The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have seemingly been on a collision course this season, and Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals certainly lived up to the hype.
The visiting Spurs took the series opener, winning 122-115 in double overtime. And with the Thunder preferring to use smaller players to defend Victor Wembanyama for most of the night, the 7-foot-4 phenom feasted.
Shooting 14-of-25 from the field and 12-of-13 from the foul line, Wemby amassed 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists, one steal, three blocks and one three-pointer in a career-high 49 minutes. For those who would describe that stat line as "Wilt-like," you would be correct. Wembanyama joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in league history to produce at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in their conference finals debut.
In Game 1 of the 1960 Eastern Division Finals, Chamberlain recorded 42 points (17-of-35 FGs, 8-of-14 FTs), 29 rebounds and one assist in a loss to the Boston Celtics. Blocks and steals were officially recorded by the NBA until the 1973-74 season; given his résumé, one can assume that "The Big Dipper" would have been credited with a few of those.
WEMBY ELEVATES WITH THE LEFT.
He dropped 41 PTS & 24 REB IN HIS WCF DEBUT to lead the @spurs to an epic 2OT victory in Game 1!
▪️ Joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record 40+ PTS and 20+ REB in their Conference Finals debut
▪️ Joined David Robinson as the only… https://t.co/ESgDUt3ZAupic.twitter.com/bbqCnxuBZT
Wembanyama also became the second player aged 22 years or younger to record a 40/20 line in a playoff game, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Game 5, 1970 Eastern Division semifinal vs. Philadelphia). And he's the second Spur to drop a 40/20 line in a postseason game, joining David Robinson (Game 2, 1996 first round vs. Phoenix).
And since the league began recording blocks, Wemby is the third player to tally at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks in a playoff game. Hakeem Olajuwon did it twice as a Houston Rocket, in 1987 and 1988, and Shaquille O'Neal did it in 2000 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
So, what will Wembanyama do for an encore in Game 2? In part, that depends on how the Thunder will adjust defensively, especially if De'Aaron Fox is available after sitting out Game 1 with a right ankle injury. One would assume that Chet Holmgren would get more reps opposite Wembanyama, but that may not matter.
Regarding the numbers, here's how Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Olajuwon, Robinson and O'Neal followed up their historic 40/20 lines. Interestingly, only O'Neal's team would go on to win the title.
Wilt Chamberlain (1960): 29 points (12-of-23 FGs, 5-of-10 FTs), 28 rebounds and one assist in a Game 2 win over the Celtics. Boston would win the Eastern Division Finals in six games.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970): 35 points (14-of-24 FG, 7-of-11 FTs), 15 rebounds and five assists in a Game 1 loss to the Knicks. Milwaukee would lose the Eastern Division Finals in five games.
Hakeem Olajuwon (1987): End of season."The Dream" played 53 minutes of a 128-125 double-overtime loss to the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 6 of the second round. In the elimination game, he tallied 49 points (19-of-33 FGs, 11-of-13 FTs), 25 rebounds, two assists, two steals and six blocks.
Hakeem Olajuwon (1988): 35 points (13-of-27 FGs, 9-of-10 FTs), 12 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in a Game 3 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Houston would lose the best-of-5 series in four games.
David Robinson: 22 points (8-of-18 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and three blocks in a Game 3 loss to Phoenix. San Antonio would go on to win the series in four games (best-of-5).
Shaquille O'Neal (2000): 33 points (15-of-24 FGs, 3-of-13 FTs), 13 rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocks in a Game 3 loss to the Pacers. The Lakers would go on to win the NBA Finals in six games.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 04: Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U'Ren speaks while Satou Sabally looks on during a press conference at the Phoenix Mercury Practice Facility on February 04, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are on the clock. After parting ways with Daryl Morey, the franchise has tasked Bob Myers — President of Sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment — with running basketball operations in the interim while leading the search for a new President of Basketball Operations. Myers has set a (soft) target of having someone in place before the NBA Draft on June 23. Below is a running list of names that have been reported in connection with the job, updated as new information surfaces.
Per Stein and Jake Fischer, Cleveland’s Mike Gansey is regarded as one of the leading candidates for Philadelphia’s head of basketball operations vacancy, along with Jameer Nelson.
Tony Jones of The Athletic reports that Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey is “considered a strong candidate to take over for Morey, according to league sources.”
Gansey has spent his entire career climbing the ladder within the Cavaliers organization, starting as a seasonal assistant in 2011 and working his way up to GM in 2022. Along the way he won G League Executive of the Year in 2017 and has been a key part of building a Cleveland team that is currently in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018. His name also surfaced in the Bulls’ search this offseason, underlining the respect he has earned around the league as one of the better young executives in the game.
Per Stein and Fischer, Nelson is regarded as one of the leading candidates for Philadelphia’s head of basketball operations vacancy. There is a growing expectation around the league that Nelson will be elevated to general manager at minimum, even if he does not land the top job.
Tony Jones of The Athletic reported on Thursday morning that multiple league sources indicate “that Nelson, among others, is a candidate to become the 76ers’ next president of basketball operations. He is Philadelphia’s strongest internal candidate, as he served this season as assistant general manager.” Jones added that even if Nelson doesn’t take over Daryl Morey’s role, “he is a favorite to receive a promotion, league sources say.”
Nelson may not be considered a top candidate for the PoBO job itself, but Stein noted there has been chatter all season about an expanded role for him regardless of who is hired. Nelson is held in high regard within the organization and has been described as a rising candidate to run his own team someday.
Per Stein, Phoenix Mercury GM Nick U’Ren was summoned to Philadelphia in recent days for an interview with Sixers ownership for their head of basketball operations vacancy. He was not mentioned as a current leading candidate in this update.
Nick U’Ren, currently the general manager for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, is “expected to interview for [Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations], according to league sources.”
U’Ren spent nearly a decade with the Warriors, working under Myers as a special assistant and advanced scout before departing in 2023 to become GM of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. In his first two seasons he turned an aging roster into a WNBA Finals contender, showcasing the kind of roster-building instincts that made him a name to watch. His direct connection to Myers is clear, and the question surrounding him is simply whether he is ready to make the leap to the top job at the NBA level after such a successful turnaround in the WNBA.
Travis Schlenk, SVP of Player Personnel, Washington Wizards
Schlenk is one of the more experienced names on this list, having spent 13 years with the Warriors where he served as assistant GM to Myers and played a significant role in building their dynasty, including being credited with identifying Draymond Green in the second round of the 2012 draft. He parlayed that into the top job with the Hawks, serving as GM and President of Basketball Operations for five seasons and leading Atlanta to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. He joined the Wizards in 2023 in a player personnel role. Like several others on this list, his Warriors connection to Myers is likely a key reason his name has surfaced here.
Vince Rozman, VP of Identification & Intelligence, OKC Thunder
Rozman spent 16 years with the Sixers, joining the organization under Sam Hinkie in 2013 and working his way up through various roles in basketball operations. He was heavily involved in draft preparation and was credited by both Hinkie and Morey as a key behind-the-scenes contributor. In 2022 he left Philadelphia to join Sam Presti’s staff in Oklahoma City, where he now oversees the Thunder’s draft evaluation and strategy — one of the most respected draft operations in the league. His deep familiarity with both the Sixers organization and the gold standard of modern front office building makes him one of the more intriguing names in this search.
Brand has been tied to the Sixers organization since his playing days, eventually transitioning into front office work and ascending to GM in 2018. He led the coaching search that landed Doc Rivers before stepping back from lead decision-making duties when Morey arrived. Rather than walking away, Brand stayed on as Morey’s top lieutenant for the entirety of his tenure. He was a candidate for the Hawks’ lead executive role last year before withdrawing from the search, suggesting there is outside interest in his abilities.
Tim Connelly, President of Basketball Operations, Minnesota Timberwolves
Connelly has built two different franchises into contenders, assembling the core of Denver’s 2023 championship team before departing for Minnesota, where he put together back-to-back Western Conference Finals rosters. His contract with the Timberwolves is set to expire soon, which has put his name in play across multiple searches this offseason. Dallas tried and failed to land him earlier this summer, and Minnesota is expected to retain him, making him a longshot. But his track record (and blockbuster deals) speak for itself.
Redden spent 12 years with the Cavaliers, rising from a scout to assistant GM and VP of basketball operations, before joining the Clippers as assistant GM in 2017. He was promoted to GM in 2023 following Michael Winger’s departure to Washington and has quickly earned a reputation as one of the sharper talent evaluators in the league. He has no direct Warriors connection to Myers, making him a bit of an outlier on this list compared to several other candidates.
Lloyd got his start in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls back in 1994, beginning as a game-day employee before rising to director of college scouting under the late Jerry Krause. He later spent a decade with the Orlando Magic before joining Tim Connelly’s staff in Minnesota, where he was promoted to GM in 2024. He was a finalist for the Bulls’ lead executive job this offseason before Chicago hired Bryson Graham, and he has been viewed around the league as a top-of-the-line GM candidate for some time. His connection to Connelly makes him an interesting name given Connelly’s own ties to this search.
Stein reported Tuesday that the Sixers have conceded Saleh will not be available to them. Barring a significant change, it is safe to consider his name off the board.
Saleh is widely regarded as one of the brightest young executives in the league. Before becoming the Hawks GM he spent three seasons working directly under Myers with the Warriors, giving him a direct connection to the man running Philadelphia’s search. He finished second in Executive of the Year voting in his first season running Atlanta, a testament to how quickly he has established himself and turned things around for Atlanta. He is considered a longshot given that the Hawks are unlikely to grant permission for an interview, but the fact that Myers wants to explore it speaks to how highly he is regarded.
Marc Stein has reported this week that Neil Olshey, who has served as a Sixers consultant for the past three seasons, “is not pursuing the job and won’t be part of this Myers-led search” for a new President of Basketball Operations in Philly. Stein added that his sources say Olshey could remain with the organization in an advisory role, though.
Olshey has one of the more decorated resumes in this search, having served as GM of the Clippers during their Lob City era before taking over as GM of the Trail Blazers, where he drafted Damian Lillard and built one of the more consistent playoff teams of the last decade. He was fired in 2021 following an investigation into a hostile work environment, which remains a legitimate concern for any organization considering him. He has been a Sixers consultant since 2023 and is considered to have a close relationship with Myers, which is likely what keeps his name in the conversation.
A strange media dustup has emerged in recent days, after ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the 2025-26 NBA MVP award.
The report upstaged Prime Video's official announcement of the winner, prompting Prime Video's Blake Griffin to say on the air, "It's Sunday Shams, go to brunch you nerd."
Beyond Prime Video's understandable frustration at having its thunder stolen by the premature naming of the Thunder guard as the league's MVP, the situation has created a debate over whether Shams should have kept his sherbet-hole shut.
He absolutely should have reported it. Not because it's what reporters do, but because who cares if the NBA MVP winner was leaked before the official announcement?
This isn't like tipping picks for the first round of the NFL draft. The vast majority of the audience wants to find out the picks when the Commissioner announces them. No one is sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the name of the NBA MVP to be revealed.
Also, from a reporting standpoint, it's far more impressive to learn the name of a league MVP before it's announced. The names of the next two or three NFL first-round picks are known by many people. Every team knows. Multiple people with each team know. The identity of the NBA MVP is presumably far more closely guarded.
Whether the NBA will be happy about the move is a different issue. The NFL has told its broadcast partners to instruct their reporters and on-air analysts to not tip draft picks. (Not everyone complies. We do, but only because that's what we believe the audience wants.)
Reporting on the winners of awards is a different issue entirely. That's fair game. Regardless of whether the NBA or the NFL like it.
Which raises an interesting question for February 2027. Will the usual "insiders" try to find out who the NFL MVP is before the name is announced? Will other reporters who aren't beholden to the broader football apparatus pursue the information?
It may be impossible to get. And it's possible that Charania wasn't even trying to get it. Information like this is routinely given to a hand-picked reporter. It's possible that Charania's scoop originated with someone who had a specific motivation to get the word out before the award was officially announced.
Regardless, it's fair game. Shams was doing his job. And no one was counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds for the drum roll preceding the formal announcement of the NBA's next MVP.
The NHL isn't budging on the sanctions it dealt the Las Vegas Golden Knights for shirking its responsibilities with the media during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The punishment handed out by the league to the Knights for "flagrant violations" of the NHL's postgame media policy during the postseason will remain as assessed after an appeal by the team, according to multiplereports on May 19.
The league said its sanctions came after previous warnings were issued to the Knights regarding their compliance with the league's media policies. The team's appeal hearing occurred May 19 in New York, according to the reports. Some players did speak from the podium after Game 6, according to ESPN.
The Knights said in a statement after the penalties were announced that the team would have no further comment on the matter. Tortorella also had no comment when asked about the controversy by reporters for the first time since the end of the conference semifinals on May 16.
Tortorella took over as the the coach in Las Vegas after the franchise fired Bruce Cassidy in late March. The Knights open the Western Conference finals against the Colorado Avalanche on May 20.
The Knights were already without their first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after acquiring defenseman Noah Hanifin in 2024.
‘I’ll make decisions when time comes,’ says head coach
Chessum expected to lead side in at least one July Test
England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, has confirmed he may rest some senior players including his captain, Maro Itoje, for all or part of his squad’s summer Nations Championship games. A final decision will not be taken until next month but, barring an injury crisis, it seems probable England will be under fresh leadership on the field for at least one of their July Tests.
Rather than a traditional tour to a single country, the new tournament will require Borthwick and his squad to play internationals on three different continents on successive weekends, starting against South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July and finishing in Santiago del Estero in Argentina on 18 July.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: St. John's men's basketball coach Rick Pitino and Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk after Pitino threw out the ceremonial first pitch and Mitchell caught it before the game between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees at Citi Field on June 13, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Most important day of the Knicks season is here, fellas.
As will be the case again on Thursday, Saturday, and all the way every other day through mid-June.
“Back in the day, when I was with (Gregg Popovich), he said, ‘You need three All-Stars to win a championship.’ Well, they’ve got four, James being the fourth one has added a dimension to their team that not many teams have. Not many teams can say, ‘Hey, we got four All-Stars on our roster.’ And that fourth guy in James is a playmaker and a scorer, so he presents a problem when you have that, and Donovan Mitchell and everybody else, and then they have the shooting.
“It’s a different team, and [Harden] makes it different because of the experience that he has, especially in the playoffs and in big moments. And being a Hall of Fame-caliber player.”
On the need for setting the tone early in Game 1:
“You always want to hit first, second, third and obviously last. Trying to do that is gonna be big. We’ve talked about it before with the starts of our games. Our guys have done a better job in the playoffs.”
On managing rest vs. rust heading into the series:
“You worry about all those things. But at the end of the day, we’ve had a chance to rest, too; and they’ve had to play 14 games in 29, 30 days. So it could go either way. You just hope that when we step out there, our competitive spirit is at an extremely high level and you don’t ease into the game at all, because they’re a dangerous offensive team. They’re very potent with their shooters and playmakers. And they have size and toughness and all that. So there’s a lot of things to worry about. But that’s why it’s good that you’ve got to go play the games.”
On making Cleveland’s stars work defensively:
“We have to put pressure on them in all phases: starting with transition and ending with the ability to offensive rebound. You want to make all of their guys, especially guys who play-make and do a lot for them — you want to make them work as much as you can, but that’s not gonna be our focal point. The focal point is to take the best possible shot that we can get because it’s hard to score in the playoffs. But we do want to make those guys work, starting with transition. So we have to be conscious of trying to play the right way against this group.”
On facing Kenny Atkinson in the conference finals:
“We know each other well from our time in Golden State together. He’s a great person and obviously a really good coach.
“We probably gained more knowledge of how we’re coaching our teams based on the times we played against each other this year more than in the past.
“Kenny’s done a phenomenal job. He’s got those guys playing at a high level. To sit back and watch those guys take both their series to seven games and find the resiliency to win just shows how experienced that team is when it comes to the playoffs. There’s no panic in them, starting with Kenny on down.
Josh Hart is disappointed that the Knicks street signs didn't return this year 😭 pic.twitter.com/jmgrIBf4Ba
“For us, in that locker room, we’re just locked-in on being there every single game, making sure we’re continuing to get better and we’re a finished product at the end. So I don’t know anything about the bar being raised or expectations or anything like that. The expectations that we have for ourselves as a team or individual are always high. But we always want the fans to have some fun, man.”
On lessons from last year’s playoff collapse:
“Obviously in the playoffs you never want to give away games that you should win. You can never relax. Especially the style that the NBA is played now; you see 10-, 15-, 20-point leads dwindle in four, five minutes. So it’s just that mentality of, it’s never over. Play until there are zeros on the clock. You can’t give the games away.”
On the nine-day break before the conference finals:
“Obviously would rather not have a nine-day break. You’re in a good rhythm and then obviously you’ve got to sit there and wait and those kind of things. Ideally, a three- or four-day break, that’d be nice. It’s good points and bad points.”
On Madison Square Garden’s atmosphere:
“They always come out and show love. Definitely the best atmosphere in the league.”
On guarding Donovan Mitchell again after doing so in 2023:
“I don’t think I learned anything about myself. I’m a good player. I’m a good defender. And as a competitor, you want to have tough matchups like that to compete against the best. He’s an extremely talented offensive player. He takes tough shots, but he has the talent and the ability to make those tough shots.”
Both Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart spoke today about what they learned from last year's collapse in Game 1 of the conference finals:
Brunson: “I think experience always is able to teach you a lot of lessons [for] this time around. Obviously we know what we have to do. It's… pic.twitter.com/6pcXafWlCq
On learning from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals loss:
“I mean, I’ve thought about it. But like every journey, every year is different. You’ve got to kind of restart and reset. Yes, you learn from it. You’re very disappointed in the result. But you move forward.
“I think it happened this year as well when we played Atlanta. We let our foot off the gas; even in Game 1, we won, but also in Game 2, we lost. So, it’s something that we need to continue to get better at. And I think we have. But we can’t be satisfied.”
On respecting Donovan Mitchell before the series:
“I have the utmost respect for him. Got to know him really since my first year, we had mutual friends. The dude works really hard, loves the game. I think he approaches it the right way, so I have a lot of respect for him.”
On Cleveland’s challenge in the conference finals:
“That’s a tough team, very well coached, a lot of guys over there with playoff experience. They’re going to be a tough out.”
On James Harden’s impact on Cleveland’s offense:
“He’s able to create a lot of offense for them. It’s like a pressure release for Donovan, as well. Donovan does so much for the team and then you have James in there and you have a whole other person you have to worry about, so they have so many different weapons, so many different options and ways they can beat you. They’re really dynamic.”
On returning to Madison Square Garden for the conference finals:
“I’m a New Yorker. Going back to the Garden, I worked for the Knicks and I know everybody there. I have a ton of family, my whole family is there, basically. It’s special.”
On facing the Knicks in the conference finals:
“They’re rested and they’re a juggernaut right now. It’s hard to blow out teams in the playoffs like they’ve been blowing out teams. Point differential means something in this league.
“They’re playing great basketball, but we’ve got to try to go in there and steal Game 1 somehow.”
On believing the Knicks are the most complete team in the East:
“The Knicks is the most complete team in the East. All the s*** that people was talking about, and I kept telling y’all fans. Chill out. Relax. Stay Melo.”
On predicting a Finals appearance:
“I like the Knicks in the finals. This is the year that I think the Knicks get to the finals.”
Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals between the Cavaliers and Knicks is currently the most expensive Conference Finals ticket ever recorded, per @TickPick
On the rising ticket prices during the Knicks’ playoff run:
“We have seen sports become more and more of a luxury commodity, and that is not what it always used to be. I am still confident and hopeful of a championship this year. I do wish, however, that all of these tickets were far more affordably priced.”
“I think that there are many New Yorkers for whom the game is something that is celebrated across the entire city. When the Knicks do well, you feel it across this whole city. And it’s not just for those who can afford to go to the game.”
Richard Jefferson on the Knicks vs Cavs series:
“If Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby out perform Jarret Allen and Evan Mobley that’s the end of the series… going into this postseason right now you go look at Bridges and OG numbers they have been consistently more impactful on both… pic.twitter.com/CRaZjpw5Uq
“I think this is the best I’ve ever seen them. I’ve been covering them for over 20 years in various ways. I’ve never seen them play an offense like this consistently. What they’ve done in the playoffs in this transformation with how they played, it’s remarkable. Of course, you need to see more proof of it as a series gets deeper. As you go deeper, it gets harder, right? But when in the playoffs do you see teams consistently blowing out their opponents in the first two rounds and not say that’s a championship-level team?”
On the Cleveland matchup compared to Detroit:
“That’s the one thing. It’s hard not to look at their struggles against Detroit and Detroit seems to just have a different kind of level against the Knicks. They really didn’t get over losing to the Knicks in the first round and you could see that in every game they played this year. They just had a different type of intensity, almost to a point where even the Knicks were like, ‘Whoa, whoa, it’s January. What are you guys doing?’ I would never say that Cleveland’s easier. But I think matchup-wise, it’s way more intriguing because it’s two really good offensive teams. So how do you solve them defensively is going to be the biggest story in this series.”
Only three former Vancouver Canucks players remain in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Jalen Chatfield of the Carolina Hurricanes and Nic Dowd and Ben Hutton of the Vegas Golden Knights making it past the second round. Four ex-Canucks were eliminated during the second round of the post-season.
Eastern Conference:
Jalen Chatfield, Carolina Hurricanes
Chatfield and the Hurricanes knocked out both a former Canucks player and head coach on their way to the 2026 Eastern Conference Final, eliminating Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Noah Juulsen and head coach Rick Tocchet via series sweep. Chatfield, who played for Vancouver during the 2020–21 season, scored his first goal of this year’s post-season in a 4–1 Game 3 win against the Flyers. Carolina will face the Montréal Canadiens, who knocked out former Canucks and current Buffalo Sabres Tanner Pearson and Luke Schenn, in the Eastern Conference Final.
Eastern Conference Final Schedule:
Game 1: May 21, 5:00 pm PT
Game 2: May 23, 4:00 pm PT
Game 3: May 25, 5:00 pm PT
Game 4: May 27, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 5: May 29, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 6: May 31, TBD
*Game 7: June 2, 5:00 pm PT
Western Conference:
Nic Dowd, Ben Hutton, & John Tortorella, Vegas Golden Knights
Dowd, Hutton, and Vegas head coach Tortorella defeated the Anaheim Ducks in six games to advance to the third-round, making them the only former Canucks to be taking part in this year’s Western Conference Final. While Dowd has been in the lineup for Vegas’ entire playoff run, Hutton made his post-season debut in Game 1 of the Golden Knights’ second-round series. Vegas will take on a Colorado Avalanche team that eliminated former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild.
Western Conference Final Schedule:
Game 1: May 20, 5:00 pm PT
Game 2: May 22, 5:00 pm PT
Game 3: May 24, 5:00 pm PT
Game 4: May 26, TBD
*Game 5: May 28, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 6: May 30, 5:00 pm PT
*Game 7: June 1, 5:00 pm PT
May 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) skates back to the bench after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Vingegaard cuts gap on overall leader Eulálio to 27sec
Ganna wins stage 10 in 45min 53sec
Filippo Ganna sailed to an easy victory in stage 10’s individual time trial at the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday,. The pre-race favourite, Jonas Vingegaard, failed in his bid to take the overall lead as Afonso Eulálio battled hard to keep the pink jersey.
No one could come close to Ganna, a time trial specialist who completed the flat, 42km (26-mile) route along the Tuscan coast from Viareggio to Massa in 45min 53sec. Ganna had little to worry about while waiting for confirmation of his eighth Giro stage win – seven of those have come in time trials.
DENVER — Gabriel Landeskog doesn’t need any extra incentive. Being in the Western Conference Final is more than enough for the Colorado Avalanche captain.
If he did, though, memories of the second-round loss to Vegas in 2021 would be a powerful motivator. The Avalanche led that series 2-0 — and were up in the third period of Game 3 — before losing four straight.
It stung then. But that breakdown fueled the Avalanche, too, as they captured the Stanley Cup title the following season. And then the Golden Knights won the Cup the season after that.
“Obviously, it’s the same teams but a lot of turnover,” Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri said ahead of a series that gets under way in Denver. “Obviously, we’re hoping for a different outcome this time.”
Some familiar names remain from the ’21 series that matched the speedy Avalanche against the physical Golden Knights — an apt description of this upcoming series, too.
For Colorado, the lineup back then included Landeskog, Kadri, Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Nathan MacKinnon, with coach Jared Bednar on the bench.
For Vegas, there were such players as captain Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb, Keegan Kolesar, Shea Theodore and Reilly Smith. Avalanche nemesis Pete DeBoer was coaching then for Vegas, now it’s John Tortorella.
Nicolas Roy has switched sides, with Vegas then and Colorado now. Same, in reverse, for Vegas forward Brandon Saad.
“We feel like we have swagger, believe in each other,” Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “It should be a fun test.”
The Golden Knights have caught fire since Tortorella took over when Bruce Cassidy was let go. The team went 7-0-1 down the stretch — including a 3-2 overtime win over Colorado on April 11 — and beat playoff upstarts Utah and Anaheim to advance.
Much like they did with Vegas after the 2021 series, the Avalanche are hoping to parlay the sting of a playoff loss to Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars last season into a positive.
“The buy-in from our guys in both 2022 and this year, it’s at a different level,” said Bednar, whose Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche are 8-1 so far in the postseason. “Because they know what the stakes are.”
The Avalanche have been instilled as a plus-135 to capture the Cup, while the Golden Knights are plus-575.
“It doesn’t matter in this room,” McNabb said of being an underdog. “They’re a good team. We know that. We respect them.”
Familiar territory
The Golden Knights are making their fifth trip to the conference final since their first season in 2017-18. No team in that span has been to more.
“Your approach should always be the same, so I don’t really think a whole lot changes,” center Jack Eichel said. “You want to continue to elevate your game both individually and as a team the further you go.”
Trading places
Roy was dealt by Vegas last summer to Toronto for Mitch Marner. Roy wound up with Colorado in another trade and will be facing the team he helped to the 2023 Stanley Cup title.
“They have a really good lineup. They have depth,” Roy said. “We do as well. So looking forward to it.”
Four months ago, Kadri and Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson were teammates in Calgary. Andersson was traded in January and Kadri in March.
“Pretty crazy,” Kadri said. “It worked out for both of us.”
MacKinnon & Co.
MacKinnon leads the Avalanche this postseason with 13 points (seven goals, six assists). He’s got plenty of help, though, as 17 different players have notched a goal.
“That doesn’t just happen,” Landeskog said. “That’s everybody pulling their weight and everybody doing the best they can to help the team out.”
Dorofeyev heats up late
Both playoff series followed the same kind of pattern for Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev. He went scoreless in the first three games of the opening-round series against Utah before coming through with a goal in Game 4 and a hat trick in Game 5.
Then Dorofeyev had just two assists in the first three games of the second-round series against Anaheim before totaling five goals over the final three games.
“It seems like he’s beginning to be a high-stakes player, scoring big goals at big times,” Tortorella said.
The goaltenders
Colorado has used a combination of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood in net. Wedgewood is 7-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average in this playoff run, while Blackwood is 1-0 with a 3.20 GAA.
For the Golden Knights, Carter Hart is 8-4 with a 2.37 GAA and a .915 save percentage.
The Montreal Canadiens are off to the Eastern Conference Final after defeating the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of the second round.
Alex Newhook was the hero for the Canadiens in this one, as he scored the series-clinching goal in overtime with a nice wrist shot on the rush.
With this overtime winner, Newhook also made some NHL history.
According to NHL Public Relations, Newhook is now just the second player in the history of the NHL to score multiple Game 7 series-clinching goals in the same post-season. The only other player to achieve this was Nathan Horton, who did so with the Boston Bruins back in 2011 during their Stanley Cup championship run.
This achievement shows just how clutch of a player Newhook has become this post-season. The 25-year-old forward is continuing to show the Canadiens that they made the right call acquiring him from the Colorado Avalanche during the 2023 NHL off-season.
With his Game 7 overtime winner against the Sabres, Newhook now has seven goals and nine points in 14 games this post-season for the Canadiens. This included him scoring six goals and recording seven points in the Canadiens' series against Buffalo alone.
With the NHL conference finals set to begin on Wednesday, oddsmakers believe that the Colorado Avalanche are in line to become the next Stanley Cup champions.
The Avalanche lead BetMGM’s Stanley Cup odds board at +135, yet their hoisting the trophy would be a positive outcome for the sportsbook.
Key Takeaways
Only one remaining team, the Canadiens, began the year with odds longer than +1200.
The Canadiens beat the Hurricanes in all three regular-season matchups.
Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the odds leader and most popular pick to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Stanley Cup Odds
BetMGM
DraftKings
bet365
Colorado Avalanche
+135
+130
+130
Carolina Hurricanes
+175
+170
+165
Vegas Golden Knights
+575
+600
+600
Montreal Canadiens
+600
+700
+650
The Avalanche most recently won the Stanley Cup in the 2021-22 season. They’re down to +135 at BetMGM after opening the season at +800, the third-shortest of all teams and only behind the Edmonton Oilers (+650) and the Florida Panthers (+750).
Colorado continues to appeal to bettors; 17.7% of tickets and 23.7% percent of the money wagered in the Stanley Cup futures market were on the Avalanche, both the leading amounts in their respective categories.
While the Avalanche have been the most popular pick to win the league championship, the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t far behind in odds. Sitting at +175 after opening at +900, they have 8.3% of bets (second) and 10.5% of the pot (third) backing them.
While the Avalanche have been the most popular pick to win the league championship, the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t far behind in odds. Sitting at +175 after opening at +900, they have 8.3% of bets (second) and 10.5% of the pot (third) backing them.
The two remaining teams — the Vegas Golden Knights and the Montreal Canadiens — are much further down the board.
One of those teams, the Knights, has still remained quite popular with bettors. The 2022-23 champions are +575 in odds to win the Stanley Cup after opening the season at +1200. They have 7.3% of wagers (third) and 11% of the money (second) supporting them.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy also has a $100,000 ticket placed at +650 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook riding on the Golden Knights. A win would pay a $750,000 total prize.
The final remaining team is the Canadiens, who are +600 after opening the year at a whopping +8000. Only 10 of the league’s 30 teams had longer odds when players took the ice for the first time last October.
The Canadiens aren’t just fighting the oddsmakers, they’re also fighting the public consensus. Their 4.5% of tickets and 3.6% of the handle are both the lowest of the remaining teams and rank ninth among all teams in both categories.
▪️ Avalanche +135 ▪️ Hurricanes +175 ▪️ Golden Knights +575 ▪️ Canadiens +600@GoldenKnights are the only remaining liability on the future market@Canes are the best outcome
The Golden Knights and the Canadiens are both +200 series underdogs, while the Avalanche and the Hurricanes are both -250 series favorites in the conference finals, per BetMGM sportsbook.
No team has been better in the playoffs than the Hurricanes, who swept the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers in consecutive series. On the flip side, the Canadiens went seven games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, and needed overtime to grab a win against the Sabres in Game 7 on Monday.
Despite the series odds heavily tilting one way, the Hurricanes lost all three of their regular-season matchups with the Canadiens by an aggregate score of 15-8.
Out west, the Avalanche have only dropped one game in the playoffs, a Game 3 second-round defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Wild. The Knights went six games with both the Utah Mammoth and the Anaheim Ducks, although they won seven of their last nine games on the ice.
The Knights did not have the same luck against their favored opponent as the Canadiens, losing two of three regular-season matchups with the Avalanche. The lone win was the most recent matchup on April 11, which ended in overtime, 3-2.
Conn Smythe odds
With the Avalanche in pole position to win the Stanley Cup, center Nathan MacKinnon is the Conn Smythe Trophy odds leader (+170) and most popular pick for BetMGM users, with 22% of tickets and 27.5% of the handle. Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen is second in odds (+400) but far behind in support from bettors, receiving 5.7% of wagers (second) and 8.1% of the pot (third).
The most popular underdog pick is Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, who is third in odds at +900. He only has 5% of bets, but he also generated 17.6% of the money wagered in this market (second).
If the Edmonton Oilers are holding out hope that the Vegas Golden Knights will eventually decide to let former head coach Bruce Cassidy interview, or that the NHL might step in should Vegas not do so, there is some potentially bad news.
Vegas has not allowed teams like Edmonton or the Los Angeles Kings to interview Cassidy. It's also not known if Toronto has asked. The Golden Knights have withheld and exercised their right to say no while Cassidy remains under contract.
On Frankly Hockey on Monday, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported the following:
“The league is not going to overrule the Golden Knights here. Contract law and contract language are just that. They, I believe, have a clear stance in the League office that if Vegas wants to go to the mat here and not grant permission for Bruce Cassidy to speak to a division rival, then that is their right to do so, so long as they continue to pay the four and a half million dollars that are owed to Bruce Cassidy for next year.”
He adds, “If that’s the cheque they want to write to not have Bruce Cassidy, they believe, make the Oilers better next year, the league, there’s not much they can do, even if it defies custom and norms.”
Whether related or unrelated, the Oilers have also begun making requests to interview other candidates. Among them is Craig Berube, the former Maple Leafs head coach. It is being reported he would have interest, but there is a lot of pushback in Edmonton amongst the fan base and local media.
All the while, Seravalli is also reporting that the Golden Knights have appealed sanctions for violation of media access policy. Their appeal was heard on Tuesday morning in-person in New York. Servalli notes, "The penalties currently stand as originally assessed. We'll see if Commissioner Bettman decides to reduce upon consideration."
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was no different than any Montreal hockey fan, increasingly impatient over talk of the team’s promising potential.
Turns out, the future has arrived perhaps a little ahead of schedule, and propelled by forward Alex Newhook’s knack for scoring Game 7 playoff series-clinching goals.
“It means a lot,” Matheson said after Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference finals courtesy of Newhook’s goal 11:22 into overtime of a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
“For a long time it’s been talking about the rebuild and rebuild. I think as a group we’re a little tired of that whole kind of viewpoint, as if we have to keep being patient and wait, and our time will come,” he said. “So I feel it’s exciting for us and motivating for us to see that we’re at this stage already.”
The win was Montreal’s second in a Game 7 this postseason, with both coming on the road and both decided by Newhook. The second-line forward also scored the tie-breaking goal 11:07 into the third period in Game 7 of Montreal’s 2-1 first-round series-clinching win over Tampa Bay.
Next up are the well-rested Hurricanes in a series that opens at Carolina. The Hurricanes have swept each of their first two rounds, and been off since a 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia on May 9.
The Canadiens reached the NHL’s semifinal round for the first time since the 2021 COVID-altered playoffs, in which a veteran-laden Montreal team — including captain Shea Weber and goalie Carey Price — beat Vegas before losing to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final in five games.
Though there are a few holdovers, such as captain Nick Suzuki and linemate Cole Caufield, both now in their mid-20s, this group essentially has been rebuilt from scratch in three-plus seasons under general manager Kent Hughes and coach Martin St. Louis.
Among the newcomers are draft picks such as defenseman Lane Hutson, forwards Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, and goalie Jakub Dobes. Then there’s the key pieces Hughes acquired through trades, including Newhook, Matheson, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Phillip Danault, who is back for a second stint.
“We built it since I’ve been here, and we built it all season long,” said Newhook, who won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Colorado, and now is in his second season in Montreal. “We’re a confident group. We knew what we were capable of all year. I think we believe that we can keep going and bring this thing all the way.”
Montreal is in the playoffs for just the fourth time in nine years. And the team’s upward trajectory is apparent a year after being knocked out in the first round by Washington, and following a season in which Montreal’s 48 wins and 106 points were the most since 2014-15.
The Canadiens haven’t lost consecutive games since mid-March, and improved their playoff record to 6-0 following a loss.
Dobes, a rookie, has carried the load in goal by starting every playoff game and after going 29-10-4 this season. In two Game 7s, he’s allowed a combined three goals on 68 shots, including a 37-save outing against Buffalo.
And he and the Canadiens bounced back from an 8-3 loss in Game 6.
“We’re used to it,” Dobes said of performing in the clutch. “The Tampa series made us a way better team than before the playoffs. We know how to bounce back. We know what’s the feeling like. So, yeah, it’s just keep getting experience.”
Montreal entered the playoffs with 10 players having previously appeared in a Game 7. The Canadiens now count 20.
“It’s easy to just use the age as a crutch,” said St. Louis, who improved to 2-0 in Game 7s as a coach to go along with 6-2 during his playing days.
“Two years ago, we know that we lacked experience. That doesn’t mean you can’t advance and mature,” he said. “Last year’s experience in the playoffs, what we’re going through right now, you can’t buy that. It’s amazing. I’m so happy for the players to live that.”
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists
Price: +120 at bet365
Nobody is happier that the Cavaliers won Game 7 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals than Jalen Brunson, because now he gets to face much weaker point-of-attack defense instead of the menace that is Ausar Thompson.
Brunson won’t even need many screens to initiate offense and create shots for his teammates; he can break down this defense off the bounce on his own while also putting significant pressure on the drop coverage of Jarrett Allen, which should create even more potential assist opportunities.
One angle I really love for Game 1 is the scheduling spot: The New York Knicks have had several days off, while the Cavaliers are coming off a grueling seven-game series with only one day of rest. That should also lead to plenty of transition opportunities for Brunson to attack a fatigued Cleveland defense and generate easy assists. This prop is trading at +120, but I price it closer to -145.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Cavaliers 1Q +2
Price: -115 at bet365
The Knicks have been chilling for some time now, having last played on May 10. While that rest edge works in New York’s advantage over the course of the series, it could leave the Knicks flat in the first 12 minutes of Game 1.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, on the other hand, are coming off a do-or-die Game 7 win on Sunday and bring that mentality and momentum into MSG. Cleveland is playing its best basketball, having won four of its last five, while (more importantly) proving it can win on the road in the playoffs.
I’m not sure what the full 48 minutes bring for Cleveland, but I like the Cavs to come out swinging in Game 1 and cover the first-quarter spread.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Knicks -7
Price: -115 at bet365
The Knicks are in a very similar spot to their Game 1 matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, when they caught a visiting team coming off an emotional (and unlikely) Game 7 road win — and rolled to a 39-point victory.
Statistically, New York has been the best team in the playoffs so far, leading the postseason in net rating. Since Game 4 of their first-round series, the Knicks are 7-0 with an absurd average margin of victory of 26.4 points. The long layoff is worth noting, but if any team welcomes it... it's New York, after breaking down physically the past few seasons. This team is fresh and ready to come out aggressively tonight.
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According to multiple reports, the former St. John's guard and 2025 Big East Player of the Year has reportedly agreed to sign with Will Wade and LSU in Baton Rouge for the 2026-27 men's college basketball season.
Luis, who has been out of college basketball for over a year, is currently ineligible to play for the Tigers after he signed a two-way NBA contract with the Utah Jazz and an Exhibit 10 deal with the Boston Celtics after going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-7 guard played for Rick Pitino at St. John's for two seasons and was one of the top guards in the Big East. In his junior season with the Red Storm, Luis led the team to a No. 2 seed in the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament and a Big East Tournament title. He earned a second-team All-American nod after averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Here's what to know on Luis' eligibility status and situation at LSU:
Is RJ Luis eligible to play at LSU?
As things stand right now, no, Luis is not eligible to play for LSU in the 2026-27 season, as he has signed an NBA contract.
Luis also isn’t the first player to navigate this kind of eligibility challenge after giving up his college status and signing an NBA contract, though. The final decision in Charles Bediako’s eligibility case at Alabama offers a meaningful indicator of how Luis’ situation could unfold.
He played in five games for the Crimson Tide before his restraining order was reversed. Due to the wording of Bediako's initial TRO, the NCAA was unable to make Alabama forfeit the games in which Bediako played. The Crimson Tide made the NCAA tournament as a 4-seed, losing to eventual national champion Michigan in the Sweet 16.
According to Sports Illustrated, the NCAA sent out a memo last week to reaffirm its position that it will not reinstate eligibility to those that have "entered an agreement with, competed on or received compensation from" NBA teams.
NCAA eligibility rules for NBA signees
Here is what NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement amid Bediako's eligibility case in December:
"The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way contract). As schools are increasingly recruiting individuals with international league experience, the NCAA is exercising discretion in applying the actual and necessary expenses bylaw to ensure that prospective student-athletes with experience in American basketball leagues are not at a disadvantage compared to their international counterparts. Rules have long permitted schools to enroll and play individuals with no prior collegiate experience midyear."
Wade has slowly built his roster at LSU after being hired away from North Carolina State on March 26, with all nine of the Tigers' remaining players from their 2025-26 roster entering the transfer portal. The Tigers have since landed Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate, Michigan State guard Divine Ugochukwi, Kansas State guard Abdi Bashir Jr. and UTSA guard Austin Nunez in the transfer portal.
Kurt Helin
Brunson o6.5 assists
CLE 1Q +2