo’s second power-play opportunity 13:26 into the first period. Byram scored on the next opportunity by snapping in a shot from between the circles to put Buffalo up 4-1 midway through the second period.
Byram’s goal was his fourth, matching the Sabres’ franchise playoff record for defensemen, joining Mike Ramsey (1988), Jason Woolley and Alexei Zhitnik, who both scored four in 1999.
Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis was pleased with how much more room his players had to create with the puck after a tight-checking series against the Lightning. His only issue is the Canadiens need to take advantage of it.
“Now, what does that mean? I got to rewatch,” St. Louis said.
“I have ideas, but I’m not going to put my stamp on those ideas right now. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you,” he added. “I’m confident that we can play any style. I’m confident that we could play the game that’s in front of us. And I’m confident that we can learn from this one and be better.
Buffalo converted 2 of 3 power-play chances, breathing new life into a unit that went 1 of 24 against Boston. The Sabres’ 4.2% conversion rate was tied for 865th out of 897 teams that had 20 or more opportunities in a playoff series since 1978.
And Buffalo’s man-advantage woes carried over from the final seven regular-season games, during which the team went 0 for 22.
McLeod didn’t mind hearing questions about the power play on Wednesday night.
“I mean, maybe keep asking, if we’re gonna keep scoring now,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a process of building it and getting your look. So I think, we got them tonight and it was going in.”
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin limped off favoring his right leg with under three minutes left after blocking a shot by Jake Evans. Dahlin briefly went up the tunnel, before returning to the bench, but did not see any further ice time.
Ruff said he doesn’t believe there’s an issue after seeing Dahlin walking down the hallway.
Dach scored the game’s highlight goal, cutting Buffalo’s lead to 4-2 with 3:29 left in the second. Driving up the right wing, Dach’s centering pass was blocked by Lyon’s stick. The puck caromed back to Dach who, while falling, was able to lift the puck over the goalie’s glove.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 05: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives around Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The series between the Lakers and Thunder remains in Oklahoma City, with Game 2 on Thursday.
The purple and gold aim to even the series at 1-1.
The first playoff game between the Lakers and Thunder went about as expected: The better team won because they simply have more firepower and are healthier.
But at the very least, the Lakers showed they can keep up with the Thunder as long as everything goes right for them.
Besides Jarred Vanderbilt’s gruesome finger injury and Austin Reaves having one of — if not — the worst game of his life, LA came in with a commendable game plan that led to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having a season-low in points with 18 and a season-high in turnovers with seven.
Then, SGA and the Thunder adjusted. He found ways to impact the game, and Chet Holmgren and the rest of the team stepped up to help them win Game 1.
Now, JJ Redick and the Lakers are sent back to the drawing board, where they will have to come up with a new game plan and make adjustments in order to attempt to steal a game on the road once again.
This is a must-win for the Lakers if they want any sort of chance in this series.
A better performance from Austin Reaves
It’s tough to look past Reaves’ abysmal 3-16 shooting from the field that yielded only eight points. After all, he’s supposed to be the second-best player on the Lakers. Yes, he’s coming off an oblique injury and a month off basketball, but whether fair or unfair, he will be judged like he’s 100% healthy.
Nobody likes moral victories, but it’s also fair to say that if Reaves had just had an average game, Game 1 would’ve been winnable, or at the very least, closer than an 18-point blowout. He’s dealing with the Thunder’s fierce perimeter defense, and he’s going to have to figure out how to handle it. The good news is that Reaves has nowhere to go but up, and we know he’s going to be determined to bounce back. Hopefully, he does so in Game 2.
Control Holmgren and the paint more
Aside from Holmgren dominating the paint, the Thunder as a team also had more rebounds than the Lakers, 44-41. OKC capitalized with 21 second-chance points. That’s unacceptable for an already shorthanded Lakers team that has to do everything they can to win the 50-50 loose balls as well as the little difference makers in a contest.
OKC also had 48 points in the paint and shot 43.4% from the 3-point line, so they pretty much dominated LA in every aspect of the game. This obviously can’t happen again if Los Angeles wants a chance to win Game 2.
More offensive production
Over the last four games, the Lakers have averaged just under 100 points per game. They’re extremely starved on offense because they badly need more outside of LeBron James.
Rui Hachimura has been the most consistent role player thus far in the playoffs followed by Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. But them scoring below 20 points isn’t going to help James and they need more from their other teammates as well.
Besides Reaves, the Lakers desperately need Luke Kennard’s scoring and hopefully something from Jake LaRavia as well. They’re not beating this Thunder team if they don’t perform well from beyond the arc as well as control the points inside the paint. Perhaps the biggest question in Game 2 for the Lakers is how they’re going to keep up with the Thunder’s offense.
Let’s see whether or not they can solve this Thunder team on Thursday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, there have unfortunately been new additions. Luke Kennard (neck soreness) is noted as questionable, while Jarred Vanderbilt (right finger dislocation) is now doubtful.
Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) is out.
As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery recovery) will not suit up.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green joined the "Inside the NBA" desk as part of ESPN's basketball coverage on Wednesday, May 6.
Green participated in a conversation regarding the Warriors alongside Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson.
It could be a notable offseason for Golden State, which will soon learn more about its future and the status of coach Steve Kerr and Green, among others. The team will also be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, due to injuries suffered during the 2025-26 season, for much of the upcoming season.
Barkley stated that Green and Stephen Curry might need to consider leaving Golden State if they wanted to continue competing for NBA championships.
In response to Barkley’s comments, Green appeared to take a verbal jab at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.
“I think the goal is to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” Green told Barkley during the segment. “That is ultimately the goal.”
Barkley spent the first eight years of his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers, who originally drafted him with the fifth overall pick in the 1984 draft. He then spent four years with the Phoenix Suns, winning an MVP award, before finishing out his career with four years with the Rockets.
Green has spent all 14 seasons of his career with the Warriors.
Mar 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) passes the ball during the first half against the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
For players testing the NBA Draft waters while retaining their collegiate eligibility, the deadline to announce a return to school or stay in the Draft is May 27th. That’s three weeks from today.
Malachi Moreno is testing the NBA Draft waters, which was thought to be happening this Spring. While the feeling is that he’s going to return to Kentucky for the 2026-27 season, it’s still not a for-sure thing.
Recently, Moreno was an early second-round pick projection to the New York Knicks, going 31st overall. Moreno also worked out with the Knicks on Tuesday, including with national champion Elliot Cadeau from Michigan, according to Adam Zagoria.
Moreno is coming off a strong freshman season at Kentucky, starting 30 of the Wildcats’ 36 games. He averaged 7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, while also blocking 53 shots and dishing out 64 assists.
In addition, Moreno shot 58.2 percent from the field and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line. It was his buzzer-beater at LSU in mid-January that likely saved the Cats’ season, a season that culminated with an All-SEC Freshman Team selection.
In high school at Great Crossing, Moreno was a McDonald’s All-American and Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball as a senior.
The Knicks hosted a pre-draft workout on Tuesday that included prospects Donavan Atwell (Texas Tech), Elliot Cadeau (Michigan), Malachi Moreno (Kentucky) and Jackson Paveletzke (Ohio), per league source. https://t.co/C3gsqNiRnX
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 23.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 14.5 Paul George – 10 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
Well, it was a much better effort than Game 1 on Monday, but it unfortunately ends the same way for the Philadelphia 76ers in yet another loss. The New York Knicks battled late to steal the game away from what looked like an exhausted Sixers squad by the final horn.
Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid, who woke up on Wednesday with increased soreness in his hip (from an injury suffered in the first-round series) and ankle (suffered in Game 1 of this series) and was ruled out early this afternoon… so the Sixers’ work was definitely cut out for them even before the game began.
Paul George set the tone for the Sixers early, though, starting off this one red hot offensively and putting up 11 first-frame points to lead Philadelphia to a narrow lead after one. Tyrese Maxey picked up the torch from there, absolutely cooking in the first half of the second quarter before seeming to taper off/get a little sloppy as fatigue set in (he played most of the entire first half). Nevertheless, Maxey put up 13 points in the second and led the field at halftime with 19, with the Sixers holding an advantage of a single point over the Knicks at the break.
After an even 28-28 third frame with the two squads trading buckets, the Sixers clung to their one-point lead going into the final quarter. Twelve minutes were going to decide this close contest that had already seen more than 20 lead changes through three quarters.
Unfortunately, it really felt like the Sixers just ran out of steam. Maxey had deteriorated as the game went on and he continued to get more fatigued (he ended up playing just under 47 minutes). No one else could sink a shot and a number of Knicks’ turnovers went completely unpunished. Instead, New York did the punishing, executing well and hitting their shots to take over the lead as the game neared a close. A six-point lead with two minutes left, the Knicks’ largest lead of the game to that point, was enough to ultimately overcome the Sixers 108-102.
Credit where credit is due, this was a much better effort from the Sixers, especially without Embiid. The reality though is that the Knicks are just a much deeper team, and it seemingly made the difference in this one as New York was able to go the distance and strike when the Sixers got tired.
Philadelphia trail 2-0 in the series. Game 3 will bring things to South Philadelphia on Friday evening.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul George completely set the tone for the Sixers on Wednesday, starting off Game 2 red hot. PG began the game going 4-for-4 (three triples), leading the Sixers with 11 first-quarter points. He continued to tack on some more points from long range, though his shooting cooled off significantly from such a stellar start, finishing the game just 7-for-18 from the floor and 5-for-13 from long range. Still, though, five triples is five triples.
George also continues to be the defensive force that the Sixers desperately need more often than not. George had two blocks and two steals in this one, and that’s obviously not counting all the Knicks’ plays and shots he simply made much more difficult with his defensive presence.
PG finished Game 2 with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
PG had the first frame, and Maxey had the second. Maxey came alive in the second with a burst of aggression, starting to really utilize his speed to get downhill and dance his way through the Knicks’ defense. He went 5-for-7 from the floor to start the second frame before seeming to get a bit tired as the quarter drug on. Hard to blame Maxey too much when he played nearly 23 of 24 possible minutes in the first half, but I digress. Still, Maxey led the offense (and had some good defensive plays) for 13 second-quarter points and led the field at halftime with 19.
Maxey was able to keep scoring here and there as well as putting up some assists, but he was visibly affected by fatigue as the game went on. He got sloppier and his shots were more off-target, and things only got worse as he got more tired. This is the problem with relying on the same few guys to do everything because you don’t have the depth on the bench. Sure, Embiid being out is obviously a huge factor… but needing your guard to play 45 minutes every night to even stand a chance is a problem — not a new one for the Sixers, either.
Saying 45 minutes is actually an understatement, by the way, with Maxey logging 46:48 of the 48 possible minutes on the floor in Game 2. That’s not completely an excuse, but it is certainly an explanation. Maxey ended up with six turnovers and couldn’t sink a shot by the end of the game.
Nevertheless, Maxey led the Sixers (and tied leading the floor with Jalen Brunson) with 26 points. He also had three rebounds, six assists and a steal.
Tyrese Maxey doing exactly what the Sixers need Tyrese Maxey to do: getting downhill, using his speed and breezing directly through the Knicks defense.
<p>(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
VJ Edgecombe had one of those more spread out, deceivingly-quiet good performances in Game 2. Rather than force a bunch of shots that weren’t there or trying to do too much, the rookie was extremely patient in waiting for those offensive opportunities to come his way. In the meantime, he put up some extremely respectable defense on Jalen Brunson, forcing the guard to take a number of uncomfortable shots.
Then, when the ball started coming Edgecombe’s way more, he chipped in there. Edgecombe put up 17 points on 6-for-9 field goal and 3-for-4 long range shooting through three quarters. He was patient and careful with the ball, taking his time to create space when necessary but confident enough to pull right up when he saw an opening. It is still beyond impressive to watch how this 20-year-old conducts himself on an NBA playoff floor going up against some serious stars and league vets. It simply doesn’t seem to phase Edgecombe one bit.
As the Sixers struggled in the fourth, Edgecombe did as well, going 0-for-4 in the final frame.Regardless, though, Edgecombe was a major contributor for the Sixers in this one on both ends of the floor, even if the performance felt quieter than some of his flashier nights.
The rookie finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Dominick Barlow’s chances in the postseason might be few and far between, but he put in some seriously good second-half minutes for the Sixers tonight. With both Andre Drummond and Adem Bona in foul trouble, Nick Nurse looked to Barlow — and he delivered. Barlow was excellent defensively, immediately becoming a thorn in the Knicks’ side and putting up two blocks in Game 2. Not only that, but he was solid with his (limited) offensive opportunities, something that has been more of a weak spot for the 22-year-old. Nevertheless, Barlow chipped in six points on 3-for-3 field goal shooting
This was probably the biggest moment we’ve seen Barlow utilized in by the Sixers, and I’d say he at least passed the test. In 15:39 on the floor off the bench, Barlow finished with six points, two rebounds, a steal and two blocks.
Dominick Barlow, putting in some huge second-half minutes for the Sixers tonight, comes up with the block here that leads to a Kelly Oubre triple! pic.twitter.com/D4HyofeqZ2
The New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in their second-round series with a 108-102 victory Wednesday night, but attention now turns to the health of one of their best players.
OG Anunoby, who had a strong game with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals, could not finish the contest due to an apparent injury.
In the late proceedings, he was seen grabbing his right leg after making a cut and Knicks coach Mike Brown said postgame that Anunoby had asked to be subbed out shortly after the sequence. He was replaced with 2:31 to go in the game by Miles McBride.
OG came up gimpy on this cut. Then tried and missed a dunk. Then asked out.
