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Yankees strike for eight runs in later innings, beat Rangers 9-2 to secure series win

The Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers 9-2 on Thursday afternoon in the Bronx.

New York has won six series in a row. 

Here are some takeaways..

- The Yankees suffered a big blow just a handful of pitches into this one, as Jasson Dominguez had to be carted off the field after colliding hard with the left-field fence to rob Brandon Nimmo of extra-bases in the first. Dominguez was down for several moments, and was visibly emotional as he left the field. 

The youngster is in concussion protocol, and undergoing an MRI on his shoulder. 

- New York worked out of a two out jam following the pause in the action, then opened an early lead, as Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger laced triples to make to make it a 1-0 game. That marked the first time the Yankees have tripled twice in one inning since April 2015 (Carlos Beltran and Chase Headley).

- With Ryan Weathers scratched due to an illness, the Yanks were forced to go to a bullpen game. Paul Blackburn threw just one inning as planned, before turning things over to Brendan Beck in his MLB debut. The 27-year-old right-hander actually looked pretty comfortable, allowing just two runs on two hits and three walks over three innings of work. 

- MacKenzie Gore held the Bombers in check after the first, until they broke through again with six runs in the bottom of the fifth. The big blow was a Trent Grisham base-clearing double with the bases loaded, but J.C. Escarra, Aaron Judge, and Bellinger added RBI singles to make it a five-run ballgame. 

- Grisham would strike again an inning later, as he lined a two-out single for his third hit of the day, then proceeded to steal second and score the Yankees' eighth run of the afternoon on Max Schuemann's RBI double. Grisham scored twice, drove in three, stole a base, and had three hits in a much-needed big day. 

- Ryan McMahon enjoyed himself a nice day at the plate as well, reaching four times with a double, RBI single, and a pair of walks after coming off the bench to play the hot corner following the Dominguez injury. McMahon is now hitting .304 with seven RBI and a .833 OPS over his last 15 games. 

- Bellinger was also on-base four times with three hits and a walk, and Goldschmidt three (two hits, one walk). 

- Jose Caballero got into the game in the later innings, taking an at-bat and playing shortstop. The infielder was out of the lineup because his elbow was still a bit swollen after being HBP on Wednesday night, but Aaron Boone expected that he'd still be available off the bench. 

- Tim Hill (1.2), Brent Headrick (1.1), and Jake Bird (1.0) combined to all just two walks and two hits while striking out two batters across three innings of work in relief of Beck. Camilo Doval put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, but did well to keep Texas off the board. 

- The Yanks improved to 26-12, putting them 1.5 games ahead of the Rays in the AL East. 

Game MVP: Trent Grisham

Grisham has had a bit of a tough time at the plate thus far this season, but he drove in three and scored a pair of runs as part of a three-hit day.

Highlights

What's next

The Yanks head to Milwaukee to start a season with the Brewers at 7:40 p.m. on Friday. 

Max Fried (4-1, 2.39 ERA) faces Jacob Misiorowski (2-2, 2.84 ERA) in a battle of two of baseball's best. 

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Penguins Select 97-Point WHL Winger In New Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Penguins may have made the playoffs this season, but they are still very much focused on the future. Due to this, they will be looking to land a good player with their first-round pick this year.

In his most recent 2026 NHL Mock Draft for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler predicted that the Penguins will select forward JP Hurlberg with the 22nd overall pick.

If the Penguins landed Hulpert in the first round of this year's draft, he would give them another skilled prospect to work with. The 6-foot winger is coming off an excellent season in the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he had 42 goals, 55 assists, 97 points, and a plus-13 rating in 68 games with the Kamloops Blazers. 

When looking at Hurlbert's numbers in junior, it is clear that he has plenty of offensive skill. With this, he would have the potential to be a good addition to the Penguins' prospect pool as they continue on with their retool. 

The Penguins should be on the hunt for help on the wing, too, so it would be understandable if Hurlbert ended up being their pick if he is still available once they are on the clock. It will be interesting to see if he ends up being their pick this summer. 

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How new March Madness bracket will look with 76 teams, how opening round will work

The NCAA formally approved expanding the men's and women's Division I basketball tournaments to 76 teams on Thursday, May 7.

Starting in 2027, March Madness will get even madder.

The new opening round will grow from eight teams to 24, be played Tuesday/Wednesday prior to the first round for men and Wednesday/Thursday for women and feature at-large teams and automatic qualifiers.

Opinion: Expanding the NCAA Tournament won't make it better

What if? What 76-team expanded NCAA Tournament would have looked like in 2026

Where will new NCAA Tournament opening round games be played?

  • Men's: March 16-17, 2027 (three games each day in Dayton, Ohio)
  • Men's: March 16-17, 2027 (three games each day in second city to be announced)
  • Women's: March 17-18, 2027 (six games a day on campuses of 12 of the top 16 seeds selected to host)

To the point: Oscar Robertson's 6-word answer on March Madness expansion sums it up

New March Madness bracket opening round games format

  • No. 11 vs. No. 11
  • No. 11 vs. No. 11
  • No. 12 vs. No. 12
  • No. 12 vs. No. 12
  • No. 12 vs. No. 12
  • No. 12 vs. No. 12
  • No. 15 vs. No. 15
  • No. 15 vs. No. 15
  • No. 16 vs. No. 16
  • No. 16 vs. No. 16
  • No. 16 vs. No. 16
  • No. 16 vs. No. 16

How many teams are in March Madness?

The men's and women's basketball tournaments are expanding from 68 teams to 76, starting with the 2027 tournaments.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness bracket expands to 76 teams; How opening round will work

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Mets' A.J. Ewing discusses rising up prospects list, how he's working to improve on defense

Fresh off his promotion from Double-A to Triple-A at the end of April, Mets prospect A.J. Ewing has seen a big jump in the rankings from No. 83 back in January up to No. 37 in Baseball America's most recent Top 100 prospects list released on May 6. 

As the 21-year-old's rise through the system continues, he's working on sticking to the basics and taking things day-by-day.

"I think it's impossible not to find out about that and see that stuff," Ewing told NJ.com's Max Goodman on an episode of Speaking of the Mets. "At the end of the day, no matter where you're at, you just got to show up and play the same game that you've been playing all these years."

Ewing, who is SNY's No. 3 Mets prospect, tore the cover off of the ball in Binghamton, hitting .349 over 18 games in 2026, and hasn't missed a beat so far in Syracuse. The former fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft is currently hitting .393 through eight games at the Triple-A level and said his self confidence has helped him continue to play well.

"Just staying with myself and just having confidence that what I'm doing in the box is going to work and that I'm capable," Ewing said. "Always believing in yourself. I think that confidence in the box and confidence in the field just goes a lot more of a way than people might think."

One of the traits that makes Ewing an enticing prospect is his ability to steal bases with ease. Last season over 124 minor league games across three levels, Ewing stole a total of 70 bases and was thrown out just 11 times. He's already swiped 16 bases in 2026 over 24 games and explained why he enjoys using his speed to his advantage. 

"I love it, I think that there's a lot of value in that," Ewing said. "And I think it sets the team up to get more runs and sets us up for a lot of success."

When asked what Mets fans who don't know about his game should, Ewing highlighted his impressive plate discipline (only three strikeouts in 28 Triple-A at-bats).

"I spray the ball to all fields," Ewing said. "I think I'm a tough out. I think I grind at-bats really well and I see a lot of pitches and I make pitchers work hard."

For his minor league career, he's logged 149 games in CF, 20 in LF, 19 in RF, and 53 at second base, showing the ability to play all over the diamond. Now in Triple-A and just a step away from the majors, Ewing is focused on continuing to improve on his defense, including both the outfield and at second base.

"A lot of it is the defense," Ewing said. "Just like, be lockdown in the outfield and make sure that I can play second base as an option. I've been doing a lot of work with our guys here on trying to refine those skills and stay pretty stable in the infield. Get better at the things that I'm good at in the box, make a lot of contact and hit a lot of line drives."

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Cincinnati Reds starter Rhett Lowder exits game early with apparent injury

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 2: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 2, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds entered play against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon in Wrigley Field mired in an ugly 6-game losing streak. Said streak featured a Saturday game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which they walked seven consecutive batters en route to a 17-7 loss, and the first three games of the series against the Cubs all had ended in walk-off losses.

They’d lost closer Emilio Pagan to a hamstring injury that could cost him two months. They chose to move lefty starter Brandon Williamson to the 60-day IL with what was originally considered just ‘shoulder fatigue,’ meaning he’ll be out until almost July.

Still, things found a way to somehow still get worse on Thursday, as starter Rhett Lowder – the same guy who was on the mound for many of those seven straight walks in Pittsburgh in his previous start – exited in the Bottom of the 4th with a trainer after walking back to back batters to start a second straight inning.

MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed the news.

It was later confirmed that Lowder was dealing with a right shoulder issue.

Yes, the Reds are going to get Nick Lodolo back tomorrow for the first time all year, but this is the kind of thing that’s going to seriously test their pitching depth. Chase Petty, thank heck, looked much improved from his dismal 2025 debut when getting what then seemed like a spot-start in the series opener against the Cubs, and we now get to wonder if he’ll be brought right back to the big leagues to help fill in for Lowder, should he need an extended absence.

Keep in mind that Williamson hitting the shelf is apparently at least partially related to the injuries he dealt with last season, as coming back full-steam after missing an entire year put too much stress on his shoulder. Lowder, too, basically missed all of 2025 with forearm and oblique issues, and it’s enough to wonder if pushing him back to full-go from the start in 2026 might have taxed something too much, too quickly.

We’ll find out soon. For now, the Reds get to find a way to claw themselves back into it after one of the worst weeks in recent memory.

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A’s roster moves: Langeliers reinstated, Wynns DFA’d

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Shea Langeliers #23 and Austin Wynns #29 of the Athletics high five after defeating the Texas Rangers 2-1 at Sutter Health Park on April 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The A’s made a roster move on Thursday morning before their series finale against the Phillies. The team has activated starting catcher Shea Langeliers from the paternity list and designating backup Austin Wynns for assignment to make room for his return:

The return of Langeliers should provide the A’s with a critical bat back in the lineup. The team only managed to score four runs in the two games he missed due to the birth of his first child and will be glad to welcome him back into the starting nine. He’s been one of the best hitters in the Athletics’ lineup and all of baseball so far as he’s slashing .336/.390/.627 with 10 long balls and an MLB-leading 45 hits.

As for Wynns, this may mark the end of his time with the organization. Originally acquired last summer in a minor trade with the Cincinnati Reds, Wynns provided the A’s with a veteran back stop for the past calendar year. He never really hit well in his brief playing time but he was especially helpless in the batter’s box this year, going 3-for-43 with zero home runs or RBI’s. That was evidently just too poor of a performance with the stick to keep him around.

Wynns is signed to a guaranteed $1.1 million deal for this year so any team that claims him would take on that contract for the rest of the year. If he goes unclaimed Wynns, a longtime veteran, can reject an assignment to Triple-A and hit free agency without giving up his guaranteed money. The A’s are likely stuck paying him the rest of that deal. The A’s would love to keep him in the system as depth but Wynns will likely find another opportunity somewhere else. Plenty of teams around the league would value a veteran catcher with his defense.

This means that the newly-acquired Jonah Heim is the new official backup to Langeliers. Acquired for cash just days ago, Heim provides more upside than Wynns. He’s younger, a former All-Star, Gold Glover and World Series winner that bats from both sides of the plate. It’s a full circle moment for the former Athletics prospect, who was sent to Texas in exchange for Elvis Andrus years ago. He went 0-for-4 in his Athletics debut last night but the team clearly believes that Heim is the better option backup to Langeliers at this moment in time.

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Middlesbrough suspect Southampton analyst of spying on training in runup to playoffs

  • Individual seen in bushes was confronted on Thursday

  • Echoes of Marcelo Bielsa’s 2019 ‘spygate’ affair

Middlesbrough believe they caught a Southampton analyst hiding in the bushes and allegedly recording their training session on Thursday morning, in a remarkable repeat of the 2019 Marcelo Bielsa “spygate” affair.

Boro have reported the incident to the English Football League as spying on opposition training is in breach of their regulations. The EFL is investigating the alleged misconduct and have requested Southampton’s observations regarding the matter.

Continue reading...
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Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 2

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The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres meet once again at KeyBank Center for Game 2 tonight.

Buffalo carries a 1-0 series lead, but my Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks suggest another tightly contested matchup, with Montreal pushing to even the series before heading back home.

Expect Ivan Demidov to make his presence felt for the Habs.

  • UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & goal scorer pick.

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 prediction tonight

Who will win Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2?

Canadiens: The Habs nabbed three games on the road from Tampa Bay last round and outshot Buffalo in Game 1 despite the unfavorable result. Jakub Dobes had his quietest night of the postseason, and I fully expect him to rebound accordingly for Game 2.

Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points (-110)

Ivan Demidov picked up an assist on the power play in Game 1 after a few quiet outings to conclude the first round.

He's set at fair odds to hit the scoresheet again in Game 2, and with the Montreal Canadienscontrolling the play despite the loss in Game 1, I expect the young phenom to explode offensively against the Buffalo Sabres.

The 20-year-old had a quiet opening round against the Lightning, but in a more offense-centric matchup, he has a fantastic opportunity to hit the scoresheet aplenty.

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 same-game parlay

These two teams ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in goals scored during the regular season, and hit the Over in Game 1. Furthermore, neither had a Top 10 defense this season.

This matchup has resulted in six or more total goals nine consecutive times dating back to November 2024.

Lane Hutson ranks second among all defensemen left in the postseason in average ice time (27:17) and has blocked 15 shots in eight playoff games. He's still logging heavy minutes despite the return of Noah Dobson.

Josh Doan registered two points in Game 1, averaged 2.07 shots/game during the regular season, and has compiled eight shots on goal in his last two games.

Canadiens vs Sabres SGP

  • Over 5.5
  • Lane Hutson Over 1.5 blocked shots
  • Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2 goal scorer pick

 Nick Suzuki (+240)

The Habs' captain has scored in back-to-back games and has scored in three of his last four against Buffalo. He's seen an uptick in shot volume over the last few games, perhaps accommodating for his linemate Cole Caufield's lack of scoring.

Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 2 tonight

  • Moneyline: Canadiens +114 | Sabres -129
  • Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 | Sabres -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5

Canadiens vs Sabres trend

The Canadiens have hit the moneyline in 11 of their last 15 away games (+7.85 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.

How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 2

LocationKeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
DateFriday, May 8, 2026
Puck drop7 p.m. ET
TVTNT, CBC

Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Chris Kreider And Jacob Trouba Are Playoff Heroes For Anaheim

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Any Rangers fans who enjoys good hockey should take in the Anaheim Ducks-Vegas Knights series tied at one apiece.

This is one gripping tourney because the teams are about even in quality, well coached by Joel Quenneville (Ducks) and John Tortorella (Vegas.)

For Blueshirt fans it's bitter sweet because Chris Drury's discards defenseman Jacob Trouba and Christ Kreider are playing some of the best hockey of their lives. No surprise, Kreider set up the winning Anaheim goal in the 3-1 victory.

Escaping the rank Rangers dressing room was part off both revival stories; not to mention the fact that Quenneville has the coaching knack that somehow has eluded smiley Mike.

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Draymond Green’s newest appearance on Inside the NBA gets harsh

Charles Barkley and Draymond Green, in happier times
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 7: Chris Webber and Charles Barkley of NBA TV chats with Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 7, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For years, Draymond Green seemed like the perfect fit alongside the Inside the NBA crew. Four years ago, he signed a long-term deal with TNT and began making guest appearances after the Golden State Warriors were no longer in the playoffs, which often happens much earlier than Green would like. Green was a natural, comfortably fitting into the banter between Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and sometimes Shaq,

Something has changed in the last few seasons. Now what used to be pointed but light-hearted banter is coming off as simply mean-spirited, like when Green slammed Charles Barkley’s late-career stint with the Houston Rockets.

Responding to Barkley’s assertion that, “Sports are for young people,” Green said that his goal was to, “I think the goal is simply not to look like you in a Houston Rockets uniform.” When Kenny “The Jet” Smith asked Green what that looked like, Green asked, “Did you see it? I saw it.”

The diss didn’t land, in part because Barkley was pretty good as a Rocket, making the All-Star team and the Western Conference Finals in his first season as part of a “Big Three But Old” alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Even when Scottie Pippen joined up for a single season in 1998-99, Barkley averaged 16.1 points and 12.3 rebounds as a willing third option on a team that won at a 51-win pace.

This is not to ignore that insulting other members of the panel is a foundational element to what Inside the NBA has been, along with racing Kenny to the video board, shoving Shaq into Christmas trees, body-shaming the beautiful women of San Antonio, failing to find sponsorship for the Neat-O Stat of the Night, and wildly underestimating the distance from Earth to the moon.

But the problem is that Green didn’t actually deliver a zinger, or a punchline at all. Smith even set him up for a chance to burn Barkley, or describe why he was so bad on the Rockets, and Green just gave him a weird look and didn’t expand. Essentially, Green responded like he would to a critic on social media, giving back the “Thinking Face” emoji.

It’s a sign that Green is spending too much time both podcasting by himself and reading internet comments. Green no longer has Baron Davis as a co-host, so the majority of his podcast content is a solo monologue. That doesn’t keep him ready for the pushback, bantering, or playfulness that comes from being on a panel show. Being on Inside the NBA isn’t about owning people, or clapping back, or Epically Destroying your co-hosts. More than anything, the show is about jokes.

That element of humor has really disappeared with Green, whether it’s from insecurity about his own decline, the extra cussedness that comes with aging, or public sentiment turning dramatically against him after punching Jordan Poole (or choking Rudy Gobert, or hitting Jusuf Nurkic, or stomping on Domantas Sabonis, etc.).

When Green told a heckling Paul Pierce, “You thought you was Kobe?” and told him, “There ain’t gonna be no farewell tour,” it was mean but funny. Pierce really did try to end his career on a high note in his hometown of Los Angeles, a place that did not particularly care about him or the Los Angeles Clippers. (Note: Pierce briefly ran a truly terrible hookah bar called “The Truth Hollywood” and it did not succeed.)

So when Green tried to mock Barkley’s Rockets career, the issue wasn’t that Green was being inaccurate or disrespectful. It was that he wasn’t funny. Make fun of him being out of shape! Say Barkley’s defense was worse than his golf swing! Remind Barkley that in his last playoff appearance, he lost to Shaq!

A key element of what makes Barkley great is his ability to laugh at himself, but there has to be a punchline. Green’s own persona is increasingly based on responding angrily to every critical remark abut him, the opposite of taking a joke. And as recently as two years ago, Green and Barkley delightfully went at each other late in the All-Star Game broadcast.

Is the problem that angry responses are more likely to go viral? Has Green become less comfortable on camera as his own NBA future gets murkier? Regardless, Green should shift his tone, simply because it makes for much better television.

And bring some churros to the set the next time ESPN has a Spurs game. With the Chuckster, time and fried dough heal all wounds.

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Michael Porter Jr. thinks Nets in good shape, admits he ‘took foot off gas’ post All-Star snub

BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 10: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets grabs the rebound during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 10, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets plan last season was not some mystery. From Media Day back in September, it’s been about “playing the probabilities” and “flexibility.” Could you call it tanking? In response, Nets officialdom did everything but paraphrase the fictional prime minister in the British House of Cards TV series: “You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.”

That’s in the past now. With the Draft Lottery Sunday, we are about to get real. Speculation will soon be replaced by a much clearer path to the team’s summer moves which just about everyone believes will be aggressive. Count Michael Porter Jr. among those who thinks he can see the future.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Kendrick Perkins on the Road Trippin’ podcast, he talked about how he sees the summer working out, which he believes will include him.

“I’ve talked to the front office,” he told Perkins. “I think we’re going to get a good draft pick and then we got the most money in the NBA to get a really good playmaking 2-guard or point guard.”

A “good draft pick” will be subjective of course. The Nets can’t fall below the seventh pick and have twice as good a chance at No. 1 — 14 percent — as they do at No. 7 — seven percent. But as we keep saying, it’s all about the aerodynamics of small plastic balls.

His other comment about having “the most money” — presumably cap space — is not quite so. Brooklyn will be top two or three with as much as $50 million but at the very least Chicago will have more. It should also be noted that at one point early in the season, Porter suggested the Nets then-rookie guards weren’t cutting it … which got in a bit of hot water.

He didn’t offer any names the Nets might have in mind. He did say that he sees the Nets following the OKC Thunder path, building organically, developing both lottery picks and others into championship pieces. He admits the losing last season was tough on him.

“I never lost consistently my whole career until I got to Brooklyn. We were losing a lot. We were young. We were building something, but we’re not there yet. So it was definitely hard, bro. It definitely was hard,” he told Perk. “But I see the future with the team. I see what we’ve got in the young dudes. I see we have the most money to spend. I think we’ve got the most. We’re the youngest team. Kind of like Oklahoma City — it took them a while to get good. I think that’ll be how it is here. But I’m with it. I want to stay in Brooklyn.”

He even admitted that between the time he was snubbed for the All-Star Game in early February and the time he was finally shut down with a hamstring issue on April 3, he was not the same player. He said he regrets taking his “foot off the gas.“

“I regret that once I didn’t make that All-Star game, I let my foot off the gas because there really wasn’t anything we were playing for anymore. We couldn’t make the playoffs, I couldn’t be an All-Star… I wasn’t in the weight room as much, I wasn’t preparing as much, and my 3-point percentage dropped.”

As Erik Slater noted Thursday, MPJ averaged 20.5 points on 40.9% shooting from the field and 25.6% from three over his final 14 games after the All-Star reserves were announced. For the season, he put up 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds while shooting 46/36/86.

Porter of course is eligible for an extension up to $234 million over four years. He can starting talking to Sean Marks & co. starting on June 30 and although the top of the range seems quite pricey, both sides have offered positive takes about a future together. The 6’10” 27-year-old will make $40.8 million this season, the last on the five-year, $172 million deal he signed with the Nuggets. The Nets certainly had offers to move him at the trade decline, but reportedly told suitors, thanks but no thanks.

Asked if he thinks he could be the No. 1 option on a championship team, he admitted he’d need a co-star and that he’s talked to the front office about possibilities. Peyton Watson anyone?

Although he didn’t talk much about his current teammates, he offered a take on Cam Thomas’ exit from the Nets and later the Bucks, suggesting Thomas’ personality played a big part of his failure to harness all his powers. While conceding Thomas was one of the best shotmakers in the league, he said that’s not enough.

“There’s a lot more to sticking around in the NBA than just [scoring]. For Cam, I think it was a mixture of him being frustrated with a lot of things and also his personality… He doesn’t really socialize… He’ll say like two words all day, all practice. He doesn’t really talk to anybody. I don’t think he does it in a way where he’s trying to be a bad teammate. I just think that’s him.

“But when it comes to a team being willing to pay you and make you a No. 1 option, it comes with so much more [responsibility]. I don’t know if he was willing to break out of his personality and be talkative and try to be a leader and try to bring guys together. I think that’s kind of what happened here in Brooklyn.”

Porter, as he has in the past, did not step back from his controversial takes on culture beyond sports, saying he thinks it’s even helped his career …. financially.

“I think the reason that I make a lot of money in the NBA, but I still want to do other things, is because most NBA players, and most athletes — or people who have a lot to lose — are like robots. They want to maintain a certain image. They want to not disturb the peace. They want to shut up and dribble. They just want to play their sport, stay out of the way, and whatever. I always wanted to actually have a platform. I wanted to use my platform to actually have an impact and be able to talk about what I want to talk about.”

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Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #36: 5/7 vs. Pirates

Phoenix, Arizona, USA. (Photo by: Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Today’s Lineups

PIRATESDIAMONDBACKS
Oneil Cruz – DHGeraldo Perdomo – SS
Brandon Lowe – 2BKetel Marte – 2B
Bryan Reynolds – LFCorbin Carroll – RF
Ryan O’Hearn – RFAdrian Del Castillo – DH
Spencer Horwitz – 1BIldemaro Vargas – 1B
Konnor Griffin – SSJose Fernandez – 3B
Jared Triolo – 3BJorge Barrosa – LF
Jake Mangum – CFJames McCann – C
Joey Bart – CAlek Thomas – CF
Mitch Keller – RHPZac Gallen – RHP

The rubber game of the series, with the D-backs again seeking to get back to .500. That would be a good platform on which to build, because the rest of the month’s schedule is pretty favorable for Arizona. Indeed, right now, this will be the last game in May where we play a team who doesn’t have a losing record. We play twenty-two straight games against opponents below .500: seven against Colorado, six versus San Francisco, and series against the Mets, Rangers and Mariners. The best record among that lot are Seattle, who are currently 18-20. We definitely need to take advantage, and build a cushion above .500.

Good to see the starting pitching have a couple of good outings in this series, after a couple of wretched turns around the rotation. We’ll see if Zac Gallen can keep things going. His outing in Wrigley Field was very poor, and I wonder if – indeed, I’m hoping – it might have been a reaction to the getting drilled by a comebacker which ended his previous appearance. I’d prefer normal service to be resumed. Gallen’s ERA jumped from 3.14 to 4.45 as a result of that outing, while his FIP hardly budged (3.59 to 3.63). I’d like to see some regression going the other way for once, Zac’s ERA coming down towards the FIP.

If the D-backs can hold the Pirates to zero or one runs again today, that’ll be quite the achievement. From what I can see, the last time Arizona conceded two or fewer runs over a three-game series was September 2017. They went to Los Angeles and swept the Dodgers by a margin of 19-2, winning games 13-0, 3-1 (in ten innings) and 3-1. That came at the end of a franchise-record 13-game winning streak, over which the team’s ERA was 1.91. When you only typically need to score two or three runs a game to win, that’ll help. Be nice if the Diamondbacks were to go onto a similar streak now, and as noted above, the schedule may not give them a better chance in 2026.

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Knicks vs 76ers Same-Game Parlay for Friday's NBA Playoffs Game 3

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The New York Knicks get ready to run the “Rocky Steps,” with their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers shifting to the City of Brotherly Love.

My Knicks vs. 76ers predictions give a hat tip to the home team, with Philadelphia winning on the strength of its defense. That means shutting down New York superstar Jalen Brunson and continuing to get production from Paul George.

Here are my latest NBA picks for May 8.

Our best Knicks vs 76ers SGP for Game 3

SGP leg #1: 76ers moneyline

The Philadelphia 76ers are against the wall in Game 3, down 0-2 to the New York Knicks. After rallying in Round 1, the 76ers aren’t panicking and will turn to their defense to get the job done.

Potentially having Joel Embiid back is big, and the Knicks possibly missing OG Anunoby is even bigger. 

SGP leg #2: Jalen Brunson Under 26.5 points

Although Jalen Brunson finished with 26 points in Game 2, he wasn’t at his best, shooting just 9-for-21 from the field and needing several trips to the foul line to boost his total. Philadelphia threw longer defenders at Brunson, using Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe to close the gaps quicker.

With Embiid back inside and clogging up the key, Brunson won’t get easy looks or space on the perimeter. He also doesn’t draw the same whistles on the road as he does in MSG, limiting his scoring from the stripe. 

Brunson's projections sit as low as 24 points for Game 3.

SGP leg #3: Paul George Over 16.5 points

Paul George has been the 76ers’ most consistent offensive player in the playoffs. He’s topped his scoring prop in four of his last five outings and scored 19 points in Game 2, thanks to a red-hot start from beyond the arc.

With Anunoby either out or limited, New York has some serious rotation issues, which could leave smaller players on PG. He’s projected for 17+ points on Friday.

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Why Jaylen Brown isn't backing down from ‘favorite season' statement

Why Jaylen Brown isn't backing down from ‘favorite season' statement originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown recently raised eyebrows by labeling the 2025-26 season as his “favorite.” However, his statement should come as no surprise to those who paid attention throughout the campaign.

Brown called it his “favorite season” during a Twitch stream one day after the Celtics blew a 3-1 first-round series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers. He doubled down on his remarks during another stream on Wednesday night.

“You got to see all of these guys, all of my teammates, grow,” Brown said. “I got to see them overcome adversity as a group, up close and personal. … Obviously, we’re not satisfied with the result. If it sounds like an excuse, it’s not. But to fight and maneuver through adversity and grow, and galvanize with a bunch of guys and to have that mindset and approach, this was my favorite year.

“I wouldn’t say by far. By far would be a stretch because obviously winning the championship is great. But I’m telling y’all, this was my favorite season.”

Understandably, Brown calling it his favorite season immediately after Boston’s collapse didn’t sit well with many fans. Plus, one would think that hanging Banner 18 at TD Garden would trump a first-round exit, especially when star teammate Jayson Tatum missed most of the season and Game 7 due to injuries.

But Brown made similar statements on several occasions before his postseason Twitch streams. Throughout the campaign, the 10-year veteran spoke glowingly about the Celtics’ supporting cast blossoming and the team exceeding its preseason “gap year” expectations. He called it his “favorite season” as early as December.

Brown’s messaging has been consistent all season long. Here’s a look back at some of his most noteworthy quotes that show why he considers the 2025-26 season the “favorite” of his illustrious career:

Dec. 22, 2025 – ‘Favorite season so far’

Brown called it his “favorite season so far” after leading the Celtics to a 20-point comeback win over the Indiana Pacers. Boston improved to 18-11 with 13 wins in its last 17 games.

“I think this has been my favorite season so far,” he said. “Being able to get the opportunity to lead a group of guys who – some of us, we have some championship experience, but we have five or six new guys who haven’t really played NBA basketball. And now, we look like one of the better teams in the league.

“That’s just credit to our coaching staff and credit to our leadership that we’ve been able to get those guys comfortable, and we’re playing some good basketball right now. So it means everything.”

Jan. 21, 2026 – Brown praises Celtics’ ‘resiliency’

One month after his first “favorite season” declaration, Brown raved about the Celtics’ resiliency as the second-place team in the East without Jayson Tatum.

“Very resilient, very tough,” he said. “Start of the season, the expectations weren’t high. But these guys, they came in and worked day in and day out. Last year, we were second in the East. We’re halfway through the season and we’re second in the East.

“That’s just a testament to the work ethic, the resiliency of our head coach, of our leadership. It’s a testament to where we are right now.”

Feb. 12, 2026 – First-half comparison

During the All-Star break, Brown took to social media to compare the team’s 2025-26 first-half numbers with those from 2024-25. Boston’s record, seeding, offensive rating, and defensive rating were eerily similar to the previous year.

“I’m proud of this group and staff/office,” he wrote on X. “Looking forward to 2nd half go C’s.”

Feb. 16, 2026 – Brown ‘extremely proud’ of Celtics’ season

Brown couldn’t help but smile while speaking about his team’s surprising success at the All-Star break. Boston entered the break with a 35-19 record.

“To see them finding their ground, their footing, and playing well – as a leader, I can’t tell you how much that means to me, to see those guys kind of starting to flourish on their own,” he said of the Celtics’ supporting cast. “Before, when the season started, there was uncertainty.

“I’m proud. I don’t know what to tell ya’ll, I’m extremely proud of our group, where we’re at right now. Second in the East versus how many players (we lost) and everything that was being said, the gap year, and for us to be sitting here at the All-Star break and having our guys feeling like we could even be better, I’m proud, bro. It’s been great, it’s been fun.”

March 30, 2026 – So much for a “gap year”

With Tatum back in the fold, the Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets on March 29 for their 50th win of the season. Few expected Boston to accomplish that feat during what was expected to be a “gap year” with Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury.

“50 wins in a gap year,” Brown wrote on X after win No. 50.

April 12, 2026 – More love for the bench guys

With the No. 2 seed in the East locked up, the Celtics’ second unit got a chance to shine in the regular-season finale against the fully healthy Orlando Magic. Boston earned a 113-108 victory in arguably the most entertaining game of the season, with Baylor Scheierman (30 points), Ron Harper Jr. (27 points), and Luka Garza (27 points) each having memorable performances.

Brown, who often credited the role players for making it his “favorite season,” took to social media with a simple message after the thrilling win.

“I love this team.”

May 2, 2026 – A ‘great season’ despite Game 7 loss

Brown didn’t hang his head after the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers. Instead, he called the 2025-26 campaign “probably one of my most fun years playing basketball,” while once again mentioning the growth of his teammates.

“It was a great season. I’m proud of my teammates and just their growth,” Brown said. “I’m so grateful to be with this group. This group is awesome. I had a fun year. This is probably one of my most fun years playing basketball.”

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Mets 'really digging in' to try to help struggling Sean Manaea: 'We need him'

It hasn’t been an easy ride for Mets left-hander Sean Manaea this season.

The starter-turned-reliever this year owns a 6.85 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched across eight appearances. But it doesn’t end there. While he has struck out 24 batters, Manaea still has a .312 batting average against and a 1.75 WHIP. Both would be career worsts.

His latest poor outing came on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies when he was unable to close it out in the ninth inning with New York up 10-4, allowing a run on three hits and a hit batter before getting pulled with the bases loaded and only recording one out.

It was Manaea’s shortest appearance of the season and came on the heels of a disastrous 2.2 innings against the Washington Nationals where he allowed six earned runs on seven hits, two walks and another hit batter. In fact, over his last three relief outings, Manaea has hit a batter in each one.

Manager Carlos Mendoza was asked about Manaea’s struggles after Wednesday’s game and admitted it hasn’t come easy for the former ace who just two seasons ago enjoyed a renaissance with the Mets in his first year in Queens.

“It’s been a tough stretch for Sean,” Mendoza said. “We understand that. He’s too good of a pitcher and he’s very important for us. We have to continue to support him, we have to continue to work with him, especially in moments like this."

The topic of Manaea came up again between Mendoza and the media on Thursday before the series finale with the question revolving around what the process looks like for the Mets to reach the southpaw’s full potential.

“A combination of a lot of things,” the skipper said. “Pitching coaches are really digging in here, watching film, talking to Sean, getting some feedback from him. We need him. That’s the bottom line. This is a guy that’s important for us and it’s our job as the coaching staff to get him back on track.”

In 2024, during Manaea’s career-year and New York’s unbelievable run to the NLCS, the left-hander went 12-6 and had a 3.47 ERA (1.08 WHIP) in 32 starts while unveiling a new side-arm delivery, similar to Chris Sale, that took him to new heights.

That offseason the Mets rewarded Manaea, a free agent after he opted out of the second year of his two-year deal, with a three-year, $75 million contract to be the team’s ace for the foreseeable future.

However, that deal hasn’t exactly worked out with Manaea pitching to a 5.64 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) in 2025 after beginning the season on the IL with a right oblique strain. 

Fully healthy during spring training this season, Manaea made three starts and although he had a 3.72 ERA (0.93 WHIP), he didn’t crack New York’s starting rotation because of concerns over his dip in fastball velocity.

Mendoza spoke to Manaea’s velocity which has not re-appeared thus far.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” he said. “We got a lot of people working really hard behind the scenes and [Manaea’s] doing a lot of different drills in between outings, whether it’s mechanics or the way he’s moving around the mound. But like I said, we gotta keep going with him.”