Players who may have served a minimal support role during the regular season can suddenly become pillars of NBA Playoffs strategy. It can take our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions to strange and unknown places, like Cleveland forward Dean Wade.
My NBA picks like Wade to get after it on the glass in Game 1 on Saturday, April 18. This one tips off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1 prediction
Who will win Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1?
Cavaliers: The Cleveland Cavaliers are sizable home favorites for Game 1 on Saturday. Cleveland has great inside-out scoring and finished the season among the better offenses. Defense has been the biggest blemish for the Cavs. That said, the team seems to find another gear on that end of the floor against top-tier offenses and will be able to lock up a limited Toronto Raptors attack.
Raptors vs Cavaliers best bet: Dean Wade Over 3.5 rebounds (-125)
According to what team analysts believe, Atkinson will go with size as his best option, rolling out 6-foot-9 forward Dean Wade alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. This gives Cleveland a long and interchangeable defense-first lineup, with Wade able to counter Ingram’s perimeter play.
Not only is Wade a great defender, but he’s also counted on to clean the glass. He’s averaged 4.3 rebounds since the All-Star break with 8.6 rebounding chances per contest. He’s collected at least four boards in 15 of his last 24 outings.
Wade averaged around 21 minutes per game but was limited at the end of the year after injuring his ankle. With time to heal and an increased role, his rebound rate will soar on Saturday.
Wade has logged 25 or more minutes in just 24 of his 59 games. But when he draws that floor time, he averages more than five rebounds and has snatched up four or more boards in 18 of those 24 showings.
The rebounding chances will be there, considering the Cavaliers can put this Toronto transition attack in sand and force the Raptors to play a half-court game. Cleveland gives up the sixth-lowest points per play to transition offenses and doesn’t budge for easy looks inside, with the fifth-lowest points in the paint allowed.
Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1 same-game parlay
The Cavaliers slow down the Raptors' attack and force them into a half-court contest, plugging up the interior with their defensive length. Toronto isn’t a great perimeter team and will struggle to counter the triples from James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Scottie Barnes carries the weight for this Toronto team, especially if point guard Immanuel Quickley is limited. He missed time with foot and hamstring ailments, leaving Barnes as the primary ball handler and sparking a surge in his assists. Quickley is questionable, and Barnes will have plenty of touches in Game 1.
Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP
Cleveland moneyline
Dean Wade Over 3.5 rebounds
Scottie Barnes Over 6.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Deep thoughts
With the Cavs defense pushing Toronto to the perimeter, Ingram is forced to take and make triples to keep pace with Cleveland’s combo of Harden and Mitchell. Both sharpshooters are projected for at least three triples in Game 1.
Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP
Cavaliers -8
Brandon Ingram Over 1.5 made threes
James Harden Over 2.5 made threes
Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 made threes
Raptors vs Cavaliers odds for Game 1
Spread: Raptors +8 | Cavaliers -8
Moneyline: Raptors +290 | Cavaliers -370
Over/Under: Over 221 | Under 221
Raptors vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
The Raptors are 4-12 SU and ATS in Game 1 of a playoff series going back to the 2014 postseason. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 1
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video, TSN4
Raptors vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks to drive against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Ball Arena on April 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA playoffs are finally upon us, and that means one thing: it’s time to place every team in arbitrary tiers made by yours truly.
First, we need to reiterate one thing. In any given year, only a handful of teams have legitimate shots at the title, as history’s shown that teams need a player good enough to go down as a top-35(ish) all-time great, along with an All-NBA level sidekick. This year, only three squads meet those thresholds: the Thunder, Spurs, and Nuggets.
However, since all of those juggernauts play in the West, we also need to factor in the path to the title for every team. That’s why the East’s best, Boston, are lumped in as a title contender, while the Wolves are in a tier with some lesser teams.
As usual, let’s start at the top.
The favorite: Thunder
OKC was going to be the favorite no matter what, and the only question that remained was who they needed to beat to repeat as champs. Well, after the Spurs’ loss to Denver in the final regular season game, the Thunder officially have a Mickey Mouse path to the Conference Finals, as they’ll only need to go through a poor play-in team and either the Burnergate Rockets or a hobbled Luka-led Lakers.
Given their bye to the semis, I think the title is essentially a coin toss between the Thunder and the entire field. OKC remains the deepest team in the league with arguably the best player too, and they went 64-18 while prioritizing health for 2/3 of the season. All the underlying metrics point to the Thunder being a historically great team, with a +11.9 net rating on the back of a ludicrous 107.3 DRTG, and they could’ve flirted with 70 wins if the regular season was a priority. OKC’s potential flaw is the lack of a second offensive option, as JDub has been injured all year and has not played at the level he did last postseason. I’d bet on the Thunder winning if JDub is at 90% of his usual level, but if that can’t happen, then the title race could be more open than expected.
Legitimate title contenders: Spurs, Nuggets, Celtics
The Spurs could’ve had the same Mickey Mouse path to the Conference Finals that the Thunder do had they taken care of business against Denver last week. Instead, they’re now facing a potential gauntlet with the Nuggets on their side of the bracket and OKC waiting in the third round, if they even make it that far. I was seriously contemplating picking San Antonio to win it all had they beaten Denver’s C-team, and they’re still talented enough to do it, but a more realistic scenario is a competitive loss to the Nuggets or Thunder before heading into next year as one of the favorites — similar to OKC in 2024.
Denver, meanwhile, was my preseason title pick, and their ceiling remains high enough for that to happen. The Nuggets’ 122.5 ORTG is the best ever, and that number exceeds 130 when both Jokic and Murray play. However, their 117.5 DRTG is also 21st in the league, and Peyton Watson is still recovering from a calf strain. Denver’s recipe to the finals is rediscovering their early-season form, especially on defense. The Nuggets were a top 5 defensive team for roughly the first 20 games of the year, and while a lot of that was due to shooting luck, they passed the eye test with flying colors. If they can get back to that level and keep Aaron Gordon healthy, Denver is on par with OKC, but they’ll also need to beat the Spurs first to reach the defending champs.
Boston, meanwhile, isn’t in the same realm as the other teams, but they have a much easier path to the finals. Neither of the Jays are on the level of a Shai, Wemby, or Jokic, and yet, the Celtics’ championship DNA and coaching means that they’ve got a shot at beating any of those teams — especially if the West’s representative is beat up from the wars they’ll wage.
Finals contenders: Knicks, Pistons
Even though Boston is listed in a tier above, I wouldn’t pick them over the entire East field. Both the Knicks and Pistons have the talent to make it to the finals, with the only difference being that neither team seem capable of beating any of the West’s juggernauts. Still, New York and Detroit are two of just six teams with both a top-10 offense and defense, and credit should be given to their respective bigs.
KAT has improved his defense drastically in the last third of the season and shouldn’t be considered a liability if he keeps up his current play. On the other end, Jalen Duren averaged 23/10 when Cade was out with his collapsed lung, giving the Pistons a potential second scoring option good enough to get through the East.
I still expect Boston to get to the finals, but both the Knicks and Pistons can make things very interesting.
The fraud: Cavaliers
If you still believe in the Cavs, I really don’t know what to say. They’ve turned into Clippers East and will inevitably flame out as usual.
Since the Harden trade, Cleveland has the fourth-best offense (121.4) but the 13th-ranked net rating (+4.5) and 18th-ranked defense (116.9). They went 21-9 with an extremely easy schedule and had trouble blowing out tankers due to their defense. If the Cavs don’t get upset by Toronto in the first round, then they’ll be out-toughed by the Pistons in the second. Just look at how their 2023 series against the Knicks went.
I truly wish Cavs fans the best of luck, but don’t be surprised when Mitchell gets banged up, the team gets outrebounded by 100, and Harden goes 2/11 in another elimination game.
As back-to-back Western Finalists, the Wolves deserve a better fate than this. Unfortunately, their path to the finals includes facing the Nuggets in round 1, and potentially the Spurs and Thunder in rounds 2 and 3. Moreover, this is a team that has a negative net rating since February, and Ant and McDaniels are just returning from injury. I would be shocked if they took Denver to a game 7, let alone win.
Atlanta has been one of the five best teams for almost two months now, and they will be a difficult test for the Knicks. Yes, they had a cupcake schedule during their winning streak, but the Hawks continued dominating until the end of the season, finishing the year 16-5 with a +12 net rating, good for third in the league during that span.
The Hornets, meanwhile, still need to beat the “PB no J” Magic, and assuming they do, have a real shot at upsetting Detroit too. This Charlotte team is a 50-win team hiding in plain sight, as they have one of the five best records in the league since the new year (33-16) with the second-best net rating at +11.2 — three points better than Detroit.
Lastly, Toronto’s placement here says as much about the Cavs as it does the Raptors, but they also had a better net rating (+6.0) than Cleveland since the Harden trade, while placing top 10 in both offense and defense during that span. Even if they beat the Cavs, I expect a relatively uncompetitive series against Detroit/Charlotte in round 2.
Thunder fodder: Lakers, Rockets
Do we even need to elaborate? The Lakers virtually have no shot against Houston with Luka still sidelined, and Houston was the team everyone wanted to play due to their anemic offense and shocking chemistry issues with getoffmy KD. Moreover, the winner will face a rested OKC team that’ll likely sweep their first-round matchup with Shai sitting every fourth quarter.
There’s always next year, though! I heard a certain Kalshi ambassador might be available.
Truly the circle of sadness, none of these teams have a shot at winning any first-round series. Still, many of them will be worth watching for the entertainment value. I’d love to see some Steph magic (sorry Phoenix) for perhaps the final time in the playoffs, and Portland could give the Spurs some trouble with their physicality and size against Wemby.
In the East, Philly vs Boston is a classic rivalry, and Embiid hasn’t been ruled out of the series yet. As for Orlando, well, can their season just end already? The Hornets are a much more entertaining team, anyway.
Finals prediction: Thunder over Celtics in 6
Interestingly, I chose this matchup last season too, and only half of that came true. I’m not as confident this year due to the wildcards in the East, and it hinges heavily on how large a load Tatum can handle. In 16 games, The Plagiarizer averaged 21.8/10/5.3 on 41/33/82 splits, looking like 85% of his usual self. More importantly, Tatum ramped his minutes up to 36.2 over five games in April, scoring over 20 points in every contest. It remains to be seen if he’s able to guard opposing bigs again, but regardless, the Celtics have the best combination of toughness, playoff pedigree, and matchup versatility in the East.
OKC’s path has already been laid out. It’ll be shocking if they dropped more than two games in the opening two rounds, and could meet an extremely banged-up Spurs/Nuggets team coming off a 7-game war. With that said, San Antonio has a unique matchup advantage over the Thunder, and if Denver gets past them, it could be a sign that they’ve regained their early-season form. OKC will be challenged and pushed to the brink, but I’m still confident in their ability to be the first back-to-back champs since the dynastic Warriors.
Let's head into the weekend on some winning vibes with our MLB best bets for tonight at Polymarket, which allows baseball fans coast-to-coast to make their favorite MLB picks.
We've polled our MLB experts for their top plays today, looking at Chi-Town, the A-Town, and Believeland to deliver Ws tonight.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: White Sox moneyline
Price: 42¢ (+138) at Polymarket
There’s solid wiggle room here, with a fair price around +106. Davis Martin has been steady, turning in three strong starts with two wins for the Chicago White Sox. Aaron Civale doesn’t typically go deep for the Athletics, and their bullpen has been heavily used of late, with multiple key arms unavailable today. This profiles as a higher-scoring, back-and-forth game where both bullpens will factor in — in that type of environment, taking the plus-money dog makes sense.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Braves moneyline
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
The Atlanta Braves are trading as a 52-cent favorite in Philadelphia on Friday, but I make them closer to a 58-cent favorite, giving us a solid edge at the current price. This is a tough matchup for Taijuan Walker, a pitch-to-contact right-hander who has struggled badly against lefties this season — a major concern against a Braves lineup loaded with left-handed bats, but also has dangerous righties like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley. On the other side, southpaw Martin Pérez isn’t overpowering, but he does a strong job commanding his cutter and sinker. That approach should help limit the pull-side power of Philadelphia’s top leftie threats Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and keep the Phillies’ offense in check.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Guardians moneyline
Price: 56¢ (-127) at Polymarket
Home/Away splits line up heavily in the Guardians' favor tonight. Tanner Bibee is a completely different pitcher at home, carrying over from last season, where his ERA sat nearly two runs lower. Baltimore's Chris Bassitt, on the other hand, struggles badly on the road: He had an ERA spike of 2.7 in away games last season, and we're seeing shades of that in 2026. The gap shows up at the plate too, as Guardians hitters own an OPS nearly 100 points higher at home, while the Orioles' offense takes a noticeable dip away from Camden Yards, averaging just three runs per game.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Cubs -1.5
Price: 43¢ (+133) at Polymarket
The Mets have dropped eight straight while scoring just 12 total runs. Juan Soto (calf) isn’t returning anytime soon, and the Mets are down to 28th in wOBA against right-handed arms. It’s a different story at the dish for the Cubs, as they’ve won three of four while averaging 8.8 runs per game. Plus, Cubbies righty Edward Cabrera has hit the ground running, with a 1.62 ERA and 1.14 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .175 average and .250 wOBA.
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.
It's been a great week on the home-run front as the MLB player prop market has been good to us without terrible hitting conditions.
There are some spots to attack today, so I'm targeting the best hitting environments and matchups today, and hopefully take a little money into the weekend.
The Jays have a great matchup vs. one of the luckier pitchers in baseball right now, and the Jordan Walker price is head-scratching when you look at his home-run matchup.
I also like Ildemaro Vargas to go deep at boxcar odds.
These are my favorite home run props for Friday, April 17.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Daulton Varsho
+540
Jordan Walker
+540
Ildemaro Vargas
+1200
💲Today's HR parlay
+35702
Daulton Varsho (+540)
How about a little lefty-on-righty for +540 to start a Friday home run train?
Daulton Varsho is hitting out of the two-hole and might get that all-important fifth at-bat. He is also in the middle of a power surge with three home runs over his last six games.
The indoor matchup vs. Mike Soroka is a plus. The Jays likely have plenty of info on the Canadian pitcher, who sits in the Bottom-20 in BlastCon% among all MLB starters this year.
You will also be hard-pressed to find a pitcher that has been as lucky as Soroka this year, with an ERA three full points below his expected numbers. There are also no left-handers in the Arizona bullpen, which sits 21st in RP ERA.
The fair price on this home run is around +450.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Dbacks.TV, Sportsnet
Jordan Walker (+540)
What a great price for one of the league’s top home-run hitters to start the season.
Jordan Walker has elite marks in swing speed and Blast Contact%, which have translated into a league-leading eight home runs. He gets a favorable matchup against Peter Lambert, who is making his debut and may only be in this spot due to injuries in the Astros' rotation rather than performance.
Lambert hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024 and has allowed 25 home runs over his last 148+ innings in the MLB. He’s unlikely to go deep, which brings a vulnerable Houston bullpen into play — a unit that has already allowed the second-most home runs this season.
Walker could see fringe MLB arms for much of this game. This price should be closer to +390, and in a matchup like this, the scoring environment could get out of hand quickly.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Space City Home Network, Cardinals.TV
Ildemaro Vargas (+1200)
I started the week with a four-digit dinger, and I’m looking to bookend it with another.
Ildemaro Vargas owns some of the best Blast Contact% marks on the Arizona Diamondbacks, which is enough at a +1200 price in a controlled environment.
It gets better. Eric Lauer has been serving up meatballs, and Vargas has quietly posted a 1.068 OPS with plenty of extra-base hits.
He hits lefties better, is moving up the lineup, and should see favorable spots against a Toronto Blue Jays bullpen that can give up damage.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Dbacks.TV, Sportsnet
Jinglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 5-30, +0.6 units
Today’s HR parlay
Daulton Varsho
Bet Now +35702
Jordan Walker
Ildemaro Vargas
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.
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees open a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals in the Bronx on Friday...
5 things to watch
Will Ben Rice stay in the lineup?
A lot has been made of manager Aaron Boone's lineups this week. Despite saying Rice is his first baseman, he's sat down the talented slugger a few times this week in favor of Paul Goldschmidt.
While Boone likes having Rice as a left-handed option off the bench, with the team scuffling and Rice being the most consistent hitter this season, it would behoove the skipper to keep Rice at first base this weekend.
Will it happen? That remains to be seen.
The Royals are deploying two southpaws in Noah Cameron and Cole Ragans, but Rice launched a homer off a lefty reliever against the Angels on Thursday, so he is capable of handling it.
Aaron Judge continues to mash
Judge is locked in.
The captain mashed four home runs in the four-game series against the Angels this week and is now tied for the major league lead in that category.
Unfortunately for the Yanks, the home runs haven't necessarily translated to victories as the Bombers had to settle for a split with the Angels. The Yankees have lost seven of their last nine games, but when Judge goes this team goes. And going up against those aforementioned lefties could benefit Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and the other right-handers in the lineup.
Bullpen woes
The Yankees' bullpen was the weakest part of the team coming out of spring training, but they excelled early on and helped the team get out to a 8-2 start. Things have changed since.
New York Yankees pitcher Angel Chivilli (57) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field / Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
The relievers allowed 14 runs in 17 innings during the four-game series with the Angels, including two implosions.
New York has played musical chairs with certain relievers as they try and navigate playing 13 straight days -- their next off day is Monday.
The high-leverage guys -- aside from Camilo Doval -- have been fine, but if the starters don't go deep the Yankees could be facing problems similar to what they experienced this week.
Length needed from starters
Speaking of the starters, the Yankees will have Cam Schlittler, Will Warren,and Ryan Weathers take the mound this weekend.
All three were not great in their last starts. Schlittler had his -- relative -- worst outing of the season, allowing three runs over five innings while the Angels pounced on Warren for six runs across 3.2 innings. Weathers was the most unique, as he struck out 10 batters but allowed five runs in five innings, all from the long ball.
While it is a long season and hiccups are natural, the Yankees need their young hurlers to give them length to take the pressure off the bullpen and the lineup.
Bobby in the Bronx
Yankee Stadium sometimes brings the best out of some players, like we saw with Mike Trout this week. The future Hall-of-Famer launched five home runs in the four-game series, making a statement to the rest of MLB that he is healthy and back.
Now, the Yanks will welcome Bobby Witt Jr.,the Royals' superstar who finished second to Judge in the 2024 MVP voting. While Witt hasn't had the start he usually does -- he's slashing .254/.346/.299 with an OPS of .645 across 18 games -- it's only a matter of time until the talented infielder gets it going.
Witt has played 11 games in the Bronx. In that span, he's hitting .255 with two doubles and one home run.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Ben Rice
Rice plays all three games and shows why he needs to stay in the lineup.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Cam Schlittler
Schlittler has allowed three runs in back-to-back games this season. He didn't do that all of last season, and I don't see that going to three games.
Which Royals player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Bobby Witt Jr.
Easy pick. Witt just put up three hits on Thursday against the Tigers, and it feels like he's ready to be his MVP-type self after a slow start.
The Tampa Bay Rays will look to build on their six-game winning streak as they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Tampa Bay has been crushing opposing pitchers so far this season, and I’m picking it to win again tonight in my Rays vs. Pirates predictions.
Let’s take a deeper look at this matchup in my free MLB picks for Friday, April 17.
Who will win Rays vs Pirates tonight: Rays moneyline (+120)
The Tampa Bay Rays are averaging 5.06 runs per game so far this season, and have put up at least five runs in every game of their current winning streak. They’ll have a great chance to keep that going tonight against Pittsburgh Pirates starter Bubba Chandler.
Chandler has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two starts without going more than 5 1/3 innings in either game.
Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez has looked sharp to start the season, throwing to a 2.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over his first three starts.
With the Rays coming in this hot, I’m jumping on these odds tonight.
COVERS INTEL: Tampa Bay is hitting .267 and averaging 5.5 runs per nine innings against right-handed pitching this season.
Rays vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-102)
Pittsburgh is hitting well too, averaging five runs per game off a .734 OPS this year. Brandon Lowe has seven homers in his first 17 games, while Oneil Cruz and Ryan O’Hearn are also off to fast starts.
Neither starter is likely to give their team much length tonight. There are soft spots that these lineups can take advantage of if it takes several arms to get through this game, especially on Tampa Bay’s side.
With both lineups in peak form, I’m backing the Over.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-4, -1.03 units
Over/Under bets: 1-4, -2.96 units
Rays vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Rays +116 | Pirates -136
Run line: Rays +1.5 | Pirates -1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Rays vs Pirates trend
The Rays are 6-0 straight up in their last six games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Pirates.
How to watch Rays vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Friday, April 17, 2026
First pitch
6:45 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV
Rays starting pitcher
Nick Martinez (0-0, 2.16 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Bubba Chandler (0-1, 3.86 ERA)
Rays vs Pirates latest injuries
Rays vs Pirates weather
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.
Kieran McKenna’s team face a crunch clash with Middlesbrough but charging Southampton loom large
At the end of July, Ipswich and Middlesbrough reached an agreement. If the Boro midfielder Hayden Hackney agreed personal terms he could join the Suffolk club, freshly relegated and awash with ready funds, for a Championship record fee of around £20m. Kieran McKenna knew he would be getting the best schemer in the division if his target said yes; a player who could make the difference in a 46-game grind. Perhaps with half an eye on Premier League interest, Hackney heard Ipswich out but turned the transfer down. He would end up staying on Teesside and propelling an often exhilarating promotion chase.
There is little chance of a mutually beneficial outcome when the sides meet at Portman Road on Sunday. Hackney has missed the past four games with a calf injury and it is unclear whether he will be ready in time for a game of potentially seismic consequence.
CEO Andrew Abdo: ‘There are clear pros and cons for it’
London Broncos key to multimillion takeover vision
Super League could move back to a winter competition to allow year-round global broadcasting of rugby league if the NRL agrees a deal to take control of the British game.
Andrew Abdo, the CEO of the NRL, told the Guardian the Australian governing body would consider the calendar switch as a key part of a potential multimillion-pound takeover and investment package that would also include a strong focus on a London-based club and major governance reform.
The Golden State Warriors visit the Phoenix Suns tonight at the Mortgage Matchup Center in a winner-take-all NBA Play-In finale to decide the eighth seed in the NBA’s Western Conference. The winner secures a first-round playoff date against the top-seed and defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The loser’s season ends tonight.
Golden State enters this matchup riding the momentum of a thrilling 126–121 comeback win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Stephen Curry scored 27 of his 35 points in the second half to lead the Warriors comeback. Draymond Green locked down Kawhi Leonard in the second half and veteran Al Horford buried four, three-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal the win in SoCal. Despite finishing the regular season with a 37–45 record, the Warriors' championship pedigree was on full display as they erased a 13-point final-quarter deficit to keep their postseason hopes alive. There may be a minutes restriction on Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) but they can overcome that if Horford and Green turn back the clock as they did against the Clippers.
Like the Clippers, the Suns also blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead in their initial play-in game. Because they are the seventh seed, however, they get a second opportunity to qualify for the playoffs. Defense has been at the foundation of the Suns’ success this season, but make no mistake, Devin Booker is the key to Phoenix advancing to the playoffs. They have few scoring options outside of the former Kentucky guard. Adding to the challenge is the fact the Suns are expected to be without Grayson Allen (hamstring) and may be without Mark Williams (foot). Their absences would be substantial.
Tonight's game is the fifth meeting between these Pacific Division rivals this year, with the Warriors holding a 3–1 regular-season advantage.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Warriors vs. Suns
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Time: 10PM EST
Site: Mortgage Matchup Center
City: Phoenix, AZ
Network/Streaming: Prime Video
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Game Odds: Warriors vs. Suns
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Golden State Warriors (+130), Phoenix Suns (-155)
Spread: Suns -3.5
Total: 219.5 points
This game opened Suns -3.5 with the Total set at 219.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Warriors vs. Suns
Golden State Warriors
G Stephen Curry
G Brandin Podziemski
C Kristaps Porzingis
SF Gui Santos
PF Draymond Green
Phoenix Suns
G Devin Booker
G Jalen Green
G Jordan Goodwin
SF Dillon Brooks
C Mark Williams
Injury Report: Warriors vs. Suns
Golden State Warriors
Jimmy Butler (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Moses Moody (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Quinten Post (foot) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Phoenix Suns
Mark Williams (foot) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Grayson Allen (hamstring) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Warriors vs. Suns
The Suns are 25-17 at home this season
The Warriors are 16-26 on the road this season
The Suns are 46-34-3 ATS this season
Golden State is 35-47-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 50 of the Warriors’ 83 games this season (50-33)
The OVER has cashed in 38 of the Suns’ 83 games this season (38-45)
Not one Warrior pulled down more than 7 rebounds in the win over the Clippers
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Warriors and Suns’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Warriors on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Warriors +3.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Total of 219.5
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With the regular season finally coming to an end on Thursday night, the NHL released the schedule for the first round of the playoffs shortly after midnight. As had been heavily rumored over the last few days, the Montreal Canadiens will kick off their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, and it’s fair to say that the schedule leaves something to be desired.
There are three Canadian teams in the spring dance: the Habs, the Ottawa Senators, and the Edmonton Oilers, and none of them will be in action on Saturday night. In a country where hockey is pretty much a religion, with its faithful expecting their weekly sermon on Hockey Night in Canada, the masses will have to make do with a Saturday matinee, a Sunday almost-night, and a late Monday-night game.
The commissioner and the NHL are well aware that Canadian viewers will watch the games whenever and wherever they are set, which means they are focusing their energy on courting the American market; that is why the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins get the primetime Saturday night slot. While it was to be expected, after all, the only two playoff games in Montreal last season took place on a Friday and a Sunday night, it’s still disappointing.
In any case, here is the Canadiens’ (and yours) schedule for the first round:
Game 1: Sunday, April 19, Tampa Bay 5:45 PM Game 2: Tuesday, April 21, Tampa Bay 7:00 PM Game 3: Friday, April 24, Montreal 7:00 PM Game 4: Sunday, April 26, Montreal 7:00 PM *Game 5: Wednesday, April 29, Tampa Bay TBD *Game 6: Friday, May 1, Montreal TBD *Game 7: Sunday, May 3, Tampa Bay TBD * if necessary
Even if the series goes the distance, there won’t be any Saturday night games for the Habs faithful in this first round.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 14: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals throws the ball to get Wenceel Pérez #46 of the Detroit Tigers out at first base during the bottom of the second inning at Comerica Park on April 14, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier this week, the Yankees picked up a split in their series against the Angels, but it was a lot of work to get there. The two wins required ninth inning comebacks, while the two losses were both of the very dumb variety. With that over, the Yankees will remain home and welcome the Royals to town for a weekend matchup.
With the exception of the Dodgers, every team in baseball has gotten off to a middling start to the season, but the Royals sit at the lower end of that. Following a loss on Thursday, they sit at 7-12. Their lineup has been more to blame, as even Bobby Witt Jr. has gotten off to a bit of a slow start. Can the Yankees keep that going, or will we be sitting here Sunday night frustrated at another annoying series? Let’s look at what the pitching matchups might have in store.
Friday: Cam Schlittler vs. Michael Wacha (7:05 pm ET)
After a remarkable first two starts on the season, Schlittler has given up some runs in the last two, albeit both times, it was just three in five innings. The most remarkable stat of all was that a walk he issued in his most recent game against the Rays was the first he issued all season.
The veteran Wacha has gotten off to an incredible start to his age 34 season. In 21 innings across three starts, he’s given up just one run. In his perfectly fine 2025 season, he put up 3.6 fWAR and 3.8 rWAR, and he’s already at 0.6 and 1.1 respectively in 2026. Now, a non-zero amount of that had to do with throwing eight scoreless against a very bad White Sox offense in his last game, but the Yankees’ offense hasn’t covered themselves in glory so far, so we shall see.
Saturday: Will Warren vs. Noah Cameron (1:35 pm ET)
With a 2.45 ERA in his four starts so far, Warren has mostly been perfectly fine so far. That being said, he’s only lasted a full five innings once so far, and he did allowed four unearned runs in his last game. He’s also only issued six walks in 18.1 innings on the season, but if you look at the ball-strike breakdown, he has a habit of letting counts go long. While the Royals haven’t taken a ton of walks, they’ve struck out less than league average, so if he can’t put batters away cleanly and quickly in this one, that could lead to some danger.
Cameron debuted last season and had a very nice campaign, finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. However in his lone game against the Yankees so far, they did tag him for six runs in 5.2 innings last year on June 10th in Kansas City. His stats on 2026 so far are fine, but he has allowed a higher rate of hits so far.
Sunday: Ryan Weathers vs. Cole Ragans (1:35 pm ET)
Weathers’ 4.29 ERA only grades out as a little worse than league average. However, his start to the season feels way worse than that because he’s been a roller coaster. He has two pretty good starts, including one against the A’s where he gave up just one run in eight inning. However, his two bad starts have been very bad, including getting roughed up by the Angels earlier this week.
After a fourth place Cy Young finish in 2024, Ragans was limited to just 61.2 innings last year due to injury. He appears to be back and healthy this year, but did have to leave a start in the first inning a couple weeks ago after taking a liner to the thumb. His 3.78 ERA grades out as solid, but his 8.6 K/9 rate is way down from where it has been, including in 2024.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Sam Carrick #10 and Zach Benson #6 of the Buffalo Sabres battle for position in front of Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Boston Bruins against Mason Lohrei #6 and Fraser Minten #93 during an NHL game on March 25, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Spring is in the air and it’s that time of year again: the best part of the season for hockey fans. The first round of the NHL playoffs is one of the top parts of the whole calendar with eight series all simultaneously providing the highs and lows of playoff hockey.
Let’s take a stab at the first round, but given the preseason projections here and everywhere, maybe this is the year to expect the unexpected.
Buffalo Sabres (Atlantic 1) vs. Boston Bruins (Wild Card 1)
It still is surreal that the Sabres are a first place team, emphatically ending a 16-year playoff drought. Their reward for that great season seems like a cruel joke to draw a 100-point Boston Bruins team in the first round. The Bruins’ soft road record (16-16-9) looms large in what undoubtedly will be a beyond fired up, passionate Sabres crowd finally getting a chance to cheer on playoff hockey after all these years. Usually atmospheres and intangibles don’t make a huge difference, but sometimes they do (the mind turns to the rabid Pirates crowd hosting a playoff game as a suitable comparable). Having the home ice advantage could and should be a factor within this series in Buffalo’s benefit, for whatever it ends up being worth.
In the end, I don’t think Boston (14th in the NHL with 3.01 goals/game allowed) is strong enough defensively to slow Buffalo down. The Sabres wagon rolls into the next round, to the delight of a delirious crowd.
Prediction: Sabres in 6
Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic 2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (Atlantic 3)
Two 106-point teams square off in the first round that could be about a coin flip to find an edge. Tampa profiles as a sort of old guard with several pieces hanging around from their 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup wins. Montreal is the other side of the coin with many great young players hungry to take the next step. Both teams have a ton of firepower, the Nikita Kucherov led Lightning are 4th in the NHL with 3.51 goals per game, the Canadiens with 50-goal man Cole Caufield aren’t far behind in 7th with 3.40 goals/game themselves.
On one hand, I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Tampa ended up being the Eastern Conference champions when the smoke clears. On the other hand, I can’t shake that since March 8th Jakub Dobes has a 9-4-0 record with a 2.22 GAA and .924 save% while Andrei Vasilevskiy isn’t exactly playing great lately (12-8-1 record, .899 save% since the Olympic break). I think Montreal has enough speed and skill to make it more competitive than the lopsided betting line would suggest (was seeing it at -250 for Tampa and +205 for Montreal earlier in the week). With much hesitancy and reluctance, I’m smelling an upset brewing.
Prediction: Montreal in 7
Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan 1) vs. Ottawa Senators (Wild Card 2)
This matchup represents a fantastic styles clash. Ottawa was the No. 1 team in the NHL in expected goals against but suffered from some of the worst goaltending in the league. That’s perhaps been rectified somewhat by the stability of Linus Ullmark (with an above average .908 save% in his last 14 games) but still is going to be a shaky proposition until proven otherwise. Their opponent, Carolina, remains the analytic darlings for second in xGoals for and xGoals Share, but struggles at finishing chances (29th, per Hockeystats.com). Who wins the battle between Carolina’s strong generation/weak finishing and Ottawa’s great suppression/bad goaltending will make for some incredible theatre.
Carolina is 6-0 in first rounds under coach Rod Brind’Amour, besides the August COVID bubble playoff of 2020. I don’t see that streak coming to an end this spring, though I really do like this potential matchup for Ottawa. There’s a way if things break differently that they could have a real chance, but in the end I’m going to call it as a series short in games which belies how tight most of the games will be.
Prediction: Carolina in 5
Pittsburgh Penguins (Metropolitan 2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Metropolitan 3)
Two surprise playoff teams from Pennsylvania matchup in what never fails to live up to the hype. We’ve talked a ton about this so to keep it short and sweet, I think the Penguins are better and/or deeper at every place on the ice, also aided by the fact that Pittsburgh is good in the first period (outscoring opponents 93-68 this season) and the Flyers are not (getting outscored 65-68). The Pens are used to being in the lead, having lead the third most minutes in the whole league. The Flyers are used to chasing games, and the playoffs are no time to consistently dig holes. Put yourself in enough holes and someone is bound to bury you, and let’s face it, Sidney Crosby always buries the Flyers as it is. It won’t be a smooth road, Penguins/Flyers is naturally going to have it’s twists and turns along the way but in the end the Pens continue onto the next round.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers helps up James Harden #1 during the first half against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on March 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers played an uninspired first 43 minutes against a tanking Indiana Pacers team that only had nine available players in early April. The final five minutes were different.
Cleveland was up four with five minutes to play before hitting the accelerator. They scored 11 points over the next three minutes to push their lead to 13 as they cruised to what became a stress-free victory.
Controlling the last few minutes has been a trend over the back half of the season. Since the beginning of February, the Cavs have registered the third-best offensive rating (131) and best net rating (+34.6) in clutch situations (when the game is within five points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime). Before February, Cleveland ranked 23rd in offensive rating and 13th in net rating in that setting.
According to their head coach, there’s one reason for their success: James Harden.
“Give him the ball and get out of the way,” Kenny Atkinson said.
That simple plan has worked. The Cavs had an outrageous 143 offensive rating and a +57.9 net rating in just over 40 clutch minutes Harden has played since the trade. That has resulted in a 13-2 record in clutch-time games during that stretch.
The Cavs have done a good job of incorporating some of Atkinson’s motion-based offense with the traditional, isolation sets that Harden is used to working with. However, at the end of games, they’ve opted to slow the game down and space the floor.
“We do some stuff and some sets, and it’s more him getting the right matchup,” Atkinson said. “We have really worked on our spacing in his iso situations or pick and roll, we have worked on that. But 99% of it is James Harden making the right play.”
The simple and effective plan has worked for the Cavs, but only because the team’s franchise player has been willing to cede control of the offense late.
“A lot of the times I feel like if you want to deny me the ball, go ahead,” Donovan Mitchell said. “This man’s done it for 17 years at the highest level, you know what I mean? And vice versa.”
The two have had conversations about how to best work in the postseason, which shows through in the results. Mitchell pointed to multiple clutch-time plays from earlier this year to prove how those discussions have paid off. The first was from their win over the Golden State Warriors on April 2.
The Warriors were denying Mitchell on the wing, so he allowed Harden to dictate that possession. “James gets to his stuff, hits Evan, Evan hits Max, I cut. That’s one.”
And lastly, Mitchell highlighted the following possession. The defense didn’t blitz Harden, allowing him to take the off-the-dribble three. Sequences like this are possible when you have two elite playmakers. The defense can really only try to take away one.
“Sometimes our best offense is letting him operate and being able to find a way to manipulate the game and trust him that it’s going to be the right play,” Mitchell said.
The spacing is the key to making these three plays work. Harden’s game is built on creating mismatches. Having everyone properly spaced forces the defense to commit to a double or leave individual players on an island. No matter which the defenses chooses the Cavs are betting their talent can win out in the end.
“The spacing is the most important thing,” Harden said, “and once we got the spacing, then everything else should take care of itself, which is very, very key going into the postseason because you’re in late-game situations; you’ve got to make sure you execute.”
“They know he’s got to have the ball,” Atkinson said. “They know where to space. Communicating with them all the time. He’s always communicating with our screeners on what to do. So he’s coaching it too. It’s not just making the plays. He coaches it with the guys out there, which is what the great quarterbacks do.”
Quarterback play often decides tight playoff games in the NFL. While it isn’t a one-to-one comparison here, it’s fair to say that the Cavs didn’t have great quarterback play last postseason. They dropped all three games in the second round against the Pacers that entered a clutch situation. When games got close, the Cavs weren’t able to generate efficient offense. That cost them, especially in Game 2 when they blew a seven-point lead in the final minute and were outscored 36-21 in the fourth quarter.
Harden should help in this equation. Despite his previous playoff shortcomings, he’s at the very least shown he can solve what was previously an issue for the Cavs in the regular season by consistently generating quality looks late in games. That will need to translate over to the playoffs if the Cavs want to reach their goals.
“We’re not going to have our best games [all the time], it’s just natural,” Mitchell said. “No one’s had a perfect playoff run. So when the going gets tough, when you have a guy like him alongside you, you’re very calm. We’re very calm as a group and understand that, hey, we’re going to get the best shot somehow, some way.”
On Thursday, former New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson was honored for skating in his 1,000th NHL game when the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Seattle Kraken for their regular-season finale.
He reached the milestone back on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, in Edmonton.
Former Islanders teammates Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck, and Josh Bailey, along with their wives, were in attendance for the celebration.
During his 1,000-game tribute video, his longtime Islanders' teammates Anders Lee and Ryan Pulock, along with Bo Horvat, had some words for their former No. 29:
bo horvat, ryan pulock, and anders lee congratulating brock nelson on his 1000th game 🥹 pic.twitter.com/WMo4Z8GFxK
Drafted 30th overall at the 2010 NHL Draft, Nelson played 901 regular-season games for the Islanders, recording 574 points (295 goals, 279 assists) over the span of 12 seasons.
Dealt to the Avalanche ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Nelson has played 99 games for his new team, recording 78 points (27 goals, 26 assists), scoring 30 goals this season with 32 assists for 65 points.
Nelson and the Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings, with Game 1 on Sunday, April 19 at 1 PM ET.
Good news: Red Sox fans get to watch the two best starting pitchers in the American League this weekend when the Detroit Tigers come to town.
Bad news: The pitchers miss each other by one game and Boston must find a way to beat the two-time defending Cy Young Award winner.
Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal will each take the mound. Last season, they represented the class of left-handed pitching in the sport. They each set the tone of excellence for their respective rotations.
There’s only one problem: We really have to miss this matchup?
Here are four thoughts on the excellent southpaws before the Tigers and Red Sox begin a four-game set on Marathon weekend.
So Close
Skubal will likely pitch Saturday’s contest against Brayan Bello while Crochet will take the ball for the Red Sox in the Sunday matinee.
Despite spending multiple years in the same division when Crochet pitched for the Chicago White Sox, the stars have only faced off against each other once.
Flashback to Opening Day 2024 and it was the pitchers’ duel baseball deserved. Crochet and Skubal each tossed six strong innings with just eight combined hits allowed and 14 total strikeouts.
The lone run against Crochet came when Andy Ibanez plated Javy Baez on a third-inning sacrifice fly.
Baseball deserves to see this matchup once again, especially as the reigning top-two finishers in last year’s American League Cy Young Award race.
ERA Crusher?
When it’s all said and done, there may be no greater winner from Crochet’s disastrous start against the Minnesota Twins.
The Red Sox starter imploded in the second inning Monday and exited after allowing 10 earned runs to the best team in the American League (so far). That performance ballooned Crochet’s ERA to 7.58 (!!!).
That could take him months to bring that number back down to Earth and legitimately return him to award conversations. Skubal is at 2.22 through his first four starts and could now very easily walk the red carpet to his third consecutive Cy Young win, though other AL contestants will surely arise.
All that in a contract year to boot (more on that later).
Revisiting 2025
Skubal won the Cy Young Award last season with the ERA title (2.22 ERA) and the league-leading WAR (6.5). He won 13 games to Crochet’s 18 (we don’t need to insert the lecture on the declining value of pitcher wins) while the Red Sox ace led the sport with 255 strikeouts and 205.1 innings pitched.
Red Sox Discount?
Boston wasted no time locking in Crochet for the future after acquiring him in a December 2024 trade with the White Sox. In the first week of the 2025 regular season, Crochet signed a six-year, $170 million extension through 2031 with an opt-out after 2030.
Getting the second best starting pitcher in the American League at $28 million per year already feels like a win for the Red Sox. That should resonate even more when Skubal likely breaks the bank in free agency next winter. Extension talks with Detroit seem to be over and Skubal will walk at the perfect time, especially after a potential three-peat Cy Young performance we alluded to early. If he exceeds $40 million per year, the Red Sox can have a rare reason nowadays to pat themselves on the back.
Daulton Varsho
Jordan Walker
Ildemaro Vargas
COVERS INTEL: Tampa Bay is hitting .267 and averaging 5.5 runs per nine innings against right-handed pitching this season.
