Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor runs through his latest NBA mock draft and explains why a never before seen scenario in the NBA draft lottery could lead to all three teams with equal odds to land the first pick sliding out of the top four altogether. Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Quarter of World Rugby’s test group of ex-players ‘at risk’ of cognitive problems
- New service refers quarter of those seen for treatment
- Concern over high numbers of participants dropping out
A significant number of former elite players who have participated in World Rugby’s new brain health service programme have been identified as being “at risk” of cognitive problems in later life.
So far 131 former rugby union players have registered to take part after last April’s launch, although only 65 have completed the process. Of those, one quarter were referred for specialist treatment. The service is not designed to provide a diagnosis, only to provide a risk assessment for former players.
Continue reading...Three Paths The Pittsburgh Penguins Can Take In Their Coaching Search
The Pittsburgh Penguins opened up a particularly appealing job after parting with coach Mike Sullivan on Monday.
After all, who wouldn’t want to be behind the bench coaching icon Sidney Crosby?
In any case, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas has three distinct roads to move forward on as the team’s transitional period continues following its third straight playoff miss. The coaching choice Dubas makes will dictate the competitive road he chooses.
With that in mind, here are three potential paths for the Penguins to take – and three potential coaches for each of those roads.
Path 1: Return The Penguins To The Playoffs And Stanley Cup Contention ASAP
“You can hope in one hand and s— in the other, and see which one fills up first,” Dubas said to reporters at the end-of-season press conference, seemingly shooting down the notion of a long and full rebuild.
That would almost certainly mean the Penguins will be aiming for a retool this summer. It could also mean the next coach will have lots of experience and be highly demanding, focusing on wins over learning and developing.
Dubas’ options for a veteran bench boss include Rick Tocchet, John Tortorella and Peter Laviolette. Tocchet parted with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday and is now a free agent.
Tortorella, meanwhile, was fired by the Philadelphia Flyers, and the New York Rangers fired Laviolette. They are still widely respected coaches with a track record of success, and their pedigree could be appealing for Dubas as he tries to get his team back in the playoff mix right away.
The Pittsburgh Penguins Parting With Mike Sullivan Is The Best Thing For ThemThe Pittsburgh Penguins kind of, sort of, tried it Mike Sullivan's way. Not only were they not good enough to contend for a Stanley Cup, but they weren't good enough to contend for a playoff spot.
Path 2: Keep Pittsburgh Competitive During A Transitional Period
In his press conference announcing the end of Sullivan’s tenure, Dubas talked about a period of transition, which suggests perhaps choosing a coach with either experience as an assistant or head coach. While Sullivan previously coached the Boston Bruins, he spent years as an assistant coach and AHL coach before getting a chance as an NHL bench boss again in Pittsburgh.
That could lead to the Penguins taking a chance on someone whose name may not immediately jump out as a front-runner, and who could currently be working on a team still in this year’s playoffs.
For instance, current Toronto Maple Leafs associate coach Lane Lambert has experience running a team from his time with the New York Islanders. This year, Lambert has had success running Toronto’s penalty kill.
Current Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love has also been speculated to be in the running for multiple NHL jobs. And longtime Carolina Hurricanes assistant coach Jeff Daniels has had great success with the team, including a Cup championship in 2006. Any of those three choices could step in for Pittsburgh and get them through this transitional stage.
Path 3: Focus On Developing The Penguins’ Younger Players And Next Core
Dubas may ultimately decide the Penguins should be focused on teaching the team’s youngsters and grooming the incoming core of the organization. There are numerous options out there if that’s the approach Dubas and the franchise want to take.
For example, current University of Denver coach David Carle is highly regarded as a teacher who has thrived working with young players. Carle may have his pick of a number of NHL jobs, but the chance to work with Crosby while at the same time developing Pittsburgh’s prospects may be especially appealing.
Elsewhere, current Boston Bruins assistant coach Jay Leach worked with Sullivan at the AHL level and was part of the Penguins organization before moving on to a solid coaching career in the AHL and NHL.
Veteran coach Brad Shaw, who served as the Flyers’ interim coach after Tortorella was fired, could step in for the Pens and be a teacher for the foreseeable future if the Flyers don’t make him the permanent coach. One of those three could have at least a couple of years implementing a program that’d help Dubas build a new core for the long term.
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Experienced NHL Coaches Who Could Replace Canucks’ Rick Tocchet
With news breaking yesterday that Rick Tocchet will not be returning to the Vancouver Canucks next season, speculation now turns to who could replace him. As it stands, some frontrunners for this job are former Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Jay Woodcroft and current Abbotsford Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra. Let’s take a look at some other more-experienced NHL coaches who could replace Tocchet in 2025–26.
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Not Mike Sullivan
While speculation about Mike Sullivan joining the Canucks ran at an all-time high on Monday when he and the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways, Vancouver’s President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford, confirmed otherwise during Tuesday’s press conference.
“I know my good friend, Mike Sullivan, does not want to leave the east. He’s a real good family man. I talked to him yesterday, not about coming here, but talked to him when he left Pittsburgh, and I know he wants to stay in the east.”
Peter Laviolette
With experience as an NHL Head Coach since the 2001–02 season to now, Peter Laviolette could easily be in consideration for the role of Canucks Head Coach. He parted ways with the New York Rangers on April 19, only two seasons after joining the team. Laviolette got his start as an NHL Head Coach with the New York Islanders before ending up with the Carolina Hurricanes for five seasons. Rutherford was the Hurricanes’ General Manager during all five of these years. Together, the duo won a Stanley Cup in 2006.
“We had some success together. I like him as a person and a coach. Haven’t got that far yet, but certainly having someone you’re familiar with helps,” Rutherford said of his experience with Laviolette. He later specified that Patrik Allvin would be the one primarily dealing with the next Head Coach, meaning they would have to find someone he would fit best with.
“I wouldn’t want to take him off the list at this point. He’s had a lot of success in the league, and it’s a good name.”
While Laviolette is a popular name that Rutherford is familiar with, realistically, the way he coaches may not fit with the Canucks’ future. Laviolette’s aversion to playing younger players — something that came up during his time with the Rangers — won’t work well with a depth system filled with youth.
Gerard Gallant
Another former Rangers Head Coach, Gerard Gallant’s last NHL coaching gig was during the 2022–23 regular season. Since then, he has coached a 2024–25 Team Canada roster to a semifinal loss during the Spengler Cup. His coaching record has been impressive as of late, with his past three coaching stints resulting in points percentages of .583, .601, and .662.
“I’m waiting, I’m hoping, you know, if something comes up,” Gallant said in an interview with NHL.com back in January 2024. “Obviously, I’d like to be coaching again in the National Hockey League but we’ll see. I haven’t talked to anybody, and I’m not waiting by the phone. If the phone rings, I’ll be very happy, but I’m not sitting, waiting.”
Stylistically, Gallant has been referred to as a players coach, with former Rangers Captain Jacob Trouba emphasizing that “He’s a guy that players respect [ . . . ] and enjoy playing for.” However, one issue that has popped up for him during his four tenures as an NHL Head Coach is that he has been outcoached when his team needs it. Whether this would impact the 2025–26 Canucks or not is something that is yet to be determined — after all, most of Gallant’s downfalls have stemmed from difficult playoff losses. With that being said, Gallant could be a great coach to help the Canucks get back on their feet after such a lopsided season.
Jay Woodcroft
As mentioned, Woodcroft is yet another favourite to become the Canucks’ next Head Coach based on bets from PlayNow.com. His first stint as an NHL Head Coach was with the Oilers, where he coached for around a year and a half. Before this, he was the Head Coach of Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Early on in his NHL coaching career, he spent three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings as a Video Coach and seven with the San Jose Sharks as an Assistant.
Like Gallant, Woodcroft has faced issues regarding coaching adaptability. This is something that would likely come into play more-so in playoffs rather than the regular season, but at the end of the day, Vancouver wants to be a postseason team — not a regular season one. Woodcroft may be better suited for a younger team like the Chicago Blackhawks rather than the Canucks.
John Tortorella
This would be the most chaotic option for the Canucks, and is definitely the most unlikely on this list. John Tortorella spent one season with Vancouver, 2013–2014, and was let go after it despite signing with the team for five years. Regardless of how he was perceived, former Canucks such as Kevin Bieksa have spoken positively of his coaching style.
Since departing from the Canucks, Tortorella has split time with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2015–2021) and the Philadelphia Flyers (2022–2025). Throughout the 2024–25 season, he had made headlines for benching some of the Flyers’ young stars — something that isn’t unexpected of him. Tortorella’s coaching style is aggressive and long-standing, as his NHL Head Coach career spans 22 seasons.
As successful as Tortorella’s coaching may be in some locker rooms, Vancouver is probably not the best fit for it next season. The Canucks are coming off a very unsteady season, with many players’ futures with the franchise still up in the air. Their best bet for success is to bring someone in who can help stabilize the room with familiarity.
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Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor runs through his latest NBA mock draft and explains why the star of this year’s NCAA tournament could be a perfect fit for the Magic. Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Top 10 Winningest Head Coaches In Penguins History Ft. Mike Sullivan
There have been only 22 head coaches in the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Mike Sullivan serving as the most recent and longest-tenured coach from 2015 to 2025. As expected, Sullivan has coached the most games, winning the most and losing the most.
Overall, all 22 head coaches have won more than ten games, and every one of them has lost at least 20. Moreover, 13 coaches have compiled a winning record, and 16 of them have led the Penguins in the playoffs.
Today, we will look at the top 10 winningest coaches in Pittsburgh history, which dates back to 1967.
10. Ken Schinkel (83-92-28) 1973-1977
Ken Schinkel was the third Penguins head coach, succeeding Hall of Famer Red Kelly, who was the team's winningest coach with 90 victories from 1970 to 1973. However, Schinkel didn't run the bench for four consecutive seasons; instead, he split his time from 1972 to 1974 and again from 1975 to 1977, with Marc Boileau serving as head coach for 151 games from 1973 to 1976.
9. Ken Constantine (86-64-35) 1998-2000
Kevin Constantine took over the Penguins following Mario Lemieux's first retirement in 1997. He still had Jaromir Jagr in his lineup, but the club didn't advance past the second round during his tenure, and he lasted only 25 games into the 1999-2000 campaign.
8 Possible Replacements For Mike Sullivan As Penguins Head CoachWith the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, it comes as no surprise that one of the first talking points is who will be the one replace him.
8. Bob Berry (88-127-25-28) 1985-1987
Bob Berry arrived in Pittsburgh in 1985 after spending three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. Despite having a 19-year-old Lemieux in the lineup, the Penguins won a total of 88 games over three seasons at the helm, never finishing higher than fifth in the division.
7. Red Kelly (90-132-52) 1970-1973
As an eight-time Stanley Cup champion, Kelly was the second head coach in Penguins history and became the first one to win over 90 games. Moreover, Kelly was the first bench boss to lead the franchise to the playoffs, a six-game first-round loss to the St. Louis Blues.
6. Johnny Wilson (91-105-44) 1977-1980
In only 240 games, Johnny Wilson established the franchise record for most head coach wins with 91. Additionally, he helped the Penguins to the playoffs in two of his three seasons, becoming the first to lead them to back-to-back appearances in 1979 and 1980.
5. Scotty Bowman (95-53-16) 1992-1993
Scotty Bowman was already a legend when he came to Pittsburgh to serve with Bob Johnson in 1990. After taking over for Johnson in late 1991, Bowman guided the Penguins to their second consecutive Stanley Cup title. Then, in 1992-93, he guided the franchise to its first 100-point campaign, while establishing an NHL record for 17 straight wins. Bowman also set a record with 56 wins, the most in a single season.
4. Michel Therrien (135-105-32) 2006-2009
At the time of his employment, from 2006 to 2009, Michel Therrien became only the second head coach in Penguins history to win over 100 games, finishing his tenure with 135 wins. Despite having Sidney Crosby on his bench, Pittsburgh didn't win the Stanley Cup in 2008, and he was fired before the club returned to the 2009 Final to win it all.
3. Eddie Johnston (232-224-60) 1980-1983, 1993-1997
Eddie Johnston was the Penguins' winningest coach for a long time, compiling 232 wins over two tenures, each lasting three and a half seasons. Despite his time as head coach, Johnston will always be remembered for his tenure as general manager, from 1983 to 1988, when he drafted Lemieux first overall in 1984.
2. Dan Bylsma (252-117-32) 2009-2014
In only five seasons, Dan Bylsma became the Penguins' winningest coach, surpassing Johnston's record by 20 victories. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 and helped Pittsburgh to the 2013 Eastern Conference Final. Moreover, Bylsma is the only head coach in team history to compile two 50-plus win seasons, giving him the franchise record for highest points percentage at .668.
1. Mike Sullivan (409-255-89) 2015-2025
It will take a special head coach to surpass Sullivan as the winningest coach in Penguins history. Not only did he surpass Bylsma's record by 157 victories, but he is also the only coach to win 300 and 400 games. Meanwhile, Sullivan coached 753 games, surpassing Bylsman's total by 352 games, an equivalent of four and a half seasons.
Revisiting Mike Sullivan's Milestone Wins With PenguinsMike Sullivan is the winningest coach in Pittsburgh Penguins history, finishing his ten-year tenure behind the bench with a 409-255-89 record in 753 games. Those totals don't include his postseason numbers, which are 44-38 in 82 games, including two Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.
Considering Sullivan ranks 15th all-time in NHL history for wins with a single franchise, and is the only head coach to lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles, his legacy in the Steel City is almost untouchable.
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The Schenn Brothers' First NHL Playoff Meeting Became An Epic Battle Between Jets And Blues
If you’re a parent, which is worse: having to choose between your boys’ NHL playoff series, or watching them square off against each other?
Jeff and Rita Schenn are finding out, as their sons Luke and Brayden Schenn battle it out in the first-round playoff series between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues.
After the Blues chased Connor Hellebuyck twice in St. Louis and recorded a pair of wins, the series is all square at 2-2. Game 5 goes Wednesday, back in Winnipeg (9:30 p.m. ET).
Born less than two years apart, Luke and Brayden both hit the 1,000-game milestone this season – just the eighth set of brothers in NHL history to get the silver stick honor.
Now into their 30s, they were both fifth-overall draft picks who have become Stanley Cup champions.
Luke Schenn, the defenseman, went first to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008. He won his Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Brayden Schenn, the center, went to the Los Angeles Kings one year later. His Cup came in his second season with the Blues, in 2019, and he became the team’s captain in 2023.
Two months ago, Jeff and Rita were probably mapping out very different plans for this time of year. At the February break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Luke’s Nashville Predators were mired in 30th place in the NHL standings, and Brayden’s Blues were below .500 – eight points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot.
Leading up to the March 7 NHL trade deadline, Brayden Schenn was rumored to be available, but the asking price would be sky high. There was even some chatter that perhaps the brothers could be a package deal for the right organization.
On March 5, Luke was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Two days later, his seventh playoff run became a near-certainty when he was flipped onto the league-leading Jets.
As for Brayden Schenn, he stayed put after the Blues went 5-1-1 out of the break.
“I give the guys a ton of credit, GM Doug Armstrong told reporters on deadline day. “The players tell us what we’re supposed to do, and to their credit, they've really played fantastic hockey right now.”
Given the Blues’ baked-in, never-say-die mentality, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that they were able to level the series on home ice after dropping the first two games in Winnipeg. So far, Jordan Binnington’s nine goals against and .907 save percentage are easily besting Vezina favorite Hellebuyck. He has given up 15 goals, sits at .817, and was pulled in the third period of Game 3 and Game 4 – but remains unfazed.
“You don’t love giving up that many goals, but we’re 2-2 in the series,” Hellebuyck said Monday. “That’s all that matters. Win the next one. Am I going to be better? I am going to be better.”
The Schenn brothers have also played noticeable roles in the playoffs.
Luke has been providing steady third-pair minutes and plenty of muscle, just as coach Scott Arniel would have hoped. Averaging 16:00 a game, he leads the Jets with 20 hits and, thanks to 10-minute misconducts in both Game 1 and Game 4, leads the entire playoffs with 30 penalty minutes.
The 35-year-old also picked up an assist in the Jets’ 5-3 series-opening win. And even though he finished at minus-2 in Game 3 and Game 4, the Jets have dominated play when he has been on the ice, controlling over 55 percent of expected goals at 5-on-5 according to naturalstattrick.com.
As for Brayden, he picked up his first points of the series in Game 4, with a goal and an assist in the Blues’ 5-1 win. He’s centering a high-octane line with Jake Neighbours and Jordan Kyrou, averaging 16:31 a game, and also has two misconducts already – from Game 1 and Game 3.
For the series, Brayden’s advanced stats aren’t great, with an expected goals share of 43.34 percent. But he was much better on home ice, at 55.70 percent.
Per the NHL, the Schenns are the sixth set of brothers to go head-to-head in a playoff series in the last 20 years. We saw it last season, too, when Ryan Lindgren’s New York Rangers swept Charlie Lindgren’s Washington Capitals in Round 1.
In the past, we’ve seen some parents try to Frankenstein jerseys together to show their loyalty. Mr. and Mrs. Schenn prefer to just blend into the crowd.
“I think they’ll be pretty neutral," Luke Schenn said. "They’re not going to be wearing jerseys. I don’t see them ever wearing a jersey to the games.”
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With Rick Tocchet Out In Vancouver, Is A Penguins Reunion On The Horizon?
The NHL coaching carousel got a whole lot more interesting on Tuesday when it was announced by the Vancouver Canucks that head coach Rick Tocchet decided not to return to his position for the 2025-26 season.
“I'm choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks,” Tocchet said in a statement. “Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time. While I don't know where I'm headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey."
Rick Tocchet's Agent Speaks On Why The Canucks Former Head Coach Decided To Leave Vancouver Tuesday was a shocking day for the Vancouver Canucks organization as head coach Rick Tocchet decided to depart the club and look for a different opportunity. While the Canucks did have an option on Tocchet's contract for next year, they elected not to use it. In the end, Tocchet spent two and a half seasons with the organization, guiding them to Game 7 of the second round last year, while also winning the 2024 Jack Adams Award.
Tocchet's departure from the Canucks came just one day after it was announced that the Pittsburgh Penguins and coach Mike Sullivan had mutually agreed to part ways. With Vancouver and Pittsburgh now both in the market for new coaches, they are two of eight current teams in need of a voice behind the bench.
It was reported by TSN's Pierre LeBrun Tuesday that five teams had already checked in on Sullivan. Even if the former Penguins' coach is the frontrunner for most teams, Tocchet will still be in high demand.
And this begs the question: Would Tocchet be a fit for the Penguins?
The 61-year-old coach has a long history with Pittsburgh. He won a Stanley Cup with the franchise in 1992 and was behind the bench as an assistant coach for the Penguins' back-to-back championship runs in 2016 and 2017.
He also has a great relationship with Sidney Crosby and many of the Penguins' veterans, and he is notoriously good with young players - which is something that POHO and GM Kyle Dubas will certainly be looking for in any new hire.
However, that doesn't necessarily mean he is the man for the job.
Yes, Tocchet is well-known as a great coach and - like Sullivan - is highly respected in coaching circles around the league. He has seen head coaching stints with the Arizona Coyotes and the Canucks, and he won the Jack Adams Award in 2024 after leading Vancouver to a Pacific Division title.
There have been some ups and downs, but his body of work at the NHL level has been mostly positive. That much is clear.
But Dubas and the Penguins - in the midst of a rebuild - are putting their primary focus on player development. They appear to want a coach who has gone through stages of development and has a proven track record of success at developmental levels.
“We'll have deep questions as we go through the process on what their experience has been developmentally,” Dubas said. "Sully had that. Sully was in player development with [the Chicago Blackhawks], he coached in the American League, an [NHL] assistant coach...that's something I think, especially now in the salary cap era, you have to be developing your own guys."
'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.
He added: "It'd be tough for me personally to go with somebody that has no record or real passion for development. Those are becoming fewer and fewer in that brethren of coaching right now, so it will be a vital component, for sure."
This can be read into a number of different ways, but it seems more likely that Dubas is going to target someone along the lines of a Spencer Carbery or a Jim Hiller - now head coaches of the Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings, respectively - who possesses a great track record at the AHL level or collegiate and junior levels and, perhaps, does not have a ton of NHL experience.
In other words, some like a Todd Nelson - head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears - or David Carle - head coach of the University of Denver - are more likely candidates.
If Tocchet comes knocking at the door, Dubas and the Penguins will surely answer. But whether or not they open the door - and whether or not Tocchet would be even be open to the undertaking in Pittsburgh - is a different story.
8 Possible Replacements For Mike Sullivan As Penguins Head CoachWith the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, it comes as no surprise that one of the first talking points is who will be the one replace him.
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What we learned as Warriors blown out by Rockets in Game 5, forcing Game 6
What we learned as Warriors blown out by Rockets in Game 5, forcing Game 6 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
HOUSTON – Exactly two years ago to the date, Steph Curry scored 50 points in Game 7 of the Warriors’ first-round NBA playoff series against the Sacramento Kings, lifting Golden State to the second round.
Wednesday night in Houston was nothing like that. Instead, it resembled a night to forget on May 11, 2022, when the Warriors were waxed by the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5 of their second-round series, trailing by 55 points and ultimately losing by 39.
Holding a three-games-to-one series lead, as they did in that Memphis series, the Warriors were mostly dominated by the Rockets, losing 131-116 in Game 5 at the Toyota Center on Wednesday. They were down by as much as 31 points before the bench battled back in the second half.
After leading 8-7 two minutes into the game, the Warriors never led the rest of the way. The Rockets played like a team with their backs against the wall, and the Warriors couldn’t match their energy. Early foul trouble hurt the Warriors mightily, helping put them in a hole far too wide to climb out of.
Steph Curry (13 points) and Jimmy Butler (eight points) combined to score a lowly 21 points. Curry was 4 of 12 from the field and 3 of 9 on threes. Butler went 2 of 10 overall and missed all three of his 3-point attempts. Yet through the first three quarters, Curry still was the Warriors’ leading scorer.
This always felt like a series bound to go at least six games, and now the Warriors will look to close the door Friday night at Chase Center in Game 6.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ Game 5 loss.
Offense Goes Awry
No Batman, no Robin and no Alfred either. It was that kind of night for the Warriors’ offense.
Curry didn’t score his first points until he made a three halfway through the second quarter. Those three points cut the Warriors’ deficit to 23 points, 55-32. Butler’s first points came from a free throw with four and a half minutes left in the first half, making it a 22-point game. He missed his first six shots, finally getting a layup to fall on a three-point play late in the second quarter.
The only Warriors starters to even score in the first quarter were Draymond Green with five points and Brandin Podziemski with three. Buddy Hield remained scoreless on three shot attempts going into halftime.
For the second straight game, the Warriors struggled to find any offensive flow against the Rockets’ two-big lineup when they went to a zone defense. Their lack of players who can dribble through it was clear, as was Butler being hampered by his pelvic injury. It’s a problem the Warriors will have to fix in a hurry.
Flipping The Free-Throw Line
Within the first four-plus minutes of the game, the Warriors already were whistled for five fouls, including two on Curry, putting the Rockets in the bonus and at the free-throw line. Through the first four games, the charity stripe was a nightmare for Houston. Not Wednesday night back on its homecourt, though.
The Warriors found themselves in a 16-point hole after the first quarter, largely because of the difference in fouls and free throws. While the Rockets were only called for three fouls and went a perfect 13 of 13 on free throws in the first quarter, the Warriors were called for nine fouls and didn’t attempt a single free throw. Steve Kerr used eight players in the first quarter, and Podziemski was the only one who didn’t have a foul to his name.
At halftime, with the Warriors down 76-49, the Rockets had twice as many free throw attempts and had scored 10 more points at the line. But Golden State at that point also only had two more fouls than Houston – 14 to 12. The Rockets in the first four games of the series were shooting 63.2 percent (60 of 95) on free throws, and shot 84.2 percent (32 of 38) in Game 5.
Blaming the referees is a waste. The Rockets came out as the more desperate team, and simply made their free throws this time.
Silver Linings
Were there any? Let’s take a look.
As the starting five couldn’t buy a bucket, the Warriors’ bench in the first quarter outscored the Rockets 16-0. Quinten Post came in and immediately made a three. Same with Gui Santos.
Halfway through the third quarter, Kerr waved the white flag for the Warriors, bringing in Pat Spencer, Moses Moody, Kevin Knox, Santos and Post. That certainly isn’t a silver lining, but there quickly were positives to the matter.
Moody wound up as the Warriors’ leading scorer with 25 points off the bench. The Warriors’ reserves absolutely played their tails off, forcing Rockets coach Ime Udoka to bring his starters back in when it was a 17-point game with a little under eight minutes remaining in the game. They showed a resilient amount of effort and fight, literally — as Spencer was ejected for headbutting center Alperen Şengün — finishing with 76 bench points – the Warriors’ most ever in a playoff game since 1970-71.
In that 2022 Game 5 loss to the Grizzlies, Curry played 25 minutes and Green played 23. In Wednesday’s Game 5 blowout loss, Curry only played 23 minutes and Green played 18. Butler’s night was done after 25 minutes.
The Warriors three years ago regrouped, came home and beat the Grizzlies by 14 points. They’ll have to hope that rest for their Big Three is exactly what’s needed for history to repeat itself in a positive way.
Hawks guard Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award
Hawks guard Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels has been voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
The 22-year-old Daniels beat out fellow finalists Cade Cunningham of Detroit and Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Daniels’ first season in Atlanta was nothing like either of his first two NBA seasons with New Orleans. His numbers soared with career-bests in points (14.1, more than double his 5.8 average last season), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.4), steals (a league-leading 3.0) and his field-goal shooting went from 43.5% in his first two seasons to 49.3% this year. The Hawks made him a full-time starter, something Daniels hadn’t been with the Pelicans.
The Most Improved Player award, like several other NBA honors, was voted on by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league and cast ballots shortly after the end of the regular season.
The other awards that were part of that voting process and have already had their results unveiled: San Antonio’s Stephon Castle winning Rookie of the Year, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley winning Defensive Player of the Year, New York’s Jalen Brunson winning Clutch Player of the Year, and Boston’s Payton Pritchard winning Sixth Man of the Year.
Other awards announced by the league since the end of the regular season: Golden State’s Stephen Curry won the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award and Warriors teammate Draymond Green won the Hustle Award.
Awards that will be announced later in the playoffs include MVP (either Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic or Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo), Coach of the Year (either Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson or Houston’s Ime Udoka), plus the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams.
Giants hope key regulars break out in May after sweep at Petco Park
Giants hope key regulars break out in May after sweep at Petco Park originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN DIEGO — The signs are there, particularly with Mike Yastrzemski, who played the two games at Petco Park with stubble on his chin. The next time Yastrzemski and the Giants take the field, it will be Mustache May, and some in the lineup are desperate for the calendar to turn.
April was a good month for the Giants, a surprise contender early on, but it wasn’t kind to everyone.
The Giants essentially have nine regulars in their lineup, and they all have been healthy. But not many of them can say they’re happy about where they’re currently at. Jung Hoo Lee is turning into a star and Yastrzemski has turned back the clock. But as the Giants head home after a two-game sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres, they’re the only starters with an OPS over .800
At times, manager Bob Melvin has seen a third or fourth join the party, and that was the case in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss, but too often, the load is not evenly distributed.
Heliot Ramos hit a loud homer Wednesday, but it was his first in 26 games. Three of the other four hits came from Lee and Yastrzemski, who hit his fifth bomb of the season. The Giants can’t match the star power of a Tatis, Machado, Merrill trio, but they anticipated having a strong one-through-nine attack this season. It hasn’t shown up often, though.
Willy Adames looked like his old self in San Diego, but finished April with a .592 OPS. That still puts him well clear of LaMonte Wade Jr. and Patrick Bailey, who are under .500.
“It is what it is. I think the at-bats are better [lately] with some of the guys, certainly LaMonte,” Melvin said. “We have faith that they’re going to get going.”
Wade has been moved down in the order and now is seventh, one spot ahead of Bailey. But on Wednesday it was the heart of the order that faltered. Matt Chapman twice came up as the tying run in the late innings and struck out twice on elevated fastballs. He’s among the league leaders in walks but is 5-for-39 over his past dozen games.
“They were probably both not strikes and [he’s] maybe trying to do a little bit too much,” Melvin said of the strikeouts. “I think both of those were up out of the zone. He’s obviously trying to get something up and drive one, but maybe too far out of the zone.”
For the last three weeks, the key right-handed hitter who had been expanding was Ramos. He said he was over-thinking, but some loud contact Tuesday snapped him back into place.
“It can take one hit, one pitch,” he said. “Even if it’s an out.”
The hope is that others soon experience that, and it’s not like the sweep was entirely or even mostly on the lineup. Logan Webb gave up five runs Tuesday, and Landen Roupp was charged with four earned Wednesday. That meant the Giants were always playing from behind, and while they have plenty of comebacks this season, the sledding was much more difficult against a good Padres pitching staff.
Melvin is hopeful that some regulars break out in May. Perhaps a few mustaches will help, or perhaps they’ll just find a fix during BP one day and take off from there. It’ll need to happen, because there’s no margin for error in this division.
The Giants were in first place when they flew to San Diego. After 18 disappointing innings, they dropped to third.
“It was basically kind of the same game, where we didn’t do enough early in the game to put some pressure on their starter and [the Padres] did,” Melvin said. “We had to do our work against their relievers — which we did, we had the tying run up a couple times late in the game. It’s tough to do it off those guys but it’s early in the game that we didn’t put enough pressure, and we gave up too many runs in the first half of the game, as well.”
Warriors guard Pat Spencer ejected for headbutting Alperen Sengun in Game 5 loss
Warriors guard Pat Spencer ejected for headbutting Alperen Sengun in Game 5 loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Houston Rockets were cruising to an easy 131-116 Game 5 win over the Warriors at Toyota Center when all hell broke loose.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Dillon Brooks was fouled by Moses Moody on a defensive rebound. As Pat Spencer walked away, he was bumped by Alperen Şengün.
Before Trayce Jackson-Davis could shove Şengün away, Spencer levied a headbutt on the Rockets’ NBA All-Star.
The referees reviewed the play and assessed offsetting technical fouls to Jackson-Davis and Şengün.
Spencer received a technical foul and was ejected for an “illegal headbutt” on Şengün.
The Rockets had built a massive lead and coach Steve Kerr pulled his starters midway through the third quarter. The Warriors’ reserves, led by Spencer, made the score closer than the game indicated.
The Warriors and Rockets aren’t done battling, though, as they will travel back to the Bay Area for Game 6 on Friday night at Chase Center.
Expect tensions to remain high until this first-round NBA playoff series is over.
Former Oilers Forward Sticks Around New Team
EDMONTON – When there is a fit, you stick with it.
The Edmonton Oilers know that feeling.
The team has certainly felt like the match of Mattias Ekholm and the organization is the work of divine intervention. However, they aren’t the only team that feels similarly about a new addition to the roster.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Mikko Rantanen didn’t stick around, but the other major player who came over to the Carolina Hurricanes in the blockbuster deal with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks looks to have found a place to roost.
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Earlier Wednesday morning, Taylor Hall signed a three-year extension with the Hurricanes. The team was fresh off a series-winning game against the New Jersey Devils. They eliminated their opponents in five games.
Hall has been rock solid this playoff, recording three points in five games. His one goal kickstarted the Hurricanes offense on Tuesday night. They were down 2-0 going into the second period, but Hall’s goal brought them to life.
The #Canes have signed forward Taylor Hall to a three-year contract extension ✍️
— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 30, 2025
Details » https://t.co/TOm9Vn8ruHpic.twitter.com/NjdBnk0yGj
He is currently in the final year of a four-year contract paying him $6 million. Hall and the Hurricanes agreed to a contract paying him $3.116 million.
In 31 regular season games, Hall recorded 18 points while playing 15:27 a game. The Hurricanes will play against the winner of the Montreal Canadiens-Washington Capitals series.
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