TORONTO — The Boston Red Sox put left-hander Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list because of left shoulder inflammation and recalled utilityman Nate Eaton from Triple-A Worcester.
Last year’s AL Cy Young Award runner-up, when he went 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA, Crochet has a 6.30 ERA through six starts in 2026.
Crochet (3-3) struck out seven over six shutout innings in a 17-1 win at Baltimore, looking every bit the ace Boston traded for in December 2024 and signed to a six-year, $170 million contract in March 2025.
The Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches following Saturday’s game.
Crochet’s win over the Orioles came two starts after the ugliest outing of his Red Sox career — an 11-run debacle over 1 2/3 innings at Minnesota on April 13.
Crochet has been an AL All-Star each of the past two seasons.
Eaton was batting .292 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 27 games at Triple-A. He played for Kansas City in 2022 and 2023, and appeared in 41 games for Boston last season.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 23: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks drives against Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter of game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
ESPN’s Shams Charania breaks down the NBA’s proposed lottery reform aimed at preventing tanking.
Draymond Green has always taken pride in his defensive mastery with the Golden State Warriors, down to the smallest details. His impact on that end has been generational—and it’s clearly rubbed off on others, including former teammate Jonathan Kuminga.
Now with the Atlanta Hawks, Kuminga made a heads-up defensive play in Game 2 of the team’s First Round Playoff series against the New York Knicks and gave Green a shoutout afterward.
Jonathan Kuminga on nudging NAW into position to stop Jalen Brunson:
“I’m gonna give my praise to Draymond. Growing up around him, watching him.. I’d seen him do that so many times… And he’s one of the best at doing things like that.”
“I love [Jonathan Kuminga] to death. That’s my young fella and to see him out there doing what he’s doing defensively, playing his role on the offensive end, it’s a beautiful sight to see. I know what he’s capable of, and he’s capable of giving you more on the offensive end, but he’s playing his role. I think as the series goes on, he’s going to give you more on the offensive end. But even watching that last play in Game 3, where he guarded the guy, switched, stopped it, chased the guy over, knocked the ball away, ran it, like what can you do when a guy is doing that?”
Kuminga has flashed two-way impact throughout the first-round series against the Knicks. In Atlanta’s two wins, he totaled 40 points on 16-of-26 shooting from the field, three steals, and two blocks to showcase how effective he can be when everything clicks.
However, consistency—much like during his time with the Warriors—hasn’t always been there. He’s struggled from deep in the Hawks’ last two losses, shooting a combined 1-of-11 from three in Games 5 and 6 while scoring 10 and 13 points, respectively.
Still, Green doesn’t seem too concerned as the Hawks now face a 3-2 series deficit. He believes Kuminga will eventually bounce back—if not now, then next season with a full training camp under his belt.
“He’s been in Atlanta for three months, so the offensive role will grow. When you get a training camp under your belt, the offensive role will grow. But he’s doing what he has to do to stay on the floor, and I love to see it.”
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, April 29th:
Kerr did some of his best work when the Warriors were most compromised by injury. His overall record is impressive in ways both overt and subtle. latent. More on that later.
Group 2, which seems smaller in number but is particularly vocal in the disaffected chamber of social media, has decided Kerr – who presided over teams that reached the NBA Finals in each of his first five seasons – has lost his touch or, worse, forgotten how to coach. Therefore, it is time for CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy to recruit a replacement for Golden State. Someone they believe is more evolved in the ways of the NBA.
Jimmy Butler III 2027 first-round pick (lottery-protected) 2032 first-round pick
The Warriors have been connected more to Leonard than any other team in recent months, and for good reason. After Butler tore his ACL in January, the Warriors need a Plan B if they want to try to reopen their competitive window while 38-year-old Stephen Curry is still playing at an All-Star level.
Leonard would be a strong fit as a Butler replacement, with even higher upside after the best regular season of his career. The salaries of the two stars match well enough that no other player would need to be included in this deal.
The Hawks were a slightly better-than-average offensive team in the regular season, but they have scored an efficient 119.6 points per 100 possessions (sixth best) as they won 19 of their final 24 games.
In this series, they’ve scored just 106.9 per 100, the second worst mark for any team not involved in the Detroit-Orlando car crash. In four of the five games, the Hawks have scored well below league-average efficiency.
Some of that is some poor shooting from open 3-point shooters. The Knicks haven’t been perfect defensively.
But they’ve been very good. The Hawks had some success attacking Brunson down the stretch of Game 2, but Towns has passed the test. In fact, he had two terrific defensive plays against the Hawks’ two biggest offensive threats on Tuesday.
Instead, the proposal would expand the lottery to include 16 teams, comprising the 10 teams that miss the Play-In Tournament, the two losers of each conference’s 7-8 play-in matchup, and the four 9-10 seeds. Rather than giving the most lottery balls to the worst teams, the system would instead most heavily favor teams with the 4th through 10th worst records in the league.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 12: A member of the Philadelphia Phillies ground crew helps roll out the tarp to cover the field due to an incoming storm before the start of a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on May 12, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants are facing the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, in the second game of their three-game series. The hope is that the second game will go better than the first one did. We’ll have to wait to see if that’s the case, but one thing’s for certain: the game is coming a little earlier than expected.
With bad weather making its way through the east coast, the teams announced on Wednesday, about four hours before game time, that the contest would be moved up by 30 minutes. Instead of the originally-scheduled start at 3:40 p.m. PT (6:40 p.m. local time), first pitch will now come at 3:10 p.m. PT.
Rain is expected to fall in Philly in the evening, and the hope is that by starting the game earlier, the teams can avoid most of the poor weather. Mother nature often has other plans, though, so we’ll see how that goes.
For Giants fans on the road, the gate times at Citizens Bank Park aren’t changing, despite the new start time. Third base and left field gates will open at 1:40 p.m. PT, with all other gates opening at 2:10.
We’ll let you know if there are any more updates on the weather or the schedule.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to an apparent injury during the second period of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Back in 2021, the Lakers were deep into their title defense when LeBron James suffered an injury that changed the trajectory of not just that season, but the career of their superstar.
Los Angeles was hosting Atlanta when Solomon Hill dove headfirst at LeBron’s legs. Every Lakers fan likely remembers what happened next as LeBron crumpled to the ground and missed the next 21 games. By the time he returned, the Lakers had gone from contenders to a play-in team before ultimately losing to the Suns in the opening round of the playoffs.
That play involving Hill will haunt Lakers fans for decades to come, especially after LeBron admitted to Dave McMenamin of ESPN that he has never truly physically recovered.
“My foot and my ankle ain’t been the same since. Ever since that injury, I’ve been fighting uphill to get it back to normal. But it’s been a little blah ever since. What could have been, for sure. I was playing some of the best basketball of my career up until that point and leading this franchise in the right direction and then something like that happens, a high ankle sprain, and there’s nothing you can do about that.”
Even at the time, the dive Hill took was considered reckless by many. Lakers players Dennis Schröder and Montrezl Harrell both said it was postgame, and Hill had to defend himself.
Dennis Schröder said it was an “unnecessary play” for Solomon Hill to dive into LeBron’s right leg the way he did.
Dirty or not, the impact has been significant, as it’s been years later and LeBron still doesn’t feel the same. Since then, LeBron has sustained additional injuries, making it impossible to be fully healthy.
LeBron avoiding that injury from Hill’s dive is one of the “what ifs” of his career. Perhaps had that not happened, he would’ve kept a bit more of his burst and subsequent injuries to his right foot might have been avoided.
Luckily, it hasn’t stopped James from having a long and successful career, but it’s still frustrating to hear that such a reckless dive continues to impact his game to this day.
Apr 28, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) reacts after he is tagged out at second base against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
So we have an afternoon game. Game three of Three with the Red Sox. Then the Jays fly off to Minnesota to play the Twins for four games.
George Springer is back, but not in the lineup. That seems strange to me. Why put him on the roster if he isn’t going to play?
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 27: Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Monday, April 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers look to sweep the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. Tyler Glasnow goes against Sandy Alcantara.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays activated designated hitter George Springer off the 10-day injured list on Wednesday after the four-time All-Star missed 15 games because of a fractured left big toe.
Eloy Jiménez was designated for assignment.
Springer wasn’t in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Boston Red Sox. He left an April 11 game against Minnesota after he fouled a ball off his foot in the third inning. Springer completed his at-bat, grounding out to third base, but was replaced by Myles Straw when his turn came up again.
Toronto’s leadoff hitter, the veteran Springer is batting .185 with two home runs and six RBIs. He was a big part of Toronto’s run to Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, hitting .309 with 32 homers and 84 RBIs in the regular season and the decisive homer in Game 7 of the ALCS against Seattle.
The MVP of the 2017 World Series with Houston, Springer is in the final season of a $150 million, six-year deal with the Blue Jays.
A Silver Slugger with the White Sox in 2020, Jiménez hit .290 with no homers and three RBIs in 12 games with Toronto. All of his nine hits were singles.
Boston, MA - April 28: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown loses control of the ball while he is defended by Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Betting on himself this season didn’t go nearly as well as Quentin Grimes may have hoped. A tumultuous restricted free agency saw him return to the Sixers on only the $6 million dollar qualifying offer in hopes of scoring a better deal the following offseason.
He started well, averaging 17 points per game, shooting 44.8% from the field and 36.9% from three through the first month of the season. Since Dec. 1, though, those numbers dropped to 12.2 points per game and, crucially, a 31% three-point percentage.
His start to the playoffs looked similar. After a great five games in March with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George all out, Grimes again looked like he was struggling to scale down into becoming a helpful complementary player. While he made 50% of his threes in the first three games of the Sixers round one series against Boston, he was only taking two a game as the Celtics’ bench exponentially outscored the Sixers’.
It didn’t prevent them from being blown out in Game 4, but Grimes taking seven shot attempts, his most of the series, ended up being a step in the right direction. He followed up the 12-point performance in Game 4 by dropping 18 off the bench in Game 5.
He did so by shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. Not only did every single one of those feel like huge momentum shifts, but Grimes made the most important play of the game immediately after sinking one.
Embiid had kicked out to him out of the post. He drilled the three from the break to give the Sixers a six-point lead, their highest of the night to that point. Right after burying that he read the pass coming to Jaylen Brown and poked it down the court, nearly stealing it. Brown was able to secure the loose ball was down the other end of the floor, but Grimes stayed right in his face, forcing him to use the remainder of the shot clock to get the ball back into the half court. Brown got off a midrange pull-up, but with Grimes in his face the entire time the ball clanked off the rim and the Sixers got another stop to help build their lead.
The Celtics would only score three more points the rest of the game, missing their last 14 field goals of the night.
Not only was that the biggest play of the Sixers’ entire season, but it highlights two things about the Quentin Grimes experience. The first is why watching him on a nightly basis can be frustrating at times. The second, though, is why can be present value to a team even when he’s struggling offensively.
Grimes hasn’t shot it nearly as well or as frequently as anyone would have hoped. His decision making as a ball handler is frustrating at times — he averaged the second-highest turnover rate of his career this season, per Cleaning the Glass.
Even when he’s struggling with these things his effort is there on defense more often than not. Being strong, quick and on the bigger side for a guard allows him to take on some of the most important assignments, like guarding Jaylen Brown for stretches of games.
There have been plenty of games this year where Grimes couldn’t buy a shot, but needed to close out games because of how much the Sixers needed his defense. It worked out really well for both Grimes and the Sixers that in Game 5 they didn’t have to choose between one or the other.
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Everson Pereira on the 10-day injured list with a right pectoral strain before their game with the Los Angeles Angels and selected the contract of outfielder Jarred Kelenic from Triple-A Charlotte.
The 25-year-old Pereira left Tuesday night’s game against the Angels with right shoulder soreness after taking an awkward swing during an at-bat in the fourth inning when he struck out swinging. Pereira is batting .250 with three homers and seven RBIs in 18 games this season.
This is Pereira’s second time on the injured list this season. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 5 with a left ankle sprain. The White Sox acquired him with infielder Tanner Murray, who’s out with a shoulder injury, from the Tampa Bay Rays in November 2025.
Kelenic, 26, has played in the majors the past five seasons with Seattle and Atlanta. He has a career batting average of .211 with 49 home runs and 156 RBIs in 407 games. He signed as a free agent with the White Sox in January.
Kelenic was batting .202 with six home runs, 18 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 26 games with Charlotte this season.
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Raptors Game 5 computer picks
Ja'Kobe Walter Over 7.5 points (-110)
Projection: 9.16 points
Ja'Kobe Walter was held scoreless in the last two games but played much better in Cleveland, where he scored 21 points in the first two games. He also cleared this number in four of five games to finish the regular season.
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RJ Barrett Over 19.5 points (-110)
Projection: 21.9 points
RJ Barrett's 18 points in Game 4 were his lowest scoring output of the series after scoring 24, 22, and 33 in the first three games. His projection of nearly 22 points tonight aligns with how he played the first two games in Cleveland.
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Collin Murray-Boyles Under 6.5 rebounds (+115)
Projection: 6.0 rebounds
Collin Murray-Boyles has gone Over his rebounding total in three straight games, but tonight's total sits at 6.5 rebounds after closing at 4.5 and 5.5 the first four games of this series. Now's the time to back the other side.
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Cavaliers Game 5 computer picks
Donovan Mitchell Over 4.5 assists (+100)
Projection: 5.4 assists
Donovan Mitchell had just six assists in Games 3 and 4 in Toronto, but logged nine across the first two games at home and went over this number in Game 2. His projection calls for 5.4 tonight, and the +100 price makes it that much easier to hit the button.
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Dean Wade Over 4.5 points (-130)
Projection: 6.13 points
Dean Wade has cleared this low bar in three of four games in this series and logged a playoff-high seven points in Game 4.
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Donovan Mitchell Under 27.5 points (-105)
Projection: 25.8 points
This is a big number for a guy who scored just 35 across two games in Toronto and lost his offensive rhythm entirely. Even if he's much better in Game 5, this projection gives us a ton of room to cash the Under.
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How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 5
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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In game two of the Colorado Avalanche's opening round series against the Los Angeles Kings on April 21, defenseman Cale Makar reached a maximum speed of 23.92 mph.
That speed is the fastest ever recorded by a defenseman in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the NHL started tracking the stat in the 2021-22 season. It’s also the fastest overall speed in this year’s playoffs, regardless of position.
Makar’s top speed is over 1 mph faster than this year’s next fastest defenseman of the playoffs, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins (22.78 mph). Previously, the highest max speed mark for a defenseman in the playoffs was set last year by Noah Hanifin for the Vegas Golden Knights (23.66 mph).
The next fastest skater after Makar this year is Los Angeles’ Trevor Moore. The left winger has topped out at 23.48 mph this postseason.
Makar’s previous top speed in the playoffs was 23.28 mph, which he hit last year. During the 2021-22 regular season, he reached a max speed of 23.74 mph, which — until this April— was his highest ever recorded.
During the 2025-26 regular season, Makar was the fifth-fastest defenseman, as he trailed Ottawa's Jake Sanderson, Utah's Mikhail Sergachev, Boston's Nikita Zadorov, and Karlsson. His new 23.92 mph mark lags only Sanderson’s top speed of 24.37 mph among defensemen.
Makar’s Colorado teammate Nathan McKinnon has the all-time playoff speed record of 24.54 mph, set during the 2022 playoffs.
Makar and the Western Conference’s top-seeded Avalanche swept the Kings in round one and await the winner of Dallas-Minnesota in round two.
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 10: Maxime Raynaud #42 of the Sacramento Kings awarded the KIA Rookie of the Month award prior to the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors announced that the team will host a trio of California Classic summer league games at Chase Center in July. The Sacramento Kings will also host three games at the Golden 1 Center. Golden State will host games on July 3rd, 5th, and 6th while Sacramento will host games on July 4th, 5th, and 6th. The Kings, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks will compete in the three-day tournament in Sacramento while the Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs will compete in San Francisco.
While season-ticket holders often receive first dibs at tickets for summer league/preseason games, these games often remain the most affordable tickets to a Warriors game at Chase Center will ever be. Of course, anyone getting a ticket will also be attending a game without Golden State’s biggest stars. Nevertheless, Warriors guard Will Richard has said he will return to summer league play this summer, and the Warriors do currently have a lottery pick in the first round and a late second-round pick, both of which will conceivably become players that feature prominently during summer league.
Apr 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer (4) takes batting practice before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
George Springer is back from the IL and Eloy Jiménez has been DFAed to make room.
Jiménez was hitting .290/.343/.290 in 35 PA with no extra base hits. I’ll admit to being surprised, I figured it would be Yohendrick Pinago heading back to Buffalo, but if Eloy isn’t hitting for power, he doesn’t have much value and with Springer back, there is no room at DH for Eloy.
Welcome back George. Let’s have some home runs, please.
Boston, MA - April 28: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown questions a call in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics saved their ugliest fourth quarter for the worst possible time, and it came at a steep price.
Leading 3-1 and with a chance to close out their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden, the C’s collapsed — in near historic fashion. Boston missed its final 14 shots over the last 12 minutes and finished 3-of-22 in the frame, tying a franchise playoff record for fewest field goals in a fourth quarter, per NBC Sports Boston’s Dick Lipe. The anticipation of ending Philadelphia’s season quickly turned into silence shared between Boston’s bench and a home crowd that began filing out before the final buzzer.
Instead of celebrating and catching its breath while awaiting a semifinal opponent, Boston squandered the opportunity and now heads back to Philadelphia for Game 6.
“It was just having an understanding of we were in a good situation and just didn’t execute,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “So we just have to be able to bounce back from that. I think when you have empty possession, empty possession, and at the other end you’re not getting stops, it gets frustrating.”
Boston held a 13-point lead with 10:13 remaining in the third quarter before the meltdown. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid — who missed the first three games of the series and was listed as probable an hour before opening tip — finally broke out. Embiid scored a game-high 33 points, grabbed four rebounds, and tallied eight assists. Celtics bigs had no answer for him as Neemias Queta, Nikola Vučević, and even Luka Garza struggled to subdue Embiid’s dominance.
Eventually, that caught up to Boston.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 28: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When Embiid took a trip to Philadelphia’s locker room limping with an apparent left knee injury late in the third quarter, only to return minutes later, the Celtics were in control. They carried an 86-85 lead into the fourth quarter, only to lose their grip.
“We played great up until that point, and then they made more plays down the stretch,” Mazzulla added.
It felt much like the postseason losses Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had endured for years before clearing the title hurdle in 2024 — but far, far uglier. Tatum attempted just two shots in the fourth quarter, while Queta and Sam Hauser accounted for Boston’s only three field goals, as the Celtics finished with as many made shots as turnovers.
“It was a stretch where we weren’t making shots, and they were coming down and hitting shots and getting fouled, and we just kept having to play against a set defense,” Tatum said. “So getting stops would’ve helped, for sure.”
The standard they’ve strived to meet all season simply wasn’t met. Boston’s 11 points in the fourth marked the fewest scored throughout the entire regular season and playoffs. The same energy that forced Philadelphia’s crowd to evaporate at Xfinity Mobile Arena and turn into a “We want Boston” chant from the traveling Celtics fans didn’t return with the team back home.
Even Brown admitted the performance wasn’t up to par.
“Just not good enough overall from the Celtics tonight,” Brown said. “The result was the result, but gotta move on, play in another couple of days and get a chance to respond. So we look at it, learn from it, and move forward.”
Brown continued: “Just can’t sum it up — a lot of different areas were just not good enough. We’ll watch it, and we’ll make sure we’ll come out with the right energy, the right mindset, the right mentality on the road in Philadelphia. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
The Celtics entered Tuesday night with three chances to put the Sixers away for good. They’ll have their second chance in Game 6 on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
In a first-round playoff sweep by the Colorado Avalanche, the Los Angeles Kings weren't able to record one win after fighting all season to get into the post-season. The Avalanche were able to handle anything the Kings threw at them, and in the end, Los Angeles wasn't very threatening.
The reasons the Kings weren't able to get a lead for most of this series, or even win a game, are glaring. And these issues may hold the Kings back from even seeing the Stanley Cup playoffs next year.
So, what were the alarming dark spots that held Los Angeles back in the post-season?
General Offense
It's no secret that the Kings have struggled to score goals, not only in the playoffs but throughout the regular season, too.
Across the 82-game campaign, Los Angeles scored 220 goals, which was the fourth fewest in the NHL. Only the lottery teams, the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames had weaker offenses.
In the post-season, that weak offense was on full display for the Kings, especially at 5-on-5. In total, Los Angeles tied the Ottawa Senators with the fewest goals scored in the playoffs, with five in four games.
In terms of 5-on-5, the Kings had the fewest goals with just a pair. The rest of the team's tallies were on the power play, which is surprising considering that they had the fifth-worst power-play percentage in the regular season.
But at 5-on-5, Los Angeles really couldn't generate many threatening chances.
Understandably, the Kings would be a little more conservative against the Presidents' Trophy winners and heavy favorites Avalanche. But Los Angeles didn't give themselves a chance to force Colorado on its heels, and ultimately, it was an ugly series for them offensively.
Artemi Panarin, Brandt Clarke, Adrian Kempe and Joel Edmundson (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Lack Of Star Power
Los Angeles' top line was pretty much invisible when it came to getting on the scoresheet, which is another reference to the team's inability to score. However, the Kings' top players are responsible for leading the way offensively, and they weren't close to that.
Artemi Panarin and Anze Kopitar didn't register a single even-strength point, and Adrian Kempe finally got his first in the lone goal of Game 4. Top defensemen Drew Doughty and Brandt Clarke can be added to the list of notable Kings to not earned an even-strength point in the series.
The way the Kings prioritized defensive hockey over a more balanced game was evident, and that's what leads to a dry spell offensively. Even in the regular season, it's not often that the Kings have a player reach 80 points in a season.
Panarin finished the campaign with 84 points, but most of his year was spent with the New York Rangers. The last time Los Angeles had an 80-point scorer was in 2017-18 when Kopitar scored 92 points.
If the Kings want to be a serious team when it matters most, the stars must shine under the bright lights, and that starts with exceptional production in the regular season, which hasn't been the case over the years.
Possibly, with a new head coach, that could change.
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